Chapter Fifty-Seven: Guardian Roots
It happened one morning, when patrolling the deepest woods, that Ambush spotted a foreign object within one of the bamboo trees. It seemed to be very small, and indeed it took him a moment to spot the object's gleam from the sun, but it was there nonetheless. Ambush climbed the bamboo tree's trunk, and plucked the object from a naturally-formed hollow.
He spent some time observing the object, unsure of what it was. It was quite compact, with the front sporting a strange black glass that he could see his reflection in. It appeared round, making it an easy fit for the hollow- whoever put it here intended the object to go there. More than anything, however, it was cold to the touch. Devoid of heat, of heart, of thought, of anything that could deem it a living creature.
A machine.
Like hunters used.
Like trolls used.
Like most things intending to destroy the Mystical Bamboo Forest.
This small machine didn't belong in the forest, and Ambush suspected that there might be more of them. Perhaps his visitors placed them there, hoping to offer him "assistance", but continuing to ignore his demands and push their boundaries. However, this small machine was only a small problem, and he felt that a small problem didn't need to be addressed with those that caused it. Ambush could wait until later before having it out with the visitors.
So Ambush continued on with his patrol, this time seeking out the small machines. By the end of the day, he found twelve more of them. He took them to the edge of the island, tossing them over one by one. The forest couldn't have any of those metal bits contaminating the soil- the bamboo trees had had enough trouble expelling the trolls' poison before.
On his way back to his hollow, Ambush consulted with the trees that held the small machines. He pressed his forehead to their trunks, listening quietly for the life they had, asking if they were okay. They all said that they were fine.
Ambush didn't feel convinced, but he returned to his hollow and retired for the night nonetheless. Guarding the forest was a job that offered few breaks. His sleep was often interrupted by the trees and animals crying out for him in fear. If something happened, they wouldn't be shy about telling him. So he wouldn't persist in asking, simply letting them be.
The next day, Ambush went on patrol again. When he went down the same route, he found another small machine in the same hollow he retrieved the first from. So he went about gathering small machines again, this time finding twenty. Ambushed disposed of these ones the same way he did the others, sending them off the edge of the island.
The day after that, he found more of them- thirty, in fact.
It continued on like this for several days. No matter how many small machines he collected, they would always come back and there would always be more. Ambush grew concerned at this point. He couldn't sense the visitors placing the small machines back, and the trees never let him know that they were coming. He couldn't understand what was going on. Ambush was guardian of the Mystical Bamboo Forest- it was his job to protect it, and it was his job alone.
The most he could think to do was finally have it with the visitors.
Ambush made his way to the entrance of the forest, finding the visitors' tents stuck right in front of it. The colors varied from red and orange and blue- bright colors, clashing with the natural green, practically alerting all of Skylands to come and visit. A few of the visitors walked about, with their tall machines and short machines and fat machines, all of which grew heat only when functioning and always burned to the touch. Many of the visitors here had greens and browns on their person, and Ambush could sense Life Elemental magic in them. But he never understood why Life Elementals would want to work with machines. A strange outside idea, he guessed.
Ambush confronted two of these visitors- an elf and a bear- standing in front of a square machine. He pulled his mystical sword out, poised to attack if need be. The visitors looked at him as he got closer, hardly seeming alarmed. These outsiders, they never seemed to take anything seriously.
"I've told you several times not to intrude on these ancient grounds," Ambush growled. "I tell you time and time again not to come into the forest, and you ignore me every time. And now, you feel entitled to leave your garbage everywhere."
The elf's eyes curled up, in the way most creatures do when they smile, though her smile was obscured by the scarf on her face. She turned the square machine around to face him.
"I figured you were the reason why we kept losing all of our cameras," the elf noted. "Look here. It's you."
This machine had not a black glass, but a colorful, moving glass. The glass seemed to depict the interior of the forest, and several moments of Ambush on patrol as he gathered the small machines. It was certainly strange. Pictures couldn't move like that.
Ambush shook his head, brandishing his sword. "That's not me. I know where I am," he spat. "And I won't have your strange magics tricking me. I won't tell you again. Because you all keep intruding within the forest, I want you all out, never to return. If you don't leave now, and take your belongings, I won't go easy on you."
"You mean you're going to gut us down?" the bear gasped. "That hardly seems right! Eon told us we were allowed to come here!"
"I gave permission to set up a sentry force at the entrance, not to have outsiders mucking up the land. I want to hear from Eon myself on this matter."
"Flynn's balloon should be coming with him on it at any moment. You can ask him then. They should land closeby the Portal."
Ambush lowered his weapon, but still kept it firmly grasped. One more pass. One more pass so he could talk to Eon and hear whatever excuse he had. And then he would cut down every last visitor here, and ensure that no one soiled the forest ever again.
Ambush made his way to the edge of the island, standing next to a flat gray machine with flashing colors at the center. That was the "Portal of Power", the method through which these visitors came and left at any time. They called themselves "Skylanders", protectors of the world. Ambush didn't buy it, especially considering who their leader was.
A balloon floated into view within the next few minutes. Ambush didn't move away until the balloon came into full view, when he saw a hand poke out from the basket waving at him. He took a few steps back, and the balloon then landed in front of him. The door opened up, and the Mabu pilot let his passenger off.
There he was, the cause of Ambush's current pain and misery. He was a tall humanoid creature, with pale skin and a white beard. His blue robe touched the grass, and his horned helmet pointed at the sky. Some bizarre creatures lived outside of the Mystical Bamboo Forest, but none so fearful as this one.
This was Eon, a member of the vile species known as Portal Masters.
"It's nice to see you again, Ambush," Eon greeted him with a smile. "How is everything going?"
"Tell me why you think ignoring my wishes is a sound idea," Ambush yelled. "Tell me so your death can serve as an excellent warning."
The Mabu pilot grimaced as he leaned on the edge of the basket. "Wowsers, this guy's pretty intense," he muttered.
"I take it things aren't going particularly well," Eon sighed.
The bear ran up to Eon, immediately taking to his side. "Master Eon, Ambush is being really mean," he began. "He won't let us set up sentry towers, he won't let us patrol the perimeter, he won't even let us put cameras in the woods to look for teleporters. And now he's saying he wants to kill us because we're trying to do our jobs."
"Is that so?"
Ambush took a fighting stance, glowering. "You've clearly ignored my wishes! I specifically stated that trespassing wasn't allowed! Now the punishment for this is death!"
Eon stroked his beard in thought. "Oh dear, you really aren't happy," he wondered. "I told them before that they could only keep watch by the entrance, with the only interference being the construction of sentry towers. Then we started noticing the growing threat of Kaos, and how similar his Portal Master abilities were to mine as creatures gathered to his side, and...I regret not informing you sooner...but I thought it would be best for the safety of the forest to place cameras within it so we could monitor the center. I ended up being busy, and I really should have told you myself."
"I bet you did!"
"Portal Masters can manually send Skylanders to certain locations without the need for two Portals to connect. An evil Portal Master like Kaos can do the same with minions. Not to mention there are several individuals with the ability to teleport, and there's hardly a way to determine their intentions. We felt that with a camera system, we could be alerted to intruders in the forest, and the Skylanders could immediately hurry to the affected area to solve the problem."
"If there's a problem within the forest, then it is mine to deal with. I don't need outsiders deciding what is good for the land here."
Eon let out another sigh. "Then I suppose this is you rejecting the offer to become a Sensei Skylander," he wondered.
"You won't have time to think on that when you're dead!"
The Mabu pilot poked his head from the side of the basket. "If you really wanted to kill Eon, you should just do it already," he insisted.
"Flynn, please don't," Eon urged him.
"I'm just saying, you haven't moved, and he's had plenty of opportunities to attack you, and he hasn't done it. I bet he wants you around, but doesn't want to admit it."
Ambush found it harder to keep his breath steady and his mind clear. These outsiders could be really irritating.
"I was admittedly surprised when he let us stay the first time," Eon wondered. "Doubly surprised when he didn't kill me right away. Ambush, how curious are you about us?"
Ambush scoffed.
"I know it's hard to trust us right now, especially since you've never met any outsiders that were particularly friendly," Eon continued. "We want to prove ourselves to you, and we want the opportunity to show you that we intend to protect the Mystical Bamboo Forest with the same care that you give it. We would just like to have some space so we can do our jobs."
"As long as I'm here, I won't allow outsiders to tarnish these woods."
"What if something happens to you? Who will protect it if you're not here? We want to give you our assistance."
It didn't matter if anything happened. Eon's words were ludicrous. Ambush knew he would always be there to protect the forest.
...What was he trying to suggest?
"I don't appreciate deception," Ambush warned him. "If you have something to say, then spit it out."
Eon turned to the Mabu pilot. "Flynn, my staff should be in there somewhere. Could you get it?" he asked.
"Already got it," the pilot answered.
Eon turned his focus back to Ambush, replying, "You'll probably say no, but I was thinking that you should still think about joining the Sensei Skylanders. You could go out to their base in the Mysterious Ancient Place, and I could stay here with our Life Skylanders to look after things while you're gone. We could patrol in the woods, set up sentry posts, and guard the perimeter. It would show you how well we can look after things, and the Senseis might give you some inspiration in turn."
"I thought you'd have me leave," Ambush scoffed. "How can I trust you to keep things safe, with your constant use of machines and misunderstanding of the woods?"
"We won't use any form of technology other than communication devices- one for me, and one for Flynn. I trust my Life Skylanders to understand the forest and take care of it the more they get acquainted with it."
"It still wouldn't make me leave."
"Not even to see what things are like out there?"
Ambush hated it. He hated that wiggling bit of curiosity in his head. He'd spent his entire life in the Mystical Bamboo Forest. He only caught glimpses of what the outside world was like from the trespassers he chased away. He always had that curiosity, and it distracted him from his duties. This was where Ambush was meant to be, and if he were to go anywhere else, that would put the forest in danger.
"If you decide to leave, I'll have you take my staff with you," Eon added. "It's the source of my powers, and with it gone, you can trust that I won't harm the bamboo trees here."
"The source of a Portal Master's magic is their Portals," Ambush reminded him. "And you already have one here."
"I can only use the Portal of Power to summon Skylanders and direct them where they need to go. My magic isn't what it used to be, and for anything else, I need that staff."
These outsiders were certainly persistent. Ambush was growing tired of them, and he was eager to be rid of them. They couldn't possibly protect these woods better than he could. There just had to be a way to get them to leave and set things back to normal.
A gamble came to mind. A terrifying gamble set itself in Ambush's mind, holding the potential to destroy everything he held dear. But if it went well, it could send these outsiders away for good.
"Say I left," Ambush began, "And things went along catastrophically. I would be absolutely mortified by it, and I'd demand nothing more than your immediate removal."
"What are you saying?" Eon asked.
"I'll do it. I'll leave to see your Sensei Skylanders for a few days. If I return and find that the forest has fallen into any sort of danger, I want you all gone forever. You'll have proven that you're incapable of protecting it."
Eon's face lit up. "That's great!" he cheered. "You don't need to worry, Ambush. We'll make sure everything is okay. And if anything comes up, we'll contact you to have you return. Let's go put things in order before you go, shall we?"
Ambush set his sword aside, nodding in response. His stomach filled with dread, and he found that his hands were trembling. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd made a horrible mistake. There was still time to change his mind. He could reject the deal and put things back in order.
And perhaps he could never be rid of these outsiders.
No, he had to take this chance. He just had to hope that things would turn out okay.
It was hard for any creature in Skylands to deal with a fear of heights. Ambush, of course, didn't hold too many reservations when it came to climbing those heights. Many of the bamboo trees grew several feet in the air, and Ambush used those to scout the area every now and again. Sometimes those trees would sway in the breeze, but he never felt alarmed when it happened. Perhaps it was because he held some control when this occurred- he could always slide down, or create bamboo stalks to grab onto in the event that something broke.
Ambush ruminated on this- well, he thought back to a lot of old memories of home- on the flight to the M.A.P within the Mabu pilot Flynn's balloon. He curled up on the bottom of the basket, hands over his head, simply waiting for the flight to end. They rocked in the wind, swerved during turns, and rocked on the occasional bump. Ambush was used to having control when it came to the air, but he had to relinquish that control to an outsider he could barely trust.
On top of that, Ambush just felt overall terrified of what he'd just done. Rather than call the deal off, he had the Skylanders get rid of their machines, set up sentry points, and otherwise prepare for his absence before hopping into the balloon with Flynn. He left in that balloon, leaving a bunch of outsiders in charge of the well-being of the forest. What if they destroyed something in the forest? What if they tore down the whole forest? What if the basket broke beneath Ambush, sending him miles to his death, never to return? What if a storm came up, and-?
"Hey, look alive, we're about to land!" Flynn shouted.
Ambush lifted his head up. He stood up and looked over the brim of the basket, finding them floating over a forest-like area with strange colorful growth. Yes, that was land! He didn't have to be in this basket anymore!
He didn't waste any time. Ambush leapt out of the basket, scanning the ground for a spot to place a bamboo sprout. He found one, created the sprout, and landed on top of it. He slid down, nearly tumbling onto the ground with trembling legs. Ambush looked up as the balloon landed, Flynn shouting things from the basket.
"What was that?" Ambush asked.
Flynn climbed out of the basket, carrying Eon's staff. "I said you shouldn't just jump out of a balloon basket," he insisted. "What if we were just approaching the edge of an island? Anyway, I think you wanted this."
Flynn handed the staff to Ambush. He took it from him, taking a moment to observe their surroundings. This area wasn't forest-like- it was a forest. Trees surrounded them, though they were much different compared to the bamboo trees Ambush lived with. The leaves on those trees concerned him, though. They were red, orange and yellow, decorating the trees in varying shades, and not green as leaves should be. He tried listening in on them, but couldn't hear anything. Had something poisoned them? Something felt terribly wrong.
Another figure emerged from the brush. He appeared to be a bird creature, sporting large blades over his wings. He had leather straps on his chest, and a golden belt around his waist. He shuffled over to Flynn, waving to him in greeting.
"Wowsers, I was wondering if you would be nearby," Flynn cheered. "It's good to see you, King Pen!"
"Same to you, Flynn!" King Pen smiled. "I came out here when I figured you guys would be arriving. The others are waiting by the Dojo, and they should be prepared for us."
King Pen walked over to Ambush, putting a bladed wing up for him. "You must be Ambush," he greeted him. "I'm the leader of the Senseis here. My name is King Pen."
Ambush stared at the giant blade on the bird's wing. He tentatively pinched the end of it, giving it a slight shake. "Eon seems to think highly of you," he muttered. "He keeps going on about how much he wants me to join."
"He has high hopes for us leading the next generation. Granted, we still have a lot of work to do on the team, but we're steadily getting there."
Ambush ran his thumb along the side of the staff. "What do you mean?" he asked.
King Pen looked over at the trees he just emerged from. "I think the others can fully explain it to you," he insisted. "We should really get you guys settled in."
With that, the bird Skylander led the way. Flynn kept close to his side, while Ambush trailed behind them. He continued looking at the leaves, puzzling over their strange colors. A breeze blew past, and Ambush paused to shiver from it. That was certainly strange, as it hadn't felt too cold out there before. He continued on, catching up with King Pen and Flynn, until they reached a clearing where a tall wooden building sat.
"Ambush, Flynn, welcome to the Senseis' Dojo!" King Pen announced. "After months of being settled at the M.A.P, we've finally got a base of operations!"
" 'Finally'?" Ambush wondered.
"The Sensei team is fairly new, you know. We still have a ways to go before we can really be compared to other Skylander teams. Let me introduce you to everyone."
They walked up to the porch, where three creatures seemed to be playing a game. A lizard and a metal man placed tiles on a board, and a flame woman watched the game and made comments depending on the moves they made. The three of them seemed to be really into it. And they all seemed to get along rather well.
"I certainly hope we didn't keep you waiting for too long," King Pen announced. "Flynn and Ambush are finally here."
The creatures looked up from their game, beaming as they saw the group. The metal man got up first, walking straight toward Ambush, putting his hand out. Ambush backed away from him, unnerved by his presence. This thing had to be a machine, right? He didn't want to interact with a machine unless he was meant to destroy it.
"It's certainly nice to meet you, Ambush," the metal man beamed. "I'm Chain Reaction. I'm kind of the veteran of the group, so if you need any tips or advice, you can always come to me."
Ambush turned his head away, refusing to take his hand.
"Erm, he's not the friendliest face," Flynn mumbled.
Chain Reaction took his hand away, growing rather despondent. "I suppose it can wait for later," he decided.
The flame woman stood up. "I'm Ember. I guess I work as King Pen's second-in-command- we trade off whenever the other needs a break," she explained. "And this here is Tri-Tip."
The lizard lifted his hand up. "Hey," he said. "I'm just here to smash stuff."
"He's a man of few words," Ember elaborated.
Ambush looked at the four Skylanders, switching focus between each of them again and again. There were only four of them here. The Skylanders constantly flooded the entrance of the Mystical Bamboo Forest, so he thought there had to be several Skylanders at the Dojo already. He just couldn't believe there were only four of them.
He was furious that he'd left home to work with a team that consisted of only four people!
"Why don't we show you guys around?" King Pen decided. "The Dojo is perfectly furnished, and it should accommodate the two of you very well."
"You really staying here all week, Flynn?" Tri-Tip asked.
"Yeah, I'm the communication link between Eon and Ambush," Flynn nodded.
"Then maybe we should focus on accommodating you specifically," Chain Reaction wondered. "There really isn't much for you here, is there?"
Ambush let them blather on for a while, trying his best not to chew them out for wasting his time. His home needed him. He couldn't be out here playing with these idiots while there were more important things to do.
But he really couldn't back out of it now. He was all the way out here. Ambush decided that he would have to go along with this "team" for now. And then when he got home, he wouldn't have to deal with Skylanders ever again.
Ambush cut down another troll vessel, shoving the pilot off the side of the island. He summoned a bamboo shoot to slam into two of them. He trapped three more inside a ring of bamboo shoots. He continued on until the trolls stopped their assault on the woods.
The woods had suffered a great amount of damage. Dozens of trees had fallen, and the rest were burning. Ambush could hardly breathe with the smoke hovering around. But the battle wasn't over just yet. He had to push on until the invaders left his home.
Ambush drew his sword at the leader of the attack. It wasn't a troll like one might expect, but a humanoid creature. She wore a black cloak, the hood concealing her face. A magic substance rested in her palm, and her fingers twitched in anticipation of launching it. She didn't waver at the presence of the tree knight.
"Stop this onslaught at once!" Ambush demanded. "You will lose all of your soldiers before you ever manage to take me down!"
The woman chuckled menacingly. She tipped her head up, revealing her devious smile.
"Maybe I will lose some of my soldiers," she wondered. "But you'll have to contend with all of them!"
A large fleet of ships came up behind her. There were thousands of them, obscuring the sky and clouding the area with more smoke. Thousands more kept coming up, making the odds of winning even less clear.
Ambush faltered.
He froze.
He felt that he couldn't win.
And the ships descended onto the island.
"Ambush? Hey Ambush."
Ambush's eyes snapped open, and he sat up with a start. A blanket fell off his shoulders, and a pillow fell onto the floor. King Pen stood nearby, hovering by the arm of the couch where Ambush sat.
That's right, the couch. Ambush had practically passed out on it after the tour of the Dojo. One minute, he'd been sitting around, waiting for the Senseis to stop talking to one another so he could ask them about the forest. And the next...well, apparently King Pen was waking him up.
"Are you okay?" King Pen asked. "You sounded quite restless."
Ambush rubbed an eye. "I'm fine," he insisted. "I need to get in contact with Eon."
King Pen rubbed the back of his neck- Ambush noted that he'd taken off his blades, finding that his wings were too small to fly with. "We'd have to bother Flynn for that," King Pen insisted. "It's still too early to do that."
"I don't care. I need to speak with Eon."
"Why don't you tell me what's going through your head first? If I can't set your mind at ease, then we'll go get Flynn up so we can talk to Eon, okay?"
These Skylanders were quite annoying, weren't they? Well, whatever allowed him to contact Eon. Ambush wrapped the blanket over his shoulders, saying, "I need to know if my forest home is okay."
King Pen sat next to him. "I know leaving home isn't easy," he nodded. "Is there anything specific you're worried about happening to it?"
"Lots of things. Namely invaders trying to destroy it."
"I see."
"I don't believe you really understand what I'm talking about."
King Pen leaned back, looking at the ceiling in thought. "It's impossible for me to have the same experience as you," he insisted. "I have like...a general worry for the Dojo and the M.A.P."
"You never think back to your homeland?"
King Pen gave him a weak smile. "...You're really digging deep, huh? I actually hate thinking back to my old home- and I hate that I feel that way. Cloudmelt Glacier is just… it's always wrapped in war, one faction fighting another, one conflict starting as soon as another ended. I learned how to be careful when fighting- that balance of holding back and going in- and I tried to negotiate peace between the factions, but it never lasted. Part of me joining the Skylanders was to bring in a bigger force, but...I haven't been back in a long time. The M.A.P is my home now, and the Skylanders are my family."
Ambush studied the swirl pattern on the blanket, ruminating on that statement. "...Your family?" he wondered.
"Eon welcomed me with open arms. For a long time, I felt most comfortable talking with him. Is that why you want to call him?"
Ambush didn't respond immediately. His feelings toward Eon were...mixed. He hadn't realized it before, but that was the case.
"I met him six months after my home's most recent conflict," Ambush muttered. "He sat at the entrance of the woods for a whole week before I decided to confront him. I didn't want to move in immediately in the case he decided to leave. He didn't react when I finally trapped him in my bamboo ring. He didn't attack when I drew my sword at him. He kept his patience, apparently wanting me to join your group. I suppose he's the only Skylander figure I can reason with at this point in time."
"It's easier for most new Skylanders to be more comfortable with Eon at first. The group's so big, and you're still trying to find your place among them. It could be that way for a while until you start forming relationships with others. With you here, though, I want to be able to extend a hand to you and help you feel comfortable. And I know Eon cares about that as well, and he'd make sure your home remained safe while you're here. Does that make sense?"
Ambush nodded. "...This actually did help," he admitted.
King Pen perked up. "Do you still need to talk to Eon?" he asked.
"No, actually. I think I got everything off my chest for now."
"Now I would suggest getting back to sleep. We've got a few hours before getting to work, and we should get as much rest as we can."
Ambush nodded, watching as King Pen got up and left. He sat still for another minute, realizing that he really did feel better after talking with him. Ambush laid back down, wrapping the blanket around himself. He drifted back to sleep, and he didn't have another nightmare for the rest of the night.
Ambush went on patrol with Tri-Tip the next day. They made their way through the woods, searching for signs of danger. They found lots of signs of troll activity, such as churned up earth or sawed off trees. This stirred a kind of fury in Ambush's gut, and he found himself eager to root out these trolls.
Tri-Tip paused next to a fallen tree, pointing his horned nose to the air. "Stop moving," he said. "Can you hear anything?"
Ambush set his sword to his side. "...No?" he wondered.
"I think I'm hearing their sawblades. We must be getting close."
Ambush tried listening in, but he couldn't hear anything of note. The trees didn't speak to him. The animals didn't raise their voices. He didn't even hear any troll sawblades. Ambush found himself completely isolated in these woods.
But then a screech cut through the air, reaching Ambush and only Ambush. He knelt to the ground in shock, horror growing in his heart. It was a scream of death, and Ambush was already too late to halt it.
Tri-Tip hurried over to him, asking, "What's going on with you?"
"You're right. They're close," Ambush stammered, standing up on shaky legs. "We have to go now!"
Before Tri-Tip could object, Ambush bolted ahead of him. He ran forward through the woods, hopping over fallen trees and scattered rocks, until arriving at a clearing filled with damage. Five trolls operated in this area, struggling with their equipment. It was a pause they would soon regret.
Ambush didn't waste any time. He summoned a large bamboo stalk, ramming it into two trolls. He trapped one troll in a ring of bamboo, and pulled out his blade to combat the last two. One troll tried to run after him while he was busy, but Tri-Tip came and charged into it. Ambush pushed his assailants over to him, allowing Tri-Tip to knock them out with his mace. The fight was apparently over before it had a chance to start.
Tri-Tip frowned at him, scoffing, "Great job, Ambush."
Ambush put his sword away, crossing his arms. "You don't sound too happy," he muttered.
"I'm the mission leader. You're supposed to follow me, and not get your sorry butt into trouble when you don't have backup."
"If I waited for you, it would have been too late."
Tri-Tip walked over to the bamboo cage, the troll shrinking away as he came close. "Sometimes Skylanders don't arrive on the scene in time," he insisted. "And it sucks. But that's no cause to endanger yourself and risk more losses."
There was just a hint of concern in Tri-Tip's voice. Was that concern for Ambush? He couldn't believe an outsider would have concern for him.
Tri-Tip pulled the troll out by its matted fur. "Let's just get home and throw this guy in a cell," he announced. "I have a feeling the rest of them are camped out somewhere, and he'll tell us where they are."
Ambush complied, and the two of them walked back to the Dojo with the troll in hand. Once they emerged from the woods, they spotted Chain Reaction training outside. Tri-Tip waved him over, asking him for help in taking care of the troll. Ambush backed away as the metal man drew closer, ducking behind a tree. He certainly wasn't letting himself anywhere near a machine.
Chain Reaction eventually left with the troll, appearing rather despondent. Tri-Tip found Ambush, noting, "You're making Chain Reaction feel bad by doing that."
"Then let him feel bad," Ambush spat.
Tri-Tip rolled his eyes at that statement.
Ambush glanced back to the woods behind them, ruminating on that expression on the lizard's face earlier. That hint of concern for him. That was for him, wasn't it?
"Do you...lose a lot of allies?" Ambush asked.
"Hm?" Tri-Tip muttered.
"You expressed earlier that you didn't want to have more losses in a battle that went poorly. I assumed you were referring to allies."
Tri-Tip grabbed an elbow. "I don't really have any experience there," he admitted. "I wasn't really a fighter until I joined the Skylanders. King Pen has more stories about it than me, but...I can't let go of the worries those stories give me."
"Then what are you even worried about?"
"Skylanders aren't usually meant to fall in battle. If we get injured badly enough, we're teleported to our bases through our connection with the Portals, and that magic's supposed to revive us enough so we don't need intensive care. But Eon's mentioned before that there's a small chance it won't work like that for someone. I just...I want to make those odds less likely. And if I can help it, I want to train those I meet to avoid that chance, too."
"...Including me?"
"Of course."
Ambush didn't know what that meant. He never really worked with anyone else back home. What was it like, to have someone worry about you? What was it like to have someone fight alongside you in battle? Ambush couldn't quite describe what that felt like.
The next day, Ember declared that Flynn would have something to take part in. She asked him and Ambush to reach the edge of the island to find Skylander ships delivering supplies to the M.A.P. Ambush didn't quite like the mode of transportation for the supplies. While those ships were cleaner and better built, they still made the same awful noises that the troll ships did. He still didn't appreciate the Skylanders' use of machines.
But he found himself growing more comfortable around these Senseis the longer he stayed with them.
Ember led them around the whole region that day, delivering food and building supplies to the settlements in the M.A.P. Mabu, foxes, and other docile species lived here, trying to live out their days away from the dangers of the wider world. It was something Ambush had never seen from outsiders. Whenever outsiders entered the Mystical Bamboo Forest, they only ever meant harm. But these outsiders were trying to survive just as Ambush was back home.
By the evening, they had finished their work. While the others were addressing some of the refugees in the center village, Ambush settled himself by a tree to wait for them. He looked up at the leaves, noting how they were strange colors as well. They hadn't found any more trolls in the region, but all the trees they came across had those strange-colored leaves. Those colors probably weren't caused by the trolls, then, but Ambush still didn't know what was going on.
Eventually Ember came over to him, holding a cup in each hand. She handed one to Ambush before sitting next to him. Ambush looked at the brown liquid in the cup, simply letting the object warm his hands for a bit. They looked on as Flynn chatted with the refugees, apparently boasting about something while they looked on in confusion.
"We'll give Flynn a few more minutes before pulling him away," Ember chuckled. "How are you liking it here, so far?"
Ambush sipped at the drink, blinking in surprise. The taste must have been...chocolate? He never really had chocolate very often, so he had difficulty recognizing it.
"It's far more interesting here than I thought it would be," Ambush explained. "You seem to do a lot of work here."
"I personally prefer relief work to fighting. I like helping a community come together. And I always see King Pen trying to join me with it."
"He mentioned to me a while back on how he learned to be careful when fighting. Does that have something to do with it?"
"I believe so. He started this team as a means of trying to stop the need for so much fighting. He wanted to train the greater population to defend themselves when the Skylanders couldn't be there. King Pen usually tells me how much he wants to bring some good into the world. On some level, I feel the same way."
They sat in silence for another moment, sipping on their drinks. Then Ember asked, "What happened to your home before?"
"What do you mean?" Ambush wondered.
"You have that look in your eyes. That kind of faraway look when one thinks about their home."
Ambush fiddled with the rim of the cup, unsure how to answer. He still wasn't sure how much he should spill his guts out to these strangers. But talking with King Pen before had made him feel better. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
"A Portal Master attacked my home," Ambush muttered. "She brought an army of trolls with her. I only barely pushed them out."
"I see," Ember nodded. "I thought it was a familiar look."
"So Portal Masters are always on the attack?"
"There aren't many Portal Masters around these days. I was just saying… well, my home was attacked by a Portal Master, too."
Ambush looked at her in surprise.
"That Portal Master tried to take over my village and ban our martial arts traditions," Ember continued. "We just barely pushed them out, too. I left home so I could gain a stronger force to combat that kind of evil. I still visit my home, but I don't do it often."
"You're allowed to return to your home?"
Ember blinked in confusion. "You thought we couldn't?" she asked. "Master Eon really would be a cruel Portal Master if that were the case. I joined so I could protect my home. I would have to be allowed to return in order to act on that."
"...I didn't exactly trust Eon to be that nice."
"After what happened to you, that makes sense. I had a difficult time trusting Eon at first. But he turned out to be genuine, and I'm quite fond of him now."
They looked over at Flynn, who was now trying to get the dwindling crowds to keep listening to him. Ember stood up, downing the rest of her drink.
"We should drag Flynn away and get back home," Ember decided. "I hope you think about becoming a Skylander, Ambush. Even if you wait another few months before you join, I think you would really benefit from a team like this. You could have a team defending your home. You wouldn't have to fight alone anymore."
If he joined the Skylanders, he wouldn't have to fight alone? Ambush had only seen those visitors tampering with the forest, sticking their machines into it. They hadn't listened to anything he wanted.
Perhaps...they really just meant well.
No, that couldn't be true. Ambush was only thinking that because he didn't want to be alone.
He didn't...want to be…
Ambush stood up, calling out for Ember. He quickly finished his drink just as she turned around. He pointed at the tree, asking, "I wanted to know what's causing the leaves to change like that."
Ember looked at him in curiosity. "I thought someone else would have told you by now?" she wondered.
"I haven't had the chance to ask."
"Well, some trees in Skylands change color in the fall to prepare for winter. They do that so they don't waste more energy trying to keep the leaves alive."
"That's… interesting."
"You can always depend on teammates to give you information like that."
That certainly seemed like the case. Maybe Ambush really could use a team. Maybe...he didn't have to be alone.
A few more days passed, and soon being at the Dojo felt almost natural. Ambush worked in tandem with the other Skylanders during training. He fell in line on patrols, only suggesting actions when it looked like it was his place to do so. He was gaining a kind of rhythm with everyone, fighting against bandits without any sort of confusion.
He was quite comfortable there.
If that was what being on a team was like, then he wouldn't mind it.
As Ambush got up one morning, he ran into Flynn in the halls. The Mabu had a communication device in his hand, apparently primed to use it. He had a kind of expression that Ambush couldn't quite recognize. Flynn hadn't seemed comfortable around him, and maybe that really was his fault, but that wasn't what he was reading on him at the moment.
"...Do you need me for something?" Ambush asked.
"I got a call from Eon," Flynn explained. "He wanted to get into contact with you. Maybe he has something to say about those woods of yours."
Dread grew in Ambush's stomach. What did that mean? Had something happened to the Mystical Bamboo Forest? Was there some sort of crisis that they needed Ambush there for? Or was it already too late, and the forest was completely destroyed?
Ambush didn't want to pick up the device. Not because it was a machine- his time at the Dojo allowed him to discern between good machines and bad ones- but because of what picking it up might mean. He didn't want to hear what news could be on the other line.
"Can...can it wait?" Ambush muttered.
"Yeah, probably," Flynn insisted. "Eon said he just wanted to talk."
Just to talk? That didn't sound so bad. Even so…
"I've got a lot of work to do right now," Ambush fibbed. "I'll have to take that call later."
And with that, he turned down the hall without another word.
Ambush made his way out to the training yard, and here he couldn't help but pace about. It was just a simple call, right? It could be about anything. That didn't mean it was immediately about danger to his home. But it could also include that. And if it was, that would mean their deal was off.
The Skylanders would have to leave. And he wouldn't deal with them ever again.
He...he didn't want things to go back to the way they were.
Ambush paused as he saw King Pen and Chain Reaction walk out of the Dojo. They had their weapons in hand, seeming primed for a fight.
"Those slimy trolls, I swear," Chain Reaction muttered.
Ambush stepped toward them. "What's going on?" he asked.
King Pen and Chain Reaction turned toward him. They seemed surprised to see him, but there was this clear sign of happiness along with it.
"We were looking for you, actually," King Pen cheered, waving a bladed wing at him. "We wanted to take you along to hunt some trolls."
His interest piqued. "So you found their camp, then?"
Chain Reaction crossed his arms. "That troll was a tough nut to crack, but I finally did it- had to get a bit more forceful than I like," he elaborated. "He said they found a rock system near this region's river basin, and they were planning on doing some fracking."
Ambush's eyes widened in surprise and alarm. "Not right next to the river basin?"
"Knowing how trolls operate, that's probably how it is," King Pen muttered. "If they get chemicals in the water, it could put everyone here in trouble. We probably don't have much more time, as it is."
Ambush nodded, bringing his sword out. If he really wasn't going to interact with the Skylanders again, then the last thing he should do with them is route out the trolls here.
The three of them hurried into the woods, finding the path to the river. They followed it upstream, making their way up the rise. As the trees thinned and the ground curved further upward, King Pen had them slow their gait. He urged them to be cautious, and not to alert the greater troll forces. Ambush slinked further toward the river basin, clinging to the shadows. This time, it would be wise to heed caution in this unfamiliar environment.
He saw the forces before he arrived there. The basin was practically swamped with trolls. Some of them carried heavy weaponry. Others piloted clunky tanks. But all of them had their eyes on the large drill mechanism in the center of their camp. It towered over the trees, rusted metal turning auburn in the sunlight. That had to be their main fracking tool. If that went down, then the trolls' operation would fail. It was imperative that Ambush take it down.
Ambush hugged the last tree, keeping out of sight. A shake near him grabbed his attention, and he looked behind himself. Chain Reaction was there, having made it faster than King Pen. The two of them would have to start off the battle together. Ambush didn't particularly like it, but he knew he needed help from somewhere. He pointed out the large drill mechanism to the metal man, directing him toward the foot soldiers near it. Chain Reaction nodded, and in a flash of light, zipped away toward them.
The trolls found the strange crackle as it approached them, and they rushed toward it. Ambush climbed into the branches of the tree as the fighting commenced. The trolls in front of the drill mechanism were occupied with Chain Reaction, but there were still quite a few trolls guarding its back. And that wasn't to mention the number of trolls still looking after the entrance to the basin. It looked like a frontal attack would be Ambush's best bet, even if he would still be vulnerable.
So Ambush leapt out of hiding, summoning a bamboo stalk to hoist himself to the top of the machine. He dodged a shot the pilot troll sent after him. In one swoop, he pulled them out of the cockpit and sent them to the ground. Ambush climbed in, ducking as something shot at him. He observed the controls within, grimacing at how hot the main box was to touch. Ambush ducked again as more fire came his way, and he glanced out at the battlefield. King Pen had finally arrived, although he was building an ice wall around the basin. Chain Reaction guarded him from enemy fire, though they didn't seem to have as many foes on them as Ambush did.
No, most of the focus was on Ambush, stuck in the cockpit of the machine, as the trolls shot at him to get him out. They were being oddly careful, not willing to risk damage to their precious machine. Meaning Ambush had free reign to damage the internal components and sabotage their plans.
But the most effective means for that was to stand up somewhat.
Ambush gulped, turning his sword up, and stabbing it into the main box. He stabbed a couple times, flinching as sparks danced toward him. The box had quite a volatile reaction, seeming eager to explode from the damage. Not an unexpected reaction, Ambush had to admit, which was why he decided to climb out as quick as he could. He climbed up, dodging another round of shots, and jumped out.
A troll pellet shot through his shoulder. Ambush cried out, faltering, trying to bring up his magic. He barely summoned a bamboo arena before painfully hitting the grass. Ambush shook his head, trying to force the daze out, and spotted the troll forces closing in on him. He could barely feel his injured arm, and moving his hand was out of the question. His only choice was his other, non-dominant hand to fight. Easily doable. And necessary, at this point.
Ambush sat up, groaning. He glanced around to figure out where his sword landed. All he needed was to grab his sword and push the trolls back.
Where was his sword?
It wasn't… it wasn't close by.
The trolls drew closer. Ambush's breathing quickened. He was injured, unarmed and alone. The trolls were going to get him.
A troll brought a chainsaw toward one of his bamboo stalks.
They were going to destroy his home.
A voice shouted out somewhere.
They were going to kill Ambush.
A figure ran toward the bamboo stalks.
They were going to direct their hooded Portal Master to-
A flash of light struck near the bamboo stalks, taking the trolls out.
Wait, what… what happened to the trolls?
Ambush blinked, reaching forward to a bamboo stalk to ground himself. The static reformed, revealing itself as Chain Reaction. He raced around the bamboo arena, pushing back every troll that dared come close. It was quite noble of a machine to do that. Ambush had never known such ferocity to come from a machine. More than that, it was ferocity… for his sake.
Ambush tried standing up, to offer some sort of aid, but the motion bumped his injured arm. Flame-like pain rushed up, centering around his shoulder. Ambush let out a shout, prompting Chain Reaction to glance toward him worriedly.
"Just stay put. You've done your part," Chain Reaction insisted. "Battle's almost over. I've got your back, don't worry."
He said it with such sincerity and kindness. It made Ambush's heart hurt. Was this really the way the metal man was? A kind and valiant warrior, willing to look after others?
Ambush tried to find the words, but his throat turned out to be dry. He stuttered out, "...Ih-sh-shorry…,"
"Not your fault for being injured," Chain Reaction insisted.
"...No-no-Iphssed-you'way…"
Chain Reaction pursed his lips, giving him a soft gaze. "Once you join the Skylanders, we'll have all the time in the world to make up for it," he promised.
If Ambush joined the Skylanders.
He probably wouldn't be.
Soon enough, the battle stopped. It ended when the drill machine fell apart in a great blast- a feat accomplished by King Pen, capitalizing on the damage Ambush delivered. The remaining trolls fled, completely ignoring Ambush and the Senseis. Chain Reaction broke one of the bamboo stalks down, picking up the tree knight. He pressed Ambush's wounded arm close to his body, causing a constant ache, but diminishing the constant pain of wobbling the limb in movement. Ambush glanced toward the ground, spotting something leaking from the broken drill. King Pen waddled over to them, face sagging in concern.
"Is he really that bad?" King Pen gasped. "Shoot, I knew I should have called for backup when I saw those numbers. What is it?"
"From what I can tell, his shoulder is hurt," Chain Reaction explained. "He also seemed pretty shaken, like a deer in the lights. Ambush, how much does it hurt?"
Ambush pressed the side of his face against Chain Reaction's chest, eyes growing heavy. He felt exhausted, and he wasn't sure if it was from his injury or the strange comfort in the metal man's arms. He was also suddenly aware of a wetness on his cheeks. Tears, maybe? This battle really had taken a lot out of him.
"I can hardly move my arm," Ambush muttered. "It hurts too much to do so."
"I think I can take care of that," King Pen said, touching Ambush's shoulder.
Ambush winced as ice formed over the wound. The pain from that burned sharply, but the burn quickly went away. Indeed, the wound didn't hurt as much with the ice covering it.
"The only thing that hurts is your arm?" Chain Reaction asked. "Not your legs or your head?"
"Just my arm," Ambush muttered. "S'okay if I shut my eyes a little?"
"Should be. Just hang tight. Won't be too long. We'll get you home and get you patched up."
Ambush nodded wearily, eyes closing. "Home…"
Although he was loath to admit it, Ambush was getting accustomed to Portal Master Eon's presence.
Ambush could expect Eon at least once a week. The old Portal Master knew his limits. He kept toward the entrance to the forest and no farther, just as the woods' guardian warned him. When he was permitted inside, he did nothing to try and damage the woods. Sometimes he even helped raise a few shoots to full height. Eon was quite respectful of the boundaries set for him.
So much so that Ambush saw the softness in him. From his posture to his eyes, everything about Eon exudes kindness. And Ambush found himself… comfortable around him.
So much so that on one visit, Ambush took him to see his birthplace.
It was deep in the thicket of the forest, with a large series of brambles guarding it. The bamboo stalks twisted and bent together, forming into a shape resembling the guardian. At the foot of this shape was a hollow, one where a smaller being was to emerge.
So far, nothing else had.
"You said this was the only place untouched by Kaossandra's destruction?" Eon asked. "I can certainly understand how. I feel a kind of ancient magic here."
Ambush looked at the monument, something growing within him. "This place is the only evidence of sapient life touching the forest before my existence," he explained. "I haven't found anyone else like me in all my time spent here."
"I see."
"I suspect my life was the forest's wish. It yearned for a protector, and so I came into being. Perhaps when my time comes, someone else will be born to take my place as guardian of the forest."
Ambush then glanced toward Eon, noting the sadness in his eyes.
The Portal Master went, "If this place wasn't touched by the outside, it probably hasn't seen the outside in ages. It doesn't know of the changes happening in the greater world. It doesn't know how technology is progressing."
Ambush looked away, feeling that something growing stronger. "No matter how technology changes, I will continue carrying out my duties," he argued.
"You can't possibly fight another army," Eon insisted, worry growing in his voice. "You can't keep pushing yourself like this. How much longer do you think you can fight alone?"
Ambush recognized that something within him.
Loneliness.
"I...I don't know," Ambush admitted.
Something kept tapping nearby, like a little clink! Clink! And something hovered closer. Ambush opened his eyes, trying to figure out what was going on. He found himself on a cushy bed, a blanket tucked under his arms. His shoulder had white bandaging wrapped around it, and the rest of his arm was cast in a sling. A strong amount of sunlight streamed through a nearby window. So he had made it back to the Dojo after all.
Shoot, he couldn't even remember making it back.
Ambush sat up, noting the dull ache in his arm as he did so. He looked to his right, spotting a sleepy King Pen in a chair next to him. The penguin was wobbling to the side, his helmet tapping the metal rim above the head of the bed- the source of the clinking noise. He also held Ambush's blade in his lap, his weak grip attempting to keep a good hold on it.
That's right, Ambush had wanted to find his blade. He was glad the Senseis had brought it here for him.
He also noticed Chain Reaction standing at King Pen's side.
"There you are," the metal man smiled. "How are you feeling?"
Ambush rubbed an eye, muttering, "Okay, I think. What time is it?"
"I think it's about midday."
Ambush blinked in surprise. "...I swear the only thing that hurt was my arm."
"There are different kinds of hurt. You were shaking terribly when I reached you, and there was no mistaking the fear in your eyes. That had to have taken a lot out of you."
Ambush looked down at his injured arm. He flexed the fingers on his hand, wincing as the motion caused some pain. But he decided it had to be healing- he could at least move it now. Ambush expected the Skylanders to tell him not to fight until he was fully healed. He wasn't about to argue with them at whatever point they'd say that. This had to be the worst injury he'd ever received. It was lucky he had backup during that battle.
What if this had happened during his fight against the evil Portal Master? How could he protect the Mythical Bamboo Forest with such an injury?
"You definitely look a lot better," Chain Reaction smiled. "We hardly made it home when you started snoring. We brought you to your room as soon as King Pen patched your arm up. Ember insisted that we look after you, though we'd already decided on it beforehand."
Ambush glanced at the slumbering penguin. "That explains what you two are doing here, then."
"We took shifts. King Pen mentioned something about making sure nightmares didn't bother you."
"Quite considerate."
Thundering footsteps sounded off just right out the door. King Pen stirred from his uneasy slumber, and Chain Reaction looked toward the door. Voices also came out, seemingly in some sort of argument. Ambush listened in, trying to determine what the argument was about.
"Sounds like the others want to see you," Chain Reaction chuckled. "Are you ready for them, Ambush? Or would you like a little more time for yourself?"
"I'm alright," Ambush insisted. "I'd like a chance to see everyone."
Chain Reaction nodded, walking toward the door. King Pen also got up, setting the sword down and assuming the metal man's prior spot. Chain Reaction opened the door, sternly keeping his ground as Tri Tip's stubborn yelling carried through. He let up only slightly, allowing Ember and Flynn to slip on through. Flynn handed a cup to Ember, while Ember passed it and a small bag onto a table beside the bed.
"We could certainly use hospital trays out here," Ember muttered to herself. To Ambush, she continued, "We made you lunch. I wondered if you'd need to build some strength up. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it, alright?"
Ambush nodded, grabbing for the cup. The warmth seemed familiar to him, and he could almost smell a hint of chocolate coming from the cup.
"Ember said you seemed to like it, so I fixed some up for you," Flynn insisted. "I know I like something sweet when I'm not feeling well."
"Thank you," Ambush muttered.
"Are you doing alright, though?" Ember persisted, practically hovering over him. "Chain Reaction said he found you surrounded by the trolls when you were injured. I couldn't help but think it seemed… familiar, you know."
Ambush sipped at the warm drink. It had seemed familiar. All too familiar. He remembered how delirious with fear he had been before Chain Reaction pushed the enemy back. Ember seemed to know what it meant, even if she was purposely not using the words to describe it.
"I was just glad that Chain Reaction was there," Ambush muttered. He still wasn't fully prepared to voice out what he had felt yet.
After another moment, Chain Reaction allowed Tri Tip into the room. The dinosaur didn't veer toward the bed quite yet, instead squaring up against King Pen. His face was twisted up in a scowl, yet Ambush caught a hint of concern in there as well.
"Glad you're still here," Tri Tip huffed. "It means I get a chance to kill you."
"I hate to tell you this, but you don't need to beat me up," King Pen sighed. "I've done that myself. I knew I should have called you two for backup when we found the trolls' location."
"Your darn right you should have! We could've thinned out some of those trolls so Ambush could get away better!"
Ember set a hand on Ambush's shoulder. "Don't be too afraid of that scene," she insisted. "Tri Tip's actually a mother hen. He sees a rookie Skylander, and he sets his sights out on protecting them."
Ambush nodded, setting his cup on the table. He could see the unfaltering kindness in this display. He could read the devotion in that shouting, that determination to look after someone.
And all of that was for the tree knight.
It wouldn't be much longer before the dam broke.
Tri Tip turned his head toward Chain Reaction, giving him the same mean glare. "I ought to rough you up too, if only you didn't save Ambush's hide," he argued. "Letting him pass out like that. What if he was concussed?"
"He said the only thing that hurt was his arm," Chain Reaction insisted, arms up. "I made sure he was okay before letting him nod off."
"You better hope you did! If he's any more injured than you said, I'm coming for your hide, too!"
Ambush lifted his good arm up, saying, "You don't need to do that. I promise I'm alright."
Tri Tip looked at him, blinking away the rage. He walked over to the bed, placing a hand on Ambush's forehead. "You're really okay?" he asked. "Head doesn't hurt? Don't feel woozy or anything?"
"I am perfectly alert," Ambush promised him.
Tri Tip pulled his hand away, huffing, "Your eyes seem puffy, but that's the only thing off. But you promise that you're okay?"
Ambush felt his tears well up. He shut his eyes and brought a hand to his face, stammering, "I'm not terribly injured. You don't need to rough anyone up for me."
He glanced back at Tri Tip, noting how his brow furrowed in worry. He also noticed Chain Reaction and King Pen walking back over to the bed. Everyone was here to give Ambush company. He really didn't want to lose this.
"What's wrong, then?" Tri Tip asked softly.
"I made a deal with Eon," Ambush choked out. "If anything happened to my home while I was away, the Skylanders would have to leave forever. I didn't want any outsiders around if they couldn't prove their honesty to me. And the other day, Flynn said Eon wanted to call me about my home. I decided it could only mean something bad had happened while I was away. It meant that I would have to go home, and send the Skylanders away."
"Got quite fond of us, huh?" Chain Reaction wondered.
Ambush nodded, the tears flowing down. "I remembered a while back, Eon wondered how much longer I could keep fighting alone. I didn't have an answer then. But after that battle… after this injury… I know I can't do it any longer. I can't bear fighting alone any longer. I can't bear being alone any longer. I don't... I don't want…"
He couldn't continue without becoming a sobbing wreck. He simply sat there, letting the tears flow down. Ambush felt Ember rub at his arm, and he didn't push her off. He also felt Tri Tip set a beefy hand on his back, and he didn't shoo him away, either. If Ambush wasn't going to get this company any longer, he was going to absorb as much of their comfort as he could.
"You don't have to leave if you don't want," Tri Tip insisted.
Ambush looked over at him, blinking in confusion.
Tri Tip smirked at him, giving a casual shrug. "If that forest of yours really was destroyed, then there's no reason to go back. Especially if it wasn't making you happy."
"And you can always call off the deal," King Pen promised him. "We'll be there to back you up, no matter what you decide. You don't have to be alone anymore."
Ambush's tears slowed down. Could he really just abandon his duty? He was tied to that forest, wasn't he? It was his job to look after it, right?
But who really decided that? The trees in that forest had never really confirmed that for him. He'd never gotten clear confirmation from his birthplace that he was made to protect that forest. He didn't have the same roots tying him to the dirt. He had the freedom to travel around as he wished. And if he wanted to leave, that was his decision.
Maybe he should ask himself what he really wanted.
Ambush wiped his tears away, asking, "Flynn, do you have that communicator?"
Flynn sheepishly pulled it out. "We contacted Eon, telling him what happened," he explained. "He wanted to know if you were okay as soon as possible. I thought if you were up to it, you could call him."
"I think I should do that."
Ember took her hand away. "Would you like some privacy for the call?" she asked.
"Yes, but you don't have to go too far," Ambush insisted.
The Senseis nodded, taking their leave. Flynn was last to go, fiddling with the device before handing it over to Ambush. The tree knight set it to his ear, listening as the static cleared out before Eon's voice came through.
"-zzckzhkz- This Ambush?" Eon's voice crackled.
"It's Ambush," the tree knight responded. "Did you get that?"
"Loud and clear. How are you doing?"
Ambush watched as Flynn left, noting the crowd hovering by the door. "I'm doing better," he replied. "King Pen did a good job of fixing the damage, because it doesn't hurt as much today."
"That's good. I was quite worried when they said you'd gotten injured."
"How is everything on your end?"
"Pretty quiet, mostly. So far, we've only had trouble with one group of bandits trying to sneak in and set a fire. Everything's been good here."
"No great disasters."
"None whatsoever."
His voice sounded genuine. The worry that Tri Tip and King Pen had quelled was starting to come back. "What made you want to call?" he asked.
"I assumed you'd call first, if you were worried," Eon responded. "It's been nearly two weeks, and this is the first time I've heard a peep from you."
Ambush scoffed, adjusting his hand so he could scratch at his cheek. "Two weeks? Has it really been that long?"
"It has."
"I'll be honest, I hadn't paid attention."
Eon's laugh rang out from the communicator, causing Ambush to pull it away from his ear. He couldn't help but laugh in response, either. Ambush really had grown comfortable here, hadn't he?
"Seems you were having too much fun with my Senseis, huh?" Eon asked.
Ambush stopped laughing, catching his breath, his eyes curled up as he thought fondly on it. "Yeah, they've been really nice," he admitted. "They've done everything they can to accommodate me. If I was worried about something, they were quick to reassure me that everything was okay. I find that I'm getting along wonderfully with them."
"I'm glad. I knew they'd be nothing but welcoming."
Ambush fiddled with the sling, his wounded hand aching slightly from the action. "I have a question," he began. "Do you remember when I showed you my birthplace? What I said to you there?"
"Yes."
"Did you believe that? Did you believe I was created to look after the forest?"
"I felt a strong magic there. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I was never too keyed into Life Magic, no matter how much I trained to understand it. What would you like me to say?"
"Hm?"
"Do you want me to say that I did believe you? Or that I didn't? I know you have a strong mastery of Life Magic. You probably know better than me. Whatever you believe, I'm inclined to trust you."
Ambush felt the tears coming again. "I… I don't want to believe it. I don't want to believe that my whole life is tied to one place. I deserve to go out and see the world like any other being, don't I?"
"That's what I believe, no matter who I hear it from. Perhaps with more inquiry from that place- assuming I know where you're going with this- we can find a proper answer."
Ambush took a deep breath, quelling his tears. "I'm joining the Skylanders," he decided. "I can fight better with a team. I can be better with a team. No matter what the trees say there, I'm not taking no for an answer."
"Then perhaps in the next few days, we can sort things out together," Eon suggested. "I'm sure you'll be able to get what you wish for, Ambush."
"Thank you, Eon. I'll see you in a few days."
"See you soon."
After that, the line cut off. Ambush looked toward the doorway, finding everyone's heads poking through. He beckoned them back, eagerly telling them the arrangement he'd made. Everyone excitedly chattered at him, saying how excited they were that Ambush was joining them.
Ambush was certainly feeling better now.
He was determined to keep the company he had found, no matter what.
