Roller Brawl stared as Chop Chop and Snap Shot returned and sat down quietly. She wondered why they had to talk in secret instead of speaking with the whole group.
"So what was that about?" she asked as the two twiddled their thumbs quietly.
"Oh, uh, we were just talking about how the plan will work out when we look for the teleporter. Like whether to split up or not and which places we're most likely to find it." Snap Shot entered.
"Well, why couldn't you tell us?" Roller Brawl interrogated.
"Umm, well it was Snap Shot's idea, and he wanted to pass it through me first." Chop Chop covered for Snap Shot's answer. Roller Brawl clearly knew they were hiding something.
The hours of the day went by with Pop Fizz continuing to tell his funny stories. Dino-Rang and Daryl had a push up contest (Daryl won since Dino-Rang's tail got in the way more than he was proud of). Teryl made food for the group from a secret food stash she had in the cave. Eventually, Pop Fizz started to yawn.
Teryl yawned loudly as well. "Welp, I guess it's time to hit the ol' sac and get some shut eye. I'd be doin' the same Skylanders. We're leavin' first thing in the mornin'"
"I guess I'll keep watch. Never get tired and all" Chop Chop said.
"No need. We are inside of an island. No one will be peekin' their wee faces in here" Daryl said.
"Well then I'm going to walk around the cave. I've got some things to think about." Chop Chop said and started to walk away.
"Yeah, I'm not that sleepy either, I'll keep you company." Roller Brawl said. Before she got up, Pop Fizz slid beside her and nudged her in the elbow slightly. When she looked at him, Pop Fizz raised his eyebrow in a 'we all know you like him' kinda of way. Roller Brawl raised her fist and he backed off with his hands raised. She got up and followed Chop Chop into the darkness.
"Hold on there." Daryl said. Chop Chop froze and turned around. Daryl approached him with a suspicious look in his face and Chop Chop hoped that he didn't know Snap Shot used to be his prison guard. Then his face lightened up and he grabbed a stick from a little mantle on the side of the cave. He passed it through the campfire and then handed the lit torch to Chop Chop. "You're goin' to need some light in there Skylander" Chop Chop gratefully took the torch and started to walk away. "And beware of the bats!"
Chop Chop and Roller Brawl who was now at his side heard Daryl grunt behind him. Teryl had thrown a small rock at him. "Shut your muck Daryl, there are no bats in the cave!"
Chop Chop continued on in the cave with Roller Brawl walking with them. As soon as they were out of earshot, Roller Brawl stopped Chop Chop in his tracks.
"Alright, we aren't moving until you tell me what that load of bull you told us about 'splitting up'" she accused.
Chop Chop turned around to make sure no one was looking. Then in one swift movement, Chop Chop grabbed Roller Brawl's hand and took her closer to the wall. He put his finger to his mouth to show they needed to be quiet. "Listen, Teryl and Daryl, they're escapes from Cloudcracker prison. Snap Shot recognized them as his most annoying prisoners."
Roller Brawl's eyes widened. "Teryl mentioned something about recognizing Snap Shot, but she couldn't remember who he was. Awe man, poor Dino-Rang is going to hate this."
Chop Chop looked at Roller Brawl confused. "Wait, why is Dino-Rang going to hate this."
"Oh it's nothing, he just has a small crush on her and she has a small crush on him." Roller Brawl said nonchalantly.
"Wait wait wait, that makes no sense, we've only been with them for a day." Chop Chop retorted.
"Really? I mean it is super obvious. Teryl laughed at practically everything he said and Dino-Rang took every moment he could to sit closer to her. His face was bright red for half an hour straight!"
"Huh, I thought that was just the cold getting to him." Chop Chop shook his head to get back on topic as Roller Brawl face palmed. "Anyway, we're going to help them get into town. But once we're there, Snap Shot and I were going to grab them from behind and then put them in separate traptanium pieces until we can send them back to Cloudcracker prison."
"And why haven't you told Pop Fizz or Dino-Rang?" Roller Brawl questioned.
"Because if I took each of you aside, don't you think they'd get suspicious? That's why when Snap Shot and I spring our trap, we need you to talk to them so they don't think we've gone crazy and start attacking us instead."
"Umm, I don't think I'm the one to talk when it comes to whose side I'm on. Think they'll believe me."
"Oh come on, I'm pretty sure they trust you by now."
"Alright whatever. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep now."
"Would a small walk through a dark cave with only a torch help?"
"Yeah, that sounds good."
The two started to walk down the dark corridor again. They were silently walking through the cave when a question popped into Chop Chop's head.
"How do you even know what a penguin is? Or a lion for that matter?"
Roller Brawl looked at him. "Okay, I'm confused again."
"Well, when you made your brother into Otis, Clyde right? How did you know what a penguin's head looked like to make him that 'Lenguin' thingy?"
"Well remember that Portal Master that helped rebuild the core of light? He showed us a lot of things about earth like the creatures there and the stories and history. It's pretty cool."
"Pfft, I always hated history class."
"Say what you think, but I think it would've been cool to travel with Lewis and Clark and explore the new world with Sack-of-ma-gea."
"You mean Sacagawea?"
"See you're learning already!"
"Well that was in third grade!"
"Oh, you like history. Especially when it's the history of Skylands"
"But Skylands is cool! On Earth when you grow up there you gotta worry about taxes and getting a job and learning how to drive a car, which is not easy mind you."
"Heck I don't even know what a car is"
"Exactly!"
There was silence with Chop Chop and Roller Brawl staring at each other for the second time. Not wanting to risk anything, Chop Chop turned away. "You know, if I can't come back to Skylands, if I'm forced to stay on Earth, you should stay with me."
Roller Brawl looked very surprise. "I, umm, Chop Chop, I don't know what exactly to say."
"Say you'll stay with me! I've never had a friend like you. Just like you I was an outcast even though I should have fit in with everyone else. When we have so many things in common they still find a way to separate me from them."
"Wow, that sounds exactly like me and the Skylanders."
"That's why you should go with me. Just like I got everyone to trust you, if you stayed to be my friend or maybe my g- well the point is you could show people that I don't have to be an outcast."
"But what if you don't have to stay on Earth and you can stay in Skylands with us?"
Chop Chop took a breath. "I don't want to lose anyone I finally care about this much. I just, want to be sure."
Roller Brawl tapped his shoulder. When Chop Chop turned to her, she was close to him. "Chop Chop you never have to worry about losing me or Pop Fizz or Dino-Rang or Snap Shot. We are not just your team, but your friends. When the rest of the Skylanders saw us as evil or worthless, you made us look like heroes. For that I can't thank you enough. So stop beating yourself up."
"Sometimes I'm just so terrified if this is all some crazy dream. That this is some amazing dream and I don't want to wake up."
Roller Brawl looked at Chop Chop. She moved closer to his face. Chop Chop realized what she was doing and moved closer too. Then Roller Brawl immediately smacked Chop Chop in the kisser. Chop Chop flew backwards and his eyes widened. "What was that for?!"
"I'm pretty sure if this was a dream, you would have woken up right there."
Snap Shot was wandering the cave, frantically looking for Chop Chop and Roller Brawl. They never returned to the group. And when he dozed off and came to again, Pop Fizz, Dino-Rang, Teryl, and Daryl were gone to. At the time he shrugged it off and went back to sleep. When he woke up in the morning before everyone else (since his internal clock was wonky from the weird hours he worked at Cloudcracker prison) Dino-Rang, Pop Fizz, Teryl, and Daryl were back asleep, but he needed Chop Chop especially since he knew the plan. Snap Shot turned a corner and found Chop Chop and Roller Brawl asleep in a corner. Chop Chop laid on his back with Roller Brawl's head on his extended arm. She fidgeted slightly and continued to sleep.
Snap Shot smirked, not surprised at all. He went up to Chop Chop, and tapped his leg lightly with his foot. Chop Chop rustled and blinked. "Uhh, gah, wuhhhh?" he rubbed his eyes. "Oh, mornin' Snap Shot."
"You sure stayed out late, mate. Was someone busy with other things now?" Snap Shot motioned to Roller Brawl.
"What?" he looked to her and immediately pulled his arm out from under her head. Roller Brawl's head made a loud THUNK on the rock beneath her.
"WOH!" she rubbed the side of her helmet. "Oh, gosh, is it morning."
Snap Shot put out both of his hands. Chop Chop and Roller Brawl grabbed them and the blue crocodile pulled them up. "No time for sleepy headedness blokes, it's time to put these guys back where they belong." Snap Shot said and reached behind his back to pull out some remaining traptanium crystals that he had kept just in case.
Chop Chop and Roller Brawl nodded and the three headed back to the camp site. They found Teryl, Daryl, Pop Fizz, and Dino-Rang packing their things.
"Oi there love birds, have a nice night?" Dino-Rang teased when he saw Chop Chop and Roller Brawl.
Chop Chop sighed "We were talking and then fell asleep, that's all that happened."
"Riiiiiight" Dino-Rang was unconvinced.
"Maybe we should have done that" Teryl punched Dino-Rang's arm and his cheeks turned bright red.
"Ha, girlfriends are for losers!" Pop Fizz said.
"You've never had one have ye" Daryl pointed out.
"Absolutely not!" Pop Fizz said without skipping a beat.
"Pfft, join the club" Daryl said.
"Wait, didn't you say you didn't sleep at all Chop Chop?" Daryl questioned.
Chop Chop thought for a moment. "Huh, I guess I just can't die."
"Hmm, that's good to know" Teryl said.
The group went onto the ship and left the cave. They passed over the many towns below. They hovered over the island with the illuminator on it. Teryl turned from the steering wheel and faced the team. "Daryl, you go scout down ahead. We'll land somewhere else."
"I can go with him!" Pop Fizz said enthusiastically.
Daryl turned around before he jumped off the ship. "Uhh, no need there, I'll do fine."
"Come on, it wouldn't hurt. He could help if you get into any trouble." Chop Chop offered.
Teryl glared at him. "Our plan, our orders. Just Daryl goes."
Chop Chop raised his hands in defense and Daryl leaped off the ship.
They continued on forward. Many of the islands below had villagers running around and playing with balloons. Some were having snowball fights and others were entering a restaurant looking place. Eventually Chop Chop saw a big banner hanging in between two. In big red paint it read "Happy Anniversary!"
"What is the anniversary for?" he asked.
"Uhh, I think this is the eightieth year since Whirlwind has given us the illuminator." Teryl replied. "It's just some hocus pocus though. Elves don't need some big crystal to be strong."
They landed at a dock on a larger island that Teryl said the chief lived on. They hopped off the ship. Daryl turned around the corner and gave a thumbs up.
The group followed him and stopped. Before they turned the corner Teryl turned around. "Ok, here's the plan. The chief is going to give a speech at the festival. When he ends that, he's going to pull the trigger to get rid of the illuminator. We need stop him before he can do that. So we'll be in the crowd. Chop Chop, can you teleport?" he nodded slightly remembering how he used the bone brambles to do it once before. "Good, we'll need you to teleport on the stage and make a distraction. In the mean time, Dino-Rang will use one of his boomerangs to get the trigger. Roller Brawl and me will capture the chief for questioning. Snap Shot, Pop Fizz, and Daryl, you'll be on crowd control. The villagers will think we're the bad guys, you need to get them to believe us."
"Let's do it!" Pop Fizz yelled.
"I know you'll do great Dino-Rang" Teryl said. Dino-Rang scratched his head nervously.
Teryl and Daryl took the lead and walked down the path towards the festival. Chop Chop and Snap Shot looked at each other and nodded.
The two shot forward and grabbed Daryl and Teryl's arms. They put them behind their backs and shoved them against the wall to their right.
"I have a better idea, how about we put you in some traptanium and bring you back to Cloudcracker Prison!" Snap Shot said.
"Hey, what are you doing, we're telling the truth!" Daryl yelled with his face scrunched against the wall.
"We're taking you back to where you escaped from." Chop Chop said.
All of a sudden, Snap Shot and Chop Chop were pulled off their bodies and held with their arms against their backs. Pop Fizz and Dino-Rang gripped them tightly.
"I really wished they weren't brainwashed." Pop Fizz said.
"Brainwashed! I remember them from Cloudcracker Prison!" Snap Shot protested.
"We know mate. They told us all about it and how their turning over a new leaf. You've got to believe them." Dino-Rang said.
"You know what, we'll prove it to you." Daryl said. "Let them go men"
Dino-Rang and Pop Fizz let go of Chop Chop and Dino-Rang. Teryl stepped towards them with her arms raised. "Snap Shot, I recognized you too and I'd be doin' the same thing. But the chief really is evil"
"But what about Daryl's scouting mission? Was he not setting up bombs or something like that?" Snap Shot asked.
"No you dolt!" Daryl said and removed the bag on his back. He opened it up to reveal a bunch of bombs.
Chop Chop looked at Dino-Rang ashamed. "Well, this is awkward."
"Wait, wait, wait, and just like that you believe them?" Roller Brawl asked. "I went through the same thing. Of course their acting nice! It's all an ACT!"
At that moment, Teryl fell forward and landed on her face as well as Daryl. From around the corner on the path, two ice elves with handcuff guns lowered their weapons. Teryl and Daryl were both bound by leather straps behind their back. An older ice elf immerged and started clapping.
"Well done Skylanders, you've captured my most wanted prisoners" he said. He had a Viking helmet on with a large coat and a red braided beard. "I am Duff, chief of the village."
"Don't listen to him. You have to believe us!" Teryl screamed
"Gag them please!" Duff said.
Roller Brawl tapped Chop Chop's shoulder. "Told you it was an act."
"Now Skylanders, you've seen too much." Duff turned around and raised his arm. "Destroy them men.
Okay, early author's note because I need to say quite a few things before Chapter 15. First, after chapter fifteen there will be a long and actually planned hiatus (unlike the wait for chapter 11). This is because with school starting, homework is going to be a load of crap for a while. Also I'm participating in our school's fall musical which will take up most of my free time as well as running tech for our school's haunted house. However this weekend we have four days off and I will be finishing up chapter fifteen then. I cannot plan how long the hiatus will be, but hopefully not too long and will update eventually with chapter sixteen. Anyway, for the first time ever I will be giving a small preview of what's yet to come. Next chapter will be mostly action packed unlike this one (sorry for the boringness of it) and will be the last one taking place in Winter Keep. After that we'll be moving on to that lava place that Chop Chop saw! WOOH! As always, reviews are always welcome, but even if you don't, enjoy what "The Portal has become so far. There will be no author's note until chapter 20 so please be patient and I will try to update, but the waits will most likely be for months at a time. Thank you all so much for reading! And final update, if you have read the Sea of Heroes (my other story) I'm sad to say I think I will be canceling that project. As I've mostly been working on the Portal, I have had better ideas to work on besides that one. If anyone would like to pick up where I left off, you gladly have the rights to it. See you guys next time!