Chapter 3
Billy Goes Down a Water Slide

“Boys wake up!” shouted Ike. “You fainted right after ya saw me. I mean, I know I’m kinda ugly but ya could at least have said hi.”
Ike took a water bottle out of Marty’s be boys backpack and dumped it on and boys in an attempt to wake them up. Billy and Marty sprang up like two jack-in-the-boxes shouting some word that twelve-year-olds shouldn’t say.
“What the heck was that for?!” Billy screamed at the blob.
“Yah, now we’re soaking wet. Thanks a lot,” Marty said sarcastically.
“Well sorry guys. I needed yall to wake up. Right after you saw me ya fainted, I kinda though that you died,” replied Ike.
“What? Who are you?” asked Marty.
“I already told you, I’m Ike.”
“Ok. What are you?”
“I’m an Icklet. I’m from Izanniea. It’s south of here,” answered Ike.
“What are you doing here?” asked Billy.
“Yah, why are you in the passage through Mount Tanaya?” Marty asked.
“Wow, you boys sure do ask a lot of questions, and lucky for you I don’t mind answering them. As I already said my name is Ike Cooper. I am from the island of Izanniea and I come up here to Tikuihe every spring to vacation in this mountain,” started Ike.
“Why do you vacation in this mountain? Isn’t there a mountain in Izanntanea where you can go?” interrupted Billy.
“It’s Izanniea, and I come to this mountain because I know it has this empty passage where I can be alone,” replied Ike.
“It still doesn’t make sense. I mean I’m sure that there is somewhere on Izictitania where you can be alone,” Billy replied.
“Once again it’s Izanniea, and you two keep asking me why I’m here when I should be asking you why you’re here. You look like your only kids.”
“Hey who are you calling kids? You look pretty young yourself. So we want some real answers on why you’re here. We’ve had enough with these lies,” Marty stated.
“Ok you right, I am young. I’m really only twelve and I don’t come here to vacation I have other reasons,” Ike confessed.
“Wow that was easy. I was just kidding; I didn’t even know he was lying. I’m good,” said Marty triumphantly.
“So what’s your story?” asked Billy.
“Well, you see my parents died when I was only three so I was sent to live in an orphanage, but I hated the fact that those Icklets weren’t my real parents. So when I was seven I had finally gotten enough courage to run away and I have been living on the streets ever since.”
After Ike was finished telling his story Billy and Marty felt so bad for him. They just stood there in an awkward silence because neither of them knew what to say.
“Hey, so if yall need any help with your trip, I know my way through the mountains pretty well. I mean that is if you want my help,” Declared Ike.
“That would be great! Do you know the way to west Tikuihe? The Pixlet side,” asked Billy.
Marty pulled Billy toward the cave wall so Ike wouldn’t over hear.
“I don’t know, do you really think it’s such a good idea to bring this snot blob with us? He seems kinda suspicious.
“Marty don’t be such a fraidy cat. Ike seems pretty cool,” insisted Billy.
“Yah he seems cool now but he won’t be too cool when were on his dinner table with apples in our mouths.”
“What are you talking about? Ike won’t eat us,” Began Billy.
“Well ya know I can hear everything yall sayin, and I won’t eat ya. I’m a vegetarian,” stated Ike.
“Fine, I know I’ll regret this, but ok you can come with us. After all Billy and I really have no clue where we’re going. Ok Billy take out your flashlight and let’s go”
Billy took out his mini L.E.D. flashlight and the two of them started following Ike through the long narrow hallways that twisted and turned through the maze of the mountains. They continued walking until Ike stopped to ask a few more questions.
“So why are ya guys going over to West Tikuihe? Don’t Friskets and Pixlets not get along to well?”
“Well my grandma told us the story about the history of Tikuihe so me and Billy decided that we are going to reunite Tikuihe,” answered Marty.
“You mean to tell me that yall goin to reunite a island that has been separated for hundreds of years?” teased Ike.
“We’re going to try at least,” Marty partitally knew they were most likely to fail in their quest but he still hoped that they might succeed and become heroes.
“So what are you going to do on the Pixlets’ side?” asked Ike.
“Well we got some spy equiptment from Al’s Spy Shop and,” started Marty but was interrupted by a cave shaking boom that made a few stlagtites fall from the icy ceiling. The boys stopped in their tracks and stayed completely silent. They felt like they had been standing here for hours when in reality only a few minutes went by.
“So now what? What was that noise?” asked Billy.
“I have no idea,” answered Ike.
“Let’s just continue walking the sooner we get out the sooner we’re safe. Just be careful, we must have stepped on something,” instructed Marty.
Step by step the boys were walking as slow and as careful as they could. Everything was going well until Billy decided to step away from the others and looked into a small pond by the cave wall.
Billy knew that he shouldn’t have left Marty but he really didn’t think that there would be another earthquake. That little pond that Billy was looking at was looking at almost didn’t look like a real pond. It was a metallic blue-purple color. Billy was standing there hypnotized by the shining color of the silver sparkles that seemed to desend down into the depths of the pond. He was just about to leave the hypnotic pond and catch out with the others when his foot slipped off the edge and Billy went sliding feet first into the pond down about twenty of thirty feet down lower underground.
“AHHHH!!! Marty! Ike! HELLLLLLP!” Those were the only words Billy could force his mouth to say. He wanted to say something like Help Someone I fell into a underground pond and am now sliding down to my death where no one will ever find me. Unfortunately none of those words seemed to come out.
“To Billy’s surprise the water seemed to get lower and he had no trouble breathing. At the bottom of the slide Billy swam up and out of a small enterance pond in a huge circular room with ten foot domed ceiling. Lined up along all the walls were floor to ceiling black marble pillars. At the enterance was the small pond that kept the room from flooding. Billy sat there in awe, his mind was racing with hundreds of different thoughts. Where am I. Why is there a giant room in the middle of the mountains, where are Marty and Ike, how will I get out, and many others.
He stood up and noticed a small wood plaque with words carved into it hanging on one of pillars on the far wall. He walked over to and read it..

My Dearest Jenna,
I have ventured deep within these mountains and dug out this secret chamber to keep you safe if the Pixlets ever choose to disobey our treaty and attack. If that should ever happen just come in here and you will be safe. I have also dug you a hide out on West Tikuihe also for your safety. I left a map to that chamber under the floor boards in your bedroom.
Your Father,
King Leo III

Billy stood there confused about why there was a secret chamber for the king’s daughter, and not the kings entire family. He decided to take the plaque and show Marty. Maybe he had an answer. Billy took the plaque and shoved in into his backpack then walked around the room looking for another way out.
On his first way around he didn’t see anything but on his second inspection he noticed a small indent in the wall just next to the small pond he had come out of. The indent was about two feet by one foot( a small spot for a Frisket to get through) but he had to try and see where it went. Billy kicked the spot as hard as he could and the wall crumbled around it leaving a hole in the wall with a ladder going up. He squeezed in and started climbing.