CHAPTER 11
"UNDER FIRE"

PREVIOUSLY:
Cruel set siege to Mt. Lizard and began an attack on Lizard City.

Soon all four of them arrived in downtown Lizard City to find City Hall crumbling apart, empty as could be. Everything else had been abandoned as well, and nothing could be heard besides the wind and the now distant shouts of fleeing lizards.

"Cruel must have a very powerful weapon to have pulled all this off!" commented Lizy nodding towards City Hall. "Speedy, go see if anyone is inside."

Speedy, being true to his name, was in and out in less than a minute or so.

"There's nobody in there," Speedy reported. "And I looked everywhere."

"I don't like the looks of this," said Lizy. "I think we'd better leave until we know what all is going on." Before they had gotten far, the sound of a distant buzzing could suddenly be heard beginning to fill the air. And it sounded as if it was coming closer. Lizy and the others looked up into the sky as formations of mosquitoes came into sight. The flying menaces were looking downward into the city, shooting electric bolts and wrecking havoc.

"They must be a breed of electric mosquitoes," the very educated Speedy spoke up, "I had to take a class on them once. They're very rare! It looks like Cruel has picked his minions well."

"Look out!" cried Sandy.

Lizy looked up to see a bolt coming directly toward him, and it was too late for him to react! But before the bolt could hit him, a plump soldier lizard jumped in front of him, effectively blocking the hit with his shield.

"Chubby!" exclaimed Lizy, "What luck you should show up just now! I owe you one."

"What are best friends for?" replied Chubby, "And I'll have a list titled 'Things I Want' ready by next week."

"That shot was no mere coincidence!" Speedy said, alarmed, "I think they've spotted you, Lizy!"

It was true. The mosquitoes were beginning to circle overhead, filling the sky.

"Hurry, in here!" Lizy shouted, leading them all into a recently abandoned building.

"Where did you show up from?" Sand curiously asked of Chubby as they began to barricade the door.

"Most of the soldiers stationed here in the city are trying to hold back Cruel’s ground troops just south of here," Chubby answered, "But it's a loosing battle. I was told to burn the armory to the ground, so that Cruel wouldn’t get a hold of our weapons, and then to run for it. Good thing I was lucky enough to run into you guys. But Cruel’s already captured two of our generals! Lizard City is about to be taken by Cruel!"

"And Mt. Lizard to go with it!" added Speedy.

"I still don't understand why Cruel is so worried about a little backwards country like Lizard Valley, though," commented Lizy deep in thought. "It must have something to do with that statuette that Cruel stole..."

"In any case," Chubby began, "You can't do anything without this." He pulled a sword out of his pack and handed it to Lizy.

"It's the sword Slingshot gave to me," Lizy replied, taking it.

"I hope you've been paying attention to Chubby’s lessons," giggled Sandy.

"You can bet on it!" exclaimed Lizy, posing.

Just then, things were suddenly interrupted by a familiar, unpleasant voice: "Oh, Lizy! I know you’re in there! Do come out and play, will you?" Lizy’s spirits sank - It was Cruel...

NEXT TIME: "Cruel Intentions"
Lizy faces off with Cruel for the first time!