Nothing to say today, just sorry for the wait. Now Chapter 8.

Chapter 8

The Cursed Caldera and Terrible Planing

The Cursed Caldera

After escaping the mob, the gang ran up the Cursed Caldera, making sure they lost the mob. "I think we're safe." Callum said as they all sat down, as Rayla took off her clock, and the twins removed the scarfs around their staffs. "Safe? Sure." Rayla said to Callum. "Yeah, I believe we were walking about some kind of miracle healer?" Allen asked Callum. "So, how are we supposed to find this miracle healer?" Rayla asked Callum. "Aw, we may have another problem first." Kali said as they noticed something looking at them from the shadows.

This got everyone a little on edge. But then the shadow revealed to be Ellis riding Ava. "Come with me. I'll help you find her." Ellis said to everyone. This surprised everyone. "This way!" Ellis said to them, as Ava took off barking. Not having a better idea they followed Ellis and Ava.

After walking for a bit, Rayla decided to talk to Ellis. "So… Hi, there. But who are you exactly?" Rayla asked Ellis. "Me? I'm Ellis, and this is Ava. She's a wolf." Ellis said to Rayla. "Wolf? Really? I thought bird." Rayla said to Ellis, earning her a lick from Ava. "Well she's a beautiful wolf." Kali said to Ellis, earning a lick from Ava as well. "Oh, I should have introduced you guys." Callum said to Ellis, Ava, Allen, Rayla, and Kali.

"Ellis the guy is Allen, Drake's twin. And the girls are Kali and Rayla, who we originally met because, uh… well, they broke into our castle, trying to kill Ezran." Callum said to Ellis. Earning a look from Ellis. "Tecanely she was trying to kill him, I just got roped into it." Kali said to Ellis. "But it doesn't matter. We're past that now." Ezran said to Ellis. "People meet in so many interesting ways!" Ellis said to Rayla and Kali, as she layed on the side of Ava. "Your one interesting kid." Kali said to Ellis, as she and Rayla crossed her arms. "Hmm. So how do we find this healer?" Rayla asked Ellis.

"Truth is, I never found her. She found us. We were hiding in a big, twisty hollow tree. Up near the rim." Ellis said to everyone, as she sat up and looked at the top of the mountain. "Then we need to get to that tree. Even if it takes all night." Callum said to everyone. "Wait… that's all we have to go on? A weird tree, where this miracle healer showed up three years ago?" Rayla asked Callum. "It's our only chance. Got a better idea?" Callum asked Rayla.

"As a matter of fact… I do not." Rayla said with a defeated tune in her voice. "Then we headed for that tree." Drake said to Rayla. "I'll get us to that tree. The healer will find us there, and she'll save the egg!" Ellis said to everyone. "And maybe she can help your hand." Ezran said to Rayla. "Don't worry about my hand. The egg is all that matters now." Rayla said to Ezran, holding her left hand.

They then started to traverse the mountain, jumping over gaps, walking across a dead tree, walking on a small path on the side of the mountain, and rock climbing a bit. After a bit of walking the gang, they made it to a cliff when the sun was setting. "It's so beautiful. It's like the sky is painted with honey." Ellis said to everyone. "Wow." Ezran said as they all took in the view. "Too bad it also means the nightmare's about to begin." Ellis said to everyone. "Way to kill the mood." Drake said to Ellis. 'What do you mean?" Rayla asked Ellis.

"Oh, you know, enormous monsters, indescribable terrors. Stuff like that." Ellis said to everyone. "Charming." Allen said to Ellis. "And the higher we go, the worse it'll get." Ellis said to everyone. "Even more charming." Allen said to Ellis. "All right! Well, let's go." Rayla said to everyone. "Yeap, sounds like a normal Tuesday to me." Drake said to everyone.

"No, no, no, wait. We're going to need a plan." Callum said to everyone. "How do you plan for indescribable terrors? I feel like you need to be able to describe them first." Ezran said to Callum. "Um… Horrifying! Blood-curdling. Creepy, but in a super extreme way that feels like it's lighting your soul on fire." Ellis said to Ezran. "I think that helps." Ezran said to everyone. "Yeah. Helps explain why no one sane goes up here. Which begs the question, how sane are we?" Kali asked everyone.

"Wait! Wait, wait, wait! I've got it. Flash! Woof! Boom! Whoosh! Splish-Splash!" Callum said to everyone, as he moved around and waved his arms around. "Apparently not very." Kali said to everyone. "Awesome!" Ellis said to Callum. "Um, is he okay?" Ellis asked everyone else. "Depends on who you ask." Drake said to Ellis. "I think he's finally cracked under the pressure." Rayla said to Ellis.

"No, that's the plan. Ezran, you have the first job. You hold Bait in the air so he can flash and blind whatever monster it is. Flash!" Callum said to Ezran. "Wait… but then I'm not really doing anything. I'm just kind of holding up Bait." Ezran said to Callum. "You're support! Every team needs a great support." Callum said to Ezran.

"Ellis, you're next. Ava will bark, and you'll ride around in circles to confuse the monster." Callum said to Ellis. "I don't know. Do you think you can run around and bark a lot, Ava?" Ellis asked Ava. Ava then Barked yes. "She's ready!" Ellis said to Callum. "Drake, Allen you two will use Dragon Breath. Boom!" Callum said to Drake and Allen. "Sounds simple enough." Allen said to Drake, who nodded yes.

"Then, me, I'll use my windbreath spell. Whoosh!" Callum said to everyone, making Ellis gasp. "You're going to cast a spell?" Ellis asked Callum. "It's just a simple rune thing I picked up. No big deal." Callum said to Ellis. "Yeah, he's going to blow on the monster. Ruffle its fur real good." Rayla said to Ellis. "It's either that, or the half of the lighting spell I know. Specifically, the half that doesn't shoot lightning out of my fingertips." Callum said to Rayla.

"That monster won't know what hit! Oh, wait, it will. It'll be wind." Ezran said to Callum, making Rayla laugh out loud, while everyone else held back their laughter. "Rayla, Kali, you two are last. The finishers. You'll take down the blinded, distracted, injured, windblown monsters with your blades. Slish-slash!" Callum said to Rayla and Kali, earning a look from the girls. "My hand is in pretty bad shape. I'm only going to be able to use one blade." Rayla said to Callum. "And I just got this blade. I know how not to burn myself with it, but that's about it." Kali said to Callum.

"Okay, then you two are slash-stab!" Callum said to the girls. "No way. That won't work. This is my slish hand." Rayla said to Callum. "Uh, really?" Callum asked Rayla. "No, not really, dummy." Rayla said, making everyone laugh a little. "Well what about, the Pokemon?" Allen asked Callum. "Oh uh I don't have any idea what to do with them." Callum said to Allen.

"Okay then give me a second let me see what Gligar and Fomatis have for attacks." Allen said to Callum as he pulled out his Pokedex. "Attacks?" Kali asked. "It's the powers they have. You say the command and the Pokemon will do it, if they listen or respect you." Drake said to Kali. "And for the record. Gligar has Poison Tail, Metal Claw, Acrobatics, and Sand Tomb for moves. Fomantis has Synthesis, Sunny Day, Leaf Blade, and Razor Leaf." Allen said to everyone.

"Only four powers? I thought Pokemon had more than that?" Kali asked. "Pokemon do have more power, the problem is they can't use so much. In a way you'll understand. Think of it like having four arrow quivers, plenty of arrows, but you only have four quivers." Allen said to Kali. "And it's not just Gligar and Fomantis. Rockruff only knows Rock Throw, Bite, Double Team, and Rock Climb. While Yanma has Signal Beam, Double Team, Sonic Boom, and Silver Wind." Drake said to Kali.

"And Swanna has Roots, Bubble Beam, Ice Beam, Brave Bird. Pulse Braviary knows Roots, Crush Claw, Whirlwind, Brave Bird." Allen said to Kali. "With all these moves I think I have an addition to the plan. Rockruff helps Ava and Ellis with Double Team. Yanma helps Callum with Silver Wind. Braviary and Swanna help me and Allen with Brave Bird. and Gligar and Fomantis help Rayla and Kali with Metal Claw and Leaf Blade." Drake said to everyone.

"Okay so the plan is Flash! Woof! Clone! Big Boom! Big Whoosh! Three Slash! Stab!" Callum said to everyone. "Man, sometimes you're such a big dummy." Drake said to Callum, placing a hand on his head. Then Rayla realised something. "Wait. Callum, you may be a dummy, but you're not a fool!" Rayla said to Callum, placing her hands on Callum's shoulder. "Am I supposed to feel flattered by this?" Callum asked Rayla. "You said Claudia called you a fool when you interrupted her lightning spell. But I'll bet she was actually trying to say "Fulminis". It's the draconic word for lightning." Rayla said to Callum.

"So, if "fulminis" is the trigger word-" Callum said to everyone, but was interrupted by Ezran. Then you know the spell for lightning!" Ezran said to Callum, as Callum pulled out the Primal Stone. "Revised Plan! Flash! Woof! Clone! Big Boom! Whoosh-Zap! Three Slash! Stab!" Callum said to everyone, earning an annoyed look from everyone. "Let's just go." Allen said to everyone, as they all started to leave, everyone except Callum. Callum then slowly followed them.

The Castle In Katolis

Meanwhile at the Castle in Karolis. Viren was carrying food and a pitcher through the lower parts of the castle. Soon Viren made his way to the room where Runaan was chained up. Viren went inside and placed the food and pitcher in front of Runaan, all the while Runaan looked at Viren with hate and defiance.

"If you don't eat, you'll die." Viren said to Runaan. "I am already dead." Runaan said to Viren. Viren looked at Runaan. "You don't look dead. Though that hand has seen better days." Viren said to Runaan, looking at his left hand which still had the armband on it, and turning his arm dark purple. "I went out of my way to acquire some rare Xadian fruits. They're remarkable! So strange and Exotic and these Xadian oranges… No seeds. Incredible." Viren said to Runaan as he played with the food, and offered a piece of fruit to Runaan.

But Runaan refused it. "No?" Viren asked Runaan before eating it. "I understand the whole honor-in-not-eating thing, but at least drink something." Viren said to Runaan, purring a drink for Runaan. Viren then offered the drink to Runaan, but again Runaan refused it. "Don't worry, it's berry juice." Viren said to Runaan. But Runaan still refused it, making Viren sigh and stand up. "I have a proposition. I simply want you to take a look at an object, and tell me what it does. After that, I will unchain you and you can walk out of here." Viren said to Runaan.

Runaan said nothing. "Decide. You can be free, or you can sit here and die." Viren said to Runaan. "I told you. I am already dead." Runaan said to Viren. "Yes, wait a second. I think I've heard about this. It's a Moonshadow elf thing, right? A philosophy of accepting you are already dead… so you will not fear death." Viren said to Runaan, as he gathered the food and pricher and moved to the door. "What a beautiful challenge you've given me. I must come up with something you will fear… more than death." Viren said to Runaan, before leaving the room.

As Viren left he passed Gren and Chatot. "Excuse me. I would love to try some Xadian fruit." Gren said to Viren. "Fruit, fruit, fruit." Chatot said to Viren. Viren said nothing and just kept walking. "Very good." Gren said.

The Cursed Caldera

Back with the gang. They walked through a valley full of dead trees. With Bait lighting their way. "Well, it's dark, But I think the scariest thing I've seen so far is an angry cricket. And he's more, like, mildly annoyed." Callum said as he looked at a cricket that was chirping. "Yeah, are you sure this is the Cursed Caldera? Or did we accidentally wander up Humdrum Hill?" Ezran said, making everyone laugh a little. "Maybe we took a wrong turn and wound up on Sleepy Slope?" Rayla said, making everyone laugh again.

"I'll have to check my map. But I'm fairly certain I recognize the unmistakable topography of… Mount Monotonous!" Callum said to everyone, only to earn dead silence and the cricket sound. "Callum, leave the jokes to everyone else. You just stick with silliness." Allen said to Callum. "Anyway, it is a little odd that nothing bad has happened yet." Ellis said to everyone. "That doesn't sound like a major problem." Kali said to Ellis.

"I see a huge, scary monster!" Ellis said, making Callum let out a yelp. "But don't worry, it's dead." Ellis said to Callum. "Next time lead with that." Drake said to Ellis. "Yeah, why did you say it like that?" Callum asked Ellis. "Say it like what?" Ellis asked Callum, echoing through the valley.

Everyone then moved to the dead beast. It was a very large, very big, boar. "I've never seen anything like this." Ezran said as he got a closer look at the beast. "Something wrong with this?" Allen said as he got a closer look at the beast. "Yeah, look at those circles." Ezran said to Allen, as he reached his hand to mark on the beast. "Don't touch it." Callum said to Ezran. "What a strange birthmark." Ezran said to everyone, as they got a closer look.

"I don't think that's a birthmark. It's a bite mark!" Callum said to everyone. "You're right. Something's drained all its blood." Rayla said to everyone. "Let's get out of here, before we run into whatever did this." Allen said to everyone. "Guys!" Ellis said as everyone turned around. "It might be a little late for that!" Drake said to Allen. Then a giant leech-like creature raised from behind the bead beast.

"I see a huger, scarier monster!" Ellis said to everyone, as the monster started to attack. As the gang got away from the leach, Drake's staff started to glow it's two blue lines, and Allen's staff started to glow it's four red lines. "The plan! Time for the plan! Ezran?" Callum said to everyone and asked Ezran. "Okay. Okay. Where's Bait?" Ezran said to Callum, only to notice Bait wasn't near hands, Ezran looked behind him eating the cricket. "Bait, come on, You're supposed to-" Ezran said to Bait, but was interrupted by Bait's blinding light.

"Ahh! Too soon! Too Soon!" Callum said to Bait, as everyone covered their eyes. "I can't see." Rayla said to everyone. "None of us can." Ellis said to everyone. "Then calm down and use your other scenes." Drake said to everyone. The leech went after Ellis and Ava. Ava felt the leech coming and started to run. Meanwhile Ezran was blindly looking for Bait and Rockruff, and was about to find them, only to get hit by Ava and lose his grip on Bait and Rockruff.

"Okay, what about the rest of the plan?" Callum asked everyone. "Will Clone out so let's try Big Boom." Drake said to Callum. "Okay." Allen said, as they looked up, thinking that was the direction of the leech, and tightened the grip on their staff. And they started to fly up. "Woooooooooa." The twins said as they went up, with Swanna and Braviary following them. "Okay sounds like the twins are out. I probably shouldn't do lightning if I can't see, right?" Callum asked everyone, as he took a few steps forward, and accidentally stepped on Bait, which made him cash into Yanma, before he could use Silver Wind.

"Don't do the Lightning." Rayla said to Callum, as everyone finally got their eyesight back. Then Drake and Allen, from their view in the sky, heard and saw a large amount of water heading towards the gang. "GUYS IT'S A FLOOD!" Drake yelled to everyone. "Scatter! Run!" Callum said to everyone. "Is that to distract the monster? Or escape the flood?" Ezran asked Callum, as he grabbed Bait and Rockruff. "No, it's just to get away and live!" Callum said to Ezran, as he, Yanma, Ellis, and Ava ran past Ezran, Bait, Rayla, Kali, Fomantis, and Gligar, with the leech on their tell.

"EVERYONE CLIMB THE TREES! NOW!" Allen yelled to everyone. "Come with me." Rayla said to Ezran, as she grabbed Ezran's hand and led the people with her to a large tree. "Hop on. Ava will get us out of here." Ellis said to Callum, as she helped Callum onto Ava, while Yanma flew onto Calum's arm. Ava then climbed up a nearby rock wall, making the leech crash into the rock wall. "You can climb three right?" Rayla asked Ezran and Kali. "Yes." Kali said to Rayla, while Ezran nodded yes.

As the two of them started to climb, Fomantis held onto Kali's back, Rockruff climbed the tree himself, with Bait still in Ezran's hand, and Gligar using her claws to climb the tree. While the few of them climbed the tree, the leech charged at them. Rayla pulled out one of her blades and turned it into the hook form. The leech then looked and lunged at Rayla. But Rayla jumped out of the way, and used her hook blade to latch into the tree. Rayla then used her hook blade to kimb the tree, while the leech went after her.

Then everyone got to the top of the tree, right as the flood hit and drowned the leech. Everyone looked down to see the rapid waters below them. "What do we do now?" Rayla asked everyone, as Swanna moved Allen to Rayla's group, and Braviary moved Drake to Callum's group. "We have to wait it out. That water is too strong to swim against." Allen said to everyone, as his and Drake's staff stopped glowing.

"Allen's right, we don't have a choice, we just have to wait it out." Callum said to everyone. "At least it took out the leech." Drake said to everyone. "Ugh, I'm sorry my plan was a mess." Callum said to everyone. "Nan, your plan was fine! Our execution was a little off. It came out more like, Argh! Oops! Help Run!" Rayla said to Callum.

The Castle In Katolis

Back at Castle Viren was pushing the mirror he got from the Dragon King into Runnan's cell. "In a moment, I will remove this cover, and you will tell me what you know. Understood?" Viren asked Runaan. Runaan said nothing. I've bought something that I hope you will find motivating." Viren said to Runaan, as he pulled out a bag with some coins in it.

"You're more foolish than I thought. Don't you know only humans can be bribed?" Runaan asked Viren. "Oh, this isn't a bribe." Viren said to Runaan, as he opened the bag and turned it over, letting two coins drop to the floor. "It's a threat. Go on. Take a closer look." Viren said to Runaan.

Runaan then looked at the coins and his stone face shattered into a face of pure shock. "You're a monster." Runaan said to Viren. "You're mistaken. I'm a pragmatist." Viren said to Runaan, cracking a smile.

The Cursed Caldera

Back with the gang, they were waiting for the flood waters to die down. On the tree Ezran was petting the egg. "It seems to be hanging in there. Barely." Rayla said to Ezran. "I'm so sorry I messed up the plan." Ezran said to Rayla. "Ah, you should cut yourlef a break. Everyone messes up sometimes. Or in my case, all the times." Rayla said to Ezran. "What are you talking about?" Ezran asked Rayla.

"Trust me, if the plan hadn't gotten messed up when Bait flashed, I'm sure it would have flopped when it was my turn." Rayla said to Ezran. "Are you kidding? From what I can tell, you're awesome at everything." Ezran said to Rayla. "Ezran is right, you may be down a hand, but you're one of the best people I know." Allen said to Rayla. "Don't encourage her, she already has a big ego." Kail said to Allen. "Well, it's true. I am pretty awesome at everything." Rayla said to Allen and Ezran. "See." Kali said to Allen.

"Right up until the moment when it really matters. And that's when I just… poof, screw things up." Rayla said to everyone. "What do you mean?" Ezran asked Rayla. "I don't know. I hesitate, think too much, get confused about the right thing to do. And the next thing I know, I failed." Rayla said to Ezran. "You're talking about that night with the guard aren't you?" Kali asked Rayla. "Yeah." Rayla said to Kali.

With Callum's group, Callum was looking at the water below them. "I can't believe you two are mages. I've never met an actual mage before." Ellis said to Callum and Drake. "I'm not a mage." Drake said to Ellis. "But you flew with your staff. How'd you do that?" Ellis asked Drake. "Well this is the second time it's happened, but I think it's a flight-or-fight response kind of thing. No idea how to drive it, but I think if we stand and fight we can use our moves, and if we want to run we can fly. or" Drake said to Ellis.

"Still you're a cool mage." Ellis said to Drake. "I'm not the mage Callum is." Drake said to Ellis. "Really? You're not at all what I expected." Ellis said to Callum. "What were you expecting?" Callum asked Ellis. "You know, taller, long robes, wrinklier. Super smart." Ellis said to Callum, making Callum laugh a little. "ANd maybe like a weird amulet or something?" Ellis said to Callum. "Well, I am in the market for a weird amulet, if you know anybody." Callum said to Ellis. "Why don't you work on mastering a few spells before we get you that amulet," Drake said to Callum, making Ellis laugh a little.

"And you're so confident." Ellis said to Callum. "It's funny to hear someone say that. I don't think of myself as confident." Callum said to Ellis. "Really? You should be, having all that incredible power." Ellis said to Callum. "Maybe. The truth is, it's not me. It's this." Callum said to Ellis. as he pulled out the Primal Stone. "All the magic, all the power, All the confidence… It's just because of this amazing thing. A Primal Stone!" Callum said to Ellis, showing her the Primal Stone.

With Rayla's group, they were all laying down looking at the sky. "Rayla, why don't you tell us what happened that morning?" Allen asked Rayla. "The morning I came to the castle, my team was discovered by a human guard. It was my job to chase him down and stop him. But when I caught him Gligar stopped me from finishing him. Then I saw the guard was so afraid. And then I just let him go. I don't know why." Rayla said to Allen.

"Because you felt for him." Ezran said to Rayla. "But he was a human… my enemy." Rayla said to Ezran. "Yeah, but then you saw he was scared. And you knew he was a person just like you. That shouldn't have mattered. I had a job to do. Do you realize I'm an assassin who's never killed anyone?" Rayla asked Ezran, as she sat up. "Uh, I think that's a good thing." Ezran said to Rayla. "Rayla in the short time I know you. I can tell you have a big heart, and always do what you think is right. And you know killing that guard and Ezran wasn't right." Kali said to Rayla.

"Besides, I won't say you failed. After all, without your help I couldn't stale that elf long enough for everyone to get Ezran and the egg to safety." Allen said to Rayla, as he sat up. "And by the way, thanks for failing at your mission. I like being alive." Ezran said to Rayla, as he sat up. "I'm glad you're alive, Ezran. Knowing you is definitely worth losing a hand for." Rayla said to Ezran, earning a weird look from everyone.

"That's the weirdest, nicest thing anyone's ever said to me." Ezran said to Rayla. "Well, who knows, maybe this is my unlucky hand, so when it falls off, my luck will change!" Rayla said to everyone. "That's horrible." Ezran said to Rayla. "Funny, though?" Rayla asked Ezran. "Not really." Kali said as she finally sat up.

With Callum's group. Ellis was giving Callum a pep talk. "That Primal Stone needs you to do all that amazing stuff. Without you, it's just a neat, glowy ball." Ellis said to Callum. "I guess so. But without this, I'm nothing. Just a guy who can draw and make wry comments from time to time. And they're not even that wry." Callum said to Ellis. "I'm not convinced. I have a feeling you'd be pretty amazing even without your magic ball." Ellis said to Callum.

"Well, you seem pretty great, too." Callum said to Ellis, making Ava bark. "And Ava's also great." Callum said to Ava. "Is it okay if I pet her?" Callum asked Ellis. "So long as I get to Pet Yanma." Ellis said to Callum, as Ava jumped Callum and gave him some licks, while Yanma flew to Ellis lap getting some pets from Ellis.

"Aww, you're such a fuzzy wuv-munkin!" Callum said as he pet Ava, the same time Ellis pet Yanma. "Callum let me let you in on a secret I've learned from my travels." Drake said to Callum. "What?" Callum asked Drake. "The secret is a person's will. You see, our will is what makes our dreams real. Take Ellis and Ava here for example. Ellis didn't want Ava to die. So she climbed up here and didn't let the monsters stop here, and she found the healer saving Ava. That act shows everyone Ellis' strong will." Drake said to Callum. "Thanks Drake." Ellis said to Drake.

"Hey, guys? The flood's gone." Rayla yelled to Callum's group, from the tree. Then everyone started to get down, with the last person behind Allen. But once Allen trounced the ground, he felt something odd, and got on all fours. "What is it Allen?" Kali asked Allen. "Feel the ground. We just had a massive flood and the ground is still dry. Something is wrong." Allen said to everyone. "Well at least the leech is gone." Drake said to everyone.

"See ya, sucker!" Ezran said, making everyone look at him. "Get it? Because it's a giant leech?" Ezran asked everyone. "So, more of a description than an insult?" Callum asked Ezran. "A little of both." Ezran said to Callum. "It's probably gone, but let's not taunt it, okay. There's a little thing called irony, where just as you say one thing, like you're really sure about it, that's when the opposite happens." Rayla said to Ezran.

It was at that time the leech showed up again. But everyone except Callum, Ezran, and Rayla noticed it. "Nah. Maybe that's how things work in stories, But in the real world-." Callum said to Rayla, but was interrupted by Kali yelling. "GUYS THE LEECH IS BACK!" Kali yelled to everyone, making Callum, Ezran and Rayla, see the leech before it could strike.

The leech then let out a screech, as everyone let out a scream. The leech attacked, scattering the group. Once scattered the leech went after Ellis and Ava. and while Ellis and Ava ran, they ran back to the other, making them scatter more, and making the leech change target to Rayla, Ezran with Bait in his arms, Rockruff, and Gligar. Then the leech got in front of them, and the five of them split up. With Ezran, Bait, and Rockruff going right, and Rayla and Gligar going left.

Rayla did some fancy footwork, while Gligar did some fancy gliding to dodge and escape the leech. But the leech went after Ezran, Bait, and Rockruff, and was about to get eat them, but Ellis grabbed Ezran and Bait and pulled them onto Ava's back, and Ava grabbed Rockruff with her mouth, by the scruff of Rockruff's fur, before that could happen. "That way!" Ellis said to Ava pointing to the right.

"Focus! We can do this! The plan! Ez and Bait, you're up!" Callum said to Ezran and Bait. Ezran nodded and raised Bait into the sky. "Flash!" Callum said to everyone, as they covered their eyes. Bait then let out a bright flash. The monster then let out a screech. "Yes! Ellis and Ava! Woof! And Rockruff Clone!" Callum said to Ellis and Ava. Ellis and Ava then put Ezran, Bait, and Rockruff down. "Okay Rockruff use Double Team." Ezran said to Rockruff. "Rockruff." Rockruff said to Ezran, as he, Ellis, and Ava ran towards the leech.

Then as the three of them charged at leech, Ava barked, and Rockruff split into many shadow clones. The three of them circled around the leech, barking at it, confusing it. "Twins, Birds, Big Boom!" Callum said to Drake and Allen. "Right Braviary / Swanna use Brave Bird, while we use Dragon Breath." Drake / Allen said to Braviary / Swanna, as they pointed their staff at the leech. "Braviary / Swanna." the two of them said, before flying high into the air, and came down in blue flames. Then Drake and Allen fired two bursts of energy from their staff. Then all four of the attacks hit the same spot, causing a massive explosion. The Leech then let out a cry of pain.

"Perfect! Our turn for...Whoosh-Zap! Yanma uses Silver Wind!" Callum said to Yanma as he drew the lightning rune. "Yanma." Yanma said to Callum, as the Primal Stone placed a bolt of lightning in Callum's left hand. "Here goes nothing. Fulminis!" Callum said as he fired the blot of electricity and as Yanma fired a gust of wind with some sparkles in it. The lightning hit the leech and the sparkles got in its eyes and blined it.

Everyone watched at the lighting and Silver Wind completely stopped it. "Yeah! Yeah! Get zapped! Oh, get zapped by the zap hand! My Zap hand! Yeah!" Callum said to the leech. "Yanma." Yanma said to Callum. "Oh yes. You did a very good job too, Yanma." Callum said to Yanma, giving Yanma a few pets. "Can you be astounded and pet Yanma later?" Rayla asked Callum.

"Right! Uh, Rayla, Kali, Gligar, Fomantis, finishing move. You got this! Three Slash! Stab!" Callum said to them. "Okay Gligar uses Metal Claw." Rayla said as she pulled out one of her swords. "And Fomanits use Leaf Blade." Kali said to Fomantis, as she pulled out her sunforge dagger. "Gligar." Gligar said as her claws turned silver. "Fomantis." Fomantis said as her arms glowed green, became longer, and became sharper.

But before they could attack, the leech regained its strength and roared at Rayla, making her step back. Rayla then tripped and dropped her sword. "Rayla!" Callum said to Rayla. "No!" Ezran said to Rayla. "Gligar." Gligar said as she, Kali, and Fomantis charged at the leech. As they did that Rayla grabbed her dagger and slashed its belly, at the same time Gligar and Fomantis slash the sides and Kali stabbed it. The leech let out a cry before dropping dead. "That was too close." Rayla said to everyone, as they gathered around her, and as she started panting.

And no one noticed a bunch of little leeches coming out of the large one. "If that thing was a split-second faster, I would have been…" Rayla said to everyone, as the little leeches started to attack Rayla. "Help! Help me!" Rayla said as she tried to brush off the leeches. "Aspiro!" Callum said as he drew the wind rune. "Braviary help with Whirlwind." Drake said to Braviary. "Braviary." Braviary said to Drake. Then Braviary fired a burst of wind at the leeches, at the same time Callum cast his spell. The combined winds blew the leeches far away.

"Yes! How 'bout that? I knew "Whoosh" was an important part of the plan." Callum said to everyone. Rayla gave Callum a look. "Come on Rayla, let's get going." Kali said to Rayla, as she held out a hand. Rayla took it and got up. Soon the gang started to move.

The Castle In Katolis

Back at the Castle Viren finished setting up a table, with the bag, a lit candle with black wax, and a bowl. "Enough brooding, elf. My patience wears thin." Viren said to Runaan as he removed the fabric covering the mirror. "Tell me what you know about this relic or I will seal your fate." Viren said to Runaan. Runaan looked at the mirror. "You have succeeded." Runaan said to Viren.

"Oh, have I?" Viren asked Runaan. "That mirror? You have found something worse than death." Runaan said to Viren as fear appeared on his face. "Then, tell me. What is it?" Viren asked Runaan. "I will never help you." Runaan said to Viren in defiance. "Then you are of no use to me." Viren said to Runaan.

Viren then walked and grabbed his staff. He then made it change shape from a walking stick to a real staff and chanted a dark spell. As Viren chanted, Runaan's face was full of fear and started to glow with. Then the glow started to get sucked into the staff.

Meanwhile outside Gren and Chatot were whistling a tune, until they heard Runaan scream. The two of them then looked down the hall to where Runaan was being held. They heard the chanting and the screaming, and got worried.

Then a shadow figure came walking down the hall. As it got closer, they realised what it was and it scared them. It was Viren, his skiing dark gray, with patches of black on him and over his eyes. Viren then pulled out a gold coin. "I always seem to capture the same expression. Defiance, giving away to absolute fear." Viren said to Gren and Chatot, as she showed them the gold coin, which had a scared Runaan trapped inside. This single act made Gren and Chatot drop their jaws in terror.

The Cursed Caldera

Back with the gang, they were making up the time they lost dealing with the flood and leeches. As they walked Ellis noticed the tree she was in last time she came here. "Look! Up there! That's the tree!" Ellis said to Everyone, pointing to the tree. They all saw the tree was not that much father. "Yes, we're almost there! We can do this, team. We can make it to the rim! We're going to find the healer and save the egg." Callum said to everyone.

But then Ava let out a whimper and lowered her head. "Hey you okay Ava?" Allen asked Ava, as he and Ezran started to pet Ava. Ava then barked a little. "Oh, no." Ezran said to everyone. "What is it?" Callum asked Ezran. "I have really bad news. I don't know how to tell you." Ezran said to everyone, as he got in front of everyone. "Just say it." Callum said to Ezran. "Yeah, I'm sure we can handle it." Allen said to Ezran. "Even if we make it to the rim, it doesn't matter. There is no miracle healer." Ezran said to Everyone. "What?" Allen asked Ezran.

Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter. Please follow or review if you like this story. Oh and in case you're wondering where the flood came from. Remember teamwork makes the dream work