CHAPTER 15
"CHECKMATE"
PREVIOUSLY:
Goody-Goody and Bob were able to escape Lizard City and bring information to Lizy the Lizard.
"Right," Speedy agreed, "Now that we have the information that we need, we can get to work!"
"Good luck, Lizy," Goody-Goody added, along with a nod of approval from Bob.
But then, without warning, the worst possible thing that could happen did! The door to Lizy's office flew in off it's hinges and all five of Lizy's elite bodyguards tumbled in unconscious! A large shadowed form stood in the doorway. Lizy recognized the figure instantly.
"It can't be!" he gasped, jumping to his feet. "How could you have possibly found this place?"
"Simple," laughed Cruel, walking in casually. "I followed those two." He pointed towards Bob and Goody-Goody. "You really ought to be more careful. With your security, anyone could just skip on in here without being caught. But don't worry - My forces are taking care of the problem as we speak."
"Oh no!" cried Goody-Goody in shame. "How could I have fallen for such a simple trap?"
"You'll never take Lizard Valley!" shouted Lizy defiantly.
"And you'll never defeat Lizy!" cried Goody-Goody, charging at Cruel with his walking stick. But despite his resolve, the foe was too powerful, and Goody-Goody was knocked aside by Cruel’s war hammer.
"It's back to the mines for you, I'm afraid," Cruel laughed.
"Forgive me, Lizy, I tried," G.G. sighed as he slid to the floor, exhausted.
Lizy looked around and noticed that his sword was leaning against the wall right near where Bob was curled up in fear.
"Bob! My sword!" Lizy called.
"Egads, Lizy!" Bob excalimed, "If you say so!" He grabbed the sword and awkwardly tossed it, in a spin, to Lizy, who caught it masterfully by the hilt!
"My word!" Speedy shouted in surprise, "That was more amazing than a troop of dancing cats on roller skates! Do it again!"
"You... You can't win, Cruel!" Lizy exclaimed with his sword at the ready. Speedy and Chubby grabbed their own weapons and stood behind Lizy to support him. Bob joined them, but his goal was to use them as a sort of shield rather than assist them.
"Can't win?" Cruel laughed again, slowly advancing, "But I already have! The entire Valley is now in my control, I've practically taken your King, your father, and your pathetic excuse for a champion swordsman hostage, I've just scattered what was left of your weakling army, and now I have you and your closest advisors trapped in a corner! You're the one who can't win! This is the end, Lizy the Lizard, Guardian of Lizard Valley! Your hopeless crusade ends NOW!"
With one mighty swing, Cruel pounded his hammer into the ground. The floor beneath Lizy, Speedy, Chubby, and Bob began to weaken and crumble until at last it gave way, leaving them to fall into the bottomless abyss that was left. It seemed as if Cruel had just snuffed out whatever hope the Valley had left of being freed, and the entire world of Zytrolilex still hung in the balance...