The Guacamole Monster

The battleship sailed onwards across Skylands, looking for the Guacamole Monster. While Jet-Vac steered the ship through the clouds, Keith, Rose, Sara, and the Imaginators wandered around the corridors, doing minor maintenance. But eventually, the journey began to take its toll.

"We've been searching for hours," Keith sighed, pacing the main deck. "How hard can it be to find a walking lump of guacamole?"

"Don't forget that our meeting with the Arkeyan Empire delayed us," Rose replied. "The Monster would have gotten a head start on us."

"All the same, we should have seen it by now," Tech Blast grumbled. "Or at least heard news of its rampage."

At that moment, a loud siren blared out across the deck. "What's happening?" Keith cried. "Are we under attack?"

"I don't think so," Sara replied. "Maybe Jet-Vac will tell us what's up."

"Right. Rose, Sara, let's go," Keith said. "Tech Blast, Aquos, Spell Strike, head down to the engine room and wait for further instructions."

"Got it," the Imaginators cried, running through the door to the engine room.

Keith, Rose, and Sara hurried to the bridge. "Sitrep, Jet-Vac!" Keith called.

"According to the battleship's guacamole-detecting radar, we have tracked that Guacamole Monster here to this strange island." Jet-Vac pointed to an image on the screen, showing the monster stomping through of a Mexican-themed village. "Wonder what kind of unspeakable acts he could be up to."

Keith watched grimly as the monster approached a gigantic vat full of chunky red fluid, picked it up, and began to chug it down.

Jet-Vac gasped in horror. "Egads – it's a SALSA ISLAND!"

With a satisfied belch, the monster tossed the empty vat aside and began spewing balls of salsa at the approaching ship.

"I'm sure I don't have to tell you about the awesome power of combining salsa and guacamole," Jet-Vac said. "We need to stop this guy and Fast! Keith, you're in charge of flying this ship. I'll provide logistical support from here."

"Understood." Keith went up to the main control and activated the intercom. "Attention, Imaginators, we have located the Guacamole Monster. The ship is now in full combat mode. Repeat, we are in combat mode now. I'm sending the Sky Baron Robots to assist us, but they'll need your help to guide them. Tech Blast, I'm putting you in charge of the engines. Aquos, you head the repair team. Spell Strike, you work with the loading crew. That is all."

"What shall we do?" Rose asked.

"You and Sara shall man the cannons," Keith decided. "Get ready to fire on my command."

Rose and Sara saluted then climbed up the ladders to the turrets. Jet-Vac activated the lock-on computers to track the Monster's movements. "Target acquired. Let's blast the Guacamole Monster to kingdom come!"

"FIRE!" Keith yelled.

Rose and Sara turned the turrets round and hit the fire buttons. The cannons roared into life, firing at the Guacamole Monster with full force. The monster yelled in pain at the attack then grabbed another vat of salsa and hurled it at the ship.

"Evasive maneuvers!" Keith spun the wheel round to steer the ship away, avoiding the vat. But the monster spat out a salsa-powered ball that struck the ship full force.

"Hull damage on the port bow!" Jet-Vac announced. "Repair team, move out."

"I'm on it!" Aquos led the robots down the corridor, and they set to work, sealing the hole and scraping away clods of guacamole.

"Sara, shoot down any salsa balls that go near us," Keith commanded. "Rose, focus your fire power on the monster!"

"Reloading," Spell Strike called, as the robots got to work on the turrets.

"Approaching the end of the avenue," Jet-Vac announced. "About turn!"

Keith slapped the wheel hard, making it spin around to face the opposite direction. The monster took this distraction to jump over a wall, landing at a higher level of the town.

"Full speed ahead!" Tech Blast yelled, firing up the engines.

As the ship surged forward, Rose and Sara continued their attacks, draining the monster's health.

"Look out!" Jet-Vac cried, watching the action on the screen. "The monster's going for seconds!"

"Not this time!" Rose turned her turret to the vat and fired on it, just as the monster grabbed it. Seconds later, the vat exploded right in the monster's hands. With a roar of agony, the monster collapsed and its body disintegrated into a pile of green ooze.

"Ha!" Jet-Vac cheered, punching the air. "Not so tough now, are you, Guac-y!"

Suddenly, the whole island started to shake, and moments later, an enormous guacamole arm burst out of a tube, startling the inhabitants.

"Wait a minute…" Jet-Vac breathed, as more hands emerged from the pipes. "That other Guacamole Monster was merely an appetizer. THERE'S THE MAIN COURSE!"

"Yeah, we can all see that!" Keith snapped impatiently.

"I DEFINITELY don't need to tell you that this is bad, Keith," Jet-Vac replied. "But as usual, I have a cunning plan – take out the tentacles to defeat Guacamole Monster 2.0!"

"You heard him, guys," Keith called over the intercom. "Don't hold back!"

As one of the hands transformed into another Mini-Monster, Rose and Sara focused their magic into the turrets. "Our spells should give us the extra power we need to destroy that monster," Rose told Keith.

"Perfect," Keith replied. "Fire at will!"

With the added power of the Arkeyan sisters' spells, the turrets fired upon the Mini-Monster, destroying it in three hits. The Monster's arm reached out to backhand the ship, but Keith quickly steered it back. A second Mini-Monster hurled a vat of salsa, striking them amidships.

"Critical damage on the starboard deck!" Jet-Vac announced.

"Aquos, immediate repairs," Keith called, steering the ship around. "I'll turn us around to prevent further damage."

Aquos led the robots onto the deck, using his Wave Push to wash away the salsa. He then ordered the robots to begin repairs on the deck.

Rose and Sara quickly dealt with the arm that had tried to slap them, then took out the remaining Mini-Monsters. "First arm destroyed," Sara shouted.

"Second arm ahead," Jet-Vac replied, pointing to the nearest pipe.

"Maximum power to engines!" Tech Blast declared.

With a blast of fire from the pipes, the ship zoomed closer to the arm. Rose and Sara fired again, ramming the tentacle with full force, until it was also destroyed.

Suddenly, the island started shaking again. "What now?" Keith asked.

The top of the mountain exploded with the force of a volcano, but instead of lava, a gigantic Guacamole head erupted from the peak, letting out an earth-shaking cry.

"Egad, there it is! The head!" Jet-Vac cried.

Seeing its attackers, the Monster fired a volley of guacamole balls at the ship. Despite Keith's steering, one ball struck the turret that Sara was using, clogging up the barrels. The controls started to spark fiercely, filling the cabin with smoke.

"Get out, Sara!" Rose called.

Sara just barely made it down the ladder before the turret caught fire. Coughing, she returned to the bridge. "We've lost one of the cannons," she reported.

"Aquos, get the repair team up to the port turret," Keith called. "We need that cannon fixed fast."

"It'll never be ready in time," Jet-Vac argued. "We'll have to manage with Rose's cannon."

"Even with Rose's magic, we can't destroy it quickly enough," Sara retorted. "There must be something we can do."

Keith glanced at the ladder that led to Rose's turret. "Jet-Vac, how many people can fit in the turret's cabin?"

"At most, two or three," Jet-Vac estimated. "One to use the turret, and two for replacements. Why?"

"Take the wheel, Jet-Vac," Keith ordered. "Sara, come with me."

As Jet-Vac took control, Keith and Sara climbed up into Rose's turret. "What's the sitch up here?" Keith asked.

"The Monster's down to almost half-health," Rose reported. "But it's only a matter of time before it destroys the island."

Keith nodded then turned to Sara. "One cannon won't be strong enough to destroy that Monster. But, suppose that cannon is powered with three times the magic that Rose is providing…"

Sara nodded in understanding. "It's a slim chance, but it's the only one we've got."

Keith and Sara placed their hands on Rose's shoulders and focused their power. Rose felt the magic coursing through her arms and into the cannon's controls. "Spell Strike, I'll need one last reload."

Spell Strike signaled the robots to load up the shells. "Weapon fully loaded."

Rose swung her turret round until it locked onto the Monster's head. "Here goes nothing…" she murmured, squeezing the trigger.

The ship's remaining cannon began to glow then it fired two shells at the monster. As the monster opened its mouth to roar, the magically-charged shells soared into its throat. With a painful scream, the monster shook violently and then exploded, scattering guacamole across the island and onto the deck of the ship.

"Ha-HA! Success!" Jet-Vac cheered. "The Guacamole Monster is no more!"

All around the ship, the robots began to applaud. Tech Blast smiled and nodded at a job well done. Spell Strike wiped her brow and shook the robots' hands. Aquos sank down with a sigh, his energy well and truly spent.

Keith, Rose, and Sara climbed back onto the deck. "That was a bold plan, Keith," Rose commented, patting his back.

"The Arkeyan Weapon Masters will be proud of what we accomplished today," Sara agreed.

Jet-Vac approached the trio with a smile. "I must say, as hungry as I still am, I shan't be eating guacamole for quite some time."

"Me neither," Keith replied. "At least we still have some of your excellent trail mix though."

"Indeed," Jet-Vac chuckled. "And I'm certainly happy to see another one of Kaos' beasties go down. In fact, I hope historians one day write about our momentous victory over the Guacamole Monster but for now, let us head back to the M.A.P."

"Sounds good to me," Keith agreed. "We need to report our success to Emperor Drake, and then wait to see what Kaos will be up to next…"

The aftermath of the Guacamole Monster's destruction soon reached the Lair of Kaos. The swamp was completely overrun with lumps of guacamole; even the giant turtle that carried Kaos' castle was now licking guacamole off its nose.

"WHAT?" Kaos yelled, looking out the shattered windows in despair. "My ultimate Doomlander beaten. How can this be?"

"Brawk! Epic fail," squawked his pet vulture, landing on its perch.

"Stupid brain," Kaos snapped, kicking books around in anger. "This is all your stupid fault!"

"My fault?" a familiar voice echoed behind him. "I'm the smartest, most powerful brain in the known universe."

"Huh?" Kaos asked, looking around the room. "Who said that?"

"Who else?" the voice replied. "There's only one smartest most powerful brain in the known universe last time I checked. And believe me, I check a lot."

Kaos spun around and saw his vulture glaring at him then he saw that its eye was glowing purple. "Brain, is that you?" he asked cautiously.

"Tada!" the vulture announced in the same voice. "That's right, I'm in your bird now. I noticed that his mind was quite easy to infiltrate." He tried to take off from his perch, only to end up not so much flying as plummeting. "But getting a hand at this depth perception thing is another story."

"Yes, well, speaking of short-sightedness, Brain," Kaos retorted impatiently. "Those Skylanders defeated my supposedly ultimate Doomlander. Hope you're happy."

"Look, pal," Brain replied sarcastically. "It's not my fault you thought about Guacamole during the all-important creation process."

"He's right, Kaos," Avarona agreed, stepping into the room. "Next time, you should have some lunch before whipping up a Doomlander from your mind."

"Avarona? What are you doing here?" Kaos snapped.

"My Master and I have just returned from our little excursion," Avarona answered, just as Malefor came in behind her. "We've been doing a little experimenting with the Helm of Ultimate Wisdom, and Malefor has gained a handle on his mental abilities thanks to it."

"Yes," Malefor replied. "And right now, I can sense that you're wondering what to do next now that the monster was destroyed."

Kaos found himself unable to speak, amazed that Malefor had just read his mind.

"Listen, Kaos, if you want me to create a new Doomlander, no problem," Brain chimed in. "You just need to be more specific."

"Fine!" Kaos snapped. "How about this for specific? My Doomlanders are utterly feeble! What they need to be is awesomely fearsome, like some sort of… awesomely fierce… beast thing. Get me, Brain?"

Brain chuckled at Kaos' poor choice of words. "Yeah, you're not giving me a lot to go on."

"If I may suggest," Malefor cut in. "I might have an idea of what Kaos could be thinking about. Feel free to use some of my thoughts to help out."

"Ah, yes, now this I can work with," Brain agreed. "Presto Brain-o!" He turned and fired a beam of magic at Kaos' eyes. With a cry, Kaos fell to the ground as thoughts of Pop Fizz transforming swam through his mind.

As he got to his feet, Glumshanks peered into the room. "Are you alright, Lord Kaos?"

"I'm fine!" Kaos snapped. "There's been a change of plans. We're going to the soda factory."

"I'll come with you," Avarona offered. "I may have a few ideas to help your next Doomlander. Keith and his friends will be in for a little surprise."

"Very well," Kaos agreed. "Then let's get going. It's time to unleash the beast!"

Avarona smiled and joined Kaos in his evil laughter…

Back at the M.A.P., Keith, Rose, Sara, and Jet-Vac gave their report to Spyro outside the Academy.

"Yes indeed," Jet-Vac concluded. "That will be the last time a giant monster made entirely of guacamole messes with us!"

"To be honest, I still can't believe there was even a first time," Spyro laughed.

Just then, Pop Fizz came running up to the group. "Guys, Guys, guess what?" he panted. "Fizzland is under attack."

"Fizzland?" Jet-Vac asked. "Is that really a thing?"

"Yeah, I've never heard of that place until just now," Keith replied."

"Uh, yeah! It's where all my magic potions get made," Pop Fizz explained. "We also have a farmer's market there every Sunday. Although I probably wouldn't recommend it."

"Okay, Keith, you might want to go with Pop Fizz and check this out," Spyro decided. "Rose, Sara, and the rest of us will try and figure out what Kaos and the Dark Master are up to next."

"But first, Keith still has a few things to take care of at the Academy," Sara replied. "Then he should also explore some of the other Sensei Realms."

"Sara's right," Rose agreed. "I can sense Malefor's dark magic in some of the Sensei Realms. We need to deal with that before we go to Fizzland."

"Alright," Keith said. "Pop Fizz, we'll meet you there once we've finished our business."

"Okay, see you there," Pop Fizz said, running back the way he'd come.

Keith, Rose, and Sara entered the Academy to hang up the Legendary Selfie frame as well as the selfies he'd taken. On the way out, they spotted Hugo by the Library.

"Hey, Keith!" Hugo called. "I almost forgot to tell you that when that awful Doomlander ransacked the Library, books were scattered all throughout Skylands! Besides, of course, dealing with the eminent threat that is Kaos, it would sure be nice to get our books back!"

"Oh yeah, I found a book next to the entrance to Sky Fortress." Keith reached into his bag and pulled it out. "Is this what you meant, Hugo?"

"Yes! Thank you, Keith," Hugo cried, taking the book back. "If you find any more of them in your travels, Keith, return them to me for a generous reward. For now, here's something for finding this one."

Two Imaginite Chests appeared and Keith opened them, unlocking the Common Bear Ears, and the Tommy Guns, a Rare Quickshot Weapon.

"This will be perfect for Wind Shot," Keith beamed. "Thanks, Hugo."

"Not a problem," Hugo replied.

As Hugo entered the Library to replace the book, Keith let out a huge yawn. "Man, I'm worn out from that battle. We'd better get some shut-eye."

"Agreed," Rose replied. "I feel like we've definitely earned our siblings' respect. Hopefully, we'll get our full powers back, and the Villain Senseis won't feel so pressured."

"I've just sent a message to our older brother," Sara said, conjuring up the beds again. "We should hear from them in the morning, but let's get some rest."

Keith nodded and settled himself into bed, sinking into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. BentleyGirl had to recover but She's doing better now and I wish her the best.