9 Mountains of Diamonds!

Nine. Mountains of Diamonds! They jumped to their feet and looked around. "Holy cow!" Julie muttered. All around them were piles, mounds, mountains of shimmering, glittering diamonds. "With these Sparr could make his whole Ninn army invisible," Keeah said. "He'd be unstoppable!" Neal exclaimed. "That's why we have to stop him now," said Eric. One Neal started shaking his head. "I don't like being locked in Sparr's personal ship. A few hours ago, we were trying to get out of here!"

"Yeah, shouldn't we try to keep the ship from flying away?" the other Neal asked. Suddenly, the walls rumbled around them. "We're taking off," Keeah said. "I have an idea!" the first Neal said. He entered a corridor of the ship. "Where are you going?" the second asked. No answer. "Man, he never listens!" Neal grumbled. Then, just as in the Tower of Memory, Eric sensed that they were not alone. He turned. "Looking for me?" said a voice. Lord Sparr stepped into the cargo bay. Slowly, Eric made his way toward him. The fins behind Sparr's ears went from purple to black. His face was full of anger. "Princess Keeah," he said. "Say good-bye to your beloved world. I have read the future. Droon shall soon be mine!" He raised his hand to her. Red light leaked from his fingertips.

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Keeah tried to jump away, but she slipped on the floor. Without thinking, Eric leaped in front of her. "Watch out!" Neal cried out, jumping in front of both of them. At the same moment, the other Neal raced in. "What? Old fish fins hurting my friends? As if!" And he jumped in front of the other Neal. Sparr shot a blast at them all. Zzzz! Poomf! The air went red. Eric pushed Keeah out of the way at the same time as both Neals crashed into each other. Sparr bolted away into the depths of the ship. "I'll get you!" yelled Eric. In a flash, he was on his feet and down a corridor after the sorcerer. He chased Sparr into the main control cabin. Eric screeched to a stop. Cold air was rushing into the cabin. Sparr stood near an open hatch. "Stay where you are!" The sorcerer's eyes burned with rage. But he did not try to hurt Eric. "You're keeping me alive, aren't you?" Eric said. "Why? For what? Tell me!" Sparr grinned. "Because of what will happen. Because of how you will… help me!" "What?" Eric cried. "I'll never help you!"

"Time… will tell!" the sorcerer said. Then he lifted his cloak behind him and leaped from the hatch. Eric crawled to the opening in time to see Sparr spread his cloak and swoop to the ground. "I'll never help you!" Eric yelled to the wind. When he ran back to the cargo bay, everyone was shaking their heads. "Oh, man!" Neal groaned. "This is the worst!" "Neal?" Eric said. "Where's the other you?" "When Sparr blasted us we came together," he said. "Poof! There's only me now. I'm normal." Eric jumped up. "Yahoo! Just you? You're just you! This is terrific! Boy, are we happy!" Neal frowned. "We would be except for…" "Except for what?" Eric asked. "Except for what he told me…" "What who told you?" "The other Neal. Right before we became me." "What did he tell you?" Eric cried. "That he did something to the ship—" KA-BOOOOM! The walls shook with a tremendous blast, throwing the kids to the floor. Flames leaped up the outside of the ship. Smoke began to fill the cargo bay. "That!" Neal yelled, grasping for something to hold onto. "The other Neal did that! So Sparr wouldn't get away."

"But his plan sort of backfired," Julie said. The ship rocked again, then started to dip. "Uh-oh," Eric said, "I think we're going down." "We are definitely going down," said Keeah. Neal frowned. "Splat, anyone?"