Master Wu gathered everyone in the center of the grotto, "Here are the facts," he stated, pacing back and forth in front of us. "We are lost underground, separated from our friends who are being hunted by an evil necromancer and an army of reanimated skeletons. We have very few weapons and no way out, but we are not giving in to despair. Where there is a will there is a way, and we will find it. I wants suggestions. Ideas."

The Upply mumbled half-heartedly, but no one had any clear options.

"I've got an idea," Cole piped up, "but this one's a little nuts."

"This one?" Plundar asked incredulously.

"Let's hear it," Wu interrupted.

Cole removed the mace from the holster on his back and began tracing in the dirt, "These are the tracks we found earlier, which I'm guessing lead to the surface. And let's pretend this is the mine cart." He reached over and plucked a mushroom from Fungus's hat, "We take the wheels off, then strap the axel to the mech like a pair of giant roller skates, and use the mech to propel the other carts back up the tracks." He turned back to Fungus, "Propelling please?"

Fungus removed his hat and, reaching inside, sprinkled some dust onto the mushroom which began to glow and spin violently.

"Then," Cole continued, "we get in the carts, and go zipping back up the tracks, like this," He threw the mushroom down onto the lines in the ground. The mushroom chaotically followed the tracks before flying into the air, zooming around (nearly hitting Vania and Wu in the process) and exploding in a firework.

"Explosion is us?" Korgran asked dubiously.

"That idea seems a little... What's the word I'm looking for? Oh yeah, nuts," Plundar scorned.

"I told you that at the start," Cole lamented, "Yeesh, nobody listens."

Hesitantly, I placed my hand on Cole's shoulder in a consoling manner. "I don't hear anybody else with suggestions," I piped up, "So if you guys want to go back to Rock-Bottom while we take a chance, by all means."

"I vote in favor of Cole's plan," Wu spoke up.

"As do I," Fungus chimed in.

"Korgran also," voiced Korgran. "And also Korgran's non-speaking ax."

"Ha-ha, you guys are bananas!" For a moment, we were stupefied at the voice coming from Korgran's ax, but we shook of the shock.

"Well Plundar," Fungus pressed, "what do your dice advise?"

Plundar pulled his dice from his pocket and stared at them for a second before tossing them away, "I'm decided this one," he announced, "and you've gotten me this far, so I'm with you all the way."

We got to work disassembling the mine carts. Cole knocked the wheels off and the Upply and I attached them to the feet of the mech. Cole and Wu hopped up into the cockpit of the mech, attempting to riddle out the controls. A moment later the mech sprang to life, we jumped back out of the way quickly as a motor on the back spun into action, propelling the mech forward. A shout came from Cole as he began to lose control of the mech as it slid around on the wheels from the mine carts. Nearly stomping on every one of us at one point or another, we decided it was best to leave the temple until Cole got a handle on the controls. After a few minutes, Cole made it out of the temple, walking stiffly.

I shook my head as he continued his battle with gravity, this was going to take a while. After again nearly crushing all of us, Cole finally steadied himself and the mech.

"See? I'm a natural!" he shouted down.

Wu hopped out of the cockpit, "I am not riding in that thing. Someone else can." He huffed.

I wanted to jump in, but hesitated.

"I'll go!" I turned to see Vania next to me. Catching my eye as she entered the mech, she smirked at me, an evil, malicious twinkle in her eye.

A boiling rage and a sinking emptiness fought for my attention as I watched Cole help her up into the seat behind him. I really needed to get over this.

Cole cautiously walked the mech back up to the mine tracks and stepped onto the tracks, locking his wheels in place. "Looks good!" Wu called up before stepping into the mine cart with me, Fungus, and Korgran. Adam and Plundar were in the back cart.

Cole readied the mech and grabbed onto the back cart, "Everyone ready?"

"No, not really," Vania voiced.

"Oh, my gosh," I massaged my temples, this was actually exhausting. I did my best to tune out their conversation, but instead, I just heard the whisperings of my subconscious.

"-We'll be with you." Everyone turned and nodded towards the mech at Cole's words. Not me.

"Here goes nothin'" Cole began, and powered up the mech. The motor whirred into action, pushing us back up the tracks.

"Is it too late to change my mind?" Plundar stuttered.

The mech picked up speed and we shot through the caves, faster than before, but slightly more in control. As we ascended the first hill, the mech lost power, causing us to begin falling backwards. Shouts of discouragement arose from us, but Cole revamped the mech, pushing us up with another shout. As we took a turn at break-neck speed, Wu flew out of the cart. Korgran and I quickly grabbed his arms and hauled him back inside.

"This is outrageous!" Wu yelled. We were going too fast. The carts jumped the track as we took bumps too quickly.

"Cole, the lava monster!" I heard Vania express, "What if it's still in the cave waiting for us?"

"What, just standing there, staring at a wall?" Cole returned, "No way, I'm sure he's gone back to his-"

"Nope," I answered, sensing the monster's presence a moment before we saw it, just standing in a section of the cave, staring at the wall.

"OH SH-!" Cole started as the monster turned and began chasing us. The mech zoomed up the tracks, trying to outpace the monster. It launched itself at us as we continued up the track, shooting lava balls at us.

"Eat. My. DUST!" Cole shouted, firing the mech even faster up the tracks.

"You did it Cole," Wu called over the screams of everyone else, "We're losing him."

As we entered another section of cave within the mountain, Plundar pointed towards the ceiling, "What are those?" he asked.

"The freaking bats!" I answered. No sooner had the words left my mouth than the lot of them, at least twenty, began a barrage against our little carts. We fought them off as best we could in the little space and weapons we had. One opened the hatch of the mech and attempted to carry Vania off. Good. Cole let go of the carts in an attempt to shoo the bats away, but he let go of us in the process. We continued to sail down the tracks, but over the rumblings of the cart another sound stuck out.

"COLE!" I screamed, "THE LAVA MONSTER!"

I noticed the mech shift towards the monster as it flung itself at Cole's mech. I was momentarily distracted from our own plight of the carts moving out of control, but my attention was soon brought back.

"We gotta stop this thing!" Plundar shouted, sounding crazed.

"Korgran, try to use your ax as a brake on the wheels!" I stated, trying to take control of the situation.

I watched down the track as the monster dragged Cole out of the tunnel we were headed for.

"Hurry!" I pressed, "Fungus, it's there anything you can do?"

He shrugged, "I lost my hat back there," he motioned further down the track.

Our cart kept on moving down the track, slower, but not my much. We entered another lava filled cave, glancing down, Cole was on a rocky platform at the bottom battling the monster.

"Cole!" Wu called down.

Shrieks filled the air as the Upply caught sight of the broken tracks that lay in front of us.

The end of the tracks were fast approaching. Even though Cole was following us, it didn't look like we were going to make it.

"Say your prayers," I hollered as the edge got closer and closer. Cole was speeding up, he might make it. Suddenly, the lava monster jumped onto the tracks in front of him, but he didn't let that stop him. Holding a giant sword, Cole cut through the lava monster, but it appeared it would be too late. We dropped from the tracks and plummeted towards the lava. I squeezed my eyes shut, I didn't want to see how this would end. Abruptly, we stopped moving. Opening my eyes, Cole's mech was carrying us as it hovered above the lava. He placed the carts back on the tracks and we resumed our upward drive. Cheering arose from the group, we were back on track.

"This stone thing flies too?" Korgran asked.

"You guys okay?" Cole questioned.

"We're going to fast!" Wu exasperated.

"I can't slow it down! The lava is overheating the controls!" Cole returned, "This is gonna get a little bumpy!"

A moment later we tore through the walls of the mountain right into the center of the palace gardens. The mech powered down, overrun from the lava that still covered parts of it. The Upply, Wu, and I rose shakily. I glanced towards the mech as the front hatch opened and Cole dropped out. I breathed a sigh of relief, but it was cut short as he turned and helped Vania out of the mech. I felt my heart shatter in my chest as he held onto her and swung her down, asking, "Are you okay?" as he took her hands in his. My ears began to ring, my vision blurred, my head reeling. I sat down hard, holding my head in my hands. This couldn't be happening.

"Is that the sky?" Fungus spoke, seeming not to believe what he was seeing.

"Is sure is," Wu answered.

"You mean we made it?" Plundar piped up.

"We're out?" Korgran continued. The three paused before erupting in a triumphant shout.

"We made it!" Plundar exclaimed.

"We're no longer the Lowly!" Korgran began.

"We're the Upply!" Fungus finished. The three circled around Vania and Cole, chanting "Upply. Upply."

I sensed Wu's footsteps nearing me, "Are you alright Celine? You don't seem well."

"I'm fine," I brushed him off, "I just... I'm fine." I shook my head and stood up. I wasn't going to let this get to me. I needed to be strong. I knew I was right about her, and nothing could change that fact.

"We need to face Vangelis," Cole cut into the Upply's chant. They agreed, and we made our way towards the throne room.

Vania pushed the doors to the throne room open and gasped. On the floor in front of the throne was her dragon in a cage.

"Chompy? Did my father do this to you?" She asked as she ran up and knelt by the cage. "Oh, that makes me mad. That make me so mad!" She yanked at the bars of the cage in frustration. "Just hang on. Cole?" She turned to look at him and wrenched the cage apart, freeing the tiny dragon who flew into Vania's arms. Cole grinned as he watched the scene unfold. I stood silently, a too familiar emptiness settling in the pit of my chest.

Adam waddled up and Chompy jumped away from Vania and bawled at him. The two seemed to like one another. Chompy leapt onto Adam's back and the two hopped across the room together.

"Halt," a voice commanded from the doors. I swiveled where I stood. Hailmar along with a few other guards had entered the room, weapons ready. "Princess Vania?" he inquired after studying the group.

"Hailmar?" she returned, a strange cockiness about her. Cole put his arm out in a protective manner. The hole inside me grew.

"You two!" Hailmar bellowed, pointing his naginata at Cole and me.

"Hailmar it's okay," Vania reasoned, "Cole is a friend."

"The king gave orders for the ninja to be arrested. On sight! He said they are traitors," Hailmar ordered as he and the other guards surrounded us.

"That's not true. My father is the traitor. He's lying to you!" Vania whined.

"Stand aside princess," Hailmar spoke, a soothing but commanding edge to his voice. Cole cowered behind her, but I stood my ground. By this time, adrenaline was pumping through me, I was ready to kill someone and I didn't care who. If these guys wanted a fight, they could have one. I cracked my knuckles and neck, staring the men down.

"Hailmar, listen. My father is lying to you. He's using you! Cole and these men, they were betrayed by my father. They were cast into the mountain," Vania explained.

"Stand aside!" Hailmar ordered, "on the King's orders!"

"Yeah Vania," I sassed from the back, "Stand aside. Let 'em at us."

"Go," Vania whispered to Cole.

"What?"

"He won't hurt me," She responded, "just go."

"Cole, I will stay with the princess," Wu chimed in, "find the others. Save them."

"On the King's orders, I command you, stand aside!" Hailmar shouted, readying himself for a fight.

We braced ourselves as well, ready for a battle. Suddenly, Adam returned and shot webs at two of the guards, knocking them to the side.

"Master Wu, catch!" Cole called and tossed his mace to Wu who used it to fight of the guards that were now attacking him. Cole led the way as the Upply and I followed him out of the throne room, fighting off the guards as we made our escape. As we made our getaway from the throne room, I turned back after hearing a scream. Chompy had grown in size again. Perfect distraction I mused to myself as I ran out of the throne room and back towards the palace gardens and the grate that would lead us to the heart of the mountain.