Aria hums to herself as the ground beneath them pulses, she could feel the battle that was happening below. Meaning to was finally time for her to make her appearance, not to help the ninja of course, but to help herself. To get the only thing she wanted, the reason she was there. Aria begins to walk to the door with Chompy following her.

"Stay here" Aria orders "It's dangerous down there" she pets him "I'll be back soon"

Aria travels down into the caves and passes many skeletons. After a bit she stops and decides to pick up something, hiding it in her pocket.

"This is might come in handy" Aria says before continuing

Aria followed the energy of her beloved green ninja to a large opening in the cave. She ducks behind a stone pillar and glances out. All the Geckles and Munce are enslaved and forced to mine. The Re-Awakened show no mercy and whip anyone for slacking off. The ninja (minus Cole) are encaged in Vengestone.

'I suppose I should wait for Cole, I could sense a fight happening in the throne room but I definitely wouldn't be able to break it up. I know once Cole gets here he'll be able to be a distraction while I grab what I want. Very simple process really, and I suppose I can save them while I'm at it'

Aria ducks lower when she sees the skull sorcerer fly out towards the ninja.

"Hahaha" the Skull Sorcerer laughs "That's the spirit, but unfortunately, there is no hope. I have decided a demonstration is needed to show my true power over this mountain"

"What kind of demonstration?" Kai asks

"For too long, the Geckles and Munce have resisted my rule. But when they witness your destruction..." Skull Sorcerer laughs

Skull of Hazza D'ur: Destruction!

"When all hope is lost..."

Skull of Hazza D'ur: Lost

"They will submit" Skull Sorcerer finishes

"What are you gonna do to us?" Jay asks worried

"You'll perish at the talons of Grief-Bringer" Skull Sorcerer replies

Skull of Hazza D'ur: Grief-Bringer!

"Okay, that's getting annoying" Nya says annoyed

"Yeah, I don't know who to look at, you or the skull" Kai agrees

"I'm looking at the skull, it's not as ugly. Hahaha!" Jay laughs

"Silence!" Skull Sorcerer shouts "Enjoy your final moments of levity"

Skull of Hazza D'ur: They will be your last.

"Aren't you forgetting one thing?" Lloyd questions "Cole. He's still out there, and if I know Cole, by now, he's found King Vangelis and Aria, and told them everything. They're probably on their way to stop you right now"

"Oh, that's right. You don't know" Skull Sorcerer transforms back into Vangelis and laughs

"You?" Lloyd looks surprised along with the other ninja

"Your friend did come to me. And I cast him into the bowels of the mountain. He and that old fool, Wu" Vangelis turns back into the Skull Sorcerer "as for Empress Aria, she knows nothing about what's going on and my guards have been keeping her occupied"

"You.." Lloyd's eyes widen "how did you find out?"

"Oh it wasn't too hard" Skull Sorcerer laughs "when she spoke Draconian to the Princess's beast she gave herself away, only a dragon can speak Draconian. She revealed herself all for a little dragon, quite sad actually. And you just confirmed it."

"Maybe to you it seems sad, but if their's anything we respect about Aria is that she doesn't turn her back on those she actually cares about" Kai glares at him "...even if she would never care about us"

"Either way" Skull Sorcerer turns "neither of them will be coming to your rescue"

"You're not the first to think so" Lloyd smirks "but those two cousins have a way of popping up when you least expect it"

'huh.. I guess me and Cole are alike in that way' Aria quietly laughs to herself 'perhaps I get it from him'

"No one is coming to save you. Have the courage to accept your fate" Skull Sorcerer insists

"Just tell me one thing. The Blades of Deliverance. It was you who stole them, wasn't it?" Lloyd questions

Skull Sorcerer laughs "You mean... these?"

Two Awakened Warriors raise the blades.

"those are Aunt Liliy's" Aria growls

"So you did steal them" Lloyd glares at him

"It was no great task. The Geckles and Munce are simple creatures. Easy to deceive. And I knew they would blame each other" Skull Sorcerer shrugs

"Making them easier to divide and conquer" Zane adds

"Now you know. May the knowledge bring you some peace in your final moments" Skull Sorcerer flies away

Secretly, Cole instructs Fungus and Korgran to free the Geckles and Munce and everyone enslaved but to wait for his signal. Meanwhile, he assigns himself, Plundar, and Adam to go after the blades.

Murtessa starts to get tired and an Awakened Warrior tries to whip her, but Korgran destroys the skeleton. Murt wonders who Korgran and Fungus are, and Fungus explains they are here to free the Geckles and Munce, but they must wait for a signal to liberate themselves.

At the same time, two Awakened Warriors are carrying the Blades of Deliverance and are about to store it, but Cole and Plundar punch the two skeletons and take the blades. He then tells Plundar to free everyone while he would fight the Skull Sorcerer.

The Skull Sorcerer flies where everyone can see him. "Hear me, Geckles and Munce! Hear and bear witness to the power that is mine! Look upon those who defied me. Look upon those in whom you placed your trust, and watch as they come to their end! Release Grief-Bringer!"

Someone throws a rock at a Warrior, causing the cage door of Grief-Bringer to close. Cole, dressed in his Hero suit, lands in front of the Skull Sorcerer

"Who dares?" Skull Sorcerer asks angrily

"I'll give you three guesses" Cole says

"You!" Skull Sorcerer shouts

The ninja cheer.

"Yes!"

"Cole!"

"I knew it!"

"Kick his butt, Cole!"

Lloyd glances around "now where's my trouble maker" he notices the blonde girl making her way around the top of the cave "there, what is she planning now?"

Korgran and Fungus show their faces and begin attacking the Awakened Warriors. Korgran gives the signal to the Geckles and Munce, so they free themselves and also attack the Awakened Warriors.

"It's impossible. I cast you into the bowels of the mountain!" Skull Sorcerer shouts

"You tried. And failed. And this time, I'm ready for you!" Cole declares

"Cole, get us out of here!" Lloyd shouts

"Open the cages! We can help!" Nya adds

Adam and Plundar help free the ninja so they could join the fight.

"Who are you?" Nya asks

"Plundar's the name. One of the Lowly. Except I think we're the "Upply" now" Plunder replies

"Um, the who?" Jay questions

"We're in Cole's crew" Plunder says

"Cole's got a... crew?" Kai looks confused

Skull Sorcerer is fighting Cole "You have returned to your doom! You will join your pitiful friends and..."

Skull of Hazza D'ur: And perish with them!

"Aw, that's cute! He's like your little pet skull!" Cole kicks him

Grief-Bringer suddenly spews green magic at his cage and is able to free himself.

"Oh no" Aria stops above "they're in trouble now"