Academy Chronicles: Rise of the Skylanders

Chapter 17: Flying Down

On the Dreamcast, immediately once Sonic and Sayaka left, Spyro and Neptune jumped off. The dragon immediately took off while the girl transformed into her HDD form.

This left me with Kyoko, Pop Fizz, Tails, Madoka and Homura. Then, the latter two made their way to another room to man the turrets on the ship's top and bottom. Pop Fizz, all the while waddled to the seat next to the fox pilot.

"Alright, Pop. Can't believe I'm saying this, but you have to warn me of incoming threats." Tails explained. He leaned forward and tapped a radar on the control panel.

Pop Fizz replied, his ears twitching.

"Aye-aye, Fox guy!"

Kyoko folded her arms in response to Pop's new role.

"Why did you choose him?" She asked.

"Pop, as crazy as he is… his potions can make him very aware of his surroundings." The fox explained.

Pop Fizz is then seen, chugging away at a glowing blue substance. Her burped before turning to us.

"Yeah, gurl! It's the only case where drinking while driving is cool!" He laughed before turning to what seemed to be nothingness and pointed ahead.

"Oh yeah, don't drink and drive kids! I am a trained pro-buuuuuuurp-fessional!"

"Unless you wanna drink too, Nancy Drew." Tails said while keeping his eyes on the sky.

Kyoko, naturally (and intelligently) chooses to refuse the offer.

"Fair enough point. I'm fine."

"I figured. Now hang tight, things might get bumpy!" The fox responded before boosting forward.

We could hear mild vibrations coming from the roof and floor of the ship, telling us that Madoka and Homura are firing away.

I looked out the window. I noticed an incoming group of pale green elves on a variety of jetpacks and winged contraptions.

"Drow coming in on the side!" Pop said to a microphone.

"Got them in my sights." Homura said before the bottom cannon fired a series of rapid-fire lasers straight through the Drow, making them crumble to dust.

All the while, the Dreamcast swerved, dived and rose through the aerial battlefield. I looked down to see Sonic and Sayaka on the tail of the dragon we're trying to reach. Of course, they're having a ball, destroying Drow left and right.

Just then, a violet streak obscured my vision as it blazed across the mirror. It sliced through a set of Drow before slowing down. There flew Purple Heart, twirling her sword to show off. Her lips moved, but I couldn't decipher any of it due to being inside a spaceship.

It's probably one of those quips heroes like them love to do in battle.

Looking as far down as the window would allow me, I saw Spyro swoop below the Dreamcast, burning up any Drow crawling up the ship.

"Tails, we got more Drow heading directly to the front!" Pop Fizz responded.

"Anyone available?" Tails asked over the intercom.

"Taking care of targets on the right!" Homura replied.

"Same here for the top!" Madoka said.

"Nep! Spyro!" Tails called out.

"Pretty busy right now helping the ground squad!" Spyro said on behalf of him and Purple Heart.

Tails then shrugged as he pulled a lever on the Master System.

"Time for the big guns, then." He said.

We felt a small vibration at the front as a barrage of missiles spilt out of the ship's front. There must've been some hidden guns somewhere. As to be expected of the Disciples' trigger happy inventor.

It seemed like everyone's treating this assault like a cakewalk. We're seemingly unstoppable.

…No. They're seemingly unstoppable. There's no reason why me or Kyoko should be included. We're not fighting, we're spectating. The cannons are all manned and there is no sign of a struggle, or need for our help. I turned to Kyoko, who is merely and silently observing the action going on in the outside.

I sighed as I just continued to look outside.

"…You're not good at hiding your feelings, Makoto."

I turned around.

"H-Huh?"

"You should've figured that I would know that you feel distraught. Yet you told me nothing." Kyoko replied.

"I'm that obvious, huh?" I asked.

"You always were."

I looked at her and did a sad smirk.

"So why? Why didn't you say anything?" Kyoko said.

"I… I figured you would be disappointed." I replied after a small silence.

Kyoko held my hand gently as I looked down at her glove.

"How so?"

I exhaled. No hiding anything from her. I wiped my nose and decided to let it all out on her.

"I'm the Ultimate Hope, the… well, ex-Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy and you know, the person who made this decision to come along on this little journey." I explained. "I really… thought I could show Kyosuke that not only would I be capable of fighting alongside the Disciples, but show them they could use a little more people to help them."

"With all this stuff my name has been attached to, I wanted to make it look like I had it under control. One moment, I hoped we'd be called up to do something. But with this being our second fight today, and we're doing nothing… seeing everyone fight I just wonder…"

"…Wonder, what?" Kyoko asked me, her grip getting slightly tired.

"…What can we do?" I muttered.

"We don't have powers. We don't have abilities, weapons… or even proper training." I sighed. "Maybe this time, for once, I've been too hopeful. Can I even be the Ultimate Hope when these superpowered people can do what I can do and mo-"

"Don't finish that sentence." Kyoko said. Her free hand reached out and covered my mouth.

My voice was muffled as I tried to object before calming down and going silent. Kyoko then let go and wiped her glove on her jacket.

"I understand. You think I'd be disappointed because your plan isn't turning out the way you think, and admitting it would let me down. But you know what I'm disappointed in?" She asked.

"So you are disappointed." I replied.

"Answer the question. Do you know what I'm disappointed in?"

"…N-No."

"That you're giving up this easily. This isn't the Makoto I've grown to love. This isn't the Makoto who… who spat in the name of death itself, after witnessing so much. This isn't the Makoto who defended the Remnants of Despair despite overwhelming pressure. This isn't the Makoto who gave sonic the courage to defeat Junko when she had the power of a god. This isn't the Makoto who helped evacuate people during an apocalypse."

I raised my hand slightly.

"To be fair…" I said. "I just gave moral support while they did the fighting, and you actually helped the Disciples during that crisis more than I-"

"Let. Me. Finish." Kyoko said, finger to the lips.

"You still did something. Maybe it wasn't something as grand as dealing the final blow, but you acted like a hero. You are a hope to our world, and even to the people fighting right now. So thinking for a moment that you're not worthy of being the Ultimate Hope? Pardon my language, but that's bullshit and you know it."

I said nothing at that statement.

"So… please. Have hope. This mission isn't over yet and maybe you'll have the chance to maybe do a little more. Okay?"

I blinked for a moment as a tear welled up in my eye. I slowly wiped it away with my fist and nodded.

"O-Okay. I will. I'm sorry… I guess I got a little too negative for once."

"We're not perfect, but I'm glad I'm here so you can see the best in yourself again." Kyoko then leaned forward and pecked me on the cheek. I instantly turned red.

"Y-Yeah. Thank… you." I managed to choke out.

"I… uh, guess we should enjoy the show, then?" I asked as he beckoned Kyoko to look out the window with me.

Flashing me one of those rare smiles, she nodded.

"Sure."

We looked out the window together… to see Sonic and Sayaka pinned down. All the while, Spyro and Neptune are seen struggling with a group of Drow tackling them down, barely remaining afloat.

Our eyes widened. What's going on?!

Just then, the face of a burly Drow, latching onto the Dreamcast covered the window's view, snarling at us. I instantly reacted by jerking backwards onto Kyoko. We looked at every window in our sights to see more and more of those big Drow crowding the windows.

The gun fire could still be heard, but it's been faster than before, as if both are in a constant act of desperation. The alarms begin to ring through the ship.

"It's an all-out assault! I repeat, an all-out assault! Everyone's pinned!" Tails yelled over the intercom.

"No matter how much we shoot, they're still coming! Ah! One's grabbing the turret! I can't… move it!" Madoka cried.

"S-Same here! We've been compromised!" Homura grunted.

"The front guns are disabled! The thrusters are restrained!" Tails exclaimed. "Everyone's down!"

"…Not everyone." Kyoko said.

Tails looked back to see the detective stood up.

"…What can we do?" She asked, grabbing my arm and pulling me up.

Tails stared at us for a moment before snapping out of it and attempting to steer the Dreamcast to shake his foes off to no avail.

"T-There's guns in the back. Use them, I'll open the doors." Tails said. He then turned to Pop. "You too. Grab a gun."

Pop Fizz nodded before hopping off his seat and guiding us to the back, where a metal chest lay in wait.

"Guns… aren't my thing. I got some potions that'll do the trick, but you guys? You can go nuts!" The gremlin said before opening up the chest.

Inside was a large staff of weapons from all sorts of the technological spectrum. Standard bullet-shooters, laser guns, and even those with more abstract abilities like a freeze ray.

Nervously, I dug into it randomly and picked up a set of two handheld pistols.

"I'll, uh, try this!"

Kyoko meanwhile gets out a larger shotgun. It's futuristic appearance indicating that it must be a laser gun of sorts.

"Wow… that's pretty extreme, Kyoko."

"Hm. Might as well try this out. They're harming our friends… no harm in allowing me to express some anger and deal optimal damage, correct?" She replied with a smirk.

"No! Not at all! Express away!" I said.

"Good. Let's not hold back if we are to save the others." She said before locking and loading.

Then, the three of us stand together in front of the door.

"This is it, Makoto. This is the hero work you've been looking for." She said.

I gulped. "Yeah. Let's prove Kyosuke wrong!"

"Open dem hatches!" Pop Fizz shouted as the door opened.

With the sliding, the Drow began crawling in at the opening. I pointed my pistols and for the first time…

…I pulled the trigger.

POW!

A Drow exploded into dust.

POW! POW!

Two more. I could already feel the Dreamcast getting lighter. We stepped closer as the Drow got nearer. The margin for error slowly diminished, but we can't falter now!

Kyoko began to let it rip, shooting multiple lasers at any Drow coming from her side. Pop Fizz meanwhile began tossing acid potions at any unfortunate Drow in his way, causing them to dissolve into nothing once coming into contact with the dangerous liquid.

I continued to shoot with as much speed as possible, baffled how small guns like this can hold so many bullets. The wonder of Tails' tech. As I took down each enemy, I was enveloped in a rush of confidence, knowing this is getting us closer to victory.

My breathing became more erratic, my heart pounded wildly in my chest, I can't even tell if this is a good or bad thing anymore. But I have to keep going!

The three of us pushed forward until we came face-to-face with the sky. We eliminated so many Drow that we have time to breathe before more start coming to us. Sure enough, their forces are changing tactics as evident from the sound of the top and bottom turrets shooting again. The Drow have let go of Madoka and Homura. This means one thing…

"They're coming for us now, get ready!" Kyoko said to me.

"They won't get the chance!" I said, before gulping at what I was about to do. I stuck my head out the door, my face being blasted by turbulence before sticking my hand out. Pop Fizz grabbed my other hand, drinking a potion to become a beast so he had the strength to keep me on board and not lose myself to the wind.

I pointed ahead at the incoming Drow who are clawing on the sides of the Dreamcast towards me. They're the big burly ones… no way can I just shoot them in one hit. I need a strategy.

I began to stare at their hands. I swore, a lightbulb appeared in my head. I aimed at the hand of the closest Drow and shot it. He let go uncontrollably due to the pain and flew off, even knocking some others off the ship and into the big blue abyss.

I laughed in satisfaction.

I then began to shoot more hands off to shake the Drow off. All the while, I heard the sound of more lasers being shot. I turned around to see Kyoko doing the exact same thing, her arm also being helpd back by Pop Fizz's free hand.

"You're doing it, guys! Keep it up!" Tails yelled to us as he begins to regain control of the ship. "Some are letting go of the thrusters!"

The Dreamcast continued to move forward faster, getting closer to Purple Heart and Spyro, who are proceeding to fall thanks to the Drow dogpiling on them.

Noticing this, I aimed away from the incoming Drow for an instance and shot a Drow off Purple Heart. Luckily, that was enough to give Neptune and opening to stick her arm out and spawn her sword, stabbing the rest of the Drow out.

Free, Purple Heart sprouted her digital wings and turned to me.

"My thanks!" She said before flying towards Spyro and slashing the Drow trying to pull the dragon's wings apart, freeing Spyro who naturally retaliates at the rest of the enemies on him.

I smiled as I turn to shoot off the final Drow. The Dreamcast is officially Drow free.

Pop Fizz pulled me and Kyoko back as we tumble to the floor.

"Phew! You saved our lives there, you guys!" Madoka said over the intercom.

I rubbed my head and looked up.

"Not everyone's saved yet!" I said. "We gotta head down!"

Tails turned to us and hummed in acknowledgement. The Dreamcast then proceeded to make its way to Sonic and Sayaka…