" This is INSANE!" Nelson said.

" I know." Mia replied.

" This doesn't feel like Master Wu." Nelson added, peddling his bike.

" Well, at least Blackie's enjoying." Mia glanced at her basket, which held a very happy black cat. She  scratched the cat behind the ears. Blackie's carefree attitude offered a much-needed touch of humor amidst the unsettling strangeness of their surroundings.

Suddenly, the tunnel ahead dipped downwards, forming a steep incline. The tunnel floor tilted, sending them careening downhill. Mia, caught by surprise, yelped in alarm as her makeshift bike began to pick up speed.

"Hold on!" she yelled to Nelson, who was struggling to maintain his balance on his own bike.

The tunnel twisted and turned, the glowing panels blurring into streaks of blue light. The wind whipped past them, tearing at their clothes and making it nearly impossible to see. Blackie, however, seemed to anticipate the turns, bracing himself against the rim of the basket with his claws.

As they reached the bottom of the incline, the tunnel straightened out again. Mia, panting heavily, managed to slow down her bike. Nelson, however, wasn't as fortunate. He skidded to a halt a few meters ahead, his bike flying out from under him and tumbling harmlessly into the metal wall.

"Ow!" Nelson groaned, picking himself up from the floor. He dusted himself off, then looked at his bike with a grimace. "Well, that went well."

Mia chuckled, despite herself. "Looks like your bike needs a little... maintenance."

Shaking the dizziness from his head, Nelson grinned at her. "At least we're still in one piece, and so is my pride... mostly."

They continued down the tunnel, their pace slower now, their bikes abandoned for the time being. The blue glow pulsed around them, creating an eerie silence that emphasized the strangeness of their situation.

"Do you think this tunnel leads out of the cavern?" Mia asked, her voice echoing in the silence.

Nelson shrugged, his eyes scanning the tunnel ahead. "Honestly? No idea. This whole place is a giant mystery."

He paused for a moment, then added with a hint of humor, "Maybe at the end of this tunnel, we'll find a giant cheese factory run by friendly robots."

Mia smirked. "Sounds like something out of one of Wu's old stories."

" Humans, I suggest you re-make your bikes. The next part of this tunnels looks rocky." Blackie chirped.

" I guess." Nelson sighed, looking at what was left of his bike.

" Well, let's get working!" Mia said cheerfully, scavenging for makeshift tools.

______________________________________________________________

It took a full hour, but they made their bikes again..... sort of. 

With makeshift repairs completed, Nelson and Mia cautiously mounted their jury-rigged bikes, hoping their patchwork would hold up against whatever challenges lay ahead. Blackie, nestled securely in Mia's basket, seemed content to continue their journey, his tail flicking lazily.

As they pedaled forward, the tunnel gradually narrowed, the glowing panels above casting long shadows along the walls. The air grew cooler, carrying with it a faint scent of damp earth. Mia glanced over her shoulder, noting the dwindling light behind them, a stark reminder of how deep they had ventured into the cavern's depths.

"Are we even heading in the right direction?" Nelson muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration as he navigated the increasingly uneven terrain.

Mia shrugged, her eyes scanning the tunnel ahead. "Only one way to find out, I guess."

The tunnel twisted and turned, the path ahead obscured by sharp corners and jagged outcroppings. Nelson gritted his teeth, his hands tightening on the handlebars as he fought to maintain control over his makeshift bike. Mia followed closely behind, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

Suddenly, the tunnel opened up into a vast chamber, the ceiling towering high above them. Moonlight streamed in from a fissure in the rocky ceiling, bathing the chamber in an ethereal glow. In the center of the chamber stood a towering stone statue, its features weathered by time but still retaining an air of ancient majesty.

Mia and Nelson exchanged a bewildered glance, their eyes wide with wonder. Blackie, sensing their confusion, let out a soft meow, his tail swishing back and forth.

"What do you think it is?" Nelson whispered, his voice barely audible in the cavernous chamber.

Mia shook her head, her gaze fixed on the mysterious statue. "I have no idea, but it's definitely not something you see every day."

They dismounted their bikes, approaching the statue with cautious steps. As they drew closer, they could make out intricate carvings etched into the stone, depicting scenes of battles long forgotten and heroes of legend. Mia traced her fingers along the smooth surface, her mind buzzing with questions.

"Who do you think made this?" Nelson mused, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Mia shrugged, a sense of awe washing over her. "Who knows? But one thing's for sure, we're definitely not in Whatsimagood... Moostra.... whatever that place which we rented that hotel at anymore." Nelson nodded. A few minutes later, they were pushing their bikes along with them.

" This ought to be fun!" Nelson grumbled sarcastically.

" Why?" 

" 'Cause. Wu don't let us have a break."

" Nelson, you're sounding like a cowboy."

" Maybe I am a cowboy."

" What?!" 

" You not hear me? I said I am cowboy."

Before Mia could reply, she caught sight of something and screamed, dropping her bike and rushing to the source.

" No.... no!" She sobbed, stroking the object.

" Mia? What happened?!" Nelson asked, rushing to her side.

" No one likes me."

* Intense closing of the episode and onto the new*

" Mia? What happened?!" Nelson asked, rushing to her side.

" No one likes me." She whispered.

Wait, what?" Nelson was confused. Mia pointed to a mirror, and Nelson choked on his spit. He sputtered wildly.

" Nelson!" Mia yelled, hitting him hard on his back. " What's wrong?!"

" I.... I have...."

" What? What do you have?"

Nelson turned to her, his eyes filled with tears.

" You..... You're dead."

" Wait, what?! How?!" Mia was starting to panic.

" I don't know. I just saw me, in a graveyard, perched next to a tombstone that says your name."

" But.... I saw you and the others, abandoning me. My greatest fear."

" And mine, Mia. Losing you."

 Mia stared at her reflection in the polished stone surface of the statue's base. It wasn't a mirror, but it was clear enough to show a ghostly image shimmering within. Fear twisted in her gut, but it was overshadowed by a different emotion – confusion.

"But... how?" Her voice trembled, the single word echoing in the vast chamber. "I'm right here. This is me."

Nelson approached, hesitantly reaching out a hand towards the reflection. His fingers passed through the shimmering image, encountering only cool stone. He withdrew his hand, his face pale.

"Maybe it's a trick," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "Some kind of illusion."

Mia shook her head, a hollow feeling settling in her chest. "But it felt so real," she whispered, her eyes welling up. "Seeing you and Nya and Jay and the others..... walk away... believing you didn't care."

The fear of abandonment, her deepest terror, clawed at her. Had it been a vision? A premonition of something to come? The image in the stone, a ghostly echo of her worst nightmare, seemed to mock her.

Nelson, sensing her despair, placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey," he said gently. "Even if it is real... it doesn't have to happen. We'll figure this out, together."

His words offered a glimmer of hope, a lifeline in the storm of fear and confusion. Mia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"You're right," she said, forcing a smile. "Freaking out won't help. We need a plan."

She glanced back at the imposing statue, a silent witness to their bizarre predicament. "Maybe this place, this statue... it holds some answers."

Blackie, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, let out a soft meow and rubbed against Mia's leg. She knelt down and stroked his fur, finding comfort in his familiar presence.

"Let's start by looking for clues," Mia said, her voice gaining strength. "Something on the statue, anything that might explain what's happening."

Together, they approached the weathered stone giant, their fear momentarily replaced by a new resolve. They scoured the intricate carvings, searching for any hidden symbols or inscriptions. The moonlight filtering through the fissure cast long, dancing shadows, adding an air of mystery to the chamber.

As they examined the statue, Nelson noticed a faint inscription etched along the base. He brushed away some dust, revealing a series of strange symbols unlike anything he had ever seen before.

"Hey, Mia, look at this!" he called out, pointing towards the inscription.

Mia joined him, her eyes widening as she studied the symbols. They were intricate and otherworldly, pulsating with an almost imperceptible light.

A sudden thought struck her. "Blackie!" she exclaimed, reaching into her basket. "His eyes... they glow with the same light!"

" That, human, is because of the moonlight." Blackie started, licking his paws.

" Moonlight?" Mia echoed. She looked up, and moonlight streamed through the cracks in the rocks.

" Huh. Time flies fast." Mia said.

" Or, maybe it's a mirror!" Nelson shouted, examining the statue.

" Pardon?" Mia turned.

" Mia, it's not reality! It's a mirror!"

" Like the one at the Explorer's club?"

" Yes! It's so cool!"

" Nelson, are you insane?! How is is cool?!"

" I mean, it's cool it's not real. I really wanted to-" He broke off, realizing what he was going to say. He blushed wildly and looked at his shoes. Mia lifted his face up to face hers.

" You know, I'd like that too." She said. Then she started laughing.

" What? Do I have something in my hair?!" Nelson asked.

" No. I'm just thinking what Jay would say. ' You're telling me, you want to have kids?! And get married! You guys are so young, yet you guys dream about life! At least Nya and I don't do that!"' Mia giggled.

" Yeah, and Nya would reply, ' Oh, Jay. You're so cute.'"

They both giggled madly, but Blackie's meow broke them up.

" Humans, do I have to remind you about Mr. 'Angry Guy with no Treats who Stepped on my tail once' needs your rescuing!"

Mia and Nelson exchanged a look, their laughter fading into a shared understanding. They knew Blackie's dramatic flair masked a genuine concern for Wu.

"Alright, alright," Mia said, still chuckling as she stood up. "We're coming, Blackie. Lead the way."

With Blackie trotting ahead, they followed him through the winding paths of the moonlit garden until they reached.... a door.

Not just any door, though. A door.

" A door?!" Mia read the inscriptions on the door. " That's what you named it?!"

" Yeah, what did you want me to name it?  Mister- Wu- Who- Is- The- Most-"

" Okay, okay, no need to argue." Nelson said gently. " A door is a very suitable name, Blackie."

" Why, thank you."

Ignoring Mia's exasperated sigh, Nelson reached out and grasped the ornate handle. With a dramatic flourish, he pushed the door open, revealing a sight that made them both gape in astonishment.

The room beyond wasn't a dusty chamber or hidden passage, but a fantastical laboratory overflowing with bubbling cauldrons, glowing vials, and shelves upon shelves crammed with peculiar ingredients – glowing mushrooms, shimmering crystals, and even the occasional shrunken head (which Nelson studiously avoided looking at).

"Whoa," Nelson breathed, stepping cautiously into the room. "This is... amazing!"

Mia, still reeling from the unexpected sight, followed him inside. Blackie, ever the opportunist, darted past them, weaving between the rows of potions, sniffing at the bubbling concoctions with a curious glint in his golden eyes.

"This must be Wu's secret potion lab!" Nelson exclaimed, his voice echoing in the cavernous room. He reached out, mesmerized, towards a vial filled with swirling purple liquid.

"Don't touch anything!" Mia yelped, grabbing his wrist just in time. "Who knows what these potions do?!"

But it was too late. Nelson, his curiosity burning brighter than his caution, had already uncorked the vial. A puff of purple smoke erupted, engulfing him whole.

Mia coughed, waving away the smoke. When it cleared, she blinked in disbelief. In place of Nelson stood a tall, slender figure with sleek black hair and emerald green eyes – a human version of Blackie!

Blackie himself, meanwhile, had undergone a transformation of his own. Gone was the sleek black cat. Now perched on a shelf, looking distinctly unimpressed, was a miniature Nelson, complete with a tiny orange backpack and a scowl etched on his face.

"Mia," Mini-Nelson squeaked, his voice high-pitched and comical. "I think Blackie stole my body!"

Mia, unable to hold back a laugh, pointed at the human Blackie. "Looks like Blackie stole yours too!"

Human-Blackie, still adjusting to his newfound form, swatted at a vial with his tail, sending it crashing to the floor. The vial shattered, releasing a cloud of green mist that engulfed the entire room.

Suddenly, the gravity in the room seemed to shift. Mia felt herself growing taller, her clothes straining against her expanding frame. Nelson (still miniature) found himself clinging desperately to the edge of a table, his tiny legs dangling helplessly in mid-air.

"Whoa!" Giant-Mia boomed, her voice echoing off the walls. "I think I'm... growing!"

The green mist swirled around them, causing chaos with every passing second. A moment later, the anti-gravity effects reversed, sending Mini-Nelson hurtling towards the ceiling, his screams echoing through the room.

As quickly as it began, the chaos subsided. The green mist dissipated, leaving behind a bewildered group of friends (and a disgruntled feline in a human body) amidst a room of scattered potions and broken vials.

Giant-Mia carefully lowered herself to the ground, careful not to crush anything (or anyone) beneath her. Mini-Nelson, now back to his normal size, glared at Blackie (who was nonchalantly grooming his fur) with a mixture of annoyance and amusement.

"Well, that was... eventful," Mia said, her voice still booming despite her return to normal size. "Maybe we should leave the potion-making to Wu..."

Blackie, as if understanding her words, hopped off the shelf and sauntered towards the door. He paused, flicked his tail dismissively, and then uttered in a surprisingly deep voice, "Honestly, amateurs."

The duo shook their heads, then followed Blackie outside, ready for the next challenge.