Odyssey

by Seraph of Enigma

No one ever said being a Skylander would be easy. But it certainly wasn't pitched quite like this; multiple people all wearing the same face and causing grief when it comes to looking for the true owner of any given form. Stripped of individuality and uniqueness it is commonplace to be mistaken for someone else. But life must go on, there is work to do. What's a Skylander to do?

4. Nearly Whole

Nearly Whole

"I don't know what you're expecting but I can tell you it won't be easy." The fascination over finding the mission was led by none other than the real Ignitor still had the gathered group of clones in awe. If it bothered him in the least the Core Skylander certainly didn't show it. The only thing truly proving who he was happened to be the presence of Grandmaster Eon. Kaos's wrath was far reaching and poor Eon was left as nothing but a floating head. He had mobility at least and was more oft than not working very closely with the most fledgling of the Portal Masters. At the moment he seemed content to watch the gathering from behind them to avoid distraction from Ignitor's rally. "We're going to have to pool our efforts and work together. By your base types I can place you in the proper units. Additional skills you possess should be mentioned." The flame spirit extended an arm and pointed to a Flameslingerling toting a sword as well as bow. "Case in point, what's your name lad?"

"James," the green skinned elf replied, his blindfold had been moved into the position of a bandana but nothing else really set him apart from others of his type. He felt compelled to step forward to the front of the group and held his sword point down in front of him.
"Are you as strong with the blade as you are with the bow?"
"I possess all of Flameslinger's skill in archery but shone best in swordsmanship before the change."
"I want you on melee after opening with the other ranged individuals." Ignitor pointed next to the Slam Bamling wearing dagger sheaths on his chest. "If you can conceal those and fool your opponent into closing the distance between you I can see you easily having the upper hand. Even then your strength alone makes you formidable. I want you to play the reluctant opponent to make them ignore your physical build." Ignitor fell silent for a while and brought a gauntleted hand up to what would have been his chin and rest his fist against it. "As we travel I will speak more with each of you to find where you will fit best. I am pleased with this turn out."

"So Ani looks like him?" Meilyr asked Seraphina softly while Ignitor kept speaking about the trolls and their setup.
"Shh," she shushed him. It wouldn't reflect too well on either of them to be so rude during the Core's speech. "Yes," she answered so soft she thought he might have missed it. She looked up when Ignitor clapped his fist against his breastplate.
"Very well, follow me then. I have a balloon ready for transport. I hope to see everyone on it for the return trip." Not that their absence would mean death but celebration was always better the day of battle rather than the following day or two.

"One moment, if you please," Eon said softly. With a gentle smile he drifted around to the front of the gathered Skylanders. "I am sorry for the hand fate has dealt you but it gladdens my heart to see you adjusting well and still helping your fellows. I have seen many Skylanders blossom and grow in their new roles; I have seen the same Skylanders bemoan what they have lost. Mostly I see the fires of hope continually stoked within hearts. I am proud of all of you and your Portal Masters. Together you will accomplish anything you set your minds on. One day we will find the answer to Kaos' foul trick." Eon looked to Ignitor and smiled again, "You and my other original Skylanders have done well in recruiting and training new additions. I thank you for being so understanding in the face of adversity."
Ignitor bowed before Eon and kept his head down as he spoke, "I can hold nothing against those that share my curse. Working with them increases our chances of a quick resolution." His flames were a pale red, almost a blush color when he finally stood back up. "It is an honor to work with all of you," he told the assembled group. "Come, let us make haste and clear these scabrous trolls out for good!"

"There, that's their main camp," a heavy-set Dino-Rangling said after lowering the binoculars he held. He shifted his weight and looked back over the force assigned to him. "Everyone clear on the plan?" He looked over those he commanded, one Shroomboomling, a Hexling, Flameslingerling, two Drobotlings, a Trigger Happyling, a Lightning Rodling and a Zookling.
"We spread out and attack at once to stir up confusion and make them careless," the bright red and yellow Shroomboomling nodded. He fingered the elastic band of his slingshot and his single eye took on a faraway look as he studied the troll camp.
"At the moment our attack begins so too does the cavalry charge. We hold our positions in the outer ring, formation does not break and we do not directly engage enemies unless given no choice. Only James is the exception to that rule," Seraphina finished. The cavalry was made up of three Fright Riderlings as well as Ignitor on a reptilian trekker with Meilyr mounted the same followed by a Bashling and Spyroling. Behind them would be infantry consisting of two Slam Bamlings, one Chilling, two Prism Breaklings, three Chop Choplings and an Ignitorling that wasn't comfortable enough to be a rider. Combined with the nine ranged individuals that made twenty five in all against perhaps double that in trolls armed with all sorts of weapons meant for range and accuracy.

"Hope you're not nervous, ladies," the Dino-Rangling grinned to his group.
"Ladies," one of the Drobotlings snorted and shook his head. "Yeah, I'm ready. We all are, give the order already!"
The Dino-Rangling held a finger to his lips and his features suddenly seemed to be made of stone before he motioned his group on. Further behind them, tucked behind a rock outcropping and copse of trees was the cavalry. Opposite them the infantry in a natural trench of sort. The Dino-Rangling's over the top hand signal was meant to be seen by both of the other groups to let them know it was beginning. "Good luck," he whispered to the carefully departing Skylanders.

Seraphina glided easily over the grass, her passing made not a sound and there was enough cover in the area to mask her visually from the trolls. The camp seemed lazy; the trolls were busy playing games with live ammunition and were completely unaware of what was encroaching slowly upon their camp. There were no scouts in the outlying area; the trolls didn't feel the need. At the most it would be five Skylanders traveling together and hardly a match for the numbers and firepower the trolls carried. Besides, in a troll's mind who wanted to be scouting when there were games to be played? The Hexling reached her assigned position quickly and began to count slowly to the designated number. When she reached it she held a hand above her head and cast a phantom orb. It spiraled upwards and winked out when its duration was over and it hadn't made contact with anything. She began casting her strongest skull rain spell as soon as the orb left her hand and by the time she had released the spell so too did the other ranged individuals attack.

At first the trolls thought it was the explosion of dynamite until a carefully place boomerang clocked one upside the head. As expected the trolls watched the weapon's return and focused solely on the Dino-Rangling allowing the Flameslingerling to move into the camp unnoticed. The thundering charge from the cavalry was hard to hear through the noise of trolls yelling and their carelessly strewn about ammunition exploding when ranged attacks hit them. Trolls can be such thick headed buffoons, the Hexling thought to herself. They weren't completely incompetent however; some had started to break off into groups to search the wooded area for the hidden Skylanders. Seraphina withdrew into deeper cover; she would let the trolls come to her. Finally it sounded as if they had noticed the cavalry.

Meilyr leaned forward on the back of the brutish trekker he rode to better streamline himself. It felt good to ride again; it had been too long since the last time. His heart was pounding as his reptilian mount quickly closed the distance between them and the trolls. Ignitor led the charge with Meilyr and one of the Fright Riderlings flanking him. Behind them were the two dragons with the final two Fright Riderlings to add balance and offer protection with their halberds.
"Ready, Meilyr!" Ignitor called to him.
The gremlin grinned widely and reached back into his enchanted pouch to pull out the potion he needed. It didn't matter which potion he needed, he always had it in stock and could find it without looking. As soon as Ignitor pulled to the left Meilyr lobbed the golden potion at the wall the trolls had set up as a blockade. The gremlin had already pulled out a second and was furiously shaking it before he threw that one too for an even larger explosion. Ignitor waved him on and Meilyr rode at his side. The Fizzling exchanged a nod with Ignitor and the two of them made themselves as small as possible on the backs of their mounts before they exploded through the remains of the barricade.

Trolls screamed as they fled from the enraged trekkers and their riders. What trekker teeth didn't find a blade or potion did. Hot on their heels came the three Fright Riderlings and the two dragons. Fire and stone were added to the fray and further brought confusion to the trolls. A few had gathered themselves enough to grab weapons. The mace wielders went down first, the gun-toting individuals were a little trickier.
A loud curse escaped one of the Riderlings when his mount stumbled and tossed him after taking a hit from one of the troll blasters. The Bashling rolled up quickly to his side and swung his heavy tail to remove the nearest threat. "You gonna make it?" he asked without looking back to the other Skylander.
"Yeah," the Riderling winced as he stood. "Sore but I'll be fine." He rubbed his Frightling's beak when the ostrich leaned in close with a soft moan and nuzzle. "Come on Punk," he said to the skeletal bird. "Let's give them a sound thrashing."
The Bashling grinned and rolled himself up tight before he thundered off to bulldoze trolls and scatter groups.

"Let the riders worry about each other," one of the Chop Choplings yelled as he and the rest of the infantry passed through the ruined barricade. "Watch each other!" he roared before shifting his shield and raising his sword to meet the charge of a mace troll. The troll didn't look so sure of himself suddenly and actually began to turn away before the Chopling's shield impacted him in the back and spun him around again to face the Skylander. The Chopling side-stepped the troll's half -hearted attempt and if he could have, would have grinned when the Chilling used an ice attack to freeze the troll's hand to his mace and mace to the ground.
"Cool your heels for a while," the female warrior laughed before she spun to face her own advancing opponent.

"The wench is around here somewhere," a large rust colored troll growled to his two companions. The side of his face stung, the last phantom orb she cast left an ugly welt on it that refused to stop burning. She was either running scared or toying with them; the troll hoped it was the former so he could really drive fear into her heart.
"There!" an olive green troll pointed to a flash of white in the trees. "Dumb broad, wearing white where it can be easily seen," he grinned lewdly. The third troll, with a slightly lighter green skin, pressed forward quickly to the area the elven caster had been seen in. He screamed suddenly when a bone bramble wall erupted at his feet and lifted him off the ground. His fellows ignored him and moved around the undead's construct. Phantom orbs came at them fast and furious, the elf was on the move and the trolls adjusted their course to try and head her off.

"Where did she go?" the rusty troll demanded when he and his companion reached a clearing. "This was where she was heading." The olive troll groaned suddenly and fell forward onto the other's legs. With a curse the rusty troll kicked at his friend and turned around to find a giant, ornate skull staring him down. The skull opened its jaws and blasted the troll with condensed energy that brought him to his knees. A moment later and the skull was gone in a puff of smoke. With tremendous effort the troll tried to stand again.
"No, for now you stay here," a female voice said as the spiked bones sprouted from the ground and enclosed the troll in a cage of them. The Hexling glided out from the trees and stooped to take the discarded weapons. She erected one more bone wall to trap the unconscious troll before she destroyed the weapons with another spell and threw them to the ground.

"You can't possibly expect to rout us all," the troll hissed. His left eye had nearly swollen shut and he could now feel the dirt and grit that had gotten into the wound. Every little grain or bit of leaf felt like a razor blade against his tender flesh.
The Hexling cocked her head to the side, "What makes you so sure our numbers are not enough?"
The troll laughed, "We are everywhere. There is not an island Kaos doesn't have us watch. You may best those of us on this island but you will never find us all. Skylands will fall to Kaos one way or another."
Seraphina cracked her staff against the wall of bones and made the troll jump backwards. "Never underestimate the prowess of those fighting to preserve their way of life. You so easily gave into Kaos and abandoned your own ways." Seraphina shook her head, she wanted to ask the troll how long he thought Kaos would let his people destroy the land once it belonged to him but didn't feel like further conversation with the troll. She instead checked the integrity of her bone constructs before she simply turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" the rusty troll snapped.
"To help the others. Do not worry; I will be back for you. Eventually," she replied without looking back or stopping.
"Get back here and finish me off like a real warrior, coward!" he shrieked at the Hexling. She did nothing more than hold her hand up before she left him stranded.

Meilyr's trekker screeched as a shot from a troll blaster found his thigh. The trekker began to limp and Meilyr knew he was now at a disadvantage. Without another thought he dismounted and slapped the reptile on the haunches to send him out on his own. A flaming arrow whizzed by the gremlin's ear and dropped a troll that had closed in on him with a raised mace. The Fizzling turned to the direction the arrow had come from and gave a wave of thanks, he kept thinking of Rafer every time he saw an arrow save another Skylander. Were all archers that quick to render aid? Meilyr drew several potions from his pack and slammed them all into the ground. Small purple beakers with legs rushed out to attack nearby trolls. Meilyr began to move as he reached back into his pack again to find the acidic brew and tossed a few of those out to ruin a stockpile of weapons.

"Where is your trekker?" a Riderling asked as he barreled by.
"Do not worry about me!" Meilyr called after him. He reached back into his pack one more time to withdraw a potion before he popped the cork and drank it. The gremlin increased in size almost instantly and took a far more insane look to him when he did. Meilyr bellowed loudly then dropped down to all fours to bound towards a group of trolls that had taken shelter behind old crates and barrels.

"Look out!" one of the trolls screamed as the furry mass of fists and claws closed in on them. He fired three times at the rampaging beast and all three shots struck the Fizzling but didn't seem to make any change in his charge.
Meilyr roared and launched himself into the air to crash down on the crates. He grabbed one of the trolls and simply threw him at another that was trying to escape. The two skidded across the ground in a heap of tangled limbs and failed to move afterwards. "Ever wanted flying lessons?" the gremlin asked in a more gravely version of his normal voice.
"No, please," the troll whimpered as he dropped the large wrench he held. "No, no!" the troll screamed like a little girl when the Fizzling picked him up and threw him.

Ignitor's trekker snorted in confusion when the troll flew over his head. The spirit knight chuckled and spurred his mount on again. Ignitor used his sword only when trolls were near enough but mainly replied upon fireballs to incapacitate them. The rout was going well; the majority of his ranged forces were still atop the rise looking out for the safety of his cavalry and infantry. So far it looked as if he hadn't lost many troops at all; a very promising sign. "Press them hard," Ignitor roared over the chaos. "We have nearly won the day!" Bolts of electricity from the hidden Lightning Rodling seemed to rain down behind him as emphasis and scattered a group of trolls that had tried to unite. With his fires burning a crimson red the knight leaned over the side of his mount and took the mace out of a troll's hands with the swipe of his sword.

The two Slam Bamlings worked wonderfully together. Trolls didn't know which one to engage, all had four arms and one had blades in each hand to extend his reach. The Skylanders worked through movements that almost seemed to resemble a dance, they traded opponents easily and lined them up for their partner to strike down.
A racing torrent of brambles cut a swath through trolls trying to flee and tripped them up long enough for either the Chopling that had summoned them to engage the enemy or a Fright Riderling to turn them back around.

The Chilling worked with the Prism Breaklings, her blocks of ice perfectly refracted their destructive beams and allowed the trio to clear out wide areas quickly. Even this far into the fray there were still piles of live ammunition to destroy. Doing so also removed trolls from hiding the majority of the time. Even though the trolls had the Skylanders outnumbered the battle was not in their favor.

The Ignitorling avoided combat if he could; his main objective was to set off the stockpiles of munitions the trolls carelessly had strewn about. And boy did he have his job cut out for him, there was a lot of troll weapons to destroy. Most of them were only used in troll games!

In the cavalry, despite the fact they weren't actually mounted, the Bashling and Spyroling were knocking trolls down and running over them easily. The Bashling's hide was smoking but by the dragon's laughter he wasn't feeling a thing.
"Oh! Another strike!" the Spyroling laughed. "I can only seem to get spares."
"I will teach you my secrets one day, my student," the Bashling joked when he stopped rolling long enough to catch his breath. Oh the rout was such fun! "Best six out of seven?" he offered.
"You are on!" the Spyroling replied before lowering his head for a charge.

It looked like a dance; the Dino-Rangling was always on the move and his boomerangs always found him no matter where he moved to. "Catch me if you can!" the dinosaur laughed. He pinned a groaning troll under his foot and set a few traps for the advancing trolls. They were so furious and filled with battle-lust that every single trap was tripped and left wounded or stilled trolls behind. The Rangling snorted and let loose his boomerangs again to finish off the trolls still advancing on him. "Amateurs," he grumbled.

"Help!" the call came from the Trigger Happyling. The poor orange gremlin had been disarmed and was being kicked around by a couple of larger trolls. All he could do was curl himself up to protect his head and organs while the trolls laughed and kicked him like a ball.
With a flick of his wrist the Rangling sent out a boomerang to each troll. One fell to the blast from the nearby bambazooker before the boomerang could reach it. The Dino-Rangling returned the wave the other Skylander gave him and held his hand up for the returning weapon. The Hexling and Shroomboomling were missing. The two Drobotlings had gone against their orders and were acting as dive bombers over the trolls but were at least unharmed.

It seemed others were having just as much trouble. Two more of the ranged unit were temporarily out of commission when one was needed to aid the other. Seraphina huddled with the Shroomboomling behind her bone wall and his mushroom ring. The other Skylander was nursing a wounded leg but if he avoided further injury would make it through the battle.
"Support me on the left," the Shroomboomling winced. "If I can steady myself I'll clear out the fools with you."
The Hexling released her skull rain and moved next to the mushroom as he requested. "Do not strain yourself," Seraphina warned. "Ignitor wanted us all back to celebrate with him."
"Aw, you're worried about me? That's so sweet! I'll be fine," he grinned before loading another of his magic spores to fire.
Seraphina rolled her eyes, the mushroom reminded her a bit of Anicetus and Meilyr rolled into one. She hoped Anicetus would be in a better mood when they met up again.

All at once it seemed to be over; the surrounding trolls went down with a flaming arrow or strikes of lightning. "Thought you could use a hand, milady," the Lightning Rodling said with a bow.
"Lady, do I look like a lady to you? Need to get your eyes checked, that's what you need to do," the Shroomboomling grinned as he put his hand into the one the Skylander meant for Seraphina.
"No, you oaf," the Rodling's tone changed instantly. He made a face when the mushroom tried his best to pose like a girl and bat his lashes.
Seraphina accepted the hand the Flameslingerling offered her and shared a smirk with him over the antics of the other two.

Ignitor whistled as his small force led the last of the trolls in to bind up for transport to a more suitable location. Everyone had made it, some worse for wear but no one had been sent back to Earth to rest. The two Slam Bamlings were exchanging high fives, an amusing scene when they kept forgetting which hands they had not yet used and started over three times before simply calling it quits. "You did well, fellow Skylanders," Ignitor said with flames a soft yellow. "I am pleased to have met all of you and happy to have worked with you. I might come searching for you in the future if I should undertake other similar missions."
"It's been too long since I worked like this with others. I will gladly join you at any time," the Lightning Rodling said with a bow.
"Been a blast for sure," the Spyroling grinned.
"As soon as my wing is repaired my services are yours," one of the Drobotlings said. His robotic wing hung at an odd angle and sent a shower of sparks each time a gear would grind.

Seraphina grinned at Meilyr when they were back on the balloon and resting comfortably. "That was an exciting adventure," she said as she sat down next to the gremlin.
He glanced to her with a smile, it had been. "Maybe next time you and I will get more of an opportunity to work together. I am anxious to see how battle flows with our new styles." Seraphina rested her head against the balloon's basket, in her current state she almost looked like her old self. Almost, her hair, skin and eyes were the wrong colors and her face shaped slightly different. Meilyr felt a pang as he looked at her, Hex wasn't a bad looking elf but Meilyr found Seraphina's true form much more appealing. The Fizzling closed his eyes and mentally scolded himself, his childish crush should be over by now, she was set to wed a king and he was nothing more than a royal guard.

"Are you okay?" Seraphina asked him softly.
"Ani should have been there," Meilyr smiled while keeping his eyes closed. "That was a Skylander battle. I feel alive again and accomplished." The gremlin finally opened his eyes. "I do not mind the small quests so much to fill my coin purse and occupy my slow hours. But I miss the adventure."
Not content to just rehash what the two had just been through, the Hexling threw her friend for a loop with a sudden change of topic. "Go home," Seraphina urged him. "Go see your family. Your father asks of you often. You do realize that I cannot lie to him the next time he asks. Meilyr," she looked at him and took him by a blue furry hand, "There is nothing to be ashamed of. My parents welcomed me home with open arms and said not a word about being undead. They were happy to see me. I know it pains them to witness my limitations but they are still there for me. Your brother misses you and you are missing some of the best years in the life of your young nephew."
Meilyr squeezed the delicate hand that held his and looked down at her slim fingers dwarfed next to his thicker digits. "I cannot do it on my own." He was expecting her to chide him or tell him how silly he was but certainly not a squeeze to his hand and her reply.
"Then I will come with you." The Hexling smiled reassuringly to the Pop Fizzling.

The battlefield Ignitor and his ragtag group had left was still a point of interest hours later. It had seen many visitors, most simply to see what burned. Others came in search of forgotten riches while others sought to ensure no one was in need of help.
Kaelin directed Stampede carefully through the rubble. The scene baffled him, nothing alive was left. He saw a few burned troll corpses but no signs of movement among them. The lack of any other kind of corpse left him feeling relieved.
"This was a Skylander assault," Galvin said once he had landed. He ruffled his feathered wings then drew them close to his body. "I saw an area where it looked like they held the trolls and discarded weapons to burn. I think I saw the patch of earth were a prison transport landed."
"The fires are contained?" All Kaelin could think about was the thick, oily smoke he and Galvin had seen rising from their vantage point on the ship they had bought passage on.
The Burnling nodded, "Before they left whoever routed the trolls made sure they would not erupt again and scar the rest of the island. If there are still embers burning they are deep in ash and will not burn for long."
"You saw no one in the area, troll or Skylander?"

Again, Galvin shook his head. "The area is secure. The pilot will be waiting for us as will the other passengers."
Stampede cooed as if in agreement to Galvin's statement. "Then there is no reason we should hold them up any longer." The Riderling stretched out to pat his Frightling on the head and turned him around. Kaelin was glad to be leaving truthfully, the smell of burning organic matter threatened to make his lungs and nose burn as well.
Galvin fluttered his wings and drew in a small amount of fresher air with the act. He had thought of flying back to the ship but it would be disrespectful to the elf he had sworn service to for the duration of their banishment.

The two scouting figures returned to the midsize ship. No one else had left, the other passengers were lined up along the railing and speaking softly as they pointed to the distance but no one had decided to look for themselves. There was one figure that had come close. Sky blue fur and feathers tipped in white covered the dragon and unicorn hybrid that stood on the boarding plank about halfway down.
"Well?" the red scarf wearing Whirlwindling asked. "What did you guys find?" She paced about eagerly on the ship's gangplank and effectively blocked the other Skylanders' access. Her features were pinched; the smell from the fires was just as thick at the ship as it was on site thanks to the wind.
"A decimated troll camp," Kaelin replied as he dismounted. He took Stampede firmly by the reins; the Frightling didn't get along with most other people and kept his head down low with his skeletal wings raised slightly as he regarded the Whirlwindling. Stampede wouldn't attack but if the other Skylander came any closer he might hiss or screech at her.

"That's the smell?" she nearly gagged as she mentioned it. "Why does it smell like that?"
Galvin moved up to put himself between Stampede and the other Skylander. Stampede seemed to settle slightly but never took his eyes off the blue unicorn-dragon hybrid. "Burning trolls," Galvin said slowly. He never knew how others might view death and was prepared to show his background as a priest if need be.
"Schnasty!" the other hybrid squealed in disgust as she threw her head back and fluttered her wings to move the scarf tails back between her shoulder blades. Suddenly the Whirlwindling's ears lowered and her eyes grew wide. "No one else was hurt, where they? Other than trolls?" She was relieved when both Galvin and Kaelin shook their heads. Her eyes had begun to water with the sting of smoke, she noticed the two Skylanders below her already had evidence of tears rolling down their cheeks and decided it was time to move. "That's so wonk that we missed all the action," she commented offhandedly with a flick of her fluffed tail. "Oh, my name's Windy by the way," she finally introduced herself to the returning Skylanders.

"Galvin Killian," the Burnling said with a bob of his head as he boarded the ship. "And this is King Kaelin Alistair of Haven." Galvin wasn't quite sure why he used their proper and full names, it had been a force of habit for him and he never thought twice about it.
"Ah, a king no more I am afraid. I make for a poor one being banished and all." Kaelin still held onto Stampede, the ostrich was doing better now that there was more space to separate him from strangers.
Windy froze in mid step and whipped back around with a hop that left all four of her legs out wide to support her, "A king? So honkin' bruce! I didn't know kings could even be Skylanders!" Her blue eyes were wide with excitement as she seemed to see Kaelin in a new light. Her wings very nearly twitched with whatever thoughts were flitting through her mind.

"To be fair when I was recruited I was only a prince. I was almost retired from the Skylanders but obviously had not done so before that fateful day," he grimaced. Kaelin along with everyone else on deck was forced to rebalance when the ship pulled away from the island. After a momentary period of unbalance everyone was once again standing still.
"I am sorry you were caught up in all of this. But it hasn't been all bad, right?" Windy asked as she sat down on her haunches. The others on deck seemed content to stay in their small groups talking so the blue hybrid had the king and his servant all to herself to question.

"It has been a…cultural experience," Kaelin said as he looked to the unicorn and dragon hybrid. Some of the slang she used was strange to him and possibly learned from one of Earth's many sources.
Windy grinned broadly, "It's been a blast. You know a lot of Skylanders are all depressed over the banishment. Me? I see it as a new adventure. I am learning so much about Earth cultures and history! It's a whole other world to explore and things are both familiar and alien about Earth. I like it, my Portal Master, Krystal, is the best. I'm only here for times when Krystal is away on errands. This way I can move about and not get bored when there is no other way to entertain myself. You know a chance to stretch my legs a little. But I've made a wonderful new friend. Some Skylanders don't like their Portal Masters much, why I wonder."

Kaelin and Galvin exchanged looks. "My first Portal Master," Galvin began slowly before he took a seat, "did not bond with any of us. My first was a young child who was rough on toys. I saw several of my surrogate family members become dismembered. They no longer spoke to us and the portal no longer registered their presence. I can only assume to destroy the toy form we inhabit is to destroy the life within. We lived in fear after that."
"Oh," Windy said sadly. Her large eyes watched Galvin for a while. He looked forlorn as he remembered what he had been through and she felt sympathy for the other hybrid. "I am sorry. I guess I've been so lucky I never thought of that. Do you know any friends or family of those Skylanders you…lost?"

"No," the Sunburnling replied softly. "Their families will never know and will always be searching. Even though the news would be horrible it would at least bring them peace and closure." Galvin gave the Whirlwindling a sad smile. "My new Portal Master, Mia, is much better. Though personally I think it is her mother that has bonded more with us. Two Portal Masters in one family, what are the odds?"
Windy smiled and let the conversation go. She had been lucky and to think some Skylanders didn't have it as good as her sent a chill down her spine.

"Thank you for listening," Galvin said suddenly. "Not the brightest thought to have but thank you for letting me talk about it. It hurts a little less each time and who knows, maybe one day I will find someone that knew them." The Sunburnling was aware of the fact he hadn't mentioned any names or traits of the individuals he saw destroyed but the fact Windy never stopped him during his retelling let him know others were willing to listen.
"I cannot complain about my Portal Masters," Kaelin said lumping the mother and daughter team together. "They do what they can for us and a kind face in a strange world makes a tremendous difference."
"You guys seem pretty interesting. Maybe sometime we could all adventure together?" Windy said hopefully.
Kaelin nodded, "There is always the possibility."
"How can I contact you?" Windy asked.
Galvin answered her, "Actually, that is why we are heading to Never-sleep Nexus. We wish to enter our names into the database and increase our search horizons."

Never-sleep lived up to its name; at least at the time Kaelin and Galvin had arrived in the early afternoon hours. The whole island was alive with conversations and every type of Skylander as well as normal Skylands residents wove paths through an endless sea of faces. Ships and balloons left only to be replaced by another. The waxing and waning of persons on the Nexus island never seemed to end. The king and his companion parted ways with Windy for the time being but had the location of her Portal Master's island and knew how to reach out if they needed anything. It never hurt to have ties, no matter how loose they may be, to other Skylanders.
"Maybe we should have tried for one of the smaller hubs," Galvin said in awe when he finally registered the crowds. He and Kaelin were going to get separated in them if they weren't careful.
"I think I agree," Kaelin smirked as he tried to calm Stampede. "Easy there old friend. You will be fine." The ostrich squawked as he danced from foot to foot. "If we become separated just keep moving. So long as one of us makes an entry it is a step in the right direction. I do not think Stampede is going to agree with this location at all." Kaelin couldn't blame him; he had rescued the poor creature from troll captors when he was barely older than a hatchling. It had taken nearly a year to get the bird to trust him; he never did take to his father and still hissed at his mother if he wasn't shying away from her. Kaelin hadn't the slightest idea how Seraphina and Galvin had gotten him to warm up to them so quickly.

Galvin had thought he'd seen the flash of a Meir Valan clergy robe in the crowd and had gone still as he stared at the location it had been. He found nothing, no re-emergence of it further in the direction the figure should be traveling nor a flash in the area he had first seen it. He saw Kaelin giving him a questioning look and told the Riderling what had his attention. "As far as I know it was only Seraphina and I from the clergy that became Skylanders."
Kaelin too began to search the crowd and as if he could sense his rider's excitement Stampede seemed to completely ignore the throng around him and stood stock still. "Which direction did you see her?" Kaelin urged, even he was beginning to believe it had been Seraphina.
Galvin tilted his head towards the commerce section of the Nexus, away from the banks of terminals. "If you would like to chase a shadow I will go to the terminals."
Kaelin pulled rein on Stampede and looked as if he was going to follow Galvin's hunch. "No," he said while still searching the crowd. "No, the terminals are concrete and solid. Proof of others is what we need; proof of our own return allows them to find us. I cannot afford to chase a ghost when a way to aid us even when we are not here is at my fingertips."
Galvin strode past him, his fiery colored tail feathers trailed out behind him and it wasn't until Kaelin nearly lost sight of his friend did he start to move towards the terminals himself. Kaelin glanced over his shoulder one last time; he still couldn't shake the feeling that he had missed her. But if it wasn't her and his connection to Skylands was severed again he would have to make the travel to the Nexus all over again next time.

The crowds of Never-sleep Nexus made it incredibly easy to miss old friends. It was only compounded by the fact there were so many faces repeated in the masses. Princess Seraphina Reve, dressed in her Meir Valan clergy robes, glided alongside one of her oldest friends and remained oblivious to who she had just missed. The Fizzling and Hexling walked side-by-side and carried on their conversation as if completely alone.
"I simply do not know how I should feel," Meilyr was saying to Seraphina with his eyes wide and jaw slack. "I never expected to see my father tonight," he put his hands out in front of him. He didn't even expect his father to be nearby when Seraphina hailed her own family.
"You worry too much!" the Hexling laughed. "You are being invited to Grandmaster Eon's abode for a celebration of our small victory. You are being given the chance to mingle with the Core Skylanders and you are getting a much needed reunion with family."

The Fizzling still couldn't get his father's expression out of his thoughts. His father was Avon De'clan, captain of Meir Valan's army and he had openly wept when Meilyr finally showed himself. It wasn't because Avon didn't recognize his son or was ashamed of him; it was because he had finally found him after two years of unanswered questions and worries. It seemed that no matter how old Meilyr was he was still his father's little boy. The gremlin went to rub at an itch under his eye and was reminded that his fur was still damp from his own tears. Meilyr hadn't even realized they were falling until he had sniffled. He had cried in front of the princess, he might as well turn in his man card for that, or however that Earth saying went. "What is expected of us?" Meilyr asked at last.
"The same as would be expected of you at any royal function at home," Seraphina replied. "Leave the potion knap-sack in your locker. Do you have a locker? I will help you get one if not. We have time if you want to see what we can do to make you look more… formal."
Meilyr rolled his eyes and purposely walked with a waddle, "You think you can make this look 'more formal'? Ha!"
"I think you are going to want to look comfortable in your skin because I also invited Anicetus. If my dear brother is in the mood for being social, that is."

"Ani," Meilyr stopped in his tracks. He ran a hand through the slightly longer blue fur on the top of his head. "Oh I will never hear the end of it. He will be in stitches over my new look."
The Hexling turned around and glided backwards a few paces before she too stopped. "Just remind him of the time he drank that potion that turned his hair bright pink," Seraphina said with a grin.
Meilyr laughed, "And all this time he thought you had not noticed. Or were too mature to say something."
"You were doing a good enough job ridiculing him over it, I remember. Keep that in mind if he gives you trouble over being a Fizzling."
"Right," Meilyr said as he looked down at his wiggling toes. "I need your help badly," he admitted. "Help me look as similar to my old self as possible. Something to help my father recognize me from a distance."