Here they are at long last, the McNasty castle. Adam, his uncle Oswin, and the pound puppies stood and looked at the view from a little far. Even Adam is surprised that he and all the others managed to get this far in their quest, and it may just be their final step.

"Boy, that place looks pretty weird." Whopper gets spooked, his knees begin to shiver. "That's where the scent is coming from." Nose Marie said and went ahead. "That's good enough for me, follow that nose." Cooler said and followed her. So did the rest. "I think our quest is just about to be done uncle." Adam said. "Indeed, but remember who we have to face. Prepare yourself, nephew." Oswin gives him a warning. Adam acknowledges with a nod.

***
Meanwhile inside the castle, Marvin lectures Bones and Lumpy for their failure yet again. Bones hides behind Lumpy in fear. "NUMBSKULLS! IS there anything you can do right?!" Marvin shouts in frustration. "Well uh...Gee uh..." Lumpy gulps. "Uh, I did a pretty good job on Lumpy's bandages." Bones says with a good example hoping he's pardoned. Which of course doesn't budge him. "When I get through with you two you're both gonna need bandages." Marvin pops his knuckles. His radar goes off, making a sound. "What? That must be that kid and those mutts."

He went to examine the radar for a moment, then pressed the button to switch to video. Showing him the puppies, while not noticing the cats in the group. Assuming the two cats are also dogs. As he analyzed the intruders he raised his eyebrows as he had eyes at this one particular dog. Cooler. "Well what have we here?" He starts to ponder, forming an evil grin.

"You two." He turns and points at his two henchmen. Lumpy and Bones pointed at themselves as they assumed their boss was addressing them both. "Yes you numbskulls, bring out the two recent guard dogs." Marvin gives an order. "What for boss?" Lumpy curiosity asked him.

"I think they're just dying to see their lost friends again, so let's give them what they want." Marvin snickers quietly. "We're on it." Bones does what he says. "Whatever you say boss." Lumpy does the same. Marvin looks back at the security cam. "By all means enter, you all will be my great guests. PERMANENTLY!" Marvin laughs evilly.

***

Back outside they all approached the entrance of the door. Nose Marie immediately gets the bad feeling Cooler leads them to yet another fluke of his. "Here we go rushing in again." She says, feeling skeptical. "It's okay, trust me." Cooler assures her. "Now where have we heard that before?" Whopper chimes in. "Geez, you too?" Cooler says directly to Whopper.

"I know how you guys feel. But maybe third times the charm?" Adam said, hoping to put Whopper and Nose Marie's mind at ease. "Yeah, the third time, I'll go on ahead and look at the doors. If it's another misfortune I won't keep rushing in anymore." Cooler goes on to inspect the big double doors.

"Careful cooler, something might scare us." Beamer said. Cooler examines the doors carefully, checking for anything dangerous, or even traps. He taps the doorknob if something happens, nothing. He starts to turn the knob, and then. Door opened. He checked one last time.

Searched high and low for any traps inside. There's none, confirming that it's safe to go inside the castle. "No fluke guys, it's safe to come in." He waves. "I guess we're clear to go guys." Adam said. "I could have sworn the entrance had a trap. Did it?" Whopper pauses and thinks. "Nah, probably my imagination." He shrugs. "Big Paw, the door is a little small to fit in. So I think you're gonna have to set this one out." Cooler said. "Aw, man." Big Paw makes a disappointed look. Oswin pets his head.

"Don't worry boy, I'll stay out here with ya." Oswin said. "Good Idea, just find a place to hide you guys. We might need to make a quick getaway if anything happens there." Adam said. "There's some bushes, we can wait there." Oswin said. "Be careful my friends." Big Paw said. "And good luck." Oswin finishes. Big Paw and Oswin went to hide themselves from sight.

"Hey Adam, you ready?" Reflex asked. Adam nods in response. "You know it." Adam regroups and follows them to the entrance. Everyone enters the castle, Cooler closes the door. That only made the entire room be covered in complete darkness. "AH the dark, I don't like the dark!" Whopper screams. "Who turned off the light?" Reflex added. "Is there a light switch somewhere?" Charlemagne tries to search for the light switch.

Everyone was suddenly feeling relief when the light suddenly came on, however. Their attention turns towards Adam holding Excalibur, glowing in the dark. "Wow, did you know that magic sword could do that?" Beamer wondered. Adam shakes his head. "I don't think so, I had no idea it could at all." He said. "Well as long as we have the light, we can press on." Cooler said.

"But which w-way?" Hairball stuttered. Hairball's right, which way indeed. Cooler checks around the room. Some big fancy large stairway, up there has three paths. Middle leads to a wide hallway. The other two would lead to other rooms. Cooler starts to think for a brief moment and snaps his fingers. "Alright, we'll have to split up in groups." Cooler announces.

Nose Marie gasped at his idea, taking this as more of his reckless ideas. "I don't think I approve of this Cooler dear." Nose Marie says in disapproval. "Nothing happened back at the entrance Nose, give me a chance." Cooler reassures her. "Then I'm coming along with you. No buts." Nose Marie walks ahead to the hallway. "We'll take that way Cooler." Bright eyes point to the left entrance to the room. "Then we'll go that way." Charlemagne added.

"If we're in agreement, let's move." Cooler marches off like a leader. And so they all split up to different areas of the castle. Little does Cooler know, he has some scary vicious eyes, staring.

***
Cooler, Whopper, Nose Marie, and Adam walk the hallway. While Adam holds the magic sword high in the sky, using it as a torch, or a candle. Passing by some portraits of the previous McNasty generations. Whopper eventually stops to see one portrait in particular.

"What is it Whopper?" Adam asked. "Look." He points. Adam and Cooler turn their focus on the picture of the very black knight himself. The very being that chased Arthur and Digalot, only for them to find Excalibur before he could.

They stare at the black knight making that same evil grin like most of them, posing with his horse, Holding his axe. "Is that the black knight we learned from legends?" Adam wonders. "It is, and that picture shows the perfect description. Evil, cruel, and a tyrant." Cooler said with disgust in his tone. "Not to mention mean." Whopper added. They go back to navigating the hallways.

In another hallway with Bright eyes, Reflex, and Beamer walked slowly. Building some dread with each passing step. "I r-really don't like this idea." Reflex said nervously. "Let's stick together, she did say that back when we arrived at the woods. Right Bright eyes?" Beamer said. "Yep, that's the plan." She gulps nervously at the dark hallways. "I hope." And so they continued onwards.

Meanwhile Charlemagne and Hairball checked around the hallways and looked at each of the doors. "I wonder how big this castle is?" Charlemagne wondered. "Probably pretty big." Hairball assumes. "Let's see where this leads, we may be able to find Colette and Howler." She says as they keep walking. Looking around for anything interesting or suspicious.

Back to Cooler's group, Adam lights the way while navigating in the dark. Nose Marie bumps into something. Adam went to look for the source of that noise. He raises Excalibur to see what it is. As soon as he shined at something metal figure. Nose Marie began to shriek. "A monster! Eek I say, eek!" Nose Marie jumps into Cooler's arms.

Adam gets another closer look, to his relief. It was just an empty set of knight armor. "There's your monster, just a lifeless suit of armor." Adam said. "If it's a knight you need, you can always count on me." Cooler jokes. She jumps off and dusts herself off. "I think I'll just walk dear." She goes on. "What was that about?" Adam asked. "Just a bit jumpy." Cooler replies.

"Cooler...Cooler..." A voice called. "What was that?" Nose Marie steps back. "I hope it's not a ghost." Whopper said. "Wait, listen." Cooler puts his ear up. "Cooler..." The voice called and followed up with a howl. Cooler realizes who was howling. "I know that howl anywhere, it's Howler." Cooler said. "Over here..." Howler called again. "If that was him, then Colette has to be here too." He finds something, a light switch. "Hmm." He flips the switch.

Turning the whole hallway light on, even the other hallways. Cooler turns to face Adam, Whopper, and Nose Marie. "You guys go find bright eyes and the cats, I'll go rescue them. And we'll find the bone of scone." Cooler said in command. "Cooler dear-" Nose Marie was about to interject but Cooler had already ran off. "I'll hurry and meet back here." He rushed off until his voice faded as he ran further away.

"There he goes again, Rushing right in." Nose Marie pouts. "Taking a lone gamble." Adam shakes his head. "Well let's go find the others. Maybe if we hurry we should be back to catch up." Whopper suggested. He turns around and walks off. Adam and Nose Marie nodded and followed Whopper.

***
Cooler kept running in excitement. He makes a halt and sees someone running, entering another room. It's him. Cooler runs in a haste and eventually catches up to the silhouette dog. He immediately knows who it was when he saw that top hat of his. "Howler, you're alright." Cooler said happily. "Cooler, what took you so long? I thought you would forget about me." Howler said, not even facing him.

"Why would I do that, I would rescue my friends before-" Howler cuts him off. "Before what?" Howler says, suddenly raising his voice a little. Catching him off guard. "Um, well..." Cooler attempts to find the right words to finish.

"Don't know a plan huh? It's always like you when you rush in without a thought, and something bad happens. You wanna know what will happen when you fail, when our friends fail and get captured? I'll tell you..." Howler slowly turns around, and walks out of the shadows. "They change you...INTO THIS!" Howler reveals himself looking very vicious. Making Cooler gasped in horror.

***

Whopper, Adam, And Nose Marie went to each of the directions the others went to. They found Bright eyes, Reflex, and Beamer looking around in a strange fancy room. Whopper whistles for them to get their attention and gestures them to follow. They searched around the castle for the two cats, until they found each other of course. Then they regrouped right back where Cooler was last seen. "So Cooler went that way on his own?" Beamer pointed to that opened door.

"That's it." Adam confirmed. "When is he ever gonna learn not to rush in often?" Nose Marie makes an aggravated look. "Too late now, we got to make sure he's okay, come on." Adam said. "Let's be careful." Whopper gives a heads up. Adam nodded and led on to whatever this led them to.

***

"Howler, what happened to you pal?" Cooler said, very concerned. "What happened, But what about me?" Another one emerges from the shadows. It was Colette, and she is even scarier than Howler. Baring sharp teeth. "Colette?" Cooler said worriedly. "What's wrong, I thought you were happy to see me? I see, it's how I look isn't it?" Colette said, sounding like her feelings were hurt. Cooler is at a loss for words, he doesn't see what's going on with them.

"N-no, I-" Cooler stutters. "When you took your precious time, we learned something about you. Marvin happened to share some secrets with us. And it was all about you." Howler said. "Secrets, what do I have to hide? I thought you already knew my secret?" Cooler said.

"Not those kinds of secrets honey, the deeper darker ones. The one that you think you forgot, but the truth is...You do remember, all of it. We learned that you were more than just coolers.
Weren't you?"

Colette said. At this rate, he couldn't find a way to speak. "We know you, but not that well. So come on buddy ol pal, tell us." Howler said. "Yeah sweetheart, tell us. You can trust us, you're friends." Colette said. Her ear perked up, hearing some footsteps. Putting on an evil smile.

"I got a better idea, we'll tell the others when they get down here." Colette hops right to Howler. "Come on, let's leave him be for a moment before we give them a warm welcome." She suggests an idea to Howler, which he smiles in return. Liking her Idea.

"That's not a bad idea. You know what they say, the more the merrier. I sure wonder how his friends would feel once they find out about the Cooler they never knew?" Howler said, as he and Colette fled before they arrived.

"Cooler, there you are." Nose Marie called. Cooler turns around to see the gang walking down the steps. Adam looked around the room. "What is this basement?" He asked. "I dunno, but I was there before, because I got captured back at the pound. Then they put me and Colette in a cage. This place really looks like a mad scientist laboratory." Whopper recalls the events. "Oh I bet." Beamer says sarcastically. "Cooler?" Reflex notices the scared look on his face. "Did you find them yet?" Charlemagne asked. "Or the bone?" Hairball spits out a hairball.

Before Cooler was gonna speak, a voice prevented him. "Welcome to my domain dear tourist." They all turn their attention to the source of the voice. The one and only, Marvin McNasty. Accompanied by Bones and Lumpy.

"Where are they?" Adam said, putting on an intimate look. "Who now? Oh yes, you wanted your dog friends back eh?" Marvin presents the dogs in question. Colette and Howler appeared, raising their claws and baring their fangs.

"Here they are." Marvin said in his cocky tone. Cooler stands in front, protecting his friends that are shaking in fear. Adam raises his sword in defense. "Hello old friend, I see you have come home." Marvin mentions. Everyone heard what he said, and was very confused. "What is he talking about?" Beamer said. "Cooler..." Whopper said, with a sad puppy face. "What are you on about?" Adam asked.

"Why lead you to your doom of course, all thanks to Cooler. My little puppy, fulfilling his destiny for me." Marvin said. "What?" Reflex gasped. "And why would he be involved with you?" Adam questions. "Why I'm glad you asked me that, dear boy. It's simple, it was all part of a plan. For him to lead you all to my lair. Besides, me and him go a long way back when he was a pup. When I adopted him, Isn't that right Cooler McNasty?" Marvin kneels down, looking at him. Cooler starts to notice the red smoke, he's trying to get to him, Manipulating him like a puppet.

"You did? If that's the claim, he should be wearing a dog tag." Adam added. Then the red smoke disappears from Cooler's vision as he snaps out of his trance. "Yeah, the tag always confirms the owner of the dog." Bright eyes said. "Well why don't you ask him then." Colette said. "Yeah, Cooler. Show them the dog tag." "Show them, show them, show them." Howler and Colette chanted, encouraging him to show the dog tag.

Cooler's ears dropped down in defeat, leaving no other choice. He shows them the Dog tag. Everyone examined the tag, everyone gasped at the last name. The tag reads: Cooler McNasty. Everyone gasped, shocked at that name. Even Whopper. Adam just doesn't know how to react about this. No way he would lead them to their demise, would he?

"I- I can't believe this." Nose Marie said, nearly about to break down. "I can explain." Cooler pleads for her to listen. "LEAVE me alone, I don't even want to look at you right now." Nose Marie turns around, refusing to look at Cooler. "Please just listen... guys." Bright eyes, Reflex, Beamer shared the same angry look at him. Feeling betrayal.

"Wait, I know he can be a jerk, but can't we just ever-" Whopper tries to tell them. "Forget it Whopper, I don't see him making a second chance after the mines." Beamer said. "B-but-" He turns to Bright eyes. "Bright eyes?" Whopper pleads for her to listen. Bright eyes wanted to say something, but instead she just looked away. "I don't think I approve of how Cooler treated ya." She says without looking right at him.

"Please listen...please. At least once..." Whopper was about to shed a tear. "What about that time he denied the cat's help because it's a dog's job?" Reflex added that to the other things Cooler has done. Whopper wanted to object to this, but he couldn't. He doesn't have the right tongue to argue.

Adam focused on Marvin, with an angry look. "Now look whatchu did, they all hate them now." Adam said angrily. "I know, but that's because it's the truth. After all, the truth hurts doesn't it?" Marvin looks at the very sword he couldn't believe he thought he would never ever see. Excalibur. "Ah, so it is true. Excalibur really does live." Marvin said.

"What, you want it or something? I know your ancestors wanted it badly." Adam raised his sword. "Tempting offer, but that's all in the past. You can keep it, The bone however is all I want. The power to help me take over the WORLD!" Marvin said. "I won't let you do this!" Adam yelled. "Look around you boy, you're trapped. I got two vicious guard dogs, and your dog pals will be next. Because I have plans for them, and you just happen to be our very important guest." Marvin states.

"Oh yeah, for what exactly?" Adam asked. "You will find out later, but now you will helplessly watch as I put those friends of yours in my MEAN Machine!" Marvin said. "The what?" Adam said confusingly. "He means this kid."

Lumpy said as he and Bones opened the curtains to reveal the mean machine. From the looks of it, it doesn't seem scary looking. But he can't imagine the horror of the dogs and cats looking vicious like Howler and Colette.

"And as for you boy, you will help me by using that necklace to help me take over the pound, the country, and then...THE WORLD!" Before he could continue, he started to sniffle, and then... "ACHOO!" He sneezed, which could only mean one thing to him. "THERE'S A CAT IN HEEERE!"

He yells. Adam forgot he remembered back at the pound. He sneezed whenever the cat's presence was near. "I'm allergic to cats!" He goes on as Charlemagne and Hairball try to tip toe before they're eventually found by Marvin.

It didn't take long for Marvin to find those cat intruders. "THERE THEY ARE!" Marvin points at the two cats. Hairball jumps onto Charlemagne in fright. "GET THEM OUT OF HERE!" He orders his two henchmen to kick them out of his domain. Lumpy and Bones do as he says, and they immediately go after Charlemagne and Hairball. "No sooner said than done boss." Lumpy says, and begins to chase them.

"Cooler, I forgot he's allergic to cats." Adam reminds Cooler. He nods in acknowledgement. "Then we may have a ticket out of here but we better find an exit." Cooler looks around for something useful.

He finds a pot, a broom, and some paint with a brush. "Hurry, we're running out of time." Cooler said. Adam starts to look for an exit, running up wouldn't be a wise move with Howler and Colette on their heels. So there must be an alternate exit somewhere. Out of nowhere a puff of smoke screen fills the room. Making everyone blind in the smoke.

"Hey, who turned off the lights?" Bones said as he and Lumpy struggled to find the cats. Charlemagne and Hairball regrouped with Adam. Puzzled about the smoke screen. "Run Adam." A voice called. The three searched for whoever the voice was, it was certainly not Oswin. "Run Adam run. Hurry, follow my voice and find an alternate route." A voice said.

Adam gets Whopper's attention by patting his shoulder. "Whopper, come on. We better take our chance to escape." Adam urged him to come on. "What about Cooler?" Whopper said worriedly. "He'll catch up, come on guys." Adam gestures to them to follow him up the stone stairs. "You heard him, let's move it." Charlemagne says and rushes up the stairs. So did Whopper and Hairball. While Cooler disguises himself as a cat. Using a paint brush to draw a cat face, and using the bristles on his tail.

"Hurry up and get those cats out of here!" Marvin yells in rage. Cooler goes right up to Marvin and nudges his legs. Making those cat noises.

Marvin looks down in terror to find a cat being nice and adorable to him, Very clueless that it was Cooler intimidating as a cat. "And take this one with...you..." Marvin said as he shook in disgust. Bones swipes Cooler and holds him like how he holds a cat. Cooler looks at all of his friends, even Nose Marie.

"Nose Marie...guys. I'll come back and make this right, I promise." Cooler vows. Nose Marie only returned with an angry look of betrayal in her eyes. Cooler frowns that she's still mad, but he knows there will be a way to fix this and make amends with them and Nose Marie.