Sheila, Eric, Diana, Presto, and Bobby all had their eyes riveted on Venger's castle, looking for any sign of Hank or Uni from their vantage point up on the ridge.

"I wish we knew what was going on in there," said Diana.

"Wouldn't do us any good," Eric reminded not only her, but all of them. "Without our weapons, there's nothing we can do but wait."

"At least the lightning stopped," said Bobby.

"I just hope that's a good sign," said Presto.

Sheila was rendered mute with worry. She looked at everyone around her, imagining their group going on without Hank. The thought was difficult to bear, but she couldn't stop herself from considering the possibility of their leaving here without him and Uni.

She turned her eyes back to Venger's castle, the orcs that surrounded it, and Shadow Demon, who glided back and forth from one end of the castle to the other. She tried hard to watch everything at once.

She was momentarily distracted, however, when two orcs began fighting near the center of their ranks. She saw one of the captains heading toward the pair, but it would take him time to get there. Surely, Shadow Demon would get their first, she thought. She looked for the shadowy figure. Then she squinted, her eyes searching faster.

Where did he go?

She gasped, and her hand shot to her mouth. What if . . . ?

She wanted so desperately to know what was happening inside. She wished she could warn Hank, if he wasn't captured already, but it was as Eric had said. There was nothing they could do but wait.

"Something is definitely happening in there," said Diana. "Are you guys seeing those flashes?"

Presto squinted. "I . . . I think so."

The orcs were beginning to stir, looking all around, and then they closed their ranks around the castle.

"Oh, no!" said Sheila. "They know!"

"I can't watch," Presto said, averting his eyes.

Just then, there was flash none could miss. It was accompanied by the shocking boom of the castle's great doors being blown apart. Orcs were knocked down by the blast, and splintered wood rained down on them.

"It's Hank! It's gotta be!" said Sheila.

Eric was standing now. "Yeah, but where?"

"Does anyone see Uni?" Bobby asked.

The scene below was chaotic. More torches were being lit among the heaving sea of orc green. Orders were bellowed out. Orcs began running into the castle, behind the castle, and fanning out beyond the castle grounds.

"Uh, guys?" Presto said. "I think some are coming our way."

"We gotta get out of here," said Eric.

Sheila jumped up and grabbed his arm. "What about Hank? We can't just leave him!"

"And I'm not going anywhere without Uni!" added Bobby.

"Take another look! Do you really think Hank could fight his way out of that? Even if he did get the weapons back, he can't fight all of them. And Uni can't get him out, either! I say we run for it like Hank told us!"

Diana came to stand beside Eric. "Eric's right. We never actually saw Hank or Uni. Hank would want us to try to escape. There's nothing we can do."

Sheila turned away from them to look below. No Hank, and the orcs were coming. "Oh, Hank. Where are you?" she whispered through her tightening throat.

Suddenly, a blur of white and orange streaked through, heading straight for Bobby. They heard a familiar bleat as it jumped and knocked the boy over.

"Uni! You made it!" Bobby shouted.

There were shouts of "There!" from various orcs.

"Oops," Bobby said apologetically.

"This way, everyone! There's too many of them to fight," Hank shouted from behind them.

"Hank!" Sheila shouted with joy.

"I'm all for that," said Eric.

They all ran toward Hank, catching their weapons as he tossed them their way.

"Water," Eric gasped. "Wa–Water."

Everyone stopped and collapsed to the ground in the middle of a grove. The first sun was rising, and there was no sign of pursuing orcs.

"Good to . . . have the . . . ol' hat back," said Presto, panting. "One round of waters . . . coming up."

He reached inside his hat, . . . and then reached a little more. "Hey! Nothing's happening!"

Alarmed, Hank rose and watched as everyone began testing their weapons, with the same result.

"I don't understand," Hank said, and tried his bow.

"If the weapons don't have their powers, then that means . . . ," said Diana.

"Venger's got them!" Bobby finished for her.

"But, wait, if Venger's got all that power, how did Hank escape?" asked Presto.

Hank turned his back and stepped away from them, trying to piece together what had happened. He frantically searched his memory, and came to a frightening discovery. He couldn't remember exactly what had happened.

"Why not ask the man of the hour?" said Eric. He moved toward Hank. "Well, Hank, what happened?"

Sheila stepped between them. "Give him a break, Eric. How could he have known Venger had already taken their powers? He did his best."

"No," said Hank, shaking his head.

Sheila went over to him. "It's not your fault, Hank. You did get our weapons back. You couldn't have known—"

"No. You don't understand. That's not what happened. Venger didn't take their powers. I–I know he didn't."

"Well, what happened, Hank? We're all dying to know," Eric said.

Hank tried to clear his head and concentrate. He gripped his bow and stared at it. "I just don't remember. But I'm sure Venger didn't take their powers. I just know he didn't."

"Do you remember anything?" asked Diana. "I mean, you've got to remember something."

For a moment, he remained silent. Then, Uni walked across to him, nudged his hand, and looked up at him with concerned eyes. Hank sat at the base of a tree and stroked her mane. He found that the more he stroked, the closer he felt to remembering. Flashes of memory sparked and faded like fireworks — vivid for an instant, but easily forgotten with the flash of the next display. He couldn't hold to any one image.

But he did suddenly remember a feeling.

Gratification.

He raised a hand and studied it. What did I do? He looked up, wide-eyed, and was glad his back was to everyone. His heart was pounding and he suddenly felt cold. Surely, the crazy thought that had just occurred to him couldn't be true. What would his friends think, if it was? And what was he supposed to do about it?

"Ranger?" Dungeon Master said from an upper branch.

Hank looked up, and Dungeon Master jumped down.

"Dungeon Master! Are we glad to see you!" Presto said.

Their guide held up a hand to quiet them as he approached their leader. Uni respectfully retreated.

For a moment, neither spoke. Then, Hank rose and turned to face his friends.

"I took our weapons' power."

It was obvious by their expressions that that was the last thing they were expecting him to say.

Naturally, it was Eric who recovered the quickest and opened his mouth.

"OK, no problem. Dungeon Master's here.

"You can put the powers back where they belong, right, DM ol' buddy?"

"No, Cavalier, I cannot," replied their guide. "Only the Ranger can return the powers to your weapons."

"Well, OK then, Hank, make with the powers," he said, holding his shield out at him.

Diana nudged him hard in the ribs.

"What?"

She gave him a silencing look in response.

"Isn't there anything you can do, Dungeon Master? I don't know how I got the powers in the first place, and I don't know how to give them back, either," said Hank.

Dungeon Master remained silent and expressionless for a moment as he regarded the Ranger.

"Beware, my child, of losing more than you have ever gained. The enemy you seek may not be the enemy you find."

To this, Hank said nothing.

Dungeon Master looked from Hank to Sheila, momentarily, before bowing his head and stepping somberly behind the tree. No one had to wonder if he'd emerge on the other side.