Author: TaylorMan2274
Challenger: Magicanus
When Will I See You Again?
"Greetings, young Portal Master. I have been waiting for you. I am Eon; your guide in this world."
Taylor recalled his first encounter with Master Eon as he stood in the portal room. He thought about how that encounter had dramatically changed his life, from being a reclusive, shy teenager on Earth, to a nerdy, Tech Portal Master in Skylands. Taylor exited the portal room and started to walk down the main hallway of the citadel, continuing to think of how he was first introduced to this amazing place.
"But where are you, you may ask."
Taylor looked around, noticing how empty the hallway felt. Usually, the hallways of the citadel were crowded with Portal Masters, Skylanders, and allies. This time however, there was nobody to be heard, seen, or found. Even the main hallway was void of life itself. To Taylor, the bright red colors of the walls and ceiling started to feel dull and dark. Taylor almost thought that he was somewhere other than the citadel.
Taylor arrived at the main double-doored entrance of the citadel. With no hesitation, Taylor pushed both doors open and held them open as he stepped outside. Taylor took a look around the abandoned Aisle of Light. What was once a beautiful paradise is now an empty, unpopulated island. Not even the Core of Light could shine a light on this dark day. Taylor looked beyond the Aisle of Light, yet saw nothing nearby. What is this place? Once filled with creatures, now left alone and abandoned?
"This is Skylands. An ancient world of wonder and mystery."
Taylor stepped back inside and let go of the doors as the slowly closed shut behind him. Taylor then proceeded back towards the main hallway, but instead of taking a left - which led to the portal room - he took a right, heading down to the various offices and bedrooms of those who once lived here.
On this side of the main hallway, there were eight additional hallways on the sides, four on the left and four on the right. These eight hallways were considered as 'elemental hallways' since they contained the bedrooms of whoever used to live here. The hallways also included framed picture of those whom he could faintly remember. How long had this place been empty?
"For generations, the Portal Masters and the Skylanders kept peace and balance in this world, so that all creatures could thrive."
The more Taylor looked at the pictures, the more he remembered the sweet memories that he shared with them. Oh, how he missed them so. Taylor stopped walking when he arrived at a certain Skylanders' picture. It only took Taylor a few moments before he recognized the winged sphinx in the picture.
Scratch.
Taylor turned his head toward the window at the end of the hallway and saw an image of himself playing with Scratch, laughing aloud as Scratch chased him before collapsing on the ground when Scratch finally managed to pounce on him.
"Magic flows through everything here. Every rock, every tree, and every beast."
The image faded away once Taylor saw a few dark clouds in the distance. They weren't getting closer or anything, but they were just standing there. Watching him. Waiting to see if he would be foolish enough to put up a fight. Taylor chuckled as he thought single handedly battling the darkness, doing that would be merely impossible.
But he'd done it before; with help or course.
"But now our world is in great danger. The darkness is spreading, Skylands needs your help."
Taylor turned away from the window after deciding to go back to the portal room. When he got there, he noticed that the logbook was open. He walked over to the logbook and started to look at the previous names listed down.
Name - Date of Exit - Time of Exit
Desmond - 1/23/16 - 8:27 PM
Samantha - 1/24/16 - 8:13 PM
Aviar - 1/24/16 - 10:30 PM
049 - 1/24/16 - 10:35 PM
Star - 1/25/16 - 11:36 AM
Solar - 1/25/16 - 3:57 PM
Jane - 1/25/16 - 10:46 PM
Victoria - 1/25/16 - 11:55 PM
Shadow - 1/26/16 - 12:20 AM
Technow - 1/26/16 - 3:25 AM
Seraph - 1/26/16 - 12:05 PM
They all left… and none came back. Why? Taylor didn't know. All that he knew was that he was the lone life form on the Aisle of Light, and he is about to leave Skylands. For how long? Now even Taylor knew the answer to that question.
"A great adventure awaits you, young portal master."
And a great adventure that was. But now his adventure was over. Taylor thought in his head if there was ever going to be another adventure. He knew that Kaos wasn't the type of guy to admit defeat, even after getting blown out by the Skylanders five consecutive times. But Kaos hadn't been heard of for about half a month now and rumors started popping up about his mysterious disappearance. Some say Kaos finally surrendered and that Skylands was finally at peace while others say that Kaos is still out there, lurking in the darkness making his most diabolical plan of all time.
Taylor activated the portal and was about to stop through when he heard a familiar voice.
"Taylor."
Taylor whipped his body around to find the source of the voice, but could find no such thing. He was the only one there.
"Don't leave me."
Taylor swore that he knew the sound of the sweet voice, it was literally on the tip of his tongue.
"Don't tell me you forgot all about me, your favorite lover."
Taylor now started to get confused. Favorite lover? What was this voice talking about? Taylor never had a favorite Skylander, instead he treated all as his equal favorite. Nobody really stood out from the rest.
"You always said you would be back. That you would see me again."
The voice finally clicked to Taylor as he remember making such a promise to a very lovely Skylander.
Flashback - One Week Ago
Scratch was almost on the verge of tears as Taylor stood in front of the boating dock at the Skylander Academy. Taylor reached out his arms and Scratch immediately jumped on him, making sure not to knock him down as she wrapped her front paws over his shoulders, hanging on to him as if he was a brand new plush toy.
"But I don't want you to go." Scratch said as she sniffed and sobbed.
Taylor gave Scratch some soft pats on her back as he knelt down. "I know how you feel, but Portal Masters aren't allowed to live at the Skylander Academy, they have to live at the Aisle of Light."
Scratch continued to sob as she gripped on to Taylor even tighter. "This isn't FAIR!" Scratch shouted.
Taylor could start to feel the tip of her claws ripping through his shirt as she continued to hug him. He gently pushed Scratch off of him as he stood back up.
"I promise that I will see you again" Taylor assured.
Taylor opened up a portal to Eon's Citadel and was about to enter the portal when Scratch asked a question.
"When will I see you again?"
Taylor turned around to Scratch, knelt down, and was planning to kiss Scratch on her cheek, but instead she grasped his head with her front claws and pressed her lips onto Taylor's. Taylor was shocked at first but then leaned into it, being careful to not cut himself on Scratch's mask.
After about ten seconds, Scratch and Taylor stopped kissing each other. Taylor stood back up and said,
"We will speak again. Soon…"
And with that being said, Taylor entered through the portal to Eon's Citadel.
End of Flashback
Taylor turned back to the portal and looked at the location that was currently on the other side of the portal. Taylor looked at the activation switch and then looked back at the portal. Taylor then walked over to the activation switch and turned off the portal.
Taylor turned around to the exit of the portal room and opened a portal of his own. He looked at the location he wanted to teleport to and smiled as he recognized the place.
Skylanders Academy. It was time to keep his promise.
