Another Road

Stephanie Wyrm: Not my best work...

Prove

The hooks dangling from the ceiling certainly didn't feel very inviting. Elora was picking out her weapons from the rack. She grabbed the axe and weighed it in her hand. "No. Too bulky. What would be a good weapon that would help?" She picked up a sword made of iron and swung it around. "Too rusty. It'll snap in half with one good hit."

Spyro opened the door to the armory and walked in. "Elora? I'm sorry I got you into this."

"Eh, don't worry about it, Spyro. This is just a duel. It's not like we're fighting to the death. It's just like boxing except it isn't fixed!" Her blue eyes met his purple and they held an akward silence.

"I... I got some information on the guy you'll be fighting, Elora. He's a shape-shifter named Oolong."

"Shape-shifter? That doesn't sound reassuring." She grabbed a steel breast plate and slipped it on.

"But he actually flunked out of the shape-shifter's academy, so he can only be transformed for five minutes."

Elora put on a pair of steel gauntlets. She threw punches in the air to get a feel for the weight. "Well, a lot can happen in five minutes."

"Just try to avoid his attacks until his time runs out," said Spyro. "Then you give it all you got!"

"Thanks, Spyro. I'll be sure to take your advice." She finally chose her weapons from the rack. She took a long sword and fixed the sheath over her shoulder. She also armed herself with a sling, and she put on a horned helmet that covered her whole head except for her face. "How do I look?"

Spyro examined her. He liked seeing an armor-clad Elora, it made her seem more capable and independent. "Wow, you look incredible! I bet you could take on a tank!"

Elora smiled. "I don't know about that. Do you think I'm ready then?"

"Definitely! Good luck, Elora." He absent-mindedly planted a kiss on Elora's cheek. Elora put a hand on where she was kissed in shock, her mouth hung wide open, her eyes staring in disbelief. Spyro retreated in embarrassment. "Elora, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." He turned away in shame. "I'm sorry."

Elora watched while Spyro walked away. "Did he really just kiss me? Am I dreaming?" She had no time to ponder. She checked her equipment and left the armory.

Nocturnal Serenity waited impatiently. "It's about time. Ready to go?"

"Yeah. I guess."

Ten minutes later...

Elora stood on a small podium high above the water carrying a large baton. Everyone in the Order was watching from the bleachers. "I thought this was going to be a duel!"

"Yeah, but Ashkor said she doesn't want anyone to get hurt, so we changed the match to a baton battle," said Itrenore.

Elora's opponent stood on the podium infront of her. He looked like a tall and extremely muscular bald man with a grim face. His lower body was like a spider's, eight long legs held onto the pillar. He carried his baton in his human arms. "You're going down!"

"I hardly see how this is fair," said Elora.

"Begin!" shouted Ashkor.

Oolong swung his mighty baton down overhead, Elora blocked it and hit him in the chin. His arachnid legs prevented him from losing his balance and kept him on the podium. He smirked and swung at her knees. Elora jumped and avoided being tripped. She force her baton forward si she could smash one of the shape-shifter's leg, but he stopped the baton with two of his other legs. Elora tried uppercutting him, but he knocked the baton clear out of her hand, sending it into the pool below. She now stood unarmed with nowhere to go. The sitting duck wouldn't give up. She jumped and ducked during the entire fight, avoiding all of Oolong's blows. "Hold still!" he cried. She dodged for a minute, then two. Four whole minutes passed and she was still avoiding his blows. "Take this!" He brought the baton down and hit Elora on the head. She dropped to her knees and held her head in pain. Everyone who watched was booing. She waited for the finishing blow, but it never came. Elora looked up to see Oolong in his true form, a short pig wearing suspenders. He nervously waved. "Ehehehe... Hiya! So... uh. Let's call it a draw?"

"You're pathetic." Elora brought her left hoof up and kicked Oolong odd the podium. Everyone cheered as he splashed into the water.

"Congratulations!" said Itrenore.

"You are worthy to be a Barbarian!" said Ashkor. "You and Spyro both are to be given Barbarian badges. You may go on level F missions and below."

"In addition, you have access to the library and the first six floors of the temple," said Itrenore.

Elora bowed to the Watchers and cheered in excitement. "I won! Woohoo! Cannonball!" The happy faun curled into a ball, jumped off the podium, and made an enormous splash into the pool."

Spyro ran down from the bleachers to congratulate Elora. "Elora, wait up!" He turned and followed her as she walked down the hall. "Wait a moment, Elora!" She turned around smiling. "You did it! Way to go!"

She laughed lightly. "Thanks, Spyro. I'm having a really amazing time."

"And..." Spyro blushed. "I'm sorry about earlier. It came out of nowhere."

The faun decided to have some fun. "What was it you did again?"

"You know! I... kissed you..."

"Really? I don't remember that. Maybe if you demonstrated, I'll remember."

No one who saw Spyro right now would believe he was the purple dragon, his whole body was bright red. "Demostrate?"

"Sure! How did you kiss me?"

Spyro came closer. Is this really happening? He leaned in and puckered his lips. This must be a dream.

As soon as Spyro's lips came close to her cheek, Elora grabbed him and kissed him on the lips. Spyro was stunned at first. Holding the kiss, Elora wrapped her left arm around Spyro and put her right hand to his face. Spyro relaxed and kissed her back.

Stephanie Wyrm: We were going to have Elora fight Dante from Devil May Cry, but we realized there's no way he would be a Raider! He would be a Night Hunter!