"I, KAOS," The Dark Portal Master boomed as loud as he could. "FUTURE RULER OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, SHALL BRING ABOUT THE TOTAL AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF SKYLANDS, RIGHT…"
He began moving his finger towards the button.
"NNNOOOOOOOWWWWWWWwwwwwwww…."
Something was wrong. Kaos could feel something. It was like some mental force was holding him back. He…
He just couldn't do it.
Kaos sighed as he slumped into his throne.
"HAVEN'T WE CONSUMED MORE THAN ENOUGH SKY TO OPEN THE CATACLYSMIC MEGA RIFT?"
Kaos whirled around. There, The Darkness was now taking a physical form! All it had right now was a giant floating head, but all knew that more was yet to come.
"Well, yes, but-."
"THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!" The Darkness boomed. "PRESS THAT BUTTON AND DESTROY SKYLANDS FOREVER!"
"Well, I was just thinking…" Kaos said, trying to muster up all the courage he had. "Now go with me on this, what if we savored the moment? We address everyone in Skylands that their doom is upon them. Their way of life is over, thanks to us! Then, we rule over them for, I don't know, maybe a hundred years? Two hundred, tops! Then we press the-."
"I HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH!" The Darkness roared in fury, making Kaos scream. "PERHAPS YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW MUCH I HAVE GIVEN YOU. AND HOW EASILY IT CAN BE TAKEN AWAY…"
Kaos felt his head was funny. He felt it. To his horror, the markings were gone!
"YOU CAN RULE THE UNIVERSE IN MY NAME, OR YOU CAN SPEND THE REST OF ETERNITY JUST...BEING...YOU. SO, WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE?"
Kaos got into his throne and eyed the button. He took a deep breath…
And slammed his hand down on it.
"REACTOR CORE ENGAGED. MEGA RIFT SEQUENCE INITIATED. TOTAL AND COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF SKYLANDS COMMENCING."
The markings returned.
"SEE? THAT WAS NOT SO HARD NOW, WASN'T IT? CHEER UP, KAOS. YOU WILL WITNESS THE END OF SKYLANDS FIRSTHAND. AND WITH IT, THE BEGINNING OF THE GLORIOUS REIGN OF THE DARKNESS."
The very laugh of The Darkness echoed throughout the Sky Eater. Meanwhile, Kaos could only think one thing…
What have I done?
…
"Second Light Squadron, form up on my position!" Stormblade ordeed. The Sky SuperChargers grouped their vehicles in a single attack formation. "Sun Runner, does the Sky Eater have any defenses?"
"Affirmative, Squad Leader." Astroblast said. "Scanning of the battle station is complete. It appears to have a force field."
"Any idea how we can penetrate it?"
"There might." Astroblast pointed to the meteors. "That's a Radiance Geode. If we can crack it open and detonate the crystals inside, the shockwave produced will disable the shield, allowing us to infiltrate the station."
"Roger that. All fighters, target those exterior crystals!"
Thus began the Charge of the Second Light Squadron! The five ships destroyed one crystal each, making the geode explode and open up.
"Target is in sight!" Stormblade commanded. "All ships, target the seven interior crystals on the core!"
"Heads up, secondary awesome pilots!" Flynn radioed. "You got enemies at…ALL YOUR CLOCKS!"
Stormblade gasped as enemy ships began converging all around them.
"FIGHTERS! BREAK OFF! BREAK FORMATION AND ENGAGE!"
The ships darted all over the place, with fire being exchanged. Stormblade had to perform evasive maneuvers to dodge enemies tailing her.
Seeing another ship speeding towards her, Stormblade tilted the Sky Slicer to be parallel enough to make the two ships miss and destroy each other!
See that, Flynn? She thought. THAT'S how you become the best pilot in all Skylands!
"We only need one more crystal to destroy!" Stealth Elf said. "But the enemy fire is too great to turn attention away!"
Seeing the chance, Stormblade flew towards the crystal and parked in front of it. She watched as an enemy fighter began flying toward her.
Steady, Stormblade. She gritted her teeth. Steady….
The Shadowlin opened fire.
NOW!
The Sky Slicer's engines roared as she flew out of the way. The enemy fire hit the crystal instead, shattering it.
The following shockwave not only disabled the force field, but also destroyed all of the fighters!
"It's down!" Thrillipede yelled. "GO GO GO!"
"Hurry, old chums!" Jet-Vac said. "The shield could only be down temporarily! Get into the Sky Eater before the shield comes back up!"
The Sky Vehicles flew right into the heart of the massive battle station.
Flying through the intake and erosion tunnels, the Second Light Squadron made their way into the main landing bay.
"This area is unsafe for the others to land." Stormblade ordered. "Squad! Take out all defenses!"
After destroying more fighters and blowing up four turrets, the Second Light Squadron landed safely.
"Sharpfin, this is Stormblade. You are clear for landing."
And with that, Sharpfin's ship, loaded with all 126 Skylanders, along with all of their allies.
"Pretty awesome work clearing a path for us!" Flynn said.
"I can't believe you knocked Glumshanks off the deck!" Cali snapped.
"YOU WHAT?!"
"HEY!" Flynn protested. "Hey, I SAID to hang onto something! Anyhow, I'm sure he's fine."
"We need him to get through this place." Spyro said. "We'll find him! You guys keep going and get that Dark Rift Engine prepped! Skylanders, Operation: Drive Evil Crazy is underway! Let's do this! FOR ALL OF SKYLANDS!"
"FOR ALL OF SKYLANDS!"
As the Skylander army made their way through the landing bay, fighting Dark-Shard Prodders, Shade Rushers, Abyss Twisters, and Pitch-Black Pitchers (Dark Drow corrupted by The Darkness), they managed to find Glumshanks!
"Oh, thank goodness! Are you alright?"
"Of course I'm fine. A Cyclops broke my fall." Glumshanks said. "This is one of the Sky Eater's main ventricles. Stay on course, and you'll be taken to Emperor Kaos himself!"
"Alright!" Spitfire said. "Call in your Land Vehicles! We have to get past those defenses!"
Thus, the eight Land SuperCharges got into the vehicles and sped off! However, it wasn't long until Kaos realized he had "visitors".
"FOOLISH SKYLOSERS!" Kaos yelled through a screen, conjuring a giant purple hand. "DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD SNEAK UP ON ME, EMPEROR KAOS?!"
Tricking the hand into slamming one of the buttons, the team zipped into one of the doors. After repeating this several more times, and destroying Ultimate Equalizers, the team was able to get further into the Sky Eater.
"Okay, according to Glumshanks' schematics," Spitfire observed. "This is the Liquification Chamber. This is where everything the Sky Eater consumed is stored. Like a stomach. It powers the station, The Darkness, and a Hydra Hatchling that lives in it. Gill, assemble your Sea teams and disable the mechanisms. And deal with the hatchling. That should weaken Kaos and The Sky Eater."
"You got it!" Gill saluted. He turned to the other four. "Alright, let's go hunt a hydra!"
The team entered their boats and dove into the pipe. They exited out into the main chamber. Shooting at blocked pipes to open them and drain the water, the team continued to descend downwards.
Man, this is just like that magic book! Gill gulped. And if I'm right…
His radar beeped. He got something.
The others' radars beeped. Something was under them…
With a massive roar, the baby Hydra leapt broke the surface, grabbing the Reef Ripper, then submerging back down.
"AAAAHHHHH! HEY, PUT ME DOWN! I'M NOT A FISH! WELL, THE SHIP ISN'T A FISH, BUT STILL!"
"Hang on, EYE've gotcha!"
Dive-Clops submerged after the beast. Locking on with his torpedoes, he fired them! The torpedoes hit the Hydra in the side of the face, making it roar and release Gill. The monster breached again and fought the ships! Splat blinded it with paint, Pop Fizz launched acidic potions, Nightfall stunned it with her Abyss Cannon, with Gill finishing it by ramming the front of the Reef Ripper into the belly of the beast!
The Hydra Hatchling roared in pain. Although it wasn't deep enough to draw blood, it was still enough to weaken and defeat it. Losing conscious, the hydra baby sunk into the green water.
"Alright," Gill said. "Time to regroup and take the fight to Kaos himself!"
…
Flynn, Cali, the other allies, and the 126 Skylanders were heading up the main lift to the throne room. Stormblade noticed Cynder was worried. The dragon's heart pounded like mad.
"You're scared."
"Y...Yeah. I mean, I was scared before. When Spyro and I went to confront Malefor, he told me not to worry. But this. This is more powerful than Malefor. What if we don't stand a chance?"
"You and the others dealt with forces you couldn't possibly comprehend." Stormblade said. "What's one more? And I get it. We're all a little scared inside. But to be brave, we need to be just a little scared. And being brave is exactly what we need to be right now. Don't worry. You're not alone. We'll be with you. I'll be with you. Always."
Cynder nodded.
Finally, the lift came to a stop. They were here.
"OH! Sweet man-cave!" Flynn whistled. "Nice ambience! Except for that lava lamp. It's totally giving me the stink-eye."
"That's…" Spyro gasped. "The Darkness itself. Cali, fire up the Dark Rift Engine! Time to banish this thing!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" An all-too-familiar voice boomed as an all-too-familiar figure descended on his throne. "YOU'RE TOO LATE, FOOLISH SKYFOOLS! THE CATACLYSMIC MEGA RIFT IS ALMOST COMPLETE!"
"Cataclysmic…oh no." Spyro gasped. "That'll destroy all of Skylands! You're insane!"
"You don't have to do this!" Cynder said.
Suddenly, the markings on Kaos' head flashed.
"NOW, PREPARE, ALL OF YOU," Emperor Kaos continued. "TO MEET YOUR MOST ULTIMATE OF ULTIMATE DOOMS AT THE HANDS OF SUPREME EMPEROR KAOS, DARK OVERLORD OF THE UNIVERSE!"
"This is it, Skylanders!" Spyro roared. "Cores, Giants, SWAP Force, Trap Team, SuperChargers, ATTACK!"
Thus began the Ultimate Final Battle For All Of Skylands!
Kaos powered himself up with the power of The Darkness itself, making him strong enough to take on all of the Skylanders!
"Fear me and my awesomeness! Now made even more awesome by The Darkness!" He laughed, summoning Shadow Chompies. "MINIONS! Come and defend your rightful overlord!"
Kaos attacked with spiked balls, BIGGER spiked balls, giant blades, giant hands, and dark energy spheres. However, even with the power of The Darkness…
Kaos was blasted with full force from Spyro's purple fireball, formed from his Aether stored within him all these years ago!
"NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Kaos wailed as he fell from the platform. Recovering, Spyro turned back to his allies.
"Guys! Fire the Dark Rift Engine!"
"Alright, let's do this!" Flynn yelled. "BOOM!"
Suddenly, he froze. As did everyone else!
"Uh, boom? Something's wrong with my BOOM FINGER!"
"No…not again…" Spyro was reminded of when he and the others were banished to Earth all those years ago.
"What's going on?" Spitfire groaned. "I...can't...move!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! VERY IMPRESSIVE. I AM ON THE BRINK OF COMPLETE AND TOTAL VICTORY, AND YET, HERE YOU STILL ARE, FIGHTING. BRAVO. UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU, IT ALL ENDS NOW."
Spyro gasped. No… His mind flashed back to his nightmare. When he fought The Darkness as Malefor and died.
Now, here it was before him...ALIVE!
"Holy guacamole!" Flynn gasped. "The lava lamp taks! That's awesome!"
"IS THAT SO, CAPTAIN FLYNN? THEN WHAT SAY YOU OF THIS?"
"Wait, how does he know my-?"
The Darkness' power sent them all flying!
"Okay, that is less awesome. Well, Cali, now's your last chance to confess your undying love for me."
"Nah. I'm good."
"Lord Kaos, please! You can still stop all this!"
"FOOLISH TROLL, GLUMSHANKS. KAOS ANSWERS TO ME NOW. ISN'T THAT RIGHT?"
Kaos was about to yell at him, but some invisible force cut him off.
"YOU SEE THAT, GLUMSHANKS?" The Darkness said. "NOW THAT IS HOW YOU HANDLE YOUR MINIONS. KAOS! DESTROY THE DARK RIFT ENGINE, AND CRUSH THEIR FOOLISH HOPES ONCE AND FOR ALL!"
By this time, they were completely frozen. Spyro couldn't open his mouth to protest, or close his eyes. All he and everyone else could do was watch as Kaos charged up his Ultimate Darkness Attack…
And turn the Dark Rift Engine on?!
"WHAT?!"
The Dark Rift Engine roared to life. All of The Sky Eater began to quake!
"KAOS!" The Darkness roared with fury. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
"NOBODY TELLS KAOS WHAT TO DO EXCEPT KAOS!" The Dark Portal Master snapped back. "AND THAT'S ME! AND I'M HIM! AND YOU'RE HISTORY!" He threw off his crown as the freeze effect wore off.
"Kaos…what…" Spyro gasped. He would never DO something like this!
"WOWSERS!" Flynn gasped. "I can't believe the little guy did it! AH!" The vortex the Dark Rift Engine summoned crackled with spectral lightning. "Uh, maybe we should adios out of here!"
"Glumshanks, you're rehired!" Kaos said, grabbing the troll as everyone else bolted out of there. "Come along now, we are leaving!"
"I WILL NOT GO BACK!" The Darkness roared. "THE UNIVERSE IS MINE! YOU SHALL PAY FOR THIS, KAOS! NO ONE BETRAYS THE DARKNESS! KAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSS!"
And with that, The Sky Eater went out with a big bad BOOM!
…
"Now that's what I call a big finish!" Flynn said. "Way to help out the Skylanders, brand new Kaos buddy!"
"Take your sticky enchilada hands off me, buffoon!" Kaos wiggled free of the hug. "I am not your 'buddy'!"
Flynn just laughed. "Love this guy." He grabbed the intercom. "As your captain speaking, brace yourselves, folks! This calls for a SUPER! EPIC! MEGA! BOOOOOOOM!'
Spyro only smiled as he looked back at where the Sky Eater once rested.
"So that's it." Cynder smiled. "It's over."
"Yeah. It is. So, what happens now?" He turned to Cynder, his heart somehow pounding. Could it be…was he in...did they lov-?
Suddenly, Spyro noticed something was off with the portal.
Was it...Spyro's eyes widened as everyone heard something truly evil laugh from it…
The Darkness itself climbed out, with parts of The Sky Eater attaching itself to The Darkness as armor! It now had a full body and was HUGE!
"MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The Darkness' voice shook all of Skylands to its core! "YOU DID NOT THINK THAT THIS WAS OVER, DID YOU? YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME, FOOLS! YOUR WORLD OF SKYLANDS IS DOOMED, AND THE UNIVERSE IS MINE!" It then focused its voice to project all throughout Skylands.
"BEHOLD, SKYLANDS!" It bellowed in a deep and malevolent voice. "I HAVE RETURNED! ALL SHALL FEAR AND OBEY ME! I...AM...THE DARKNESS!"
Spyro was frozen with fear. He had never been so scared in his life.
"QUICKLY, SKYLANDERS!" Eon shouted in desperation. "THE DARKNESS IS FREE! YOU MUST FIND A WAY TO DESTROY IT, BEFORE IT CAN ESCAPE AND THREATEN EVERY WORLD IN THE UNIVERSE! EVERYTHING ALL OF YOU HAVE LEARNED ON YOUR JOURNEY HERE IN SKYLANDS FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS HAD PREPARED YOU FOR THIS EXACT MOMENT! THE MALEVOLENT REIGN OF THE DARKNESS MUST COME TO AN END, OR WE ARE ALL LOST! YOUR GREATEST BATTLE AWAITS YOU, SKYLANDERS!"
Laughing, The Darkness pulled all 126 Skylanders into the massive portal between all worlds.