The three Portal Masters beamed into the Skylands with a cool breeze to greet them. Despite summer's heat, the Academy always maintained a perfect temperature. Their partners waited for them at the front yard of the dorms, all with their instruments sporting an eager sheen.

Spyro was the first to fly up and meet with the kids. "Welcome to the party fellow band members! All right, Spyro and the Kids, let's get this jam session started."

"Okay, yeah, we are not calling ourselves that." Stealth Elf said.

"I feel as though you may have came up with that on the spot." Katelyn muttered with a roll of the eye.

"Did we ever even vote on a band name? I feel like this should be a group decision." Eruptor muttered flaring up. The lava creature stomped forward, or bumbled with an entire drum set beneath his arms.

"It was between that and the Saucy Pinatas," Spyro frowned at the three votes of criticism. "Three guesses as to who came up with that."

"Maybe we should worry about the band name later." Cody, always the last to walk up and always the last to speak, kept true to form from behind the others. "We have a lot of practicing to do. And… I still need to find an instrument."

Katelyn had her key-tar and Pablo had his drums. Stealth Elf, being the silent type, had picked a bass as her instrument once her heiress partner had pointed out its subtle addition to any song. Eruptor had joined Pablo on drums once bashing something could apply to music as well. So, lead guitar, bass, key-tar, drums… that was a whole band right there. There was nothing left, nothing he could add. Pursing his lips, he looked away and wondered if that was a good thing.

The shifting of wings at his side turned him back to Spyro who was now at his side. The dragon made no look back at him, yet his wingtips left a graceful brush on his shoulders. Part of the 'cool guy' bit, he supposed.

"Yeah, bit of an issue there. Classrooms are all locked up for the summer. That leaves the dorms where it'll be two notes and a noise complaint, or town where we didn't leave the best impression."

"Yeah… 'we' didn't."

Eruptor's level stare belied the rise in temperature caking Cody's purple shirt with a dark stain from sweat.

"On the bright side, we did get free tap water for a year for saving the restaurant." Pablo noted. "Or was that paying in tap water?"

"Master Eon's off for his summer beard yoga session. And the teachers are all off on missions," said Elf. "Maybe we should head back to Katelyn's house to practice?"

"No worries, girlfriend. I got you covered."

The wind turned chilly, the kind of feeling one got when something was behind them and yet nothing at all. That refreshing breeze turned cold like ice. In a swirl of smog, the familiar pink bow and blue locks atop a floating head was there before them. She flashed a smile with a metal edge beyond her braces.

"Dreamcatcher?"

Spyro caught the quiet breath from his partner. The half-step back set an alert as well. "Cody? Something up?"

"N-no… nothing…"

Pablo grabbed Dreamcatcher's cheeks and leaned in, brown face to blue face. "O-M-G, girlfriend! You got the deets on a hot new rehearsal spot! Spill, I am totes listening! Question though, does it come with built in refreshments? Let me know so I can pack my emergency chip and dip ration!"

The head moved away as if repulsed by the touch. The way she glared at Pablo's energy made Cody see for a brief second a look of disgust to show that. That seemed… more natural on her than any smile she'd wear.

Of course, she slipped back into that dream-like state of a smile.

"You guys heard of Krankcase's old factory? The one that got shut down after he got taken in by the Skylanders?" She hovered around them like an ill wind stirring at their feet. The chill came back creeping through the boy's bare legs. "There's some killer acoustics there. Might be what you need to make this hot mess get some rhythm."

"Wow!" Eruptor shouted. "...Wait a minute."

"Are you sure that's safe? Dr, Klankcase is still on the loose, or so we've heard? They've yet to capture him."

"Yeah, Katelyn has a good point." Stealth Elf agreed. "Wouldn't he try and pick up where he left off at his old haunting grounds?"

"Pfft. What are the odds of that happening? Like, hello? Obvious hideout, much?"

Cody tried to say more, but air only came out as he opened and shut his mouth repeatedly. From there it was wringing his clothes and every inch of bare skin for words that were escaping him. There was logic in what was being said, that Krankcase would only be asking for an arrest if he found such an obvious hiding place. The fact that it was coming from Dreamcatcher: someone he had a long time to know as someone with spiteful words and deeper meanings to them.

What was the right answer?

Spyro seemed to have an idea floating up beside the head. That familiar glint of rebellion was in his eyes again.

"The floating head raises a good point. Krankcase is probably miles away so we can sneak in and get to practice." He clenched his talons in that way he did. "And if he does turn out to be there… well, we'll see what happens from there."

Elf crossed her arms. She knew where things were going too. "See what happens. That's a little vague for my liking."

"Why Elf, I don't know what you're talking about."

The elf ninja yanked him by the tail and brought him to eye -level for a stare-down to drag his intentions out of him. "Oh, I think you do. Old habits die hard, and yours are outright immortal. Spyro, if you're hoping to take on another Doom Raider after every-"

The dragon only shoved her back. "Elf, Elf, where's the trust? I'm in it for the band. Seriously, just the band. I'm just saying if worst comes to worst…"

Cracks were forming again. Even now when everything was fine, when their band was finally getting along.

The head above was smiling at the winds of tension stirring. Was this her plan all along?

"Stealth Elf… it's fine. We can handle things." He just spoke what he could.

Both parties looked at him, no doubt catching the bead of sweat rolling down his face. Now that he was the center of attention amongst everyone, they saw it too. His voice had rung out as a thunderclap to stop anything before it started. Dreamcatcher's moth went level, undecided between a grin or frown.

Elf only looked at him cautiously. "If you're sure…"

But he wasn't. She was wise to give that look.

"I feel like Dreamcatcher could have mentioned the forest of yellow tape!"

Eruptor's voice rang out for the whole party, Spyro surmised.

Sitting atop a lake of glowing green slime was the factory, metal walls corroding and oozing the same liquid. The tape barring entry looked to be almost holding the place together, especially from how metal groaned and the team swore together something collapsed and crashed. The smoke stacks stopped emitting smoke due to holes along their surfaces, but the pungent smell of mechanical decay remained. There was also the odor from the lake itself, like every smelly thing in the universe was thrown into a cauldron and that was the result.

Elf stopped at the lines of tape arranged perfectly straight, only a half-step away. "Maybe everyone else had the same idea about Dr. Klankcase. If anything, he's definitely not getting in here."

"Though, neither are we…" Katelyn coughed. The stench was making her face turn as green as that frilly skirt she was wearing. "Maybe we should go back to my house to practice. I can have the maids cover for any details."

Spyro flew up over the barrier. As if a few flimsy rolls of tape were going to keep him away. Though his hyper-sensitive nostrils were puffing fire out just to keep the smell from going in so that might have been enough of a ward. He swerved his head looking for any entry both free of slime and tape.

But the search was cut short when his just-as-amazing ears overheard the kids at ground level.

"What's up mi amigo? Thinking about the pest way to ingest five pizzas in one sitting? Just me?"

"Dreamcatcher… I don't think we can trust her."

"What do you mean, Cody? She's a cadet just like us. Then again…"

He'd wanted to agree with Katelyn's word, on the basis of Skylanders being synonymous with heroes, but he didn't. Spyro was learning the ins and outs of being a good friend, just as Cody was learning to trust his instinct. Frankly, not listening to Cody in the past led to more than a few bruises.

Besides, Dreamcatcher… Spyro had to admit something was off with her.

"About face cadets!"

Speaking of off things. Well, not off so much as just plain unwelcome.

In dramatic, soldier-like entrance came Jet-Vac on his propulsion system. The dragon didn't want to say jetpack as that would just be too easy. Complete opposite to how the grumpy old bird-man made their lives stepping forward no nonsense or imperfection in his step. He cast a critical eye on all of them but fell back home on the dragon as he landed alongside his partner.

"Well, well, if it isn't the talk of the Academy! Don't think a few scrapes of wins against Doom Raiders grants you any special privileges. State your business."

"Chill, guys. I got this." Spyro gave his standard mock salute to please the old Skylander. "JV, my man. Always a pleasure. I see you've been keeping busy, as have we. We have your businesses, and perhaps you might allow us to step inside to handle said business."

"No can do, cadet." He jabbed a talon in his scales. No pain, but that was beside the point. "You've had your fun tangling with criminals, now leave this to the professionals."

"But you're training us to become professionals, so can't that include-"

"No, don't even try to smooth-talk your way through this! I may not be as spry as I used to be but I'll shave my down if you think I'm going to let you do as you please around a potential Doom Raider hideaway."

"Professor Jet-Vac." Cody piped up, walking to his side. "Do you really think Dr. Krankcase would come back here?"

"I am a veteran Skylander, Cadet Cody. My experience shows a villain always returns to the scene of the crime."

"It just doesn't seem likely that-"

This time the talon of judgment was pointed at Cody. "That'll be enough of that! Run along and do what you humans do in the summertime."

Given that he was small and more frail than your standard cadet, it did force him back. Just seeing that got a different kind of fire going on in Spyro, like his flame turning in on his insides. He didn't like it, almost as much as he didn't like seeing the boy nearly shoved.

"Whoa, hold up, JV. He was just trying to give a suggestion. No need to get your feathers ruffled," the dragon said with a little more edge than intended.

Jet-Vac turned back on him. On any other day where he would have been as dodgy as a leaf in the breeze, this time he stared his instructor head-on. Spyro huffed embers from his nostrils, surprising him but not overpowering his ire.

"I've been a Skylander for a very long time. Takes a lot more than some rogue dragon and questioning kid to get my feathers ruffled. Now run along all of you." The bird-man shot off. The group nearly choked on his dust and watched him become a white speck in the sky.

"No go there." Eruptor said.

"Geez, what was his deal?" Spyro spat fire hoping to nail the bird-man between the thrusters. What was his own deal?

"He is a very busy man. We shouldn't intrude here anymore." Katelyn was quick to speak for the group unruffling her skirt. "My house it is, then."

Cody nodded without a word and triggered the Portal. It was back to the scorching but still breathable air of a human world in summer. Gathering their things the group raced to the mansion on the block where luxury and a day of music waited to take their mind off of everything.

Though there was one lingering fact no one accounted for or knew. Another boy who slid from behind a tree with waterfalls of sweat dripping down black hair in place of no breath. His green eyes were wide like saucers.

"What… did I just see?"

"When I said 'status update,' I'd have preferred a simple text and not a marathon!"

"Just shut up and keep running!"

Anne had only a few seconds of patience with McKenneth's 'move and don't ask questions' policy. She was in the midst of a chapter in her geometry book when he pounded on her door and clamped onto her wrist the second she opened it. Now in a white shirt, yellow skirt and the future by five minutes they were in a clearing of trees.

No matter how fascinating the effects of photosynthesis were as the sunlight turned green synthesizing through the filter of leaves, two thins remained clear. The heat remained intolerable, and exposure to this much nature might have been having an effect on her sinuses. Oxygen was not all that was being produced.

She gave as small as sneeze as she could as the running finally stopped. McKenneth had brought her to a clearing in the forest, or so it appeared. He yanked her behind the nearest tree and pushed her head down looking out.

"It's here," he near-whispered. "They-they meet here before they go… warping over there!"

Anne pulled her head out, twigs and leaf bits already entangled in her auburn hair and pigtails. "Really now, Mr. McKenneth. Is this your idea of a prank? Your record is spotty enough."

"I'm serious! There was, there was dragons and elves and bird-men."

"Oh, my…"

"There was a floating head and a lava monster and goo everywhere!"

"No genetically-altered marsupials and fire-breathing turtle monsters to boot?"

He turned to her. Through her maladjusted glasses she could see the confusion splattered all over his face. "There probably were for all I know!"

Anne merely set her glasses straight and cleaned her hair of debris. It once again fell on her to be the level-headed person in the conversation. Her time bided as Mallory's assistant had trained her as such.

"Mr. McKenneth, I am well aware this is a less than ideal situation for either of us, but fantasy stories brought about by some odd combination of heat stroke and attitude will not free either of us from it."

"You told me to tell you what's going on and I told you! If you don't believe me, fine!" He pulled her back into the bushes and leaned out again. "Just wait here. They said they were going to meet up."

"Oh, really. If I have to sacrifice any of my study time to indulge in this-"

"Shh!"

She scoffed. He was persistent, that was for sure.

"I don't know how pipsqueak is pulling this off, but it's all him."

"'Pipsqueak…' you mean Mr. Evans. If I recall, you have a history with him. You were classmates during kindergarten?"

The files had shown as much. Once upon a time McKenneth and Evans attended the same school – their teacher would have best described them as 'acquaintences'. Not much was different of their personalities then from what they were today – McKenneth was still aloof and Evans was shy as a church mouse. One day, something had happened, and Evans dropped out of public school, never to be heard from again. Until some months ago, that is.

"Yeah. Pretty much." He almost sounded thoughtful, a change from his usual self. "You leave a kid alone for five years and he starts making friends with dragons and elves."

"That again. Listen now-"

"Here it comes!"

A flash came before her eyes, magnified by her lenses. The group of suspects must have appeared from the faint glimpse of silhouettes among the light. But soon they, the trees, and her on arm vanished into nothing.

"W-w-what is…"

And when it cleared, not all of those things were still there.

She blinked. Her arm was there, as was McKenneth in front of her. Evans and his party had disappeared. When she turned behind her, it appeared the ground did as well. She was staring at an alleyway in front and the edge of a cliff at her back, with only pure sky below.

"IT'S. FLOATING. IN. THE AIR…" She gaped.

"I tried to tell you!" McKenneth's voice shouted with newfound volume.

"This… what is this!? An island in the sky!? There's no propulsion system, no means of levitation, no power source! It's only rock!" She power-paced grasping her head. "There is no logic at all. I want there to be logic! I need there to be logic!"

"I'm afraid logic for you must be at a paramount." A polite voice captured their attention, though that politeness was lost with the addition of the eerie echo and their new surroundings. Anne let out an undignified yelp while McKenneth grabbed the slingshot in his back pocket. Both pairs of eyes darted around the narrow space looking for the source, their only hint being a faint series of clacks along the walls.

"My goodness, how far you little children have roamed away. This will not do, not at all."

"Who's there?" Anne cried. McKenneth stretched his slingshot's band.

The clacks grew louder, echoing along with the voice. "A fellow scientist such as yourself, with a wealth of curiosity. Perhaps we can help one another to understand."

"Come out of hiding if you really want to make 'friends!'" McKenneth shouted.

Their new friend did as asked. He appeared from above their heads, his features coming into view from the daylight obscuring him. His only tie to the gentlemanly voice he had was a red top hat and suit. That was lost next to his more defining crooked smile with misaligned teeth on a sickly green face.

Though what stood out more were his mechanical spider legs with which he stuck to the walls. He stared fixated on them, his grin growing wider and more manic. Anne screamed, falling back.

McKenneth stammered. "Okay… forget I asked."

"Hey, doc… what do we got here?" A gruff voice called.

He leapt down, far less inviting than his friend attempted to be. A wolf-man covered in coarse hair with chains and spikes like some ruffian heavy-metal singer. His impact broke the ground, his claw catching rocks and crushing them in his grip. He snarled, drool forming from between the lips with a ravenous glare.

"What appears to be a couple of intruders. Although perhaps they can be useful as pawns… or at the very least experiments…"

"Right. You'll be helping the good doc. Right, girlie?" Anne gasped. His claw lunged for her and she could only hope she wouldn't meet the same fate as the rock. He pulled her towards his snout.

"You want a little sense? Clearly you ain't got none if you go wandering up to Doom Raiders!"

The two ran, the wolf hefting her over his shoulder. She screamed again carried off into the distance. Her last view was of McKenneth running into the street after her and her captors.

"No! Anne!"

Well, who can say if anyone's logic was good here.

We all know Cody and the others might be on the right track about Dreamcatcher, but as for Jason and Anne just randomly following the team and running into Doom Raiders? Yeah, who knows. But things always become that much more complicated with a hostage, don't you think?

Anyways, thanks to everyone who's been reading thus far. Here's to your reviews:

Crazyloop8888: I have never heard of the term 'thunder buddy' before this, likely because I never saw Ted. But yeah, I guess that's what it's turning into. As for Jason, well, I'll leave the matter of what becomes of him to your imagination.

General TigerDragon: Krankcase and Wolfgang are going rogue right now. A scene from past chapters shows they're not in full alignment with Golden Queen's 'bide your time' strategy.' Whatever move they make, they make It on their own.

BookWriter94: You'll have to wait a little longer to see how Jason gets into the fray. Right now, I think I've included someone else for readers to worry about.

MYTHICBOY: Yeah, I think the beginnings of friendship was what everyone, including me, were waiting I don't know if I'd call Jason and Anne 'stalkers', per se.

Realhuman: Thanks or the kind words. I think that's what puts people off in general towards OCs – a lot of times, we just imagine them as already cool, already strong, already got everything they need in hand. Creating a character means your creating a person, as flawed and troubled as any of the already-existing characters. It's a matter of care, and I'm glad you approve of Cody so far.

Alright, that wraps things up here. As always, review, favorite, follow! Until next time!