Chapter Fifty-Four: Sands of Destiny
A grand tower guarded the wide wall encompassing the sandy island, which in turn guarded the great desert within it. No one spoke of the wonders of the Enchanted Desert, nor of the riches and treasures within. The few that came through this way never mentioned anything else about it.
No, the only thing that came out of the region was the talk of the Great Cats, a group of sphinxes that guarded the Enchanted Desert with their magic and their riddles.
Mysticat worked with one of the Elder Guardians one day, observing an elf who came up to the gates. Their clothes were ratty, and their hair was a mess. They must have traveled a great length to get here. Would their trip be worth it? The only reason anyone came here was to enter the Enchanted Desert, though the way to do so was rather difficult. If one could get past the warrior guardians upfront, they then had to answer the riddles given to them once they got up to the gates, answering honestly and correctly- for the riddles were inextricably tied to them.
The elf stepped up to the two sphinxes, their eyes widened with fear. Mysticat felt that fear ebb off in waves, increasing as more time passed. Something within them yearned for safety, even protection. Was that their purpose for coming out here? Was that something that the Enchanted Desert offered?
Whatever it was, they now had the riddle they needed.
"They say that Skylands holds many holes for one to reside in," Mysticat began. "Large, spacious ones. Small, cramped ones. One situated for each individual in the world. One that the mouse prefers over all the others. Does the mouse prefer the large hole or the small hole?"
"The small hole, I'm sure," the elf replied.
Mysticat pursed his lips in thought. "Then why would the mouse come out here?"
The Elder Guardian stepped forward, quickly giving his own, more difficult riddle. Mysticat bit his lip in embarrassment, his riddle stewing in his gut. Even while communicating with the elf, the Elder Guardian seethed with irritation toward him. And when the elf was permitted to pass through the gate, the Elder Guardian turned back toward Mysticat, ready to direct all of his irritation toward him.
"It was too easy, wasn't it?" Mysticat grimaced.
"You seem to be residing on an icy mountain cliff," the Elder Guardian huffed. "You don't usually make rookie mistakes like that."
"My greatest apologies."
"Not to mention how you carried out a mistake that can't be forgiven."
"Can't be...forgiven?"
"You didn't tailor your riddle to the traveler."
"Did I not?"
"You tried to, at least. Then you came in with the follow-up, and ruined the whole thing."
"Who did I tailor it for, though?"
"You have that answer, do you not?"
Mysticat rubbed the back of his neck. He knew deep down who it was for. Yet there were many questions he didn't have answers to. Questions about his very job. Questions about the nature of the Enchanted Desert. Mysticat yearned for the answers to these questions. Yet every time he gathered up the courage to ask, the glares from the other Guardians shoved that courage away. Perhaps they could read his intent from the way he glanced at them timidly, or the way he clasped his paws together.
That couldn't be the case, though, could it? The elders told him that he was the only desert sphinx in their midst who could read body language with such clarity, who could determine emotion from just one glance of a person's eyes. The fact that Mysticat didn't have a clear answer to this had to be proof enough that they couldn't. Yet it stayed on his mind every time he went to ask, so he didn't.
Trying to question the nature of their duty was heresy, wasn't it? Why should someone question the very job they were put on Skylands to do?
Mysticat stayed silent, looking up at the Elder Guardian's face. The Elder Guardian frowned at him, his displeasure clear to the entire world. The young Mysticat was a great disappointment to him.
"Why don't you return to your quarters?" the Elder Guardian told him, crossing his arms. "The night should clear your mind and prepare you for the next day."
Mysticat nodded, leaving without another word. He wasn't wanted there any longer. Fine by him. He didn't exactly want to stand guard any longer. He could hardly breathe with the Elder Guardian's negativity raining down on him.
Yet as he took the path to the tower where the Guardians kept their living quarters, Mysticat found that his questions still weighed down on him. They grabbed on every body part they could find. Some clasped onto his four feet. Another yanked on his ears and tapped on his skull. Another rode on his back and kicked his sides, while yet another stabbed him in the gut. As time passed, more and more of them collected onto his body and spirit to weigh him down. Mysticat knew he wouldn't get relief by waiting for these feelings to go away. He had to get answers somehow.
One idea popped into his head. He knew immediately that it was a terrible idea.
But he also knew that he didn't have a better idea.
Mysticat looked back at the wall that guarded the Enchanted Desert, deciding to commit to this most terrible idea. Indeed, all of his answers waited in there. He just had to seek them out.
Going into the Enchanted Desert wasn't a simple task. Even at night, Guardians waited by the gates for pilgrims to come by and enter. They would wait for them as much as they would wait for bandits and criminals who wanted to steal whatever treasures existed in the desert. If Mysticat tried to sneak in, well… surely the Guardians gave better treatment to the bandits and criminals than they would give to him if he was caught. The young desert sphinx needed to take precaution in order to sneak in.
He had spent the whole evening planning such precautions, creating various magic bombs that could counteract any attack. As he reached the wall that night, Mysticat held a sleeping bomb in his hand, prepared to send that out to the Guardians on the night shift. Mysticat hid in the shadows on his way to sneak up to the guards, which was redundant since he was also using an invisibility spell, but absolute precautions were necessary. As soon as he got close enough to the guards, he pressed a button on his sleeping bomb and tossed it over to them. Mysticat covered his mouth as a thin vapor started coming from the bomb, wafting up toward the Guardians' faces. Despite their attempts to call for backup, the vapors got to them, and they soon collapsed on the ground. Mysticat waited until the vapor dissipated before moving onward. He snuck by the sleeping guards and hurried over to the gate, triple checking to be sure that they were asleep.
Mysticat placed his hands on the gate, his palms sweaty and his heart racing. What he was about to do could never be forgiven. Could he face the backlash from his superiors after committing this atrocity? Would he even still be… he shook that thought out immediately. He was already in deep trouble for knocking out his brethren. He might as well go all the way and enter the desert.
With one deep breath, he opened the gate, slipping through.
The gates slammed shut the minute he was on the other side, creating a loud clash! that reverberated throughout the area. Mysticat cringed from the sound. The guards he knocked out hadn't successfully alerted anyone before falling unconscious, so the warrior guardians had to still be in their positions further ahead from the wall. They had to think that the gate shutting was just a traveler they had let pass through, right? Mysticat pressed on, knowing that he had to leave before waiting to find out what the answer was.
He traveled through the Enchanted Desert, shifting through sand that glittered silver under the light of the full moon. A great sea of stars hung directly overhead, and Mysticat could see every constellation and galaxy he had ever studied, plus some he had never heard of before. With no light pollution or foliage obscuring the view, this had to be better than any material treasure he could imagine being here that anyone would want.
Mysticat pressed on, sliding over a dune toward a small oasis. Small lizards gathered here, frolicking along the rocks. The moon reflected clearly on the water's surface, and when Mysticat peered in, he could see every strand of fur on his face. The water seemed to lack any impurities, making it more clear than the world's finest mirrors.
Despite how enamored he was with the beauty of the Enchanted Desert, Mysticat found himself a little...disappointed. He hadn't seen any material treasure that anyone wanted to take home. His understanding of the greater universe hadn't increased- he already knew of stars and oases before stepping in here. The Enchanted Desert was pretty, sure, but beauty was a superficial quality. There would be no need to protect a place if beauty was it's only defining feature. Yet Mysticat still didn't understand the greater importance of this place.
Mysticat sat by the oasis for a few minutes, ruminating on his questions, when the wind picked up slightly. His eyes started stinging, and his throat became scratchy. That was indeed the downside of sitting in a desert, wasn't it? He had to move on sooner or later, but this irritation would only slow him down if he continued onward. He sipped at the oasis, his fur tingling from the delightful taste of the water. Mysticat then splashed his face and rubbed his eyes to clear them out, only to quickly cover his face once the wind picked up again. It suddenly felt so strong, and he wasn't sure if he should have tried to find cover before a storm hit. His heart sped up as he thought on the possibility of a sandstorm. He was trapped, and there was nowhere for him to go! Of course this was a mistake! He should never come in here!
Then the wind stopped, much to his relief. Mysticat uncovered his face and opened his eyes, suddenly blinking in confusion. The oasis was gone, as well as the rest of the expansive desert. The sky turned pink, and Mysticat saw several desert islands hovering around. He stood up, stumbling slightly as he got used to the strange new feeling in his limbs. They were light, like he was walking underwater. His clothes had also changed- before he had worn red clothing, but that had been replaced with unfamiliar black-and-gold armor.
He found himself terribly confused by this. His new situation was caused by magic, that much he was sure of. But where he was and how he was to get back home were completely unknown to him. Mysticat had never even travelled farther than the main desert of his home. He couldn't possible navigate around a completely new area.
Oh no, what were his superiors going to think if he told them of where he'd gone? First the Enchanted Desert, and now… where the heck was he anyway!?
He heard footsteps behind him, and turned around to see who it was. He saw a woman with amber-stone skin before him, her yellow hair slightly messed up by the desert wind. She wore similar black-and-gold armor to him, though it was clearly tailored to her body structure.
"There you are! What are you doing?" she asked him.
Mysticat's mind suddenly drew a blank. Where was he supposed to be? What had he been doing before? Everything from his thoughts on the Enchanted Desert to fears of his superiors' reactions left his mind, and he just stood there looking at her.
The amber woman snapped her fingers to get his attention. "Hello-o! Anyone home!?" she repeated.
Mysticat's memories of his current mission snapped back into his mind. That's right, they were looking for the temple that housed the Elemental Plants that Barbella wanted.
He shook out this confusion. "Sorry, Barbella," Mysticat replied. "It seems I had briefly floated onto a completely different plane."
"Well right now, I need you on this one," Barbella replied, hands on her hips. "I don't know where this place is, and I really need your help."
Her body language indicated her ire toward him, but her furrowed brow insisted that she was worried about being out here- but perhaps more worried about him. Mysticat hadn't read so many emotions in one individual before. The other desert sphinxes usually expressed one emotion at a time to better indicate their intent. But more than that, he hadn't seen anyone express concern for him in a long time. Not since his early days as a Guardian, which felt far away at this point in time. It...hurt. It hurt to think about.
"Let's keep going then," Mysticat nodded. "You won't be disappointed by those Elemental Plants, this I'm sure!"
They continued on to the next island, walking side by side. Mysticat gradually grew used to his floaty limbs, and playfully pounced around as his stomach tickled from the experience. Barbella watched him, shaking her head and smiling. Such strange body language. A head shake while watching someone usually indicated irritation, and a smile meant pleasure. The two couldn't possibly occur at the same time, could they?
The two of them suddenly paused as they heard chattering near several large rocks up ahead. Mysticat squinted, spotting a pointy cloth peeking out from the rocks. Perhaps the enemies up ahead were Spell Punks, which would be an annoyance on such a simple mission. Or perhaps they were Egg Thieves, criminals which largely targeted dragon temples in order to steal their eggs. If they had dragon eggs on their persons, then engaging in battle would no doubt harm those eggs.
"I propose we be discreet about eliminating these foes," Mysticat whispered to Barbella. "I'll trap them in place, and you search them for anything they have."
Barbella looked at him, studying his features. Somehow she sensed the reason for his concern, and nodded in agreement. Mysticat summoned an enchanted ball of yarn into his paw, tossing it over the rocks. They heard twisting sounds and stifled gasps as their enemies became tied up in the yarn. Barbella somersaulted over the rocks, taking out her stone barbell weapon. She looked up at Mysticat, alerting him to the news.
"They're just Spell Punks, Mysty," she insisted.
"Feel free to take them out, then," Mysticat nodded.
Barbella swiped them away with one hit, and they watched as a strange light surrounded the Spell Punks to summon them back to whatever malevolent master they served. Mysticat clapped his hands cheerfully, skipping over the rocks to rejoin Barbella. He enjoyed being clever and sneaky whenever he could, and this was a great display of his talents.
"Good work!" he cheered to Barbella."
"Hey, you had good thinking," Barbella insisted, smiling. "High five?"
"You bet!"
The two of them raised their hands together, hitting them in the greatest high five in the area. Mysticat shut his eyes as he chuckled happily. He enjoyed it when people appreciated the efforts he gave, and he always enjoyed travelling with friends who would let them know that they appreciated it.
A sudden dread grew in his stomach, and the area around him suddenly felt cold. He kept his eyes shut, distressed as he felt the world change around him. The touch of Barbella's hand disappeared, falling away like sand. The floaty feeling in his limbs was replaced by their usual weight, and since he'd adjusted himself to the floaty feeling, he stumbled to the ground in shock. Mysticat felt a lump grow in his stomach, which had a texture more coarse than the usual hairball. He pressed his hands to the ground, trying to cough it up, eventually bringing up a steady stream of warm sand. The sand stopped coming out, leaving Mysticat with a scratched, burning throat. His stomach suddenly hurt terribly as well, and he curled up on the ground to try and make it go away.
Soon the sensation of his hurt throat and aching stomach left, along with the sensation of the ground. Mysticat floated in his own void, left for memories of his previous worries and goals to come back to him. His experience prior to the world falling away around him were nothing more than a dream. He didn't know anyone named Barbella, and had no experiences connected to such a person.
He felt...lonely...as he remembered this fact.
His sensations soon returned, and he found his face laying on a warm pillow rather than warm sand. His throat and stomach suddenly felt completely fine as well. Mysticat opened his eyes, his vision blurry and his head rather fuzzy, both symptoms of waking up from a long nap. Mysticat blinked a few times, finding himself back in his own living quarters. The usual trinkets and treasures sat along the wall near the window, glinting in the early morning sunlight.
Mysticat stayed put for a few minutes, trying to sort out how this could be. He had definitely gone into the Enchanted Desert, so he should have woken up in there as well. But the memories of that place were fuzzy as well. That could have just been a dream as well. Wouldn't that be nice? All of his fears of punishment from his superiors, that worry of being lost in an unknown place, could just be the result of a terrible dream. He definitely didn't remember falling asleep, that was for sure. Yeah, he must have eaten something weird before going to bed.
He shifted on his side, hoping to get a few more minutes of sleep before someone came around to scold him. Mysticat studied his sheets, suddenly stiffening in realization upon seeing them. His usual sheets were a scarlet color, and rather coarse at that. These sheets were a deep purple, made from fine silk. Such sheets were more expensive than anything Mysticat could ever hope to get his paws on. This belonged to one of the Sage Guardians, the most highly revered of the Guardians of the Enchanted Desert. Why would one of them give him something like this?
There was only one possibility.
The Sages dragged him out of the Enchanted Desert, using those sheets to warm him up from the cold night sands.
Mysticat threw the sheets off in a fit of fear, shrieking as they fell to his dirty, dirty floor. He quickly picked them up and folded them, setting them on his bed. He cringed as he thought of all the grime those blankets collected from his filthy floor and filthy bed and filthy body. He searched around his quarters, but couldn't find his old sheets anywhere. They weren't in his closet, or under the bed, or anywhere else he could think of.
So this was how it started, wasn't it? First his superiors would take away his sheets, to ensure that he froze in the night. What else were they going to do to punish him? Feed him rotten fruit? Stick him in the next desert island during a sandstorm? Or perhaps go a more archaic route, like pouring hot tar on him. He shivered at the thought.
He heard footsteps coming toward the door. Mysticat quickly rushed to the door, locking it. As soon as someone knocked, he shouted, "I'm not feeling well! I won't be coming out right away!"
"You're not?" a voice asked on the other side. "It's not bad, is it?"
Mysticat's heart thumped in his chest, and his limbs trembled as he tried to come up with something. "D-Dinner didn't...agree with me...last night," he muttered. "I'm-I'm rather nauseous. I'll...I'll come out when I can."
"Alright. I hope it passes."
"Th-Thank you."
He listened as the footsteps moved on, heading toward another place in the tower. Mysticat ran over to his bed, pulling it away from its place on the wall and pushing it toward the door. He panicked and searched around his room for a way to hide or escape from the Sage Guardians. The window could be an option of escape, but his quarters were several miles in the air. Unless he had the right methods, jumping out would result in serious injury, and planning it out would result in the rest of the Guardians catching him. And even if he managed to get away from their domain without any strife, where in Skylands was he supposed to go? A trek through the desert was a stupid idea without gathering the necessary supplies, and Mysticat couldn't acquire any without risking the wrath of his definitely-super-angry superiors.
Mysticat slumped to the ground, leaning against the bed. He was a sea of stupid ideas, wasn't he? Smarter seas didn't consist of going against one's order to enter the place they were supposed to be guarding. Smarter seas didn't question their jobs. If there was a dumber desert sphinx, Mysticat had yet to meet them.
He was stupid.
Worthless.
Pathetic.
In the midst of these thoughts, Mysticat felt a familiar lump grow in this throat. This lump was just as coarse as the one from his dream. He tried keeping it in, but that caused a great difficulty in breathing. It had to come out, and so he let it come out. A great stream of sand flowed from his mouth, piling up in front of him. It eventually trickled out, the last few grains rolling off his tongue. His throat and stomach hurt in very familiar ways after this.
Mysticat touched the pile of sand, cringing upon discovering how warm it was. He found himself confused by this. The strange production of sand had only been part of his dream, right? Desert sphinxes couldn't actually produce sand from their bodies. Maybe he had accomplished his earlier desire of falling back asleep, and this was a dream now. But nothing else seemed strange in the way dreams were, aside from the sand thing. And why should he dream of the same thing twice in a row?
He heard another knock on the door, and a voice asked, "Mysticat, may I come in? I wish to talk about your experience in the Enchanted Desert."
It sounded like the Grand Sage. Mysticat couldn't possibly face him after what happened last night. "I-I'm afraid I'm not feeling well," he muttered. "I don't think I'm up for it."
"I'd like to check up on you, then," the Grand Sage persisted.
He sounded really insistent on talking with him. Mysticat sighed, aware that he probably wasn't getting out of this. He moved his bed back in its previous spot, unlocked the door, and opened it up. Mysticat looked up at a large desert sphinx in fancy purple clothes and golden jewelry. This was the Great Sage, the eldest and wisest of the Guardians. He determined the activities of every Guardian, trained newcomers and doled out punishments wherever necessary. No doubt he was here to punish Mysticat for his actions last night.
"Could you elaborate on your experience in the Enchanted Desert?" the Grand Sage asked.
He acted so calm and collected. That kind of demeanor could say so many things, and Mysticat couldn't determine which emotion the Grand Sage was currently displaying.
"I just...wandered around for a while," Mysticat stammered. "I rested by a small oasis for a little bit, and then...I think I...dozed off at that point. Did you happen to find me over there."
The Grand Sage raised an eyebrow. "As a matter of fact, we did not," he continued. "As soon as we sensed a presence in the Enchanted Desert, the Sage Guardians and I went to investigate. We saw images of you within the swirling sands, and eventually found you asleep on the wall far opposite the main gate."
"Th-that's interesting," Mysticat replied, shrinking down. "Wh-what are you going to…?"
The Grand Sage suddenly looked over his shoulder, his eyes widening. Mysticat read shock from this, as well as...worry? It was strange to see even an elder desert sphinx display several emotions at once, but that worry seemed to be geared toward… Mysticat himself? He didn't get it. He'd broken a rule. Why would anyone be concerned about him after that?
His throat suddenly filled back up, and he closed his mouth to prevent sand from flowing out.
"Mysticat, perhaps it's time to elaborate on the Enchanted Desert's greatest secret," the Grand Sage decided. "Why don't you follow me?"
Mysticat nodded meekly.
"Oh, open your mouth, young one. It's dangerous to keep your current feelings locked up."
Mysticat had no choice but to obey. He opened his mouth, and the sand poured out.
"Better? I have a special place that I think you should finally see."
The Grand Sage turned and walked away. Mysticat followed after him, and they walked down the stairs to the entrance of the tower. They followed the path toward the gate, before the Grand Sage started walking off the path. Mysticat followed him as they walked along the wall, before arriving at a smaller tower. They entered this tower, finding several chairs settled on the walls. There were as many chairs as there were Sage Guardians. A door with several sigils sat on the other end of the room.
"The Guardians of the Enchanted Desert aren't exactly restricted from entering the Enchanted Desert," the Grand Sage began. "It's a self-imposed rule more than anything. It's in our hopes that we keep this desert as pure as possible. If we wish to enter the Enchanted Desert, we usually ensure that we've properly digested before entering, in order to keep it clean."
Mysticat folded his ears down. He didn't particularly want elaboration on that part. But this talk was going… well, for the most part. So far, this explanation started making him feel better.
"What do you all usually hope to find in there?" Mysticat wondered.
"The Enchanted Desert has the magic ability to call out the future, and reveal an individual's destiny," the Grand Sage continued. "This ability used to be better known in the past, before dangerous individuals tried to take it over for themselves. Only the most determined pilgrims ever find this place, and even few pilgrims get to come inside. Usually it's easy for one to come to terms with the destiny they see within the desert, but for others, they insist on a hard dissonance for a while afterward. When we found you in there, we noticed that you seemed to be experiencing this dissonance. Actually, it seems you're still experiencing it. I'm hoping that I can help you sort out what it is you're feeling, that way it doesn't cause too much harm."
"What does that mean?"
The Grand Sage stood by the sigil-inscribed door. "When I entered the Enchanted Desert, I experienced a vision of myself in this position, being put in charge of our whole order and the wellbeing of our domain. While I was determined to protect this place, I thought myself incapable of the task. My spirit rejected the abilities I had, manifesting in the sands I had touched through my travels in the desert. It got so bad that I grew weak and dehydrated. I needed intense care in sick bay until I could come to terms with the destiny. I don't wish for you to experience this."
Mysticat looked down, studying his fingers. "So what I saw in there was more than a dream?" he asked.
"Indeed," the Grand Sage nodded.
"And you...saw what it was?"
The Grand Sage pressed his paw on the doorframe. "Most destiny visions are personal, but I created this door so I could enter the Enchanted Desert and view an individual's visions through the storm that came up from their presence," he explained. "I created it in order to assist other Guardians with difficult visions. As soon as we sensed it, I immediately came here to see what kind of vision unfolded."
"Do you know… who that amber woman was?"
The Grand Sage glanced up at the ceiling, deep in thought. "That was Master Barbella of the Sensei Skylander team," he replied. "They usually rear up the next generation of heroes, including other Skylanders, but they too help safeguard the world."
So he was supposed to be a protector of the world? He was on Barbella's side in the vision. They wore the same kind of armor, and worked together to defeat villains in their path. That had to be his destiny.
It still didn't make much sense. He couldn't possibly be good enough to protect the world. No one could appreciate him as much as Barbella had in the vision, could they? It didn't add up.
More sand erupted from his mouth. The Grand Sage ran over to him to keep him steady, but Mysticat didn't feel too off-balance.
"Tell me what is worrying about this vision," the Grand Sage insisted. "It only causes trouble to keep it in."
Mysticat still didn't feel comfortable explaining his feelings. And his curiosity still hadn't gone away. But he definitely wanted to figure out the meaning of this vision.
"Is it possible to meet the leader of the Skylanders?" Mysticat asked.
The Grand Sage looked away, and Mysticat's heart sank after watching him. Then the Grand Sage looked back, deep in thought.
"It might be rather risky," he explained. "Inviting people to our domain doesn't exactly keep it safe. And the leader of the Skylanders is a Portal Master, a group of individuals with a rather...spotty record of protecting the world in the way they should."
"But you're going to?" Mysticat hoped.
"It'll probably take a long time. I need to assess this Portal Master before I decide to invite him to our domain. But if bringing him here helps you come to terms with your vision, I'll do what I can."
Mysticat nodded. "Thank you," he nodded.
Two weeks passed since Mysticat's experience in the Enchanted Desert. He continued onto his previous duties as normal, and his usual focus had returned. His diet remained the same, and he only had bouts of sand expulsion every few days. Hope engulfed every part of his spirit, overriding his anxiety. This "Portal Master Eon" was the one who might be able to answer his questions. He was almost free of this burden.
One day, the Grand Sage announced that Master Eon had come to visit their domain, and Mysticat's heart soared up to the heavens.
Only for him to learn that Master Eon wanted to visit the Enchanted Desert as well, effectively delaying their meeting. "He thought it would be interesting," the Grand Sage quoted him saying.
Upon learning that, Mysticat pouted in his room that night. He knew he wasn't the most patient, and he was already anxious about meeting him.
A few days passed, and Master Eon was still in the Enchanted Desert. Mysticat thought on this with intrigue, and then with worry. How expansive could one individual's vision be? He hoped that poor Eon had packed enough supplies to last him through. Of course, given how enraptured he had been with his own vision, it was unlikely that Eon would even think about digging through his supplies.
Eventually Master Eon left the Enchanted Desert, and this was the day Mysticat finally met him. They hung out in Mysticat's living quarters, where the young desert sphinx showed off some of his magic skill and talked about his duties before talking casually. He appeared almost as ancient as the Grand Sage, yet he was rather good-humored. He engaged in conversations, cracked jokes, and took interest in whatever Mysticat talked about. Mysticat found himself enjoying his time with Eon, and his anxiety went down greatly.
Of course, the talk of their visions came up after a while. Mysticat explained his vision to Eon, mentioning his team up with Barbella. Eon's eyes widened after he explained his vision, and he gave a clearly abridged version of his own vision.
"Surely you could give more details," Mysticat begged him.
"It would take a long while, and most of it is unimportant to this conversation," Eon insisted. "In short, I found myself meeting a plethora of Skylanders up to the moment when I would be forced to pass the torch on to the next generation of Portal Masters. One of those Skylanders was you."
Mysticat's eyes widened, and he turned away. So he really was supposed to be a Skylander, then. And not just any Skylander, but a teacher one, too.
Could that really... be accurate?
Mysticat spit out some sand upon thinking that.
"Wh-What tests do you usually give to an individual?" Mysticat asked. "To...to see their worth?"
"I don't really have a set test," Eon explained. "Sometimes young individuals will ask to join our ranks, and I'll give them a basic education. Sometimes others pass over that through the boot camp. Often, though, I hear of their accomplishments or witness their accomplishments. I go to meet them in person to determine who they are, and I'll invite them to join the Skylanders after that."
"What do...you think of me? Am I...good enough for the Skylanders?"
Eon stroked his beard in thought. Already Mysticat could tell that the answer was yes.
"You need the practice, of course, but you have a good heart," Eon explained. "We could always use a gentle soul among the Skylanders."
"I didn't think...I'd be of any use."
A steady stream of sand suddenly spat out of Mysticat's mouth. Eon looked at him with widened eyes, but he didn't seem to possess too much surprise. The Grand Sage must have already told him of Mysticat's condition.
"Have you told any of the other desert Guardians about your fears concerning this vision?" Eon asked. "I'm sure one of them could help set your mind at ease."
Mysticat glanced toward the window, unsure of looking the old Portal Master in the eyes. "I'm afraid it's too complicated," he muttered.
"Were you wishing to talk to me about it?" Eon replied. "I'll probably be your Portal Master for some time to come. I'm always willing to help a Skylander through any emotional issue they have. There's no reason I can't start trying to help you, even if you're not a Skylander yet."
Mysticat wrapped his arms around himself. "Y-Yes, I was hoping to talk to you," he admitted. "The stars can change their paths, but it seems our stars will be in the same constellation for quite some time. I thought...you might be the only one I could really talk to about this."
"Surely not, though? There are lots of Guardians here, and they all seemed really concerned about your well-being."
Mysticat folded his ears down, shutting his eyes. "You can't read people the way I can," he began. "Most creatures in Skylands need to keep a list of faces and body positions in their heads at all times when talking to other creatures. This list grows and grows the more creatures an individual meets, given the plethora of body structures in this world. Even if someone had perfect knowledge of body language, they could only make a guess as to how an individual feels. They still need to ask and talk about it, which might not be desirable at that given moment. In this way, I'm rather unique. I can determine one's emotions right away, even just through a glance into their eyes. If I study them for longer, I can determine the cause of their current emotions."
"That must be quite a talent," Eon wondered.
"Indeed. And it's why I can't talk to any of the other Guardians. They...they don't like me."
"Are you sure of that?"
"I see it whenever I work with one of them. They always grow bitter, annoyed, grumpy, and I'm always the one who causes those feelings. Some get upset immediately at the prospect of working with me. And it's why I can't talk to them. They just want me to go away."
He felt a hand on his shoulder. Master Eon had gotten up to try and reassure him.
"I've been talking with a lot of them for a while," Eon explained. "You wouldn't believe how many are concerned for your health. The Sage Guardians put in a lot of effort to bring me here to speak with you, despite their fears of a Portal Master. They've recently been doing a lot in order to help you."
Mysticat didn't respond.
"Sometimes it's what you do that can determine how you feel about someone. When I show a Skylander that I care about them, I'll have conversations like this, or I'll travel with them to a place they like, or give them something they'll appreciate. They'll likewise do the same for me, though they'll also show off their powers to try and impress me. Through what we do for each other, we show that we care. So don't you think that asking how you're feeling, explaining to you what's happening, and then inviting the person who might be able to help, showcase how everyone feels about you?"
Indeed, the Guardians had gone through a lot to try and help Mysticat through his current plight. If this didn't show him that they cared, nothing would.
"They might get annoyed with you sometimes," Eon added. "We can't help but get annoyed at each other from time to time. What's important is that we later show that we appreciate one another. Does that make sense?"
Mysticat suddenly burst into tears. "I rarely ever get that," he pouted. "I only ever see their auras of annoyance. They never tell me that my presence is appreciated."
Eon nodded. "I see. That can definitely wear on a person's psyche after a while," he added. "We definitely need to show our friends and loved ones that we care as often as we can."
Mysticat tried calming himself down, but only more tears flowed down as he tried wiping them away.
"Once you join the Skylanders, you'll definitely see more appreciation when it is due," Eon promised him. "And again, I'm sure you'll make a great Skylander."
"Th-Thank you," Mysticat muttered.
"Before we head out, though, I think we need to gather everyone together so they can tell you how they really feel."
They went to the Grand Sage to have him gather everyone in front of the gate. As soon as everyone was present, Mysticat admitted to them what he had been feeling. A chorus of insistent appreciation came up, as well as a few self-aware utterances of their failure to be honest like this. Showing appreciation where it was due wasn't exactly a talent of centuries-old desert sphinxes, and they admitted as such. With a promise to do better for each other in the coming future, Eon decided that he and Mysticat could get moving now.
"Th-Thanks, Eon," Mysticat nodded. "We really needed a fresh perspective to help get everything in the open."
"I'm always ready to help whenever I can," Eon insisted. "Now, it's time to get you some training for the Skylanders."
Mysticat nodded, following the old Portal Master's lead. He decided that he would keep this experience close to him. If the Skylanders would show him appreciation when it was due, he would do the same for them. He promised himself to always do this for his future allies.
As he remembered this, he never expelled the sands of his travels ever again.