In the Lair of Lavertus
“I can't sleep," said Cragger.
Laval rolled over on his sleep mat and peered at the Crocodile through half-closed eyes. "Do what you always do. Count swamp sheep."
"Tried that," said Cragger. "I also tried singing Crocodile lullabies to myself."
"Crocodiles have lullabies?" Laval asked.
"Sure," said Cragger. "They're mostly about what we're going to eat the next day."
"That sounds.. relaxing, I guess," said Laval. "So why can't you sleep?"
"I don't think I like this place," answered Cragger. "Or maybe I just don't trust our host."
Laval, Cragger, and their friends were on a quest to free the Legend Beasts and restore the flow of CHI from Mount Cavora. On their journey through the mysterious Outlands they had encountered Lavertus, a very odd Lion who lived in a fortress he called his "Lair." He had offered the team to stay there and use it as a base, as long as they didn't go wandering around after dark.
Cragger got to his feet. "I'm going to take a look around. I think this Lion is up to something."
"None of us should go wandering," Laval warned. “Lavertus told us it isn't safe, and that, at least, I believe…”
"I know, I know, Lions love following rules," Cragger said, heading for the door. "Well, Crocs make their own." Laval went after him. "And we all remember what happened because of that. Sometimes, I think you break rules just for the sake of breaking them. Fine—if you're going, l'm going with you."
"Why?" Cragger asked.
"To make sure you don't mess things up ... again," said Laval.
"Come on, we're on the same side now. You can trust me." Cragger flashed a toothy grin before turning away.
"I used to," muttered Laval, following after him.
——————
It was easy to see that Lavertus's home was designed to make sure any stranger would rapidly get lost inside.
Hallways looped around on themselves, doors led to solid walls, and staircases that went up somehow managed to leave you on a lower floor.
"Ive never seen anything like this," whispered Cragger.
"I wish I wasn't seeing it now," answered Laval. "What do you expect to find, anyway?"
"I don't know," said Cragger. "Nobody builds a house like this unless they have something to hide."
"Or they had the directions upside down," Laval said, shaking his head.
The two moved on. After another half hour of searching, they came upon a corridor lined with doorways on both sides. One by one, they opened the doors.
"Closet. Closet. Closet," said Laval.
"Staircase!" cried Cragger.
Laval rushed over to see what the Crocodile had found.
But when he got there, Cragger was standing at an open door looking into another closet.
"Where are the stairs?" asked Laval.
"They were here a second ago," said Cragger, shutting the door. "Then they weren't."
"Hmmm. Try opening the door again," said Laval.
Cragger opened the door a second time. When he did, the staircase was back. “That’s weird,” said the Crocodile. "Let's go see what's down there."
"Got any breadcrumbs?" asked Laval.
"Huh?" snapped Cragger.
"To leave a trail to find our way back," said Laval. "What happens if the stairs disappear again when were halfway down?"
"Good question," said Cragger. After a short pause, he added, "You go first."
"Right," said Laval. "Because turning my back on you is my favorite thing to do. ... Not."
The pair stumbled down the staircase side by side. At the bottom, they found an iron door. To their surprise, it was unlocked.
"He must not have thought anyone would find this spot," said Laval.
"Or maybe he wanted whoever did find it to be able to get in, because he knew they wouldn't get back out again," answered Cragger. "You go first."
"Wait a second!" said Laval, turning around to face the Crocodile. "This whole thing was your idea! Why do I have to keep going first?"
"Um, because you're such a fierce fighter and you can handle whatever comes at us?"
Laval glared at Cragger. "Yeah, I'm fierce," he said.
"You might want to remember that if you have any tricks planned. Anyway, I'll go first, because we're supposed to be friends... and that's what friends do."
The Lion pushed the door open, even as Cragger said, “Tricks? Me?"
"Yes, you. Just because we're on the same side again doesn't mean—"
Laval stopped short and his eyes grew wide. He and Cragger had stumbled upon the biggest workshop either had ever seen. It was packed with strange devices, big and small. Some were incredibly complicated and others were extremely simple. At a glance, the only things Laval recognized were Speedor wheels and other parts of a Speedor bike.
"Incredible," said Laval. "Eris would love this!"
"If Lavertus made all this, he must be some kind of inventor," said Cragger. "But he didn't tell us. Why keep that a secret?"
"I don't know," answered Laval. "But look at this stuff. Some of it looks like weapons. It could be dangerous. We'd better tell the others."
Just as Laval was speaking, the floor shifted underneath them. The Lion and Croc were knocked off their feet.
"Whoa!" said Laval. "What was that?"
"Laval, look!" cried Cragger, pointing at the iron door.
"The stairs are gone!"
Cragger was right. The doorway leading to the stairs now led to a solid wall.
"We're trapped!" Laval realized.
"No, we're not," Cragger said, racing into the heart of the workshop. "There has to be something in here that can get us out."
"Cragger, don't!" Laval cried.
But it was too late. Cragger had bumped into one of Lavertus's inventions: a big metal cannon. It immediately shot out a tangle of ropes that wrapped around him.
Cragger toppled backward, falling into a stone chair.
The arms of the chair closed tight on either side of the Crocodile and held him fast.
"Hang on," shouted Laval. "I'll get you out."
But as he raced toward Cragger, the floor rumbled again. A small catapult on top of a tall shelf went off, launching a little rock at the head of a life-size Gorilla statue. The statue sprang to life, plodding forward and knocking into more inventions as it went. Soon, the air was filled with arrows, jets of flame, and bursts of water.
"Great job," called Cragger. "If we weren't doomed before, now we really are."
"Just ... stay there!" yelled Laval. "I'm coming!"
"Where do you think I'm going to go?" Cragger struggled against the ropes. "This thing makes one of Gorzan's hugs look like a bunny cuddle."
Laval was about to reply when, suddenly, he heard a loud groan behind him. He turned just in time to see the loud groan behind him. He turned just in time to see the Gorilla statue tipping forward! Laval tried to spring out of the way, but he wasn't fast enough. The statue toppled on top of him.
"Oof!" the Lion exclaimed. The heavy statue pinned him to the ground.
"Laval! Are you okay?" Cragger called.
"Yeah, I think so," Laval said. "But I'm ... LOOK OUT!"
Laval's eyes grew wide as a flame cannon went off beside Cragger. In an instant, the Croc was surrounded by flames!
"CRAGGER!" Laval cried.
For a moment, Laval couldn't see anything but embers and smoke. Then, he heard coughing. When the smoke cleared, Cragger was sputtering and waving his arms.
Instead of hurting the Croc, the flames had burned right through the ropes tying him up. He was free!
"Talk about luck." Laval exhaled. "Are you hurt?"
"Just a little singed," said Cragger. "You?"
Laval squirmed under the statue. "Been better. Could use a little help here."
Cragger moved toward Laval. But as he did, the floor shook again. The whole room turned, and the stairs by the doorway reappeared. All Cragger had to do was make a run for it and he would be free! But the room could shift any minute and they would disappear again.
Cragger met Laval's gaze for a split second. Then he turned and ran.
"Cragger?" Laval's heart sank. The Crocodile wouldn't really leave him there?
Would he?
Suddenly, Cragger swerved and jumped over a marching group of Skunk mechs. He snatched a wrench from one of the mech's hands and skidded to a stop right beside Laval.
"Quick!" he said, using the wrench for leverage against the statue. "We'll push together-hurry!"
Together, the two managed to pry the Gorilla statue off of Laval. Cragger helped him to his feet. "Let's get out of here!" he shouted.
Running faster than they ever had before, they shot through the room and made it out the door just as the floor was starting to turn again.
Together, they clambered back up the stairs. When they got to the top, the Lion and Croc leaned heavily against the wall, gasping for breath.
"Thanks," Laval said finally. "For a second there, I wasn't sure you were going to come back for me."
Cragger shrugged and gave a big Crocodile grin.
"We're friends, right? That's what friends do."
Laval smiled and clapped Cragger on the back. "It sure is."
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