(In Rock-Bottom, the group are sitting around a purple fire while Cole is still seen unconscious.)
Styx: Hey, Cole buddy. Cole.... (Cole stirs.) Master Wu, do something.
Wu: (Talking to the barbarian.) And you say your ax talks? Curious.
Styx: (Sighs.) Cole....Wake up!
Cole: (He bolts up and sees a large spider.) Aah!
Styx: Finally. (Stands on Cole's shoulder.)
Thief: Jeez, buddy, relax! That's Adam. He wouldn't hurt a fly.
Cole: Where am I? Who are you people?
Vania: (Looks back.) Cole!
Cole: Vania! Master Wu!
Vania: Thank the mountain.
Sorcerer: Good, sir Ninja, allow me to make the introductions! May I present, Korgran of Metalonia!
Korgran: Korgran is pleased to meet you.
Sorcerer: Plundar the Thief! Return his weapon, Plundar.
Plundar: Sorry, force of habit. (He returns Cole's shuriken.)
Sorcerer: And I am Fungus the Sorcerer. Around these parts, we are known simply as the Lowly.
Cole: The Lowly? So you're some kind of team?
Styx: Uh.....
Plundar: Uh, we are a party of adventurers. (They stand proudly.)
Cole: Adventurers? That's just what we need, actually. We're kind of on a quest and we could really use some help.
Korgran: Quest? (He fumbles with his axe, and drops it, nearly hitting Fungus.) Uh, Korgran... very busy just now. Must shine axe. (He walks off.)
Plundar: Uh, yeah, me too. Uh, I've got ... I-I've got stuff to steal. Loot to find. (He walks off as well.)
Fungus: Me as well, unfortunately. My schedule is a nightmare. (He starts walking off.)
Cole: (To Styx.) What's wrong with them?
Styx: They've been like this since you all woke up. (Shrugs.) But, they were telling me a story before Master Wu woke up.
Cole: (To Fungus.) I don't understand. Are you guys adventurers or not?
Fungus: Actually, the sad truth is, we wouldn't be much help. We failed at the only quest we ever attempted, which is why we're down here.
Cole: What happened?
Korgran: Korgran will tell the tale...
Styx: Here we go again.
(Meanwhile, King Vangelis is seen with the Skull in the throne room.)
Hazza D'ur: How long until the guards realize the truth?
Vangelis: They won't. (Looks towards Chompy who is inside a cage.) I will make sure of it.
(Back in the mountain, the Lowly have finished telling their tale.)
Plundar: And, uh, that's the story of our quest.
Fungus: Finding the Skull of Hazza D'ur.
Plundar: That's how we ended up here.
Fungus: From the king.
Plundar: And that's why we're called the Lowly.
Fungus: For there is no one lower than us.
Korgran: Even the worms are above Korgran.
Wu: But how do you know what the King said to the Skull, after you fell into the pit?
Plundar: Oh, I was just guessing. I made that part up to give it a little more drama.
Styx: Uh, huh. Now that we're done with the whole story because I've already heard it two times now. It's time to-
Fungus: Villainous scoundrel!
Korgran: Evil King!
Plundar: Rotten numbskull.
Vania: Dad. (Everyone looks at her.) Uh, but you're right. He is evil. I know that now.
Cole: (Puts his hand on Vania's shoulder.) I made a promise a long time ago, that I wouldn't give up! Ever! And I'm not letting you give up. Our friends are out there somewhere, they need us! And King Vangelis is out there and he needs a butt-kicking! And the someone that's gonna do the kicking is us! So from now on, we're not the Lowly. We're the Upply! Because that's where we're going! Up! What do you say? Who's with me?
(In a flashback, Lou takes a young Cole to visit Lilly.)
Past Lilly: (coughs) Hi, honey.
Past Cole: Mom! (He runs to her and hugs her.) I don't want you to be sick anymore, Mom!
Past Lilly: I know. But we don't always get what we want, do we? Your father said you got into trouble at school.
Past Cole: Yeah. But it - it wasn't my fault! There's this kid, he's just - he's just a big bully! He's always picking on the little kids and -
Past Lilly: And you got in a fight.
Past Cole: I'm sorry, Mom. I promise, I-I won't fight anymore. I'll be good from now on. I'll make you proud! And- and-
Past Lilly: Oh, Cole. Don't you see? I am proud. I want you to promise me, Cole, that you will always stand up to those who are cruel and unjust. Always.
Past Cole: I-I promise, Mom. Always.
(The flashback ends. Cole, the Lowly, Wu, Vania, and Styx are transferring through the caves.)
Plundar: What are we doing? We've explored this tunnel a million times. If there was a way out of Rock-Bottom, we would have found it already.
Fungus: Come now, Plundar. It doesn't hurt to have someone take a fresh look.
Plundar: It's hurting my feet! We've been at this for hours.
Cole: (Sighs from the front.) I know I shouldn't be worrying about what they're saying.
Styx: It's not their fault they've lost all hope after 10 years of isolation.
Cole: Exactly....
Styx: .....But?
Cole: But they could at least be a little more optimistic. (Looks at Styx who shrugs.)
Styx: Do not expect optimism from me, that was Crystal and Jay's job.
Vania: (Scolding.) Are we having a tea time chat, or are we trying to escape this dungeon? (She catches up to Cole.) Another dead end?
Cole: Another dead end. (Turns around.) What about this way...
Fungus: Good sir Ninja, if it makes you feel any better, the four of us have been failing to escape this place for years.
Cole: Well, thank you, but that doesn't really help. (Walks past them.)
Plundar: (Sighs) What are we doing following this guy? This is a waste of time. We're already a bunch of failed adventurers. We don't need a leader to help us fail more.
Vania: Cole isn't helping us fail! He's helping us escape! (Plundar making the babbling sign with his hands.) For your information, Cole is a fantastic leader!
Plundar: Oh yeah? Where's he leading us? In circles?
Styx: I mean, I've seen better. (Wu looks at him.) But who am I to argue? I've just been part of this team before the actual leader joined it, no big deal. (Cole sighs.)
Plundar: Because guess where we are. That's right, back in Rock-Bottom.
(Cole throws a rock into the pool in frustration. While Styx appears on Wu shoulder.)
Styx: Woah, take it easy Cole.
Wu: What is on your mind, Cole? You seem troubled.
Cole: Ever since I saw my mother's locket, I felt her presence. She's connected to this place somehow, I - I can feel it! (Sighs) Listen to me, what am I talking about? Why would my mother have come to this place? We're at the bottom of the world.
Styx: Technically, we're in the sky. (Wu glares at him.) What? I'm just telling the truth!
Wu: (Picks up a rock.) You're right, Cole.
Styx: But- (He sees a shadow rush by.) What the-
Wu: This is the lowest you have ever been.
Cole: Thanks for noticing.
Styx: (Seen on the ground.) Hey, spider.
Plundar: Uh, his name is Adam.
Styx: Uh-huh, whatever. (Whispers to the spider.) Could you.....
Wu: (Talking to Cole.) No, I mean, your mother once told me that her powers were strongest when she was closest to the Earth.
Cole: Really?
Wu: You've never been farther underground. Never been more surrounded by the very thing that powers you. The Skull Sorcerer thought he was burying you, but what if he was actually bringing you closer to the Earth? To the source of your elemental power?
Cole: So what do I do? Try to connect with the Earth?
Wu: Perhaps. Or perhaps you just have to stop worrying so much and let the earth connect with you!
Cole: (He nods, closes his eyes, and concentrates.) I'm not feeling anything. (He starts glowing orange.)
Wu: Cole. Open your eyes.
Cole: Whoa. (The rocks around him glow orange and float. He starts floating, too.)
Wu: Let it in. Let the energy of the Earth infuse you!
Cole: I feel it. It's coming from the ground all around me! (He punches the ground, and an orange streak leading into the pool appears.)
Korgran: What's that?
Cole: There's a tunnel down there. Maybe a way out-
Styx: Gothya!- (He is slammed into the ground.) Ow!
Wu: Styx?
Vania: What happened? (Cole picks up Styx.)
Cole: What is it Styx?
Styx: Uh-
Silk: (Appears in front of everyone.) I cannot let you leave. (Looks towards the Lowly.) Not after what you did.
(Everyone stares at the small snake.)
Cole: Uh....Styx. Why didn't you tell us you had a sister-
Styx: Is that seriously the first thing you ask?!
Wu: Who are y-
Korgran: It's the teleporting snake!
Cole: The what-
Korgran: It has returned! (Raises his ax.) I will get rid of-
Fungus: (Stops Korgran.) Wait Korgran, remember, we were the ones who stole the Skull from her first.
Wu: Her Skull?
Silk: I was protecting the Skull of Hazza D'ur from anyone who wanted to use their power again. Until they! (Points at the Lowly.) Stole it!
Vania: You never said anything about another snake.
Plundar: Ehehe, I might have cut that out. Must have forgotten. Heh.
Wu: (To Silk.) I do not know who you are, but we were-
Silk: Cast out from the King, yada yada, I've heard the story before.
Cole: Soooo, you'll let us leave?
Silk: No! And even if you do, you will not be able to bypass the....security measures. (Korgran gulps)
Styx: Look, Silk. (Ignores Cole's surprised face.) We're here to set things straight, not steal another Skull. So if you help us get out of here, we can stop that Sorcerer jerk from hurting anyone ever.
Fungus: And you have our deepest apologies for stealing the Skull. (Nudges Plundar.)
Plundar: Sure.
Cole: Styx's right, we're putting things right. And we could really use your help.
(The group is seen diving into the pool before swimming up. They walk for a while through a tunnel before coming to a fork.)
Vania: Which tunnel do we take?
Silk: (On Vania's shoulder.) We have to go across the lava.
Plundar: Uh, yeah, I'm still not on board with the whole trust the snake idea just yet.
Fungus: Plundar-
Styx: Ugh, if you guys want proof, Cole do your elemental touch thing again. (Cole does so, revealing the correct path.)
Silk: What did I say?
Plundar: (Glares at Silk.) Across the lava? Seriously? Ugh, what am I saying? Of course across the lava. All these nice tunnels we could take, but no. We got to take the tunnel on the other side of the lava.
Cole: You think I'm any happier about it? But that's the way. I feel it. And if, (Clears his throat.) Silk, says so. Then we have to cross the lava.
Korgran: Ah, Korgran fears no lava. (He dips a mug into the lava.) Korgran drinks lava for breakfast.
Plundar: No you don't. You drink juice.
Korgran: What? (The mug burns up.) Oh, right. Juice! Korgran fears no juice! Lava, on other hand ...very scary.
Cole: Is the path filled with danger? Yes. Would it be easier to turn back? Of course. But we can't stop Skull Sorcerer and save our friends trapped down here, can we?
Plundar: We can't stop him if we're dead either.
Cole: Then I guess you better roll your dice and take a chance. What's it gonna be? Turn back, or keep going?
Plundar: (He rolls his dice before grunting.)
Silk: (They begin crossing the lava.) Almost there.
Vania: You had said before about security measures. What did you mean?
Silk: A long time ago, when the warrior took down Hazzadur and sealed away the Skull. Protection was put in to keep the Skull away from any danger after they couldn't figure out how to destroy it.
Cole: Wait. (Everyone stops.) I sense danger.
Plundar: What are you talking about? We're practically home free.
Cole: No, I-I sense tremors in the ground beneath us. I've never felt anything like this!
(A lava monster emerges and roars scaring the Team.)
Fungus: Never seen anything like that!
Vania: Is this the protection?!
Silk: Uh, yeah...
Styx: Couldn't have warned us?!
Cole: Look out! Team, listen up! Korgran, frontal assault. Keep it focused, look out for those tentacles.
Korgran: Tentacles should look out for Korgran! (He cuts some of the lava monster's tentacles off, but they grow right back.)
Cole: Master Wu, block those lava balls, and send them right back at him!
Vania: Look out, more lava flying at us! (Wu does Spinjitzu and redirects the lava ball to the monster.)
Cole: Fungus, see if you can distract him with some more of those snow flurries!
Fungus: I will endeavor to do more than just distract him!
Cole: Plundar, see if you can sneak around and reach that boulder! It just needs a little nudge!
Plundar: Ah, that's a job for Adam.
Cole: Styx and Silk, hang on and get ready to push.
(Fungus freezes the lava monster just before it crushes Plundar.)
Cole: Now! (Styx and Silk push the boulder which crushes and defeats the lava monster.) Everybody all right?
Wu: Yes.
Vania: I'm okay.
Styx: Just the usual. Lava snakes, lava monsters? Pfft, same diff'.
Silk: (Raises an eyebrow.) Lava snakes?
Fungus: Doing well, sir Ninja.
Plundar: I've been better.
Korgran: Korgran still alive.
Cole: Yeah, not bad for a bunch of failed adventurers!
Silk: (Points to a tunnel.) There, that's the exit.
Cole: Hang on. I'm gonna seal this passage. Just in case that lava monster decides to come back.
Silk: That would be for the better.
Cole: (He uses his Earth Punch to seal it.)
Plundar: Hey, hold up. I need to say something to you. I was wrong about you. You've been straight with us. You got us out of there, and, well, you're okay in my book.
Cole: Thanks, guys. But let's not start getting all huggy yet. We got a long way to go.
Fungus: For the first time in a long while, I believe we have a chance. Lead on, young Ninja!
Vania: Phew. Let's hope it's downhill from here.
Styx: Uh-
Vania: I mean, I know it's uphill, but you know, downhill uphill. That would be nice.
Silk: I wouldn't count on it.
Vania: (Sighs.)
Silk: But you can only hope.
Plundar: Yep, I'm willing to bet the worst is behind us...