Chihiro Hatsuki's Skylanders: Here Come the Giants!

by Tilde-Heart

The past and present collide when an ancient evil from the bowels of Skylands' history is awakened by Kaos as he attempts to restore his empire of evil! Now, Chihiro and the Skylanders must team up with the heroes of Skylands' distant past in order to bring a stop to the revival of the Arkeyan Empire! (Canon-divergent retelling of Skylanders Giants)

10. Chapter 10

ohma flame: What can I say, yanking little development stuff left behind and giving it new life is kind of my thing!~ and your little pun made me chuckle!

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The cold, murky skies of the pirate's territory had been long left behind in everyone's minds as the Dread-Yacht soared through the skies, yet the endless skies of blue and puffy white clouds hardly put them at ease. They may had escaped ghost pirate territory, but how long would it be before they finally got back on track? It had been three days, and no familiar sights had crossed their eyes at all! In fact, a few grumbles had already started about how their captain probably got them lost. Spyro could hear them right at the moment as he leaned over the Dread-Yacht's railing!

"Flynn, are you entirely sure we're going the right way?" Cali asked as she leaned over and examined the map Flynn had taped next to the ship's wheel.

Flynn chuckled as he spun the ship right through a cloud and broke it into vapory puffs. "Of course I am, Cali!" Flynn said as he steered away from another gathering of clouds. "I'm the best pilot in all Skylands! I know these maps like I know the back of my hands! I'm sure we'll get to Kaos's place in no time at all!"

"Somehow, I have a hard time believing that."

Flynn paused and peered at the map again, then frowned and peered over at the window. "Wait a second, were the skies here always this cloudy?"

While Cali groaned and buried her face in her hands, a common recurrence across their trip, Spyro just sighed again and peeled his eyes away from their argument. He couldn't find it in himself to smile, not just yet—he had a mission to worry about, a wannabe supervillain on the loose, lost teammates that might not even be alive still…

Spyro!

The sound of Chihiro's voice rang through Spyro's head again, and he shuddered as he shook it off. That vision of Chihiro sinking into the clouds that marked the ghost pirate's territory during that night, it stuck to him hard and he just couldn't shake it. He could hardly imagine where she was or what happened to her. Surely, she had to be alive and with everyone else, right? She was a portal master, Chihiro could handle things, right? But even a portal master would have trouble surviving a fall that long! Spyro winced at the thought, and his claws wrapped tighter around the railing. Then, smoke flitted across his snout and sent him into a coughing fit! Spyro hacked away as he fanned the smoke away with a flap of his wings, then coughed one last time and popped his eyes open.

The awful smell of burnt material hit his snout, and as his eyes fell back on the skies, he couldn't help but frown further. Thick, murky gray smoke clouds had intermingled with the puffy white ones as the skies changed from their signature blue to more of a seafoamish color, and then to a sickly, murky green. By that point, the clouds had been completely enveloped by smoke, and the smell of oil and burning completely filtered the air! It was absolutely disgusting, and it was all Spyro could do to cover his snout so the smell didn't completely overwhelm him.

"What's up with this place?" Spyro asked aloud.

"Don't ask me!" Trigger Happy added as he hopped up beside Spyro and pointed across the skies. "Ask that oil rig up ahead!"

Spyro unplugged his nose as the others crowded around him, then he craned his head across the Dread-Yacht's deck. Sure enough, past the masses of dark, smoky clouds was a gigantic, mechanical oil rig that spat out smoke and masses of thick smog as it churned away. The screech of metal and machinery rang from its machines, and though it was distant, the repugnant reek of oil exuded from every angle and well across the area, to say nothing of the strange, awful feeling Spyro got just from looking at it! Just what was that thing doing here?

"Just what's with that thing?" Gill Grunt asked as he stood beside Spyro, almost as if he read Spyro's mind in that instant, "I don't recall seeing an oil rig on the map!"

"To be fair, if our pilot sources his maps that same way he sources everything else, I doubt it's very accurate," Stealth Elf added as she crossed her arms.

"I don't know what's up with that place, but just looking at it gives my core processor a glitch," Bouncer groaned as he rubbed his head. "My auditory processors are ringing just looking at it!"

Flynn, meanwhile, just grinned as he spun the wheel and pushed on further. "Nice, an oil place!" Flynn remarked as he steered. "The good ol' Dread-Yacht here was getting' low on fuel!"

The melody of mechanical rhythm grew louder as Flynn soared closer to the rig, while its mechanical platforms coated in oil and rust grew closer in view. The metal was dull in color but patched in all sorts of shades, and its quality seemed shaky at best—the panels were corroded in most areas, were cobbled together and hardly matched in terms of shapes and sizes, with the bolts that held them together just barely fastened. In fact, a few of them popped off and slammed right into an overhead platform, which knocked it down and sent the machines atop it crashing down! Whoever made this thing clearly was short on gold.

"I'm not sure this is the best place to stock up on fuel, Flynn," Cali remarked as she cast a wary glance at the sparking machinery that hung near the Dread-Yacht. "Something about it seemed a little… Mmm…" Cali winced and stepped back as a cable fell from a machine and sparked in her face, then winced as the machine itself passed her by. "Run-down?"

"Ah, it's part of the charm!" Flynn chirped as he finally parked the Dread-Yacht and popped out from the captain's quarters. "'Sides, next fuel station is miles away, and we don't exactly have that kind of fuel. We either get it here, or risk plunging into the great blue yonder,"—Flynn popped his collar and strode down the stairs—"and I'm not willing to find out what's down there yet." the bridge unfurled and dented a plate on the mechanical platform, while Flynn just whistled a tune and strode down. "Anyways, fuel ho!"

Spyro winced, then flew down the platform with Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy and Stealth Elf close in tow. Seems they were all of the same mind—something about this place gave them a bad feeling, and they couldn't exactly let Flynn get himself caught up in trouble. They all took a step forward, but as they did, the panels below rumbled and shuddered! Spyro immediately pushed everyone else back, then grabbed Flynn with his tail and yanked Flynn back too!

Flynn grunted as he slammed back into Spyro, then wrangled himself away from Spyro and scowled. "What was that for, Spyro? What's so scary about a couple of rumbling panels?"

A screech sounded off as the panels shot into the skies, and out from them leaped a bunch of robots! They were simple ones with mismatched metal parts that shot sparks from every joint and angle in their bodies, but they were armed nonetheless! But, more than that, a strange emblem had been carved on their chests, one Spyro couldn't piece together. It looked something like a vaguely stylized crown or wreath with all its branches, but nothing about it rang any bells.

"Halt, intruders!" The robots all cried as one mechanical voice while they pointed sparking sparkplug swords at Flynn. "In the name of our great leader, you will be defeat!"

Flynn screamed and ran behind Spyro as the robots charged forward, while Spyro just charged forward as flames swirled around his horns—but right before the robots could strike, a rain of flaming arrows shot down from the heavens and skewered the robots in their robotic heads! The sparks that flew from the robots grew even more furious as they screeched and beeped, then exploded in a shower of sparks and fires! Spyro himself jumped back, then flapped his wings and cast mighty winds that blew away the flames, with only faint warm mist remaining.

The mist eschewed most things from view, but it was thin enough that a pair of silhouettes, thin and tall and vaguely familiar, crept through its shield.

"Just where did that breeze come from?" Remarked someone with a Francian accent as they tried futilely to fan away the mist.

The figure beside them, who appeared to be wearing armor of some kind, stopped in their tracks and pointed what appeared to be a sword towards Spyro. "Actually, I think I might know, Flameslinger!" Cried a deep, haunting voice.

The mist cleared, and in that instant unveiled Flameslinger and Chop Chop! They both stood and peered at each other for mere moments, then they both turned around and Chop Chop gasped!

"Spyro, what are you doing here?" Chop Chop cried. "I hadn't expected to see you at a place like this!"—Chop Chop craned his head and chuckled—"and the others are with you as well?"

"I could ask you two the same thing!" Spyro cried as he flew up to Chop Chop and Flameslinger. "What're you doing at this weird place?"

"Wait, Spyro? That was you?!" Flameslinger cried. "You're alive?"

"Alive? Why wouldn't I be?" Spyro turned to Flameslinger and frowned.

Flameslinger, however, just burst into a smile as he rubbed Spyro's head. "You had us all worried sick when we lost contact with your team! Some of us thought you were all dead!" Flameslinger chuckled and removed his hand. "Of course, I never doubted you for a moment, but…"

Oh, that. In all that time, Spyro had gotten so caught up in everything that happened that he hadn't even stopped to think about checking in with home base! He felt a little bit bad about it now, knowing how worried everyone must have been, but, he could shoot them a message later.

"Yeah, we um, ran into some complications." Spyro scratched his horn and chuckled. "Long story, we can get you caught up later. For now—"

CRASH!

All heads craned up as the crashes and clangs echoed through the rig, and their eyes immediately locked on the very top, where a gigantic robot gleefully drilled away! Its round yellow face with its glowing white eyes was practically dwarfed by a large body made of orange and brown metal cobbled together, and the massive drills it held for hands burrowed away as mist and bright lights poured from the top! Oil spurted out from around its drills, and the stench of raw, stinky oil it carried turned Spyro away from the sights.

"Actually, you get me caught up first. Just what's going on here?"

"Something bad, that's what," Flameslinger replied as he wrung his hands. "This strange drilling oil rig's been running around Skylands for a good bit now, and word on the street is that Kaos's behind it!"—Flameslinger took hold of his bow and frowned—"that's why we came to investigate."

"Kaos, huh?" Bouncer repeated as he wheeled down the bridge. "That's that little guy that's been giving you some big problems, right?"

Chop Chop stepped back, then winced and knelt in Bouncer's presence, but Flameslinger just casually adjusted his blindfold's position.

"You bet'cha!" Flameslinger replied. "That why we've come here to investigate and, if necessary, shut the place down!"

A shrill, robotic scream sounded out, and Flameslinger winced as he turned back to where several guard robots stabbed a fleeing Drill Sergeant while Hex chased after them all.

"Unfortunately, we're a bit short-staffed…"

"Then we'll just have to offer a hand!" Ninjini cried!

She grinned as she popped up beside Spyro, Flameslinger and Chop Chop, while beside her Hot Head and Crusher jumped off board and rattled all the paneling below—it was a miracle nothing fell off. Underneath them, Stealth Elf, Gill Grunt and Trigger Happy whispered among themselves, then grinned and stepped up.

"And we'll help out as well," Stealth Elf said as she crossed her arms. "If Kaos is running around and causing trouble, then we've gotta stop it!"

"Took the words right out of my mouth, Stealth," Spyro replied as he turned to them and nodded.

Flynn coughed and cleared his throat, and his trademark smirk returned to his face as he strode up and popped his collar. "And, of course, I've gotta make sure you guys don't run into any trouble, if you catch my drift!" Flynn replied as he flexed his arms. "Once those bad guys see my muscles, they'll go crying for their moms!"

"And I'd better make sure you don't run into any trouble yourself," Cali mumbled as she left the ship.

Flameslinger beamed, then nodded and turned around. "Great! Spyro, Stealth Elf, Gill Grunt, and Trigger Happy, come with me," Flameslinger said as he knelt down and fixed his blindfold. "The rest of you, go with Chop Chop. We'll reconverge back here when all's said and done, alright?"

"Right!" Everyone else cried.

And with that said, everyone dissolved into their groups and burst off against the rig, all while the sound of drilling poured through the air above them—but hopefully, not for long!

§

"I should probably explain what's going on here, shouldn't I?" Flameslinger asked as he lead Spyro, Stealth Elf, Gill Grunt and Trigger Happy through the rig's metal jungle. Their feet pattered against the warm metal floors below and added a bit of rhythm to the endless melancholy of sloshing oil and churning machinery.

The other four prompted him on with a nod, and Flameslinger just ripped out a map from his pocket and unfurled it.

"We received a string of distress calls about an island drilling its way through everything it could back at home base," Flameslinger explained. His fingertips brushed against the map's paper, and he only frowned in tandem. "And we had a bad feeling that Kaos was involved, so we shipped up here to get some answers. But, with all the security, that hasn't exactly been easy."

Flameslinger passed the map onto Spyro, who gingerly lifted it from his hands and frowned as he peered it over. The map itself contained a detailed diagram of the rig itself, from the towering oil machines to the masses of scattered buildings and even the inner working. But, most concerning was the emblem printed onto the corners—a fancy thing of vague resemblance to a crown, similar to the emblem that Spyro had seen on the robots. It was nothing like Kaos's emblem, and yet the presence still struck the same amount of concern it did, even though it still didn't ring any bells.

"We snatched this diagram of the rig from some robot just before you got here." Flameslinger pressed a finger to the top of the map. "This robot here is the mastermind behind this entire rig—if we can stop it, that should shut the whole thing down!" Flameslinger drew his finger back and frowned. "Problem is, the way to the top is completely blocked off by an electromagnetic gate, and a pretty strong one at that. Any unauthorized personnel try to sneak in, and…"

Flameslinger grimaced and drew a finger across his neck, while everyone else just shuddered in tandem. And yet, Flameslinger himself just grinned as he tapped the map once more.

"But, luckily, there is a way to disable it! There's three platforms containing generators for the barrier, and if we can destroy them, then we're home free!" Flameslinger drew a finger across the map and tapped one of the circled spots on it. "The first generator should be somewhere around here, I think…"

A sharp crack of lightning sounded off from behind, and Flameslinger grinned as he turned away from the map. "And judging by that lightning crack I just heard, we've found it!"

Spyro rolled up the map and passed it back to Flameslinger, then frowned as he flew forward while bright blue and purple light fell over him. There before him with a massive pillar with a quite literally electric purple plasma ball at its tip that sparked and cracked with energy as it beamed a gigantic stream of lightning up into the skies! Glowing blue rings that cracked with equal amounts of electric energy surrounded its metal pillar and shocked everything within range. Yeah, this definitely felt like a generator for an electromagnetic barrier!

"Guess we know what to do, then!" Spyro cried as his eyes flashed brown. Just a couple of large crystals would be all it took to take this down, he was sure of it!

Behind him, Gill Grunt and Trigger Happy readied their guns, and Flameslinger held out a bow loaded with embers that sparked with fire at their tips. The light of the arrows' fire beamed off of their arrows and tinged Gill Grunt's harpoons and Trigger Happy's guns in shades of sunset orange, bright and brilliant like the attack they were ready to give.

"Ready, aim," Spyro called as the breath in his throat hardened and ached with a sharp sting. "FIRE!"

Sharp, shiny crystals burst out from from Spyro's mouth and shot straight for the generator, and soon enough they were flanked by golden coins, anchors, and an entire barrage of flaming arrows! They all melded together into one bright burst as they hurtled straight for the generator, their power as bright and crackling as the hot flaming energy that spewed from them. But just as they came within inches of the generator, the entire blast completely evaporated! Its components crackled and burst into tiny bits as it froze in midair, only able to rain down on the floor and get whisked away by the breeze.

"What the!? What happened?" Spyro cried as he stepped back. "How did that just disappear?"

A shriek hit the air, and the lines between the floor's panels glowed a bright blue as a cage made entirely of energy formed around the generator! Electricity crackled off of the cage as sirens blared, while down from the rigs hopped even more run-down robot enforcers that swirled around it. Though the lightning that burst from the cage zapped them forward, they still stayed still as ever as they clutched their weapons.

"Halt, intruders! Step away from the generator!" The robots cried as one as they turned their swords and plugs on Spyro's group.

"… Ah," Flameslinger said as he lowered his bow just slightly. "I had a feeling this was a little too easy."

Spyro snarled, then lowered his horns and scraped his paws against the metal. It tore and cracked underneath his blows, but he hardly cared as he charged forward while his horns were engulfed by fire! Spyro shouted out as he slammed right into one of the robots and tossed it back into two robots behind him, then his eyes turned on the trio of robots that glared him down and pointed their sparking, crackling plugs in his face. Spyro, however, just chuckled and blinked! His eyes flashed an azure the color of clear skies, and the flames that engulfed his horns turned to electricity instead! A ball of electric energy formed between his horns, and Spyro jumped up and grinned as the lightning shot down and completely fried the robots!

As they sputtered and exploded into fumes of black smoke, Flameslinger rolled through the smoke and knelt down as he trained his bow's line on sight on the robots who charged right for him! He only smirked as they came within his range, then he let slip the bow's string and skewered their chests with his arrows! The robots exploded into flaming bursts… And the cage flickered!

Spyro blinked, then soared back down and grinned as he examined the smoldering spot where the robots once rested—except now, it only carried a burnt, round object that flickered with orange fire! He circled around the cage with care paid to the ground, where two other orbs rested on the floor, then dodged a bolt of lightning and swept back to Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy and Stealth Elf.

"Hey, everyone! I've got an idea!" Spyro cried as he pointed his tail fin towards the orbs. "See those orbs?" the trio nodded, and Spyro only grinned. "See if you can bust up those robots beside them—we should be able to take down the cage that way!"

Gill Grunt smirked as several robots charged towards him and clanked the whole way, but as they came just inches within the orb, he shot them with a burst of steaming hot water! The robots wailed and sparked as the water seeped into their circuit, then they exploded into an electrical burst and took the orb below their feet with them. The cage flickered out once more, and Gill Grunt smirked as he held his cannon at his side… Then he gasped and flew off as a gigantic green tiger crashed forward!

"Woo-hoy, ride 'em cowboy!" Trigger Happy shouted as he rid on Stealth Elf's back, his guns literally blazing with golden fire! He leaped off of Stealth Elf's back and grinned as several robots pointed their spears towards him. But his gaze was more fixed on the orb they stood behind!

"POW POW POW!"

With one click of his guns, flaming gold coins burst out from Trigger Happy's guns and completely cut off the robots' heads! Their cables and inner machinery sparked and flames as the coins bounced off behind them, then a massive explosion burst from their bodies and completely took out the last orb! Trigger Happy chuckled and spun his guns around his fingers as the light faded, while Spyro, Flameslinger and Gill Grunt all smirked as they walked right back to his side.

"Alright, this time for real," Spyro said as he yanked open his jaw. His eyes flashed brown, and that choking feeling came back as the crystals formed in his throat. "Ready, aim…"

Gill Grunt and Trigger Happy both pointed their guns, and Flameslinger loaded his bow and stretched out its string.

"FIRE!"

Once again, their combined attack shot off into the distance and merged together as it hurtled straight for the generator. The burst slammed right into the heart of the generator and forged a hole in its center, while the generator itself just sparked and exploded! The lights around them flickered and dimmed as the generator expired, but quickly restored themselves save for one! Over by a passageway with a large barrier, the twin, ringed pillars that flanked both its sides flickered as the color in their top rings faded!

All of them grinned as they faced each other, while Stealth Elf leaped down and returned to normal. She yanked the map out of Flameslinger's pocket and stretched it open, then rolled it back up and shoved it back shut.

"The next generator shouldn't be far from here!" Stealth Elf shouted. She flipped back into the air, and in that moment she transformed back into her tiger form with a mighty roar and crashed back down!

Spyro, Flameslinger, Gill Grunt and Trigger Happy all flinched as she turned around and gazed at them with an open jaw full of sharp teeth, but she just nudged her head aside. Their eyes flickered, and they warily climbed her back and clutched her fur tight as she stormed forward! The ground underneath her paws shuddered and panels popped out as she strode forward, her eyes narrowed on a generator that flashed with blue and purple light ahead and the blue orbs of light that surrounded it. With a pound of her footsteps, she leaped forward and pounced on one orb, shattering it to bits underneath her paws, raced forward and smashed the next two underpaw… Then, as the sight of blue light shone in the air, she strode and slammed right through the generator! Her massive jaws snapped the generator in half and tore it up like it was a chew toy, and once again the lights flickered as the generator died. Beside her the middle rings of that passageway's pillars faded away, and Stealth Elf just purred as everyone slid off her back. She returned back to her normal form in a puff of smoke, then smiled and brushed green fur from her clothes.

"Thank you for riding with the Stealth Elf express," Stealth Elf chuckled to herself, while a chuckle sounded behind her.

"I never would've expected you could pull off something like that," Flameslinger remarked.

"Beats walking." Stealth Elf snatched the map from Flameslinger once more and turned around as she examined it. "Anyways, that last generator should be somewhere around—"—Stealth Elf tore her eyes from the map for a second, then gasped and slammed it shut—"—here?!"

Flameslinger frowned as Stealth Elf shoved the map back in his arms, then she yanked out a smoke bomb and slammed it on the floor! While everyone coughed and hacked around her, Stealth Elf pushed them behind some barrels and frowned as she popped her head over one.

"What was that for, Stealth Elf?!" Spyro spat as he popped his head up.

Stealth Elf shushed him, and her brows dug into her eyes as she jabbed a finger to the path ahead.

More robots trekked across the pathways as Stealth Elf's smoke bomb finally cleared up, but they looked nothing like the shabby patchwork robots they fought against! No, these robots were tall and sleek in build, and covered from head to toe in shiny red and gold armor. They said no words as they clutched their sparking maces tight and trekked down the halls. But, they didn't need to, for their appearance alone was enough to show their Arkeyans origins!

"Arkeyans? What are they doing here?" Spyro cried.

"I have a feeling I know why, but it's not good." Stealth Elf hissed underneath her breath. Her fingers dug into the rim of the oil barrel she hid behind, then she flipped over it and motioned towards the others.

"Come on, we need to find out where those things are going!"

So the others crept out from behind the barrels and tip-toed across the floor.

§

The door creaked to a close behind Flynn and Cali as they joined the others inside, and the first thing they were met with was expansive, all-encompassing darkness. The faint sound of toiling machinery could be heard just barely in the distance, intermingled with strong stenches of oil and gasoline to create something almost vaguely unnerving.

"Supposedly, there's a few machines in here that controls the robots scattered around this area, but this path ahead leads to the central one," Hex explained as she crafted as glowing skull. Hex sent the skull floating with a gentle push, and its light glowed bright enough to illuminate a rusted metal path underneath their feet. "If we can access that and destroy it, then this should make our job much easier."

Hex frowned as the skull floated in place, then waved out her head as the light grew brighter—and yet, it still barely touched the world around!

"Just leave the rest of the lighting to us," Ninjini remarked as her eyes glowed with a milky white light. She grinned and pulled her bottle from her back, then shook it up and sent it floating out as pink and blue light poured from its glass.

Bouncer grinned as beams of light shot from his own eyes, while warm embers crackled from the pits in Hot Head's hands and head and brought a nice amber light to the world around. Even Crusher's own crystals and eyes glowed like shiny gems, and added a nice, cooler hue to the warm light that surrounded. And more importantly, with all the light, they could finally see their surroundings!

The dark room they had entered was not a cavern, but some kind of mechanical hangar with puddles of oil and gasoline scattered around its rusted floors and oily graffiti painted on the walls. Metal lamps with no light swung from the top of the ceiling while barrels and crates made of metal had been piled up in plenty of places. But, after that was complete darkness yet again. Yet within that darkness, a handle of small, bright lights like glowing eyes poked out and scurried off!

Everyone else turned their weapons on while Flynn and Cali just gasped and backed away, but Cali only winced and clutched her teeth tight. Her eyes skittered over to her left, then she gasped and shot out a hand—for the eyes had locked back on her again!

"Over there!" Cali cried!

All weapons turned on them, but whatever held these eyes disappeared! The sounds of scurrying echoed faint but steady throughout the hangar… Then disappeared. Everyone turned around in whatever direction they could, but there were no eyes to be found!

Flynn nudged closer to Cali, then winced and rubbed his shoulder. "You think they're gone?" Flynn whispered as he glazed over the eyes' last spot.

Bouncer frowned and lowered his hands.

"Seems like it," Bouncer replied as he clasped his robotic fist. "Let's just get moving."

So, they all gulped and held their weapons tight as they crept through the hangar and up one of the massive metal ramps that lead to its next half. And yet, all of them still scanned the area, fingers twitching and hands rested close to weapons as they trailed through the hangar. After all, no matter where they walked, something had latched onto them, its eyes burning and searing into their souls as they crept. Something was watching them, they were all sure of it, and yet they had no idea what it was or where it was from! And maybe they might've just been hearing things, but it sounded like something was whispering too?

So, they just hit the top of the ramp and fixed their lights back on the never-ending stretches of darkness. But just before they could, a bunch of glowing white eyes popped out from the darkness!

"There they are!" Flynn cried as he pointed to them!

"I knew something was watching us!" Bouncer cried as he flipped the tops of his fingers open. "Everyone, prepare to open—"

"MOLEKIN, ATTACK!"

"FIRE?!"

Screams and footsteps echoed around the hangar, and out into the light burst a ton of molekin dressed in workers' clothing and baring crude hammers and swords! The molekin screamed as they banged their weapons against the base of Bouncer's legs, and Bouncer himself just wheeled back and grunted.

"Hey, what's going on here?!" Bouncer cried as the molekin rushed forward and continued to bang away, though they did little other than leave tiny dents. "What's got your processors fried?!"

"Don't play innocent, you big bucket of bolts!" Cried one of the molekin as they slammed a hammer against the top of Bouncer's wheel. "You're one of those fancy Arkeyan thingamambobs Kaos is using, aren't you?!"

"We're not letting you destroy our home any longer!" Cried another molekin as she banged her fist on Bouncer's rim.

"Yeah!" Cried all the other molekin.

Bouncer, however, just snarled and spun around with such force that it sent the molekin flying! They all grunted as they hit the floors, and Bouncer just scoffed and crossed his arms.

"What are you talking about?! I'm not one of Kaos's machines or whatever, I came here to stop him!"

"That's what they all say, buddy!" Cried the hammer-bearing molekin as they waved their hammer in the air. "But you can't fool us!"

"Yeah!" The other molekin shouted.

"Wait, did you say Kaos is using Arkeyans?" Hex asked.

Her skull's light flashed a bit brighter as she floated up to the molekin, who all shuddered in her presence, then finally blinked.

"Wait, a Skylander?" The hammer molekin exclaimed, gesturing up to Bouncer. "And you're with that guy?"

"Yes, he's one of us." Hex waved a hand around her skull and increased its light just enough that the rest of the group could be seen behind her. "We came here because we received your calls about Kaos invading."

The molekin blinked, then chuckled and scratched their heads.

"Sorry 'bout the misunderstanding, then!" The hammer wielding molekin wandered up to Bouncer and patted his wheel. "We've been driven into hiding here for so long, we haven't seen a friendly face in ages!"

Bouncer scoffed, then loosened his arms as he bent down just a little to face them. "But just what are you even doing hiding down here, anyways?"

The molekin all sighed, then the one wielding the hammer fiddled with their weapon as they frowned.

"Name's Clay, I'll handle the explaining here. You see, this island used to be our home!" The hammer molekin explained. "It was a really nice place once, but then Kaos decided to take it over! Said it had everything he needed to rebuild his armies—lots of oil, lots of Arkeyans buried underneath…"

Clay sighed again.

"We tried our best to fight back, but his armies were so powerful that we were forced to go into hiding! Then, he turned our home into a gigantic oil rig, and worse, a drilling plant to dig up more Arkeyan forces!" Clay scowled, and his hands trembled as he clutched his hammer. "So, we've been biding our time down here, looking for ways to stop his forces!"

"And luckily, we found one!" perked up one molekin, who then chuckled as they placed a hand on their chest, "all thanks to me, Pitts, of course~"

"And that is?" Hex prompted as she floated towards Pitts.

Pitts, in response, just strode ahead and waved. "Follow me, I'll explain on the way."

As everyone else followed him down the way, Pitts just cleared his throat.

"All these Arkeyan robots are being controlled by a signal-spreading box near the back of this place! Unfortunately, it's too big and fancy for us to take down…" Pitts turned around and winked as he turned to the group. "But, you Skylanders could probably knocked it down no problem!"

Hex just nodded, her face cold and stoic as ever as she clutched her skull tight, then, she gasped as the lights in the hangar flickered on! Golden light poured above her and illuminated the hangar at all angles, yet she seemed hardly pleased as she floated back.

"Who turned on the lights?!" Flynn cried.

The sirens screeched even louder, and everyone just knelt down and shielded their ears while the lights grew harsher, almost blinding even! But underneath their harsh glare, they could just barely spy the shiny glint of armor as something red and gold and bright all over marched up from the other side of the platform. Wait, no, it wasn't something—it was some things! An entire army of Arkeyan robots with weapons in tow came marching in as the sirens sang and the lights shone, and their eyes immediately glared with a particularly harsh shade of red as they glared down everyone else! And judging by the way they pointed their weapons kept in such a harsh grip, they weren't particularly happy with their visitors!

"Arkeyans?! We must have set off the security system!" cried Clay as he turned back to the rest of the molekin. "Did anyone here press anything weird or something?"

At the very notion, one of the molekin just chuckled as sweat started to creep down his face. "By any chance, would a panel with an angry face count as something weird?"

"… Muddy, what did you do?"

The molekin was presumbly Muddy just chuckled and stepped away, which unveiled that sure enough, underneath him was a panel with an angry-looking, crown-bearing face that glared at those above it! It had sunk into the rest of the floors, and its color had dulled considerably compared to the rest.

"I may have stepped on this when I wasn't looking."

Clay snarled as he prepared to chew out Muddy, but he didn't get the chance! The firm thunk of clanking metal sounded behind him, and whirring intermingled with the song of sirens above as the Arkeyans all charged right for them!

"Intruders will be punished by order of the great king!" The Arkeyans big and small cried as they raised their weapons!

The molekin all screamed as the Arkeyans came charging for them, but the Skylanders and Elder Elementals alike just rushed in after them!

"We'll take care of this, sirs!" Drill Sergeant cried as his exhaust fumes huffed from his pipe.

And while they ran, Cali just yanked Flynn's hand and rushed right in.

"Wait, Cali, what do you think you're doing?!" Flynn cried.

"You're always saying you're super strong and a super great pilot and stuff, right?" Cali shot back as she drew out a blade with her free hand. "Well, now's the time to prove it! I'm sure they're gonna need backup!"

Flynn just gulped and adjust his scarf. "Yeah, yes, I was about to say, I'm sure they could really use some help!"

Cali let go of Flynn's hand as she dashed ahead, and the moment she did, the robots immediately swarmed Flynn! He yelped as they all closed him in with their sparkling swords and maces and their glaring eyes, but gulped away his fear as he raised up his fists.

"Alright buddies, I'm warning you," Flynn proclaimed as the robots came closer, while he himself just inched further away with every inch they took. "I'm really tough, you know! I could beat twenty of you guys in your sleep, so if you wanna run away now, I'd highly recommend it—"

Flynn screamed and ducked as one of the robots swung for him, and in that moment his instinct kicked in and he socked the robot right in the chest! Flynn yowled in pain as he pulled back his pained hand, but at the very least, his punch seemed to work! The robot he had socked reeled backwards, and a stray blow from Drill Sergeant wiped it clean in half!

"Well, I tried to warn you!" Flynn shouted, a look of pride on his face as he placed his hands on his hips.

But then. another robot swung for him and he was forced to duck! That robot's blow hit another one of its companions and knocked its head clean off instead, and without a head to guide it, the robot completely fritzed! It swung its mace in every which way as it tried to locate Flynn, and knocked down even more of the robots around it! Those robots hit the floor with a clang, then screeched as they rushed in and attacked the mace robot right back! Flynn had been completely forgotten to them as they slammed and slashed and smacked each other…

And in the midst of the anarchy, Flynn just whistled and crawled out from underneath the heap! While the robots were busy scrapping each other to pieces, he just smirked and crossed his arms.

"Yeah, I knew I was too tough for them," Flynn said with a firm nod.

A burst of fire exploded just inches away from Flynn's face, and he just jumped away and gasped as bright flames coated the area around! He turned his eyes back to the front, and just ahead of him the flaming remains of an explosion burned bright, with Cali at the center of it all, holding a shield about as big as she was.

"Pocket shields, always a good thing to have," Cali panted as the flames quelled themselves. With a tap of its top, the shield became no bigger than a piece of candy, and Cali smiled as she stuffed it back into her pocket. But as she did, the sound of burning, creaking metal hit her ears and she yanked her head back up!

Right then and there, the smoke that coated the area started to clear, and out from it came the very robots that Cali that had been aflame! They were smoking and coated in fire, yet they were no less enthusiastic as they charged after Cali! Cali, in response, only snarled as she yanked a canteen from her sack and uncorked it.

"You guys just don't give you, do you?" Cali exclaimed as she tossed the canteen's liquid contents out. "How about you cool down for a change?!"

The water splashed over the robots like a miniature tidal wave, and their flames were quenched as the water seeped into their circuits and froze them in place! Sparks flew from their joints as they dropped their weapons, and in that moment they exploded for good! Their fried bits rained across the area as Cali wiped her forehead.

"Cali, behind you!" Flynn cried!

Then, she gasped and spun around as an Arkeyan warrior tried to slice her down! She snarled and yanked a sword and shield from the ground as the robot lunged for her once more, but as it struck, she just flung her shield in front of it! Its sword lodged into the melting metal of the shield and froze within, while Cali tossed the shield away and slashed her own sword across the Arkeyan's chest!

Sparks and blue smoke flew from the Arkeyan as she kicked it backwards… And unfortunately, right into where Drill Sergeant was chasing after a couple Arkeyan imps! The Arkeyan soldier exploded the moment, and Drill Sergeant screamed as he went flying across the room!

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Drill Sergeant cried as he bounced across the floor, then finally smashed into a pile of metal crates. Spirals formed in his bright eyes as he laid dented and upside-down on the crates' dented remains, and his wheels only spun. "My pain processers are at an extreme threshold…"

"Sorry, Drill Sergeant!" Cali cried as she rushed over and pushed Drill Sergeant back on his wheels. "Are you alright?"

"Perhaps if my optical sensors would stop spinning!"

The sound of pounding footsteps caught both their ears, and Cali snarled as she lifted her head. More Arkeyans soldiers charged right for them, and in response Cali just yanked a grenade from her pockets! She yanked the grenade's pin out, then tossed them into the crowd!

"Eat fire, metalheads!"

Drill Sergeant squeaked and dashed off, but Cali just stood and plugged her ears as the grenade exploded and sent a burst of flames shooting off in all directions! The fires rained down on the Arkeyans and burned away their metal arms, then a gigantic skull bowled them all down into scrap!

The skull cackled as it flew back to Hex, who radiated with magic as several other skulls floated around her. That magic aura strengthened, and in response the skulls only cackled harder as they set their sights on a group of medium-sized, shield-bearing Arkeyans! The skulls' glowing eyes rattled in their sockets as they bounced up like guard dogs raring for a bite at something—Hex didn't even have to say a word! She just pointed a finger at the Arkeyans, and the skulls rushed right towards him, jaws chomping and all!

The Arkeyans screeched and turned on their heels as they rushed away from the skulls, but the skulls caught up and tackled right into them! The whole fleet was sent barreling right towards where Chop Chop had sliced down another mace-bearing Arkeyan. But before they could hit, a string of rockets flung forward and skewered their bodies! The Arkeyans' hole-ridden hulls shot right towards Chop Chop instead, and he just charged forward and slammed them with his shield!

The Arkeyans flew right towards Bouncer, who turned around, then smirked and caught them in midair! A faint explosion sounded in his tightened fist, and he just smirked and released it as the crumpled bits of the Arkeyan soldiers cascaded down onto the fields.

"They call this a defense system?" Bouncer remarked. "I've faced worse stuff in my sleep!"

Larger thunks sounded off from ahead, ones so massive that the lights above swung and shuddered, and Bouncer turned his head and frowned. Ahead of him, a trio of larger Arkeyan robots poured out from the hangar's doors, ones at least his size and coated from head to toe in shiny metal armor. Their eyes glowed with what was surely laser light as they came to a stop, and Bouncer only smirked as they locked eyes with him.

"This, however, is more my speed!"

Bouncer's wheel revved underneath him, and he became little more than a blur as he zipped all around the room! Here one way and there the next, it was impossible for anyone sentient to keep an eye on him—much less the robots! They only spun their heads around as they shot off strings of lasers and tried to burn him down, but they just got everything but! They burned the walls, blew up barrels and crates, even smashed a few lightbulbs in their unsuccessful attempts to nail Bouncer! Their lasers slammed into each others' faces and shattered their eyes, with smoke pouring out from the broken glass as they reeled back and held their heads! Their bodies creaked and groaned as they staggered up, while Bouncer just chuckled and skidded right in front of him.

"Guess you just can't deal with the wheel, huh?" Bouncer remarked as his eyes glowed a bright red. "Now, how about you get a taste of your own medicine?"

Bright, thick lasers screeched from Bouncer's eyes and latched onto two of the robots' chests, all with such power that it cut a massive midsection right through it! Smoke billowed from the robots' chests as they stumbled backwards, then a shing sounded as wishblades shot up from down below and slashed their chests to pieces!

Ninjini teleported up and cast a shield before her and Bouncer as the robots exploded, then they both smirked as the smoke cleared, and jolted up as the sound of pounding footsteps chased after them! As it turned out, the last of the robots had survived the blow, and it was ready to kill! It bounded forward and summoned a gigantic cleaver as it stormed right for Bouncer and Ninjini… But just before it could strike, Crusher flipped between them and blacked its cleaver with his hammer! Crusher grunted as he tossed the cleaver aside, then his eyes glowed bright as lasers from his own eyes seared into the robot! But, instead of blowing it to bits, the robot was just encased in a casing of solid rock! Hard granite covered it from head to toe as Crusher's eye lasers finally ceased, and with a grunt he slammed his hammer right through it and sent its rocky remains raining down on those below!

Everyone smaller than a giant screamed and sought shelter any way they could as the rocks smashed down on the Arkeyans below, while the familiar rev of a motorcycle's engine stopped everyone in their tracks!

Behind them, Hot Head had screeched up in his bike form, then slid around and winked.

"Anyone need a ride?" Hot Head asked.

Flynn and Cali both grinned, then climbed onto Hot Head's back and slowly lifted everyone else on as well! As the last of the molekin climbed on, Hot Head cried out in utter glee and zipped right past the others with such speed that his tracks burned in his wake!

Crusher and Ninjini both chuckled as they trailed after them, and Bouncer was almost quick to follow. However, just as he wheeled after them, his eyes flickered and he grunted as he held his head in his hands! His metal teeth chattered and his fingers twitched as pained grunts came him just loud enough to catch Ninjini's ears.

"Bouncer, is something wrong?" Ninjini asked as she floated up to him and lifted his head.

Bouncer, however, just forced a smile as he lifted up his head. "No, it's nothing," Bouncer sputtered, despite the sparks that crackled from his chattering teeth. "Let's just hurry up and scrap this thing."

Ninjini warily lifted her hands from Bouncer's face, and her lips pursed with a frown. Yet, she didn't press the issue any further as she followed after Crusher, while Bouncer just winced and wheeled after her. The occasional spark popped from his joints as he held his arms, and his eyes flickered as he wheeled underneath the hangar's door and trailed through its dimly-lit halls.

"Chop, are you sure you're fine?" Hex's voice echoed from the halls. "You seem strange…"

"No stranger than your average living skeleton," Chop Chop croaked back.

"Same thing goes for you, Drill Sergeant," Cali asked. "You've been sputtering and sparking ever since we got in here!"

"Must just be a minor glitch in the circuits, sir!" Drill Sergeant sputtered. "One of those robots must have hit me pretty hard."

Bouncer groaned and held his head as he wheeled back in, and all eyes locked on him again.

"Bouncer too?" Cali asked as she walked up to Bouncer and rubbed a hand against his wheel. "What's going on with you three?"—Cali raised a brow—"wait a second, aren't you three Arkeyans?"

"Oh, forget about that! We found it!" Clay shouted. "We found the control box!"

"You did?"

Everyone else turned away and dashed across the room, then stopped short and ducked as Hot Head flung a massive panel aside and slammed it into the wall! There before them was a giant mechanical box with massive, steam-powered circuity for its inner machinations, all working away with vigor despite the rust that showed its age. Wiring and beeping lights could be faintly spied from within the guts of the machine, and a faint ringing seemed to emit from it.

"If we trash this thing, then those robots are toast!" Clay proclaimed.

"What are we waiting for then?" Hot Head asked as embers burst from his hands and vanished. "I've been itching to set something alight!"

A bright wail burst from ahead, and everyone stopped in their tracks as red light poured down from above.

"WARNING, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS OF MAIN SYSTEM! ALL FORCES TO MAIN SYSTEM!"

"Well you better do it soon then buddy!" Clay cried as they turned to Hot Head. "The alarms are already going off!"

"Soon's my middle name!" Hot Head cried. "I'll get this thing burned off in an…"

Sparks and agonized screams shot off from behind, and Hot Head completely froze in his tracks as he craned his head back to the others! Back over there, everyone else jumped out of the way as Bouncer, Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant screamed so loudly it shattered a few stray glass panels! As Bouncer, Drill Sergeant and Chop Chop sputtered out nonsense and fell to their knees, everyone else gasped and turned around. Sparks flew from the trios' mouths as they wailed in agony and battered their own bodies, as if something was attacking them from the inside!

"Chop!" Hex cried as she flew over and brushed his face. "What's wrong?"

Chop Chop, however, just groaned in pain and fell to his knees as his sword and shield clattered before him, his voice warped and crackling like static as he sputtered out nonsense of all sorts! His whole body shuddered, and sparks of undead energy cracked from his bones with every moment he stood further!

"Something, my mind… Something's digging its claws into my mind!" Chop Chop gasped, his normally strong and wavering voice trilled and barely able to make more than a whisper!

He groaned and collapsed back to the floor as his shield rolled out of his hands and spun in a circle, then sparks bounced off of it as Drill Sergeant sparked and popped at every angle! His limbs cracked and bubbled and shuddered as if they were barely being kept together, and all sorts of numbers flashed through his eyes.

"Error, system protocols malfunctioning!" Drill Sergeant cried as more sparks flew from his grate. "Logic circuits down, reasoning circuits down, memory circuits losing power, all systems shutting dooooooowwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn…"

A clunk and a pop of smoke sounded off as the lights in Drill Sergeant's eyes faded out, and his body slunk sideways and clunked over! And behind him, a massive crash so big it kicked up dust everywhere came as Bouncer crashed into the ground!

"Bouncer!" Hot Head cried! He reached out a hand, and the embers around him faded completely as he rushed for Bouncer… But, the sound of blaring sirens stopped him in his tracks!

"Hurry up and take care of that box!" Ninjini spat as she and Crusher heaved up Bouncer's unconscious body. "We'll take care of…"

"YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO DO THIS!" Beckoned a trio of robotic, identical voices.

A bright red flash came from beside Ninjini, and she gasped and turned back to Bouncer. "Them?"

Bouncer's eyes turned a bright red, and he merely wheeled out of Ninjini and Crusher's arms! He was alright, it seemed… But, he didn't carry the same aura. He seemed much more ominous, malevolent, even as he pushed Hot Head aside and stood in front of the box!

And behind him, Drill Sergeant and Chop Chop rose up while their own eyes turned red as well! The two of them said not a word, they just trailed up to Bouncer's sides and turned their weapons on their own allies!

"YOU SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO DESTROY THE MAIN SYSTEM!" They all cried with that same robotic voice!

§

Flameslinger, Spyro, Gill Grunt, Stealth Elf and Trigger Happy all dove behind a wall, then poked their heads out as the robots trailed towards a distant building surrounded by tons more identical robots. With their red and gold polish and knightly aesthetics, there was no doubt these were of Arkeyan craft—but what in Skylands were they doing here on this rig, of all places? Well, there was one very likely answer for that, but it wasn't a particularly relieving one.

"If Kaos's already gotten some Arkeyans unearthed," Stealth Elf whispered. "Then that means bad news for us."

"But are those really things he got?" Gill Grunt asked as he peered down at Stealth Elf.

Down at the bottom, Spyro frowned and snapped his claws, while a pair of magical walkie-talkies manifested in his front paws. He placed one to the ground, and it slithered like a snake across the oil-stained metal floors while its sparkles dulled, then sat upright as the Arkeyans stopped before two gremlins wearing… Office clothes? Why would they be wearing something like that in a place like this?

Whatever the reason, Spyro just placed the walkie-talkie still in his paw up to his ear.

"We'll find out soon enough," he whispered as he tuned the walkie-talkie and frowned.

The volume increased as static crackled off of the speakers, then finally the noise settled as voices crept over their speakers!

"No intruders to be reported, sirs," The Arkeyans' robotic voices crackled over the walkie-talkie.

The sound of smacking lips popped over the speaker, and Spyro winced for a moment as he pushed the walkie-talkie away before he pressed it closer to his ear.

"No intruders?" Repeated one distinctly organic voice over the speakers. "Then what caused two of the generators to go down?"

"Maybe they petered out?" Suggested another, slightly higher voice. "After all, those things didn't look pretty cheap…"

"Ah, I don't care!" Cried the first person, and the sound of footsteps pattered over the crackle of radio static. "It's the one lunch break Lord Kaos allotted me this week, and I'm going to take advantage of it! That work is for the drones!"

The sound of a door shutting came over the speaker, and Spyro frowned and lifted his head as the gremlins walked inside the gigantic building ahead and slammed the door shut.

"So this was being run by Kaos after all!" Flameslinger cried, before he hummed and rubbed his chin. "But, why didn't it have his emblem and stuff on it? He usually plasters his face everywhere he goes!"

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out," Stealth Elf added. "Spyro, give me that thing—I'm going in."

Spyro nodded, and with a single squeeze, the walkie-talkie in his hands transformed into a listening device. He handed it over to Stealth Elf, and she just nodded as she took it from his paws and became invisible to the naked eye!

Stealth Elf leaped out from the barrels, yet you wouldn't have known if not for the faint sounds of rattling metal that gave away her movement! She was so silent as she crept on tip-toes across the metal and dove behind the collections of barrels and crates that were scattered about the rig. As she drew closer to the house, Stealth Elf took one step forward, and underneath her, a panel creaked and caught the Arkeyan robots' attention! She immediately dove behind a crate and stood still as the Arkeyan robots crept around and peered towards the empty space behind…

Then flew aside with thick slashes covering their chests! They bounced across the rig and fell on its side in moments, while Stealth Elf herself just dashed up and planted herself on the side of the building. Her breath was bated as she stood silent for a few mere moments, then she skittered aside as the door flung open.

"Ugh, back to the oil grind," moaned a gremlin in work clothes as they trodded out the door.

Stealth Elf dove in just before the door closed, frowned and lifted the listening device up as she glazed down the halls. Everything bore a shiny, polished red and gold aesthetic, something completely unlike Kaos's more somber tastes. Portraits and fancy tapestries were hung from the walls, jewels lined the floors… And more importantly, gigantic glass windows lined halls of red metal, all with different sights—workers talking around a cooler of water, Arkeyan robots being brought to life by scientists in stained robes, others being repaired… But which one would give her the information she needed?

Stealth Elf slunk down, then pressed the listening device to one of the doors and frowned as she flicked her ears.

"So then I said, 'Do I love her? I hardly even know her!' But they said…"

Stealth Elf shook her head and pulled away the listening device. "Not this one," she whispered as she crept towards the room with the reanimated Arkeyan robot and pressed the device against it.

"It's alive! It's alive!" Cried the scientist on the other side. "I've revived an actual Arkeyan robot!"

A loud thunk sounded off as the robot punched the scientist into a wall, but the scientist was hardly fussed as they popped out! Though their eyes spun in their head and a few of their teeth had fallen out, they just grinned and gave a thumbs up!

"And it's super strong, too!"

"Not that one, either," Stealth Elf whispered as she passed the door by. Her eyes fell on the room where two scientist repaired busted and dusted Arkeyan robots, and her eyes raised as they fell on two of the sights. So, she crept up to the door and pressed the device to its side.

"This thing has all sorts of ancient tech in it! Squeedleblotches and rotary gears, boltentenders and more…"

Stealth Elf just sighed, and her ears drooped as she pulled away the listening device. "I didn't understand a word of that."

Stealth Elf sighed again, and her ears twitched as a faintly familiar voice hit the air. Behind her, two gremlins exited a door at the very end of the hall… But not just any two gremlins were they—no, these were the same gremlins Spyro had eavesdropped on earlier! Stealth Elf gasped, then pressed herself against the walls and remained still as she could, her eyes fixed on the gremlins as they trailed down the halls.

"Y'know," remarked one to the other. "Lord Kaos has been acting pretty strange lately…"

"Kaos is already particularly strange, I'd say," Stealth Elf scoffed, then she gasped and shut her mouth as the first gremlin paused!

"Did you say something?" The first gremlin asked as it twitched its ears. The second gremlin just shook its head, and the first gremlin shrugged as it turned back to walking.

"Ever since that briefing a few days ago, he's been getting dressed up in all those fancy things and talking about kings and demanding all this fancy stuff! If I have to make him another exquisite stuffed turkey with the finest ingredients in all Skylands, I'll just shove it in his face!"

"Tell me about it," the second gremlin scoffed as they crossed their arms. "Not to mention him ranting all about Arkeyans and unearthing and old ruin sites and stuff! What does he think he's gonna get with all these old robots? Sure they're fancy and all, but I'm pretty sure hiking all across Skylands looking for them in this old junker is wasting our time way more than begging some unlucky saps to join." the gremlin rolled their eyes. "I've even heard he's planning to go to Arkus! Can you believe that?"

"Arkus?" Stealth Elf barely even whispered. "As in, the capital of the old Arkeyan Empire Arkus?"

"Going to Arkus, now that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" The first gremlin cried between bursts of laughter. "Even if he has one of those big fancy Arkeyan robots, that whole city's probably sixty feet under! What does he hope to gain from that?"

"I think that robot went to his head and now he thinks he's some Arkeyan king or something!"

The two gremlins laughed it off as they disappeared down the halls, but Stealth Elf didn't find it nearly as funny as they did. Rather, sweat crept down her brow as she scrambled down the halls and swept out the door.

"If he's already doing all this, he's way more ahead than we thought!" Stealth Elf whispered as she side-stepped the squeaky panel that gave her away before, then sprung behind a stack of crates and flipped out… Completely visible! The faint sight of Spyro's horns drew her back to her allies' hiding place, and she stopped short as Spyro popped his head out the barrels.

"Any news, Stealth?" Spyro asked.

"Yeah, bad news!" Stealth Elf cried. "Not only has Kaos been using this thing to unearth Arkeyans, but he's already trying to find a way to Arkus! And with the way people were talking, it seemed like he wasn't all that far off!"

"All that, already?" Spyro exclaimed! He popped back and away from the barrels, then winced as he clasped his claws. "I forgot how fast that guy works…"

"Well, we're just gonna have to slow him down!" Gill Grunt cried as he hoisted up his water gun.

"Yeah, yeah, Gill's right!" Trigger Happy cried as he bounced from foot to foot. "We'll just blow us this rig, that'll definitely slow him down!"

Flameslinger smiled, then unrolled the map and pulled his blindfold down. "The third generator should be right around here," Flameslinger said as his flaming eyes scanned the map. "Once we take that down, we should be able to take down the whole rig—"

"HALT, INTRUDERS! IN THE NAME OF THE GREAT LEADER!"

The map fell from Flameslinger's hands as he hastily fixed his blindfold over his eyes, and everyone else snarled as they turned around and were met with a faceful of sparking electrical swords! Behind them, a quartet of Arkeyan robots glared them down and thrust the swords further.

"Only four?" Flameslinger asked as he loaded his bow and arrow. "Now I'd hardly call that a challenge!"

Flameslinger let slip his bowstring, and four flaming arrows shot out from his bow and hit the robots right in their chests! They skidded back and exploded into flaming pillars as Flameslinger slung his bow over his back.

"Now, I'd say we get going before we get anymore unwanted attention," Flameslinger said…

But, Stealth Elf just winced as the flames died. "Actually, I'd say we've already got it!" She cried.

The employees seated in the factory poured out as the flames died, and they all gasped as their eyes fell on Flameslinger, Spyro, Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy and Stealth Elf!

"So that's what happened to our generators!" One of the gremlin cried as they pulled a pen from their coat and morphed it into an electric sword with a click of the tip. "Skylanders happened!"

"You bet we did!" Spyro shouted as he flew over the barrels and slammed down in front of the gremlins and ogres that surrounded him. Smoke puffed from his nostrils, and it served as a warning enough for them to back away. "And we'll do the same thing to you!" more smoke puffed from Spyro's nostrils, but he just grimaced and hung his head. "Okay, that sounded way better in my head, but the point still stands!"

Purple flames burned at Spyro's lips, and he leaped into the air and shot a string of purple fireballs down on the ground! The minions below him screamed and backed away as they pointed their weaponry towards the flames, then they ran off as suits of armor made of magic leaped from the flames and chased them down!

As the suits waved their swords in the air, the screaming minions just made a beeline back for their building! But right as they ran in, Gill Grunt and Trigger Happy slid right in front of them with guns fully charged! Blasts of water and bursts of golden light shot out from their guns, and the minions were sent flying—all save for one gremlin who slid underneath them and hurried towards the building!

"That one's getting away!" Gill Grunt cried!

"But not for long!" Flameslinger cried as he loaded his bow with arrows! He arched it high and shot off the arrows, which all rained down in fast pursuit of the gremlin!

But the gremlin just ran faster! An arrow exploded behind it and tossed it across to the building, and it just frantically opened up a panel and slammed down a bright red button underneath it! Stealth Elf popped up behind it and kicked it away shortly afterwards—but it was of no use!

Sirens sounded off from within the building, only barely muffled by its closed doors, then the roof of it peeled open and out from it shot legions of Arkeyan robots! The robots all closed in and bolstered the minions' ranks, and in response Spyro and Flameslinger just backed up. Even with Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy and Stealth Elf joining them soon after, they were completely outnumbered.

"We've had worse," Spyro said as his lips twitched. "This isn't gonna stop us!"

And right as Spyro said this, the ground quaked below him and shadows rained down from above! Spyro craned his head up, then grunted and slammed into a stack of crates as giant Arkeyan robots crashed down and sent massive winds right into them all!

Gill Grunt, Trigger Happy, Stealth Elf and Flameslinger joined him in the pile as they were tossed down, and all five of them just winced and pulled themselves up as the minions cackled and climbed atop the large Arkeyans' shoulders.

"I just had to say it, didn't I?" Spyro grunted.

Above them, however, the gremlin just grinned and glared them down.

"What are you gonna do now, Skylanders?"

§

While Chop Chop, Drill Sergeant and Bouncer's bright red eyes glared them down, everyone else just winced and backed away. Their grip was held tight to their weapons, yet the three of them just stood still and silent as sparks flew from their joints.

"Bouncer, Drill Sergeant, Chop Chop! What's happened to you?" Cali cried as she stepped forward. "Why're you acting so weird?"

The three of them turned their gazes down on Cali, then, they all screamed and rushed forward. "Obliterate the intruders!" They all cried as one!

Bouncer sped ahead of Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant as everyone else just stood and watched, then he shot out his hands and flipped down his fingertips! Bursts of orange light shot out and went screeching towards everyone down below, but just before they could land a hit, Ninjini teleported in front of them and blasted the shots away with magic orbs!

"Bouncer, what's gotten into you?!" Ninjini cried! Her mouth twisted into a scowl as she gripped her blades tight, and her scowl only grew as Bouncer just glared her down, still and silent as ever. "This isn't the Bouncer I know!"

"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!" Bouncer bellowed as he zoomed after Ninjini!

Everyone behind her scattered as Ninjini shouldered Bouncer's tackle with magic, then pushed him into the wall and floated backwards! Bouncer popped himself off the wall and shot another round of bullets towards Ninjini, but she just summoned a group of orbs and shot them right through the bullets! The bullets shattered on impact as the orbs slammed into Bouncer and knocked him into the other wall, and Ninjini squeezed her wishblades' handle.

"You're acting like one of those mindless security drones! What's happened to you?"

Bouncer grunted as he pulled himself off the wall, and his eyes glowed even brighter as he glared down Ninjini, almost as if he was preparing to fire down a laser! Before he got the chance, a gigantic pillar of flames came from the side and burned him down! He wailed in pain as the flames seared his metal… But, Hot Head hardly cared as he shot off his flames!

"I'll tell you what's happening!" Hot Head cried as his flames grew even hotter. "I'm gonna flame some sense into him!"

"STOP, YOU'RE GONNA KILL HIM LIKE THAT!"

Ninjini slammed into Hot Head and threw him off balance, his flames completely disappearing as Ninjini grabbed him by the shoulders!

Hot Head snarled as he tried to wriggle his way out of Ninjini's grip. "Lemme go!" Hot Head cried as he squirmed even further, though the lock of Ninjini's magic kept him stuck tight. "I've gotta stop him!"

"That's not stopping him, that's burning him alive!" Ninjini flung her hands aside, and Hot Head sputtered as she tossed him near the wall. "He may be acting strange, but we can't kill him!"

Another string of bullets came hurtling for Ninjini, but Hot Head flamed them down and grunted as he lurched from the wall! He flinched and held his arm as he staggered back up, but the fires in his soul weren't any less bright.

"I know what I'm doing!" Hot Head cried. "Now lemme do it!"

Hot Head screamed at the top of his lungs as he charged for Bouncer, but Crusher just placed a hand on Hot Head's chest and stopped him in his tracks!

"Ninjini's right," Crusher said as he clutched his hammer's handle. "If we wanna get some sense back into him…"

Crusher gripped his hammer even tighter, then he screamed and charged forward as he held it over his head!

"THEN WE'LL JUST HAVE TO HAMMER IT HOME!"

Crusher screamed once again as he slammed his hammer straight into Bouncer's chest, while Bouncer just let out an unholy robotic screech as he flew backwards and slammed into the wall behind him! Sparks flew from Bouncer's chattering teeth as he held his dented chest, his fingers careful to block the thin streams of leaking oil from its open parts… But, he just jumped back up and zoomed right for Crusher, Hot Head and Ninjini once more!

And down below, everyone else was having their fair share of issues as well! Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant had completely blocked them off from the control panel, and they didn't look particularly happy as they charged forward! Chop Chop leaped forward and turned his sword down as he hovered just inches above Cali… But just behind he could strike, a glowing skull completely blocked the blow! And behind that skull, Hex strained as she kept it stable and strengthened its glow. Her hands trembled as she glared down Chop Chop, and for a moment, a hint of fear could be seen in her cold, icy white eyes.

"Chop Chop, get a hold of yourself!" Hex cried as the skull glowed even brighter in tandem with her hands. "This isn't you! You'd never turn on your allies like this!"—that hint of fear and desperateness only grew in Hex's eyes as she softened her cold, hard glare—"you, I know you wouldn't betray any of us like this of your own will! Whatever's controlling you, just fight it off!"

"DESTROY ALL INTRUDERS!" Chop Chop cried as he thrust his sword further into the skull!

The skull shattered completely, and Hex cried out in pain as she fell down and collapsed against the cold, metal floors! Hex pushed herself up and flew out of the way as Chop Chop attempted to slice at her once more, and as he reeled she just crafted a glowing cyan orb and sighed… Then, her frown turned more somber as she cast it out and blasted Chop Chop in the back with it! Chop Chop screamed in pain as the blow sent him rolling and tumbling across the floor, and for a moment, Hex's cold gaze softened as she gazed over his weak, trembling form, only able to use his sword as a crutch while he staggered back up. But then, he lifted it up and she gasped!

"He's preparing to cast his bone brambles!" Hex cried as she levitated everyone else away. "Look out!"

Chop Chop grunted as he slammed his sword through the metal panels underfoot with such might that it sliced through the floor, then the whole panel came next as massive, bony brambles covered in spikes tore up the whole floor! With everyone else evacuated, however, the only one it hit was Drill Sergeant! Drill Sergeant let out a shrill beep as the brambles knocked him off his wheels and tossed him off the platform, then he grunted as he fell head-first onto the lower platform's floor! Everyone else just backed away and winced as he laid dormant. But then, he just flipped over and revved his engines as he dashed straight for them!

Everyone else screamed and split as Drill Sergeant rushed for them. Well, save for Muddy, who just jumped on his back and held on tight! Drill Sergeant screamed and raced around the floor in circles, all while the other Molekin piled on!

"Molekin, attack!" Clay cried!

The others all cried in agreement, then they raised their weapons to the ceiling and slammed them right onto Drill Sergeant's head! Though their crude weapons did little to damage his hard head, it still bothered Drill Sergeant plenty given that his balance threw way off, his steers less organized as he flailed his drill hands around! The molekin zoomed right past them and cheered as they waved their weapons in the air, yet Flynn and Cali just winced.

"Hey, knock that off!" Flynn cried as he stepped forward. "Old Drillbot here might be acting a little weird, but he's still our friend!"

"Yeah! Quit hurting him!" Cali pleaded.

"Your friend isn't in this hunk of bolts! Not right now, anyways!" Clay protested as he zoomed past Flynn and Cali once more! He snarled, then waved his hammer back towards the control panel. "That machine's probably hacked their circuits! As far as they're concerned, they're guard robots right now!"

Ckay cried out as Drill Sergeant spun around in a rapid circle, then screamed as Chop Chop jumped back down and pushed Drill Sergeant to run the other way! But while everyone else got caught up in a frantic game of chase, Flynn and Cali just hummed.

"If that machine's what's controlling them," Cali whispered, "then it looks like we'll have to knock it out to get them back to their senses!"

"But how are we gonna do that?" Flynn cried. "'Cause right now, our little buddies here aren't exactly keen on letting us pass!"

Cali frowned, then shuffled through her pockets and pulled out a handful of explosives. "Then like it or not, we'll just have to knock them out!" Cali cried as she jerked her head back up to the other levels. "Ninjini, Crusher, Hot Head! See if you can knock Bouncer unconscious for a few seconds—we'll take care of things down here!"

Back on the first level, Ninjini winced as her eyes fell on Cali, then she jolted back and sliced another wave of bullets from Bouncer in half! As their halved shells clattered onto the torn metal floor, she just gulped and grasped her wishblades.

"I suppose we have no choice, then," Ninjini whispered. She pointed a hand forward as Bouncer came charging for her, and in response it glowed a bright purple. "Crusher, Hot Head, trio formation!"

"Right!" Crusher and Hot Head shouted!

The two of them leaped back and crashed down behind Ninjini, then Hot Head thrust out his hands while Crusher just crafted a smooth, hard stone with his glowing eyes! Bouncer came speeding in for them by the second, but they just stood silent as they raised their weapons. Bouncer screamed as he rushed in, and in response Ninjini only snapped her fingers!

"NOW!" She cried!

A burst of magic fled from Ninjini's hand, and it was quickly joined by bright flames and shattered bursts of crystal! The three attacks slammed into Bouncer one by one, and he grunted as each one slammed him further and further back until he finally smashed right through the wall! Bouncer groaned as quicksilver oil dribbled from his gaping mouth, while the oil that poured from his chest streamed over it and his eyes flashed in and out.

"All, systems… Shutting down…" Bouncer groaned as he lunged his head backwards and fell unconscious.

Ninjini winced as she ran a hand over Bouncer's oily chest and healed away his wounds, then bursts of fire came from down below and caught her attention! She flew over to the balcony and peered down to the floor below, where the singed remains of glowing skulls scattered around the floor as a charred Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant flew backwards and slammed into the walls! Ninjini grimaced as she squeezed the railing, then the pound of footsteps turned her aside!

"We've got them down!" Cali cried. "Now let's hurry up and finish this thing!"

Ninjini frowned, then nodded and flew over to the control panel! She summoned her wishblades as she inched closer and closer to the machine, then raised her blades and prepared to strike. But right as she did, the sirens wailed even louder and the ceiling swished open! Ninjini craned her head up, then gasped as legions of robots dropped down and bore their weapons! They all ranged in size and armory, yet, they all shared the trademark Arkeyan colors and that red-eyed glare!

"INTRUDERS WILL BE DESTROYED!" They all bellowed as one.

§

BB-12 groaned and blinked as his systems came online, his optical sensors grainy and blurry but quick to clear. He didn't know how, or why, or what was going on, but he had somehow found himself in some kind of mine or cavern filled with crystals that glowed in all sorts of colors and then some. It was an awfully pretty sight, but it didn't bring his mind any ease. After all, he had no idea what this place was or how he got here… Or for that matter, who he even was. He only had a vague sense of his own name, and an even vaguer sense of a purpose that he couldn't even remember. But just what was it? Something about it felt just out of reach, so far away that he couldn't recall. BB-12 frowned as he craned his head around the cavern, maybe in some faint hope that getting a look at the surroundings could key him in on what happened. But, right as he did, a coarse electrical shock rushed through his systems and sent him fritzing around! He screamed in pain as the shock ceased, while behind him a smaller blue and gold robot who just barely reached up to his chest snarled.

"Guard robot, get back to work!" The robot cried as it waved its staff over yonder. "You're assigned to Quadrant 6-B! Now quit dawdling!"

The robot stormed off in a huff, but BB-12's optical sensors just flickered as he stood in place. Was he a guard robot of some sort? Well, he supposed that was the case, so he just hastily rolled off to where that other robot had indicated. The crystals grew less plentiful the further he traveled, and the sound of something chipping away the rocks and pained grunts echoed around the cavern's silent halls. Something about it tugged at his core processor and gave him an awful feeling, but, he traveled on still.

As he rounded a corner, the whole room flashed in a rainbow assortment of colors from the colorful crystals lodged into its walls! But, that was the only pretty sight he saw—down below, tired mabu of all sorts who donned ragged clothes mined away the crystals in a tired melancholy, their faces sagging from a lack of rest as they mined crystals and dumped them into shiny red and gold mine carts. Their fur was patched with dirt and grime, and it just barely covered their weak limbs. Their eyes were bloodshot as they mined away, their hands trembled as they barely clutched their equipment, and they swayed from side to side as if they could barely stay awake… In fact, one of the mabu just groaned and collapsed right on the floor!

"No more," the mabu groaned as they yawned, "I need some sleep…"

The other mabu winced as they examined the sleeping mabu, then screamed as something leaped out from above! Another blue and gold robot jabbed the mabu in the back, and the mabu screamed and leaped to their feet!

"Get back to work!" The robot cried as it bonked the mabu on the head. "Our glorious king needs those radiance crystals for his machines, and he can't wait on simple-minded weaklings like you!"

"Y-YES, UNDERSTOOD!" The mabu sputtered! Sparks flew from their chattering teeth as they fumbled with their pickax, then they dashed back over to the wall and mined away. "Right away, sir!"

BB-12 winced as his eyes fell on the mabu, then towards the robot as they scoffed and walked away.

"Hey man, wasn't that a little harsh?" BB-12 asked as he grabbed the robot by the shoulder. "These guys looked like they haven't had a good recharge in ages! Maybe we should let them sleep!"

The robot snarled, then turned around and jabbed his staff into BB-12's leg! BB-12 screamed out as the electricity coursed through him and singed his circuits once more, while the robot's blank white eyes gleaned red as he turned around and scoffed.

"Now don't tell me you're sympathizing with them!" The robot scoffed. "Your job is to sit here and make sure these sniveling mabu do their job, not feel sorry for them! Keep it up, and we'll ship you off to the repair center!"

BB-12 winced as the electricity finally faded, then he hung his head and wheeled off. "Yes, understood."

Well, that's what he said, but BB-12 still couldn't help but feel for that poor mabu, who just stumbled on their own feet as they clumsily chipped away at the wall and everything but those shiny crystals that he supposed were Radiance. He supposed this king guy was super important if they were in such a rush to get these crystals, but, couldn't they have given the little guys a bit of a rest? Well, if they wouldn't let these guys rest, then BB-12 would!

So, he lifted the tired mabu into his hands and grinned. The mabu gasped and stumbled backwards in BB-12's palms as they glanced up at him, but the sight of his smile seemed to put them at ease.

"Hey, you alright?" BB-12 asked. "Just rest here for a little bit, I won't tell anyone."

The mabu's eyes fluttered, and despite the fact that BB-12 tried to seem as reassuring as possible, they still seemed quite distressed! But maybe that was because he was so big compared to the little guy, or that they were probably just really tired.

"Wait a second, I know you!" The mabu sputtered. "You're BB-12, that super cool roboto-ball player!"

And in response, BB-12's shoulders slunk. "Huh?" BB-12 uttered. That didn't sound right—he was a guard robot, not someone who played roboto-ball, whatever that was. He had no idea what this mabu was talking about, but judging by the shocked and wide-eyed looks all the other mabu gave him, it must have had some weight to it.

"BB-12's here?!" Cried another mabu as they scratched their head. "Man, if I'd have known, I'd have brought something to autograph!"

"I went to your game in the Ancient's Crevice! You were really cool!" Cried another, smaller mabu. "Hey, hey, show us that move you did back there!"

"Do you think I could be as great a roboto-ball player as you are?"

BB-12 sputtered, and his circuits started to spark as he laid the mabu he was holding down and wheeled off.

"I, I don't know what you're talking about, but you've got the wrong guy!" BB-12 proclaimed as he held up his hands, "I'm just some security robot, I'm not a big fancy roboto-ball or anything like that!"—BB-12 lowered his hands and frowned—"at least, I don't think I was…"

However, the mabu didn't seem to listen at all! They all just cheered and swarmed his wheel as they jumped up and raised their hands for him, all manner of excitement in their eyes! Their smiles were wide and bright, so unlike how downtrodden and tired they had been prior… Something about it warmed BB-12's core processor—but also, something about their cheers tickled his memory circuits. It brought to mind someplace cool and slick, his oil rushing with excitement unlike anything else at the very notion.

"Hey, BB-12!" Cried one mabu as they yanked a particularly round radiance crystal from a cart and tossed it to him. "Catch!"

BB-12 lifted his head and gasped as the crystal came for him, then zapped it just before it could smack him in the head! Its shattered remains rained back down on the crowd of mabu, and their smiles faded as they examined the remains. Somehow, something about it made BB-12's core processor sink as well.

"… I, I'm sorry."

The mabu all sighed as they kicked away the shards, then one grabbed a pickax from the ground.

"Those robots are probably still scuffling around here," the mabu said as they slammed the pickax against the wall. "We'd better get to work."

The other mabu sighed and let out resigned mumbles of agreement as they returned back to their own posts, and BB-12 just hung his head. He hadn't meant to upset anyone, but, he had no idea what was going on! If he really was this big popular guy, then why didn't he remember any of this? What was he doing down here?

BB-12 frowned and twiddled his fingers, then he forced a smile as he glanced down at the mabu. "Just what's so great about this BB-12 anyways?"

The mabu around all gasped, and the lights in their eyes returned as they glanced up at BB-12.

"Everything! You've been a star player ever since you entered the robot-ball team!" Cried one mabu. "You were so fast and strong, and it seemed like you always knew just what to do! Practically all the teams were begging you to join them!"

"Y'know," chuckled another one of the mabu as they grabbed up armfuls of radiance and dumped them in crates, "I saw your game back in Lostlight! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!"

"I know, right?" Remarked another mabu. "It really seemed for a minute like your team was gonna lose!"—a twinkle shone in the mabu's eye as they turned to BB-12—"but then, you just came in and scored the winning point at the very last minute!" the mabu chuckled as they turned away. "You really know how to come through!"

"Oh, that Lostlight game was nothing!" Cried another mabu. "Murlayfield was the real deal! That kick he did to score the final point was one for the ages!"

"Not to mention how he completely wiped the floor with the opponents at Thorpeness! He was one to ten, and still won by a landslide!"

"I still say Erast had the best of the bunch! Every time I think about how he snatched the roboto-ball and scored just before it exploded, my heart starts racing!"

BB-12 chuckled, and the sound of warm, cheerful gushing was like music to his auditory processors. Something about those names did feel kind of familiar, but nothing in his memory circuits could pin it down still. But, he still drank in that warm, familiar feeling.

"Man, this guy sounds pretty cool!" BB-12 chuckled, but his smile faded as he clasped his hands. "But, I can't possibly be someone like that. After all, I'm just some security bot…"

"Au contraire!" Cried another voice from the back. "You were never a security bot to begin with!"

All eyes turned to the shadows in the corner, which a tired, scruffy-looking mabu, albeit one in much better a condition than the other mabu scattered around the mines. This mabu had their hands crossed behind their back as they scoffed, yet their yellow eyes rang with a bit of pain as they glared down BB-12.

"I, I'm not?" BB-12 asked, only able to wheel back in shock. "But, then what am I doing here?"

"That's because they captured you and had you reprogrammed, wiped you clean, even!" The mabu spat, while tiny tears formed at their eyes, "I was at your last game in Arkaley, I saw everything!"

Gasps came from all the other mabu as they dropped their pickaxes and equipment, but the sour-looking mabu just stood tall.

"Arkus had never been fond of the fact that one of his own creations was rebelling against his conquest and making such a fuss doing so, so when you came there, he flooded the whole town!" the mabu shot out a hand and gestured everywhere. "He razed everything down and flooded the coliseum! Everyone else was fleeing, but you stuck around to throw them off so everyone else could escape! You flung all the roboto-balls in the coliseum at them, blew up as many as you could… But, but then, they, they…" the mabu shuddered, then they fell to their knees and sniffled as they clutched their head, eyes covered to hide their tears. "They brought reinforcements, and…"

Two of the other mabu came to the now sobbing mabu's side, and they peered up at BB-12 with those wide, pleading eyes.

"Please, remember who you are!" One cried. "You're the best roboto-ball player ever, not some security drone!"

"Yeah! You're the guy who perfected the double-whammy shot, the faster roboto-ball player in recorded history!"

"Don't you remember all those tricks you did, or all those games you won? Don't you remember that you're our hero?"

The mabu clamored further, and BB-12 couldn't bring himself to look or listen anymore—he just turned around and frowned.

"I, I'm sorry, but I really don't remember a thing," BB-12 whispered as his shoulder slunk, "I really, really want to, but, there's nothing in my memory circuits about any of this…"

"Yes there is!"

That same sobbing mabu stormed forward, and BB-12 only perked up as they glared him down. But not with anger, or sorrow or anything of the sort, no, it was something that seemed like… Hope, he supposed?

"You say you don't remember, but if you didn't, then why did you try to stick up to that guard? Why have you been so nice to us? If you didn't remember at all, you wouldn't have done that at all!" The mabu pointed a finger at BB-12. "The real you is in there somewhere, I know it!"

The mabu turned back to a large, round boulder, then gasped and rushed off.

"Wait, everyone, follow me—I have an idea!"

The mabu all gasped, and they cheered as they followed the mabu to where that boulder was! They all seemed so happy as they combined whatever strength was left in their weakened bodies to push the boulder right off the cliff it sat on and straight towards him!

BB-12 screamed as the boulder came in fast, until it was inches from BB-12 himself, then as it rolled in, he didn't know why, but he kicked it! The boulder rolled back to the base of the cliff, and the mabu all cheered as it came back to him! BB-12, however, just frowned. Why did he do that? He had wanted to blow that boulder up, yet on instinct his body had acted on its own! Was there a glitch in his processor or something? The mabu cheered, then pushed the boulder right back towards him again! So, BB-12 just kicked it back again, and they cheered as their pushes and kicks repeated! They'd roll the boulder and he'd kick it back in a simple, repetitive movement, nothing too fancy. Yet, doing it brought a smile to BB-12's face nonetheless! He chuckled as the boulder rolled back to him and he kicked it back.

Then, something flashed in his mind! A coliseum full of cheering people from all corners of Skylands, with sleek floor where towering titans all stood against him, a single gold and blue metal ball the only thing blocking it off… It felt, familiar, almost! BB-12 blinked, and his jaw slightly gaped as more of these memories flooded back to him—rolling across sleek marble, the cheers of the stands, the familiar scent of smoke and the adrenaline rush of victory! Those were all his memories! They had seemed so distant before, but the wave crashed over his core processor and brought with it silent awe, silent awakening!

"I remember now," was all BB-12 could gasp out as the boulder rolled by his wheel.

The mabu all gasped with sheer glee, wide smiles and eyes and all, and BB-12 just smirked. His eyes fell on the large boulder that rested behind him, and he just rolled up.

"I'm not some security drone, forget that noise!" BB-12 cried as he zoomed in for the shot. "I'm BB-12, roboto-ball's star player!"

BB-12 swung it and slammed right into the boulder, his kick backed up by the force of his run!

"AND I'M NOT STICKING AROUND IN SOME RUSTY ARKEYAN MINE!"

The boulder crashed right into the ceiling, and BB-12 swept the mabu into his arms as the whole mine rumbled! Gigantic rocks fell from the ceiling as it crumbled away, but BB-12 just zipped off without even thinking! In his mind's eye, he could see the stage set, the opposing players all lined up to take him down—but, he wasn't going down today! He just zipped right through, then burst out the mine's entrance just as the rocks crumbled in!

Rocks filled up the mine's entrance, but BB-12 only smiled.

"Now I'd call that another star play!" BB-12 chuckled.

The mabu in his arms all cheered, but those cheers came to a sharp silence as electricity and footsteps crackled around! Their eyes turned to the path ahead, where more of those blue and gold robots stormed in with glowing red eyes and tight grips on their swords!

"WHAT DID YOU INSIDIOUS FURBALLS DO?!" Cried the head of the pack, the very same robot that had shocked BB-12 just moment earlier—he could recognize the venom in its gleaning optics.

"THAT WAS THE ONLY RADIANCE MINE FOR MILES! AND REPROGRAMMING ONE OF OUR OWN ROBOTS TO DESTROY IT!" The robot snapped down its sword and sent sparks flying. "YOU'LL PAY WITH YOUR LIVES!"

The mabu all screamed and trembled, but BB-12 just snarled as he placed them on a ledge near his height. He cracked his knuckles, and his own optical sensors were tinted red. These were the ones who imprisoned him, who stripped him of his memories, who tormented the very ones who looked up to him—and now, they were gonna pay!

"You're not laying a finger on them!" Bouncer cried!

The robots stopped in their tracks, and Bouncer just snarled. "Messing with me is bad enough, but imprisoning all these people and making them do your dirty work is even worse! I'm not letting you get away with it!"

The head of the group snarled himself, and a glint of anger shone in his cool red eyes.

"And here I thought taking their hero and making him the very one forcing them into this work would break them." The robot snarled as they clutched their sword. "It seems I was wrong."

The two of them snarled as they rushed into each other, and then…

There was nothing.

Bouncer groaned as his aching head finally came to, then he lurched up and forced himself to wheel away. His chest pounded just as hard as his head did, and he could barely bring himself to stand up. But, he had to—something about this place was wrong. He couldn't quick remember why he was here or what happened, but he knew this was wrong! He needed to get out! He shook his head as his past memories finally cleared from his mind, fuzzy like a dream, then something came to him! A mission, a group of molekin, oil and gasoline and banged up metal hangars! Yes, now he remembered, he was taking down some oil rig belonging to that Kaos creep those kids were talking about! He remembered that much, but everything after was one big blur. He held his head as he tried to remember…

You are an Arkeyan soldier!

Bouncer screamed in agony as his head throbbed again, and the whole room around him turned red and gold! Vague images of faces formed in the walls around him, just detailed enough that they could barely be made out against the wavering and pulsing light! Their glares pierced through his core processor, and just the sight hurt his head even more!

You are a mighty warrior of the Arkeyan kingdom! They all cried as one voice, one mind. You serve only the king and nobody else! Cast aside your other desires, for your true purpose is to serve the mighty Arkeyan empire and the mightier king!

Bouncer's head turned fuzzy once more, and something underneath him was… Sinking? Slipping? He couldn't really tell what, but the whole world around him started to fad and blur, all mushed together so that he could barely make it out.

You serve only the Arkeyan empire! You serve to protect our kingdoms, our wealth, the great legacy we have made! You are one of a collective, of a single soul dedicated to serving the Arkeyan honor!

"I, I, I'm…" Bouncer groaned as the floor sank to his chest, his optic sensors dulling by the second. "I'm, an Arkeyan soldier…"

Bouncer didn't even know why he said that—it had just slipped from his mouth without any thought! Those faces continued to glare him down as the world around him dulled again, and his head was so, so heavy, so heavy that he barely keep it up. He prepared to shut down his optics and rest… But as he did, cheers came back to mind! The mabu's cheer and cries for their hero echoed in his head, a defying cry that drowned out the words of those around him—and more importantly, it completely roused him! All his senses sharpened, and he shook his much lighter head!

"No I'm not!" Bouncer cried as he shot out his arms and sent the whole floor splashing away! His optics fixed on those faces, and he scowled as he held out his arms. "I'm not your puppet—I'm Bouncer, Elder Elemental and protector of Skylands!"

A flash of his past memories, of the mine and the robots and those who brought him back to his senses, all came back to Bouncer's mind, and his scowl deepened as he charged up his gauntlets.

"YOU MAY HAVE SUNK YOUR MITTS INTO ME BEFORE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GETTING ME AGAIN! I'M NOT LETTING YOU USE ME ANY LONGER!"

Bouncer wheeled back, and rockets popped out from his arms and screeched right through the walls! Everything shattered like glass as the color melted away, and a blurry vision of the outside world came! It was fuzzy, but he could tell from looks alone that things weren't good. Guess it was time for him to win the match! So, he sped forward and grinned as he jumped right into the image!

"Don't worry everyone, I'm coming!"

§

"Flynn, look out! Behind you!"

"Look out for what, CaliIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

A crash sounded off, and Flynn's screeches echoed around as the explosions blew him into a nearby wall! Flynn groaned as he collapsed on the floor and pushed himself up, then screamed and ran off as another electro-bomb courtesy of the robot bomber before him! Flynn snarled as the robot sneered in his face, its own grip fastened tight to the next bomb it prepared to throw.

"Alright, I'll bite, you got that one over me," Flynn remarked as he dusted off his jacket. "But, there's no way you can—"

"Cut the chat, Flynn!" Cali cried as she rushed in front of him with dagger in hand. "We've got robots to scrap!"

Cali screamed as she slashed a gaping hole in the bomber's chest, then kicked it back into the crowds and plugged her ears as it exploded into a swarm of blue flames! The fires burned down the smaller robots that had littered the area around it… But while they burned, even larger ones came in and stomped them down! The newer robots held large, round bodies with glowing eyes and round hands, and they all creaked as they turned their hands up and revealed glowing cannons inside!

"Ultrons?!" Ninjini cried as she turned around. "They've got ultrons too?"

The ultrons' hands screeched as they charged up a shared blast, and Ninjini winced as she held out her hands, prepared to fight or cast a shield. But before she did anything, something giant, red and gold slammed right into the ultrons and knocked them off kilter! Their intended blast slammed into a few robots behind them and wiped them out completely, then the ultrons themselves were completely crushed under their mystery assailant's wheel! Massive robotic cries shot out as this mystery assailant held their head.

But in spite of this, Ninjini didn't attack! She just gasped and lowered her glowing hands.

"Bouncer?…"

Bouncer wailed in pain as he dug his hands into his head, while behind him everyone else stood their distance. Nobody was quite sure just what he was going to do—was he going to attack them again? Run off? With him screaming incoherently in pain and standing there, it was hard to tell. Bouncer growled and gritted his robotic teeth, then while the sparks flew, he zoomed off and crushed another fleet of robots underfoot!

"Get, get…" Bouncer growled as he slammed into the wall and banged his head into it. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

Bright, orange light flooded out of Bouncer's eyes as he screamed in agony and slunk over, then they dulled as he collapsed chest-first onto the ground. A few of the molekin dropped their fights and scampered up to him, then drew back as his head rolled up to face them. But, his eyes flashed white, and he only chuckled.

"Sorry I'm late, everyone," Bouncer said as he rolled back up and puffed out his chest, hands planted on his hips, "I just had to get my head back in the game!"

"Robot dude, you're alright!" Flynn cheered as he and Cali rushed up with the molekin!

The two of them joined the molekin in cheering on Bouncer's return, then everyone swerved away as a massive skull slammed past them and shattered against the metal walls!

"I'd hate to interrupt the celebration," Hex spat as she cast another round of skulls from the safety of a wall of hard bones. "But need I remind you we still have work to do?"

Flynn and Cali both grimaced as the Arkeyans veered forward… But not at the Arkeyans themselves. Rather, their eyes were fixed at who helmed the charge—Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant! Both their eyes glowed a bright red as they waved their weapons in the air, their voices cold and robotic as ever!

But, Bouncer zoomed right past everyone else and immediately shielded the blow! Their attempts at banging up his hull just harmlessly bounced off, and they stepped back in shock as they drank in Bouncer's tall stature!

"Get a hold of yourselves, you two!" Bouncer cried. "This isn't the real you, and you both know it!"

Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant just grunted as they faced each other, then shrugged and waved their weapons in the air as they went after Bouncer once more. But Bouncer just wheeled away! Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant chased after him still, yet all he did was frown!

"I know it's hard, but you can do it! You can fight those voices! Don't listen to them—your real selves aren't mindless machines!" Bouncer grunted as he cast away a rocket's blast. "You're Skylanders, you're heroes! You're not just some mindless drones, you've got hearts of your own, sparks of a soul! Try and remember!"

Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant stopped mid-charge, and their heads raised. The red glow in their eyes flickered just a bit, but that one little blip was enough to make Bouncer grin!

"That's it! Just keep digging deep there and remembering! Think about everything that's important to you—your friends, your lovers, your home! Hold onto those things you care about, and awaken who you truly are!"

Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant groaned as they stepped forward, but that grunt came from them again, and much more pain to boot! Their eyes flickered in color as they slunk down, while strained, pained groans echoed from their bodies! Their limbs trembled as their groans turned shaky and hollow… Then finally, they both screamed in agony, with such shrill pain that all eyes turned on them! Their screams ended as they slunk against the floors.

The yellow lights of Chop Chop's eyes flickered on as he groaned and pushed himself from the ground! Drill Sergeant's eyes flickered on behind him, and Chop Chop just hummed and frowned as he examined Drill Sergeant.

"What, what happened?" Chop Chop gasped. "Everything's so hazy… All I was remember was a voice, and, and…"

"The same is true of me, sir," Drill Sergeant remarked as his drills turned. "It seems there must be a glitch in my memory circuits, for I cannot remember a thing!"

Bouncer, however, just grinned and nudged their heads! They both peered up, and Bouncer grinned as he gave them a thumbs up.

"Good to have you two back!"

A rocket whizzed past Bouncer's head and exploded beside him, and he only winced as his eyes fell back onto the battles below.

"Actually, we can probably save the chat for later—we've got a battle to fight!"

Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant nodded, and the three of them tailed right behind Bouncer as they zipped into the fray!

Chop Chop paused and leaped beside Cali as she slashed through a string of robots with a shiny dagger, then he slashed his own sword against their gaping wounds and cut them clean in half! The robots all exploded and send plumes of massive cyan smoke pouring through the fields while Chop Chop and Cali both smirked, then they both shuddered and stepped back as a large robot charged through and swung for them with a massive fist! Chop Chop shot his shield up immediately, but the robot just pushed and ground against it as its eyes lowed bright! His footing started to slip as he pushed the shield forward with both hands, grunts and pants slipping from his mouth the whole time. As his feet finally started to slip, a wall of bones blocked the robot off from Chop Chop while a trio of bright cyan orbs tore holes into the robot's chest and knocked it into the smaller robots behind!

The robot exploded into smoke as Chop Chop gasped in awe, while soft cyan light poured beside him and caught his attention! Hex hovered beside him, and though her face was cold as ever, she still lifted up his hand and clutched it close.

"It's good to have you back," Hex whispered.

"It's good to be back, my lady," Chop Chop whispered back as his own fingers folded around hers.

The two of them stood hand in hand as the bones that blocked off the remaining robot forces from them finally sank back into the floor, while the robots just screeched right for them! Hex let go of Chop Chop's hand, but the fragments of their embrace remained—for a new power flowed through Chop Chop's body! His sword and shield grew even larger as he slashed away the robots, while beside him Hex shot out massive skulls that smashed right through the robots!

And between them, Drill Sergeant zoomed forward as he completely mowed down the robots! Their fragmented bodies and heads shot up into the air and fritzed as Drill Sergeant skewered the robots' bodies, then he swerved around as his laser cannon jolted out of his head!

"Laser protocols, ACTIVATED!" Drill Sergeant cried as light gathered at the cannons' mouth!

A flurry of lasers rocketed from Drill Sergeant's cannon with so much force that he was knocked back, while the robots that charged right for him froze in place as the laser shot through and riddled them with holes! Their smoking bodies keeled over and collapsed on the floor, then exploded in a fury of blue fire that engulfed the robots behind them as well!

Flynn screamed and hit the floor as explosions sounded all around them, but Cali just stood tall and winced.

"C'mon, gotta be something in here," Cali mumbled as she dug through her pockets, then grinned and yanked out a bomb. "A-ha!"

Cali chuckled as the bomb rested in her hand, but the moment he laid eyes on it, Flynn only screamed!

"Cali, what do you think you're doing?!" Flynn cried! As Cali raised the bomb up, his eyes only grew wider. "That's gonna—"

KA-BOOM! An explosion of light burst around Flynn and Cali, then faded to reveal a dome-shaped shield that completely shielded them from the flames! Cali smiled, and below her Flynn chuckled as he stood up.

And while they sat in their bubble, the molekin turned their eyes to the masses of sparking robot corpses that had yet to explode, then to the larger robots that were locked tight in combat with the Elder Elementals! They paused and rubbed their chins for moments, then they grinned and yanked the corpses from the ground and tossed them across the air!

Sparks flew from the robot corpses as the landed right in the middle of the fray, and the Elder Elementals dashed off as the corpses exploded and sent blue flames and smoke in every direction! They lifted their heads as the flames faded, then grinned as their eyes fell back on the robots they faced… For now, they were burnt and damaged! They could only stand there as the more singed parts of their bodies fell off, completely wide open!

Ninjini rushed forward and slashed one with her wishblades, while Hot Head shot up beside her and blew another one back with his flames! As the two robots flew back, they were joined by the remaining two thanks to a blow from Crusher's hammer and punch from Bouncer, then all four of the robots crashed right into the terminal and exploded! Blue flames poured out from the back of the room, and the Elder Elementals all gasped and swept the smaller members of their party up in their arms as the other Arkeyan robots fell inactive all around them!

"We've gotta get out of here!" Bouncer cried. "This thing's gonna blow!"

They all panted as they rushed out the halls, but the flames were much faster than they were! Next thing they knew, they were completely blown right out of the cavern, flames smoking and heating as their back as they vaulted through the tunnel, the hangar, everything! They all grunted and crashed just outside the entrance as masses of metal and rock crashed over the doorway and sealed it tight, and they just groaned as they pushed themselves up.

"Yeah, there's no way that thing could have survived that!" Bouncer cried as he jumped back to his wheel and zipped off. "Now come on, we've gotta get with the rest of the team!

§

Flameslinger raised his bow and snarled as his fingers wrapped tight around it, while beside him the others all carried similar levels of concern as they raised their weapons. They were surrounded at every angle by these Arkeyan robots, while those snide, snide minions of Kaos's just smirked and crossed their arms.

"There's no way you'll be able to beat us now!" Those snide-looking gremlins crooned from the spot behind the crowds.

And, as much as they all hated to admit it, those gremlins seemed to be right! Not only were they surrounded at every angle by these massive robots, from the knights and brawlers that loomed over them to the ones in copters above the sky, but they were larger and seemed much more powerful to boot! The odds may not always be decided, but right now things weren't exactly looking in their favor.

Spyro snarled and huffed out smoke as he prepared his fires, while several the robots raised their arms and prepared to fight. The robots stood still and frozen in the moments as their weapons hovered above him… And yet, they didn't move a step more. They stood still as statues in their little circle, while their eyes became the only source of movement as they pulsed in and out.

Stealth Elf frowned, and lowered her daggers just a little as she eyed the robots before her. "So, is something going to happen, or?…"

And in that moment, those minions of Kaos's frowned. Amid their ranks, a gremlin wove between the crowds, then hopped up and waved their hand in front of the only robot they could reach.

"Hello, robots?" The gremlin said. "Skylands to robots! Go beat up those Skylanders for us!"

Yet, the robots in response just continued to stand still, as if they were frozen in time, almost. The lights in their faces dulled as low creaks came from their bodies. Then their weapons slipped from their hands and fell to the floor!

Spyro and Stealth Elf grimaced and jumped back as an ax fell beside them and crashed into the ground, while Gill Grunt and Trigger Happy joined them next as a sword slipped out and smashed a hole into the floor. Even Flameslinger lowered his bow as the rows of Arkeyan robots that had them completely cornered before fell down like dominoes… Just what was going on?

"Er, uh, well," another gremlin sputtered back they cleared their throat. "So, those robots turned out to be duds, but we've still got plenty of fight in us!"—the minion turned back to the rest of the forces and forced a grin—"right, boys?"

The other minions forced smiles and warily cheered, but even those faded as Spyro stepped up while his eyes glistened with an almost eerie purple light!

"Oh, really?" he remarked. The fallen robots beside him glowed with a warbling purple light, and his smirk grew as he sat down. "Need I remind you that we've got a trick of our own?"

"Hah!" The gremlin forced a grin from chattering teeth as they crossed their arms. "And what could that possibly be?"

"This!"

The smug gremlin grunted as one of the unconscious robots slammed right into them and knocked them backwards, and in response the others screamed! Not for long, though, as the other were knocked down by robotic bodyslams as well… Save for one who just rolled underneath the fray and ran off!

The gremlin panted and adjusted their labcoat as they ran as fast as their stubby legs could carry them, however, Trigger Happy popped up right in front of them with robotic arms in hand! Trigger Happy grinned and waved as the gremlin sputtered and stumbled back, then bonked them on the head and slapped them away with the robot arms! As the gremlin flew backwards, it slammed into a draconic minion and conked them on the head!

The draconic minion screamed and roared as it held its aching head, then a snarl crossed its face as it spat out a massive column of flames! The fire burned bright for a moment, but then, a fresh column of water slammed into the draconic minion and knocked them back on the ground! The draconic minion sputtered and stumbled around as steam flew from its jaws, then it groaned and fell to the floor!

The minions all screamed and ran off as their remaining forces failed them, but right as they did, Flameslinger shot off his arrows and sent flames bursting at their feet! The minions cried out and jumped off as they blew flames from their bodies, then grunted as spheres of magic, streams of water and bursts of golden coins tossed them out of the skies and back onto the ground! They all groaned as they planted face, rump, belly-first onto the ground, all plopped down like walnuts fallen from a tree.

And with them incapacitated, Stealth Elf just stepped forward and rubbed her hands! She flicked her wrists out, and a massive cloud of misty green spores poured out and cast themselves over the minions! They all groaned and hacked in their semi-conscious state as the spores cast over them, but as the spores faded their screams turned to snores!

"That should probably keep them down for a little while," Stealth Elf remarked as she wiped off her hands.

"There you all are! We've been looking everywhere for you!"

Stealth Elf and Flameslinger's ears flicked, and both of them turned around right as the rest of their team wheeled in! Everyone looked a bit banged up and dented, and a handful of molekin seemed to have joined them since… But hey, they were alive and well, it seemed! So, the five of them rushed up to the rest of the team and grinned.

"So, did you find anything out?" Cali asked as she stepped forward.

"Oh, we did alright, and it's not good," Stealth Elf replied, and the faint moment of joy she had faded away as she crossed her arms. "Turns out, Kaos's been using this place to unearth Arkeyan ruins and beef up his armies with their robots! He's already gotten a ton, and worse yet, he's already plotting his way to Arkus!"

"Wait, Arkus? If he gets there, he'd have the whole Arkeyan army at his control! And he's already planning to get there?" Bouncer cried as he wheeled back. "Dangit, that guy works fast!" Bouncer blinked, then grinned as he balled his hands into fists. "But, we're just gonna have to work faster! We've already busted that control terminal, so those robots won't be bugging us anytime soon!"

"Then all we have to do is take on the heart of the rig itself," Flameslinger added! He nudged up beside Stealth Elf and rolled out his map, then pulled up his blindfold just a tad and frowned as he glazed it over. "The last of the generators should be somewhere around here." Flameslinger scratched his head as he lifted his up. "Problem is, it doesn't seem like there's anything around here where it could be…"

Everyone else frowned and hummed as they examined their surroundings, and as Stealth Elf joined them, her foot brushed against one of the unconscious robots scattered around the facility. Her brows perked up, then she heaved up the robot and smirked.

"Actually, I have an idea!" Stealth Elf proclaimed.

Stealth Elf hoisted the robot up with all her might, then withdrew her dagger and slashed its chest wide open! Sparks flew from its wide-open chest as she kicked it back towards a suspiciously-placed wall near the end, then she turned around and covered her ears as it exploded into flames!

The blue flames ate away around the rig as the explosion ate up the other robots in its wake, then the flames were drenched away by a massive wave of water from Spyro and Gill Grunt! As the flames turned to mere embers and smoke that brushed away with a single gust of wind, the wall itself was revealed to be no more. The flames had blown its surface to smithereens, and all that remained was a cold, dark metal passageway!

"That's what I thought—it must be in a hidden passageway!" Stealth Elf cried as she crossed her arms.

"We'll stay here and make sure none of those guards try anything," Hex added as she gestured to Drill Sergeant and Chop Chop. "The rest of you, go find that generator."

Stealth Elf nodded, then stormed inside with a wave of her hand. "Come on!"

So, with Hex, Chop Chop and Drill Sergeant flanking the way in, the rest of them all made their way inside, some taking moments to dodge the remaining smolders and embers, then paused as their feet hit the cold, cool metal. The faint crackle of electricity echoed from down the halls, paired with the occasional crack and flash of blue light. This had to be where the last generator was! So, they all trekked their way through, while the outside light grew fainter and fainter until they were stuck to wandering through the dark twists and turns. A faint sizzling had joined the crackles and pops as they proceeded… Yet, nothing that could have caused it could be seen!

"Just what is making that awful noise?" Stealth Elf hissed.

Hot Head frowned, then grinned as he held out his hands and jiggled them. "I don't know, but I think I can shed some light on them!" flames burst out from Hot Head's hands, and the warmth of red, orange and yellow completely lit up the halls. "Firelight, that is!"

Hot Head chuckled at his own cheesy joke for a few moments, then he blinked and lifted his head as smoke flitted across the halls. "Wait, is something burning besides me?"

As it turned out, it was! The warmth of Hot Head's flames had unveiled entire rows of bombs that had been stuck to the walls and ceiling, and the flames had completely lit them! Everyone blinked for a moment as the flames ate away at the bombs' strings and drew dangerously close to the insides, then, they screamed and ran ahead! Massive, thundering explosions sounded from behind as the fire of the blasts burst forward and ate away as the strings of bombs they left behind! Everyone panted and sweat as the hot fires tickled their backs and sent sweat pouring down, yet the fires behind just burned even brighter as they swept through the entire room!

Trigger Happy grunted as he snagged his foot and tripped on his face, but Spyro quickly swept Trigger Happy on his back and zipped off!

"The flames, they're getting faster!" Spyro cried as he whizzed past everyone else. "Keep running!"

Ninjini winced and turned back as another explosion burst through and sent flames around the corner, then zipped ahead and grimaced. "At this rate, the fires will get us before we get out!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Hot Head cried as he stood behind and glared down the flames!

Hot Head snarled, shouted out as he flung out his hands… Then, the flames sucked right into his hands and seared his body! The magma veins that fueled him grew even brighter and hotter as the flames warmed their bodies, while Hot Head's magma stone skin turned singed and charred as the flames warmed his body! A plume of fire burst from his head as he screamed out, his cries shriller and louder as even more flames fed into him by the second. Then finally, the last of the flames vanished and he fell to his knees! His whole body was charred and smoking as he fell on his side and sputtered, but he had saved them!

"I'll take care of Hot Head!" Crusher shouted as he knelt down beside Hot Head and rested Hot Head's chest on his lap. "Just get to the generator!"

Ninjini turned back and nodded, then they all burst through the end of the tunnel and the light that poured from it, and into a shiny, sleek metal room full of light! The overhead lamps swung to and fro and cast their light over the sleek checkerboard floor, with no doors or windows to be found whatsoever. The only entrances laid on several metal balconies with chains hung from their railings, one that added a slick, metallic scent to the otherwise stark room. But, more than anything, something that sounded oddly like beeping kept echoing from the room? Yet, nothing in a room as stark and minimal as this could have caused it, right?

That's what everyone thought, yet the beeping gleefully carried on as they tip-toed across the across the floor. The beeps and their footsteps kept a steady rhythm as they crept from tile to tile, all eyes moving from side to side as they kept eyes trained for any sort of oddities and traps.

Then, Flynn stepped on a tile and screamed as it launched him into the ceiling!

"Flynn!" Spyro cried! He flew up and caught Flynn on his back just before Flynn could crash back down, but that didn't stop the rest of the tiles from bouncing up and down below them!

Trigger Happy screamed as one tile sprung up from underneath him, slamming him into the ceiling and ricocheting him right into Spyro's back! Spyro grunted, yanking Flynn up by his arm and straining as he tried to pull Flynn back onto his back, then swept away as Cali flew up and slammed right into the ceiling beside him!

Cali groaned, his eyes spinning around in her head as she shot back down and right into Gill Grunt's arms, then she grunted and shook her head as her eyes met his. His jetpack poured entire waterfalls onto the floor below, slicking down the tiles and sending a gurgling, bubbling noise that echoed through the chamber, but he just smiled and flew over to a particularly large balcony and sat down on its railing, allowing Cali to step down with a loosening of his arms.

"Thanks for that, Gill Grunt," Cali panted as she stumbled out of his arms and leaned against the balcony's railing, absentmindedly rubbing the bruise on her head that poked its way out of her fur as she glazed over the floors below.

Spyro himself panted and fell to his paws as he stumbled over the balcony and sent Trigger Happy and Flynn rolling across the floor, then he shook his head and grimaced as he joined Cali in peering over the balcony.

Down below, the others all screamed and ran as the floor rumbled and popped out tiles behind them, its speed increasing at such a rate that entire rows of the floor behind them had been completely eradicated with only dark voids left in their wake! Bouncer and Ninjini took a quick look back as the floor and swept across, scooping Flameslinger, Stealth Elf and a few of the molekin in their arms as Ninjini's eyes narrowed.

"The exit's there!" Ninjini cried as she pointed towards one of the balconies.

She and Bouncer both ducked underneath the balcony's crumbling bottom and began disappearing down the halls, but as they ran, one of the molekin tripped over their own feet and planted face-first onto the ground right as the floor gave way underneath them!

"Help!" The molekin screamed as they plummeted into the depths!

A few of the other molekin leaped from Bouncer and Ninjini's arms and dashed back to the edge of the halls as they grabbed the falling molekin by the hand and pulled them back up, but even with their combined strength, they could barely hold on—instead, they teetered over and collapsed into the void, hands unwrapping as they scrambled and scratched against the walls before falling in!

"Hang on, lil' guys! I'm comin—" Bouncer started as he wheeled over, only for purple and cyan blurs to dive right in front of him, forcing him to wheel back!

Grunts and strained groans echoed through the room as those blurs flitted back into view, revealing themselves to be Spyro and Gill Grunt, yet not just then either. A pair of dizzy molekin groaned as they leaned against Spyro's back while he strained with all his might to pull them to the balcony, and beside him Gill Grunt flew sideways, the streams of water that burst from his jetpack slamming against the walls while the molekin he collected clung to him for dear life!

"Don't, worry about, us!" Spyro grunted as he flew out of view. "Just take care of, that machine!"

Bouncer grimaced for a moment, his metallic teeth clenching together, but finally he nodded, clutching the remaining few molekin close to his chest as he wheeled down the hallway. Though it was more a tunnel, really, with its almost claustrophobic stone walls of red lit by a warm yellow light coming from the end of the tunnel. He grunted as he ducked underneath the ceiling, and as his eyes trailed across the floor of crumbly red brick, he paused and wheeled away from a suspiciously light patch in the otherwise rich, red earth. Red lights like a warning sign flashed in his eyes as he kept his head craned towards the ground, eyes fixed on the bricks, while in his arms Stealth Elf wiggled out and pulled a round orb from her pocket.

"Just to be safe," she whispered as she windmilled her arm, then tossed the orb onto the ground!

The moment the orb hit the earth, its glassy outer covering shattered, sending thin layers of smoke cascading through the room before they disappeared into thin air, save for parts that sank into the earth and left squiggly markings on the tiles and spaces underfoot.

Stealth Elf's ears flattened against the side of her head, and her grip on Bouncer's arm tightened a bit. "Those ones with the marks on them activate traps, everyone," she warned as she wiggled her way out of his grip and pulled away a molekin before they could step on one of the line-marked tiles. "Try not to step on them!"

Hearing this, the molekin yipped and stumbled away from Stealth Elf's grip… But right as they did, they stepped right on her feet and knocked her over! The two of them both screamed as they hit the rocky floor headfirst, but underneath the weight of their screams a small click sounded off! The walls rumbled just slightly, faint tremors that were barely noticed as they both got up and held their heads, yet their low rumble continued nonetheless. Its roars grew in volume at a slow pace, enough to catch Stealth Elf's attention as she got up and flicked her ears… And right as she did, the walls rumbled and shuddered as they began drawing closer to them! All eyes turned back to the space where they had landed, and sure enough, a tile covered in squiggles had sunk into the ground!

"Just great," scoffed one of the molekin as they crossed their arms, "Sandy, look what you—"

"There's no time for arguing!" Stealth Elf spat as she grabbed Sandy and the other molekin by the hand and dashed off. "We've gotta get going!"

Behind her, flames burst and crackled, sending a thick smoky scent through the room as Flameslinger rushed behind her with several of the other molekin in tow! Whistles of magic sparks and the sound of wheels grinding in the dirt joined the symphony as Bouncer and Ninjini rushed behind them, their eyes fixed on the faint speck of light that shone at the end of the tunnel and grew fainter by the second. Stealth Elf winced as the flames from behind nipped at her ears, while the walls around her continued to rumble and quake as they gained speed, making the already quite cramped tunnel even tighter as they pressed forward!

Stealth Elf grunted as she flipped forward and tossed the molekin ahead, and a roar sounded from behind as she transformed into a tiger and rushed forward, knocking them onto her back! Behind her, Flameslinger dashed up and leaped onto her back, the added speed giving him enough extra air that he scored the landing even with the molekin who clung to him in tow! The molekin paused for a moment and applauded him as he chuckled and bowed… Well, all but one, who only chewed up their long, sharp fingernails as their eyes fell on the path ahead and its shrinking light!

"We're not gonna make it!" The molekin cried over the rumble of the squeezing walls. "It's too far ahead!"

Stealth Elf growled, her eyes fixed on the faint, thin string of light that streaked along what remained of the floor as the walls pressed on even faster than before! A snarl stretched along her muzzle as she leaped across what remained amid the floor, but as she did the light vanished underneath her paws! She gasped, screwing her eyes closed as she prepared for the inevitable pain of being crushed to death by moving walls.

But it never came.

She only dropped along a gap in the walls, one just big enough to fit her! As all four paws hit the warm stone, the sound of grunting and strained turned her back to the back of the group, where Bouncer and Ninjini both gritted their teeth as they pressed against the walls! Sweat and oil crept down their faces, and their hands trembled as they fought against the walls that in turn screeched and pressed against them with all their might.

"Just hurry up and destroy this thing!" Ninjini cried as she leaned her side against the wall and fought against its push. "We'll be fine!"

A faint, low noise came from Stealth Elf, but nonetheless she dashed down the path in large sprints, passing through the restored light before transforming back into her normal self as she passed through the halls! Her feet and hands hit warm, vent-filled metal as she panted and wiped the sweat from her face, but the sound of metal screeching and steam blowing sent her upright immediately!

Her eyes fell across the much more spacious room before her, all fancy, intricate stone and metal pathways filled with vents to an area too dark to be seen through their gaps. But, the faint sound of bubbling and the heat that came from them was probably a good enough guess. The whole room was lit in warm tones from the flames and hot red steam that emerged from the massive, pulsing generator stuck at the end of the metal platform they stood on, and with the way it rattled and popped, it seemed as though it was already on its way out!

"Looks like this is the place!" Stealth Elf remarked as she drew one of her daggers and squeezed its handle. "Let's make this quick."

Stealth Elf grunted as she sprinted forward and drew her dagger high, her eyes fixed on a weak, rumbling point within the generator that was sure to strike an explosion if hit—but right before she struck, something burst from the shadows and leaped for her! A sparking mace crackled, its electricity popping against Stealth Elf's face as she pressed her blades against the mace's handle, her eyes fixed on its wielder. The sleek-looking robot dressed entirely in red and gold armor that wielded the mace sent out some kind of beeping taunt, then lifted its leg and prepared to kick. But, Stealth Elf beat it to the punch! She kicked it right in the chest, knocking it into the floor while its mace slipped from its hands and slammed into its chest!

The robot exploded in a shower of sparking metal as the electricity hit its circuits, and from the shadows an entire platoon of similar robots leaped in!

Stealth Elf landed on her feet, scowling underneath her mask as Flameslinger dashed up to her side and readied his arrows. But right as he readied his bow, the molekin raised their weapons and screamed as they charged for the robots! The robots charged right for the molekin, Stealth Elf and Flameslinger completely forgotten to them as they swung their maces and lances against the molekin's own hammers and sickles!

Stealth Elf and Flameslinger both winced for a moment, then they turned to the generator and nodded as they raised their weapons, charging forward—but stopping right as a large shadow dropped down from the sky. The two of them scrambled backwards as a large, armored dark blue robot with glowing eyes and halves of a circle on its arms, then groaned and gripped their weapons tight. The robot only beeped and whirred as it slammed its arms together, crafting a shield with a burning light coming from the glowing core in the shield's center! The light burned brighter by the second, and as it reached its brightest, a hot, large laser shot from the core and aimed right for Stealth Elf and Flameslinger! The two of the split as the laser charged for them, but instead it hit the flames Flameslinger left behind and sent a massive white hot flame wall bursting from behind them!

Flameslinger's teeth gritted as his head turned to the giant Arkeyan robot that stood before him, its deep blue carapace tinted in shades of purple and red from the flames that emerged from around it. Its arms creaked as it split its shield back in two, then slammed a half of the shield down on the ground right as Stealth Elf dashed away from it! Hot steam and fire burst from the dent in the floor that its attack left behind, but the robot just lifted its head and turned around at a glacially slow pace, its footsteps slow and laborious as it chugged after Stealth Elf… But as it turned its back to Flameslinger, the faint sound of dripping water came from in front of it!

Flameslinger gasped, then pulled down his blindfold and grinned as his eyes fell on the beads of liquid metal that dripped down its back!

"That's it!" Flameslinger cried as he dashed ahead. "Stealth Elf, I know how to beat this thing!"

"You do?" Stealth Elf shouted back. She rolled away as the robot attempted to cleave her once more, then pushed herself upright and squeezed her blades' handle.

Flameslinger smirked, then with a tap of his heels he was off! Flames burst across the floor as he circled around the robot, which slowly turned around, switching from left to right as a ring of flames surrounded it! Flameslinger's laughter echoed all around the robot as its eyes flashed from red to yellow, then finally it slammed its shield's halves together and shot off a massive, blue-hot laser… But in that moment, Flameslinger dashed away the robot's laser only hit the thick ring of fire he left behind! The flames ignited in a large plume, swallowing the robot whole and burning bright, earning the attention of all the robots and molekin as the flames finally extinguished and left a smoking, charred robot covered in liquid hot metal!

Stealth Elf smirked, then with a flip she transformed back into a giant tiger and lunged right for the robot! A loud, guttural growl burst from her throat as she raised her paws, and scraps of metal flew across the arena as her claws raked against the robot in quick slashes! Stealth Elf skidded backwards as the burnt robot fell to its knees, the sparks that burst from its open wounds intermingling with the flames that ate away at its body, melting it and twisting it into deformed mounds. Stealth Elf grabbed everyone by the collars of their shirts, then dashed off to the room's door as the robot burst into a fiery explosion of lightning and heat! The flames engulfed the entire room in a searing coat as their flames ate away at the platform, melting and twisting away its metal before finally stopping at the shield Stealth Elf left… But between the gaps in their fires, the generator's wreckage could be spotted as it collapsed and burned along the platform!

Stealth Elf grinned, then turned back to normal with a shake and wiped her hands. The power flickered out and coated her in darkness for a moment, and in another quick moment a few of the lights flickered back on. The flames had died somewhat, but their fires still burned enough to provide a comfortable source of firelight in the otherwise darkened room.

"Hey, the walls stopped!" Bouncer cried from down the hallway!

Stealth Elf chuckled, then her whole group rushed down the hallways to be met with Bouncer and Ninjini! The two of them were still covered in sweat and their arms still trembled slightly, but thankfully they were intact—and better yet, the walls that had once charged for them had sunk back into the sides of the hall.

"I'm guessing that was your doing?" Ninjini asked as she turned around and lowered her head.

Stealth Elf smiled and lowered her head, her ears wiggling for a bit before lavender smoke trailed in front of her face.

"We'd better find the others and let them know."

So, they trailed back out the hall and into the room from before, where Spyro and Gill Grunt's voices could faintly be heard as the faint, fuzzy sight of them lowering people on the reassembled floor could be seen in the distance. Their little group turned around and grinned, waving at Stealth Elf as she nodded towards them.

Another quick walk led their two groups back to the beginning hallway, where Hot Head smiled and leaned against Crusher as Crusher helped him up. The char marks on his stone skin had faded significantly, and though it was still a duller shade of red than his normally vibrant crimson, he at least seemed alright compared to when he laid collapsed on the floor.

"You really had me worried, you know," Crusher scolded as he finally slipped his arms from Hot Head. "Taking on all that fire…"

"But, it worked! The generator's gone!" Ninjini proclaimed as she slipped between the two.

The two of them grinned and nodded, and with one last walk, all of them slipped back out to where Hex, Drill Sergeant and Chop Chop stood guard outside! The three of them turned around as the sound of footsteps echoed from outside of the tunnel, but no words had to be spoken—the cold, but knowing look in Hex's eyes and the lights that flashed in Drill Sergeant's showed that they knew enough. The trio parted as everyone stepped back out into the open, and all eyes turned to the platform at the top of the structure… Where the barrier had faded! But, the large robot that stood atop it drilled away still, bursts of flames and lasers coming from its platform as it worked.

"Looks like that robot's still kicking," Clay scoffed. "Of course they wouldn't have their biggest one connected to the same thing as the others."

"Well, guess this is our cue," Bouncer said before he turned to the molekin. "You guys just stay here—we'll take care of their star player!"

So, the molekin nodded and drew away as the Skylanders, Elder Elementals, Flynn and Cali marched their way towards the platform's staircase…

§

Everyone panted as heavy as they could as they reached the top platform, with some collapsing on the floors while others chose to leans against rails and massive collections of surprisingly-pristine oil barrels.

"Geez, that's one tall staircase," Flynn remarked as he rubbed his fur underneath his hat. His frowning continued as he straightened out his hat, then he crossed his arms and hummed as he examined the platform before them all. "Doesn't seem like there's anyone here, though."

And concerningly, Flynn was right. Aside of them, the whole platform was vacant! All that remained were large oil barrels strung from cranes and collections of barrels and crates stained with oil and scattered about in piles. Behind them was some kind of massive gap surely fit for some kind of large machine or something of a similar nature, and yet it was completely vacant!

"What's going on?" Spyro asked as he padded forward and craned his head around. "Did we get the wrong place? Surely, that robot has to be here…"

Everyone else mumbled in agreement as they looked around and twisted their heads in every angle in some hope of figuring out what was going on… Then, masses of thick steam burst out from the corners and corridors of the area! Coughing fits came from everyone as they tried desperately to fan away the thick smoke that coated the area, but it was so thick that nothing dented it! Well, save for the bright, colorful lasers that pierced through the fog and shone as they swung back and forth! Low, rumbling music bellowed from the holes in the floor as the thick scents of smoke and oil ruminated around the room, growing louder by the second as the smoke thinned enough that a faint, but large silhouettes started to make its way through the fog! It was bulky, with a square body, round shoulder, and triangular hands attached to stick-thin arms, and as it

"Well look what we have here! People sneaking where they don't belong!" echoed from the mist as more laser shot into the skies, exploding into fireworks that cascaded down on the tower and creaked it slightly! The voice that came from them was mechanical even by a robot's standards, layered in all sorts of filters and tweaks that echoed a metallic, hollow imitation of a voice!

Everyone blinked, stepping back on instinct as the music grew louder, layers of beeps and electronic hooks added into the base of electronic screech as the lasers continued to burst… And came right for them! The group split in half as one laser zapped right for them, then to another as a second burst right below their feet! Bouncer flinched and held up his arm to block off the ashes that remain, and below him Spyro snarled and flapped his wings, his eyes flickering to a sky blue.

"Alright, enough of this!" Spyro cried as he flapped his wings. A mighty gust burst from underneath them, piercing into the fog and blowing its clouds away. "It's time we defogged this myst-ery!

"Couldn't you think of anything better?" Stealth Elf hissed from beside him.

With one last gust of wind, the fog completely cleared reduced to little more than thin strips of mist that evaporated in the air. And in that moment, pillars of colorful steam burst from behind as the assailant's identity unveiled at last!

In the place where a gaping hole one was stood a massive robot made of scratched up orange metal, with a round orange face that bore glowing yellow eyes and rusty brown metal eyebrows and a mouth lined with white cogs for teeth that ground with glee! Silver metal lined the top of his head like a barrel, and gears popped out from the sides of his body while large metal blocks made up thin arms with drills for hands that stuck firm to the turntables in front of him, where all sorts of lights and switches flickered and glowed—but none as much as the pair of records that spun and flashed, spitting out lasers into the skies around him!

"You'd better quake in fear, cause as long as you're here," the robot rapped, his drills diligently spinning and scratching at the records as the tunes that bellowed around him grew more intense, their electronic tunes pounding and screeching like knights eager for battle. "You'll be hearing Drill-X's deadly song!"

"A… Rapping robot?" Spyro sputtered as rainbow spotlights fell over the floor and lit the rusty metal floors—and him—in a mass of color.

Drill-X's eyes glinted, reflecting that same rainbow that hung over the others, and a wider grin stretched across his face as he lifted his drills from his turntables. "Well, what a surprise, Skylanders! I should've thought you'd come here!" Drill-X sang as he stretched over the turntables.

The lights that shone on the group grew intense, so bright and harsh that they all had to shield their eyes lest they burn away—and Drill-X grinned ever further as it reached one of its drills towards the turntables. The electronic tune that screeched from the turntables switched, turning harsher and louder with its beats and sounds! A chorus of organ pipes tweaked to sound just as electronic as the rest of the song rang amid electronic screeches and scratching beats, and the other drill lifted from the turntables, spinning around as it loomed over the group. Drill-X's smile shone in those rainbow colors for a moment, but quickly shifted to a bright red as the drills spun faster, the churning of their metal blending into the beat!

"You might be tough, but the going'll get rough when I drop the beat on you!"

The rainbow lights that fell over the group vanished in favor of a dark shadow, and as they turned their heads up they all screamed and split, dashing away just before the robot's drill hand could crush them alive! The metal space they once stood on dented, its metal straining to keep its bolts in and not collapse under the weight of sudden damage, while the pipes that acted as a fence caved and exploded, sending oil showering everywhere! The oil rained on the robot, who only grinned and licked it away from his face, it poured onto the floors and slicked them down, and it even rained onto a few smoke-spewing pipes!

As Bouncer zoomed right in front of one, he screamed and zipped back right as the oil collapsed into the smoke and ignited, sending fire spewing just inches below his face! He wheeled away just before the oily sweat that poured down his own face could ignite, but as he raced back his leg bumped into something hard and metallic, sending out a dull crash as it knocked a few other things over! Bouncer paused and turned around, his glowing eyes fell on a stack of metallic barrels covered in rust that now laid on their sides on the floor, shiny black oil spewing from the rectangular holes in their tops. From there, thumping, thudding, denting noises lead Bouncer to draw his eyes from the barrels back to the battlefield, where the rest of the group struggled to avoid the drill as it slammed against the floor! Parts had already given up and caved in, leaving triangular gaps in the floor that they all struggled to run around. Flameslinger dashed around, nearly knocking Drill Sergeant off his wheels and into the pit had Hot Head not yanked Drill Sergeant up and tossed him over the gap in a moment of quick thinking… And then, a smile stretched across his face as he yanked the oil barrels from the ground and tossed them across the floor.

"Hot Head, Flameslinger, light 'em up!" Bouncer cried over the screeching music and the soaring barrels!

Both of them turned immediately at the sound of their names, and instinctively they shot their own fires right into the barrels' metal surface, heating the oil within them so quickly that they ignited in that instant! Flameslinger immediately dashed off as the flaming barrels hurtled right for him, but Hot Head screamed and slapped the barrels away, shooting them right into Drill-X's hand! Hot Head screamed and dashed away as the flaming barrels exploded right before his eyes, the flaming oil latching onto Drill-X's drills and setting them alight!

A couple of mechanical screeches came from Drill-X as he waved the flames away from his hands, and though they quickly extinguished, the charred, burnt scars they left on his drills still seared with smoke! Drill-X went to slam them on the ground once more, but the moment they did, he screeched again and yanked it back up, blowing it as it glowed red! His metal teeth clenched tight, Drill-X's eyes drifted back over to his turntables.

"Well looks like I played with fire, and the burns are a little dire," Drill-X sang as he flicked a few switches on the turntables and scratched the records, "guess I'll change my tune, brace yourselves soon, cause the stakes are gonna get higher!"

Behind Drill-X, bright lights shot up, lighting his back in the colors of the rainbow as lasers arched above him and pierced through the ground below, sending bombs of color and light detonating! The music turned faster, the beat dropping in time with the lasers' detonation as more shot over Drill-X like fireworks and the music sped up once more! Drill-X cackled, his eyes lit up with glowing rainbows of glee as the group ran for cover…

Well, save for one. While the lights flashed and exploded and the screams of his companions were drowned out by the sound of creaking, torn metal and detonating lasers, Bouncer just paused and hummed along to the music, oblivious to how an orange laser came hurtling right for him!

"Look out!" Spyro cried from beside him.

Bouncer popped open an eye right as Spyro shielded him from the laser with a shield of purple magic, then carried on humming as Ninjini slid up to him and reflected the lasers back at Drill-X with another shield!

Hot Head yelped as he stumbled away from a red laser and cowered behind the safety of Spyro and Ninjini's shields, then paused and raised a brow at the still-humming Bouncer. "Bouncer, whaddya think you're doing?" Hot Head asked as he gently flicked Bouncer in the side of the head. "Now's not the time for a jam session!"

"Can't help it, Hot Head," Bouncer chirped as he spun around and swayed from side to side. "Song's a bop!"

Bouncer's hums turned to mumbles as he spun away from the shields, and Drill-X grinned as he prepared to shoot… But then, he drew away and raised a mechanical brow at Bouncer. His smile softened, turning a bit more sincere as his eyes lit up at the sight of Bouncer, singing along to his own music.

"Did I hear that right, Skylander? Was what you said crystal-clear?" Drill-X sang as he laid his drills on his turntables, letting the laser show rest, "From the mist and the smoke, has a fan of mine appeared?"

Bouncer lifted his head, craning it towards Drill-X's setup, then chuckled and shrugged. "I," Bouncer started, then cleared his throat, "excuse me—you've got that right, dude! Your beats are sweets, the music's a treat…" Bouncer pointed towards Drill-X, and his grin spread a little wider, "You really know your stuff!"

Drill-X let out a haughty chuckle, rumbling the arena, but the lights that burst from his back dimmed just a bit, their harsh aura turning softer and setting the stage as mist burst from the sides of the turntable.

"You've got some taste, Skylander! Not to build myself up too much," Drill-X scratched his turntables, flicking a switch as a recurring scratch of the disc found its way into his musical backdrop. "but I'm the dubstep king, the best rapping machine, with the music I'm totally in-touch!"

Drill-X's mechanical eyelids slid open and closed, and his own jaw dropped a bit ajar. Soft sputters slipped from his mouth as he glazed over his turntables, the sight of his reflection in their sleek, shiny surface only deepening the frown on his face. He blinked for a moment, running his drills along them with an almost forlorn look… Then he shook his head and his eyes glowed red!

"Wait, what am I doing right now? I can't talk with the enemy!" Drill-X shouted as he lifted his head, his eyes flashing red still as he moved some switches on his turntables up their bars, "I've got the floor, now it's back to the war, and when the floor shakes, it'll rattle you to the core!"

The sound of organ pipes burst their way into the soundtrack, and just like that, the whole floor started to rumble! Everyone peered and glimpsed down as the remaining panels below their feet rumbled and shuddered… And right as the beat dropped, the panels shot into the skies, taking their residents with them! As they flew into the air, a couple people leaned forward, preparing to jump, but right as they did the song started and the panels crashed right back into their places! A few grunts came as the panels snapped back into place, everyone's legs like jelly as they staggered back up and leaned against each other to keep balance. And yet, this hardly mattered to Drill-X, who only grinned as he spun a knob on his turntables and the sound of sirens echoed through the music!

Spyro yelped and jumped as the floor beneath him turned red hot, glowering with a crimson light as it section turned hotter and hotter—then finally, a hole tore through the panel as a gigantic column of flame burst from it! And not just that one, either—twisted rows formed in the floor as panels of more flaming columns burst in tune with the roar of sirens coming from Drill-X's turntables!

Gill Grunt grimaced as he hoisted up his water cannon and pulled the trigger, sending torrents of water smashing into the flaming column before him, but the flames were so strong that they ate up the water, evaporating it into steam that billowed into the air alongside the thick smoke created from the flames! Gill Grunt's snarl twisted as he held the trigger tighter, but finally his hand trembled and he relented, his cannon slipping from his hands as he fell to his knees—and, luckily for him, cast him right underneath the flames' heat as another pillar burst from the side of the floor and slammed into Hot Head!

Hot Head screamed as the flames tossed him into the air and pushed him right into the side of Drill-X's drills… And both of them screamed as Hot Head plopped right off and bounced right onto the floor! The red heat that lingered on Drill-X's drill glowed a little brighter as he yanked it off the turntables and blew on it, while below him Hot Head groaned and scratched his head.

Bouncer's eyes flickered for a moment, stuck in pause as Ninjini pushed past him and pointed one of her wishblades towards Drill-X. "His drills, they're still sore from being set on fire!" she cried, eyes narrowing as the drills glowed just a teensy bit brighter and redder. "They're a weak point—center your attack there!"

"Right!" Everyone called as they rushed in!

Drill-X snarled, grinding his teeth so hard that curls of metal peeled off of them and fell to the floor, then he smashed his drills against his turntables!

"Oh no, oh no, not my drill! Now how am I supposed to fight and drill day and night? Gotta hurry up and set this right!" Drill-X sang as he flipped a few switches, his eyes flickering on and off with frantic light for a few moments before he smiled and lifted his head. Flicking one last switch, he cackled a haughty, mechanical cackle that rattled his screws and bolts as his eyes flashed red. "Now that's more like it! Skylanders, you might have made my drills ignite, but even with all your might, you'll never be enough to dim my light!"

With that one last flick of a switch, the music turned faster, more frantic—so frantic, in fact, that the panels on the floor below rumbled and shook before popping off to reveal shiny, rubbery blue bounce pads underneath!

Spyro raised his brows as the panel in front of him leaped into the stratosphere, then hopped on top of the bounce pad and soared into the skies as flames lapped and licked at his muzzle! Beside him, faint boinging sounds came as Hex, Flameslinger, and Drill Sergeant all leaped into the air, and he only turned to them for a moment before he finally turned his eyes back down to where Drill-X stewarded and conducted his music at his turntables. Spyro yanked his jaw wide open, and a massive, hot as the sun flame burst down right for Drill-X, smashing right into his searing, glowing drill! Drill-X screamed, yanking the drill up and rubbing it with his other one in some faint attempt to numb then flames, then screamed against as large skulls, arrows and lasers all rammed into the malleable metal and dented it!

Another cry came from Drill-X as he pulled his drill back, but it quickly turned to a snarl as he waved his hand like a conductor's baton over his turntables. A dull clunk sounded as cannons shot up from the ground behind him and fired cannonballs into the skies… But right as the cannonballs launched, they stopped right in midair, enveloped by a purple glow as they smashed into his drill and dented it further!

Spyro blinked, but a small chuckle from below brought his attention to the ground, where Ninjini smirked and pointed towards Drill-X.

"Attack!" Ninjini cried as she summoned her wishblades with a snap of her fingers! Another snap, and the blades shot like bullets towards Drill-X's burning drill, skewering it and slashing gaps through the hot metal!

Drill-X yowled, pulling up his drill before the next round of wishblades could come in for it, but right as he did a storm of bony brambles shot up and pierced through the metal! The music grew intense, louder and faster as the brambles tore a large slash through his drills, then again as Stealth Elf leaped in tiger form and tore another gash through the upper component! Drill-X's drill drew away as sparks flew from the open gashes in its metal and showered down on the ground below, igniting Hot Head's flames further as he shot them towards the drill! As the flames hit the sparks and ignited the drill, Drill-X screamed and waved it around, only for the drill to get hit with a flurry of bombs and ignite further!

As Drill-X screamed and tried to extinguish the flames with panicked flails, Cali frowned from her seat on Crusher's shoulder, removing her hand from her eyes.

"Alright, he's distracted!" Cali shouted as she slid down and gently nudged Crusher's hand. "Now's your chance!"

Crusher only nodded, then slammed his hammer into the ground and sent a giant pillar of stone flying from a gap in the ground! With a slam of his hammer, the pillar split in three as it hurtled for Drill-X's flaming drill, extinguishing its flames at last as it hit the drill in three separate places! Drill-X yowled as the rocks crumbled into bits and fell below him, and his face fell as his drill hand split into three, its body stretched out and only held in place by straining cables… But then, he smirked!

"Oh what a shame, my poor drill! What an epic fail!" Drill-X remarked as he swung his broken drill around, "it's not much use as a drill anymore, but it makes for a perfect flail!"

Drill-X slammed his broken drill to the ground, rattling the panels and sending Crusher and Hot Head on their knees! Behind them, Cali grunted as she fell as well, then as she lifted her head she dashed away while Drill-X swung his flail around! The music grew even more violent, its beats faster and louder and stronger as he slammed and swung his flail and knocked everyone off their feet!

Bouncer frowned as his eyes skimmed over to where Flynn, Cali and the Skylanders ran for cover, and it only grew deeper as they turned to where Drill-X conducted his symphony, cackling and bellowing as he swung his flail around. Hopping over a gap in the floor, his eyes and fingers charged with bright light as he set his sights on the drill, then with a single pop a large orange laser burst from his hand and pierced through the drill, slamming through all three sections and slicing it in half! Drill-X screamed so loud it shook the clouds in the heavens as he leaned back in his seat, and with a whimper he pulled up his broken hand. The sound of engines revving drew his attention to Bouncer, and he snarled as he raised his still-intact other hand...

"Hey, I've got something to ask you!" Bouncer shouted as he wheeled up to Drill-X.

… And Drill-X perked a brow, slowly moving his drill away from Bouncer.

"You like making music, right?"

Drill-X blinked, and his haughty smile grew a bit more sincere as lights sparkled in his eyes. "You bet I do, Skylander! To say I like it, it's not enough!" Drill-X cried. "It's my life's passion, my one true obsession, for me, it's just the stuff!"

"That's easy for anyone to see—and, you're really good at it to boot!" Bouncer cried, the grin on his face disappearing as he crossed his arms. "So tell me, why are you serving this Kaos dude, then?"

And with that, Drill-X faltered, his expression not quite a smile, but not really a frown either as he scratched his head with his drill. "Kaos? Who's Kaos? I only serve the great Arkeyan Lord, allegiance to him is coded into my record, ever since I was restored, I have no choice—it's only him I serve!"

"No you don't!" Bouncer cried, holding out his hands. "I used to think the same as you, but I managed to overcome my programming!" Bouncer wheeled over to the side, gesturing to the turntables that rested under Drill-X. "If music is what you're passionate about, you shouldn't stay stuck here in this musty old rig! You should follow your dreams!"

Drill-X blinked, and the music started to lower. "Following my dreams…" He whispered, almost amazed as he ran his other drill across his turntables.

But as he did, sparks flew out! Drill-X cried out as he yanked his hand away from the sparking turntables, but soon enough his own body started sparking and sputtering as well! Code and orange light flashed from his eyes as he curled over his turntables, screamed and shuddering while the sparks kept flying!

Bouncer grimaced, immediately wheeling back as Drill-X yelled out twisted cries and grunts as he dug his drill into his head. "What's wrong, buddy? Speak to me!" he cried as he held his arms out.

Drill-X groaned, his whole body clanking and shuddering as his eyes' lights flashed in and out. "Can't…" He groaned as he collapsed on top of his own turntables, denting them right in half and letting out an awful, twisted note as his lights finally shut down. "Can't fight it…"

Drill-X's eyes grew dim for a moment, and Bouncer wheeled back further. His eyes skimmed the floor, hand clasping and releasing as he turned back to Drill-X and reluctantly reached out a hand, then he pulled it back as Drill-X glowed with an orange light! The light seeped through his injuries, twisting his drill back in place and straightening out the dents in his metal, polishing him up until he was shiny and new! He slowly crept back up from his turntables as the light seeped into them, bringing them to full height and repair as a slow engine rev came from within Drill-X himself, and his eyes flashed open… Red!

"Drill-X, buddy, you're alright!" Bouncer cried as he wheeled forward. "Now what was all that about?"

However, instead of entertaining Bouncer with an answer, Drill-X just narrowed his glowing red eyes and cackled, shooting his drill into the ground and tossing rocks right for Bouncer! Bouncer gasped, zipping away and taking sanctuary behind a pile of crates as Drill-X drilled away!

"It's the end of the track, Skylander! This drill-bot is on the scene!" Drill-X cried as he drilled away, the growing sound of his music mingling with the screams of those down below as they tried to dodge the oncoming rocks. "I'll knock you forward and back with a robo attack 'cause you're messing with the wrong machine!"

Spyro screamed and dragged Cali away as one rock nearly slammed them both in the face, then they both were pushed into a gap in the floor by another rock! Ninjini snatched them from the air just before they could fall in and teleported behind Bouncer, then dropped them to the ground as she crept behind Bouncer.

"What's going on with him?" Ninjini shouted, her voice barely heard of the growing volume and violence of Drill-X's music. Her fingers clenched as in front of her, the rest of the team struggled to avoid the fury of the drills, which had grown more violent and faster by the second.

A few blue and purple flashes came from the field, then moved their light to beside Ninjini as the rest of the team popped beside them with Spyro and Hex helming the charge!

"It looks to me almost like he's being possessed," Hex remarked as she crossed her arms. "But by what?"

A few frowns and twisted brows came as glances were shot at Hex. Being controlled? Well, with the way he had come back to life it certainly seemed like it, but just what could have possibly been controlling him? A couple of low mumbles and questions came from around the ground, but a string of sharp beeps brought all eyes to Drill Sergeant, who had fixed his attention on Drill-X instead!

"Pardon my interruption," Drill Sergeant said as he pointed a drill off to the side, "but I believe I may have found something!"

Spyro padded up beside Drill Sergeant and wiped his paw across the shield's surface, leaving behind a clear view to where Drill-X still sang and rained down hellfire and brimstone itself onto the battlefield… But more importantly, beside Drill-X and barely visible amid the chaos was a faint orange glow, one that flashed and burst in slow pulses like the beat of a heart!

"That's gotta be it!" Spyro cried as the others crowded around him. "Now, all we have to do is—"

Spyro grimaced and stumbled back as burning metal crashed down just inches from where the shield stood and rumbled the ground around, but right before he could collapse, Hex propped his back on his paws. While Spyro swayed back and forth, she floated beside him and frowned as her own eyes met the flashing orange light that pulsed from Drill-X's side.

"What we have to do is make a plan," Hex spat as she held up glowing hands. "If it's coming from him, whatever that light is coming from will likely be mechanical in some form—"—Hex turned around to Spyro—"Spyro, you hold some mastery of the Tech Element, correct?"

Spyro scratched the back of his horns. "I wouldn't say it's one of my strongest elements, but I know some Tech spells," Spyro replied, "I could probably take whatever's there!"

"And I know my way around a machine!" Flynn shouted, rubbing his chest as he strode out from the oil barrel he hid behind. "After all, I wouldn't be the best pilot in all Skylands if I wasn't the best mechanic, too!"

"Same here," Cali remarked as she cracked her knuckles. "I've toyed around with a few machines here and there—that'll probably be nothing!"

"Then it's settled," Hex said, and with a wave of her hands the shield vanished. "The rest of you, draw Drill-X's attention away from us while we disassemble whatever's controlling him."

With a wave of Hex's hands, a slow ripple surrounded herself as well as Spyro, Flynn and Cali, then all four of them disappeared from view! Only the faint thunk of their footsteps could be barely heard as they made their way towards the strange machine, but as they left, what remained of their party turned towards each other and nodded, weapons at the ready and spells preparing to be cast! Their eyes locked on Drill-X, who only cackled as he slid his drills the best he could against his turntables and sent volumes of steam pouring from rattling, rusted pipes in the area! Just as the steam came in, Crusher charged forward and slammed his hammer against the ground, flipping up panels that blocked off the oncoming pillars of steam right in their tracks! The steam whistled, growing brighter and hotter as it charged against the panels, knocking them off the side of the building. Just before they disappeared, however, a purple glow enveloped the panels and they stopped right in their place, floating up as they charged back at the steam and cut right through it, skidding through the skies until they latched onto the very pipes the steam came from and wrapped around them! The panels rumbled and bubbled as the pipes inflated from the extra air, their whistling mingling with the strained grunts that Ninjini made as she struggled to hold the panels in place… Then finally, the glow of the panels faded and once again they popped back off!

As Ninjini slunk down, however, Flameslinger, Gill Grunt, Chop Chop, Trigger Happy, Drill Sergeant and Stealth Elf all rushed in front of her, jumping on the flying panels and knocking them to the ground as they soared right into the skies above Drill-X! As Drill-X craned his head up and grunted, Gill Grunt snarled and locked his harpoon gun's sights right on Drill-X, while his narrowed eyes skimmed back to where the six of them floated beside him.

"Three, two…" Gill Grunt called as the others all raised their weapons, his own finger tightening around the trigger as he spoke. "ONE!"

With one simple tug and release, a massive harpoon shot out from Gill Grunt's gun and spiraled towards Drill-X, the added air from the height it fell at boosting its speed. As it raced faster and faster, a rain of flaming arrows, brambles and shiny gold coins and clouds of poisonous smog joined it, hurtling right into Drill-X and slamming into his chest right as he looked up to catch it! Everyone cheered as Drill-X rocked backwards and screamed out as their combined attack dented his metal, but Drill-X just snarled and snapped back into his place! With a few flicks of the switches on his turntables, a whole battalion of cannons jumped up from his sides and shot drills right towards the group! Drill-X's cackles rained in the air, mingling with the smell of burning smoke that brought tears to people's eyes as it flitted in, and his cackles only rang louder as the drills spun closer and closer in!

Flameslinger and Drill Sergeant veered out of the way of one drill as it pierced through the air between them, while beside them others jumped up, floated, teleported away and did all they could to avoid the drills that had homed in on them… But right as the drills passed them by, they turned around and shot right back for them!

Hot Head grunted as the sound of screeching and burning flames brought his attention to the grills, and with a grunt he shot out his hands and sent large bursts of fire and lava hurtling right for the drills! The flames burned bright, warming the area as their orange light glowed like shooting stars as they flew from the drills and slammed into them! The lava gripped the drills tight, stopping them in their tracks as their own flames petered out, and as the lava bored into the drills and rendered them heaps of lumpy, molten metal, they all dropped down into the stratosphere!

Drill-X snarled as reached for his turntables, but the moment he did Drill Sergeant narrowed his eyes and zoomed in!

"I am afraid you cannot do that, sir!" Drill Sergeant cried, veering and swiveling between gaps in the floor as he loaded his drills with a click. He raised his drills, and his eyes glowed even brighter as his engine revved louder, sending smoke burning from his wheels before he leaped into the air. "Ready, aim and fire!"

With one more click, Drill Sergeant's drills burst out of his hands and spun around before they diverted midway through their path. The drill expanded, flames burning around them as they smashed right through the cannons and blew them to bits, but right before they could tear through Drill-X himself, they switched around and zipped right back to Drill Sergeant, latching onto the empty spaces on his hands!

"Er, sir, I know you are not inclined to take any other opinions into consideration right now," Drill Sergeant said as he fell back down onto the ground, "but, I assure you, you have the power to fight this influence controlling you! You can regain control, so, er, uh…"

Steam burst from Drill-X as he leaned down and gritted his teeth, eyes glowing red as he stretched over the turntables and huffed steam in Drill Sergeant's face! Drill Sergeant squealed and wheeled back as the steam clouded around him, and with a few mechanical coughs he waved it away. He turned back up to Drill-X, and all he did was gulp as he backed further away.

"As the people of today would put it, get a hold of yourself?"

Drill-X inhaled with a low, hissing gasp, and guttural growls echoed from within him as he bellowed out massive streams of fire right for Drill Sergeant! Drill Sergeant screamed and zipped away, fast as he could across the unbroken parts of the battlefield as the flames heated the floor, twisting and melting its metal base behind him! The flames nipped at Drill Sergeant's wheels, and he himself screamed as he zipped right ahead—then screeched to a stop, nearly tipping over himself but quickly regaining his balance before he could fall into the abyss of broken floor before him! His metal started to heat and sweat away as the flames closed in on him, and Drill Sergeant let out small, frantic beeps as he swiveled between the pit in front of him and the flames that were now inches away from his face!

But just before the flames could burn him alive, Chop Chop leaped in, and his shield extended to shoulder them both from the blow! Chop Chop grunted as he pushed against the massive volumes and plumes of red-hot fire that burned against him, heating his armor into shades of purple as he trudged against the fires. The metal around him started to melt and drip underneath his feet, sliding him and Drill Sergeant backwards, but finally he screamed and charged right through the flames, dividing them in half and casting them away!

Above him, Drill-X yowled and smashed his drills into nearby barrels, knocking them over and sending avalanches of rocks tumbling towards Chop Chop! Chop Chop grunted as he jumped ahead of the first and hopped from rock to rock, then as a particularly large one leaped up and crashed for him, Chop Chop raised his sword and slice it clean in half! Its halves crashed into the ground and fell to rubble, but Chop Chop just landed on another rock and continued to hop.

"My companion is right!" Chop Chop cried as he dashed and hopped between the rocks. "You are more than what's controlling you, my friend! You can break free if you only try!"

Drill-X snarled, the music that played around him growing faster and scratchier, so loud that it forced those around to shield their ears—including Chop Chop, whose sword and shield slipped from his hands as he went to cover the sides of his helmet! With him immobilized, Drill-X slammed his drill full-force into Chop Chop, slamming Chop Chop right into the ground! Chop Chop's bones cracked a bit as he pushed himself up with a groan, and he craned his head back towards where that orange glow came behind Drill-X.

"My lady, I do not wish to rush you," Chop Chop cried as he snatched his sword and shield from the ground and leaped to a still-standing panel right as Drill-X slammed his drill into the ground once more, "but how much longer will it take to break the spell?"

And from behind the console, Hex and an orange-eyed Spyro winced as the console sparked, shooting lightning towards them right as they drifted away! They drew back to the forcefield that rested in front of the console, coating it in an orange glow rife with sparks and lightning, and their frowns grew deeper as they glanced at each other.

"We're trying!" Hex cried as she held out her hands, eyes glowing as she prepared to cast a spell. "But this forcefield is much more stubborn than I anticipated!"

Hex cried out as she slammed a blast of magic into the forcefield… But rather than breaking it apart, it caused the forcefield to surge, sending burst of lightning crackling into Drill-X!

Drill-X yipped, scratching his records momentarily before setting the music back, and his eyes drifted to the back of the console, where Spyro and Hex still worked away! His teeth gritted and rained sparks down onto the battlefield, and in that moment he raised his sparking drills and prepared to fire… But right before he could, a bright orange bullet knocked into his forehead! Drill-X yowled as the bullet bounced off and disappeared into the depths of the broken floor, and as his eyes opened, the first thing they fell on was Bouncer! Bouncer panted sharp, metallic breaths out, his shoulders slunk as Drill-X's glowering red eyes focused on him.

"I promise you, you don't have to do this!" Bouncer cried, the oil dripping down his face as he wheeled back. "You can fight it! You don't have to let yourself be controlled like this!"

But, Drill-X just yowled, his drills' segments spinning and clanging as they swept across the battlefield! Bouncer gasped and slammed his wheel into the floor, crafting a gigantic pillar of gears underfoot that the drills smashed through! Bouncer grunted as he slammed on his back into the metal, but he quickly jumped back to his wheel and snarled as he glared down Drill-X, both parties' eyes glowing as Drill-X continued to yowl and rev his drills.

"Seems like talking you down won't get you to listen." Bouncer sighed and held out his hand, stray scraps of metal and parts of the floor peeling away and towards his palm like a magnet as his hand glowed orange. "In that case…"

Harsh, clanging noises came as the metal slammed against Bouncer's palm and twisted itself until it formed into a metallic microphone, one that Bouncer held up to his lips as he pointed towards Drill-X.

"I'll just have to tell you in a language you understand!"

With a slam of Bouncer's wheel, more panels and stray metal flew behind him, and from them tall, loud speakers formed and blared out upbeat music with every thump and bump! They bounced on the floor as Bouncer wheeled back and cleared his throat, then squeezed the microphone's handle tighter! Bouncer breathed in, exhaled, and despite the furious wails and cries of Drill-X or the massive, clanging rattles and screeching tear akin to nails scratching against metal and sparks flying all at the same time that came from Drill-X's drills, Bouncer just held the microphone to his lips.

"Hey, I know you're not thinking, stuff's just not clicking, you can't get a hold of your head!" Bouncer rapped, swaying from side to side as he sang. "But I've got something to say to you, so shut that voice up and listen to me instead!"

"What does he think he's doing?" Crusher asked as he slammed his hammer down and erected a metal pillar to block off an oncoming wave of fire. "Why would he be singing at a time like this?"

Ninjini paused for a moment as she took shield behind Crusher's pillar, then as it rescinded back into the ground a glint of understanding shone in his black white eyes.

"Just let him sing, Crusher!" Ninjini replied as she blocked off more oncoming flames with a shield of magic. "Something tells me he knows what he's doing!"

"You may be working for that blockhead, but his control you can shed!" Bouncer rapped as he spun backwards, stopping between the two loudspeakers and pointing towards Drill-X. "You're stronger than he is, so remember who you are and stop doing his biz!"

Bouncer's gaze stayed strong, his eyes not wavering from where Drill-X sat behind the turntables and ground his metal teeth! Drill-X erupted into screams as his drills flung into his head, the lights in his eyes flashing in an array of colors as he screamed and slammed his drills further, banging them as if he was trying to dig them in the best he could! Another scream came from him as he finally slammed his drills onto the turntables, denting them and hanging over the set as smoke burst from the burst machine! His panting grew heavier, and the filters seemed to drop a little as the sweat dripped down and his eyes slowly turned back to yellow… But then, a bright red flash burst in his eyes and he jolted back up immediately! He held up one drill and smirked as it slowly deconstructed itself and rebuilt itself in the shape of a patchwork microphone, and his other drill rested atop the cracked turntables as the microphone drew towards his mouth.

"Very funny, Skylander! But you've got it all wrong, this is where I belong!" Drill-X rapped back as the music turned more intense, screeching dubstep and harsh, loud beats melding into the electric harmony as he played with the turntables, "the Arkeyan empire reigns strong, working under it can't possibly feel wrong! My purpose to serve our Arkeyan lord,"—Drill-X raised his mangled hand and slammed it down into the turntables, sending hot smog bursting from behind him—"by raising up his armies on this machine!"

Bouncer coughed as the smog filtered in behind him, then with a smack of his wheel a loud burst of music from the speakers behind him blew the smoke right into Drill-X's face! Drill-X coughed as he waved away the smog, but as he did, his drill smashed into the turntables! Behind him a whole array of laser guns and cannons burst out and scanned the area, zapping the ground around Bouncer and the others and singing it in a barrage of color! Drill-X hacked one last time as he popped an eye open, then grinned and scratched the discs on the turntable as he held the microphone back to his metal lips.

"And if you don't leave, then one scrapped robot you'll be!"

Bouncer grunted as he swerved away from a twisting twin blast of lasers, then grunted and spun out and away of a column of fire that leaped from a broken space in the ground! His metal teeth ground against each other as yet another laser blast soared right above his head, and with a snap of his fingers the music from the speakers behind him grew louder! The speakers swayed along as drum beats and funky rhythms intermingled with their simple electronic tracks and samples, and Bouncer spun the microphone in his hand around before holding it up tight.

"Tell me, man, is this what you really want? Is this really you?" Bouncer cried!

Drill-X paused for a moment, drills lifted from the turntables and the assault ceasing as Bouncer wheeled back and forth, grip tight on the microphone.

"I saw your passion, I saw your drive! I saw the light that shined in your eyes!" Bouncer sang as his gaze craned from the floor to Drill-X while his grip squeezed even harder, "your heart lies in music, not in this banged-up rig, not spending your days doing Arkeyan digs! Dig deep in your heart, each part, remember where it truly lies!"

Drill-X growled, the lights in his eyes flickering, and his growls turned to a scream as he buried his face in his hands! He held his microphone to his lips and tried to rap back… But all that came out was sputtering, staticy garbage! So, Drill-X let out a strained, static-filtered yell as he smashed the microphone against the turntables! The turntables lights flashed and glowered in an assortment of colors, so bright they were like stars amid the murky battlefield, and Drill-X's screaming only continued as he smashed some more!

Bouncer craned his head up as rockets and fireworks shot into the air and exploded, sending hot sparks raining down, and he spun out of the way, weaving through them in time with the beat of his own music. "I know what you're going through, I know how it hurts!" Bouncer rapped as he spun out the way of a shower of sparks that burst from the front of the turntables, then zipped away from a whole rain of lasers that shot into the panels around them and knocked them into the void. "The way it converts you, it turns you into something you'd never want to be! The kind of person even your worst nightmares couldn't make, and you feel like you'll never break free!"

Drill-X's pained screech grew higher, the sound sharp and tight with pain as he smashed his head against the turntables! A ground of drills burst up and shot towards Bouncer below as he pounded his head and drills alike!

The drills all rocketed, fire burning from their backs as they shot towards Bouncer, who gasped for a moment as they came in—and yet, he slid away from the fire with ease, then wheeled from the second just before it could tear through his back! The sharp screech of torn metal came from behind as the drills that missed ripped through the paneling and tore through the foundation of the tower, sending them all swaying with the music! The screams from those around melted into the music and its beats, and even Bouncer broke his serious look for a smile as he swayed along with it.

"But I'm telling you, you're stronger than you think! You can unlink! Remember who your really are, and push his control to its brink!" Bouncer rapped as he spun, weaved and ducked through the drill. Not once did he turn around to acknowledge how the drills rocked the tower and swayed it, or the flames that burst as they exploded into hot metal bits and took parts of the floor with them, no—his gaze was fixed on Drill-X, not moving as he swept from side to side. "Cause being who you want, it's better than being their drone! There's no worth in fighting for a false king's throne, listen to me! I've seen how much your love to sing, how much joy your music brings—so sing your songs, be who you want to be!" Bouncer continued, his own voice growing louder more strained and intense as he struggled to be heard over both the music that played and the clamor from the outer world. "Break free from his control, shake it and be wholly you…"

Bouncer's hand trembled, then finally he dropped the microphone, its screech shaking the world around as it pierced the air, and held out his hands.

"And that's my plea!"

Drill-X sputtered, his makeshift microphone switching back and forth between its current state and the drill it once was, and in that moment the static barrier that covered his panel vanished!

Spyro gasped, then immediately lifted the panel and glazed over the contents—all buttons and wires and cables trademark of any machine, but hidden in the center was a large, orange wheel that sparkled with brilliant light as it spun with all its might, so fast that it was but a blur! Spyro grunted as he latched onto the wheel with both front paws, and with Hex, Flynn and Cali pulling behind him, he yanked the wheel out with a single tug! The wheel flew through the air as its spinning ceased, and shrank until it was just big enough to fit in the palm of Cali's hand as she reached out for it!

"I-I-I-I'm go-go-go-go-go-go-" Drill-X sputtered as he swayed from side to side, the lights in his eyes flashing and dulling with every motion. His voice clipped and skipped, its tone rising and falling with every swaying motion he made. "Go-go-go-going to…"

The microphone that was once Drill-X's hand shifted back into its original drill form, and his glowing eyes finally dulled as he started to tip backwards.

"Going to shut downnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn…"

The lights in Drill-X's face faded at last, and his mouth gaped wide open as he fell on his back, dust and clanging kicking up as his metal body hit the rig and sent it shaking! For a moment everyone around steadied themselves, bracing for a collapse, but when the rig stayed stable, all eyes turned back to Drill-X. He seemed completely lifeless, his eyes wide and dark, mouth gaping open… And yet, a faint dialing tone emerged from the hollows of that gaping mouth, a simple string of beeps that echoed just faintly over the sounds of the rig doing its work.

"Rebooting, rebooting…" Droned a mechanical voice as Drill-X stayed silent. A cheery beep echoed from the inner workings, and the voice turned a bit chipper. "System reboot complete!"

The others all stepped back as Drill-X's drills began to twitch and spin, and the floor underneath them creaked as the drills' weight lifted from their floors! The creaking grew louder as Drill-X slowly pulled himself from the floor and shuddered, shaking his head for a moment… Then when he opened his eyes, they turned a tranquil blue.

"How you feeling, big guy?" Bouncer asked as he wheeled up to Drill-X.

A low chuckle came from Drill-X, and he turned back to his turntables. "Better than I even have!" Drill-X shouted back as he scratched the discs on the turntables. "I've got that voice out of my head, now I'm me instead, and it's all thanks to your song!"

"We can't take all the credit, my good machine," Chop Chop added as he knelt down. "You were the one who fought the influences of what controlled you—we only helped the process along."

"Yes, indeed, sir!" Drill Sergeant beeped. "If you had not withstood the device's machinations, we could not have done anything!"

A low chuckle came from Drill-X, a few cheery tunes from his turntables, then he turned back to the back of the rig and his happy look soured. The remaining parts of the machine poured out smog and fire like they did before, still chugging along despite the loss of one power source. And the very sight sent Drill-X's drills spinning!

"From now on, I'm not singing evil's song!" Drill-X cried as he raised his drill to the heavens, the drill itself whirling around at such a speed that sparks flew and showered across the floor, "that Arkeyan king's got no hold, just as you foretold, so I'm quitting here and chasing my dreams instead!" the drill spun faster, faster, now red hot as it shot straight for the heart of the machine. "And to prove my words right, I'll end this fight and this rig's heart I'll shred!"

A mighty slash sounded through the heavens, overwhelming the sounds of churning oil and machinery as his drill ripped through the machine! Halves of its broken body slunk off and crashed below, unveiling sparking, cut-up machinery that burst into plumes of fire and thick, black smoke as it exploded and sent flames down the entire rig!

§

Everyone cheered as the rig crashed into the land below and took the rest of the machinery down with it… Then, the whole world around them creaked and tilted! Everyone screamed as they went sliding this way and that, all while they grappled for something to cling to!

"This place is gonna blow!" Cried Spyro as he scrambled to the staircase. "Everyone, down the stairs, quick!"

And they didn't need to be told twice! Skylander, Elder Elemental,, Flynn and Cali alike dashed down the stairs as the building creaked and parts of it crashed into the rig below… But as the other Elder Elementals fled down the stairs, Bouncer paused and turned to Drill-X.

"What about you, buddy?" Bouncer asked. "Aren't you going, too?"

Drill-X, in response, only let out a haughty robotic laugh! Even though the whole rig was crashing and burning around him, he still stayed perfectly still, unscathed save for the marks of the earlier battle.

"Not to worry, Skylander! I already have a plan!" Drill-X sang. "I've got my ticket out, I'll be out and about…"

The sound of rockets and warbling electronic music sounded off as the floor around Bouncer rumbled, then flaming jets burst from underneath Drill-X! Drill-X grinned as he floated above Bouncer, then he shot his drill to the skies as the flames surrounded him! He had become a spiraling, flaming rocket as he vanished into the cloudy skies!

"AND SHARE MY MUSIC WITH ALL SKYLANDSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

Bouncer just paused and smiled, but another crash and rumble served to remind him of the circumstances at hand! So, he dashed back down the stairs and wheeled down as the world rumbled! Part of the ceiling crumbled and crashed behind him, and he just hopped down the last of the stairs and soared out right as the staircase crumbled behind him! As the rubble sealed off the staircase, Bouncer only smiled and nodded. Shouts came from beside him, and his attention turned to where the molekin grinned as Ninjini and Spyro patched up their wounds magically.

"Thanks a lot, Skylanders!" One of the molekin said as Spyro bandaged up a scrape on their knee. "Now that these robots are off our island, we can get things back to normal!"

"No need to thank us, it's all part of the job!" Spyro replied as he smoothed out the bandage. His eyes popped open, and his wings flicked as he turned to the others. "Speaking of, we've gotta get going! We've gotta stop Kaos before he gets the rest of these Arkeyans down in Arkus unearthed too!"

Spyro flew over to the rest of his group, but before they departed, he paused and grinned back at the Molekin. The Molekin grinned and waved back, while Hex, Drill Sergeant, Chop Chop and Flameslinger all joined them.

"Thanks for the help, Spyro!" Flameslinger shouted as he waved alongside everyone else. "We'll let everyone back at the base know how you're doing!"

"Thanks, Flameslinger!"

Spyro grinned as he flew right onto the Dread-Yacht's deck just moments before everyone else boarded, and a small sigh escaped his lips as he leaned against the railing. For a moment, he finally felt at ease… But then, those words he heard back then resonated in his mind, and his smile faded away.

"If Kaos is already getting this far ahead, then we can't afford to rest!" Spyro whispered as he stood back up and slammed his paws against the rails. "We've gotta get to his castle, fast!"

"I heard ya, little buddy!" Flynn shouted as he dashed back up to the pilot's quarters, then manned the wheel and grinned. "Luckily, those molekin fueled up the Dread-Yacht while we were waiting on everyone, so we're good to go!"

Spyro turned back and grinned as everyone else met their grins with his own. Then he stopped and sneezed as something landed on his snout! Purple sparkles flew up as the strange object left his nose and revealed itself to be a butterfly made of pure magic! Wait… A butterfly? And a purple one, at that!

"That can't be who I think it is, could it?" Spyro asked.

The butterfly glowed bright as Spyro crept up to it, then its light morphed and stretched until it had taken the form of a large screen! The screen flickered and shuddered for a moment, but soon enough an image had crept across its screen, one of a group of people resting on a wooden ship as it soared through the skies—but, the one at the front was all he wanted to see!

"Can you hear me, Spyro?" Chihiro asked from the screen as she waved. "It's me, Chihiro!"

"CHIHIRO!" Spyro cried as he flew up to the screen and beamed even wider. His gaze constantly shot back from the screen to the others, who all shared in his enthusiasm as they peered up. "SHE, SHE'S ALIVE!"

"As you can see, I'm alive! We all are!" The recording of Chihiro turned around, and she gestured over to where the rest of their team rested on the boat, all as energetic as they usually were! Chihiro chuckled, then turned back to the screen. "Well, a lot happened when we got split up, but I can tell you all about it when we get back together!" Chihiro's eyes grew wider, and she held up her finger. "Oh, but there's one super important thing I need to tell you!"

Chihiro cleared her throat.

"Turns out, Kaos's castle has a really strong forcefield surrounding it, and nothing can get through! So, we're gonna have to go to Troll Home Security so we can get the forcefield disabled!" Chihiro winked and flashed a peace sign as the screen faded. "See you there, Golden Boy!"

The screen exploded in a rain of sparkles, and all eyes and grins turned to Flynn as the sparkles faded.

"You heard the kid!" Flynn said as he spun the wheel. "To Troll Home Security we go!"

The Dread-Yacht creaked as it hit the clouds and blew them to pieces, while everyone around just grinned even wider as the wind soared through their hair or lack thereof. The rest of their team was alive and in one piece! They had a chance at beating Kaos! Everything was working out! Why wouldn't they smile at a time like this?

And as they smiled, Cali just chuckled and pulled out a sparkling, orange crystal wheel from her pocket.

"Who knew one little wheel could cause so much trouble?" Cali remarked as she spun it around in the faint sunlight that filtered in from the clouds. She frowned a little, then pulled out another crystal wheel identical in all aspects save for its silver color, then held it up beside the orange one. "For that matter, something like this was back at that ghost pirate place too.. But what would they be used for?" Cali hummed as she let the wheels rest in her hands. "These Arkeyan-era wheel crystals were only ever used for apparel—how could they carry such strong power?"

"Wheel crystals, you say?"

Ninjini raised a brow as she passed by Cali, then knelt down and hummed as she examined the wheels. "So these were behind all the things that happened those times?"

Cali nodded, and Ninjini gingerly lifted the wheels from Cali's hands and placed them in her own. A frown thin and tense crossed her face as she ran a finger over the wheels, and it only deepened the longer she examined them.

"That strong aura…" Ninjini shook her head. "But, these couldn't possibly by theirs, could they? They've been gone for millennia at this point? And how could they have even survived that?"

"Er, Ninjini, what are you talking about?" Cali asked as she clasped her hands.

Ninjini, however, just took a breath in as a purple glow poured from her hands.

"Well, only one way to find out."

Ninjini closed her eyes and hummed as the purple glow from her hands fed into the wheels, then she gently tossed them in the air. But instead of falling or flying, they just hovered! The purple glow within them changed to a bright orange and silver for each respective wheel, and the color grew paler the further they hovered. The light expanded and formed the shape of a person's body, then finally, strings formed around the wheels and their light dissolved into flurries of gears of mist!

Grunts came as the wheels crashed down back onto the deck not as wheels, but as the faint ghosts of people! One was deathly thin with sunkissed medium brown skin and a choppy, disheveled mop of dark brown hair, who wore a shirt and overalls comprised entirely of colorful patches sewn together with visible stitches around every patch. Their gloves and worn boots were streaked with oil, while the gloves had their fingers cut off to reveal mechanical fingers underneath and their orange pendant sparkled as they gasped for air and clutched their body. Beside them, a broad man with warm brown skin and long, stringy black hair that cascaded over his large body shuddered and clutched his trembling hands. His large, triangular nose had sweat creeping down its bridge, and his bushy eyebrows dug closer into eyes screwed shut as he grappled for a single breath. A golden crown adorned with rubies, amethysts and diamonds just barely stayed stuck around his head, and the robes he wore were woven with intricate patterns and made with cloth fit for a king. Yet, that same silver pendant laid rested around his neck and indicated his position as one of the other person's allies.

Everyone gasped and surrounded the two ghosts as they shuddered and trembled on the deck, and even Flynn abandoned his position at the wheel to rush down and examine the newcomers!

"Hey, what's going on?!" Flynn cried as he poked his head over Stealth Elf's shoulder. "Who're these guys?!"

Spyro himself only frowned and backed away—there were ghosts in those wheels? And ghosts he felt he recognized to boot! He couldn't place a claw on why, but something about their appearances was oddly familiar in a way he just couldn't pin down… But, judging by the way the blood drained from Ninjini's face as she looked down at them, and the looks of shock on Bouncer, Hot Head and Crusher's own faces, they certainly did!

"'Enehana! Nemir!" Ninjini cried as she scooped the ghosts in her arms! She winced and bit her lip as they laid in her arms in a cold sweat, then turned her attention back down to Flynn. "Is there an infirmary of some kind here?"

"No, but we can make one!" Cali cried as she bolted over to the dormitory's door and yanked it open. "Come on!"

And without any hesitation, everyone dashed into the hallways and slammed the doors shut as they rushed through the halls, all while these 'Enehana and Nemir people laid in Ninjini's arms.

"Don't worry, you two," Ninjini whispered as she clutched them tighter. "We'll save you, I promise!"

---

Alright, important announcement time! So, we're now about halfway through the story, and my backlog's run dry, so I believe it's time for a break! I'm putting Here Comes the Giants on hiatus while I worked up a new backlog! As for when I'm coming back, I can't give a solid approximate as things are kinda hectic for me in real life right now, but I'll tentatively say about late summer/early autumn is the latest I wanna wait! See you soon!