Chihiro Hatsuki's Skylanders

by Tilde-Heart

Chihiro Hatsuki is an ordinary Earth kid whose life is turned upside down when the Skylanders, the magical guardians of another world, land in her backyard and promptly tell her that she's a magical portal master! Now, Chihiro must help the Skylanders defeat their archenemy Kaos and restore the Core of Light that protects their world. (Canon-divergent retelling of SSA)

27. Chapter 27

Chapter twenty-seven is here, and with it comes an important announcement! Don't worry, I'm not going on hiatus again - rather, it's the exact opposite! The remaining chapters of CHS have been cleaned up and edited to my liking, so I'm going ahead and moving CHS to a weekly update schedule, rather than a bi-weekly one until the remaining chapters are posted!

Greenswitch: To be honest, I actually can't remember if I intended the human fighting the robot as a reference to the Arkeyans or not, so I'll leave it up to you readers as to whether or not it was. And yes, Occulous nearly swore because I thought it would be hilarious, pretty much!

Watch Seeker: Good to hear you're feeling better! To be honest, writing and editing this chapter left me with serious pie cravings so you're not the only one wanting sweets~ And yes, I understand what you mean! That part was one I was very excited to see people react to, so I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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Clink! Clink! Clink!

The sound of axes clattering against rocks was a steady rhythm that rang around the mine, while molekin and mabu alike mined their hardest in the warm, rocky mines surrounding. They slammed their pickaxes against the rocky walls, shattered the rocks and shuffled the waste rock out on worn minecarts with such speed and gusto, it was like they had just started! They were all working so hard, just the sight of them was enough to lift everyone's spirits! And in the center of all stood…

"Alright, everyone!" Diggs exclaimed through a simple megaphone, "Keep digging! It won't be long before we find the Crucible of the…"—Diggs frowned and scratched his head—"What was it we were looking for again?"

A mabu miner shuffled up to Diggs and whispered something in his ear.

"Oh, right!" Diggs cleared his throat and placed the megaphone to his lips once more, "It won't be long before we find the Crucible of the Ages, so get mining!"

The miners around all broke into resonant cheers and even more furious mining, but they weren't the only ones working away!

Right in front of the opening tunnels, a table full of food and drinks had been established and manned by none other than a dark green-skinned elf man of a slightly skinny build with dark blue hair kept in a short ponytail. He wore a red blindfold, a golden tunic covered by a dark brown gorget paired with a shoulder guard and quiver strap, dark brown trousers and golden boots. A quiver full of arrows paired with an archer's bow rested by his feet, but the elf himself hardly noticed as he handed drinks and lunches to miners on their break.

"Thank you for all your hard work," The elf said with a Francian accent as he handed off supplies to a mabu man and beamed, "If if weren't for all of you, we'd probably have a lot more trouble finding the Crucible!"

"Well, of course!" The mabu replied as he took the lunch and flask from the elf, "After the Skylanders saved our town from that awful Earth Source monster and brought us all those riches, this is the least we can do!"

The elf just chuckled and nodded as the mabu sat down with lunch in hand, then the elf turned his attention to all the other miners who were working their hardest. The fires in their hearts burned bright, or maybe it was the heat their bodies let off, but nonetheless it was like their fervor and enthusiasm warmed the entire cavern!

"Gotta say, Ignitor." The elf man turned his attention towards a fire spirit that rested snug within a bulky blue set of armor who aided a few other mabu in loading a mine cart with waste rock, "I can't help but admire these guys' work ethic."

"As doon I, Sir Flameslinger," Ignitor replied as he walked up to Flameslinger while a couple of mabu used some very fancy-looking pickaxes to tear down a stubborn patch of rock, "It remindeth me of those days long past, whence I was but a bright-eyed young squire…"

"Yeah." Flameslinger laid back and rested his feet on a barren spot of the table, "Kind of reminds me of when I first became a Skylander, you know? Just fresh out the Academy, so eager to just get out there and save the world…"

"If you're so inspired, then maybe you two should stop chatting and get back to work!" Prism Break scolded as he blew up other rock deposits with lasers courtesy of his crystalline hands, "We came here to find the Crucible, not talk!"

Flameslinger sighed and shook his head, but nonetheless sat back up and jumped from the concession stand as he slipped a checklist from the table. "So, any news from the other teams?"

Ignitor turned back at Prism Break with an almost prompting look as Prism Break hauled in more rock, but Prism Break just made a hapless shrug.

"There was one that said they haven't found anything on their end. Think they were from the one on the left…" Prism Break stopped and tapped his chin with one of his crystalline hands, "… 'S right?"

Flameslinger just sighed as he crossed another section off of the elaborate map of the mines Diggs had dropped off with him when the Crucible hunt began. Seems as though that was yet another section that lacked the Crucible. For that matter, it seems like a lot of places here were turning up empty. He lowered his blindfold just enough to sneak a peek and found that the map was near halfway filled with marks, and yet no sign of the Crucible of the Ages was to be found.

Flameslinger frowned and put the map aside while Ignitor and Prism Break went back to mining their way through the caverns. Though Hugo had claimed the Far-Viewer had found the Crucible of the Ages hidden within this very cavern, Flameslinger couldn't help but have his doubts. Even with the help of Stonetown's mining population (and Diggs), they had been going at it all afternoon and still hadn't found a trace of the Crucible! And he couldn't help but wonder if Hugo maybe got the wrong cavern…

But, perhaps he was just being impatient. After all, if the Ancients didn't create Skylands in a day, then the Crucible wouldn't be found in one afternoon. Flameslinger lifted the map and glazed over the section he had marked off once again just to make sure he counted them up right… Then frowned as a low rumble shuddered the ground below him. Was there an earthquake? Well, if there was one it was so small that he barely felt it!

"Eh, I'm probably just imagining things," Flameslinger told himself with a smile as he placed the list down, fixed his blindfold and jumped out of his seat, "All this sitting around is making my brain wander."

Flameslinger then lifted a pickax from off a box of water flasks and walked ahead to where some molekin and mabu mined away at the walls. "Maybe some mining will get my mind back on track."

Flameslinger took up a vacant spot between a mabu man and a particularly stout molekin, then placed his free hand against the walls and let the heat flow into his palm. Seems like the warmest parts of the wall were centralized… There! With a mighty swing, Flameslinger hit the wall directly in the center with the pickax and sent chipped rocks flying everywhere!

Flameslinger swung again a few more times, until his swings took a sort of subtle rhythm. Clink, clunk, clink, clunk, a stronger swing followed by a softer one as he chipped away at the walls while the heat grew warmer. Flameslinger went to swing one last time, but before he could, something shook him to the bone!

The entire world trembled underneath his feet while his pickax slipped out of his grip from the shock, and this time it was a bit stronger than before. Seems like he wasn't imagining it that time… Flameslinger frowned as he knelt down and pulled his pickax off the ground, but before he could get back to swinging, another stronger quake shook the world around and forced him to his knees!

And he wasn't the only one, either! The molekin and mabu that surrounded him all shuddered and collapsed as the quakes grew stronger and more intense, some leaped up against the walls while others piled onto each other and others piled and squashed together from their impromptu falls.

Flameslinger shook his head and trudged forward in spite of the quake's growing intensity, then dashed over to a few unlucky mabu who had gotten themselves stuck in a tight pile and yanked one out. Like the keystone of a wooden block tower, the entire pile tumbled down and sat back up, while Flameslinger himself sat the mabu he had freed back up… Then froze as something screeched down from above!

"THE CEILING!" Cried one of the mabu as he skittered backwards, "IT'S CAVING IN!"

The mabu's warning only seemed to intensify the quakes, which had grown so powerful that their rumbles and shudders drowned out all other noise and made it near-impossible to stand. But, that warning was heard clearly enough by the others! The other miners all looked up, then screamed and dashed out of the way the best they could as entire chunks of rocks collapsed from the ceiling!

"IT'S A CAVE-IN! QUICK, WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!"

While screams flooded into the area, Flameslinger stepped back, then just barely jumped out of the way as another rock screeched down from the ceiling! He bounced away from it just in time, then ran back from a second rock and slammed his face into a wall instead! Flameslinger grunted as he fell to his knees, then as he rubbed his face, he winced and pulled his blindfold down until it hung around his neck like a bandanna. As much as he loathed exposing his eyes in public, these quakes were so intense that they threw off all his other senses. There was no way he could rely on his hearing or feeling like he usually did! The last of the pain faded away from Flameslinger's face as he tied his blindfold tight, then he winced and turned his attention back to the rest of the miners.

The mabu and molekin miners alike screamed and dashed around like headless chickens as they tried to run out of the falling rocks' rain of terror, but as they were running one molekin fell to their knees and wheezed!

The molekin grunted as they tried to catch their breath, then lifted their heads up and screamed as a rock fell down above them! Their eyes were so transfixed on the rock that they couldn't even move, they just stood frozen in horror as it came closer and closer to squashing them like a bug… Then Flameslinger dashed through and pulled the molekin to safety just before the rock turned them to molekin paste!

"IGNITOR, PRISM BREAK!" Flameslinger called as the two of them turned their eyes to meet his gaze, "THE ENTIRE CAVE'S COLLAPSING IN! WE NEED TO GET EVERYBODY OUT OF HERE!"

Ignitor and Prism Break nodded, then leaped into action while Flameslinger ran towards the other miners so fast that flames formed underneath his feet!

As Flameslinger pulled away a mabu who was trembling in horror underneath a group of shaky stalactites, Prism Break rolled forward and slammed his crystal hands in the ground! From Prism Break's blow came hard, shiny pillars of bright green crystal that pressed against the ceiling and propped it up before even more parts of it could fall! But, Prism Break didn't stop to bask in his creation's beauty, for he immediately ran to several other spots in the cavern and formed more crystal pillars!

Flameslinger dashed back to the entrance and released the mabu and molekin he rescued, then turned around as they followed several of their fellow miners through the entrance.

"Follow my lead, everyone!" Ignitor proclaimed as he drew his sword and pointed it at the open tunnel door before them, "I shall lead us unto safety!"

With Ignitor as their guide, the first team of miners dashed through the entrance's tunnel with chatter abound, but they were hardly the only team that needed to be accounted for!

Flameslinger dashed back to the table and pulled his list from its surface, then grabbed his bow and quiver away just before a gigantic rock fell on the table and completely crushed it! Normally he'd probably lament how he was looking forward to trying one of those fancy lunchboxes… But right now, he had more pressing issues at hand. So, he pulled up the map and gave it a quick glaze over. The central area was accounted for, but he could still hear faint screams of terror from down the eastern area. Guess he knew where to go next! Flameslinger stretched his legs a bit, then dashed down the eastern path while columns of flame lit up behind him.

The quakes had calmed some compared to the rest of the area while the ceiling itself trembled low enough to let Flameslinger marvel the purplish-red stone walls, and a look aside showed him why! The gigantic masses of crystals beside him that propped the ceiling up were definitely Prism Break's… And if that wasn't evidence enough, Flameslinger's ears flicked while Prism Break's voice echoed around the halls.

"Calm down and stop screaming!" Prism Break shouted as Flameslinger drew closer, "The more you panic, the harder it'll take to get out of here!"

"Prism Break!" Flameslinger called.

As Flameslinger got closer into a cavern that had been near-completely crystallized over at this point, Prism Break turned around with several trembling molekin poised on his back.

"Flameslinger, you took your sweet time!" Prism Break dashed up to Flameslinger and bumped one of his crystal hands against Flameslinger's chest, "This place is gonna collapse anytime now! I've got crystals here to stabilize things, but they're barely holding out!"

Flameslinger frowned as he turned his attention around to the crystalline walls, which, now that he did take a look around, had firm cracks of white among their sparkling green surfaces. And worse yet, those cracks continued to spread and crack further! If they spent one more second waiting, those crystals would probably shatter entirely.

"I'll take care of the other miners here!" Flameslinger dashed towards a few mabu who took shelter under smaller, more heavily-crackled crystal formations, "You just get those guys to the entrance!"

Prism Break disappeared down the crystalline halls, but Flameslinger didn't stop to watch him leave. Rather, Flameslinger pulled the mabu out from under the crystal formation right as it shattered into a billion tine fragments, then grimaced as the walls around shuddered and chipped away themselves!

The mabu gasped as they held on tight to Flameslinger's hands, while Flameslinger himself dashed his way back to the entrance and released them. But, he didn't stop there!

As those mabu dashed back up the entrance, Flameslinger himself raced down the eastern cavern's path and dodged falling rocks as he pulled a few molekin miners and one particularly short mabu off the floor! With the miners held close, Flameslinger dashed back to the entrance and dropped them off.

The miners were quick to exit the cave, but Flameslinger himself couldn't quite leave just yet. After all, the Crucible still had yet to be found, if it was even here in the first place, but would it be worth it to try and find it right now? And for that matter, something else nagged at the back of his mind, like there was something he forgot…

"Is that everyone?" Flameslinger panted as he watched Ignitor run back down the entryway.

"It should be, Sir Flameslinger," Ignitor replied as he finally stopped and held his sword tight, "However, I cannot shakest the feeling that we hast forgotten someone…"

"HEY!" Prism Break shouted as he joined Flameslinger and Ignitor, "Have you two seen Diggs anywhere? I haven't seen him at all since the cave-ins started!"

"Help! Help!"

Flameslinger gasped and jolted up, as did Prism Break and Ignitor. So there was someone still trapped in the caves! Prism Break nodded, then stomped his feet and summoned a gigantic wave of crystals paired with three flat, crystal platforms! The crystal wave tossed Prism Break into the air, then he spun down and pounded onto the highest platform.

"Hop on, you two!" Prism Break shouted as he came to a full stand.

Well, not that Flameslinger and Ignitor had a choice in the matter. With another rumble, the other two crystal platforms slid down and swept them off their feet! As Ignitor and Flameslinger both stood on their respective platforms and staggered back to full height, the crystal waves ripped through the caverns while the rocks just harmlessly crashed and splintered against their diamond-like surfaces! Yep, this would be a decent enough ride.

Flameslinger smiled as he surfed the crystal waves, all while the walls around gradiated from the cool, purplish-red colors of before to a dull brownish-red. And for that matter, the area around started to heat up as well, almost like they were headed to the center of a volcano or something. Flameslinger hummed, then knelt down and pressed his hand against the platform's sleek, cold surface. A tingling sensation rose in his heart while the familiar crackle of fire popped in his ears. There was some great collection of flames nearby, but it felt strange. It didn't fill him with the gentle warmth he usually felt when he sensed fire, but rather a kind of all-destroying burn that ate away at his body and sickened him to his stomach…

"Help, somebody, please!"

Flameslinger froze for a moment as he jolted out of his flame vision. That was Diggs' voice crying for help just now, he was sure of it! So, Flameslinger leaped off the crystal platform and zoomed well past Ignitor and Prism Break, until the walls around him went from a dullish brown to a warmer red without a single blink.

"Help, help! I don't know if I can take any more of this heat!"

Flameslinger's heat vision bounced across the cavern he had landed in, until finally he fixed on the center, where sure enough Diggs laid on the floor with one leg held flat out!

"Diggs, there you are!" Flameslinger shouted.

"Help, I—" Diggs stopped short as Flameslinger stood over him, "Oh, the Skylander!"—Diggs breathed a sigh of relief—"Thank goodness you've arrived!"

Flameslinger knelt down and wrapped his arms around Diggs as he tried to help Diggs back to his feet. "What happened to you? Can you walk?"

Diggs, however, just cried out and pain and fell back down, then whimpered as he rubbed his one leg.

"I'm afraid not." Diggs winced as he gripped his leg, "I was looking for the Crucible when the cave-ins started, then I sprained my leg trying to get out! It's so bad that I can barely even sit!"

Flameslinger pursed his lips, then nodded and lifted Diggs back off the floor. With a few shuffles and adjustments, he moved Diggs onto his back and turned back to the way he came. The ceiling above shook even more violently than before, and at this rate it would completely cave in anytime now! Flameslinger stretched out his legs and got ready to make a break for it…

"LOOK OUT, SKYLANDER!"

But before he could, several rocks crashed down dangerously close to Flameslinger and Diggs and forced Flameslinger to jump out of the way! Flameslinger winced as another rock split into pieces just ahead of him, then the entire world darkened around him as the sound of something screeching down from above pricked his ears! He looked up, and all he could see was a gigantic rock that was about ready to crush him! And worse yet, it was so big and so close that all he could do was watch it come in…

But before it could completely squash them, a crystal wave tossed it aside and formed a pillar that pressed against the ceiling and kept any further rocks from falling down on them!

Flameslinger turned his eyes down, then gasped as none other than Prism Break and Ignitor leaped down from the crystal pillar!

"Prism Break, Ignitor!" Flameslinger beamed, "You arrived right on time!"

"Good thing, then," Prism Break grunted as he pushed the crystal pillar higher, "Now, take Diggs back outside so we can get outta here!"—Prism Break grimaced and looked aside—"I'm not exactly eager to get caught in another cave-in."

Flameslinger, however, winced as he turned up to Prism Break. "Actually, Prism Break, I feel something strange around here. I think we should investigate!"

"You do, do you?" Prism Break winced and heaved a sigh.

"I can sense a great collection of flames close by, and something about them feels strange." Flameslinger frowned and turned his gaze back to the tunnels ahead of him, "It doesn't feel like your usual fire, if you know what I mean."

"Indeed?" Ignitor asked as he leaned away from the crystals, "Like what perhaps, Sir Flameslinger?"

"Let me see."

Flameslinger leaned down to the ground, then gently pressed his fingers against the warm, rocky floor and closed his eyes, with his mind fixated on that eerie heat signature that struck his mind those few seconds ago.

The flames in his eyes burned a bit brighter against his face as a vision of a boiling, hot place akin to the inside of a volcano crossed his mind, then it jumped to a warm village populated by fire spirits with buildings made entirely of crackling flames, then to a flaming temple that housed a gigantic bonfire! Except, something felt wrong with this fire. It was hard to explain, but it felt sick, almost. Though its flames burned strong, barely any heat came from them as they fluctuated between hitting the ceiling and just barely poking out from the misshapen hearth it laid on, while it burped out bursts of faint embers and flames…

"HELLO, MINER IN TERRIBLE PAIN HERE?" Diggs shouted.

The vision broke like a mirror that shattered out of nowhere, then Flameslinger broke into a cold sweat and started gasping for air! For a moment he grimaced as his whole body was overtaken by a swift chill, but thankfully the sickly feeling passed soon enough and allowed him to stand once more.

"Hurry it up, Flameslinger!" Prism Break exclaimed as he strained against the quaking ceiling, "I can't keep these crystals up for much longer!"

So, Flameslinger nodded and adjusted Diggs' position on his back, then dashed through the halls and made his way back to the central area. He lurched as another intense quake shook the area and sealed away the path to the eastern wing, but even though that was sealed, the entrance to the outdoors was still wide open!

Flameslinger dashed back outside, then gently laid Diggs among the crowd of mabu and molekin who had encased themselves around the cave's entrance. But, as he turned around and went to run back inside the cave, something grabbed onto his hand and stopped him.

"What're you doing, Skylander? It's dangerous down there!" One of the mabu exclaimed as their face twisted into a frown.

Flameslinger, however, just twisted his hand out of the mabu's grip and made a warm smile.

"I'm going to find out what caused these earthquakes! You should get to safety!"

Before any of them could even retort once again, Flameslinger dashed back into the mine while a trail of fire formed behind him and blocked off the cavern from further entrance. A little extreme a precaution, but he couldn't risk anyone trying to get him out and get themselves hurt. The rumble of the caverns shook his balance a little and forced him to swerve from side to side, so Flameslinger just snarled and took one last stride before he zipped further into the caverns!

As the cavern walls around him warmed in both color and temperature, Flameslinger strode forward one last time and slid under the now heavily-cracked crystal pillar Ignitor and Prism Break were holding up! He spun around while his flames cracked against the stone floor, then he yanked Ignitor and Prism Break into a nearby pathway right before the crystal pillar shattered completely! Chunks of crystal and rock rained down ahead and sealed off the exit, but by that point Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break had already left the room behind them in favor of a trek down this new path.

Thankfully, the further they went the more the quakes had settled, until they were nothing more than a low, shaky rumble that occasionally quivered the ground below their feet. As Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break trekked further and further down the tunnel, the walls around them grew into warmer shades of reds, oranges and yellows while the heat raised by the minute! It was so hot, it almost felt like they had walked into an oven!

"I don't see anything here," Prism Break said as he shook his rocky head, "We should go back, it's way too hot in this place. I can already feel my stones starting to melt…"

And yet, Flameslinger didn't want to leave. Something in this place tugged on his heart and drew him further and further in, a silent siren's song that tickled his fancy and made his feet move by themselves! Without even saying a word, Flameslinger leaned in and ran off.

"Hey, Flameslinger, where do you think you're…"

Prism Break's words faded into the distance as Flameslinger dashed further and further in, for the heat crackled in his ears and made his entire head dizzy. Though the exhaustion had started to catch up with him and sweat poured down his back, he couldn't stop himself from running towards the white-hot light that the entire cave had melted into, so warm and gentle-looking and welcoming… He could barely hear Ignitor and Prism Break's voices in the distance over the rush of crackling fire and other, fainter voices in his ears, and yet it didn't matter to him at all.

"Flameslinger, wait up! Where are you going?"

Rather, he just stepped forward and let the soft, white glow completely envelop him in its warmth…

§

Chihiro frowned as she thumbed through the pages of her notes against a corner of the mission simulator's home room, though she was so absorbed in her reading that it almost felt like the world around her didn't exist! For a moment, all she could focus on was brushing up. She had already practiced her spells and rehearsed what to do in case of emergency scenarios, from machine malfunctions to natural disasters to evil clones whisking them away to fantasy world. (Hey, if it happened once, it could happen again!)

But, she did sneak tiny glances off her notebook just to remind herself that she was still in the real world, and every time she did she couldn't help but drift towards Master Eon and Hugo. They spoke in hushed whispers to each other as they toyed with the mission simulator with only the occasional glance taken back to Chihiro… Just what were they planning for her?

"Say, Master Eon," Chihiro asked with her eyes still fixed on her notes for how to tame wild monsters, "What're we doing for this one? It's gotta be something big, right?"

"Now, what would give you that impression, young Chihiro?" Master Eon asked as he turned away from the mission simulator and floated over to Chihiro.

Chihiro placed her notebook down and drummed her fingers against its surface. "Well, this is my second-to-last exam! It can't be anything ordinary, right?"

Chihiro grinned, then put her notebook aside and jumped to her feet.

"Like fighting off an entire army of enemies, or rescuing a precious jewel from a temple full of ancient traps, or…"

"Not quite, young Chihiro," Master Eon chuckled as he sat down next to her, "You'll just be going on a series of simple missions for this one. Nothing on a very grandiose scale."

"That's it? Just finish some missions in the mission simulator?" Chihiro sat down and raised an eyebrow back at Master Eon, "There's some kinda catch to this, isn't there?"

"Well, aren't you observant?"

Chihiro chuckled and made a fingergun at Master Eon as he floated up and spun around her, then as the two of them shared a soft chuckle she laid her notebook down on her lap.

"Lemme guess," Chihiro said as she raised an eyebrow at Master Eon, "I can't use magic? The bad guy's somebody I knows? I have to fight pukusa gyoza on legs? I hope it's that last one…"—Chihiro's eyes widened as her stomach started to growl, then her cheeks flushed pink—"Whoops, guess I'm just hungry!"

Chihiro smiled, then pulled a simple tin lunchbox out from beside and flipped its lid open. Despite its humble outer appearance, the buffet inside was a feast fit for a king—well, if that king was her, anyways. Pukusa gyoza lined one side of the lunchbox, while the other side held a simple peanut butter and jelly with sweet strawberry jam and crunchy peanut butter! Nestled in the one corner was a simple bag of sweet cloud candy, supposedly actual clouds swirled in sugar that were as sweet as cotton candy.

Chihiro had always wanted to try one… But first, the gyoza was calling her name! In fact, she could practically imagine it crying, "Eat us, Chihiro, we're so delicious!" So, Chihiro gulped down the gyoza in one go. It may not have had the same quality as when her mom made it, but it still tasted just like home! So, she grinned and licked the stray filling off as Master Eon chuckled.

"Before we start," Master Eon said as he levitated something away from Hugo's feet and brought it to Chihiro, "You'll need to put this on."

Chihiro frowned and put aside her lunchbox as Master Eon laid the strange object in question in her lap. It was an onyx black bracelet that was smooth and round in shape, and reminded her a little bit of the bangle bracelets some of the kids at her school wore… Though this seemed a little too tight to be a bangle, and for some reason there were ten empty slots etched into the bracelet's surface. She slid it on her wrist, and it responded by latching on tight as the slots on it all glowed white!

"Pretty!" Chihiro cooed as she ran her finger against the lights while their white light faded into a rainbow of colors, though her smile quickly changed to a frown as she twisted it back and forth, "So, what does it do?"

"Oh, it doesn't do anything much." Master Eon sat back down with Chihiro as she finished the last of her lunch, "Rather, it limits what you can do. For this exam, you're only allowed to use ten offensive spells, one for each slot on the bracelet. If you somehow use them all before the mission ends, then you automatically fail."

Huh, that wasn't nearly as bad as Chihiro expected. She smiled as she licked the super-sweet sugar crystal remains of that cloud candy (which was, in fact, as sweet as the claims, well, claimed), then jumped to her feet and grinned.

"Eh, that's no problem!" Chihiro proclaimed as she put her hands on her hips, "After everything that's happened so far, passing an exam like that is a piece of cake!"

"I wouldn't be too careless, young Chihiro." Master Eon's light faded a bit while his whole body was tinted blue, "This exam's given plenty of young portal masters quite the run for their money…"

Chihiro just smiled and shrugged.

"And so what if it does? I'll just figure out a way and make it though!" Chihiro spun around and gave Master Eon a thumbs up, "I've come too far to let one little exam and a fancy bracelet scare me!"

Master Eon just chuckled while his blue aura faded in favor for a warm yellow.

"Now, that's the kind of attitude I like to see." Master Eon's warm glow faded a bit as he bobbed up and down, "It's good to see you in such high spirits again, young Chihiro."

Chihiro just giggled and ruffled her hair. Admittedly, it felt a little weird, acting so confident again after spending so long being down in the dumps, but it wasn't necessarily something that threw Chihiro off. She kept mulling on Spyro's words form that time before, and every time she thought of them she felt her heart warm up and expand. After all, if she was the heart of the team, the glue that held them together and helped them get through losing an Eternal Source, nearly dying several times, having the island invaded and more… She could get through anything! Just the thought of seeing them fully ready to embrace her and congratulate her on a job well done was more than enough to get her raring to go!

"Yeah, I'm definitely gonna pass this one!" Chihiro vowed as she jumped up and pumped a fist to the heavens!

Hugo, meanwhile, chuckled and looked over to Chihiro as he finished typing some things into the mission simulator.

"The mission simulator should be up and running, now!" Hugo proclaimed as he stepped away from the control panel, "Just step into it when you're ready!"

Chihiro nodded, but as she turned back to the simulator she felt her heart waver—not necessarily from a sudden strike of test anxiety, but rather from the prospect of entering it alone. After all, last time she used the simulator, she and Spyro had nearly gotten stuck there, they were forced to face their deepest fears and she had to chase down Bob the creepy janitor from her elementary school! Would something like that happen again?

Hugo frowned as he tilted his head, then he walked up to Chihiro and gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Now, I know you might be a little antsy about using the mission simulator again." Hugo patted her shoulder a few more times and stepped away, "But Drobot and I have worked extensively on repairs since the last time you used it. It should run smoothly this time!"

Chihiro turned to Hugo with a look that pleaded him for a bit more reassurance, but the warmth in his gaze and the gentle nod he followed it up with spoke enough for her to feel at ease. So, Chihiro took a step forward, then another, and finally she dashed inside the mission simulator and watched as the doors closed behind her.

Above her, a bright, rainbow light crackled from the ceiling as a mechanical countdown echoed around the simulator's chamber.

"YOUR MISSION WILL START IN FIVE… FOUR… THREE…"

As the countdown droned away, the rainbow light grew brighter and filtered around the room like a disco ball on a dance floor! The rainbow lights shimmered and danced across the floor in synchronized groups, then pairs that merged together and streaked around the floor!

"TWO…"

Those streaks of rainbow lights stretched across the chamber and expanded until they completely blocked off sight of anything outside the chamber!

"ONE…"

The rainbow lights shuddered for a few moments, then leaped away from their place on the walls and completely swirled around Chihiro in a multi-color vortex! Chihiro gasped, then grinned as she held a hand up while the lights spun around her arm!

"MISSION… START!"

And just like that, the vortex completely expanded into a black, rainbow-streaked void where gigantic shapes and streaks of color swirled around like a functional galaxy! Though there was no ground under Chihiro, she didn't fall at all, nor did it feel like she was floating. Rather, it was more like an invisible floor was underneath her! And from that invisible floor, she could clearly survey a blank, black void underneath her where rainbows swirled in the center, a functional cauldron of light in the void of dark space.

Chihiro tapped her feet against the floor for a few seconds, then pillars of light tinged in rainbow hues sprang up from the empty void and became geysers that spread bright, rainbow light all across the room! Chihiro squeaked and closed her eyes as the lights grew so intense it hurt her eyes to do anything else, then popped them back open and grinned.

That void of space was no more, instead replaced by a small, gentle forest not unlike something out of a child's coloring book. The trees had pink bark while their leaves were splattered in a watercolor array of shades and hues, the blue skies were streaked with puffy while clouds and the grass was a ripe… Pink? Well, there were weirder things in Skylands. Flowers with faces sprung up from the ground and sang along to merry tunes while birds performed all sorts of tricks in the open air, and a few ladybugs even dashed past her while dressed in cutesy, frilly smocks and hats! Everything was so cute and cheerful, Chihiro herself couldn't help but grin.

"You know, for my second-to-last exam, I was expecting something a lot creepier," Chihiro remarked as she skipped up to the flowers and knelt down, "But this place is so, so, cute!"—Chihiro grinned and gently nuzzled a flower's head, then watched as it knelt down and giggled in response—"Not that I'm complaining."

Chihiro giggled and hummed along with the flowers' song for a few minutes, all while they all swayed in the gentle, vanilla-scented breeze. She could barely hear something rumbling and storming in the background, but that was of little concern to Chihiro. After all, nothing could possibly ruin her moment of peace… That is, save for a harsh scream that forced Chihiro to jump to her feet!

"What was that?!" Chihiro shouted as she whipped her head left and right, "What's going on here?"

The flowers that once sang with Chihiro screamed in perfect harmony as they pointed their leaves to the path up ahead, where something was kicking up massive clouds of squiggly dust and squealing in anger! But, what was it?

The dust cleared and settled immediately and gave Chihiro that answer! It was a giant monster that looked vaguely like a hyena, with blood red eyes and violet fur dappled in darker violet spots! A short violet mane stretched down from its head to its tail while dark violet claws and fangs stretched out from its mouth and paws, and boy was it angry! It slammed headfirst into trees, scratched and tore at the ground and gnashed through the grass with its fangs… And yet, that still wasn't enough to quell its rage! The moment it laid eyes on Chihiro, it squealed in pain and barreled headfirst towards her!

Chihiro screamed as she cast out her hands on instinct, and in response a giant, cyan shield sat itself between her and the monster! The monster tried to ram into it, but the shield just absorbed its blow and flung it backwards as if it was made of rubber! As the monster rolled backwards and flailed its legs in the air, though, Chihiro grinned and held out her bracelet-bound arm that still showed off the ten lights she started with.

"Yep, that didn't count!" Chihiro confirmed with a nod. She drew back her hands, then the magic in her body surged like a rush of blood to the heart while her hands glowed cyan, "Time to finish this!"

Chihiro summoned a large cyan sphere while one of the lights in her bracelet went dim, then she stomped her feet and grinned as a pair of springs formed underneath her soles. With one simple bend of her knees, she bounced high into the air and served the sphere like a volleyball!

As the sphere screeched through the skies and tore holes through the puffy clouds, energy gathered around it until it was less of a sphere and more of a functional comet! It had grown at least five times its size while a blazing trail of blue-tinted magic burned behind it—surely something of that volume would surely knock that hyena monster out cold, right? The hyena monster grunted and locked eyes with the comet sphere as it came in, then as the sphere closed in on the monster's head it… Bounced off the hyena's head like a rubber ball?

"What the heck? That can't be right!" Chihiro exclaimed as she floated down and watched the monster shake its head and growl, "There's no way that sphere should've failed! That comet spell's one of the strongest I know!"

Well, clearly that spell wasn't strong enough, because the monster looked no worse for wear than when it first came crashing into the scene! Its eyes watered as it made another yowl of pain, then it darted straight to Chihiro and snapped its jaws at her! She jumped out of the way before it could land a single bite, then swerved right and jumped back as it tried a second and third time. Either way, she couldn't sit on her hands and contemplate why it failed! She needed to fight back! Chihiro leaped back a third time and winced as she summoned two giant more spheres, all while two more lights on her bracelet died out.

"TAKE THIS!" Chihiro cried to the heavens as she shot the spheres at the monster!

The spheres sparkled with raw power as they flew closer to the stagnant monster, but the moment they were supposed to made contact, the hyena just jerked its head and completely smashed them! The spheres crumbled into piles of magical dust that were quickly swept away by the breeze, but the monster itself didn't seem to notice. It was more focused on Chihiro as it leaned its head down and got ready to strike… But this time, it almost seemed like it was limping on its one front leg!

"That's it!" Chihiro's eyes sparkled as she positioned her hands like she was holding something, "Maybe I'm just not using the right attack!"

Another light went out on her bracelet as a gigantic hammer formed in Chihiro's hands, and for a moment she couldn't help but wince. She already burned through four of her ten attacks so far… She'd have to make this quick!

Chihiro dashed forward and screamed as she swung her hammer towards the monster's weak leg, and in response it leaped over her and snarled while its fur stuck on end! Chihiro swerved around and sprung forward as she swung in for the kill once more, but with a single headbutt the monster sent her hurtling back! Chihiro skidded across the grass, which didn't look nearly as soft as it seemed, and groaned as she yanked her hammer back, then jumped to her feet as the monster charged in and raised its jaws! She rolled underneath the monster's belly before it could bite her, leaped out from behind it and slammed her hammer straight on top of its head! That had to do something, right?

The monster whimpered and sat down as it shook its head, which now had a nice, red sore spot where Chihiro had hit it… But instead of writhing in pain or even just sulking, it pushed the sore back down into its head and shook it off like it hadn't been injured in the first place! Chihiro gasped and loosened her hands, then peered down as said hands became noticeably lighter than before! Seems in her shock, the spell had let up and her hammer had vanished into thin air and blue sparkles. Chihiro bit her lip, then rolled out of the way as the hyena charged after her again.

While the monster howled and whined as it bit on the paw it was limping on prior, Chihiro took the opportunity to hide behind one of the trees and collect herself.

"What's up with this thing?" Chihiro asked herself as she held up her bracelet and examined its six shining lights, "Everything I throw at it barely leaves a dent! If I keep using up my attacks like this, there's no way I'll be able to pass this exam!"

Chihiro bit her lip as she spun her bracelet around and narrowed her eyebrows. "I should probably just leave it behind and go ahead."

Chihiro winced as intense stomps shook the ground around and kicked up more dust, so much dust that it bled into the forestated area she hid in and brought tears to her eyes.

As the rampage surely continued outside, the flowers started screaming and screeching birds stormed through the trees at such an intense speed that it tossed feathers and leaves everywhere!

She poked her head around the tree… And sure enough, there was that monster as it bounced and stomped around like an angry bull! It cried out yet again as it bit into a nearby tree and snapped it clean in half, much to the horror of the flowers around who screamed all the while.

"But, I can't just let it cause all this destruction and tear this place to bits!"

Chihiro curled up into a ball behind the tree and spun her bracelet around a few more times. Even though spinning it didn't make any more ideas come to her head, something about doing that made her feel a bit calmer and less overwhelmed by all the intense noises of battle.

"What do I do?"

§

Flameslinger grunted as he fell flat on his face, then pushed himself to sit up and shake his head. His body still ached a little from the intense heat of the area before him, but wherever he had landed no longer felt oppressively hot and sweltering—rather, it was more like a gentle, pleasant kind of heat, the kind brought about by a warm day filled with gentle breeze and soft light. Just where had he landed?

Flameslinger stood up and turned his head around, but he couldn't glean any sort of location from where he stood. Everything around was a mass of white and warm colors, an endless plain with no sort of building or sentient life in sight… Well, save for the strange blob of cool color that drifted over one of the endless white hills. Flameslinger lowered his head a bit as he eyed the cool-colored mass, an odd speck in the otherwise-warm climate surrounding, then a thunk pulled him back to the area behind.

Right behind him, Ignitor and Prism Break fell out of a crimson and white streaked hole behind him, then groaned as they jumped back to their feet.

"Flameslinger, what's up with you?" Prism Break scolded as he rushed up to Flameslinger and conked Flameslinger on the head with a crystal hand, "You just completely bolted on us and acted like you didn't even hear a word I was saying!"—Prism Break gritted his sharp, rocky teeth—"Are you possessed or something?"

Flameslinger took a step back and frowned. "I, I… I don't know."

"You… Don't know?"

Flameslinger shook his head as he tugged on his gorget.

"It's hard to explain, but, it felt like something was calling me here. I don't know why, but, I think it might be related to that vision…"

"Vision, huh?" Prism Break winced a little, "Don't tell me there's some kind of weird magic over this place or something…"—Prism Break frowned as he looked over Flameslinger's shoulder—"Speaking of, just where are we, anyways?"

Ignitor hummed, then popped out of his armor and flitted above them while parts of his flaming body narrowed until they formed something akin to a face.

"I dost believe I have spiest a town up past that hill yonder!" Ignitor proclaimed as he swirled down and bobbed beside Flameslinger, "Perhaps we can askest the civilians?"

Wait, a town? Didn't Flameslinger see a town in that fire vision he had gotten not moments prior? Flameslinger turned back to the strange, cool-colored mass above the hill and twisted his lips.

"A town?" Flameslinger echoed as he adjusted his bow, "I suppose that's as good a place to start as any."

Flameslinger took one last glimpse at the town as he pulled his blindfold over his eyes and tapped his feet a few times, just to warm up a bit, then he dashed across the hill at wildfire speed all while the warm breeze caressed his face and tinged his cheeks with a gentle warmth. While he ran, the crackle of burning flames drew closer and closer as the ground beneath his foot started to sear. His whole body was flooded with a bright warmth, and it was so intense that it made him prop down his blindfold a bit and sneak a peek.

A look to the hills ahead showed that amid the warm red and oranges and whites, cooler-colored blues and purples intermingled as they formed into the shape of buildings and gates and other objects… Yes, this definitely looked like a town! And for that matter, this town did ring with a familiar aura. Perhaps this was the one he saw in his vision?

Flameslinger took a step forward…

"HALT, INTRUDERS!"

And just like that, Flameslinger was completely surrounded by blue and purple fire spirits dressed in flames shaped like firm armor! They all had scowls on their faces as they brandished spears made of crackling flames straight in Flameslinger's face, but for guards they seemed particularly skinny and sickly. As another guard drew closer, Flameslinger just winced and pulled his blindfold back over his eyes.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Prism Break demanded as he and Ignitor bounded towards Flameslinger.

"That's what we'd like to know, you walking rock pile!" Demanded another guard as they joined the group of guards, "Who are you and why did you come here?"

Prism Break and Ignitor both winced, and judging by the low rumble Prism Break made, he didn't seem particularly happy with the arrangement.

"Stand down, fellow knights! We mean thee no harm!" Ignitor exclaimed as he held up his hands, "We beeth Skylanders, and we camest here to investigatest a peculiar presence…"

"Then why'd you bring weapons, huh? Whoever you are, you're probably up to no good!"

"YEAH!" Cried the other fire spirit guards as they pounded their spears against the ground and sent sparks flying everywhere.

Prism Break snarled as his crystals started to light up with a faint shriek.

"We're not here to steal or burn your place down or anything!" Prism Break insisted, before his harsh tone faded into exhaustion, "Not that we… Could burn anything down."

"And why should we believe you?" Another fire spirit questioned as the sounds of burning metal raised in volume, "Any rando can come stumbling through the entryway and claim they're a Skylander!"

The fire spirit guards once again pounded their spears against the earth. "YEAH!"

Prism Break's low rumbles grew louder as the guards closed closer and closer in on him, Ignitor and Flameslinger, and once again his crystals started to shriek like he was about ready to fire!

Flameslinger turned back at Prism Break and tried to signal for him to knock it off, then froze and gulped as one of the guards snarled and raised a spear at him!

"And what's your deal, elfie?" The guard demanded as they pulled down Flameslinger's blindfold, "You've been oddly quiet since you came here!"

Flameslinger gulped as the spear came uncomfortably close to his throat… But then, the strangest thing happened. The guard's eyes went completely wide as they lowered their spear away from Flameslinger's neck!

"Wait a second, boys," said the guard as they turned back to the crowd and pointed their finger towards Flameslinger, "Take a closer look at this elf. His boots, his bow… They've got traces of fire spirit magic!"

The other guards gasped, then dashed over to Flameslinger and completely closed him in! Great, the one thing he hated the most, large crowds with all eyes fixed on him. Flameslinger winced and clenched his teeth and the fire spirits fiddled with his bow and stroked his boots, but tried his best not to lash out… After all, these fire spirits seemed liable to erupt any moment! And he thought Eruptor was bad.

The guards gasped and sputtered in shock as they examined Flameslinger, and their chatter was apparently loud enough that it attracted the attention of the villagers inside. Several other fire spirits in all shapes and sizes, but still painted in those sickly blue shades, floated out from their houses and crowded around the entrance in sheer wonder.

"What's going on?"

"Who're these people, ma? They don't look like fire spirits!"

"I don't think they are, sweetie!"

"Visitors? We haven't had visitors in such a long time…"

"Now, now, everyone settle down!" Cried an elderly, but still commanding voice, "Just what is going on in here?"

The guards all gasped and zipped away from Flameslinger, then knelt down and bowed their heads as they formed a path from the Skylanders to the village entrance.

There, a skinny, tall fire spirit with a body comprised entirely of faint blue and purple flames, a beard made of long, streaky white flames and blank white eyes that sunk into their face swept down the path. Despite the wrinkles the flames carved into their face and the skinny figure, they still carried themself with a sort of regal posture, the one that subtly demanded the attention of everyone around… But also, they seemed to have a ting of familiarity to them.

"Elder Infernus!" Cried the head of the guards, "These intruders, they showed up in front of our villagers out of nowhere, and we—"

"Silence, now," Infernus said as they cast a glance back at the head guard, "I will be the judge of whether or not they are intruders."

The guard made a small groan, but reluctantly bowed their head and allowed Infernus through.

Infernus, in response, floated up to Flameslinger and tilted his head, then gently ran a hand against Flameslinger's face. Their touch wasn't scorching despite the fact that they were made of fire, but carried itself with a sort of warm nostalgia, a familiar touch that Flameslinger was sure he had felt before…

"I…" Infernus's eyes went wide as they retracted their hand from Flameslinger's face, and their voice was rife with gentle shock, "Those eyes… I know you."

Soft, shocked conversation arose from the guards as they looked among each other with wide eyes and jaws, but another glare from Infernus quickly shut them up.

"Your heat signature, I remember it." Infernus turned back to Flameslinger while their shock turned to a warm, kind look.

Flameslinger gasped as he looked over the fire spirit, then in a moment a memory of time gone past flashed back into his mind.

It was a brief, yet so formative memory, one of cries for help heard during archery practice, of his practice abandoned as he dashed away to the pond where he practiced nearby and the sight of a pale, red hand flailing above the waters. And then, of him wading into the pond's waters and pulling out… A fire spirit! Yes, this had to be that same spirit! They had aged quite a bit since that fateful day, but Flameslinger would recognize that kind look anywhere.

"You're the elf that saved me all those years back, aren't you?"

Flameslinger smiled, then knelt down and nodded.

"I go by Flameslinger now. You see, I've become a Skylander in the time that's passed since that day." Flameslinger peered up at Infernus and grinned, "The gifts you gave me served me well. You have my eternal thanks."

Infernus heartily chuckled, then gently lifted up Flameslinger's chin and grinned.

"I'm quite glad to hear that, Flameslinger." The wrinkles on Infernus's face grew more prominent as they beamed, "If anything, that wasn't nearly enough to thank you for saving my life!"

"Wait, saved your life?" Asked the head guard as they looked back up at Infernus.

Infernus nodded, then cleared their throat and took on a more serious tone as they puffed out their chest.

"This kind elf is no intruder, nor are his allies!" Infernus proclaimed in their most leaderly, commandeering voice, "Years ago, he saved me from drowning to my death! As far as I am concerned, he is a friend to our community!"

The guards clasped their lips, then flew away and bowed their heads. Well, save for the head of their forces who only took off their helmet as they flew up to Flameslinger.

"My… Apologies for our outburst earlier, Skylander," the guard said as they looked aside and frowned, "Things have been very tense here lately, you see."

"Ah, it's alright," Flameslinger said as he adjusted his gorget and smiled, then turned his attention back to the elder. To think, that fire spirit he saved all that time ago was the elder of a community like this… He would have never guessed!

Prism Break, meanwhile, leaned next to Flameslinger and gently bumped Flameslinger's hand.

"Seems like you're these guys' hero of the hour, Flameslinger," Prism Break whispered into Flameslinger's ear, "You handle the talking. Just… Try not to embarrass us."

Flameslinger frowned and looked back at Ignitor and Prism Break, but both of them only nodded towards Flameslinger in response.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Infernus exclaimed as they clasped their wrinkled hands tight, "I simply must show you around, follow me!"

So, Flameslinger, Prism Break and Ignitor all trailed into the village depths while Infernus rambled on about the community's history and landmarks and what places were the best to get a nice emburrito… But, Flameslinger couldn't help but feel like something was wrong.

Not in a malevolent sense, no, but everything around felt so sad and cold compared to the rest of the world around. The fire spirits were thin and ambivalated between warmth and chills, the buildings crackled and popped as if they were getting ready to collapse… Heck, a fire spirit who wheeled around a cart full of flaming veggies leaped back and screamed as their cart exploded into a pile of ashes!

"No!" The fire spirit cried as they knelt down and collected the ashes, "Not my cabburngages!"

Flameslinger's lips twisted into a frown, and Ignitor and Prism Break looked around with knitted brows and slight frowns. Surely, they felt the same kind of discontentment that Flameslinger felt.

"But, enough from me," Infernus said as they clapped their hands and turned back to Flameslinger, "So, what brings you here, Flameslinger?"

Flameslinger gasped, then shook his head and forced a smile. He was representing their party, after all, and he had to be on his best manners.

"Well, you see…" Flameslinger said as he tugged on his gorget, then finally sighed, "We were searching for the Crucible of the Ages in a mine just above here when a gigantic cave-in occurred!"

Ignitor and Prism Break nodded in unison as if to affirm Flameslinger's story, but that didn't seem to ease Infernus any as they looked towards Flameslinger.

"The… The Crucible of the Ages, you say?"

Infernus held a bit of a worried, yet knowing tone, almost as if they knew just what Flameslinger was talking about. In fact, that worried look only seemed to deepen as Flameslinger nodded.

"While we were evacuating, I felt a strange presence coming from the flames down here and followed it. It was… Sickly, almost, like they had come down with some kind of awful disease and infected everything around." Flameslinger looked back up at Infernus and tried to keep that kind of distant politeness going, "You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you?"

Infernus frowned, then held their head and heaved a sigh.

"I'll show you Skylanders myself," Infernus winced as they floated towards a gigantic, temple-like building above them, "Follow me."

Prism Break, Ignitor and Flameslinger exchanged slightly concerned glances, then gulped and followed the elder down up the temple's massive staircase.

By the time they had reached the top, Infernus had entered a discussion with a purple-flamed spirit dressed in red and gold priestly garments made of lapping flames, and it seemed their conversation had come to a close. The two of them nodded, then Infernus turned back to Ignitor, Flameslinger and Prism Break and made a beckoning gesture.

The four of them walked inside, then paused and gazed in awe as their feet hit not flame, but stone instead! Sure enough, the walls, the floors, the ceiling… They were all made of some kind of warm stone, with the only flames present being the ones on torches that flanked each side of the temple.

Flameslinger frowned and drew away from the walls, then shuddered as a sudden chill raced down his spine. Not just because it was cold, but because it was the same kind of chill that he had felt when he had that vision! A familiar burping sound echoed through the temple as ashes and embers scattered across the floors above him, then he lifted his head…

"There it is!" Flameslinger cried, "That's what I saw in my vision!"

Right before him was indeed, the flame he had seen in his flame vision, and unfortunately it was just as sickly as before. In fact, Flameslinger was half-certain it had gotten even worse! It shuddered and shook as ashes flew out from its body in every direction, and its temperature had gotten so cold it slightly chill the room around.

Flameslinger couldn't help but feel a little sorry for it as it sulked and shook. He held out his hand, almost as if he was going to offer it a stroke of comfort, but before he could, it let out a mighty cough that shook the entire ground and made everyone jump back! Flameslinger shuddered as the miniature earthquake finally came to a stop, then turned his gaze down to the floor and shook his head. Wait a second, there was something underneath that flame! Something round and golden and vaguely dishlike that rang with a strong warmth… Could it be?

"The Crucible!" Prism Break cried as he grinned and dashed forward, "Well, looks like our job is done here—"

Just before Prism Break could yank the Crucible out from under the flame, however, Infernus flew in front of him and grabbed his hands!

"No, please!" Infernus begged, "You can't take it! It's all that's keeping our Great Flame alive!"

"Hey, what's the holdup?" Prism Break snarled as he yanked back his hands, "We need that Crucible for the Core of Light! You know, the thing that's supposed to keep all of Skylands from being engulfed by evil?"

Flameslinger blinked, then stepped forward and pushed back Prism Break before he could say anything uncouth.

"If you don't mind me asking…" Flameslinger asked as he turned his gaze to Infernus, "What exactly is going on here?"

Infernus frowned, then turned back to the fire and gently stroked it while the fire itself hiccupped out a splash of embers.

"Every fire spirit community has a Great Flame. It's what births young flames in our community and keeps the fires of our community healthy and bright," Infernus explained with a somber, melancholic tone, "The great flame has a hearth that kept its fires stoked well…"

"But what happened to it?" Ignitor asked as he examined the Crucible, "Because that, kind elder, art not a hearth."

"We know."

Infernus sighed and shook their head while tiny embers stroked down their face. "A few months back, the hearthstones shattered completely, and without its hearth, the Great Flame started to grow ill."

Infernus swept out the way of another round of ashes and embers, then knelt down and examined the Crucible. Those blank, white eyes of theirs were tinged a bit blue with sorrow that was only accentuated by how deeply the wrinkles on their face.

"Our village guard found the Crucible in the outskirts, and we've been using it to stoke the Great Flame's fires. But without a proper hearth, its condition will only worsen from here. And if it goes out completely…"

Flameslinger's mind flashed back to the village and guards he had seen earlier, so sad and sickly like they were going to explode into ashes and wither away at any moment! Infernus didn't finish their sentence, but Flameslinger knew exactly what they were going to say.

"Is there any way to make a new hearth, then?"

"Indeed, doth there be a way?" Ignitor said as he grabbed his sword by its hilt, "We shan't possibly leavest you to suffer like this!"

"And we do kind of need that Crucible," Prism Break remarked as he crossed his arms and looked aside.

Infernus winced and held a clasped hand to their face. They seemed a bit hesitant to speak… But finally, they drew in a sharp breath and released.

"Legend has it that another set of hearthstones is located in the Crystal Grove, far away from the village." Infernus winced and pursed their wrinkled, flaming lips, "But, it's guarded by a fearsome monster and the journey is long and perilous…"

Prism Break, however, just let out a hearty chuckle as he laid an arm around Infernus's shoulders.

"Ha, fearsome monsters and perilous journeys, how cute," Prism Break chuckled as he raised an eyebrow at Infernus, "Listen, we're Skylanders. We fight bad guys and save the world five times before breakfast! Something like this is hardly an issue!"

"Wait, what are you saying?" Infernus asked as their eyes sparkled with a bit of hope, "Are you going to retrieve the hearthstones?"

"We'll make a deal," Flameslinger said as he held out a hand, "If we retrieve the hearthstones for you, you'll give us the Crucible. Does that sound fair?"

Infernus's soft gasp turned to a smile as they locked hands with Flameslinger and firmly shook.

"Indeed," Infernus said as they released and pulled out a flaming scroll from their… Side? They didn't exactly have pockets, but nevertheless they unfurled the scroll and presented it to Flameslinger.

"This map will take you to the Crystal Grotto." Infernus laid the map in Flameslinger's open palms, "May the Ancients be with you."

Ignitor's own flames stoked and warmed as he and Prism Break examined the map alongside Flameslinger, then he let out a cry of glee as he took the map from Flameslinger's hands.

"Long voyages, fearsome foes, great treasures… Why, this is akin to the quests I embarkest on whence I was but a young knight!" Ignitor proclaimed as he held the map tight in one hand and whipped out his sword with another, "I doth believe it is time for me to SLASH AND BURN!"

And just like that, Ignitor bolted out the temple without a moment's hesitation!

Flameslinger and Prism Break both smiled at each other before they bolted out the temple doors, where Ignitor had already gone onto a long spiel towards a crowd of fire spirits with his sword raised high. In fact, with the pose Ignitor struck and the confidence he radiated, he almost looked like those statues of famous knights that are always around villages and museums.

"And that, fair fire spirits of this humble village, is why thou shan't fret!" Ignitor proclaimed as he waved his sword in the air, "We, the Skylanders, vowest that no matter what, we will retrievest those hearthstones and restorest your precious Great Flame! Even if it taketh our entire lives to do it…"

"He really gets carried away when it comes to this stuff, huh?" Prism Break remarked as he leaned against the temple's outer walls, then yelped and widened his eyes as he sprung forward from the heat.

Flameslinger chuckled as Prism Break rubbed his aching back, then turned back to Ignitor as his grin grew wider. Ignitor may have gotten caught up in his knightly grandeur, but the villagers were eating it up! They all cheered and clapped and leaped in the air as Ignitor's speech came to close, and even Ignitor himself seemed much more lighthearted than usual as he walked up to Flameslinger and Prism Break, then pulled out the map and rolled it out.

"Our journey startest here," Ignitor said as he pressed his armored finger against a path the poured a little to the left of the temple they stood under now, "Shall we embark, my good sirs?"

Flameslinger and Prism Break both nodded as Flameslinger pulled his blindfold over his eyes, then all three of them stormed down the temple stairs and bolted away from the village depths, all while the fire spirits cheers of encouragement rang in their eyes.

"Good luck, Skylanders!" The fire spirits all cried as one heart and mind…

§

Chihiro panted a few seconds more before she broke into a panicked coughing fit. She gasped and covered her mouth until she felt the coughs subside, then with one hand still over her mouth she poked her head around the tree.

That hyena monster from earlier was still smashing things and stomping about in a haphazard rage and left a ton of destruction in its wake! A good chunk of the forest around had been broken and razed into the ground, while the corpses of their trunks scattered around the forest floor and littered the fields with torn bark and scattered, wilted tree leaves. The monster's howls and cries of anger drowned out the flowers' song, not that there was any singing to be had as the flowers had broken out into terrified choruses of shrill screams. Even the skies felt a little duller and sadder… She couldn't let this continue on!

Chihiro bit her lip, then looked down at her bracelet and the six slots that still glowed bright. If she used them all would be done for, so what should she do? Defensive magic is all fine and dandy, but she couldn't just keep defending and not do something!

CRASH!

Chihiro jolted up, then whipped her head around the tree she hid behind as the monster rammed its head into the trees behind it. But, that wasn't the thing that caught her attention the most by far. Rather, her gaze trailed over to the one paw it limped on still. For that matter, now that she thought about it, it had been lashing out all this time, but it wasn't very coordinated. It just kind of… Rampaged everywhere it could and lashed out at anything it considered a threat. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't nearly as malicious as it seemed?

Chihiro frowned, then summoned a magical telescope and extended it. She'd figure this out herself! She placed the telescope to her eye and fixated on the paw the monster limped on. It was a paler lavender compared to the darker purple fur of its pelt, with dark purple, squishy toe beans, just like a kitty cat! But more importantly, it had something round and silver in it! Some kind of… Thorn or obtrusion, maybe?

Chihiro grinned and stashed away her telescope—looks like she'd have to find that out.

"I'd better get a closer look!" Chihiro proclaimed as she stomped her feet and grinned as her boots were coated in an extra pair of magical spring boots!

Chihiro leaned down, then sprung forward and bounded towards the monster!

"Hey, hey!" Chihiro shouted as she sprung up and flew down, "Over here!"

The monster grunted as it turned around from ramming its head into the trees, then leaned down and snarled as its fur began to bristle and stand up! With its fangs bared, it leaped forward and got ready to scratch her down… Then froze as Chihiro grabbed its thorn-afflicted paw! For a moment, its anger had released and it almost seemed kind of cute, really. The tension in its face shifted to confusion as it made a soft, curious noise that vaguely sounded like a purr, all while its eyes fixed totally on Chihiro with a kind of anticipation.

"Hmmmmm…" Chihiro hummed as she tilted her head and examined the paw, then released and made a sagely nod, "Yep, that thorn's definitely stuck tight!"—Chihiro grinned as she lifted her hands—"Don't worry, buddy! I'll get that thorn out pronto!"

Unfortunately, the monster didn't seem nearly as keen on that idea as she was! Right as she reached her hands out and went to grab it, it yowled and swatted her back down the forest floor!

Chihiro screamed as she flew across the air, then crashed down and rolled back down across the grass! Chihiro grunted as she shook the tree bark splinters out of her hair and winced, while the monster looked back at her and screeched! Its fur stood on end as it bore its many fangs into a snarl and its eyebrows tensed up so much that you could barely see its eyes, then it shuddered and dug its claws into the earth. Geez, what had she done to it to make it so scared?

Chihiro frowned, then turned down at her still-glowing hands and winced. She had barely noticed it anymore, but her hands always glowed when she was casting spells, regardless of nature… And she did try to attack it earlier. Had it thought she was going to hurt it? Well, obviously that wasn't going to do! She'd just have to convince it that she didn't mean any harm! Chihiro jumped back up to her feet, then teleported back up to the monster and forced a smile.

"Alright, buddy!" Chihiro said as she held out her hands and summoned a magical squeaky toy shaped like a bone, "You wanna play? Huh, huh?"

The monster growled and swiped down at Chihiro, who screamed as she jumped back and released the toy! Out of instinct she flung a shield in between her and the monster, then released and loosened her body as the sound of rabid snarling fell over the area.

The monster didn't care about her at all! Rather, its attention was entirely fixed on the toy she had summoned as it tore the toy's magical exterior to bits! Seems it wasn't very fond of squeaky toys…

"Alright." Chihiro whimpered as she scratched her head, "So maybe squeaky toys aren't really your favorite things in the whole wide world…"—Chihiro held her hands out, and with a flash of magic she summoned a gigantic magic frisbee and tossed it towards the monster—"How about a good old-fashioned game of catch, instead?"

The monster sat down and blinked as the frisbee flew towards it, then yowled and leaned back as the frisbee soared over its head! Whoops, guess it's never played a game of catch either. The monster leaned forward, then pressed its chest down to the ground and snarled further, all while its eyes started to twitch.

"Oh geez…"

Chihiro winced as she held her hands out and formed a shield, then yelped and threw her arms in front of her body as the monster slashed away at her barrier.

"It was an accident, I swear! I wasn't trying to hit you!" Chihiro exclaimed as she lifted her head back up at the hyena and held out her arms, "Here, how about a treat?"

Chihiro held out her hands, and out from her palms leaped a magical dog treat the size of an entire house! Surely, any animal couldn't resist a nice treat, right? Well, apparently that one could. The monster snarled and smashed the treat to bits, then smacked her shield with one of its paws and shot her backwards! Chihiro winced as she slid back, then regained her footing and summoned a gigantic bone drizzled in gravy.

"How about this, then? A nice juicy bone, just for you!"

Nope, the monster just swatted that away, too! Guess she'd have to get a bit more creative from here on out…

"A giant yarn ball?"

Smacked the ball away with its head and completely unraveled it in an instant!

"A toy bird? It's got catnip in it and everything!"

No use! It just grabbed the bird, snapped it in half and spat the broken halves out like bad medicine.

"Steak?"

Well, okay it did seem to like that one! It grinned and slobbered as it gulped down the steak in one bite, then purred for a few moments… Before it opened its eyes and realized that Chihiro was still there! The moment it locked its eyes back on Chihiro, it snarled and leaped forwards! Chihiro gasped, then without even thinking she tossed out her hand and shot a cloud of sleeping powder right at the monster!

While it got lost in the miasma and growled, Chihiro stepped back and turned her head down at her bracelet with its five shining lights… Wait, five? Guess those magical afflictions counted for spell slots too. The sound of growling ahead grew louder and more intense as one firm shake from the monster completely dispelled the sleeping powder clouds, then it roared as it launched back at Chihiro with teeth and claws bared! Great, she wasted a spell slot too!

Chihiro gasped and stumbled out the way just in time, but that was hardly a deterrent to the monster! It simply stumbled a few steps forward, then staggered around and charged back at her! Chihiro jumped out of the way as the monster continued to snap and bite at her, then finally her mouth soured into a frown as magic bubbled around her person.

"Alright, buddy!" Chihiro shouted as the light enveloped her and made the monster stagger backwards, "I tried to do things the easy way, but you left me no choice!"

Just like that, Chihiro teleported above the hyena, then held her hands out and shot a gigantic magical orb down from the heavens with her sights set back on that monster!
As the orb screeched down onto the terrified monster, its many facets unfolded until it was no longer an orb, but rather an intricate net of magical ropes woven into a functional net! The net slammed down and latched the monster down to the ground before it could possibly react, and better yet, it was too strong to break! The monster grunted as it tried to push itself out, but its struggle was futile, for the rope hugged it tight to the earth!

The monster whimpered and panted as it laid its head on the ground, then its whimpers grew even more frantic as Chihiro reappeared in front of its. Its ears folded while its eyes shimmered with a hint of fear… If it hadn't tried to kill her earlier, Chihiro might have actually felt a bit sad for it. Okay, that was a lie, because the sight of it so sad and pathetic just tugged at her heart so badly. So, Chihiro gently rubbed its fluffy, fuzzy forehead and gently smiled.

"Don't worry, buddy," Chihiro whispered as she walked away and turned over its thorn-inflicted paw, "This'll be over before you know it!"

Chihiro smiled, then whipped out a pair of magical tweezers and fixed them tight on the thorn!

The monster made a few frantic whimpers as it tried to pull the paw out of the net, but the ropes kept bound tight and only able to barely tug away.

"One, two…" Chihiro bit her lip as she latched the tweezers down tight and yanked them back, "THREE!"

And in one intense blow, the thorn came out of the monster's paw with a firm pop! Chihiro stumbled back and fell down onto the ground, then grinned as the tweezers disappeared and left behind a silver thorn just as big as she was. Yes, she had gotten it out!

The monster made an earsplitting yowl for a few seconds, then paused and purred as it looked back down at its noticeably thornless paw!

But, that paw still had a nasty little open spot where the thorn used to be, so Chihiro walked up and summoned a magical bandage big enough to seal it away! With a snap of her fingers, the bandage peeled off its plastic cover and stuck itself right to that injury. She snapped her fingers again, the net that held the monsterdown unfolded and freed it! The monster grunted as it pushed itself off the ground, then looked down and examined its bandaged paw with a hint of intrigue. It licked the paw for a moment, then tilted its head as it looked back down at Chihiro.

"No worries!" Chihiro chirped as she summoned another magical steak and offered it to the monster, "You're all better now!"

The monster knelt its head down and sniffed Chihiro, though its size was so big that one little sniff nearly blew her off her feet. For a moment it eyed the steak… But rather than take it, it just licked Chihiro's face and rolled over so that its fuzzy lavender underbelly was fully visible!

"You want belly rubs, do you?"

Chihiro giggled as she floated up and jumped on its belly, then laid down and grinned as she rubbed its belly. It was so soft and fluffy, it almost felt like she was hugging a giant plushie! And the soft purrs the monster made that rumbled through its entire body felt so nice that it made Chihiro all fuzzy inside…

"You know, you're a lot cuter when you're not trying to kill me," Chihiro remarked as the monster purred further, "If this wasn't just a simulation, I'd totally take you home with me!"

Chihiro couldn't help but giggle at the mental image of Hugo's face, all wide-eyed and pale-furred as she brought home a giant hyena… Cat… Dog thingie as a pet followed by terrified screams and promptly insisting that they were absolutely not keeping that thing, thank you very much! It almost sucked that this wasn't real, because she really, really wanted to keep it—wait.

That's right, this was just a simulation, and she was on a mission! She had to get going!

"Sorry buddy," Chihiro said as she got up to her knees and slid off the monster's belly, "But I've gotta get going! I've got a really important mission to finish!"

The monster rolled back to its legs, then frowned and flopped down its ears as it looked back at Chihiro with what were surely the best puppy-dog eyes it could muster. It looked so sad, Chihiro almost wanted to stay a little longer… But, she did have an exam to take and tons of other important stuff to attend to, so she just shook her head.

"See you later!"

Chihiro raced forward, then frowned as she examined her bracelet… Which was now down to four lights. Guess that net did count as an attack, didn't it? Chihiro sighed and bit her lip as the four lights shone. She'd have to be a lot more careful about attacking from here on out, wouldn't she?

Chihiro paused and spun the bracelet around a few times, then leaped in the air! Not by choice, granted. The entire world around her rumbled and shook as something stormed behind her! Chihiro gasped and whipped around as she readied a shield. Was this her next opponent? Whatever it was, it immediately dashed forward and tossed Chihiro onto its back!

Chihiro squeaked as she fell face-first on soft, fuzzy purple fur. Wait a second? Soft, purple fur, just like that monster she had helped not moments earlier? Chihiro sat back up on the back, then a friendly chirrup caught her attention. She turned her attention forwards… And the monster turned back and grinned at her! Well, it grinned the best a hyena monster could!

"You really didn't want me to leave, huh?" Chihiro asked as she giggled and pat the hyena's back, "Well, that's alright! I suppose I'll just have an extra helper for this mission!"

Chihiro frowned, then gently ruffled the monster's neck fur as she pressed herself closer. "Y'know, if you're gonna stick around with me, I'd better give you a name!"

So, Chihiro drummed her fingers against the monster's lush fur, then hummed as she gently kicked her legs against its back.

"How about Fluffy?" Chihiro climbed up the monster's neck and scratched it behind the ears, "You like that, right?"

The monster laughed as it raised its head, and Chihiro couldn't help but laugh along with it.

"I'll take that as a yes!"

And so, Chihiro and Fluffy laughed in perfect harmony as they ran deeper into the forest…

§

"Alright, according to this map…" Flameslinger remarked as he peered over Ignitor's shoulder while Ignitor stretched out the solid fire map the fire spirits had given them, "Our first stop should be an underground lake!"

"A lake? In a place as warm as this?" Prism Break asked as he looked over the map and frowned, "That's ridiculous!"—Prism Break scoffed as he stormed further—"This whole place is made of fire, how could any water stay here without evaporating?"

Prism Break grumbled something to himself as he stormed further ahead, but while he ran off he didn't seem to notice the soft spurts of fire that formed underneath the ground he walked! Thankfully Flameslinger and Ignitor did, however, because the two of them yanked Prism Break back!

"Hey, what was that for?" Prism Break shouted as he glared back at Flameslinger and Ignitor.

While Prism Break glared, however, the little spurts of fire underneath the ground he previously walked on had erupted from a few bursts of flame to a full-on flaming geyser that sent bursts of fire spewing everywhere! Prism Break screamed and jumped back, then crumpled down as Ignitor raised his shield and shielded everyone from the rain of fire.

"Fire geysers?" Prism Break cried as he poked his head over the shield, "Just what is this place?"

The geyser rescinded back into the ground with a content gurgle, while the sound of weapons slamming against each other and name-calling cried over the horizons. Had they arrived at a battlefield? The three of the side-stepped the geysers and bounded ahead while the flames underneath their feet turned more coarse and ashy. In fact, it almost felt more like sand than solid fire! They frowned as they rubbed their feet against the warm ashes…

"Take that, magma spewer!"

"You'll eat your words, cave breath!"

Then jumped out of the way as a gigantic, flaming rock crashed behind them! All three of them blinked in shock, then turned their heads back to the area in front of them.

"Well, Prism Break," Flameslinger said as he snuck a quick peek at the path ahead, pulled his blindfold back over his eyes, then frowned and scratched his head, "Seems you got your answer."

There, right in front of then, was a lake made entirely of bubbling fire filled to the brims with patrons! Rock walkers stationed themselves on the left side while large lava monsters took the right in some kind of makeshift battle where they warred against each other with flaming… Pool toys? Fiery pool noodles, beach balls made of rock, crunchy rock innertubes for floaties and more were their weapons of choices as they bonked each other and shouted out insults. And worse yet, they completely blocked off the one bridge across the lake! Unless the three of them wanted to get knocked into the flaming lake by a poorly-timed pool noodle, it seemed as though they'd have to bring this fight to a close.

Ignitor cleared his throat, then stepped forward and held out his arms.

"Pardon my intrusion," Ignitor asked as his flames drifted from side to side, "But just what in blue blazes is occurring here?"

However, everyone else was so absorbed in their fights that they didn't even hear Ignitor, much less notice his presence! So, Ignitor cleared his throat once more and hit his sword against the ashes.

"Good morrow, fair civilians! May anyone informest unto me what hath conspired here?"

No use—they just kept clashing and screaming away. And this time, it seemed Ignitor had enough! His soul flared out of him body and erupted into an almost horrifying, intense red flare of a flame, a wildfire that burned bright with indignant fury!

"WILL ANY OF YE CEASETH THY PETTY QUARRELS AND TELLEST ME JUST WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"

The lava monsters and rock walkers all gasped in terror as Ignitor's soul burned bright above them, but that fear was only momentary. Seconds later, it had transformed into pure rage as they turned their weapons on Ignitor and snarled!

"Intruders!" Both sides cried at once.

"You've come to steal the lake away from us rock walkers too?" Asked one rock walkers as their stony brows clenched and ground together, "I'm telling you, the lava lake belongs to the rock walkers! Nobody else can swim in it!"

"Excuse me?" Cried one of the lava monsters as they slugged a punch at the rock walker, "We lava monsters came here to swim first! If anything, you're the ones that need to get out!"

The rock walker spat a rocky tooth into the flaming lakes and snarled back at the lava monster. "Well that's a lie if I've ever heard one! You didn't show up until after we jumped in!"

"That's because we were underfire! Of course you couldn't see us!"

"Quit making excuses and go find your own lake!"

"You blockhead, this is the only lake here!"

The rock walker and lava monster both shoved their faces together, then their all-out brawl of insult spitting, punching and bonking each other on the head with flaming pool noodles reoccurred, perhaps even worse than before!

Flameslinger jolted up and ducked out the way of a fireball that crashed and exploded behind him, then winced as he turned back to Ignitor and Prism Break.

"Something tells me these guys are dead-set on fighting," Flameslinger said as Prism Break pulled him out of the way of yet another fireball, "I don't think we can get them to compromise."

"But they're blocking the only way through!" Prism Break insisted. He yelped in pain as a small rock bonked him on the head, then groaned and snarled back at the warring swimmers. "If we don't get them to stop, there's no way we'll be able to get those hearthstones!"

That was true. The map said they needed to pass through this lake to get to the grotto, but… How? Getting through that warzone wouldn't exactly be an easy task!

Ignitor hummed as he drove his sword into the fiery ground and drummed his fingers against its hilt.

"Perhaps there liest another way round yonder?" Ignitor asked as he looked from side to side, "After all, one meager bridge shan't possibly be the only way around such a massive area."

Flameslinger's eyes lit up as he turned back to Ignitor.

"Why didn't I think of that earlier?" Flameslinger exclaimed as he slapped his face against his hand, then shook his head and beamed towards Ignitor and Prism Break, "You two look over west, I'll scout around here and see if I can find anything!"

Ignitor and Prism Break nodded as they dispersed down the western path, while Flameslinger turned around and crept across the ashy beaches. As a militia of burning pool toys and stray rocks flew off from the battle and rained down over the beaches, Flameslinger dodged behind a flaming tree and sighed.

"Fighting over something like this, for shame," Flameslinger mumbled as he ran his hands down the tree's trunk, "Lakes and pools like these belonged to the natural world, not the whims of some random being!"

Flameslinger crept away from the tree as the pool toy assault ended, then his eyes drifted over to a cool-colored, flaming sign beside him. He crept over to the sign, then flicked his ears as he lowered his blindfold and glazed over its contents.

"'Property of the Lava King,'" Flameslinger read as he knelt down to the sign, "'No trespassers or uninvited swimmers allowed.'"

Huh, so this pool did have an owner after all. But, just who was this Lava King person, anyways? Did he happen to be part of one of those groups that were currently holding a petty fight in his fire pool?

Flameslinger frowned as he put his blindfold back over his eyes and turned his attention back to the world around once more, then the ground below shook so intensely that it was like the world was going to split apart! Flameslinger turned his head to the pool, where from its flaming waters, a mass of liquid flames the size of a volcano started to emerge from the heart of the lake!

"WHO'S SWIMMING IN MY POOL?" Bellowed a massive voice.

The swimmers that once warred with each other screamed and panicked as they bolted out of the pool, their prior fight completely forgotten! Seems as though none of them were with this Lava King dude after all!

Flameslinger dashed back to the front of the pool and panted, then lifted his head as the sound of footsteps alerted him to Prism Break and Ignitor's return.

"What's going on?" Flameslinger asked.

"Why are you asking us?" Prism Break exclaimed over the rumble of the rising lake fires, "We didn't do this!"

"Actually, now that I ponder it," Ignitor said as he tapped his fingers against his armor, "I did stepest on a particularly peculiar rock that made an equally peculiar noise earlier…"

Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break's conversation came to a short stop as a massive roar nearly blew them off their feet and spat flames like rain across the beach's ashes! The three of them had to dig their feet into the ashy sands just to keep from getting tossed away! They all gulped as they turned their attention back to the pool.

There, a massive lava monster dressed in a bathrobe made of flames with short, barely-burning ember stubble to match snarled as they scratched their gut. Was this the Lava King who owned the place? Well, they certainly fit what he envisioned a Lava King would look like… They yawned as they rubbed their eyes, but their lackadaisical attitude quickly faded as they turned their attention down to Ignitor, Flameslinger and Prism Break.

"NOBODY SWIMS IN THE LAVA KING'S FIRE POOL WITHOUT MY KNOWING!" The Lava King roared as he pointed an accusatory finger towards Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break, "YOU TRESPASSERS WILL PAY FOR MESSING UP MY PERSONAL POOL!"

Wait, did he think they were the swimmers? Oh, this couldn't be good. Not only was he angry, but he was practically the size of an Elder Elemental! There's no way they could take that on!

"Your magmatic majesty, please lendest us thy ear!" Ignitor exclaimed as he sheathed his sword and clasped his hands, "We mean not to intrudest unto your lake, and we certainly have not takest a dip in thy pool! We merely need to passest through here to—"

"SILENCE, INTRUDERS!"

The Lava King snarled as he tugged at his flaming bathrobe. "You can make all the excuses you want, but it won't save you from my wrath!"

Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break all screamed as the Lava King yanked off his bathrobe and unveiled a massive belly with a large, flaming crack in its center!

"SECURITY! TAKE CARE OF THESE INTERLOPERS!"

The sound of tittering, shrill voices and gnashing teeth like crackling embers rained down from the heavens as Flameslinger, Prism Break and Ignitor peeled their eyes away from the sight of the Lava King. Well, not that the Lava King was a big concern right now. After all, a bunch of lava imps had rained down from the heavens by the thousands, and they were primed to attack! As the first wave of lava imps slammed down and launched themselves towards Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break, Flameslinger winced and tugged on his gorget. He leaned forward, then dashed away from Ignitor and Prism Break's side!

The lava imps immediately turned tail and bolted after him, all while they spat embers at his feet and gnashed their molten rock teeth. As Flameslinger dodged their shots, he made a small smirk, then completely turned around and looped circles around the imps! The imps huddled together and tittered while their eyes tried to track Flameslinger's movements, but after the first few loops or so it made they so dizzy that they could barely keep to their feet! They sat down and groaned as their heads spun… The squealed and came to their senses as a ring of fire erupted from the ground below!

The lava imp tried to jump through the flames and go after Flameslinger once more, but every time they did the flames just shot them back! Flameslinger grinned as the sound of lava imps' squealed resounded like music to his ears, then drew his bow and shot off! His arrows cut through the wall of fire like it was a wall of melted butter, and the squeals of pain that sounded form within told Flameslinger all he needed to know about their fate! Flameslinger paused for a moment as the wall of fire came to a close…

"SWORD AND SCORCHERY!"

Then turned around right as Ignitor's flaming soul leaped forward and tossed another group of lava imps right into the air! Ignitor froze in midair for a few moments, then slammed into them and tossed them all across the battlefield. The lava imps groaned as they tried to pull themselves up, but before they could Ignitor dashed back into his armor suit and yanked his sword out of its sheath!

"Excelsior!" Ignitor cried as he dashed forward and slashed down the lava imps in a series of quick, sharp blows!

Flameslinger grinned as the lava imps soared away, then gave Ignitor a thumbs up.

"Thanks for that, Ignitor!" Flameslinger shouted as he watched Ignitor sling his sword over his shoulders… Then Flameslinger promptly ducked as an overhead laser nearly singed his hair!

"GET THESE THINGS OFF OF ME!" Prism Break cried as he jumped from spot to spot and shot lasers everywhere, all while a bunch of lava imps crawled up his legs! Seemed as though he could use some help!

Flameslinger readied his bow and arrow, then fixed his aim on Prism Break and released! As the arrows flew closer to Prism Break, he screamed and flung up his arms, but instead of hitting him the arrows just gunned down the imps that climbed on his legs! Prism Break looked down and blinked, then breathed a sigh of relief as his arms fell to his side… But not for long! Shrill titters informed them all that more lava imps were coming their way, and several of them had their eyes set on Prism Break!

"Oh no you don't!" Prism Break exclaimed as he leaped forward, then rolled in midair and slammed back into the ground!

The moment he hit the ashes, gigantic green crystals sprung from the ground and formed a makeshift barrier around Prism Break! The lava imps squealed and tried to get away, but by then they were too close and too late. They all just smacked into the crystals and slid down like flies on a ship's window!

But, the Lava King didn't seem to care about their little failure. In fact, he was the happiest he could be!

"Yes, yes! Keep it up, guards!" The Lava King exclaimed as he spewed more lava imps out the open slot on his belly, "Make these intruders pay for taking a dip in my perfect pond!"

"What's the big deal, anyways?" Prism Break shouted as his crystal barrier receded, "It's just a pond! There's probably a thousand of them!"

The Lava King made an undignified gasp, then scowled while fires crackled against his molten teeth.

"BUT THIS IS MY POND!" The Lava King wailed as he stomped his feet in the waters like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum, "IT'S MY POND, NOBODY ELSE IS ALLOWED IN! I PICKED THIS SPOT, I MARKED IT WITH MY SIGN, AND NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO USE IT! IT'S MINE! MINE, MINE, MINE!

While the Lava King threw his hissy fit, gigantic lava rocks spat out from his belly and crashed down all around the battlefield! As flaming pillars emerged from their craters and shot ashes everywhere, Ignitor, Flameslinger and Prism Break completely scattered!

"We've got to seal up that hole of his!" Flameslinger exclaimed as he dashed out the way of another flaming meteor.

"But how?" Ignitor cried as he ran away from another, only to be blown to the ground as the meteor crashed, "He is far too big for any of our attacks to inflict any damage!"

Prism Break, however, just remained silent as he dodged another meteor, then fixed his eyes on the Lava King. What was he thinking? A small smile had crept on Prism Break's face, almost like he had an idea.

"Flameslinger, Ignitor!" Prism Break called as he turned around to the two of them, "Keep this guy distracted for me, I wanna try something!"

Prism Break's eyes burned with a determined fire, the kind of fire Flameslinger liked most! So, as Prism Break bolted off, Flameslinger turned back to the Lava King, whipped out his bow and shot out a volley of arrows straight for the Lava King's head! The arrows dove away from the meteor shower, then formed into one massive flock as they beaned the Lava King straight in the head! The Lava King yelped and blinked, then shook it off and glared down at the ashes below him.

"WHO SHOT THOSE ARROWS AT ME?" The Lava King wailed as he flailed his arms, "NOBODY SHOOTS ARROWS AT THE LAVA KING!"

"Except me!" Flameslinger cried with probably the most self-satisfied look on his face, "Now catch me if you can!"

The Lava King let out a guttural growl as he dashed forward and swiped at Flameslinger, but each and every time Flameslinger dashed out of the way! No matter which direction, Flameslinger just jumped out the way and shot that same cocky grin towards the Lava King! Finally, the Lava King grew fed up and spat out bursts of fire that rained down on the ground, but Flameslinger just shrugged and dove left!

"HEY, GET BACK HERE!" The Lava King demanded as he stormed after Flameslinger, "I'M NOT DONE YET!"

"Exactly, your majesty!" Ignitor shouted as he leaped out of his armor, "You have yet to trade blows with me, either!"

Ignitor flitted in front of the Lava King, who snarled and tried to swat away Ignitor like an annoying fly, but just like that annoying fly, Ignitor bounced out the way every single time!

"Doth I stay here?" Ignitor flew left as the Lava King swatted towards him, then jumped up as the Lava King struck again, "No, I have flown over here!"—Ignitor soared right as the Lava King swatted at him once more—"Oh, pray pardon, you were too slow that time. I am over here now!"

The Lava King hissed and clenched his fists as tight as he could, all while his top seethed so badly that for a moment it seemed like he was going to explode!

"IF I CAN'T CATCH YOU," the Lava King exclaimed as he leaned back and fully exposed his belly, "THEN MAYBE THESE GUYS CAN!"

The slot on the Lava King's belly opened wide, a mouth ready to yell as his inners burned with a bright warmth… But before he could shoot, a fleet of gigantic green crystals soared through the air and landed straight in the Lava King's open belly! The Lava King screeched and stumbled back, then squealed as he looked down at his belly, which was now stuffed to the gills with green crystal!

"WHO PUT THOSE CRYSTALS THERE?" The Lava King demanded as he tried to yank the crystals out, though they were too tightly packed to budge, "GET THEM OUT, NOW!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, buddy!" Prism Break cried as the sound of forming crystals swarmed above them, "Those crystals are rock solid, just like me!"

Just above them, Prism Break slid on through on a ramp made entirely of crystal, then slammed his fist together and shot a giant laser that carved around the Lava King's belly! The Lava King wailed in pain as he fell on his back, then gasped as the crystals burned brighter thanks to the heat from Prism Break's laser!

"And with that laser, they'll be stuck for a while." Prism Break blew off his crystal hands and smirked, then looked down at the Lava King, "And, for the finishing touch…"

Prism Break's ramp swerved around and lowered to the Lava King's height, then Prism Break flew by and shot a laser directly into the Lava King's eye! The Lava King wailed and flailed his arms and legs, then climbed onto the beach and shook his head.

"ONCE I GET THESE CRYSTALS OUT OF MY BELLY, THEN YOU INTERLOPERS WILL BE SORRY!"

The Lava King plugged his… Well, lack of a nose, then cannonballed into the lake and sank down with a loud SPLASH!

Flameslinger and Ignitor ducked under the shower of fire that splashed onto the beaches, then as Prism Break slid back down and hopped off they both grinned.

"Huh, even I didn't think I could pull that off," Prism Break remarked as he stretched his legs with a grimace, "I think I pulled a stone back there, though…"

Flameslinger just chuckled, then turned his attention back to the bridge that still stood tall in spite of the earlier fights. With a tug of his quiver, he leaned down and dashed across the bridge.

"AND TO THE CRYSTAL GROTTO WE GO!" Flameslinger proclaimed as he dashed into the distance… Then promptly dashed back to Ignitor and Prism Break's side and Flameslinger made a soft chuckle as he scratched his head, "Actually, I just remembered that I don't the map."

Ignitor chucked, then unfurled the map as he walked across the bridge.

"Now, according to this map," Ignitor said as Flameslinger and Prism Break followed him across the bridge, though he was too transfixed on the map to notice, "Our next stop shall be…"

§

Chihiro giggled and skipped in time with Fluffy's energetic leaps and bounds! It was so big that every stomp made the ground around them shudder and tossed Chihiro into the air, but she didn't mind! It was like she was running around in a bouncy castle! In fact, that gave her an idea! Chihiro bent forward, then in a swirl of magic springy shoes formed over her boots and allowed her to bound just as far as Fluffy did! Fluffy seemed to take notice of this too, as it grinned and bounded off further.

For a moment, all seemed just as peaceful as it did when Chihiro first arrived in this mission, even though the scenery wasn't nearly as cheery. Rather, it took a more… Realistic approach, with leaves dappled in autumn colors that fell off the branches of solid oaks and grass that just barely poked out from a carpet of those fallen leaves. They even crunched under her feet in a way that reminded her a bit of when she'd walk to school during the fall! Even the skies had fallen away from their ocean-colored hues in favor of something more befitting of an oncoming sunset with their candy-colored pinks and sunny yellows streaked with orange. It was so pretty, Chihiro could just bound through the forest forever!

And yet, Fluffy didn't seem quite as content. Out of nowhere, it completely skidded to a halt and sniffed the air above, almost like it had smelled something out of nowhere! Chihiro landed down and turned around, then gently ruffled Fluffy's short, fluffy fur.

"Hey, hey buddy, what's wrong?" Chihiro asked as a gentle, fuzzy feeling came over her from rubbing the fur so much, "Do you smell something?"

Fluffy snorted as it lifted its head from the ground, then flicked its ears and pointed ahead.

Chihiro frowned as she followed its gaze, then lifted her hand from Fluffy's fur and clasped it. Though it was fairly faint, Chihiro was certain she could hear something from the path up ahead… And it wasn't a good noise, either. It sounded a bit kind crashing and smashing! Was there another monster they needed to fight up ahead?

Whatever it was, Fluffy bolted after in a flash after it!

"HEY, WAIT UP!"

Chihiro sprung and bounded after Fluffy, all while the sounds of crashing and smashing and… Digging? Yeah, something that sounded like someone digging through the earth at a furious pace floated through the air, and soon enough, voices intermingled with it as well.

"Where, where is it?!" That voice, one stringy and high-pitched and a bit like her math teacher, "Where did my treasure go?!"

Chihiro gasped, then took one last, big bound around the corner.

The forest trail had parted way to a wide clearing, or at least, it would probably have felt wider if it wasn't a complete wreck! The ground around had been disheveled and covered in shallow holes, trees and plants had been toppled over, and more dirt and roots and leaves flew everywhere! And in the center of all the chaos was a large, sand and earth-colored lynx about the side of Fluffy! The lynx's green and magenta-striped eyes were small and frantic as they dashed everywhere, and in tandem its body leaped from spot to spot as it toppled over the world around.

"Where it'd go, where'd it go?!" It wailed as it bit its lip and dug further, "Where'd my treasure go? I'm sure it was here before!"

As the lynx monster turned around and leaped from earthen hole to hole, Chihiro couldn't help but frown. Whatever this treasure was, it must have been really precious to that lynx if it was that worried about it! Surely she could step in and help. Chihiro stepped forward and opened her mouth to speak, then promptly shut it as another, heavier footstep landed beside her. She turned around, and there before her was Fluffy! And it… Did not seem happy as it leaned down and growled with its ears flattened close to its head.

"What's wrong?" Chihiro asked as she gently rubbed Fluffy's fur again, though this time it didn't seem to notice, "That kitty's not gonna hurt us, it's just worried—"

"THIEVES!" The lynx cried, "YOU STOLE MY TREASURE, DIDN'T YOU?"

Chihiro turned and locked eyes with the lynx, then winced and stepped back. That lynx had finally seen them, and it did not seem happy in the slightest! Its sharp claws shone against the evening light like its pearly white and very sharp fangs, and its eyes were practically bloodshot!

"Wait, hold up! I don't know what you're talking about!" Chihiro exclaimed as she stepped forward and held out her hands, "We didn't take your treasure at all!"—Chihiro held out her bare palms—"See?"

Unfortunately, bargaining with the lynx was no use! It just snarled again as it launched itself straight towards Chihiro! Chihiro gasped and held out her hands to launch a shield, but before she could a purple blur leaped in front of her and tackled the lynx away! Chihiro gasped as Fluffy stepped in front of her, its teeth still bared as is growls grew louder and more threatening.

The lynx yowled as rolled across the bumpy ground, then as its little trip stopped it jumped back to its feet and shook its head.

"Give me back my treasure, right this instant!" The lynx demanded as its snarling lips quivered, "Or else I'll rip you to shreds and take it back myself!"

"I told you already, we didn't take your treasure!" Chihiro insisted!

"LIAR!"

The lynx bounded forward and raised its claws, but Fluffy just stepped in, latched onto the lynx's shoulder with its own jaws and tossed it aside! The lynx snarled, then both it and Chihiro gasped as crimson blood dripped down from its shoulder!

"So that's how you want to play, huh? You're going to get your little pet to take me down?" The lynx snarled as it pressed its paw onto its shoulder and lurched down, "Well let me tell you, I won't stop until my treasure comes back to its rightful owner, TALLMANE CLACEA TABAXOUS THE THIRD!"

Though Fluffy couldn't speak, the way its fur spiked across its back as it let out another howl showed it felt the same! Fluffy and Tallmane tackled head-to-head, then Tallmane raised a paw and went to slash away! Before it could lay a blow, however, Fluffy leaped back and lunged at Tallmane.

"We're being honest, I swear!" Chihiro begged as she jumped back from the battle, "We have no idea what this treasure is!"

"That's what they always say!" Tallmane cried as it shot its glare back to Chihiro, "Thieves always return to the scene of the crime! You can deny it all you want,"—Tallmane snarled as it got ready to lunge once more—"But I know the truth! You're the ones who broke into my burrow and stole my precious treasure!"

Tallmane leaped into the air and pounced towards Chihiro, but before it could Fluffy tackled Tallmane's side and tossed it back! Tallmane growled as it twirled in midair and landed on all four paws, then locked legs with Fluffy and pushed it back!

"I'm telling you, we didn't!"

Chihiro skipped up and tried to throw a shield between Tallmane and Fluffy, but one slash from Tallmane shattered the shield to bits!

"That suspicious scent can't mask your lies!"

Tallmane flicked up a tail with what seemed like a cannon attached to its end and shot a laser straight towards Chihiro! Chihiro gasped and flung up a shield, then pressed her hands against it as the laser ground against the shield's surface. The shield and laser warred for a few seconds as sparks flew everywhere, then finally the laser back at Tallmane in a bright flash of light!

"AUGH, MY EYES! TOO BRIGHT!" Tallmane cried as it shielded its eyes with its front paws.

While it reeled in light-induced pain, Fluffy lunged forward and tore through Tallmane's shoulder once more with a nasty bite! Tallmane cried out, then whipped around and slashed Fluffy's muzzle! Fluffy wailed in pain and stumbled back, then snarled and narrowed its eyes as it shook the blood from its face.

Chihiro gasped as crimson blood rained down against the broken forest floor, then rolled behind a nearby tree and ducked for cover. With her safety ensured, she poked her eyes towards the battlefield and winced.

Right in front of her, Fluffy and Tallmane traded blows, scratches and slashes, all while blood poured from their open wounds and cries of pain sounded through the skies like birdsong. Their bodies were ravaged with scrapes and gore, but neither party was willing to let up! If this fight kept up, there's no way someone won't die…

"But how can I stop this?" Chihiro whimpered as her hands clasped the tree's trunk tighter, "Np matter what I say or do, it's convinced I'm the one who stole its treasure!"

Chihiro winced and turned away as Fluffy raked its claws through Tallmane's back, then her eyes went wide as Tallmane let out a horrifying wail of pain. In fact, it was so terrifying Chihiro had to cover her own mouth so she wouldn't scream, too!

"If only there was some way to prove that I didn't…" Chihiro gasped without even realizing it, "Wait a second, that's it!"

Chihiro look down at her bracelet and hesitated for a moment as her eyes fells over its four glowing slots, but then she shook her head and stood. She could probably still manage with three slots left, and with a situation like this a little sacrifice is necessary. So, with a snap of her fingers, a magical watch manifested on her free arm, then with another snap a magic sphere manifested in her hand! She bit her lip as yet another light faded on the bracelet, then shook her head as she stormed out and tossed the sphere right between Tallmane and Fluffy.

"HEY, LOOK AT ME!" Chihiro demanded.

Tallmane and Fluffy stopped their fight short as the sphere whizzed between the their faces, then turned back to Chihiro and tilted their heads as she held out her watch-bound wrist.

"See this watch?" Chihiro pushed it out further for emphasis, "It's a magical lie detector. If I say even a single lie, it'll immediately give me a nasty shock!"

Chihiro breathed in deep, then exhaled and cleared her throat.

"So, with that being said… I didn't steal your treasure, and neither did my friend!"

Anticipation set in as the watch glowed for a few minutes with an ominous light… Then it turned green as it made a couple of friendly beeps!

Tallmane blinked while the magenta stripes in its eyes seemed to… Vanish? Well, either way it winced and lumbered toward Chihiro as it hung it head.

"Well, it seemed as though I was wrong," Tallmane scoffed as it stumbled on its paws and groaned, "Sorry."

"Eh, misunderstandings happen!"

Chihiro beamed and shrugged her shoulders, then her smile faded as she saw the awful state both Fluffy and Tallmane were in. The blood from their wounds had dried to their fur, and they were so weak they could barely stand as the cold breeze lashed against their wounds and made them shudder.

"Now, before we do anything else…" Chihiro said as she clapped her hands, "Let's get you two patched up!"

With another, final clap, giant rolls of bandages manifested out of thin air and wrapped themselves around both Fluffy and Tallmane's wounds! The two of them perked up and blinked as they examined the bandages, then in a quick puff of sparkles the bandages vanished and unveiled bodies completely free of wounds!

"Feeling any better?" Chihiro asked as she stepped up to Tallmane and Fluffy… Then giggled and leaned back as Fluffy licked her once more!

Fluffy flicked its tail as it walked off, then froze for a minute and turned back to Chihiro. It tilted its head in expectancy, but Chihiro just smiled and shook her head.

"I can't go just yet, buddy!" Chihiro chirped as she looked over at Tallmane, "I still need to help this guy find his treasure!"

"What, really?" Tallmane said as its jaw dropped, "Even after all I did to you?"

"Well, you seemed really worried about that treasure! It's something important to you, right?" Chihiro looked up at Tallmane and beamed, "It's only natural!"

Tallmane blinked, then closed its eyes and purred. "Thank you…"

Chihiro nodded, then held out her hands and created a notepad and pencil out of thin air.

"Alright, let's get started!"

§

By this point, the lake of fire was well behind Flameslinger, Prism Break and Ignitor's minds, its watery flames and scorching plants traded off for hot stone and warm, beaten paths... But little mind was paid to it, for they were enraptured by Ignitor as he told stories with gusto.

"And then, right as the dragon swooped down," Ignitor rambled complete with wild hand gestures, "I leaped forward, drew my sword and proclaimed…"

Ignitor whipped his sword out of its sheath and waved it towards the heaven.

"'Tremble by my blade, foul monster! I may have transformest unto a being of fire, but that will not stopest me from bringing an end unto thy reign of terror! En guard!'"

As Ignitor continued to reenact his story, complete with a gratuitous amount of sword-swinging and epic speeches, Prism Break only sighed and rolled his blank eyes.

"And that is how I gained the title of Ignitor, knight of the crackling flames!" Ignitor stood tall and dug his sword into the ground with a chuckle, "To believe this happened only about a decade ago, it always feelest so far back…"

"Wait, a decade? I thought you were my age!" Prism Break exclaimed as he groaned and buried his face in his hands, "Ugh, now you're making me feel old!"

Flameslinger just smiled and shook his own head while he gave Prism Break a sympathetic pat or two, then turned back to Ignitor.

"Say, are we anywhere closer to that crystal grotto?" Flameslinger asked as he turned his head around, "It feels like we've been walking for an eternity now."

Ignitor hummed, then yanked out the map and stretched it out wide.

"Now, accordest to our map, the grotto we seekest should be…" Ignitor said as he tapped his foot, then wrapped the map back up and turned around, "Right ahead!"

Ignitor rolled up the map and beamed ahead, while Flameslinger and Prism Break hopped ahead and took in the view with gaped jaws.

There before them all loomed the entrance to a massive cave, its red stone decorated by clusters of tall, warm-colored crystals that shone brilliantly against the warm flames that made up the world around them. Everything about it seemed so warm and inviting, and yet a level of suspicion came over everyone. This was supposedly the home of a ferocious monster, and something with a magical treasure was bound to have some kind of trick to it.

Prism Break, however, seemed more fascinated by the crystals that decorated the entrance than anything! He grinned as he gently tapped one, then yowled and whipped his hand back while his normally-green crystals were tinted with a bit of red. Oh Prism Break…

"I suppose this is the place," Flameslinger remarked as he adjusted his bow and quiver's place on his back, "Shall we embark?"

"Stolest the words right from my mouth, Sir Flameslinger," Ignitor replied as he stowed away the map and walked into the open depths of the cavern's mouth.

Flameslinger took one last turn back at Prism Break while Prism Break blew his hands off, then ran inside… And promptly tripped over a rock.

Well, not that it was possible for him to see anything, even if he had taken off his blindfold. The cavern's entirely insides were surprisingly dark compared to the warm outer world, where everything melted into an identical blob of blue and purple with no sort of detail. The only light came from Ignitor, whose bright red flames provided the closest thing they had to a torch.

"It beeth quite dark here, indeed?" Ignitor remarked as he lifted up his sword and held it like a flashlight, "I supposest this shall hast to do for now."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Ignitor," Prism Break remarked as he walked inside and crossed his arms, "I can see just fine!"

"You can?" Flameslinger asked as he looked back at Prism Break and shook his head.

"I lived in a dark cave for over a century of my entire life." Prism Break raised an eyebrow at Flameslinger and shook his head, "Something like this is nothing!"

Flameslinger grinned, then whipped around and pushed Prism Break to the front of the ground.

"In that case, you can be our guide!" Flameslinger grinned as he stood close to Ignitor, the only source of light in an otherwise cold and dark room, "Lead the way, Prism Break!"

Prism Break sighed, but nonetheless shook his head and stormed down the halls. "Just follow me, and don't touch anything weird-looking. You never know what could be about ready to fall apart in places like these."

So, Flameslinger and Ignitor trailed behind Prism Break at such a close distance that they practically breathed down Prism Break's back… Then Prism Break turned around and shot them a glare.

"When I said close, I didn't mean that close," Prism Break scolded as he pushed them back. "That's good."

And so they trekked down the dark, identical halls with only the back of Prism Break an indicator of where to go next. The cavern's tunnels seemed to stretch out forever, and the space around them that could be seen was mostly just blank, sprawling stone floors and nothing more. Was this really the right place?

"Oh, that rock looks suspicious," Prism Break mumbled as he veered away left, "Don't step on that, you two."

"Step on what, Prism Break?" Flameslinger asked as he veered his head around, "I can barely sense a thing in this—"

CLICK! Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break all froze, for a moment as a tiny, button-shaped rock slowly sank into the ground.

"Flameslinger," Prism Break whispered as his eyes went wide, "What exactly did you just press?"

Flameslinger stepped back and winced, but before he could open his mouth and retort, the entire ceiling above them shuddered and dropped dust and rocks down below! He, Ignitor and Prism Break all coughed in unison as they tried to fan away the dust, but in the end it was unnecessary.

Out of nowhere, something crashed down and completely blew away the dust! But what? As all three of them looked back, Prism Break jolted up and froze. There behind them, a massive slab of rock blocked the way behind!

"What beest that?" Ignitor asked as he lifted up his sword and unveiled a cold, rocky mass that definitely was not there before.

"I'm not sure," Flameslinger remarked as he brushed his hand against the rock's surface, "Maybe it's a wall?"

Another soft rumble shook the earth below as the "wall" started to shudder, and for a moment it seemed as though it had moved just a bit further? Well, before they could even figure it out further, Prism Break yanked them both out of the way and cast a barrier of green crystal between them and the "wall."

"QUIET BLABBERING AND RUN, YOU TWO! THAT'S A BOULDER!"

Prism Break dashed down the halls with Flameslinger and Ignitor still in tow, and just in time, too! While he ran, the boulder smashed through his barrier and balled down the halls as if Prism Break's words were just the prompt it needed! The whole hallway shuddered as the boulder barreled down the way, all while Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break ran as fast as their legs could carry them. But, despite how fast they ran, the boulder bowled even faster behind them, its speed only increased by the hill it flew down! The boulder was inches behind them, and before long they'd be flattened.

Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break turned around and screamed as they tried to bolt off… But instead, they all snagged their feet on the floor and tripped in unison! Before they knew it, they all rolled down the halls and crashed onto the floors! They all groaned as they got up, then turned around and froze as the boulder came straight towards them… But in a stroke of luck, it was so big that it smashed into the tunnel's entrance and crumbled into a billion tiny pebbles! They all sighed with relief as they jumped back to their feet, then paused and gazed over the room before them.

Unlike before, it wasn't dark at all, but rather filtered with a gentle, purple light, followed by flashes of red, green, yellow… A whole rainbow of colors flashed through the room, all powered by color-changing crystals! And better yet, they didn't need to look around for the next way through, because there was a door right head! There was only one problem, though—it was locked tight and the key was nowhere in sight!

"Something tells me this is going to take a while," Flameslinger remarked as he pulled his blindfold down and caught a glimpse, pulled it back over his eyes, then crossed his arms and drummed his fingers against them, "How do you unlock a locked door with no key?"

While Flameslinger pondered, Ignitor walked behind, then hummed as he placed his hand on its surface and watched its colors reflect against his armor. His flames lingered on it for a moment as his armor gave off a miniature light show, then he crept into the darkness with an intrigued hum.

Prism Break, meanwhile, knocked his own crystal hands on the color-changing ones and grinned as his own crystals shifted in hue for a moment, then frowned and sighed as they went back to their natural green. His eyes trailed back to the crystals as he basked in their beauty… Then he screamed and jumped back as a cannonball flew out of nowhere and slammed right into the crystal!

Flameslinger jumped away as the cannonball screeched towards him, and instead it slammed into a second crystal, then bounced off a few more before it slammed into a stone wall and shuddered! As it rolled down, a slot opened up in the floor right before the cannonball hit the ground, and instead it slunk into a black void right before the floor closed up again.

Prism Break shuddered, then turned around and snarled as he caught sight of Ignitor, who laid in the darkness beside an old-looking cannon that was positioned suspiciously close to the crystals.

"I could not help but ponder," Ignitor remarked as he drew his hand away from the cannon, "This door seemingly lackest a key, yet it appeareth to be our only way of proceeding… What if there actually was a key after all, mayhap?"

"Like, a hidden key?" Flameslinger flicked his ears.

Ignitor, however, just shook his head and scattered small flames across the floor.

"I have thought of something different." Ignitor gestured towards the crystals around, "Perhaps these crystals beest the actual key!"

Ignitor's attention turned back to worn cannon, then he walked up and lit it with a lean of his spirit body. The flames crackled against the fuse, and it a moment out shot a cannonball! The cannonball hit each crystal in succession with a firm ding once again, then rolled down into the nothingness via a slot in the floor that soon closed… But the gates didn't open.

Flameslinger widened his eyes, then drew down his blindfold and glared at the crystals as they slowly shifted in color… Until finally, they all turned a bright red!

"Now!" Flameslinger cried as he signaled towards Ignitor!

Ignitor lit the cannon once more, and once again the cannonball slammed against each bright crimson crystal! But this time, as the cannonball slammed against the wall and rolled into the void, the door opened with a low rumble!

Flameslinger grinned, then dashed right through the door and into the next room.

Though, really it felt more like an extension of the first, what with its purple rock walls littered with clusters and formations of bright pink crystals, right down to the gate that blocked off the next section! But thankfully, this one had a lock with a visible keyhole. Seems opening it would be a lot easier!

Flameslinger dashed around each and every crystal, Prism Break stormed in and shot lasers through the wall in pursuit of secret holes, and Ignitor even hit a few crystals just to be safe… But in spite of all they did, no keys seemed to show!

Flameslinger sighed, then leaned against a nearby crystal pillar and crossed his arms. He paused for a moment as he peered at his reflection in the crystal… Then gasped and stumbled back!

"I found the key!" Flameslinger exclaimed as he waved over Prism Break and Ignitor, "Look!"

The two of them dashed over, then gasped as they examined the pillar, because sure enough, the key was trapped in the heart of its crystal confines! But, that opened up another problem, and they all seemed to realize that as their faces fell.

"This pillar seems pretty solid," Flameslinger remarked as he knocked his fist against the pillar's side, "I doubt my arrows could do anything about it."

"Allow me, then!" Ignitor said as he drew his sword, "EXCELSIOR!"

Ignitor swung his sword right into the center of pillar, but apparently even its burning flames didn't do anything, either! The moment it made contact, it shook Ignitor to his core and caused him to stumble back. As Ignitor spun around and babbled out some medieval-sounding nonsense, Prism Break only sighed and stepped up.

"Guess it's my time to shine," Prism Break remarked as he clapped his hands together.

With a mighty cry, Prism Break smashed his crystalline hands against the crystal, then grinned as the crystal pillar completely shattered!

Flameslinger snatched the key right before it hit the ground, then turned back to the gate. At last, their harrowing journey would finally come to a close! And so, Flameslinger pressed the key into the lock and unlocked it with a simple turn. The door shuddered for a moment, then creaked open and unveiled a sight so bright and awe-inspiring, it froze them all in their tracks!

The entire room was coated in sparkling gold, from the ceiling to the walls and even the floors! And that wasn't all, either. All sorts of sparkling gold and jewels were piled across the floors, occasionally peppered with strange treasures and old-looking devices that still held an air of mystery to them. Even the ceiling had its own treasure, what with the strange light gold, dragon-shaped statue that was stuck to it!

But, none of that was what they came for, so Flameslinger, Prism Break and Ignitor instead fixed his gaze down on the floor where a collection of sparkling golden stones stuck out from the floor. Unlike everything else around, though, they radiated with a kind of gentle, magical warmth that just drew you in and made you never want to leave.

"Why, what art this sensation?" Ignitor asked as he drew towards the stones and brushed his hands against them, "I have no reckoning as to how, but the flames in my soul art completely new, as if they had just been stokest!"

"Wait, did you say stoked?" Flameslinger gasped as he looked at Ignitor and back at the stones with wide eyes, "These have to be the hearthstones!"

Flameslinger grinned, then knelt down and swept the hearthstones off of the floors.

"We got what we came here for." Flameslinger turned to Prism Break and Ignitor as he pulled his blindfold back over his eyes, "Let's bring these back to the fire spirit village!"

The three of them nodded, but before they could walk out, something in them all froze as they broke into shudders. For a moment, it almost felt like they were being watched? But, that couldn't be right, they were the only ones here! They all winced and peered up at the ceiling, where… Wait a second, were that dragon statue's eyes always open?

"YOU THIEVES!" Roared the statue as it dropped down from the floor in one swift movement, "HOW DARE YOU STEAL MY TREASURE!"

Seems as though that statue wasn't really a statue at all! Rather, it was a full-blown dragon, with a massive, bulky body and curled horns that curved around its muzzle. Its massive chest with its sparkly golden chest plates shuddered with every heavy breath the dragon made, and its snout spewed out golden dust across the room with every breath. Its wide, golden eyes burned with rage like sunlight, harsh and unforgiving, and its tail slammed against the floor with such power it made the whole room shake.

"YOU'LL REGRET COMING TO MY TREASURE HOARD, YOU PETTY PILFERERS!"

Prism Break and Ignitor both snarled as they ran to Flameslinger's side and raised their weapons, while Flameslinger himself stashed the hearthstones in his pocket and drew his bow. Seems it was time for a fight!

§

"Alright, buddy," Chihiro said as she magicked up a pen and notepad, "So, tell us what happened to your treasure."

Tallmane frowned, then sat down and swished its tail against the dried blood-stained earth and tapped a claw against its muzzle.

"Well, you see, it all started this morning," Tallmane explained as it brushed its paw against the earth, "I was fast asleep with my treasure—"

"And what was this treasure, exactly?" Chihiro didn't even peel her eyes away from her notepad as she scribbled down the notes.

"Well, it was a small, thin, statue, about this big." Tallmane gestured with its paws for emphasis, "And it had the most intricate and beautiful carving. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it was carved in a queen's image!"

Chihiro nodded as she sketched out a rough guess of the statue's image and tapped her toes against the ground. "Mm-hmm."

Tallmane then shook its head.

"Anyways, getting back to the point. I was fast asleep with my treasure curled beside me, but then, then morning I woke up…" The lynx shuddered, then held a paw to its face and nearly fainted onto if not for Fluffy catching it, "Oh, it was terrible! My treasure had been stolen from me!"

Tallmane then leaned back on the ground while its ears drooped.

"And worse yet, aside from a hole that had been dug in my burrow, I couldn't find a single hint as to the thief's identity! I looked around all day, but nothing could be found," Tallmane said as it frowned and swished up dust with its tail, "No footprints, no torn clothes, no trace of magic… Nothing!"—Tallmane heaved a sigh—"And I haven't a single clue as to who would've taken it…"

"Hmmm, that is pretty tricky," Chihiro remarked as she looked over her notes, then stashed away the notepad and stood, "Could you take us to this burrow?"

Tallmane just swiveled its head towards a gigantic hole in the ground not that far from them, one that was definitely big enough for a lynx of its size to crawl through and make a home from.

So, Chihiro took a few steps forward and glazed over the hole, but unfortunately, it didn't seem like there were any clues around! Aside from the dirt and dust and blood that was scattered in the midst of the earlier conflict, nothing seemed out of the ordinary around it. She frowned, then leaned down and got ready to slide down the hole!

But, before she could, Fluffy stepped forward then pressed its nose to the ground and took in a few deep sniffs. With one last inhale, it lifted its head up to the skies, then pointed towards the path ahead and started barking! Wait, could hyenas even bark? Well, this was a simulation so Chihiro probably shouldn't take it very seriously, but…

"What is it, buddy?" Chihiro asked as she ran up to Fluffy and rubbed its leg, "Did you smell something?"

Fluffy barked again, then bolted down a small, off the side trail ahead of the clearing! It seemed kind of suspicious with how hidden it was underneath the trees, but if this was the place where that thief was… Well, it was worth a shot!

Tallmane seemed just as hesitant as Chihiro was to enter, but finally it heaved a sigh and shook its head.

"I hate dingy trails, but, if it's to get my treasure back," Tallmane said as it stretched back and bounded forward, "I suppose I'll have to relent!"

While Tallmane bounded into the depths of the small trail's path, then Chihiro herself shrugged and tapped her shoes against the earth! A flood of magic flew into her veins while magical wings manifested on the heels of her boots, and in that moment her heart burst with the speed of an entire pack of cheetahs!

"HEY, WAIT FOR ME!" Chihiro shouted as she dashed forward!

Thankfully, with the help of her speed shoes Chihiro had little problem keeping up with Fluffy and Tallmane, and it even made the chilling, bone-biting autumn breeze feel kind of pleasant! She giggled and cheered and bounded in the air as she dashed down paths of crunchy leaves and rounded corners, her gaze only guided by their footsteps and the faint evening sunlight that dappled through the trees.

Chihiro grinned as she grabbed hold of a skinny tree trunk, turned herself around and bolted down the path ahead… But right out of nowhere, some person in a cloak bolted out of the bushes and stopped in the middle of the path! And worse yet, Chihiro was going so fast that she couldn't stop her!

"LOOK OUT!" Chihiro cried as she balled down the pathway, but by then it was too late! They had only just gotten a glimpse of each other before they crashed into each other!

Chihiro groaned and rubbed her head, then got up to her knees and shook off the pain.

"Hey, are you alright?" Chihiro asked as she dusted off her pants, then leaned over and held out her hand, "Here, let me help you—"—Chihiro froze as her eyes trailed across the ground—"Up?"

While the person groaned and rubbed their sore back, Chihiro completely forgot about them and lifted a small statue that was definitely not there a second ago off the ground. It was a shiny silver and carved in the shape of a slender woman who donned a fancy crown and an intricate gown… Wait a second, didn't Tallmane say its treasure looked like this? Chihiro pulled her notepad out from her pocket and held it up to the statue, then grinned wide as she stashed the notepad back away. Yep, this was what they were looking for! And good timing, too! She could hear Fluffy and Tallmane's footsteps as they bounded down the path.

"Hey, guys!" Chihiro shouted as she spun around and waved the statue high in the air, "I found the treas—OOF!"

Right as Chihiro was waving, something tackled her to the ground out of nowhere! While the statue slipped from her hand and fell back to the ground alongside her, Chihiro herself grunted and bit her lip from the pain. Just who did that? Chihiro turned back to the statue, but before she could reclaim it that strange man yanked it off the ground and floated off!

"Hey, get back here, you thief!" Tallmane exclaimed as it bolted after the man.

Chihiro grunted and went to pull herself off the ground, but before she could, Fluffy sprang forward, grabbed Chihiro by the back of her shirt and flipped her onto its back! Chihiro smiled, then grabbed tight onto Fluffy's back as they all bolted down into another forest clearing!

The person still tried to run ahead, but unfortunately they just weren't quick enough! Tallmane leaped in front of the way away and landed with such intensity that it blew off their hood and unveiled the face of a grizzled man with thick stubble and bright magenta eyes. The man snarled and turned back around, but before he could escape Chihiro and Fluffy blocked him off!

"You're cornered, buddy!" Chihiro shouted as she climbed on top of Fluffy's head and glared down the man, "We've got you surrounded! Now give us back the treasure!"

"Your treasure?" The man scoffed, his voice tired and rough, "What a laugh! I was the one who found this statue! If anything, you stole it from me, Eqiohr Umaex!"

"Oh, so now you're lying to save face? Give me a break!" Tallmane snarled as it bore its teeth and sharpened its claws against the earth, "I was the one who found it, not you!"

Eqoihr and Tallmane scowled as they locked eyes, then both of them shot rows of magic blasts that slammed right into each other and exploded in mid-air! Eqoihr snarled as he summoned a magical staff and spun it around, all while a faint magenta glow emerged from his pocket.

Chihiro winced, then slid off of Fluffy and fixed her eyes on the fight. Was it Eqoihr or Tallmane who was the rightful owner of that weird statue? As they spat insults at each other and traded blows, her heart wavered just a bit. Then, her eyes fixed on that strange glow and her feet started to move without her even knowing… But before she could jump into the fray, Fluffy yanked her back! Chihiro yelped as a gigantic magical blast blew through where she once stood, courtesy of Eqoihr!

Eqoihr snarled as he shot another magic blast towards the shield that Tallmane had raised, but Tallmane just turned around and kicked the shield straight at him with its back legs! Eqoihr gasped, then before he could get away, the shield crashed into him and rammed him into a nearby tree! Eqoihr grimaced as he lunged up and jumped back into the fray, but while he brawled, he didn't seem to notice the statue slip out of his coat pocket!

However, Chihiro certainly did! Now, she finally had a chance to put an end to all this fighting! So, Chihiro teleported over under the cover of the fight and snatched the statue off of the floor! With a short teleport back, Chihiro stomped her feet and grinned as the ground below her rumbled… Then let out a soft shout of surprise as a magical stone pillar leaped out underneath her and towered over the fight scene! With her safely out of everyone else's grip, Chihiro cleared her throat and summoned a magical megaphone.

"ATTENTION, EVERYONE!" Chihiro exclaimed through the megaphone's amplified chambers, "UNTIL YOU ALL CALM DOWN AND TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, THIS TREASURE BELONGS TO ME!"

§

Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break all fixed their eyes on the monstrous golden dragon they had awakened, now completely frozen to the spot! Though their weapons were raised and their stances were brave, the sight of such a ferocious monster such as that dragon coming out of nowhere was bound to strike slight fear in anyone's hearts. But, that fear quickly relented as they narrowed their eyes and held their weapons tighter.

"I'll give you ten seconds, you thieving worms," the dragon hissed as it lowered its head and puffed out another cloud of golden dust, "Give back my collection's crown jewels, or else!"

"No way!" Flameslinger shouted back as he tightened his sweaty palms' grip on his bow, "The fire spirits need these hearthstones! If their Great Flame doesn't get a proper hearth, it'll die and take their whole village with it!"

The dragon made a few rapid blinks, then loosened its tight, angry stature and clenched its brows. What seemed like a frown formed across its muzzle while its wings drooped down, and it made a soft, sad hum as it placed a paw on its heart.

"Well, why didn't you say so?" The dragon crooned as it laid a sappy glance on Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break, "I'll let you go free!"

"Really?"

The dragon dropped back down and snarled as it raised its mouth. "NOT! THOSE STONES ARE MY TREASURE, AND I WILL NOT TAKE KINDLY TO THIEVES STEALING THEM AWAY!"

The dragon's jaw flew wide open right as Flameslinger shot a barrage of arrows straight towards it, paired with a round of sharp crystals courtesy of Prism Break… But the moment they came within the dragon's range, it shot out bright golden lasers that turned the arrows and crystals to solid gold the moment they made contact! As their attacks fell to the golden grounds with a clatter, the dragon licked its lips and prepared another beam with its eyes fixed on Flameslinger, Prism Break and Ignitor!

Flameslinger gulped as the beam grew brighter and brighter, then finally he grabbed Ignitor and Prism Break by the hand and dashed off!

"We need to get out of here!" Flameslinger cried as lasers seared into the walls and floor and streaked them with gold.

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Prism Break cried as he narrowly avoided getting his toe gilded by another laser!

Flameslinger leaned into his run and dashed so fast that the flames behind him turned a bright white, then bolted up the pathways as the crystals around lit the way.

As they drew out of the crystal paths, an odd, golden light poured through the halls—perhaps they had finally reached the entrance? Thankfully, if they did, it seemed as though that dragon was nowhere in sight! They'd make it out of here in a jiffy…

Or at least, that's what they thought. Right before they could bolt out, a gigantic golden slab shot down in front of them and blocked the path ahead off.

"Sorry about that," the dragon hissed as they leaped out from the shadows, "But you're not going to get away that easily!"—The dragon grinned as it yanked its jaws open and got ready to fire—"Now stay still while I make you permanent additions to my hoard!"

Flameslinger clenched his teeth and broke out into a cold sweat as he looked around, but this time it was Prism Break who yanked them away from trouble!

"DOWN THERE!" Prism Break shouted as he pulled Flameslinger and Ignitor down a pathway in the walls!

As the dragon's beam fired behind them, Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break bolted down a steep path that was just as winding as it was dark! Though they could faintly hear the sound of flapping wings and angry cries behind them, they were so distant that the three of them were probably safe… For now.

As light filtered into the room, Flameslinger hopped out of the tunnels, then paused and grinned as he pulled his blindfold down just a bit!

The room around them was full of shiny, crystal mirrors that held a thousand reflections in one, all tinted in a rainbow of colors!

Prism Break and Ignitor both paused to take a glimpse or two in the crystals, with Prism Break even stopping to compare the mirror's crystals to his own… Then he let out a terrified screech and stumbled back!

"Prism Break!" Flameslinger cried as he pulled himself away from the mirror and towards Prism Break, "What's wrong?"

A shrill cackle resounded around the room and sent a shudder down Flameslinger's back, so he turned back around to the crystalline mirrors and froze as the dragon's reflection glistened in their crystal surface!

"You're not nearly as smart as you think you are!" The dragon crooned as its reflection leaped and bounded around the area, "I've lived in this cave for years! I know it like the back of my own paw!"

Flameslinger winced and drew his bow, but as he looked between each reflection he loosened his grip on his bow just slightly. This darn dragon was everywhere, and surely he had no idea just where to shoot! So, he started shooting off at a couple of reflections… But all it did was shatter the crystals they sat within!

"I'm not there, I'm afraid~"

The dragon's voice crooned around Flameslinger and shook him further as he examined the shattered crystal fragments on the floor, then he turned his bow around and shot! But, there was nothing behind him. His mouth gaped open as his arrows bounced off the wall and onto the floor, then he hit the floor as a laser soared over his back! Flameslinger perked up as the sound of shattering crystal echoed throughout the cavern, then turned around and got up just in time to catch Ignitor slashing through every mirror around!

"Reveal yourself, foul monster!" Ignitor cried as he kept slashing away at the mirrors and shattering them, "Thou cannot hidest forever! I'll shatterest every mirror in this accursed cavern until thou unveilest thyself!"

"That would be hard to do if you're a statue, won't it?"

Ignitor gasped, then took cover as a bright golden laser screeched ahead and dug into the ground around him.

"THAT'S IT!" Prism Break cried as he shot off a laser, "I've had enough of these games!"

The lasers bounced onto a nearby crystal, then fragmented into what seemed like a hundred as they bounced off every crystal and every broken shard in the entire cavern! Flameslinger took cover as a couple soared above him, then turned around to one of the still-functional crystals beside him.

"AUGH, MY EYE!" The dragon cried as it reeled back and covered its face!

Flameslinger grinned and jumped up as the lasers faded, while Prism Break shattered a crystal mirror near the back of the room.

"Quickly, before he recovers!" Prism Break cried as he gestured to the open space left behind by the shattered mirror.

Flameslinger and Ignitor both dashed over to his side and then up the tunnels he had found, all while the climate around grew warmer—extremely warmer!

"Curse you, you insolent worms, using my own cave against me…"

As Flameslinger, Prism Break and Ignitor, hit the top of the path, however, the dragon became the last concern on their minds! Rather, they were far more worried about how they were going to pass the lava river they had found! There were no mine carts or any sort of bridge in sight… What do they do now?

Prism Break, however, just smiled and stomped the ground below, then sent a gigantic crystal bridge across the lava river! He grinned, then bolted across the bridge and onto the other side.

Flameslinger and Ignitor both followed after him as Prism Break passed into another tunnel, one that was warm and bright… Wait a second, that light, that warmth, it was familiar! They must have found the grotto's beginning!

Flameslinger grinned as he stepped forward, but a firm swoop blew him, Ignitor and Prism Break on their backs before they could escape! As a familiar awful laugh echoed around, Flameslinger sat up and groaned.

"So much for making an easy getaway," Flameslinger grumbled under his breath.

"THERE'S NOWHERE TO RUN, INTRUDERS!" The dragon cried as it charged up a laser, "YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT OUT OF HERE ALIVE!"

Before Flameslinger could retort, a bright light fell over him, one warm and yellow and harsh! He bit his lip as he looked up, then gasped and scrambled back as the dragon's laser got brighter and brighter, as if it was about ready to shoot! It was so bright and imposing, in fact, that all he could do was wince and pull his blindfold over his eyes.

"WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT, PYRITE BREATH!"

But that, another screech sounded off as Prism Break jumped to his feet and shot off a laser of his own! Prism Break snarled and stood his ground the best he could as the two lasers warred against each other, though while Prism Break fought with all his strength, the dragon barely even flinched! It was clear who was more powerful here, and ultimately who would win. Prism Break skidded against the ground and ground his teeth as he tried his hardest to stand his ground, but in the end, it was futile!

The golden laser ate up his own green one and shot him down in a bright flash of light! His screams shot through the cavern as Flameslinger and Ignitor shielded their view from the bright light…

Clunk!

Flameslinger and Ignitor's eyes shot open as they turned behind and gasped! There laid Prism Break, but he was no longer Prism Break. Rather, he had been transformed into a shiny golden statue of himself, a literal golden shell of who he was!

§

Chihiro frowned as she looked down from the seat of her magical pillar. Down below her, Tallmane, Fluffy and Eqoihr all scratched and pounded against the base of her pillar, all while they cried for her to come down…

"Get back here!" Eqoihr demanded, "Give me back my treasure!"

"No, that treasure belongs to me!" Tallmane snarled as it shot a magenta-striped glare at Eqoihr, "Now, come down and give it back!"

But Chihiro just frowned and shook her head. She tapped her pillar, and in response the pillar grew a few stone blocks taller!

"No way!" Chihiro responded as she crossed her arms and shot a glare down below, "Not until you all calm down and tell me what's going on!"

However, neither party seemed particularly keen on doing that! They all just went back to yelling and crying and scratching as they begged her to come back down, and to be honest, all that noise was overwhelming and dizzying…

But, Chihiro had to stay firm. So, she slapped the stone slab she sat down on and raised the pillar once more! Their cries faded a little more while Chihiro sighed as she looked up at the starry night sky and then back down at the statue in her hands, which seemed a lot more radiant than before in spite of the lack of light. Its bright, magenta aura grew even brighter, like it was one of the stars that hung in the night's canvas!

"This is an awfully pretty statue," Chihiro remarked, "I can kinda see why they'd be so desperate to get it…"

Chihiro hummed as she rubbed her fingers against its sleek, smooth surface, then her eyes went wide as she rubbed it some more. It felt so good, too! It was cool to the touch, but not in a harsh way. Rather, it felt so nice and gentle that she could just hold it forever! But, the cacophony below reminded her that she still had issues to attend to, so she just sighed and tapped her foot. As her eyebrows twitched from the sheer amount of noise, she whipped out her hand, summoned a megaphone and held it up to her lips.

"If you guys keep arguing, I'm just gonna make the pillar taller!" Chihiro warned, "Don't test me, I'm serious!"

The chorus of shouts and arguments swiftly drew to a close, then finally a trio of sighs echoed down below.

"Alright!" Eqoihr shouted as he looked back up, "We'll stop arguing!"

Chihiro chuckled, then clapped her hands and held on tight as the pillar shot back down into the ground!

"Good!" Chihiro chirped as she hopped onto the ground and pointed to Eqoihr, "Why don't you start?"

Eqoihr sighed, then cleared his throat and placed a hand in his pocket.

"Well, I had found it in an old cave," Eqoihr said, "Something had just… Called me inside, and when I went in I found that statue! It looked so nice that I took it back to his home and displayed it next to all my other treasures, outdoors!"—Eqoihr shot a glare back at Tallmane—"Then, when I was sleeping, I heard this loud crash! I got out to check my treasure display, the glass had been broken and the statue was gone!"

"Quit lying! You were the one who stole it from me!" Tallmane hissed as it bore its teeth, "That treasure was outside my burrow and was calling for me! You were the one who stole it!"

"I found it first!" Eqoihr scowled as he summoned his staff.

"No, I found it first!"

"I did!"

"No, I did!"

Chihiro frowned as Tallmane and Eqoihr bickered the night away, then turned her attention back down to the statue that laid in her hands. How was she supposed to know just who it belonged to? Would she have to bring out the lie detectors again? But, would applying it to someone else burn through her spell slots? Chihiro wasn't sure, so she just sat down and rubbed her fingers against the statue's pleasant, cool metal surface…

Chihiro, Chihiro…

Chihiro blinked, then jolted her head up and looked around. She was sure she heard someone call her name just now, but from where? Everyone else was more focused on Tallmane and Eqoihr's fight than her! And for that matter, nobody else was around but the four of them! There was no way somebody could've called her, right?

Chihiro, look down here! I'm right before you!

Now that she thought about it, it kind of sounded like that voice was coming from close by! Chihiro hung her head down to the statue and its brilliant glow and quirked an eyebrow. That can't be right! Why on earth would a statue be calling her name?

It's not impossible, you know! I've been calling for you this whole time!

Chihiro gasped and repressed a scream as she tossed the statue in the air, then yanked it back down with both hands and shuddered. The statue, it just talked! That wasn't exactly a good thing, right?

Oh, don't be so worried, Chihiro! I won't hurt you!

"You… You won't?" Chihiro whispered as she tried to repress the trembles that shook through her body.

No, not at all! In fact, I want to stay with you forever and ever!

The world around Chihiro turned a bit pink as she ran her fingers against the statue, and a bit of uncertainty wavered in her heart. True, it was a pretty statue… But, it didn't belong to her, it belonged to Tallmane, or Eqoihr, and she had to return it once she figured out who owned it!

Oh, forget about them! They can't even decide for themselves! You were the one who made sure to keep me safe instead of bickering like they did!

The statue's glow grew brighter, and for a moment Chihiro could've sworn the eyes carved into it shone like actual jewels in the midst of the cold earth!

Don't you think you deserve me more?

Chihiro winced, but her hesitation faded in favor of some kind of strange desire. Out of nowhere, she wanted nothing more than to keep this statue close, like it was the most precious thing in the world, no, the whole universe! In fact, it was! And besides, surely someone like her would be much more suited to protect it than two randos who couldn't even decide who the real owner was, right?

"ALRIGHT!" Chihiro proclaimed as she stood to full height and held the statue high, "I've come to a decision!"

Tallmane, Eqoihr and Fluffy all looked at her with eager, anticipating eyes, while both Tallmen and Eqoihr stepped forward.

"What is it?" Tallmane and Eqoihr both demanded.

"Well, you see…" Chihiro shrugged while magic swirled around her, "Nobody can decide who's right, so I've decided that it belong to me now!"

Chihiro then grinned and waved goodbye as she was enveloped in magical light.

"See~yah!"

The world around her was tinted in a magenta haze as Chihiro teleported far, far away from the clearing where they found that strange man, whose name had come to escape her now. Surely she had left them in the dust, right? Chihiro grinned as she looked back down at the statue, but its magenta glow turned to a reddish tint!

No, Chihiro, you must keep running! Those people, the ones that want to separate us, they'll be after us any second now!

"Eh, I wouldn't be so worried," Chihiro remarked as she stroked the back of the statue, "We're too far away for them to catch up that fast—"

"THERE SHE IS!"

Chihiro nearly jumped out of her skin as that man's voice rang in her ears, then whipped around and squeezed the statue even tighter. Just ahead, she could hear footsteps and spy flashes of purple and brown fur. Seems as though they had found her after all! So much for being too far away!

Chihiro turned back to the statue in her hands, then curled in and teleported another few paces away. In one swift movement, she stashed the statue away in her pocket, then tapped her heels and dashed off with a new speed in her step! Though the magenta tint that colored the world grew thicker and made things less visible, Chihiro wouldn't let it discourage her! She couldn't possibly let those people take her away from her precious, precious treasure… So, she leaned forward and leaped atop a tall rock, then slid back down and dashed up a mountain path.

Yes, yes, keep running! We were destined to be together! The others just don't understand!

A laser shrieked in the distance alongside the sound of a massive rock shattering into bits, but it was no more of Chihiro's concern than the blood that pumped in her ears as she teleported to the foot of a winding mountain trail.

"Get back here! Give us back that statue!"

Chihiro bit her lip, then teleported up the trail in spurts of bright magic! Once she was finally a safe distance ahead, she dashed back up the hill and grunted as sweat drizzled down her head, all while her whole body started to ache… But then, she caught a tiny glimpse of that statue, and her whole body was rejuvenated with a new energy! Yes, she had to remember what she was fighting for! She couldn't let her precious statue be taken away from her! After all, they were destined to be together, right?

The magenta haze grew thicker and thicker as Chihiro ran forward, to the point where she could barely see the path ahead, so she just diverted into the one thing she could see—the entrance to a mountain cavern. With her safety guaranteed for now, Chihiro made a weak smile and pulled the statue out of her pocket.

"I… I, I think we're safe now…" Chihiro whimpered as she brushed her hands against its gentle, cool surface, so gentle, so cold, so comforting… "Good, good thing, too… I'm, I, I need…"

Oh, don't worry about a thing! They'll never get us now!

The statue's glow became a bright magenta star against the mustier magenta hues of the world around, which had grow thicker and so choking that it made Chihiro's head fuzzy.

You'll belong—I, I, mean, I'll belong to you and you along! After all, who would be more fit to guard my beauty than a portal master?

Even though she was so dizzy she could barely keep her head up, Chihiro still made a small, weak chuckle. For that matter, she felt so, so, cold all of a sudden, but that was probably just the nighttime chills at work, right? Chihiro chuckled again, then finally her head had grown so heavy she just hung it down. But, at least she could see her precious treasure… Wait a second, where was it? That treasure of hers, it had completely vanished in a flare of shining, pink light!

Oh, I just can't wait to be with you forever…

Chihiro's heart felt slower and colder all of a sudden, while her head flickered between being so fuzzy that she was completely unable to focus her thoughts to being completely fixed on her, her, her precious… Wait, what was it? Chihiro looked down at the statue again... Right as a sharp laser shot it out of her hands!

"THERE YOU ARE!"

Chihiro gasped and jumped to her feet as the magenta haze cleared from her vision. Had they found her? Chihiro turned back to the cavern's mouth, and found that unfortunately, she was right!

That man whipped out a magical staff while the weird-looking lynx raised its laser cannon tail, both armed and ready to attack! And yet, compared to the other two that purple hyena seemed more… Sad, hesitant maybe? Chihiro couldn't quite read it, but she was sure it was out for her treasure, too!

Chihiro gasped and immediately bolted for the statue, but before she could grab it the man shot a magic blast at her feet and blew her on her back!

"Alright, there's no running anymore! You're completely cornered!" The man proclaimed as he drew his staff towards Chihiro, "Now give us back the statue!"

Chihiro gasped and went to run again, but her body ached so much that she could barely pull herself back to her feet! The most she could do was throw up a swarm of small shields as a barrage of lasers shot her way, but even those immediately shattered the moment the lasers made contact! Chihiro gasped, then lurched down and shuddered. Her breaths were so thick and heavy that they shook her entire body, which ached from every single bone, but, she didn't have time to sulk! Right above her, the man and lynx lurched over and got ready to fire their blows! Chihiro gazed at them with wide, dizzy eyes, then held out a shaky hand and got ready to shoot…

But then, she grunted while her arm fell to the floor. It was no use, she was too exhausted to shoot even one attack! She could only watch as they fired right at her! Well at least, they would have if not for the hyena! It bolted in front of her and snarled down the man and lynx, all while the fur on its back bristled like it was getting ready to attack!

"What are you doing, you stupid mutt?!" The lynx shouted as it bore its teeth, "Let us through!"

"Yeah!" The man demanded as he pushed his staff at the hyena's face, "We need that—"

The man and lynx both jumped back and lowered their weapons as the hyena snapped its jaws at them, then winced and stepped back. But, what for? They were perfectly keen on attacking her not seconds ago…

The hyena turned back around to Chihiro, and in moments its disposition had changed entirely. Its face had softened while its fur floated back down onto its back, and rather than bare its teeth, its chose to attack with its claws instead! It simply raised a paw with a big, magical bandage on it. It seemed kind of familiar, but Chihiro couldn't linger on that for long! Something of that size would strike her down in one blow!

"Stop it, Fluffy!" Chihiro cried as she held out her hand and got ready to shoot, then drew back and blink, "Wait, Fluffy? Where'd that name come from?"

Chihiro paused, and in that moment her gaze fixed on the shiny, black bracelet with its glowing slots that rested around her wrist. Wait, what was that thing? Chihiro drew it closer and frowned, because she certainly hadn't noticed it before. Something about it felt important, like she was forgetting something...

"Fluffy" made a few urging grunts that caught Chihiro's attention, so she poked up back at it then turned her attention back down to the bracelet… And with a blink of her eyes, the magenta haze in her head completely vanished! It had all come back to her—the exam, helping Fluffy, finding Tallmane and Eqoihr. How could she have forgotten?

"What the heck was I doing?" Chihiro exclaimed as the strength flooded into her body and allowed her to stand once more, "I just remember finding that statue and…"

Wait—that statue! Chihiro turned her eyes back to the statue that still laid on the ground, then snarled and balled her hand into a fist.

"You're no ordinary statue, are you?"

No, no, no, no! I'm a perfectly normal statue, don't mind me!

Oh, but Chihiro did mind indeed! She growled, then stormed over to the statue, yanked it off the ground and threw it against the wall!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The statue completely shattered as it hit the wall, and its shattered fragments rolled down onto the ground with a shudder. Finally, that thing was gone!

"Good riddance," Chihiro remarked as she wiped her hands clean, then turned back to the rest of her party.

There, Tallmane and Eqoihr started at the ground with wide eyes and faces doused in cold sweat, almost like they had come out of a trance!

"What… What was I doing?" The two of them said in unison as they looked at each other.

Chihiro just giggled and absentmindedly spun her bracelet around.

"It's a long story!" Chihiro chirped as she opened her mouth, only to shut it as a shudder ran down her spine. She whipped back around to the cave's open mouth, then gasped as she balled her hands into fists. "But something tells me it isn't over yet!"

Everybody gasped as they trained their eyes on the cave's open mouth, where magenta smoke had curled against the open spaces around while thunder crackled in the skies above!

YOU REALLY THOUGHT YOU COULD GET RID OF ME THAT EASILY, DIDN'T YOU?

§

Flamslinger and Ignitor gasped as they stared over Prism Break, or more accurately, the golden statue that was once Prism Break!

He was completely frozen in fear, his mouth and eyes wide open and screaming while his arms hung up in the air for what would probably be the rest of eternity, and his normally brown and green rock body had been coated in a firm layer of gold. The diamond dust from the ceiling had shaken down and coated his body in a glittery film, which might've seem pretty to most…

But not to Flameslinger and Ignitor, who could only look on in horror at the statue that was once Prism Break, that was once their friend!

"Hmmmm…" The dragon hummed as it rubbed its chin and grinned, "You know, that loud-mouthed rock monster looks quite nice this way. In fact…"—the dragon's grin stretched wider as it swooped down towards Prism Break and reached out its claws—"I think I'll make him the new crown jewel of my collection!"

Flameslinger and Ignitor made short, sharp gasps, then dashed in front of the dragon and created a wall of fire as they flung themselves in front of Prism Break! As the dragon stumbled back and screeched, the two of them shot glares that pierced through the dragon's soul and raised their weapons high.

"NOT ON OUR DEAD BODIES!" The two of them vowed at once!

Ignitor slashed his sword in midair while his flames burned hotter and brighter with rage.

"I demand thee turnest our friend back to normal, you accursed monster!" Ignitor exclaimed as smoke churned from the top of his suit, "Or else!"

"Exactly!" Flameslinger affirmed as he loaded his bow with flaming arrows, "Prism Break is a living being, not something for your treasure horde!"

"Oh, how scary, the elf and the walking fireplace want to steal away my treasure!" The dragon crooned as it snarled and let out a few snorts of glittery golden dust, then leaned down and made the kind of wild grin that someone itching to fight did. "I'll tell you what, I'll give him back…"

The dragon screeched forward and opened wide a mouth that shone with brilliant white light.

"IF YOU CAN DEFEAT ME, THAT IS!"

The dragon roared as it shot several rounds of massive, crystalline darts that lodged into the floors, the ceilings, everything around! Cracks formed in the cavern around as these crystalline darts bored forward, and from them came a rain of rocks from above!

Flameslinger and Ignitor both dashed out the way of one ceiling boulder, then Flameslinger backflipped away as another crystal dart nearly pierced him in half! He snarled as he whipped out his bow and shot a couple of flaming arrows towards the dragon… But they just bounced off of the dragon's golden body like they were flimsy sticks!

Flameslinger grimaced and stashed away his bow as the dragon continued its rain of crystalline horror. Seems as though it was far too sturdy for something like that! So, Flameslinger just leaned in and dashed around the dragon while a trail of embers formed underneath his feet!

"Let the flames…" Flameslinger whispered as he finished circling around the dragon, "Begin!"

And with those words spoken, the embers around erupted into a full-on circle of flames! As this wall of fire circled around the dragon, it screamed and stopped shooting off the crystal darts. It tried to turn around and escape, but by then it was no use, for the flames had completely encircled it and left it with no possible escape methods! However, it didn't really seem to realize this yet as it looked every while way for a possible escape route.

And while it was distracted, Flameslinger himself dashed underneath the dragon and ran circles around its paws, which in turn created rings of fire that latched onto those golden paws!

"AUGH! HOT, HOT, HOT!" The dragon cried as it yanked its front paws off the ground, then screamed as it realized those paws were literally on fire! The fire rings had turned into a full-on wildfire that ate away at its scales!

The dragon smacked the ground below and flapped its wings at such an intensity that it completely extinguished both its fiery prison and the flames that melted away its paws, but by then it was a little too late. The fire had not only singed a good part of its legs, but its paws had started to melt away as well! The dragon let out a low, guttural snarl, then turned its fang-filled snarl and shiny golden eyes towards Flameslinger.

"YOU INSOLENT ELF!" The dragon cried as its slammed down and shoved its face in Flameslinger's, all while it snorted out shiny golden dust that coated the cavern floors, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"

"I WOULDN'T BE SO SURE ABOUT THAT!" Ignitor cried.

The sound of clanking metal turned Flameslinger and the dragon aside right as Ignitor leaped in the air and bashed the dragon right in the head with his shield! The dragon wailed in pain as it jolted its head up and held it tight, then growled and swerved its gaze across the floor.

"WHO DID THAT? WHO HARMED MY BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN HEAD?"

Ignitor fell down and rolled across the floor, then turned around and leaped straight out of his armor! While the dragon was distracted, Ignitor dashed forward, slammed into the dragon's wing and ground against that wing until a bright, flaming hole formed in its! As the flames from his little hole spread from it tot he rest of the wing, and then the rest of the dragon's body as well, Ignitor dashed away and hovered over the ground.

The flames extinguished themselves fairly quickly, but the damage they left was more than lasting, as it started to completely melt away the dragon's body! The dragon gasped as it noted the seeping gold liquid that dripped from its shoulders, then frantically blew its golden laser over the shoulder while the gold froze and stabilized.

"Alright, if you're going to turn up the heat…" The dragon snarled as it turned to Flameslinger and Ignitor and raised its jaws wide, "Maybe I should crank things up a notch, too!"

Golden laser blasts shot out from the dragon's mouth and slammed against the ground and patched the ground with shimmering golden spots, but unfortunately it wasn't a very pretty sight!

Flameslinger and Ignitor both jumped out of the way as one laser slammed right between then and turned a part of the wall a bright, sunlike gold, then the two of them split paths and dashed aside! While Ignitor raced in front of the dragon and dodged its blasts, Flameslinger rolled behind some rocks, then turned around and raised a bow loaded with extra-potent flaming arrows. Surely, it was so focused on Ignitor that it wouldn't see those arrows coming, right?

Wrong! The dragon jerked its gaze towards Flameslinger, then shot another golden blast straight at the rocks Flameslinger hid behind! Flameslinger ducked behind the rocks and rolled away as the golden lasers burned them with a golden glaze, then dashed forward and tried to shoot once more… But once again, the lasers threw him off! One by one a trio of lasers screeched towards him, and in response he jumped away from one, then dashed away from the second and third before he readied his bow once more. With a pull and release of his string, a trio of arrows that burned like comets shot straight at the dragon… But it just slammed them with golden lasers and turned them to solid gold!

Flameslinger winced and dove behind another collection of rocks as his arrows clattered around the ground, then turned around and frowned as he tugged his blindfold just a bit downwards.

Ignitor jolted out of the way as these solid gold fire blasts fell onto the floor and made harmless clanks, then shuddered and burst into a gigantic ball of fire! From that ball of fire came two more flaming souls identical to his own!

"Can thou possibly fight off this, foul demon?" The three souls cried in unison as all three of them swirled around the dragon and shot bursts of fire at it… But the dragon just shot off a gigantic flare of golden lasers!

As the lasers seared against the walls and ceiling, the fire mortars tried to get away, but they weren't nearly as fast as the original and that turned out to be their downfall! Both mortars were slammed with lasers and turned to gold in short time, then clacked against the floor as steam poured from their surface.

Ignitor hissed as he floated well above the dragon, then with a shudder his whole body turned blue! Ignitor shot back into his suit of armor, then pulled his flaming sword off the cavern grounds and held it high.

"Seems it is time to SLASH AND BURN!" Ignitor cried as he dashed towards the dragon and slashed his sword against its golden legs!

The flames seared into the dragon's golden body with a sharp hiss and melted away, and in response the dragon howled and swatted away Ignitor! The two of them were so preoccupied with their fight, however, that neither of them noticed something strange.

While the majority of the dragon's body was still that golden color, the paws that were supposedly melted didn't actually melt at all! Their gold had dripped away, yes, but underneath that golden liquid was a bright, white paw! Could it be? Was that golden dragon not actually made of gold like they thought?

Ignitor seemed to have noticed this at last, because he gasped and stumbled away as the golden waterfall pooled onto the floor… But in his shock, he was completely wide open for attack!

The dragon grinned and prepared another golden beam, all while it fixed its eyes on Ignitor.

But, before it could fire, Flameslinger shot a row of golden arrows between them and sent a wall of flames between Ignitor and the dragon! With the dragon distracted, Flameslinger zoomed out, grabbed Ignitor and pulled him behind the rocks that Flameslinger himself had taken shelter under not that much earlier. The flames receded… But thankfully, the rocks were piled so high that their hideout couldn't be spotted!

"Wait, where'd that living campfire go?" The dragon hissed as its eyes drifted around the cavern floors, "Get back here and face me!"

As the dragon spewed out all sorts of insults, however, Flameslinger and Ignitor both just turned to each other with a kind of wonder.

"You saw that too, didn't you?" Flameslinger asked as he pressed a hand against the earth.

"Indeed, Sir Flameslinger," Ignitor said as his flames crept just a tiny bit over the rocks, "Surely, that gold art an armor suit for that loathsome beast… If we were to meltest it away, then it shall be rendereth completely defenseless."

Flameslinger grinned and turned back to where Prism Break laid on the floor, still frozen solid and amazingly completely unaffected despite the ongoing fight. He smirked as he glazed over Prism Break, then he sheathed his eyes with his blindfold.

"And I know just how to do it!" Flameslinger leaped onto the rocks, then jumped off of them and dashed right towards Prism Break. "Follow my lead, Ignitor!"

In one burst of speed and flames, Flameslinger yanked Prism Break off the ground and winced.

"Geez, even for a statue, you're way too heavy," Flameslinger groaned as he got a good grip on Prism Break and looked up at the guardian, "HEY, YOU!"

The dragon blinked, then gasped and dropped its jaw the moment it caught sight of Flameslinger with Prism Break!

"I've got your little crown jewel right here!" Flameslinger made the most mocking grin he could muster as he lugged Prism Break around, "Now catch me if you can!"

Flameslinger dashed towards the entrance, and the pound of footsteps so mighty it made the entire ground quake and leap showed the dragon was quick to follow.

"GIVE BACK MY TREASURE, YOU STUPID ELF!" The dragon demanded as it pounded forward and prepared another laser blast, "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

"Who said anything about getting away?"

Flameslinger smirked, then veered right just as Ignitor flew in front of the entrance and created a gigantic burnt of flames! The dragon screeched and skidded to a stop, then turned tail and raced down the path Flameslinger had taken! It shot a laser ahead and completely glazed over the floor with solid gold… But Flameslinger just leaped onto the golden floors and slid down them like it was an ice rink!

While the sliding and skating was fun, it ultimately came to a quick stop. After all, that short path had ended in a ramp that lead to a completely closed off golden room! Flameslinger grunted, then tossed Prism Break ahead! For a statue, Prism Break was a pretty good skater as he slid across the floor on his own, then leaped off the ramp and landed feet-first on the room's floor!

His teeth still clenched tight, Flameslinger turned back and snarled as the dragon slid down behind him and tried to swat away Ignitor, who dashed and spun around it like an annoying fly.

"IGNITOR!" Flameslinger cried as he withdrew his bow and leaped off the ramp, "NOW!"

Flameslinger spun around in midair and drew his bow, then shot a round of flaming arrows into the ground and smiled as they lit the end of the ramp on fire! However, those flames hardly stretched to the tunnel's top…

So, Ignitor zipped away from the dragon and dashed through the tunnel as he tossed a trio of flaming mortars onto the flames! These mortars stoked the fire as they landed, and soon enough that little flame ignited into a gigantic wall of fire!

Ignitor zipped out of the way, then in moments the dragon slid right through the wall of fire and slammed headfirst into the cavern's wall! It groaned as it slid down and lurched up, then shook its head and splattered liquid gold all across the walls.

"AUGH, MY HEAD!" The dragon wailed as it patted its head… Then gasped as it realized that its head was no longer gold, but rather normal scales! It looked down at its body, then screamed and pressed back against the wall as its golden armor seeped off its body and unveiled the body of a decidedly normal white and gold dragon!

"NO, NO, NOT MY ARMOR!"

The dragon hissed and shot out another blast of golden lasers down at its melting armor… Except that golden blast didn't come! Rather, it shot out a pillar of fire and completely melted away the rest of its armor! The dragon's eyes went wide as it released short, shallow breaths and looked down as the thin, golden liquid that was once the armor it bore so proudly…

"What're you gonna do now, huh?" Flameslinger asked as he readied his arrows, "Your shiny armor's all gone, buddy!"

The dragon snarled and twitched its eye at Flameslinger, then leaped up and flew in place.

"You haven't won yet, elf!" The dragon hissed as it went to fly back up the tunnel, "I'll just reapply my armor manually! In fact, I'll make it even stronger than before, then you'll be sorry!"

"I'm not so sure about that!"

Flameslinger released the string of his bow, and a trio of arrows shot out from his bow and smashed into a trio of crystals that just barely hung from the ceiling on cracked bases! The arrows' blow was enough to shatter the crystals' base completely, then one by one they fell on the dragon's head! The blows struck it so fast that it completely veered off course and smacked headfirst into the walls, then crashed back down onto the floor while its wings twitched.

"Ugh… Curse, you…" The dragon groaned as its eyes drooped up and down, "You, you stupid…"

And just like that, the dragon fell completely unconscious while its tongue lolled out of its muzzle!

But, Flameslinger and Ignitor couldn't bring themselves to celebrate this victory, not just yet. Rather, the two of them turned back to Prism Break, who was still golden and statue still. If melting all that gold away had worked for that dragon, then maybe… Just maybe…

The two of them knelt down beside Prism Break, then Ignitor jumped out of his armor suit and sat next to Prism Break. His flames lapped against Prism Break's body while thin smoke seethed off of it, then the gold melted away to reveal… None other than Prism Break's signature brown stone!

Ignitor gasped with glee, then he leaped onto Prism Break's chest and cast his flames across Prism Break's body! The gold bent under the heat of Ignitor's flames, then melted away entirely while Prism Break's eyes flickered open… Then Prism Break let out a massive scream as he sat back up!

"Prism Break, calm down!" Flameslinger exclaimed as he patted Prism Break's shoulders, "Take a look around, we won!"

"Wait, we did?" Prism Break asked as he looked back at the firmly unconscious dragon, then let out a sigh of relief as he held a hand against his chest, "Guess we did."

The three of them stood up and grinned, then Flameslinger withdrew the sparkling gold hearthstones from his pocket. Though they were pretty like this, they all doubted the hearthstones be functional otherwise, so Flameslinger grabbed an arrow from his quiver and set it alight! As he moved the arrow towards the pile of hearthstones, the gold melted away in his hand… And unveiled a pile of warm, red stones flicked with golden specks that radiates with a pleasant warmth!

With their treasure unveiled and stashed back away in Flameslinger's pocket once more, the three of them leaned one by one across a pile of rocks underneath the ramp, then climbed back onto the ramp and made their way out of the cave...

§

The mist that rose from the broken fragments of the statue shuddered and stretched as it grew larger and larger, than finally formed into a swirling vortex with cackles for lightning. Whatever had been inside that statue, it was definitely a lot more powerful than Chihiro thought it was!

"FINALLY, I CAN GET OUT OF THAT STUPID STATUE!" The vortex boomed with the thunder around as its misty form started to solidify into something that vaguely looked like a body!

Everyone else around gasped and stepped back as the mist packed tighter and tighter until it finally seemed somewhat solid in appearance and took on a vaguely humanoid form with a misty trail for feet, while glowing white eyes that radiated with pure magic opened up on what was presumably its head.

"You may have interfered with my first plan to get a nice, powerful body," the misty ghost said as it rubbed its fingers, "But I'll at least thank you for releasing me."

The ghost narrowed its eyes as it slid forwards and summoned entire handfuls of glowing, magenta spheres that vaguely looked like bombs.

"Because now, you've made things a LOT easier for me! Now, I can finally take my new body by force!"

A lot easier? What was that weird ghost talking about? Chihiro wanted to drill it further, but before she could Eqoihr yanked her backwards as the ghost threw out those mist bombs!

"Take cover!" Eqoihr cried as he teleported behind a large rock!

Chihiro, Fluffy and Tallmane quickly heeded his words and stumbled back as the bombs slammed across the stone platform they stood on and exploded!

As the bombs vanished, the entire battlefield was coated in a thick, magenta smoke that particularly choked out anything else, a veil that kept anyone and anything from being seen!

Chihiro winced and flailed her arms around in some desperate attempt to feel her way through the battlefield, but it wasn't very useful when they were out in such an open space.

"Hey, where is everyone?" Cried Eqoihr from across the fog, though his voice felt more distant than it actually was.

"Forget that, are we even on the mountain still?" Shouted Tallmane, "I can't see a thing in this place!"

Though Fluffy couldn't say any proper words, the whimpers it made were more than enough to show its concern and confusion!

Chihiro winced as she wandered around, but no matter what she was greeted by more thick, magenta fog! What was she supposed to do? Chihiro stepped back and winced, then a chill struck her spine and made her whip around!

"Who's there?" Chihiro demanded as she instinctively threw up a shield!

However, instead of getting a proper answer, something just smacked into her shield and tainted it from its usual cyan to a bright, rich magenta! Chihiro screamed and stumbled back as a menacing face appeared on her shield, but the shield just jumped off the ground and flew into the fog! Chihiro gasped and chased after it, then froze as a familiar whimper hit her ears.

"Fluffy!" Chihiro called as she dashed back into the fog, "Fluffy, Fluffy, where are you?"

Chihiro winced as she looked around, but it was still no use. This fog was so thick, it blanketed everything away from sight! She could try and blow it away herself, but at the same time she couldn't risk wasting a spell slot. She had forgotten what number she was at, but she was sure it was pretty low. What could she do, what should she do?

Chihiro went to check her bracelet… But before she could, a might gust blew the wind away! Chihiro dug her heels into the stone cold earth as the last of the winds whipped away, then when it faded her eyes turned to Tallmane! Tallmane just smiled as it stopped spinning its tail, while a dizzy Eqoihr groaned and sat down beside it. Thankfully those two seemed okay, so that just left Fluffy, whose back was turned as it stared at the night sky.

"Hey, Fluffy!" Chihiro called as she raced up to Fluffy, "Are you alright?"

He he he…

Chihiro froze and stepped back as that creepy voice sounded off in her ears, all while Fluffy shuddered and shook… Then she gasped and jumped back as Fluffy turned around and flashed its magenta eyes!

This isn't quite the form I had in mind, but it'll do!

The ghost-possessed Fluffy snarled as it pounced on Chihiro, but Chihiro was so shocked that she could only stand frozen and watch as Fluffy drew closer and closer in… But before it could land, another magic blast shot it aside and rolled it across the stone floors!

"Are you okay?" Eqoihr asked as he raced in front of Chihiro with a magically charged staff in one hand and a scowl on his face, "I'll take this thing down, you just stay there!"

But while Eqoihr bolted off, Chihiro gasped and grabbed onto his cloak!

"No, don't hurt Fluffy!" Chihiro exclaimed as she pulled back Eqoihr just before he could strike, "The real Fluffy's in there somewhere, I know it!"

However, Eqoihr just snarled and yanked Chihiro off of his cloak!

"You don't know what you're saying, kid! That thing's way too strong to just talk it out!"

Chihiro fell onto the cold, hard rock from sheer shock, then as she shook off the unexpected blow her whole body started to shudder. That's right, that little possession attempt had seriously taken a bit out of her. Her whole body turned numb as she gazed up… Then her head followed as Eqoihr shot a magic blast right at Fluffy's chest! The blood had rushed to her ears and blocked out all sound, but she didn't need sound to know that hurt!

Fluffy skidded across the mountain path and over the cliffside, but luckily it was able to grab onto the top by its front paws and backflip back onto the path! It snarled and closed an eye as it looked back at Eqoihr, who only scoffed as he drew closer and closer with his magically-charged staff held high…

What do I do now? Fluffy's gonna get hurt because of that monster and it's all because of me! Chihiro thought as her heart started to pound in her ears, There's no way I can stop him, and no way I can stop that ghost, either! This is all my fault, I got way in over my head!

Chihiro's breath became a little faster as Eqoihr drew further and further. I should have never tried this! I'll just end up failing again, all because I'm too weak and stupid to do anything! How can someone like me fix all this?

Chihiro shuddered as she curled up into a ball and buried her head into her legs. A part of her wanted to end things right now and get the failure out of the way, but she couldn't bring herself to speak! All she could do was sit there and… Freeze, as a set of words she never expected rang into her head.

You, heck, we all managed to get as far as we did because of how much you cared for everyone and everything!

As Spyro's words from that time rang in her heart and her head alike, Chihiro paused and pulled her head out of her legs. The numbness relented as Fluffy and Eqoihr scratched and smacked and casted spells at each other, but this time it didn't seem nearly as overwhelming as before.

Your heart is your biggest strength, Chihiro. All those enemies we've fought before… All of those guys could never match up!

Chihiro blinked, then stood back to full height. She was still a little numb, and her balance was off enough that she swayed from side to side, but she steadied herself quickly enough.

And that's how I know you'll be able to stop this, because the Chihiro Hatsuki I know cares so much about everyone around her that she'll do anything to save them.

That's right… What was she saying? Chihiro shook her head as the numb, terrified feeling completely vanished, then turned back to Fluffy! Forget the exam and playing the blame and shame game, right now her friend was in danger! She wasn't just going to stand around and watch while Fluffy got possessed by some awful ghost—no, she was going to save it no matter what! Chihiro clenched her brow as she teleported before Fluffy, who grunted as it tried to pull itself up from the sudden blow Eqoihr had just thrown at it.

"KID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Eqoihr exclaimed as he lowered his staff while its glow faded in response, "You'll get—"

Chihiro shot Eqoihr a glare, and that glare seemed to get the message across as he shut his mouth and stepped back. She had the floor now, and she was going to use it to her full advantage!

"Fluffy, Fluffy! It's me! I'm here!" Chihiro called as she turned to Fluffy and cupped her hands around her mouth, while for a moment those tears she thought she was going to cry finally spilled out, "Come on, you can shake this thing, I know you can! If you can get me to come back to my senses, you can do it, too!"

There's no use crying, child! Your little friend belongs to me now!

Chihiro gasped, then screwed her eyes shut and shook her head. "You're wrong! I know it's in there somewhere!"

The hyena finally lunged up and charged at Chihiro, but Chihiro just teleported away and hovered in midair.

"When I completely lost myself to that statue, Fluffy didn't give up on me! It was the one who brought me back, and now I'll do the same for it!" Chihiro gritted her teeth and clenched her fist as tears stung her eyes.

"FLUFFY, REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! You're a good hyena, you love steaks and running around in the forest and belly rubs and, and, and, most of all… You're my friend, and I'm not going to stop until I bring you back!"

Fluffy groaned as it went to attack, but then, as Chihiro's speech ended… It completely froze despite the trembles of its legs, almost like it wasn't in control of its own body.

Chihiro gasped with glee, then her expression turned determined as she rushed forward and placed both her glowing hands on Fluffy's face! From this spell came a bright light and a scream so harsh it forced Chihiro to cover her eyes, but when she opened them, well… She found herself staring into the decidedly normal, slightly confused face of Fluffy! Chihiro blinked back tears of shock, then grinned as Fluffy snorted and licked her face! Chihiro broke into gentle, relieved laughter, but unfortunately, it wouldn't last for long!

A harsh scream pierced the heavens above and yanked Chihiro's attention across the field right as the ghost plunged itself into Eqoihr's chest! She gasped and held out a shield as Eqoihr fell to his knees, then stepped back as he staggered up with full magenta eyes.

Chihiro grunted and held up her shield as the ghost-possessed Eqoihr shot a cavalcade of misty magic blasts at her, then stepped back as Tallmane charged into Eqoihr and knocked the ghost right out of him! The ghost shook its head, then snarled as it raced to possess Tallmane… But before it could, Eqoihr blew it back with a magic blast! It screeched across the air and screamed in pain, then snarled and dashed back.

Oh, you'll pay for that!

As Fluffy, Tallmane, Eqoihr and the ghost all traded blows, Chihiro bit her lip and winced. For a moment it seemed like that rushing feeling of fear would take over again… But she she stomped the floor and shook her head.

"I've gotta stop this thing," Chihiro whispered as her brows clenched tight and her hands twisted her bracelet just a bit slightly without her realizing, "But how?"

Chihiro winced, then held out her hand and shot the bright, rainbow light of a purification spell at the ghost while it hovered in midair… But the spell just bounced off and disappeared into the night!

HAH! FOOLISH CHILD! The ghost turned its attention back to Chihiro and sneered. Your measly purification spells are powerless against me!

So purification was out of the question by far. Chihiro hissed and clenched her teeth as the ghost laughed in her face, then turned back down to her bracelet. Surely, she'd have at least a few spell slots left, right? Wrong—somehow, she only has two spells left! With just two, there was no way she'd be able to pass this thing on her own! Chihiro winced at first where her legs started to go numb, then as she caught sight of Eqiohr, Tallmane and Fluffy, she steeled her gaze and nodded. True, she couldn't pass on her own... But, she wasn't on her own!

"You guys!" Chihiro shouted as Eqoihr, Tallmane and Fluffy looked back at her, "Keep that thing distracted for me!"

Eqoihr nodded, then held out his staff and tossed a magical sphere right at the ghost!

The ghost broke out of its cackling fit, then snarled and rushed in to attack… But before it could, Fluffy tackled it down and bit into it like a chew toy! The ghost screamed as mist seeped out of its body from every angle, but even so it still tried to creep away…

So, Tallmane snapped its tail and bound the ghost tight with a series of magical ropes!

Chihiro grinned as the ghost struggled against its bonds, all while its screamed and screeched like a bat out of the underworld. Now was her chance, but she was gonna have to cut it close… There was no time to procrastinate! So, Chihiro rushed forward and plunged her hands into its misty depths, while the ghost only screeched and squirmed even further!

LET GO OF ME, CHILD! IF YOU DON'T, I'LL POSSESS YOU AND EAT AWAY AT YOUR VERY SOUL UNTIL NOT EVEN A CRUMB OF YOUR ORIGINAL SELF REMAINS!

"Alright!" Chihiro shouted as she splayed out hands that glowed with bright flares, "YOU ASKED!"

Chihiro jumped back as a group of bright, cyan lights shot out of the ghost's misty body, all while its screeches grew more bloodcurling and shrill like it was in am unimaginable amount of pain…

NO, NO, IT CAN'T END THIS WAY! THIS WON'T BE THE LAST YOU SEE OF ME!

The spirit had claimed this, but the moment the final light flickered on a huge explosion of cyan magic flared out from its body and fell all around the area!

Chihiro shield her face from the bright lights, then as the spirit's cries faded and the ground underneath her feet vanished she popped those eyes open… To find that everything had evaporated! Now, it was just her and her friends as they hovered in the fading lights, but even they had started to flicker out of existence. It was an almost bittersweet parting, to be honest. The mission was won, but now they'd part ways, never to see each other again.

Eqoihr and Tallmane both nodded in approval, but Fluffy couldn't stop itself from bounding over and giving Chihiro one last lick! Chihiro chuckled as she nuzzled its face, then turned back to the others and beamed.

"Thanks for everything, guys!" Chihiro shouted as she released the hyena and watched it rejoin the other two, "I'll miss you!"

And with one last nod, her allies faded away with the rest of the light, while Chihiro herself just smiled and closed her eyes as the world became a cold, spacious void like when she first entered.

"Simulation…" Beeped a voice above her, "End!"

§

"So, do you think they're here yet?" Asked one young fire spirit as they flitted to and fro among the crowds of fire spirits that formed outside the village limits, "Do you? Do you?"

"Does it look like there's anyone coming?" Asked the fire spirit beside them as they raised an eyebrow at the first.

"I can't tell!" The first fire spirit groaned as they placed their flaming hands on their sides, "Everybody's all crowded, I can't see a thing!"

So, the first spirit hopped on top of the second's shoulders and scanned the crowds… But unfortunately, it seemed as though there was no sign of Flameslinger, Prism Break or Ignitor just yet. Nothing could be seen over the warmly-colored fields and horizons ahead, save for a cluster of specks that were slightly cooler and duller compared to the rest of the world ahead. Wait a second…

"They're here, they're here!" The first fire spirit cried as it leaned back and pumped its fists to the skies, then grunted as their friend lost balance and fell backwards!

"Whoops!"

The other fire spirits gasped and rumbled among each other with anticipation and glee, all while they shuffled and pushed each other aside in one big pile to try and get a better look. Anticipation bubbled like lava ready to explode as those distant specks grew closer and closer to the crowds of fire spirits… And indeed, it was none other than Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break!

The fire spirit crowds hooted and hollered as they went to run, but before they could, the guards flew in front of the oncoming stampede and pushed them back.

"Back, stay back!" The head of the fire spirit guard cried as they pushed back a few particularly excited spirits, then coughed and turned their attention back to Flameslinger.

The two of them stared in quiet understanding, then finally the fire spirit held out their hand.

"Did you get the stones?"

Flameslinger just smirked and dove his hand into his pocket.

"See for yourself," Flameslinger said as he rummaged through his pocket, then yanked his hand out and presented the guard with none other than the hearthstones!

The guards all gasped and crowded around the head of command while they all basked in the sparkling, warm glory of the hearthstones, then the head of command snatched them out of Flameslinger's palms.

"We need to get these to the Great Flame, stat!"

The crowds of fire spirits splat in half and formed a path through the fire spirit's village, then once the guards, Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break rushed through, the fire spirit crowd all stormed right behind them! This massive crowd made a beeline straight for the temple doors, then rushed through them with such intense they nearly bulldozed the doors down!

The civilian crowd spread across the temple floors and watched with pursed lips and bated breath as the Great Flame coughed and hacked just as hard as it did when Flameslinger, Ignitor and Prism Break first arrived. Though they seemed so happy and certain this would work before, now that the moment of truth was here the mood was completely different.

Fire spirits mumbled and whispered to each other as the Great Flame shuddered and hacked away, then gasped as it shrunk in response to one of the guards yanking the Crucible of the Ages out from under its fire!

The other guards spread out and placed the hearthstones in a circle around the Great Flame, then floated back as the stones glowed with a faint, red light. For a moment, it seemed like nothing would happen aside from the stones glowing a little, and the worried chatter grew louder and more frantic… But after a few moments, the light grew so massive that it completely engulfed the Great Flame!

Everybody gasped as the light poured over the temple room and tinted it a blood-like crimson, then their terrified gasps and panicked cries turned to cheers and smiles as the Great Flame emerged bright and strong from the light, like it had just been lit! And while it burned bright, everyone else's flaming body turned larger and brighter-colored in tandem!

The guards all breathed sighs of relief, then the head guard smiled as they took the Crucible of the Ages and handed it to Flameslinger.

"Well, a deal's a deal," The guard said as they pushed the Crucible closer to Flameslinger, "You held up your end of the bargain, we'll hold up ours!"

Flameslinger grinned as he lifted the Crucible out of the guard's hands… But unfortunately for him, it was still hot to the touch! Flameslinger yelped as he bounced the Crucible around in his hands, then finally Ignitor snatched it away in midair!

"Perhaps it would be best for me to cart this for the rest of our journey," Ignitor said as he cradled the Crucible close to his own flames.

Flameslinger chuckled and made a nod of agreement, then took a look around as all the spirits cheered and basked in the warmth of the great flame. Everything around turned a warm red from the glee and relief that everyone around felt was so infectious that even he broke out in a smile!

"Hey, now that the Great Flame's saved, we should have a party!" Cried one of the guards.

Rousing cheers of agreement shouted from the fire spirits as they dashed further into the temple, and Flameslinger grinned as he followed after them… Then stopped in place as Ignitor and Prism Break shot him icy glares.

"Well, we'd all love to stay," Flameslinger said as he winced and turned towards the temple doors, "But, we have to get the Crucible back to the Core of Light!"

So, the three of them sifted through the crowds and made their way back to the temple doors… But before Flameslinger could make his leave, something tapped on his shoulder and caught his attention. He turned around, and there before him was Infernus again!

"If you're leaving now," Infernus said as they nodded towards Flameslinger, "At least let me thank you for bringing back the hearthstones. First you saved me, then you saved our entire community!"—Infernus looked back towards the Great Flame as it burned with pride—"Who knows what would've happened to the Great Flame if it didn't have a proper hearth…"

"You don't need to thank me," Flameslinger replied as he shook his head, "I was only doing what was right!"

"You said the same thing when you saved me all that time ago." Infernus just smiled even wider as they gently clasped their hands, "I was right to entrust you with my power."

A bit of warmth bubbled in Flameslinger's cheeks, but not the kind of intense fire and rush of pride. Rather, it was a sort of gentle, humbling warmth, one that only seemed a bit warmer as he nodded and made one last, curt bow towards Infernus.

"Flameslinger, are you coming or not?" Prism Break shouted as he jumped off the last of the temple steps, "If you keep lollygagging, we'll have to leave you behind!"

"Coming!"

Flameslinger turned around and dashed down the temple stairs as well, then with their party reformed they all strolled through the town's paths.

Everything burned bright and warm once more, the buildings painted in stunning red and yellow flames while notably healthier-looking fire spirits waved and cheered out cries of gratitude, and in response Flameslinger and Ignitor both smiled and waved back. Even Prism Break cracked a smile and the occasional nod of approval! It was a lot more welcoming than the reception when they initially arrived at the village gates—heck, the guards even gave them approving smiles as they stepped out the village gates! It was so sweet and warm, it almost made them want to stay a little longer.

But, they did have duties to attend to, so they left the village with one last wave and smile and trekked through the massive valleys of flaming flora once more. The path they traveled hadn't changed at all since they first entered, and yet it seemed like it had taken forever to reach the entrance! By the time they stepped foot before it, they were all tired… And yet, oddly enough they didn't feel awful at all! If anything, it was a good kind of tiresome feeling, the one that made them all sigh with relief as they sat down on the warm fire floor. For that moment, all they did was smile and sit in silence as they watched the village burn bright from their place on the other hill.

"Y'know," Prism Break said as he stretched and finally stood to full height, "I think we did good today."

"As doth I," Ignitor replied as he stood with the Crucible still held tight in his grip.

Though Flameslinger said no words, the smile and nod he gave were indication enough that he shared their feelings.

The three of them popped back through the white fire entrance, and in seconds they found themselves back in the heat of the mines from which they came, though this time the heat didn't seem nearly as oppressive as before. In fact, they hardly noticed it as they walked back up to the sealed off entrance!

"You might wanna stand back," Prism Break said as he held his hands tight together.

As Flameslinger and Ignitor heeded his advice and stepped back, Prism Break fired off a gigantic laser straight through the center of the rock pile that sealed the entrance off! The whole pile rolled away and collapsed until it was little more than a short barrier, then Prism Break turned back to Flameslinger and Ignitor and grinned.

"Now, let's get that Crucible back where it belongs."

§

Chihiro made a weak smile as the light faded and she found herself back in the mission simulator room once more, though her smile started to shake and waver as she looked towards Master Eon and Hugo. She defeated that weird smoke ghost, true, but she ran it pretty close... The residual nerves popped and crackled in Chihiro's mind, but either way she forced that smile as Master Eon and Hugo left their stations and joined her at her side.

"So, how did the mission go?" Hugo asked as he grabbed Chihiro's hands, "Did it feel any smoother to you? Nothing felt too strange or slow or odd, right?"

Chihiro just chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"You guys were watching me the whole time!" Chihiro chirped as she stuck her tongue out at Hugo, "You should probably know the answer to that."

"That may be true…" Hugo let go of Chihiro's hands and clasped his own together, "But you can only glean so much from the observer's seat!"

"It was fine, Hugo, don't worry!"

Master Eon and Hugo both breathed sighs of relief, then Master Eon floated closer to Chihiro and swirled around her. Though he seemed particularly pleased judging by the pale pink shade his ghostly body was colored in, Chihiro still couldn't help but feel a bit antsy.

"Nonetheless," Master Eon said as he rested on Chihiro's shoulder, "Is there something you wanted to ask about, young Chihiro? It seems as though something's on your mind."

Chihiro perked up and forced a smile. Yep, she could never get anything past Master Eon, might as well ask and get it over with. So, she pushed her head down and twiddled her thumbs.

"Well, er, Master Eon, I…" Chihiro sputtered as she scuffed her boots against the stone floor, then finally inhaled and exhaled as she looked back up, "Did I pass the exam?"

Master Eon's glow flickered a bit as he flew back.

"Pass? Why in Skylands wouldn't you?" Master Eon flew back and forth almost like he was pacing, "True, you did cut it close and nearly ran out of spell slots, but you still won!"

And with that, all those crackling nerves finally settled! Geez, running it that close gave her quite the scare, but, she did it!

"Thank goodness! I really did pass!" Chihiro cheered as she pumped a fist to the ceiling, then looked down as her bracelet snapped open and clattered to the floor.

"The battle's far from over, however," Master Eon warned as he levitated the bracelet off the ground and dropped it into a stray box, "Your last exam will come soon, and it'll be harder than anything you've ever faced so far!"

All of a sudden, Chihiro's eyes went wide while her whole body locked up like it was the depths of winter and she had forgotten to bring a coat outside. Harder than anything she's ever faced? Those words weren't exactly reassuring… Chihiro clenched her teeth and made a stiff, robotic nod in Master Eon's direction.

"Now, it won't be anything foreign to you." Master Eon bobbed up and down, "However, it will test everything you've come to learn in the time you've stayed with us…"

Well, that was slightly more reassuring. The stiffness in Chihiro's body loosened up enough to make another, less stiff nod and make a slightly more genuine smile.

"Well, it's like I said when I started this exam, right?" Chihiro replied while her voice wavered in a sort of way that seemed like she was reassuring herself more than anyone, "I didn't come this far to only come this far, right?"

Chihiro made a soft giggle as the last of the nervousness fled from her body, and once again she pumped her fists and grinned so hard her cheeks started to ache. "I'm gonna beat that exam and become a true portal master!"

Chihiro leaped in the air and broke into laughter, a kind of infectious laughter that Master Eon joined along in as she fell down to the floor.

"If you're so confident, then we'll perform the exam…" Master Eon flew over to the mission simulator and shut it down, "In a few days. After all, we'll need to tweak the mission simulator and do some test runs to make sure it could handle something of that caliber,"—Master Eon turned back to Chihiro as he and Hugo sat by the control panel once more—"For now, just rest and review!"

"Okie dokie!"

Chihiro grinned and waved goodbye as she swung around the door to the mission simulator's room...

"Oh, and young Chihiro?"

Chihiro lifted her head and turned back around to face Master Eon once more. His body glowed with a gentle light striped in both yellow and pink, both colors so warm and gentle that it gave a kind of cozy feeling to the room around.

"I must commend you on recognizing your biggest strengths," Master Eon remarked as he bobbed up and down, then floated up to Chihiro's ear, "Spyro had told me that you were awfully troubled about your own capabilities the other night... But it seems as though this exam has opened your eyes once more."

Chihiro's mouth gaped open, and she wanted to say something in return, but she wasn't entirely sure what. A tiny bit of emotion fluttered in her heart, but she couldn't entirely glean what it was—relief, surprise, maybe a bit of embarrassment, given that she couldn't really bring herself to share these worries of hers earlier? Well, whatever it was it seemed to calm down as Master Eon floated away.

"Regardless of how your last exam goes, just know that we are all quite proud of you, young Chihiro."

As Master Eon floated back to his spot with Hugo, Chihiro just nodded and smiled as she gripped onto the door. She let go of the door in a moment, but before she could fall down and hit the stairs she was enveloped in light and whisked all the way down to the bottom of the staircase!

The light faded while Chihiro found herself on solid floor once more, and she couldn't help but smile as she sat down and peered up the stairs. She could still faintly remember the days when she could barely teleport a few steps away, or heck, even at all! She was so convinced back then that she could never be good enough for something like this… But now, she was nearly done with her exams! It wouldn't be long before she beat them and was crowned with her title!

"Heh, I've gotten pretty good, haven't I?"

Chihiro smiled as she lingered on those words a bit, and for the first time in a while, she almost felt like she could actually believe them again. She made one last chuckle, then finally Chihiro stood and looked up at the ceiling as her question lingered with the sunbeams that filtered in through the windows. Chihiro teleported over to the portal building's entrance and pushed it open, then grinned as the light embraced her and the autumn breeze brushed through her hair.

But beyond it all, she was sure she could hear… Talking? Excited talking, at that! It couldn't be…

Chihiro skipped out of the building and traced the source of the noise to the Core of Light's spot, where a tiny crowd had formed around Prism Break, Ignitor and Flameslinger! Seems they finally got back from their little treasure hunt! And judging by the strange, hat-like golden object Ignitor held in his heavily-wrapped hands, that treasure hunt was a success!

"The Crucible!" Chihiro cheered as she dashed up to Ignitor, "You got it!"

Chihiro was so overwhelmed with glee that she immediately yanked the Crucible out of Ignitor's hands… But it was so hot to the touch that she immediately squealed and dropped it! Everybody around gasped as the Crucible headed towards the ground, though thankfully Ignitor dropped down and caught it right before it could crash land!

"Careful now, Chihiro," Ignitor warned as he cradled the Crucible like it was his own child, "We went through a lot of trouble to retrievest the Crucible, after all!"

Chihiro chuckled as she scratched her head. "Sorry 'bout that!"

Chihiro reached her hands out towards the Crucible a bit more gingerly and hesitantly than before, then grinned as a magical bubble encased it completely. Now safe from any potential burns, Chihiro lifted the bubbled Crucible out of Ignitor's grasp, then ran back up to the portal building and looked back up at its massive stature.

She could just take the stairs… But teleporting would be way easier, so she teleported away, then popped back outdoors with a very frazzled Hugo by her side!

"Chihiro!" Hugo squealed as he shuddered and patted down his magical static-charged fur, "What in Skylands did you—"

Hugo stopped short in his scolding and gasped as his eyes trailed down to the Crucible of the Ages in Chihiro's hands, then he practically shook his own fur off in his haste.

"Actually, nevermind what I was going to say! We need to get the Crucible in the Core, fast!"

Hugo yanked the Crucible out of Chihiro's hands, but in the process he completely popped the bubble that kept it safe! Hugo yelped and tossed the Crucible in the air the moment it landed in his paws, then Chihiro scrambled and grabbed it… But it ended up burning her hands as well and forced her to tossed it again! She and Hugo played a game of hot potato as they tossed the Crucible back and forth, then Chihiro finally cast out another bubble and caught the Crucible right before it hit the ground!

Hugo cleared his throat and looked aside, then he and Chihiro stepped up to the Core while everyone crowded around them. Hugo, however, didn't mind them as he whipped out his book, then flipped through the pages and came to a stop on a particular page with the Crucible inked onto it next to an inscription. He cleared his throat, recited the incantation…

And just like that, the Crucible flew out of its bubble with a loud pop and slid onto a small, stone platform underneath the massive machine within the Core's center. It was such a small change, and yet something about it completely warmed the area around in both the literal and metaphorical sense!

Everybody's cheer and excitement over the nearly-complete Core was so infectious, it spread to Chihiro and made a new sort of determination and confidence rise in her soul!

She craned her head to the evening-dipped skies and watched the birds fly away, then grinned as she raised her fist to the setting sun.

"I'm definitely gonna pass this last exam!" Chihiro vowed to the skies above, "I'll become a true portal master for sure! And when I do…"

A mischievous twinkle shone in Chihiro's eyes and she leaped into the air, then she tossed her hand out and shot rounds of spheres that exploded underneath the evening sun's light like fireworks.

"I'M GONNA BECOME THE BEST PORTAL MASTER I CAN BE!"

§

Meanwhile, Kaos, the evil overlord of… Maybe around a quarter of Skylands, now, was not having a good day. He paced circles around his evil portal in his evil plotting room of absolute evil magnificence, Glumshanks positioned by his side as he stirred Kaos's hot chocolate just the way Kaos liked it… And yet, the prospect of hot chocolate did little to ease Kaos's concerns.

Though he hadn't shown it and continued to hold his head high like any evil overlord would, Kaos was worried. The Skylanders had been making much more progress on the Core of Light's completion that he ever thought they would! In fact, surely they were nearly done with it at this point! And to make matters worse, his evil empire of ultimate evil had been shrinking faster that he could ever anticipate, his minions had been abandoning him in droves, and on top of that, his luxury hot cocoa supply was nearly done for and none of those no-good greebles he sent out to get more had returned! What was an evil genius to do?

"Is something bothering you, Lord Kaos?" Glumshanks asked as he looked up from stirring Kaos's cocoa, "You seem kind of worried."

Kaos gasped, then turned around and made the biggest smile he could as he puffed out his chest.

"Me, worried? HAH!" Kaos exclaimed as he forced his smile to stretch wider, "Why would I be worried, Glumshanks?"—Kaos looked aside as sweat formed on his evil brow, then went back to pacing and making wild hand gestures—"Sure, we've have a few… Er, setbacks here and there, but it's nothing to worry about! Any evil empire has it's fair share of stumbles and bluffs—"

"I don't know, Lord Kaos." Glumshanks' ears drooped as he clenched his teeth, "I wouldn't call this just a few stumbles. Really, it's more like a few trips down a steep cliff."

Kaos turned back to Glumshanks and clasped his hand while the sweat on his brow fell faster than before. "Now why would you say that?"

"I mean, it's pretty obvious to anyone that our empire's falling apart!" Glumshanks pulled out the cocoa spoon and flailed it around, which sent drops of steaming hot cocoa all across the floor that Kaos just had cleaned, thank you very much!

"After all, we fired the pirates, the drow quit, our troll armies started seceding en masse ever since the Trollfields and Trollcoys rebelled, and the undead forces we got from the new king of the underworld fled after a single fight with the Skylanders. Our armies haven't been the same!"

Glumshanks sighed as he placed the spoon back in the cocoa cup and stirred. "We've barely got any competent soldiers, and without proper enforcement to keep our empire under control, those people we conquered have been taking their islands back and shrinking our empires!"

Kaos made sharp, hissing inhale and looked aside, though he tried to keep his chin high.

"Now, that's hardly an issue worth fretting over, Glumshanks! We may have lost them, but we can always—"

"And that's not even touching on the Skylanders!" Glumshanks twitched his ears as he hit the side of the cup with the spoon, "They've been mobilizing now more than ever, and I'm sure at this rate they've almost got everything they need to finish the Core of Light! They'll get the last components and finish it before we even know it!"

Wait a second! Kaos paused as Glumshanks' words rang in his ears, then he grinned and clapped his hands. Yes, that was it! The key to ailing his woes was right in front of his face all along, and he had overlooked it like some bumbling mabu!

"That's it!" Kaos cried as made another loud clap for emphasis, "That's just the thing we need!"

Glumshanks jolted up his head and grimaced. "Lord Kaos, what in Skylands are you talking about? We've got—"

Kaos, however, just jumped up to Glumshanks' side and made a shushing noise, then pressed a finger against Glumshanks' mouth just for a little more emphasis.

"True, things might be…" Kaos squeezed his hand together and looked aside, "Kind of bad for us right now."

Kaos hopped away from Glumshanks and spread his arms to the ceiling.

"But even though we might be down to mail-order greebles, lab-engineered gremlins, those stupid clones that can't do anything right and whatever else I can scrounge up, and we may have some…" Kaos snarled as he looked aside, "Issues with those stubborn peasants who don't know how to stay conquered,"—Kaos shook his head and grinned back at Glumshanks—"That doesn't matter a bit! We just need to get the Eternal Fire Source, and we'll be golden!"

Glumshanks, sweet, oblivious Glumshanks, just tightened his brows further. "Lord Kaos, I'm not sure—"

"And WHY the Fire Source specifically?" Kaos leaped out in front of Glumshanks specifically, "You see, Glumshanks, if they can keep the Skylanders from getting even one of the Eternal Sources, it'll completely throw a monkey wrench in their plans!"

Kaos whipped around and rubbed his hands from sheer glee. That was all he needed all along, why didn't he think of this earlier? Oh, well, he had thought of it now, and that's all that possibly mattered!

"In fact, the best part about this is…" Kaos said as he turned around and smiled so hard his cheeks started to hurt, "I know exactly where the Eternal Fire Source is already! We can just go ahead and get it before the Skylosers even have a chance!"

Kaos snapped his fingers and closed his eyes. "Oh Evil Phoenix Dragon~"

Kaos waited a few more seconds… But oddly enough, the Evil Phoenix didn't show at all! No bursts of flame, no teleports, nothing! Kaos opened his eyes as his smile loosened just a little and confirmed that no, the Evil Phoenix Dragon had not arrived.

"He-hem!" Kaos cleared his throat and snapped his fingers once more, "Oh Evil Phoenix Dragon!"

And yet, once again it's didn't show at all! Just where was that no-good oaf of a turkey?! Kaos clapped his hands, stomped his feet, pressed the button on his super-evil minion pager of ultimate doom, even hit his fists against the walls! And yet, that stupid bird still didn't appear!

"EVIL PHOENIX DRAGON, GET IN HERE BEFORE I TURN YOU INTO MY NEXT THANKSTAKING TURKEY!"

Kaos lunged forward and snarled as his vision turned red, then he cleared his throat and composed himself as a bright burst of red and purple flames manifested in the middle of his evil plotting room, then transformed into a red and purple cone of that awful Skylander Sunburn!

"Ugh, what do you want, Lord Kaos?" The Evil Phoenix Dragon groaned as the fires dissipated and unveiled it as it lazed around on the floor with one claw pressed to its face, "I was in the middle of my nap…"

"There you are, you good-for-nothing bird!" Kaos scolded as he shook a fist at the Evil Phoenix Dragon, "I was calling you for hours!"

Kaos then cleared his throat and waved his hand. "Evil Phoenix Dragon, tell good old Glumshanks here the results you got from you little project!"

"What project? That project?" The Evil Phoenix Dragon pulled its head up and sighed, "I'd hardly call that a project. All that happened was that weird elf witch throwing some stuff in a pot and saying that it found the Eternal Fire Source in the Law Lakes Railways or Lava Lakes Railways… or something."

The Evil Phoenix Dragon groaned and hung its head as it teleported away in a burst of flames. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to my nap."

"Buh-bye now~"

Kaos's grin stretched even wider without him even realizing as he spun and bounded around his plotting room with all the joy of a small child given a shiny new toy. Oh, he was so beside himself with excitement, he could hardly contain it! He could already envision the terrified looks on the Skylosers' faces as he wiped them to ashes, and the cries of horror the portal poster would make as she begged Kaos for her life… Just the very thought sent evil chills down his spine!

"Oh, I can hardly wait to start!" Kaos proclaimed as he spun around in a circle.

"But, Lord Kaos," Glumshanks said as he pricked up his large ears, "Don't you usually let the minions handle these things?"

"Not this one, Glumshanks!" Kaos whipped around and shook a finger at Glumshanks, "After all, with everything at stake I can't possibly count on those incompetents to handle this themselves! We'll both personally oversee it!"

"Wait, both?"

"Isn't that what I just said?" Kaos quirked a suspicious eyebrow towards Glumshanks, who seemed oddly concerned with that strange frown on his face, then turned around.

"With all hands on deck, there's no possible way those Skylosers and that stupid portal-poster will de-rail our plans!" Kaos let out a hearty cackle at his own brilliantly evil pun. "That's right, I said it! And that's not all! With this, we'll get our evil empire back on the right track! Those Skylosers's train is wrecked!"

Kaos continued to cackle and spew off puns by the earful, then paused for a moment to magic up a pickax and turn around to Glumshanks, who… Had buried his head in his hands and groaned? Did Glumshanks get another one of those migraines? Whatever, it was of no concern to Kaos himself, so he just tossed the pickax at Glumshanks and watched as Glumshanks caught said pickax with his head.

"OWCH!" Glumshanks cried as he jolted his head up right as the pickax fell into his hands.

"Oh, by the way," Kaos said as he clapped his hands, "You're going to need that~"

---

Obligatory Easter egg notes! Prism Break's gilded state is a nod to the Holiday Gold variant of Series Two Prism Break, which, as the name suggests, was a bright gold!