|| And here we have Chapter 5 of Swappable Stoppable, AKA "the part where I die a little on the inside". ||

Chapter 5

A light breeze blew through the trees as the sun rose over Woodburrow. Stealth grumbled and rolled onto her back. "Five more minutes..."

"Ya can't sleep all day, elf girl."

Stealth opened her eyes to see Trigger and Whirlwind sitting next to her. "When did you show up?"

"About an hour ago," Whirl replied. "Speaking of hours, Trap Shadow's class is in two."

"Rest up while you can!" Trigger laugh. "Oh, and Spyro kinda wants to kill you."

Stealth yawned. "Great," she muttered.

"I've never seen him this angry at one of us!" Whirlwind exclaimed. "I mean, Spyro is a docile person..."

"Well, would you want to be in that situation?" Trigger challenged. "I can only imagine how uncomfortable it must be to switch species and gender." They both immediately turned to Stealth Elf, who was stretching.

"I'll tell you right now, it certainly isn't pleasant," she told them.

"But is it really all worth it?" Whirlwind questioned. "Everything you'll learn from Trap Shadow will only help you if you're in Spyro's form."

Stealth looked out over the horizon once more, then sighed. "I know you're right, Whirlwind," she said. She laid back down. "I'm going back to sleep..."

"Do you need an alarm clock?" Trigger asked.

"The sun is my alarm clock," Stealth Elf replied. "I grew up in a forest, for crying out loud."

"She has a point, Trig," Whirlwind pointed out. "Let's go, c'mon." Trigger Happy shrugged and followed her back to Woodburrow, leaving the forest elf alone.

Two Hours Later...

"Spyro!" Pop Fizz called.

Stealth approached the training yard, where Trap Shadow's class was held. "Oh... h-hello." (This is happening!)

Voodood waved. "Hey, you're a little less late than usual!" he said.

(Spyro is usually late?) "Uh... y-yeah, I got up early. So, where's, uh... where's Trap Shadow?"

"I think Eon sent him and Spy Rise on a mission this morning," Dune Bug replied.

"Spy Rise is pretty cool!" Pop Fizz exclaimed. "Like, he shoots the stick web thing and then everything explodes!"

"That's true," Voodood acknowledged. "but Freeze Blade is cooler."

There was silence for several moments, then Pop Fizz and Dune Bug burst out laughing. "Nice one!" Dune Bug said.

"Aw, c'mon Spyro," Pop Fizz said when Stealth reacted with a raised eyebrow. "Ya have to admit that was funny!"

"Uh..." Stealth stared at him blankly. "Sure." She kind of ignored him, walking over to one of the practice dummies. She took a deep breath, attracting the attention of the boys.

"What is he doing?" Dune Bug questioned.

"Dunno," Voodood replied.

(Focus. Concentrate.) Stealth was sweating, since apparently dragons can sweat. (Jeez, how does he do this?) Unable to charge it any longer, she unleashed a crazy inferno that scorched all five practice dummies. "Woah!"

"Holy sheep!" the others exclaimed.

"I didn't know you could do that!" Pop Fizz.

"Eh, I didn't either," Stealth replied. (I was just trying Spyro's fire attack-)

"Impressive!" Stealth's thoughts were cut off when Trap Shadow approached.

"T-T-T-Trap Shadow!" she exclaimed. The panther was scratched up all over, and his ear was on fire. He pinched it to smother the flame, then approached Stealth.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Trap asked.

"I, uh, learned it myself..." Stealth replied, her muzzle turning slightly red. "Um... what happened to you?"

"Ah, Fire Geargolem," Trap replied. "and Rip-Rotors. It's nothing, Spy Rise is in worse condition. Your form while commencing that attack was next to perfect. Your wings were folded back at an angle that wouldn't pick up wind current from the blast, and your head was raised just enough to not damage anything beyond your targets. I must say Spyro, I'm impressed."

Stealth blinked, then frowned. "Y-Yeah... Spyro. That's me."

"Hey Spyro, I meant to ask you this," Pop Fizz said. "What's up with your eyes?"

Stealth clenched her teeth. "Well..."

"I'm sure it's just a result of his training," Trap Shadow interrupted. "Like Stealth Elf, for example. Her eyes weren't always that way. Mine were not either. Although it may not last forever with Spyro."

"How come that hasn't happened to us, then?" Dune Bug questioned.

"Well, perhaps you just haven't completed the training to unlock that ability," Trap suggested.

"We've learned everything Spyro has..." Pop Fizz complained.

"We haven't mastered it," Voodood told him.

Trap Shadow turned back to Stealth Elf. "Now, how would you like to learn some real ninjitsu?"

Stealth Elf's jaw dropped. (Does he...?) She shook herself. (I probably shouldn't be surprised at this point.)

Trap grinned and pulled his bandana over his face. "You three just practice your attacks, alright?"

Pop Fizz frowned. "Oh... alright, sir."

Spyro was fast asleep in the highest branch of a tree, snoring loudly. Sunburn was sitting at the base. "Spyro?" he called.

Spyro snorted. "Morning, Sunburn." Apparently it takes him two seconds to wake up. "Why am I in a tree?"

Sunburn chuckled. "Well, that is where Stealth usually sleeps."

Spyro stretched and hopped down from the branch. "So, where is she now?" he asked.

"Hm? Trap Shadow's class," Sunburn replied.

` "The class!" Spyro exclaimed. "That's it! I'll spring her when it's over!"

Sunburn sighed, tilting his head slightly. "Why in the name of Eon are you so pissed at her?"

"She's being unreasonable!" Spyro growled.

"You haven't tried to reason with her," Sunburn pointed out.

Spyro muttered something under his breath. "Whatever. I'm still getting back at her for not letting us switch back."

Sunburn shook his head. "You're so naïve."

"I'm what?" Spyro questioned.

"'Naïve,'" Sunburn replied. "It means, 'to show lack of experience or wisdom.' Basically, I'm saying that you're missing an important piece of the puzzle; Stealth's reasoning for not wanting to switch back. Granted, I think that reason is absurd, but- Spyro?"

Spyro, not caring to listen to Sunburn's rambling, had taken off in the direction of the training yard. "I will defeat Stealth Elf! I will get my body back! And I will stop saying 'I will' because I'll have already done everything I have to!"

Then he ran face-first into a training dummy.

"Ow..."

"Stealth Elf?" Pop Fizz asked. "What're you doin' here?"

"Uh..." Spyro was dusting himself off. "I'm looking for, er, Spyro. Sunburn told me he's here. Have you seen him?"

"You just missed him," Dune Bug replied. "He went off with Trap Shadow to train. I wouldn't disturb them, if I were you."

(Crap. Alright, what would Stealth say in this situation?)

"Okay," Spyro said, trying his best to lower his voice to a whisper like Stealth does. "Thank you, uh, for the information. I'll be going, then."

Trap Shadow's students exchanged glances. "Alright then," Voodood said in a confused tone.

"See you later..." Pop Fizz also sounded confused.

Spyro grumbled, realizing that his impression wasn't very convincing, the ran away. Rather, ran behind a tree. "Yeah, that worked," he growled. "I guess I will have to wait until the class is dismissed." He scaled the tree, a surprisingly easy task, even for being in a much lighter and agile body. "Time for a steak out!"

"C'mon, c'mon!" Trigger Happy called. "We have to find them! Move faster!"

Whirlwind sighed. "Shouldn't we find Sunburn first?" she asked. "I mean, the three of us are Stealth's closest friends. Sunburn is probably looking for her already."

Trig raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "You just can't stop thinking of Sunburn, can you?"

Whirl blushed and turned away. "No, I can't," she admitted. "...but he likes somebody else..."

Trig frowned. "Um... sorry for bringing it up, then." He turned and continued walking. "If we stumble across Sunburn, that's great! If not, oh well. Now we have to find Spyro and elf girl before they decide to kill each other!"

Whirlwind tilted her head, then dashed after him. "Stealth will switch back after the lesson with Trap Shadow," she said. "She already told us that she doesn't like being in Spyro's body, and it's obvious that she already figured out how to switch back."

"Stealth Elf isn't the problem," Trigger Happy reminded her. "Spyro is the problem. He's freaking enraged! And he's too oblivious to see Stealth's reasoning for not immediately switching back. He's gonna spring her as soon as possible..." He rubbed an injury on his left arm. "...and he packs a punch in Stealth's body!"

Whirlwind rubbed her head. "Yeah, you're right, Trig..." she sighed. "We have to stop them before somebody get hurt!"

"Well then, we should head to Trap Shadow's class, shouldn't we?"

Whirlwind turned to Trigger, who gave her a "Wasn't me!" look. They turned to see none other than Sunburn standing behind them.

"Sunburn!" Whirl exclaimed.

"Hey buddy, what are you doing here?" Trig asked.

"Following Spyro," Sunburn replied. "Stealth is at Trap Shadow's class. Spyro is hunting her down." He paused for a moment, then said, "We have to find Spyro before the class is dismissed."

Whirl and Trig nodded, and the trio headed in the direction of the training grounds.

Stealth Elf was standing in the dark Under Hollow, eye closed, seemingly alone. (I've trained in the art of stealth for seven years.) she thought to herself. (I've been a Skylander for two and a half. Even after I joined, I trained myself. I had to.) A shadow slid past her in the darkness. (My vision has always been weak, so I trained my other senses.) The shadow dashed across the other side of the room. (...but that training is lost of Spyro's body. He can see so clearly, but everything else...) The shadow rose up behind her, and her eyes shot open. She launched herself upwards and behind the shadow, stumbling due to being in a heavier body than normal.

The figure turned and stepped forward, revealing itself to be Trap Shadow. "Nice move," he said. "If I had attempted to attack you, you would have jumped just in time. Try to stick that landing next time, though- that stumble could give your opponent just enough time to attack again."

Stealth sighed. "Yes, sensei."

"Sensei?" Trap Shadow questioned. "Isn't that what Stink Bomb has his students call him?"

Stealth blinked, the turned away. "Uh... yeah. I guess it is."

Trap chuckled. "You're very powerful, but you still have much to learn. Of course, I can't see that I have anything to teach you."

Stealth tipped her head. "What do you mean?"

"Well, there's nothing I know that you don't already," Trap replied. "I seriously doubt knowing how to throw a trap will help you." He smirked. "Now a shuriken, on the other hand..."

Stealth scowled. (Seriously?)

"Listen, I think you haven't thought your plan through very well. Perhaps that something you need to learn, but it's not something that can just be taught to you. It's something you have to learn yourself. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Stealth closed her eyes and nodded. "I guess..."

Trap Shadow smiled. "I have to go work with my other students, but I do believe there's somebody waiting for you outside..."

Stealth sighed. "You're right," she said. "Thank you, sensei!" She turned to leave, then paused. (Sensei...)

Spyro's stomach growled. "Gmphrfhgl... I haven't eaten all day... How does she eat with this mask on?" He scratched his head. "Maybe she doesn't."

"...Spyro?"

Spyro blinked and peered over the edge of the branch, to see himself! Well, Stealth Elf in his body. "WAAHH!" He fell of the branch and landed on his face.

Stealth facepalmed. "Please don't do that in my body."

Spyro grumbled. "Well soooooorry if I'm supposed to be quadruped," he growled. He pulled himself to his feet and dusted himself off. "I've been waiting for you forever! Where were you?!"

Stealth shook her head. "Where do you think I was?"

Spyro sweatdropped. "Uh, well, I..."

"There they are!"

The two turned to see Sunburn, Whirlwind, and Trigger Happy approaching fast. "Well, they're still alive..." Whirlwind sighed.

"Sunburn? Whirlwind?" Stealth questioned.

"Trig!" Spyro exclaimed.

Trigger waved nervously. "Uh... hi."

"Hey, what did I miss?" They turned to see Freeze Blade skating over.

"More people?" Stealth shook herself off and turned back to Spyro. "Listen Spyro, I-"

Spyro grumbled. "No, you listen, elf girl. I had to wait through twenty-four hours of being the wrong gender, wrong species, and having the wrong amount of legs, while you ran around doing who the hell knows what." Stealth backed away a little. "I had to just wait around trying to deal with it! I hate your freaking mask, by the way. Oh, and these things?" He pulled out Stealth's Dragonfang Daggers and dropped them on the ground. "Not a fan!"

Stealth gasped. "How dare you!" she growled. "You have no idea how disrespectful that is."

Freeze and Trig exchanged glances. "Hey guys, maybe if we just talked about this..." Freeze began. "Y'know, calmly..."

"I AM CALM!" Spyro and Stealth exclaimed at the same time.

"All I wanted was time to train under Trap Shadow!" Stealth cried. "What's so wrong with that?!"

Spyro seemed about ready to explode. "'What's so wrong with that?!' Seriously?! We've been stuck in each other's bodies for two days!"

"Well, technically..." Sunburn began.

"Shut up, Sunburn," Spyro growled. "Seriously Stealth, you already have a mentor in Stink Bomb! Eon assigned us our mentors for a reason! I mean, really! He could teach you how to throw a shuriken-"

"I DO NOT NEED TO KNOW HOW TO THROW A SHURIKEN!"

The others yelped. "That's the loudest I've ever heard her say something!" Trig exclaimed.

"Me too..." Whirlwind said.

"In my defense, I haven't known you guys very long," Freeze Blade said.

"You know what?!" Spyro exclaimed. "I've had about enough of you!" He snatched the daggers off of the ground and lunged at Stealth. She rolled her eyes and swiftly moved out of the way. "Wha-?" Spyro turned to see that she was behind him now. "How'd I miss?!"

"I'm faster than you," Stealth replied.

"How?! I'm in your body!"

"While you were busy complaining," Stealth Elf responded. "I was figuring out how to control your powers and move around in your body."

Spyro muttered something under his breath. "I still beat you!" he cried, lunging again. Stealth smirked and shot a fire ball at him. "OW! Is that really how it feels on the receiving end?!"

"Stealth has a definite advantage," Sunburn observed.

"But Spyro is really fired up!" Whirlwind laughed. Sunburn rolled his eyes.

Trigger Happy appeared to be extremely confused, glancing back and forth, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. "Go Spyro! No, wait, go Stealth Elf! No, I, uh..."

"I know exactly how you feel," Freeze sighed.

Stealth knocked Spyro to the ground with her tail. "Nice try."

Spyro shot back up and threw one of the daggers at Stealth's head.

Stealth rubbed the spot it hit. "Ow. That's also disrespectful."

"To who, you?" Spyro questioned. "Doesn't matter. I want my body back!"

"Maybe if you would just listen to me-" Spyro tackled her before she could finish her sentence.

"This is bad..." Trig whimpered.

"They're gonna get hurt!" Whirlwind exclaimed. "Sunburn! Do something!"

"Eeeehhh?!" Sunburn cried. "What am I supposed to do?!"

Stealth bit down on Spyro's hair and started pulling.

"Ow! Ow! Quit it! This is why I don't have hair!" Spyro cried. Stealth let let go and Spyro landed on his face again. "...ow."

"You don't have hair because your a dragon," Stealth retorted.

Spyro folded his arms, then slid beneath Stealth and kicked her in the stomach. "WAKKA-POW!"

Stealth went flying and landed on her face, much like Spyro had been all day. "Ow..." she sat up and shook herself off. "What did you just say?!"

"Gibberish," Spyro replied, arms folded and looking very proud of himself. "I said gibberish."

Stealth muttered something, rubbing her head. "This is starting to get really frustrating." Spyro jumped at her and tried to fight the same way she does, but ended up looking like a total idiot, and Stealth tripped him. She raised an eyebrow, then scorched him. "If that's what I look like when I fight, I'm ashamed of myself."

"Shouldn't we do something?" Freeze Blade asked. Trigger shrugged.

Spyro struggled to his feet, then turned back to face Stealth. "You're not the only one who's getting pretty damn frustrated."

Stealth realized something. (An opening... that's my chance!) She charged at Spyro, who didn't react fast enough. They hit heads, and then got knocked out cold.

"STEALTH ELF!" Sunburn and Whirlwind cried.'

"SPYRO!" Trigger Happy and Freeze Blade exclaimed.

They dashed over to their friends' sides and examined them. "Are they okay?" Whirl asked.

"I can't tell..." Sunburn replied. Whirlwind looked disheartened.

Suddenly, Spyro's body started to stir. The others exchanged "is that Spyro or Stealth Elf?" glances. Whoever it was, they slowly sat up and rubbed their head. "Hey..." They opened their eyes and stared at their hand. They gasped then leaped to their feet. "I'm me again!"

Sunburn and Freeze Blade's jaws dropped, Whirlwind let out a sigh of relief, and Trigger Happy's tongue lolled out again.

Spyro laughed. "It's good to be me again!" he exclaimed.

"Spyro!" Trigger Happy latched onto his friend and gave him a hug.

Spyro sweatdropped. "Hey there, Trig."

"So, wait..." Sunburn started.

"If that's Spyro..." Whirlwind continued.

"Then I'm back here."

"AAAAAAAHHHH!" the five screamed, and turned to see Stealth Elf, wide awake.

"W-W-When did you wake up?" Freeze Blade asked.

"About five seconds ago," Stealth replied.

Whirlwind hugged her. "I'm just glad your both back in your own bodies!" she exclaimed.

Stealth sighed. "Me too."

"Me three," Sunburn proclaimed.

"Me four!" Trig cried.

"Me five," Freeze added.

"Me infinity..." Spyro sighed.

Stealth pushed Whirlwind off of her. "I guess I was wrong. There isn't much that Trap Shadow can teach me." She turned to Spyro. "Spyro, on the other hand, could learn a thing or two from him."

Spyro nodded. "Like I said, Master Eon chose our mentors wisely."

You couldn't see it, but Stealth smiled a bit. Then she scowled. "Oh, one more thing, Spyro."

"What is it?"

She thwaked him hard on the head. "That's for soiling my pants."

"Owie..." Spyro stood back up. "Hey, what did you want me to do?! Take them off and-"

Stealth Elf looked enraged.

Spyro flinched. "Uh... I'm gonna end this conversation before you kill me..." Sunburn, Whirlwind and Freeze Blade sweatdropped. Trigger Happy looked confused.

"Nice move," Sunburn said sarcastically.

"I think Stealth is 'all fired up...'" Whirl sighed.

Trig tilted his head, then shook himself off. "Look, it's great that you two got yer happy ending and everything," The others turned to him. "but Spy Rise's class starts in like, five minutes, so I really gotta go..."

Stealth Elf looked at the ground for moment. "Spy Rise's class is at the same time as Stink Bomb's..." Some kind of alarm went off in her head. "AAHH! I-I-I really gotta go!"

Stink Bomb was holding a notepad and a pencil. "Alright, roll call," he said. "Zoo Lou?"

"Here!"

"Bumble Blast?"

"Here."

"Camo?"

"Present!"

"...Stealth Elf?"

Stealth skidded into the hollow, breathing heavily and sweating. "P-Present and accounted for!" she exclaimed.

"Stealth Elf?" Bumble Blast asked.

"You're not late?" Camo questioned.

"...and we didn't have to go find you?" Zoo Lou sounded baffled.

Stealth Elf shook her head. "Nope! I'm here!" She turned to her mentor. "...I think I learned a little something today..."

Stink Bomb smiled. "Well, it's nice to see that you're here," he said. "Now, why don't we start with something simple today? Who wants to learn how to throw a shuriken?"

Stealth raised an eyebrow, then sighed. "That sounds great."

From a distance, Spyro watched the class. He smiled, then flapped his wings and took off over Woodburrow.

To be continued...

|| Oh thank god it's over.

Let's see, what can I say about this story that I haven't already...? Well, even if it is terrible, it did start quite a few things that carry over not only into the later stories, but also the reboot. Stealth and Whirlwind's friendship, Trigger Happy the fourth wall breaker, StealthBurn... It also started the awful, awful "Wakka-Pow!" catchphrase that I'm pretty sure I realized was stupid from the second I came up with it.

Garbage. This entire story is garbage.

God.

Next time: Pop Fizz... of DOOM! ||