The LKs and Lapis were able to calm the trapped VKs down in order to get some decent silence for Joel. He weakly sat up as he gripped his head.

"Please don't tell me I missed him..." Barlow scoffed.

"You missed my success. Wendy's going for a round two for you." Joel groaned.

"We could've been done with this and then he knocks me out. Great to know..." He looked around. "Where is the queen of the skies herself?" Lapis gulped.

"Separated from us. Let's hope whatever sound she gets out of Crawford can reach here."

~~~

Wendy huffed as she caught up with Crawford. He had cornered himself without even trying. He turned to leave when he saw her. He stopped in his tracks as the ground trembled, no doubt from the minor separation. The doorway collapsed on point. She smiled as he ran past her to get out.

"You are hopeless." He hissed.

"Like hell I am!" She easily dodged his attacks before he took a knee. She hummed.

"Don't worry. I can't say I'm better. I don't have any powers to fight you. Just physical strength." Crawford scoffed as he looked away at the pathetic window that sat in front of him. She sat down across from him and hummed softly. He paused at that.

"Don't you care that you're trapped with an enemy?" She scoffed.

"You're hardly a threat to me." He stayed quiet at her answer. The air got cold as he hummed thoughtfully.

~~~

Joel seemed to be the only one that acknowledged the cold air as it hit. He stood up immediately, silencing the group. That's when the others felt it.

~~~

Wendy didn't notice until Crawford spoke again.

"Tell me somethin', girl
Are you happy in this modern world?"

She opened her mouth to answer when he cut her off.

"Or do you need more?
Is there somethin' else you're searchin' for?

I'm falling
In all the good times I find myself
Longin' for change
And in the bad times I fear myself"

He sighed as silence seemed to follow. She stood up, hoping to get more. That wasn't enough for her. And if that was the case, Joel couldn't exactly use it.

"Tell me something, boy
Aren't you tired tryin' to fill that void?"

It was his turn to try and answer only to get stopped.

"Or do you need more?
Ain't it hard keeping it so hardcore?

I'm falling
In all the good times I find myself
Longing for a change
And in the bad times I fear myself

I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I'll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can't hurt us
We're far from the shallow now"

His eyes flashed as she turned away from him. Oh no did she stop. His heart felt heavy as he straightened up to keep it going. But this time, their voices hit together.

"In the shallow, shallow
In the shallow, shallow
In the shallow, shallow
We're far from the shallow now"

They circled each other, power circling as she kept the sound going. He seemed to tap along, almost as if something was driving it.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoah"

She stopped her circling and turned him. He paused in his place and looked into her eyes as she kept going.

"I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I'll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can't hurt us
We're far from the shallow now"

A small tear escaped his eyes and they grasped hands and the sound, stronger than before, hit the air.

"In the shallow, shallow
In the shallow, shallow
In the shallow, shallow
We're far from the shallow now"

She pulled him into a hug as he cracked she looked up and the small hole above them as they sat down.

Please Joel... tell me you got that.

~~~

Darn right he did.

Everyone seemed frozen as the sound vanished. Joel smiled at the small orb that filled his hand as Lapis gulped.

"Did she..."

"Yes." They turned as Joel huffed. "Yes she did." A strong aura hit as he chanted.

"Allow this duet in my palms
To fly far into the night
Seek the tower's core
And bring it to the light
Corruption Surge!"

The orb flashed as he touched the ground. The flash crossed over the tower as he huffed. He gulped as silence emerged. He then smiled.

"Got it." Lapis punched the air in triumph. Seafoam smiled.

"Then let's start breaking people out! Come on!" The other VKs looked confused as Joel nodded and snapped. The cages started drifting down, causing Parchment to scream.

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Midnight grabbed his mouth as her voice seemed to escalate. "I'M NOT READY! WAIT A SECOND!" The other VKs and LKs tried so hard to not laugh. It wasn't until Bluealle said something was it really funny.

"Parchment... you've been in the air too long and now you're complaining? Jeez..." The others lost it as she hissed.

"No one asked you!"

"Wanna bet, Princess Loser?"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME!?" Lapis grabbed his ears as the cages touched ground and released them. The duo clashed as Midnight panicked.

"You heard me!"

"Listen up, you little witch of nowheresville!"

"I'm listening, little dead dragon!"

Crepe groaned at that. Sven touched his shoulder.

"Relax a little bit. I got this." Crepe raised an eyebrow as Sven called over. "Ladies! Just because you're free doesn't mean anything! Why don't you drag your focus on the bigger problem!? Or would you rather I tell Linda to spread the word that you two are dating?" The duo froze at his words.

"Woah wait what?! Huh?!" Crepe bit his lip as Sven paused.

"Hey Crepe, I think this would be a better ship than you and Darkrai." Crepe nodded.

"Any day of the week." Bluealle growled.

"If you're not careful, Crepe, I'll expose what happened at your birthday party that one time." Crepe stopped.

"On my grave!" Parchment paused.

"Wait what happened?" Bluealle whispered something to her, causing a growl to escape Crepe as he ran over. Sven sighed as Crepe tried to stop her. Seafoam called out to the taller male.

"Sven!" He paused before he went over. "Since Crepe is busy, you wanna work with Cedar?"

He nodded as Joel snapped, forcing the large trap to slowly release Cedar. It took a little longer than the others, but that was to be expected. Cedar was curled up in a ball as he was set down on the ground. Sven went over and picked him up.

"Cedar...?" The smaller boy shuddered as he slightly grasped the air in front of him. "Hey... I'm right here... don't worry..." Sven guided the hand to his chest, letting Cedar take his time acknowledging the presence. Cedar finally shifted a little, lifting his head to meet Sven's gaze. He paused.

"Sven...? How...?" Sven smiled as he held him close.

"Shh... you're safe now. Relax." Cedar stayed tensed as Sven rubbed his back. A soft noise filled Cedar's ears, grabbing his attention.

"Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there"

Cedar trembled before he teared up. Sven paused before he tightened the hug slightly. A growl hit the air as the group regained stability.

"Who do I have to kill?" They turned to see a battle ready Cassandra with a stone cold glare. Lapis paused.

"You can kill me. I don't-" Ice grabbed his mouth, gaining a whole different sound from the VK. They other stifled laughs as they turned their attention to Cassandra.

"This is your fall, Cassandra. Just let it go. You weren't going to win." She huffed.

"You won't win. You're going through my experience!" Scarlet sighed.

"Well... so much for staying passive. Joel, we'll try to give you something to use. Sven, can you join us?" Crepe took Cedar from the taller male as he nodded. "Excellent. Ice, would you like to participate?" He nodded as she smiled. Her eyes flashed as she grinned. "Since the VKs need some time to reset from being trapped for so long, I think it's our turn. We are the proud LKs of the Aloje region, ready to tear you down! Let's do this!"

~~~

It took a rather long time for Crawford to calm down. He had fallen asleep, forcing her to adjust them. Not that it mattered to her. He eventually woke up and yawned.

"Hm...?" He paused as he rubbed his eyes. She smiled as she poked his cheek.

"Hey..." He paused at the sound of her voice.

"You didn't run...?" She hummed.

"I didn't want to leave you behind. That's not what I do. No ranger left behind." He scoffed faintly.

"I'm no ranger. I don't have anything to show for it." She hummed again.

"Cedar has your styler." Crawford paused.

"He can have it."

"Not his to keep. He's an operator, not a ranger." She looked at the tall male. "Crawford, I heard that song... back before this. Please? I'm not leaving you. I'm not leaving the one person I can trust more than anything else in the world. Please?" He teared up a little.

"Just... don't disappear on me... not again..." She pulled him into a hug. He didn't hesitate to finish it.

"I'm not leaving until you do. Not again. I know... it hurts... but I'm not leaving without you. Not again." He smiled softly as he paused.

"Thank you..." She smiled as the sound of a battle hit the air. They pulled away and looked up.

"Did..." He froze.

"Miss Cassandra... they're probably fighting her!" She got up and held out a hand.

"Then we need to go! I have a plan."