Cave of Wonders

"Cave of Wonders" is the eleventh episode of *Daniel Kravitz, Chosen One (Volume 3)*, and the thirty-seventh installment of the series overall. It was performed on April 11, 2020 via Zoom as the first segment of Show LVIII and streamed live on YouTube. It was released as podcast episode 290.

Written by Nick Arganbright

Directed by Samantha Stark

Previous episode: "Conspiracy Theories"

Next episode: "Words You Don't Want to Hear"

## **The Story**

Two weeks after Alexis Augustus Armentrout disappeared, Daniel Kravitz is waiting outside Abby Reynolds' office. Abby can be heard yelling within. Rufus Reginald Rochester approaches Daniel and asks if Daniel has spoken to Alfredo about the Amulet of Sh'all. Daniel says no, and Rufus says he should, as it could be a power source for him. Rufus also asks Daniel if he thinks Abby has changed, and not for the better. Daniel doesn't understand what Rufus means.

The door to the office opens and B.J. McKibben and Stephanie Garcia come out, angry, and quickly head down the hall. Abby follows a moment later, seemingly calm. Daniel asks if she's all right, and says she shouldn't take out her frustration with Alexis on the trainees. Abby shoots back, since when did Daniel start caring about the trainees? She's got a huge list of things to do, and no one else is pulling their weight, so it all falls back on her. Daniel offers to help, saying he misses her and talking about their future dreams. Abby returns that they aren't the same people and those dreams have changed. Daniel agrees, bringing up Kravitz Antiques, which he learns Abby gifted to the U.L.P., which has been taking care of the property. Daniel is furious, though he doesn't say why, and Abby instructs Rufus to sign the property back to her, though the U.L.P. will still maintain it.

Daniel offers to help Abby again, but she blows him off and returns to her office. Daniel asks Rufus if he knows what's on Abby's list. Rufus mentions a nearby cave that needs explored, and Daniel reluctantly agrees to do it.

Daniel goes to Corey Addison's cabin. She is surprised when he tells her to pack for a mission. When she asks what she should pack, he says whatever she needs for spelunking.

Not-Josh Wallace is sitting in a cell by himself when Grezit the Green brings Fran in and puts her into a neighboring cage. Fran thanks Grezit, but Grezit says he's only moving her because Abby made him, given that Fran's last cell was leaking when it rained. Not-Josh tries to talk to Grezit, but Grezit leaves, upset that someone is wearing his friend's face. Fran asks Not-Josh if he's Bertram Oswalt Babbit. Josh denies it, but Fran isn't convinced.

A few hours later, in the caves just north of the U.L.P. ranch, Daniel and Corey are exploring the dark, damp tunnels. Corey is chatting with Dawn Vaughn on the official U.L.P. comm, and mostly ignoring Daniel. Daniel begins feeling ill. He still manages to tease Corey when she gets annoyed and hangs up on Dawn, learning Corey hasn't told Dawn about what happened in Pennsylvania.

Then, the floor opens up and they fall. Moments later, in a cavern below, the dust settles on an ancient, Native American passageway. Daniel hates dust, and scrambles to clean himself. Corey suggests using his Disappearing Retreat to get them out, but his powers aren't working. As Corey looks for a way out, the wall opens up and they are sucked into another chamber.

It takes a few minutes for them to regain consciousness in the musty air. Corey finds first a skeleton, and then a weakened, sweaty, pale Daniel propped against the wall. Corey tries to get him up, but he says it hurts to move, and his Quick Heal isn't kicking in.

Daniel says someone will come looking for them, but Corey disagrees. As Daniel suggests Corey be positive, they argue. Corey claims that no one likes her and they're just biding time until the smoke demon gets here. Daniel returns that no one is judging her for her mistakes, but instead, that she refuses to learn from them. When Daniel says she was wrong, Corey denies it. Daniel, getting loopy, suggests she stop pushing people away. Yes, she's had a rough life, but so has he. And while he was a bit luckier than her, Corey is so focused on the bad, that she can't see the good all around her. The ranch could be home if she lets it, and people do care. Corey says she is nothing like Daniel. Daniel says she is afraid of being alone and she cannot let fear rule her.

It's clear Daniel is fading fast, and Corey tries to get him up. Daniel tells her to leave him. She doesn't want to, but he insists. She promises to come back for him. Time passes and Daniel closes his eyes. He softly sings "This little light of mine" as he falls asleep.

Then the tunnel lights up again. It's Alfredo, casting spells that dispel the thing draining Daniel. Corey is with him. Alfredo puts the Amulet of Sh'all on Daniel, and he quickly recovers, his healing power re-activated and supercharged. Corey reveals Abby is super mad at Daniel for coming here, although Alfredo says Daniel couldn't have known about the spell left in this place that drains the lifeforce from the strongest individual before moving on to the next. Alfredo leaves them, removing every last bit of the evil from the caves.

Corey admits Daniel was right. Dawn sent out a search party, and everyone was out looking for them. Corey manages to get out an apology, and Daniel acknowledges that she's sorry.

## **Guest Starring**

* Keith Jackson as Alfredo
* Dana Bauman as Corey Addison
* Katie Boissoneault as Fran
* Darren Esler as the narrator

## **Trivia**

* Nathan Haley's internet cut out mid-way through the segment. He got back on a couple of minutes later and the segment picked up right where it left off.
* Seamus Talty provided the mutterings of Dawn over the headset, as performer Karen Perta wasn't present during this show.
* There was no theme song, as the show was moved to Zoom late in the schedule and it was deemed to technically difficult to make work in the limited time available.