Chapter 3: let the trials begin!
The day had finally arrive, the Skylander Trials! The final test for students to become full fledged Skylanders. Those said students, being Spyro, Eruptor, Stealth Elf, Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy, Hex, Terrafin and Whirlwind we're in the locker room of the arena, warming up and testing their powers, all except for Spyro, who was still thinking about what Eon had told him.
'being a Skylander is a selfless and important job, it's about keeping the balance in Skylands.' Those words echoed in his head over and over...until someone bumped into him, snapping him back into reality. Spyro looked to see who it was and he groaned. "Ah crap." He muttered.
"Well if it isn't Eon's little pupil." Terrafin smirked, crossing his arms.
"Not now dirt brain." Spyro said annoyed. He and the dirt shark never saw eye to eye, they often butt heads and try to one up the other. "I'm trying to get ready to rub my win in your face."
"Aww how cute, the little tiny dragon is annoyed that he can't suck up to Eon this time. And he's actually gotta pull his weight." Terrafin teased, causing Spyro to growl.
"Leave. Me. Alone." Spyro said, growing more annoyed by the minute. The sand shark continued to tease Spyro, catching Stealth Elf's attention from polishing her blades. She could see the how annoyed the dragon was becoming, she couldn't just stand there and watch.
"Elf don't but in, you know how he's-" Eruptor tried to stop her but she was already gone. "Ahh I hate when you do that!"
"-face it, you know that I'm better then you, you wanna know why?" Terrafin said. "I CARE about becoming a Skylander, and unlike YOU I'm not a lazy piece of-" He was cut short something hit him on the back of the head. He and Spyro looked around confused, then it happened again, then again and again. They caught a glimpse of Stealth Elf poofing behind Terrafin and hitting him on the back of the head then poofing away. "Hey quit doing that!" Terrafin growled.
"Only if you leave him alone, a true Skylander doesn't treat their allies poorly." Stealth Elf said strictly as she poofed in between them, staring at Terrafin who stared back. After a few seconds he scoffed.
"Whatever, was just telling the truth." He said that last part while coldly staring back at Spyro before walking off to get ready for the trial. Spyro sighed annoyed and looked at Stealth Elf.
"Thank um...hey aren't you Master Ambush's student?" Spyro asked, he had seen Stealth Elf a few times with either the rock monster or Ambush.
"Oh yeah I am, Spyro is it? It's nice to meet you, my names Stealth Elf." Stealth Elf told him. "But my friends just call me Elf, well Eruptor calls me Elf."
"Nice to meet you too." Spyro smiled and offered a hand shake, which Stealth Elf awkwardly except. "It must be weird having to fight your teacher huh?"
"It would've been but sadly he couldn't fight this year, he's on guard duty for cloudcracker prison for a few weeks." Stealth Elf replied, watching Hex argue with her Skull about their strategy and Whirlwind testing out her rainbows.
"Huh well that's disappointing." Spyro said, and Stealth Elf shrugged.
"I don't mind it, he needs to do what he needs to do." Stealth Elf said, then she noticed Eruptor holding his stomach. "Oh be right back, Eruptor's gonna barf out of anxiety." Elf ran to her friend, leaving Spyro alone.
'he's not the only one feeling sick.' Spyro said as he looked at his friends, Gill Grunt was finishing sharpening his harpoons while Trigger Happy polished his guns.
"Well the day's finally here." Gill Grunt noticed that he seemed to be nervous. "Are you ok?" He asked.
"Huh, of course I am, I'm the most awesome dragon here. And I'm gonna prove myself today and rub it in that dirt brains face." Spyro replied, looking determined.
Before he could say anything they heard Hugo walk in, everyone turned to him.
"It's time." Hugo said. Everyone quickly got their stuff and walked out of the locker room. Spyro quickly walked beside his friends, he saw how determined and excited they were, while he was trying his best not to pass out. They all stood in front of a big doorway, they could all hear the croud cheering from the other side.
"Well, whatever happens, I hope you guys do well." Gill Grunt said to him and Trigger Happy, holding his harpoon close and smiled.
"If I die tell my gold I love them." Trigger happy said.
"Hesh that's a little bleak don't you think?" Whirlwind said surprised.
"Hey you never know. We could all die a painful death today." Hex said simply, earning odd looks from them.
Hugo walked over to a lever nearby the door. "Good luck to you all." Hugo gave a supportive smile and pulled the lever.
The doors slowly opened, the light almost blinding. They all took a deep breath and one by one walked out, with Spyro being the last to leave. He looked down and took a deep breath.
"Remember your promise..." Spyro told himself, and walked out. He was met with the sounds of the croud cheering from the stands and the light of the sun, after a few seconds his eyes adjusted. The arena was massive, each wall was decorated to represent each element and even some Skylanders, cameras were hovering over the arena, broadcasting all over Skylands so that everyone could see it. Spyro stood in the middle of the arena with the others, they watched Eon from his floating platform with another mabu beside him.
"Welcome to your final test, the opportunity to prove you are worthy of joining the protectors of our universe!" Eon said as the platform lowered into a grove carved into the stage snuggly, allowing them to stand with 8 Sensei Skylanders waiting patiently behind them.
The Senseis worked at the academy as teachers when they weren't on missions, teaching them about the elements, their powers and the threats they will face. They are considered some of the most powerful and respected of all of Skylands.
"By making it here, you have displayed dedication to the Skylands, and to each other." Eon looked at the students, then at the mabu. "Cali will now explain the rules to you."
"Yes master Eon." Cali nodded and stood in front of him, clearing her throat. Cali was another one of Eon's most trusted friends, a tough no-nonsense mabu who was also the students trainer.
"Each one of you will take on one of the 8 senseis, Stealth Elf vs Master Boom Bloom, Eruptor vs Master Ember, Trigger Happy vs Ro-Bow, Gill Grunt vs Tidepool, Hex vs Chopscotch, Terrafin vs Tri Tip, Whirlwind vs Air Strike." Cali explained. "Those of you who pass will become a full fledged team of Skylanders based at the academy and with your colleagues you will maintain the balance and harmony of our world, fighting against the threat of darkness and disorder."
"Without further ado, let the trials!" Eon said, and the croud cheered. "First up...Eruptor vs Master Ember!"
The students we're moved to the side, leaving only Eruptor in the middle, who was nervously sweating. Ember stood 15 feet away from him, pulling out her double sided blade and spinning it around.
"Please try not to vomit this time." Ember said.
"That was only time, you did told me that there were gargantuas in that cave!" Eruptor said.
The horn went off, signaling the battle begun. Eruptor wasted no time and shot lava balls towards Ember, who quickly dodged them and even hit some back with her blade, causing Eruptor to dodge too. Ember took the chance and raised her hands in the air, summoning a flame geyser under Eruptor, the forced send him flying into the air. Eruptor tried his best to steady himself in the air enough to send a few more fire balls at Ember before landing on the ground with a loud thud. Ember quickly spun her blade around to shield herself, the balls getting slashed when they hit the spinning blade and exploding behind her. Eruptor used this time to quickly get up, holding his side in pain. Ember stopped spinning her blade and did the 'come at me' hand motion to Eruptor, who growled and the fight continued.
Kaos's guest castle
Kaos was watching the trial and the fight from a small tv he had in his room, sitting on a small arm chair, studying their movements.
"Sir, if you hate the Skylander so much, why are you watching the trials?" Glumshanks asked as he walked in with a trey of freshly made cookies.
"Im getting a lay of the arena for my attack." Kaos said simply as he grabbed a cookie and took a bite. "Oh chocolate chip and peanut butter!"
"Your favorite as you requested." Glumshanks said as he watched the tv, then he noticed one of the special stalls empty. "Huh strange, usually the four headmasters of the dragon temple would be there watching, wonder why there not here this year?" He wondered.
"Eh beats me, there nothing but a bunch of snooty dragons that talk about training and art." Kaos mocked as he grabbed another cookie.
The arena
Ember and Eruptor were now clashing their blades and rock arms together, sparks flying from the metal hitting the rock as everyone watched holding their breath. Ember then tripped Eruptor causing him to fall on his back. He tried to stand up but was met with Ember pointing her blade at him.
"Do you expect defeat?" Ember said, still pointing her blade at him. Eruptor then noticed the geyser she had made before and smirked.
"Nah." He said and spat a fire ball at her face, blinding her and causing her to drop her blade. As she stumbled closer to the geyser and tried to wipe the ash out of her eyes Eruptor tackled her into the geyser, sending them both flying into the air, they both struggled for a moment before landing on the ground with a dust cloud hiding them. After a moment the dust cloud subside, showing Eruptor stumbling to his feet and Ember laying on the ground defeated.
"Master Ember is unable to battle, Eruptor wins!" Cali announced as the croud cheered at their newest skylander, causing Eruptor to smile big.
"Eruptor, your on fire!" Stealth Elf shouted from the side.
"Yeah I know right! I beated Master Ember!" Eruptor said, not noticing the small fire on top his head.
"No I mean your literally on fire!" Stealth Elf said pointing to the small fire.
"Oh! Right!" Eruptor finally noticed the fire and quicky put it out as he made his way back to the others. "That happens sometimes. No bigie."
"Congratulations young one." Ember smiled and she sat back with the other Senseis as the trial continued.
"Well done Eruptor!" Eon congratulated the rock monster. "Up next, Trigger Happy and Ro-Bow!"
"Well that's me!" Trigger happy cracked his back and grabbed his guns. "See you in a bit!" He told his friends as he made his way to the middle of the arena with Ro-Bow on the other side.
"You ready to loose noob?" Ro-Bow playfully mocked, getting his arrows ready.
"Nah it's you who's gonna loose!" Trigger Happy said as he let his tongue out.
The horn went off again, Ro-Bow quickly shot a laser out of his eye towards Trigger Happy, who rolled out of the way and shot rapidfire coins at him. Ro-Bow stopped threw his bow in the air with a arrow and quintuple backflipped out of the way. On the fifth flip he used his legs to catch his bow and fire a arrow at Trigger Happy, who quickly fired a shot to hit the arrow causing it to hit the ground. The two kept their distance, the arena being littered with arrows and gold coins as the dodged and shot at one another. Ro-Bow then curled up into his ball form and rolled towards Trigger Happy, who was charging up his guns. When he got close Ro-Bow uncurled and using his bow like a bat swung at him. Before he got hit Trigger Happy shot another coin Ro-Bow. Both got hit by the other and were send flying the opposite ways, Trigger Happy slammed into the ground while Ro-Bow slammed into the wall, everyone wincing in pain. Both struggling to their feet, Trigger Happy wiped the blood off his mouth as he struggled to his feet. Ro-Bow felt the new dent on his stomach.
"You dumb overgrown mutated rabbit!" Ro-Bow shouted annoyed. "You dented my new upgrade!" He curled back into a ball and rolled towards him. Trigger Happy finally stood up but didn't move out of the way, instead he begun to...laugh. The laugh was quiet at first but it quickly became full brown cackling. He was still charging his other gun when he got hit, it was now fully charged.
"No Gold, No Glory!" He shouted as he aimed his gun at Ro-Bow and pulled the trigger, sending a golding blast towards him. Ro-Bow saw it coming and tried to unroll but it was too late. He got hit by the blast and was sent flying across the arena, hitting the protective force field that kept the crowd safe before slowly sliding down.
"Master Ro-Bow is unable to battle, Trigger Happy wins!" The croud cheered as Trigger Happy laughed like a maniac.
"Hahaha! How's that for a 'noob'!" Trigger Happy taunted as Ro-Bow finally slid back down to the ground and fell to the ground with a thud.
"Yeah wait a go TH!" Gill Grunt cheered at his friend.
"That was so awesome!" Spyro cheered as well. "Well I mean not as awesome as me though." He added, earning a slap from Gill Grunt.
2 fights down, 6 fights to go.
End of chapter 3