How I met Hunter
"Okay, gang!" Elora called out, checking her clipboard, "we only have a few weeks before the anniversary of Ripto's defeat! I want to make sure everything is set for the festival!"
Two years had passed since Spyro defeated Ripto, and since then, Elora, the ambassador of Avalar, had declared a festival in honour of the young dragon, and Elora was to make sure it ran smoothly.
"Um, excuse me?"
Elora turned in surprise.
Standing in front of her was a young, blonde bunny around her age.
"Oh, hello there." Elora began.
"Are you Elora?" The bunny asked.
Elora nodded. "Yep, that's me. Don't believe I've met you before. Welcome to Avalar."
The bunny clutched a stick nervously. "I'm Bianca. I was wondering if you know Hunter the cheetah?"
Elora smiled to herself and shook her head. "Yeah, I know him, why? Has he done something again?"
Bianca exhaled through her nose, her expression serious. "No. I just wanted to know: what are you to him?"
Elora was taken aback. "I'm his friend."
Bianca wasn't convinced. "Friend? Or ex?"
Elora was shocked. "Why are you so concerned about me and Hunter?"
Bianca lowered her head. "It's just... Hunter is very important to me... he's the first to see me for who I truly am... but when he speaks about you, I wonder if something happened between you in the past."
Elora lay her hand on Bianca's shoulder, then turned her head. "Bud? Take over!"
She handed her clipboard to a green Forman colossi then turned back to Bianca.
"I think we should go for a walk, then I'll explain everything."
The two walked out of Idol Springs, then continued their journey. After a bit, they were in Autumn Plains.
Elora sat at the edge of the pond and dipped her feet in. Bianca sat next to her, looking at her nervously.
"First, I just want you to know, while I do care about Hunter, it's more of a brother sister thing." Elora began.
Bianca raised an eyebrow. "How did you two even meet? Something must have happened to you two for you to care about each other, and yet not love each other that way."
Elora lay back and looked up at the sky. "I guess, if you want to fully understand, you'll probably need a little history of Avalar."
Bianca looked impatient. "Tell me everything."
Elora sat up. "When Avalar was first created, there was originally four homeworlds: Summer Forest, Autumn Plains, Winter Tundra and Spring Jungle."
"Spring Jungle?" Bianca asked. "What happened to Spring Jungle?"
Elora sadly smiled. "It all began when I was a little faun living in Fracture Hills..."
Flashback
"Elora?" Satyr Jev called out.
Four year old Elora came running out of the temple.
"Yes, Jev?" She asked.
"Ah, there ye are, Lassie." Jev began, smiling as he picked up Elora. "The others were wondering where ye were. Thought an earthshaper took ye."
Elora wrapped her arms around Jev as he carried her off to the others inside the alchemist's shop.
Elora was not like the other fauns, and everyone knew it. She was found as a baby, crying in an abandoned clearing when the six satyrs found her. Ever since then, she was raised by Jev, not fully sure of where she truly came from.
"Found the wee lassie." Jev called out, setting down Elora with the four other fauns: Lila, Spinner, Krista and Sheila.
"Good!" Head Satyr Cleevath smiled, "Now, brothers, we must discuss the next course of action. The hills are no place to raise five wee ones. Let's go, brothers. We will find out how to stop the siege."
The six satyrs turned to leave.
"I wanna come too!" Elora cried out, running over towards the satyrs.
Jev shook his head. "No, wee one. It's too dangerous. Ye lassies stay with the alchemist. He'll guard ye."
With that, the satyrs left the building. No sooner had they left, and the alchemist went to work on potions, the other fauns surrounded Elora.
"I wanna come too!" Shelia mocked.
"Of course the red one would want to follow the satyrs." Krista added.
"What are you anyway?" Lila added, "some kinda goat?"
"I'm a faun like you!" Elora yelled back.
"You'll NEVER be one of us!" Sheila replied, "you should have stayed on your hill!"
This was how it always was: the other fauns bullying Elora for being red and different.
Before Elora knew what was happening, she had charged into Sheila, sending her flying into the bottles of potions the alchemist had made. The crash sent the alchemist running.
"What's going on here?" He demanded. "What happened to my potions?"
"Elora pushed Sheila!" Lila screeched, pointing at Elora.
Elora hung her head as the alchemist turned to her.
"Elora! You know there's a zero no horseplay rule in my shop. You're lucky that these potions are only health, you could have seriously hurt Sheila!"
Elora's face glowed red as the alchemist took Sheila to the back to monitor her. The other three fauns glared at Elora before leaving after her.
Elora was forced to stand in the corner to reflect on what she did."
End flashback
"Okay, I understand that you had a bad childhood, but what does that have to do with Hunter?" Bianca asked.
Elora sat up and looked over at the bunny. "It actually created the trigger!" Elora replied. "When Jev returned..."
Flashback
"Elora, I am so disappointed in ye!" Jev scolded.
Elora hung her head as she sat on the edge of her bed.
"When I took ye in, I knew there was going to be a few complications, but I never thought ye would be so careless! Yer to stay in yer room until..."
"Excuse me?" Jev and Elora turned to face the door. A little mole wearing a lab coat hobbled in.
"I was told I could find a Jev here?"
Jev stood up. "Yes, that's me. What can I do for ye?"
The mole looked around. "They call me the professor. I was sent by my colleague, the alchemist, to collect a faun named Elora."
Elora gasped as tears filled her eyes.
"Elora?" Jev asked in surprise.
The professor nodded. "The alchemist learned something about her, and he said it would be best if I were to take her to the homeworlds of Avalar."
Jev shook his head. "I'm sorry, Professor. The alchemist must be thinking about another Elora. This one is confined to her room."
The professor laughed. "I know it sounds weird, but he foresaw her doing greatness."
"Jev! Don't let him take me!" Elora plead.
The professor turned to Elora. "Ah, you must be Elora."
Elora shrunk back. "I don't want to leave Jev, or Fracture Hills! Please don't let me leave!"
The professor took the young faun's hand. "I understand that you are nervous. But if you come with me, you can do so much for Avalar."
Elora was shocked. "So much... for Avalar?"
"Yes." A third voice replied. The three turned.
"Does no one knock?" Jev wondered as the alchemist wandered in.
The alchemist turned to Jev. "I foresaw Elora as the ambassador of Avalar. She'll be the bridge that will bring Avalar the one to end our terror, but that's only if she goes with him."
Elora was terrified. "But Jev!" She exclaimed. "I love you! I don't want to abandon you!"
Jev knelt down in front of Elora. "And I love you, wee one. But I also know you'll be happier with the professor." He pulled her into a hug.
"You can always come back to Fracture Hills for a visit." He added.
Elora nodded, defeated before hugging him close.
"My daughter." Jev whispered.
"Daddy..." Elora replied.
Once they broke apart, Elora stood and turned to the professor.
"When do I leave?" She asked.
The professor took her hand. "We go now." He whispered.
He lead Elora through the portal as Jev sank to his knees, heart slowly breaking.
When the professor and Elora left the portal, Elora was surprised to find herself in a giant castle.
"Welcome to Autumn Plains." The professor began. "One of our four homeworlds. Come, I'll show you around your new home."
As the professor gave her the tour, showing her the different portals she'd have to visit, Elora was taken aback at the wonder and beauty of the Autumn Plains, and of Avalar in general.
"Now, Elora." The professor began. "You may not realize this, but you were actually chosen to be ambassador from the moment you were born."
"Me?" Elora began in surprise. "Why me?"
"The alchemist had foreseen that a lone baby, abandoned hillside would soon pack a lot of power. Three days later you were found. Once the other fauns started to bully you, I was sent to collect you to keep you safe."
Elora was amazed. "I can't believe it! Me! Hand chosen ambassador?"
The professor nodded. "However. With great power comes great responsibility, and I must warn you of the dangers of Avalar. You are only four, so I ask that you stay away from Spring Jungle."
"Why is that?" Elora asked.
The professor turned. "I'm sure Jev told you of the siege."
Elora nodded. The professor continued to walk, Elora following. "Well, the siege is concentrated in Spring Jungle, and if you go there, you'll be consumed."
Elora paused and looked at the professor, puzzled.
"Everything evil has taken over." The professor explained.
"Ah, gotcha." Elora replied.
"We are trying to stop the siege, but nothing is working."
"Um, are you sure I shouldn't wait until I'm older before you train me?" Elora asked.
The professor shook his head. "I was trained to be a professor when I was your age. Now, come, let's get you ready."
A few months passed, and Elora was already beginning to show promise.
Finally, one day, a young, red headed fairy flew up.
"Professor!" She exclaimed.
The professor looked up. "Zoe! What seems to be the problem?"
"It's gone! Spring Jungle and it's portals burnt out!"
The professor jumped up. "And the inhabitants?" He asked.
"Dead!" Zoe replied. "We managed to save one, but he's unconscious! Come with me! We took him to Summer Forest!" She started to fly off.
The professor turned to Elora. "I'll be back. Brush up on your knowledge of the Winter Tundra!"
With that, he was gone. Elora flipped through the notes she was given, but her mind was stuck on the person who was unconscious. Would he wake up? What would happen now that he had no home? She continued to flip through her notes, but her brain was too full.
Eventually, the professor came back.
"How is he?" Elora asked.
The professor looked relaxed. "He woke up. While he is discombobulated, he'll be okay."
"Would I be allowed to see him?" Elora asked.
The professor nodded. "You can see him tomorrow. Now, tell me: what are the four portals in the Winter Tundra?"
The next day, Elora and the professor slowly made their way to the summer forest.
"He may be panicking, so don't be alarmed if he reacts violently." The professor explained.
The two continued their journey until they finally reached the summer forest castle.
Curled up in a ball in the corner was a young cheetah around Elora's age. He was crying a bit.
Elora nervously crawled over to him.
"Hello there." She began.
The cheetah jerked back. "Who are you? Where's mommy and daddy?"
Elora put a hand on his arm. "My name is Elora. What's your name?"
The young cheetah curled into a tighter ball. "Hunter. What's happening? Where's my mommy and daddy?"
Elora turned to the professor, pained.
"I'll tell him. You wait outside." He whispered.
Elora was barely outside when she heard the boy sobbing and screaming "no!" Over and over. After a bit, the professor came out and Elora went back in.
"Hunter?" She whispered.
Hunter turned, his fur soaked with tears. "What am I going to do?" He asked. "I have no parents! I'm alone!"
Elora took his paw in her hand. "You're not going to be alone." She replied.
"I'm not?" Hunter asked in surprise.
"I'll be your little sister." Elora replied. "And the professor will be there for us too."
Hunter's eyes welled with tears. "But what about when you leave me?" He asked.
Elora shook her head. "I won't leave you. I'll be there for you."
Hunter hugged Elora tight as he cried.
End flashback
"And since then, We've been brother and sister." Elora replied. "Besides... my heart belongs to... someone else."
Bianca looked more relaxed. "I see, I'm sorry for being so tense..."
"It's okay." Elora replied. "Say, what's your story?"
Bianca opened her mouth to speak, when a familiar "there you two are." caught the girl's' attention.
Hunter came bounding over to Bianca and Elora.
"There's my two favourite girls. Playing nice, right?" He joked.
"Yeah." Bianca replied.
"Ready for our date?" Hunter asked, kissing her.
Bianca nodded, then waved goodbye to Elora.
Elora waved back, then paused. Turning, she went through a new portal.
Once she reached the other end, she called out. "I'm home!"
Jev jumped up. "My daughter!" He replied, hugging Elora.
"Daddy..." she whispered, hugging him back.
"I missed you so much."