CHAPTER 21
"THE BALLAD OF LIZY AND SANDY"

PREVIOUSLY:
Thanks to the "skills" of Speedy Swiftfoot, Lizy and the others were able to break into Cruel's compound.

Bob gasped for breath as he scurried down the deep subterrainian tunnels of Cruel's lair, his heart beating within him like a rock. All his plans had gone astray, and he feared that he was the only one left with a sane mind after the recent ordeal with the guards. It was up to him now to restore sanity to the everything, to persuade everyone to make the right choice and simply put this all behind them and... Oh, good heavens... What was that? Water! He hadn't been paying attention and fell head first into the depths of the underground ocean, sinking... sinking... sinking...

"Oh, save me!" he cried desperately as he slipped into the abyss, his voice resounding against the emptiness. "Hurry! I can't hold up any longer! I think I'm going to die! DIE! Save me, someone, I'm drowning! Help me! Save me! HURRY!!!"

But it was of no use. He was helpless and the mission was doomed. If only they would have listened to him as the entered the doors of the compound. If only they had turned back. If only... If only...

"Bob, you can stop playing in the puddle now," Chubby sighed, "And I don't care how scared you are, and how much you think we all ought to leave, we aren't insane for coming down here - Well not entirely insane, at least. I mean, after all..."

"Stop it, you two!" Lizy ordered, "The guards are going to hear you! Besides, we're here already!"

Three stepped out from the tunnel they had just traveled down into the earth through and looked out from atop a high cliff down into the vast hall being shaped by the Valley Lizards. Those doing the digging were chained at the feet to large sphere shaped weights, and to mine carts or each other if they were hauling away the debris. Scattered alligators with whips made sure the lizards kept up the pace as mosquitoes patrolled from above. The pride of Lizard Valley had fallen to this in just a matter of days!

"This is a serious fire hazard!" Bob squeaked nervously, backing away from the edge of the cliff. "We'd better get out of here before something terrible happens, like a fruit fly attacking me. Egads, Lizy, you don't think that will happen, do you? I'm deathly afraid of fruit flys on the account of when I was twelve there was this sawmill near my house, and every day I would..."

"Never mind that!" Lizy replied in a hushed tone so that none of the guards who were scattered about in large numbers would hear him, "Where's Sandy? I don't see her, anywhere, maybe we should..."

"It's a trap!" shrieked Bob in horror.

Lizy whirled around to find himself face to face with one of Cruel's highest ranking generals. Cruel's generals were all blue-colored, round, stubby dragon-like creatures whom the Valley Lizards has come to call the "Means" since they were like lesser versions of Cruel.

"..Never mind," Lizy finished.

"Look what I found," laughed the Mean, "You should have realized that Cruel knew of your plan all along. Now you'll get join your friends down there carving out his greatest masterpeice! Soon enough, Mt. Lizard will fall too and your pathetic king will join you!"

"Bob! My sword!" cried Lizy, catching Thunderbolt as Bob tossed it to him. "What have you done with Sandy?"

"Why, she's right here!" laughed the Mean as one of Cruel's minions brought her forward, tied and gagged. "But what are you going to do about? You're just a failure! You can't do anything right."

Lizy just laughed. "Citizens of Lizard Valley!" Lizy shouted down to the lizards below, "Do not fear! Rise up, and take arms against your foes!" This was followed by some small scattered applause.

"Well, a lot that did you," the Mean laughed back. "Cruel was right! You're just as pitiful as your father! Your new king will show you your place soon enough!" But Lizy had the last laugh.

The Valley Lizards were all enraged by the Mean's treatment of their beloved former Guardian's son (they had, of course, heard the Mean's boasting). Although they didn't trust young Lizy quite yet, after that whole water main break thing and all, their respect for Guardian Line and the Mean's insult to the esteemed Lizard family line was just enough to ralley them to revolt. Soon enough, they had all used their tools to sever their chains and turned on their captors with a fury.

"There is still a Guardian in Lizard Valley!" Lizy exclaimed, holding Thunderbolt up high, the sword shining as if in delight, "And I will never bow to the likes of Cruel!"

The Mean and all of Cruel's minions and mosquitoes were forced to flee as the lizards below began climbing up the ramps and even the side of the cliff to give their foes a little piece of their mind.

"It's about time you got here," giggled Sandy as Lizy untied her, "I knew you could do it all along!"

"Yes, but I wonder how Rex and Mr. Line are doing," Chubby replied.

NEXT TIME: "Face Off"
At long last, Rex and Line have their only chance to put a stop to Cruel's madness.