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)

15. Chapter 15

The water below roared while the powerful winds from above tossed their currents, rocking them as if the fiercest of storms raged even though it was sunny and clear as day around them. And where did these winds come from? None other than the Dread-Yacht, which flew above the watery canals below as it shifted into its giant robot form and charged even further with its line of sight set on the Machine Ghost's mechanical body. Flames burst from the body's feet and brushed against the Dread-Yacht's face, and in turn it swiveled aside and joined the Machine Ghost's body by its side instead, both robots' faces fixed on the sprawling, endless masses of rocky canyons and trailing rivers below.

And within the Dread-Yacht's cockpit, every single one of its passengers had been crammed as tight as sardines within, all frowns and crossed arms and knitted brows as they tried not to jab into each other or poke someone in the eye. The Elder Elementals all crowded in the back, while Vatra, Jorden, and 'Enehana had laid Vaayu to a wall beside them—Vaayu, for his own part, just rested there as Sihiri and Chihiro tended to him, feeding his soul magic energy while he groaned and slept. To their left, the Skylanders had huddled together and discussed plans and strategies in hushed whispers, only occasionally glancing out the window as they spoke. And to the front laid none other than Flynn, still cocky as ever as he smiled and steered while Cali manned the massive panels of controls beside him.

"Greatest pilot in all Skylands to metal eyes in the skies," Flynn said into the radio he held in his palm with the other hand nonchalantly steering as he spoke. "How far are we from this vault thingie, anyways? I don't see any weird robot dudes or anything—it's all rocks and rivers as far as the eye can see…"

"Not long now," the Machine Ghost replied from over the radio, his voice a bit muffled by the masses of static that crackled from the speaker. "According to the map I found within my body's databanks, this secret vault is only a few more minutes away!"

"Say, what was a map for that thing doing in there, anyways?" Ermit added over the speaker.

The Machine Ghost scoffed over the speaker. "You do recall that this is an Arkeyan robot, correct?"

Ermit growled a bit over the speaker, but before he could retort, Flynn just turned off the radio and whistled as he spun the wheel. Even in such a tense situation as this, he hardly had a care in the world to him. Didn't do much to lighten the tension in the air, but it was still nice to see nonetheless.

"Alrighty, then!" Flynn called. "You heard the ghost! This vault's not that far away, and with your awesome pilot at the helm, we'll be in there and out with that pipsqueak before he can even say a word!"

A few tense glances crossed the room, and Flynn frowned as he turned around.

"Ah, I get it—all tense in the knees or however that goes!" Flynn beamed back. "Well, don't worry a thing! Once those robots see me, they'll go screaming and running for their robot moms! Well, if those tin cans even have moms."

Flynn whistled again as he turned back to the wheel, and Chihiro only sighed as she rested a blanket around Vaayu's shoulders.

"Kaos was possessed all that time, and by the ghost of an Arkeyan king, of all people!" she whispered. "I know I should probably be surprised, but after everything that's happened, dead people from ancient times is the least of my worries."

Chihiro chuckled all soft and small, and yet, nobody around her seemed particularly amused, their faces still tense.

"Well, you should be worried," Vatra hissed. "Arkilles will stop at nothing until his reign over all Skylands returns, and with all those robots in Arkus in his hands…"

Luz winced a bit as Vatra shuddered, then forced a smile of his own.

"Hey, look on the bright side!" Luz said. "Even if he's got the map, we might be able to catch him before he gets to Arkus!"

And yet, they all just frowned still, hands still clasped tight and tense while their bodies sparkled a little brighter, more frantically even. A few glares shot at Luz, who just gulped and shrunk back while mumbling something under his breath… But for the most part, it was all tense, stoic silence.

Chihiro gulped, then crawled up to Sihiri and sat beside her.

"Was Arkilles really as bad as all those books said?" Chihiro whispered.

"The worst you could imagine," Sihiri whispered back, only glancing at Chihiro for a moment before she turned around. "He held not an ounce of compassion in his heart, not even for his closest allies or his most loyal followers. Everything to him was a pawn for him to play, every stretch of Skylands another monument for his empire… Hundreds of thousand died underneath his rule because of that selfishness."

Chihiro shuddered, only able to nod before she pulled away and crept over near the windshield, where the Skylanders all huddled together still. They kept their voices low, just to hushed whispers, and yet it wasn't quite quiet enough—just barely, whispers of shock and awe, mentions of Kaos and kings and ghosts could be heard between gasps and nervous trills. Seemed as though they had gotten filled in too.

"So," Chihiro said. She raised a hand, and all eyes turned to her. "Got a plan settled on yet?"

Spyro shook his head and broke from the group.

"Still figuring it out," Spyro said, his voice carrying a cold kind of seriousness. "None of us really planned for the whole 'Kaos getting possessed by an old Arkeyan king' thing."

"Oh, who cares if baldie's possessed or not?" Terrafin spat from behind the group as he cracked his knuckles, the sharp pops they made accentuating the fury in his words. "I'll still punch him in the face first chance I get!"

"That's all well and good in theory, but we have no idea what this person is capable of!" Spyro turned back around and folded his wings against his back. "All I know about Arkilles from the books is that he was just as power-hungry as Kaos was, and ten times more conniving and competent than him—someone like that, within the body of a portal master with all the powers it offers…"

A few tense glances came from the others in the group, and even Terrafin just crossed his arms and scoffed.

"Well, I do know one thing." Chihiro took a seat with the group, her legs crossed as she sat at its head. "It didn't seem like that guy was all that used to having a body again, much less using its powers. When he tried to fight us, he had to get Kaos back in just to escape!"

"So what you're saying is…" Stealth Elf piped up from the group.

Chihiro, in turn, grinned and pointed to Stealth Elf. "Without anything else to protect him, he's pretty much a sitting duck! If we can find him and put him in a situation where it's just him, we could probably take him down and get Kaos with him!"

"Killing two birds with one stone, I see." Stealth Elf lowered her ears and turned her attention to the windshield. "But, that's assuming he hasn't made off with the map already—and with the head start he had, I wouldn't be surprised if he already has."

Chihiro frowned, then got up and glanced out the windshield herself. Her frown grew deeper as she bore witness to more identical stretches of canyons and rivers that seemed a bit larger compared to the ones before, maybe the occasional dead tree here and there… But not a single Arkeyan. No soldiers stationed on cliffs or rocks, no helicopters flying in the sky, nothing.

"Still not seeing any of those robot dudes," Flynn remarked as he leaned forward over the steering wheel. He leaned back, and a smile stretched across his face as he gave the wheel a spin. "Looks like we beat them here!" Flynn chuckled and rubbed a fist against his chest. "All thanks to the greatest pilot in all Skylands, of course~"

Flynn popped an eye open, then hummed and glanced over the steering wheel once more as something splashed against the Dread-Yacht's legs. His eyes turned wide as saucers as he did, and without even peeling them from the windshield he patted around the control panel and yanked the radio from a nearby panel.

"Hey, metal eyes in the skies—are these canyon thingies supposed to be flooded?" Flynn asked.

"Wait, flooded?" 'Enehana called, jumping up from where they sat on the right side of the room.

'Enehana immediately joined Flynn at the front, nearly pushing him out of his spot at the wheel as they glanced over… And their face immediately fell. "Oh no."

Their shock inspired the others to converge at the front of the room, nearly crowding out Flynn and Cali as all eyes turned to the windshields.

In front of their eyes laid the canyons of before, but they now had rusted golden gates so massive they almost reached the Dread-Yacht's height embedded in their sides, and rusty red and gold round platforms that had lost their luster long ago stuck out from the rocks ahead. But perhaps most importantly, the water levels below them had risen so high, they brushed against the Dread-Yacht's knees, while beside them the Machine Ghost had to fly up so the splashing waters wouldn't extinguish his body's thrusters.

"If the water levels are this low," 'Enehana said as they brushed their hand against the console, "then that can only mean Arkilles got here before us and turned the security dams back on!"

"Security dams?" Flynn echoed.

"I think I read something about that in this robot's databanks, actually," the Machine Ghost chimed in over the radio. "The vault was plunged underwater so as to further discourage unwanted guests, I assume."

"Correct," 'Enehana added. "Normally, you can only deactivate them from the inside of the vault itself… But, there's a failsafe."

'Enehana flipped open their backpack and rummaged through it for moments, then yanked out a worn scroll and spread it open. Everyone else crowded around the best they could, pushing and shoving around as they crowded around 'Enehana—who, for their own part, just levitated up the scroll and projected its contents for all to see! As an elaborate map glowed over the room, 'Enehana turned around and held up a hand.

"There are two emergency power sources, one for each dam," 'Enehana explained. "If we can find and reactivate them, it should redirect power to the dams and lower the water levels at the vault for us." 'Enehana turned back to the controls, then pushed Flynn away from the wheel and gripped it tight. "And I'll lead us to the first one! Just follow my lead!"

"Duly noted!" shouted the Machine Ghost.

Flynn scoffed and crossed his arms, but 'Enehana paid no mind to him! No, their eyes were completely transfixed on the console before them, pressing buttons and switching levers while their hands glowed with an orange light! The orange light spread over the console while it sparkled like it was brand new, while around 'Enehana the whole room started to rumble! The others shouted and cried out, but 'Enehana just spun the wheel and grinned.

"Full speed ahead!" 'Enehana cried as they pointed ahead!

The Dread-Yacht rumbled, then zoomed ahead with such heightened speed that everyone else fell on their faces—but not 'Enehana, who stood still and silent as they spun the wheel with a steely grip. Their eyes only left the windshield once as the Machine Ghost flew up to their side, just to signal to him, but once the signal was given their grip returned to the wheel.

"That power switch stuff's all well and good and all," Ermit said over the radio. "But wouldn't they have already done something about these emergency switches if he's already got this thing?"

"I do wonder about that myself," Machine Ghost added. "The map I saw said nothing about emergency power sources, either..."

"That's because were secret switches, ones installed right under Arkilles' nose," 'Enehana explained.

"Then how do you know about them, then?"

"Who do you think designed this vault?"

The Elder Elementals and ancient portal masters alike chuckled with each other, but down below the others just gasped! Their eyes grew wide as they glanced at each other and back at 'Enehana, and a few eyes even traveled the room with a curious glance, as if they wanted to ask a question or two, but nothing came of it.

That is, until Chihiro stepped forward. "Wait, you designed this vault?" Chihiro asked.

"Not by choice, I'll admit," 'Enehana replied as they gripped the pegs a little tighter than before. "When Arkilles got word of my works, he snatched me up and forced me to design machinery for his empire, including this vault." 'Enehana's voice turned colder, and for a moment they snarled and squeezed the pegs so hard that the pegs began to splinter by the time 'Enehana released their grip. "So, I sneaked in a few… Surprises of my own."

The sound of whirring came faintly over the air, and 'Enehana smiled.

"Speaking of surprises, it seems we have a few unexpected guests."

The whirring grew louder, beating against the windshield as a whole fleet of Arkeyan helicopters flew in front of the Dread-Yacht. Cannons deployed from their robotic bodies and charged, the light of their barrels tinted the windshield blue… And just before they could fire, a punch from the Dread-Yacht smashed them to bits!

"Luckily, it seems security isn't particularly tight," 'Enehana said. "Now, if you'll excuse me—"

"I'm going to steer my ship from here on out!" Flynn shouted as he pushed aside 'Enehana and snatched the wheel back. He huffed for a moment, but his smile quickly returned. "Now, onto that power source!"

Flynn spun the wheel, and in turn the Dread-Yacht sped past… But as it did, the sound of bullets smashing in came from the side while the room started to rumble! Flynn turned his view to the front and snarled as another, larger fleet of copters flew in front of him, then slammed down a large blue button to his side.

"BOOM!" he cried as he released his hand!

A laser pierced through the fleet and severed its midsection, the copters' remains left only to fall into the waters' depths—but as they fell, even more copters swarmed in! Their ranks refilled with much more girth, crowding out the path ahead as they shot at the Dread-Yacht with bullets of light that banged into its sides and front, leaving flashes of light and ricketing, rumbling noises bellowing from the depths!

Flynn snarled as he pulled back for a moment, then glanced over the controls. His fingers danced over a few buttons, but before he could press one, Cali swept in and slammed it down!

Swift, quick laser bombs like firecrackers burst out from the Dread-Yacht and into the copters' ranks, exploding with such ferocity that they were engulfed in fire!

Both Flynn and Cali steeled themselves as the flames' warm light flashed across the windshield, and Flynn smirked back at Cali.

"Great minds think alike," Flynn said as he adjusted his scarf. Another ricocheting noise faintly echoed form the side of the robot, and Flynn knitted his brow. "And this incredibly great mind thinks these robots need to stop messing with my ship!

Flynn grunted, spinning around the wheel as the Dread-Yacht swiveled to face a group of robots sitting on a ledge and firing off, their blue chassis shining in the sunlight with a much more brilliant light compared to the rusted ledge they sat on… Though, the sparking generator that shone beside them and crackled with blue electricity probably helped.

"That generator isn't the one we need to find, is it?" Flynn asked.

'Enehana popped up from the floor and frowned, humming as they leaned against the controls. "Nope!" 'Enehana confirmed.

"Then I'm going all out, baby! Double boom!"

Flynn grinned as he slammed a few more buttons on the panel, and in tandem the Dread-Yacht raised its arms and prepared to strike—but just before it could, even more lasers shot the arm, these ones so large and fierce that it knocked the arm back! The Dread-Yacht stumbled back in turn, with Flynn clutching the wheel and shouting out as he tried not to get knocked back. The others shouted as they slid behind him, and Flynn just winced as he clutched the steering wheel further.

Beside him, Cali and 'Enehana slid down and hit the walls, but Cali quickly peeled herself off. Launching herself towards the controls, Cali bit her lip as she gripped the console the tightest she could, her eyes scanning the array of buttons and levers before her.

"Come on, come on," Cali mumbled, her ears flicking and folding as the sound of bullets beaning the robot echoed from outside, "the laser buttons have to be somewhere!"

Another particularly large bullet burst, and Cali winced as she covered her ears… Before her eyes fell on a shiny red button! Cali immediately slammed it down, then lifted her head towards the windshield as a mighty, red-hot laser slammed into the canyons, carving through their stone and frying the robots! A string of explosions burst from the platform, and Cali just smiled and pulled away from it as the Dread-Yacht slid back to its upright position. A few more pings came from the lefthand side, however, and she yanked her head to a secondary platform filling itself with firing robots by the moment! Cali snarled, hands hovering above the button as the Dread-Yacht turned around.

But before she could even fire, the Machine Ghost swung forward and punched them all! His punch came rapid-fire, slamming through the platform in the blink of an eye while the robot's smashed remains floated in the air… Along with that of a broken generator, its electricity coursing around the Machine Ghost's hands!

'Enehana leaned above Cali and blinked for a moment, then raised their brows for a moment before scrambling for the radio.

"Metal eyes, you punched that generator just now, right?" 'Enehana asked.

Static crackled over the speaker for a moment, then a few small coughs came from the other side.

"I suppose I did," the Machine Ghost said. "I hadn't even noticed until you brought it up."

'Enehana chuckled, and a thin smile came across their lips. "Well, there's something really amazing you can do with that extra electric power!"

"There is?"

'Enehana's eyes drifted over to the windshield as even more copters flew in, and they only chuckled.

"See those copters over there?" they said. "Slam yours fists together, right in front of them!"—'Enehana lowered the radio and turned back to Flynn—"oh, and you all might want to stand back."

Flynn warily flew back as the Machine Ghost flew forward, shielding them completely from the copters ahead. The Machine Ghost rubbed his hands, the static from one coursing to another as it changed to hot, sparking thunderbolts in an instant. Then with a single clap, a massive shockwave burst from his hands! The rusted platforms crumbled to bits along with the weaker parts of the canyons from the sheer shock, leaving only large dents where they once rested, and the copters ahead were charred at every angle, sparks flying from their now-crooked blades as they collapsed into the sea!

"That truly is amazing!" The Machine Ghost gasped. "Even in all my years of occupying this body, I've never known it held such a power!"

"And I never knew owning a giant robot would be so dangerous!" Ermit snapped in the background. "I told you not to scratch this thing up! We were just tailing Kaos until the Skylanders could rough him up and take him in! Now quite messing with my robot!"

"The robot you abandoned for years in the cold, snowy depths of Skylands' wastelands?" the Machine Ghost scoffed. "Anyways,"—taking a warmer tone, the Machine Ghost's voice grew a bit louder—"tell me, do you know of any other powers this body holds?"

A few explosions sounded from the outside world, and 'Enehana cringed for a moment, clutching the console as tight as they could while the Dread-Yacht stumbled back and forth. Their finger slipped onto a button and pressed it just in time for a shield to form around them and shield them from an oncoming explosion, but not in time to keep them from getting knocked to the floor. The others fell down around them, and 'Enehana just staggered up and grunted.

Another explosion sounded outside, and Flynn grimaced as he let go of the wheel.

"Hate to cut the chit-chat short, but we've got bogeys at twelve o' clock!" he cried, before scratching his fur underneath his hat. "I think that's the phrase, anyways…"

"In that case…" 'Enehana whispered as they clutched their arm.

"ALL HANDS ON DECK!" Flynn cried!

Immediately everyone scrambled to their console, their hands fixed on the buttons and their eyes on the windshield. Ahead of them, even more copters made chase as they flew further into the vault's paths, all armed with laser cannons and bombs and sniper rifles glowing with sheer power. The Dread-Yacht's crew tensed, arms tightly held over their parts of the console and frowns eminent. And beside them, the Machine Ghost's body drew up into a fighting stance, sharing their own tension as they stared down the forces. The copters came first, flying in and charging their cannons as they shone with bright yellow light!

"Here they come!" Cali cried. "Get the cannons ready!"

"Right!" Spyro and Chihiro cried.

The two of them slammed a large button on the console, and its click rang through the cockpit as the Dread-Yacht yanked up its arms, which then transformed into cannons of its own! The cannons shrieked as they charged with light, and in a moment a bright flash coated the arena and disappeared just as quickly, just fast enough that the copters' fried remains could be caught cascading into the depths!

Spyro and Chihiro both grinned and high-fived each other, then jumped back as Vatra pushed ahead of them.

"There's more to the left!" he cried, his hands twitching as they hovered over the buttons. "Where's the attack button?!"

"Allow me to take care of them!" the Machine Ghost cried!

Water splashed against the side of the Dread-Yacht as the Machine Ghost sprung forward and punched away a few more of the robots, then spun around and squashed several more between its palms like it was squashing bugs! A zooming sound came from overhead as something that looked like a crude plane armed with a missile came to zoom over, but before it could drop a thing, the Machine Ghost craned its head up and zapped it right out of the air! The plane's parcel exploded, taking the plane itself with it as it crashed right beside the Dread-Yacht!

"Alright, I've let you guys have your fun!" Flynn cried as he smacked down an entire row of buttons, then pulled down a lever. A twinkle shone in his eye, and he released as he spun the wheel around. "Now it's time for me to lay down the boom on these metal creeps!"

The Dread-Yacht creaked for a moment, and its body seemed as though it was… Twisting? A few glances went to each side of the robot as it creaked, then spun around at the fastest speeds it could!

Like a spinning top it tore through the waters and the robots, blowing copters, planes and more into the sides of the canyon and ripping platforms out of their places!

The distinct smells of smoke and saltwater mingled together as the Dread-Yacht slashed through the last of the airborne ranks and creaked to a stop, then crossed its arms as Flynn's laughter bellowed from its loudspeakers, shaking rocks off the canyons and disrupting the waters around it.

"BOOM! They didn't even see it coming!" Flynn cried as he flexed his muscles.

"Neither did we…" Chihiro groaned.

Flynn blinked, then turned back around to find the rest of the group flung all across the cockpit, piled together and groaning as their eyes spun around in their head.

"Whoops!" Flynn chuckled and scratched his head. "Forgot about you guys for a second! Guess you couldn't handle my raw power of my awesomeness either!"

Flynn chuckled for a bit more, but the sounds of banging outside quelled his laughter soon enough. A particularly strong bang came as something dented the inner wall of the cockpit, and Flynn winced as he jumped over to the console. His fingers hovered along the console's controls as more banging noises and dents came from within, and sweat started to creep from his brow and stick to his fur.

"The heck's going on out there?!" Flynn cried. "Someone, get a visual out of the outside!"

Ninjini leaped from the pile of crew members and swept to the console in an instant, tapping away and grimacing as a screen appeared in front of her.

"The outer side of the vessel's under attack! And they've brought in a good bit of their forces, from the looks of it!" Ninjini cried.

She swept the screen to Flynn, showcasing an outside covered in robots for only moments before she leaped away.

"The rest of the Elder Elementals and I will take care of it, just send us out!"

Tree Rex blinked for a moment, but quickly jumped to his feet and nodded. "You heard her!" Tree Rex cried. "To the outside, right now!"

"And we'll help as well!" Sihiri cried!

The rest of the Elder Elementals and the ancient portal masters cried in agreement as they crowded around the back of the room, surely prepared to fight…

But, as they all ran, Vaayu hobbled behind, gritting his teeth as he clutched his side. Though he trudged along, he still lingered a bit in the back, as if he struggled to keep up with the rest.

Vatra turned around, then winced as he pushed Vaayu back. "Vaayu, you stay here," Vatra insisted as he grabbed Vaayu's shoulders. "You're still injured, you need to rest!"

"Nonsense, Vatra!" Vaayu protested. He pushed Vatra aside, then gripped him by the sleeve and pulled them both into the crowds. "I wasn't able to stop Arkilles before he could arrive here, so the least I could do is stop him from getting away with the map!"

Before Vatra could protest further, Flynn pressed a button and a part of the floor underneath them clunked!

The Elder Elementals and ancient portal masters alike slunk down for a moment, and in another the platform shot up, knocking them on a ledge outside of the Dread-Yacht's mouth and into the harsh sunlight. They staggered back to their feet and surveyed the area, eyes fixed on the masses of robots that banged and tore away at the outside hulls. The robots littered the area like termites that chewed and ate away at the entire chest, crawling up the robot's waist by the second.

"Ah, fresh air," Vaayu whispered as he clenched his fists. His shoulders slunk, loosening just a bit, and a smile crossed his face as clouds formed around his fists. "Just the thing I needed!"

Vaayu broke away from the group first, sweeping over to the left shoulder as the clouds solidified into tough, tightly-packed gauntlets around his fists.

"Now I can finally fight these pests!"

Vaayu cried out as he shot right for a robot on the edge of the left shoulder and plunged his fist into its chest! The robot's head creaked up as the metal around its chest peeled and exposed the wiring inside, but Vaayu only smirked at the sight. His cloud gauntlets turned darker and crackled, lightning bursting from their puffy surfaces and jumping into the robot's exposed chest! His feet swept into its shins as he removed his fist, and the robot flew off right as it exploded!

Vaayu's feet planted on the Dread-Yacht's shoulder right as the other robots turn and ran for him, and yet his stance didn't waver or loosen. He shot forward and jabbed one robot right in the neck, severing its head from its body before he shot around and kicked a second robot in its side right as it charged him! The robot shot away, curving in the distance while two more robots charged for Vaayu, and he took a breath in. Right as the robots swung, he leaped up and pounded their heads into their bodies, then swung his legs around and knocked their bodies off the shoulder!

His feet planted on the shoulder once more, and Vaayu panted, clutching his chest and slinking over. His knees fell on the shoulder as he held his chest, while behind him another robot crept up and raised an ax well above its own head. A volley of fire blasted away the ax right as it swung down, and the robot turned around as as another volley tossed it aside!

"Don't let your guard down, Vaayu!" Vatra called as he tossed a few more flames at oncoming robots and knocked them off the shoulder. "You almost lost your head there!"

Vaayu grunted a little as he lifted his head aside, where Tree Rex, Ninjini, Sihiri, Hot Head, 'Enehana and Bouncer all crept on the space between the ledge and the left shoulder before charging along, then smiled. He staggered up a bit, but quickly ducked once more as another robot's limp body swung around him!

Behind Vaayu, Vatra snarled and leaped off the shoulder as he clutched the robot's throat in his palm, then flames burst from the soles of his shoes and propelled him higher into the air! The robot beeped and squealed as its trembling fingers wrapped around Vatra's own palm, a futile attempt to pry his hand off of it. Vatra, in turn only snarled as he squeezed its neck tighter! The black metal that comprised the neck turned red hot and grew lighter by the second, all while its heat spread as fast as it could around the robot's body! It turned so hot that it was little more than a hot, white silhouette in Vatra's grip, and its noises turned warped and distorted as it glowed and exploded!

The flaming bits of its burnt body burst and rained down all over the deck, one in particular pelting Tree Rex on the head!

He blinked for a moment and peered up, and in that moment a larger, more heavily-armored robot tackled into him and knocked him into the Dread-Yacht's neck! Tree Rex grunted, his bark cracking just a bit as he slid down and rolled along the shoulder, then he grabbed onto its ledge for a moment and strained as he pulled himself up. The robot that tackled him now loomed over him and set a laser-charged hand on his face, and in response Tree Rex snarled and flicked his other arm a few times. A thick burst of dark green spore clouds burst from below and engulfed Tree Rex, while the robot that once threatened to shoot him lifted its arm and beeped in confusion, peering from side to side as its lights faded…

Then a laser of sunlight burst from the clouds and pierced right through the robot's chest! Tree Rex leaped from the clouds and punched away the robot's body as he landed on the shoulder once more, then ducked as a glob of oil shot for him.

The oil splattered against the neck, and Tree Rex turned his attention to the shoulder, where Hot Head cackled as he doused the robots that surrounded him in oil! Robot and ally alike back away as Hot Head's oil storm seceded, and Hot Head himself just cackled and pounded his hands together. The oil that had splattered around the shoulder glimmered underneath his flames, and even more dripped from his claws while he pounded, coating the shoulder in at least a fine layer.

"FEEL THE BURN!" Hot Head bellowed as he leaned back, cackling so hard his chest throbbed.

Tree Rex blinked, then thrust forward and held out his hand. "Hot Head, wait!" Tree Rex cried. "If you use your flames now, you'll—"

An eruption burst from Hot Head's head, and he stomped the floor of the shoulder, tossing the oil-coated robots into the air! Flames burst from his palms as he torched the robots, setting them alight with such haste that their entire bodies were engulfed in cocoons of fire! They quickly crashed down onto the floor, but just before they could hit the oil-coated ground, a burst of purple light whisked them away and flung them into the seas!

Sihiri wiped her head as the robots flew into the seas behind her, and with another snap of her fingers the oil disappeared just as quickly. She wiped her hands for a moment, then raised a brow and teleported away as crackling came from behind her! Reappearing in the air with a pop, Sihiri floated around the back of a robot that swayed from side to side as it turned around and jabbed for her once more, but she chuckled and teleported again! The robot squealed and teleported right as she appeared to the front side of the shoulder, but Sihiri just chuckled.

"Looks like you can teleport too!" Sihiri remarked, before lifting up a hand and waving it around. "That being said…" Sihiri swept away from another punch and chuckled. "You're not the only one who can throw a punch, either!"

Above her, swirls of purple magic twisted together, condensing into a gigantic fists before they charged down and smashed right through the robot!

It stuck to the fists' knuckles for only a moment before shooting through the air, flying at rapid speed towards Ninjini, who snapped right around and slashed it in half! While its halves remains sparked and crackled by her foggy feet, Ninjini just knocked them away with a spin and waved her hands. A ring of purple orbs flew around her as she spun, then burst out at all directions and knocked back the robots that remained on the shoulder!

The robots shrieked as they flew off, but as they flew helpless and undefended, bullets riddled their chests in an instant! Their hole-covered chassis collapsed and sparked on the ground, then flew off as a gold and red blur zipped past and knocked them aside! Their remains tumbled off the side of the shoulder and cascaded into the ocean…

And the blur nearly followed, if not for it bumping into the shoulder's rim and collapsing! The blur unveiled itself as Bouncer the moment it hit the floor, and Bouncer himself just groaned as he pushed himself back up. Leaning on his side, Bouncer's optics narrowed as 'Enehana knelt in front of him, humming as their eyes scanned the broken, twisted remains of the Arkeyan robots they once fought around them.

"You know," 'Enehana said as they held out a hand. "I think I can use some of this!"

The parts glowed orange and rattled as 'Enehana held out their hand, then smacked together like they were being pulled by a magnet! Their parts twisted together as they grew larger, straightening and thinning themselves with every stretch, and with one last thunk they dropped back onto the shoulder as full-fledged turrets! More robots climbed up the shoulder as the turrets turned around, and before they could even lay a foot on the shoulder, the turrets sniped them right off!

'Enehana smirked, then grabbed one of the turret's sniper rifles and hopped off, climbing up the Dread-Yacht's shoulder and scaling the neck before flipping themselves onto the top of the Dread-Yacht's head! A few robots turned towards them, and 'Enehana sniped off their heads before pushing aside their bodies and leaning over the side.

"How're you holding up down there?" 'Enehana shouted as they waved.

Down below, Jorden grunted as he slashed through a few small robots with a pickax made of stone, then turned around and beamed. "Just fine, Ena!" Jorden shouted back as he waved. "Don't worry about us!"

And yet, 'Enehana just frowned and lifted their gaze up to the rest of the right shoulder. Before them, Brawl, Thumpback and Crusher huddled together as several of the larger robots surrounded them with lasers charged, and to their side Dej and Incohi shouted as several robots squirmed their ways out of frozen vines only to be caught by more!

"I wouldn't particularly say they look okay," 'Enehana remarked as they leaned down to Jorden.

Jorden grunted and turned around as shouting echoed back from the back, then chuckled and scratched his helmet with his pickax. "Whoops, looks like I missed a few!" he cried.

Jorden grunted as he heaved his pickax above his head, and with one swing its tip smashed through the shoulder and fissured its grounds! Crystals spreads from the newborn cracks in the ground, and in moments they pierced right through the surrounding robots before shooting back inside the cracks, which sealed up as if nothing had formed in the first place. All that had been left were the robots' smoking corpses, a sole symbol of their battle.

'Enehana laughed as they heaved themself up, and a few stars crossed by as they sat themself atop the robot's head.

Before them, Luz cackled as he rode atop a shining star, occasionally bouncing around and making guns with his fingers as he shot bright stars from his fingertips! The stars shot into the Dread-Yacht, which creaked for a moment and stumbled back while the sounds of something faintly plopping into the ocean rang in the air.

"Alright, ten down!" Luz cried as he spun around and sat down on his star. "How many points is that Swarm?"

Swarm zipped past him and laughed, then backed up for a bit as he flicked antenna charged with electricity.

"I don't know…" He shouted as his antenna flicked forward and cast lightning onto the Dread-Yacht! The faint sounds and scents of smoke and lightning rang in the air, and Swarm beamed. "But I'm still in the lead!"

"Watch where you're shooting, you two!" Nemir scolded as he flew past them on Eye. "We're supposed to be cleaning out these robots, not playing any games!"

Nemir grunted as he slipped down for a moment, but quickly crawled back up Eye and held out a hand! Beams of silver light shot from his palms and Eye's cornea, slamming directly into the backs of the robots in moments! As the robots rusted away and fell down into the ground like flies, Nemir and Eye both beamed.

"Eye believe those were the last of them!" Eye cried.

Eye flew over to the right shoulder and dropped atop Brawl, while Nemir slid down Brawl's back and strode up to Inochi.

"And things should be covered over here," Inochi said as she wiped her hands.

"Same here!" Ninjini called in the distance over the sound of a few explosions.

'Enehana chuckled, then slid down the front of the robot. "In that case," they said, "let's get back inside—"

'Enehana grunted as the world rumbled, the waters below lashing out like a storm had shaken their depths! They churned with fury, tossing themselves and lashing their waves against the Dread-Yacht's knees, and with the power they held, the Dread-Yacht was reduced to swaying and stumbling, trying its best to keep balance. And 'Enehana tumbled right off of it!

"Ena!" Jorden cried as he rushed forward, then screamed as he himself tumbled down off the shoulder!

Everyone else quickly followed, slipping from the sides of the shoulders and plunging into the depths as the Dread-Yacht lurched forward! Vaayu quickly caught himself and floated up, then leaned forward and cast out his hands as clouds began to form in his palms.

But before he could shoot out a single one, the Machine Ghost rushed in front of him and caught the rest of the group! The Machine Ghost flew up and fed the rest of the group into his chest before flying off.

And with their safety ensured, Vaayu frowned and floated back onto the Dread-Yacht's shoulder just as it stabilized. His eyes turned back down to the still raging waters below him, and then lifted back up.

"Just what could have caused this?" he asked.

Vaayu lifted his head as the rumbling continued, now taking a rhythmic, stomping pattern like a march, then gasped! He immediately flew over to the Dread-Yacht's mouth platform, then stomped it down and fell back inside!

He grunted as he crashed onto the inside's floor, and all eyes turned on him as he stumbled in and panted.

"We, we've got trouble!" Vaayu cried.

"No kidding!" Flynn cried as he turned to meet Vaayu. "Just look at the size of all those things! There's no way I—" Flynn cleared his throat. "I mean—it might be no problem for the greatest pilot in all Skylands, but for you guys that's way too much!"

Vaayu tottered back and forth as he stumbled up to Flynn's side at the pilot's seat, and everyone else followed suit as they gathered at the front, all to witness the outside world.

There, the waters continued to rage as the weaker parts of the canyon crumbled, all from the onslaught of one thing—robots! Shinier, bigger robots more humanoid in appearance marched in tightly-packed lines down the way, their metal bodies shining in the sunlight. The whole world quaked as they marched, bowing underneath their feet as if they owned the world before them!

"Conquertrons, and a whole army of them?!" Tree Rex cried over the radio.

"There's no way we can fight them off and make it in time!" Sihiri shouted.

Flynn gritted his teeth, his eyes passing over the radio for a moment, then to the controls. Sweat drenched his fur, sticking it together as his hands started to tremble… Then, he squeezed them tight and gripped the steering wheel as hard as he could!

"THEN WE'LL HOLD THE LINE!" Flynn cried at the top of his lungs! His brows tightened as he spun the wheel. "YOU ALL GO AHEAD AND GET KAOS!"

Chihiro, the Skylanders, even Cali and Vaayu backed away—Flynn, for all his bravado and headstrong nature, never spoke with such a demanding tone, and yet here he was! Hands practically glued to the wheel, teeth gritting and body sweating so hard it had begun to damped the back of his jacket. Clearly, even someone as foolhardy as him recognized the threat these Conquertrons packed, and yet he refused to budge.

"Wait, you don't know what you're dealing with!" 'Enehana cried over the radio. "Those Conquertrons are some of the strongest robots they have in their army! There's no way you'll be able to take them all on—"

"JUST LEAVE!"

Flynn grunted as he pushed the wheel forward and yanked down a lever so hard it snapped in half, and in turn the Dread-Yacht sped forward, flying so fast that not even the lashing waves before it could quell its speeds!

It body-slammed right into the chest of one Conquertron, knocking it back and tipping the rows of Conquertrons below like dominoes, then as the Dread-Yacht settled it turned around and punched another Conquertron in the neck, tipping off its head just enough that its wires exposed themselves and strung over the Conquertron's back! A third Conquertron punched the Dread-Yacht in the shoulder, knocking it into the cliffs behind, but it popped off immediately and punched right back!

And the Machine Ghost, meanwhile, just flew ahead.

Within its body, everyone within its crew crowded around the radio, teeth clenched and hands tight as the sounds of screaming and shouting and creaking metal screeched over the radio. Another pained scream and some faint cries came over the radio as the static reached its loudest, muffling the shouts of questions of "Are you alright?" and "What's happening out there?"

The Machine Ghost winced, then slammed a button next to a speaker. "Please, let us fight with you!" he cried.

And in turn… The radio shut off. But not from destruction, no. It still ruminated with static, leaving an eerie feeling in the air. Undoubtedly, it had been manually shut down!

The Machine Ghost winced, and beside him 'Enehana turned to the windshield, where the Dread-Yacht smoked as it traded blows. They bit their lip, hands twitching as if they were debating whether to stay or go. Then, they flinched as Tree Rex brushed their shoulder.

"Come on," he said, his voice cold as he turned his gaze to the path outside. "We have to get there—they won't be able to hold out for long."

'Enehana nodded warily, then turned to the Machine Ghost and gently nudged his shoulder.

"Let's go," was all they said.

The Machine Ghost warily nodded, and with a few pulls and pushes, his body flew off across the canyons once more. But as he flew, he cast a glance out the side of the windshield, the others following suit with him. As the sight of the Conquertron army and Dread-Yacht grew fainter and fainter in view, their shoulders slumped, a few hands clasped, other hands held to faces as they turned away.

"May the Ancients protect them," 'Enehana whispered as they brushed their hands against the windshield.

"And us," the Machine Ghost added, turning to the front of the windshield as they powered along the canyons.

§

"According to the navigation system, we should be at the first switch's location before long," the Machine Ghost said, his eyes brushing over the map he had just activated. As he examined the map, he pulled a lever and hummed as his body gunned down a fleet of oncoming copters, his eyes not even moving for a second. "Don't get too comfortable now, as they would say." The copters exploded right before his eyes, and the Machine Ghost chuckled as he leaned past the map, just in time to watch the robots' parts fall into the ocean. "I suppose they could not get comfortable, either."

The parts fell into the ocean as the Machine Ghost trudged past, and he smiled as he examined the panels, running his ectoplasmic fingers across their shiny, sleek metal surfaces. His touch was gentle enough that none of them activated, yet he couldn't help but wrap his fingers around a lever. His eyes glazed over, rising a bit as if he was just tempted enough to pull it.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you," 'Enehana warned as they gently removed the Machine Ghost's fingers from the lever. "That lever activates the missiles systems—and last I checked, unless you have missiles, it makes the whole thing blow instead."

The Machine Ghost blinked and hastily floated away from the lever. "I suppose I will not touch that, then." the Machine Ghost smiled and clasped a hand. "I did not even know it had the capacity for missiles."

"Of course it does! This design was taken from one of my old prototypes for an all-purpose robot suit—it's got everything you can think of!" 'Enehana said. "Lasers, shockwaves, elemental channeling… You name it, it's got it!"—'Enehana chuckled as they glazed over the Machine Ghost. "Ghosts in the machine are new though."

Both 'Enehana and the Machine Ghost chuckled for a bit, and the Machine Ghost happily twiddled its fingers. He peered up at 'Enehana, and in turn 'Enehana gently patted his head.

"How'd a strange little guy like you end up here, anyways?"

Drawing away from 'Enehana's hand, the Machine Ghost frowned and scratched his head. "I am not entirely sure," he admitted. "I awakened here the day the hermit over there attempted to activate my body, and I've lived here ever since."

"Yeah, and you were a pain in the rear to deal with!" Ermit shouted from the back, waving his hands. "It was always 'Oh, don't touch that!' and 'Oh, do this to activate something or other!'"—Ermit crossed his arms—"if I wanted a bloody helper to nag in my ear, I'd have gone to a life counselor!"

"And if I wanted an owner, I would have picked someone who didn't dump me in the frozen wastes and leave me to rot!"

The Machine Ghost and Ermit both glared at each other, then huffed and turned away, Ermit scuffling off while the Machine Ghost turned back to the controls.

"What a bother," Machine Ghost huffed. His cheeks puffed for a moment, but quickly released, and his sour expression softened as he ran his fingers along the console once more. "But, at the very least, it has made quite the cozy home."

Hearing this, 'Enehana chuckled—but it wasn't genuinely laughter, no. It was more forced, kind of sad, almost, as they grabbed hold of a few levers and pulled them down.

"I'm glad to hear that," 'Enehana whispered, turning away their head as the remains of broken Arkeyan helicopters cascaded down in front of the windshield.

The Machine Ghost frowned, then turned to 'Enehana and gently brushed a hand against their arm. "Does it upset you, having to fight your own creations?"

'Enehana winced, stumbling away for a moment before they turned their head completely away from any glancing eyes. "If they weren't being used for evil, I wouldn't have to in the first place." 'Enehana sighed and crossed their arms. "Besides, it's not bad—I always made sure to include some kind of weak spot, something that even a simple chompy could pick out…"

"That's not what I meant, you know." the Machine Ghost frowned and clasped his hands. "If I were an inventor, I'm sure I'd be very upset if I had to fight the things I worked hard to create, especially if they were being used for evil."

'Enehana just winced, creeping away from the Machine Ghost before finally scurrying to a lefthand panel. Their eyes fell on a simple button, one labeled "AI activation" in ancient Common runes, then they frowned and pressed it… But nothing happened. They glanced around a room that showed nothing out of the ordinary, then pressed a few more times with a glance taken for every press, and yet, nothing seemed to change.

"That's strange, I could've sworn this kind of robot had an AI guide. It would certainly be helpful for right now—those things knew all the quickest routes out of these places."

'Enehana frowned, then lifted their head back up and gazed to where the Machine Ghost tapped away.

"Unless…"

Sharp, wailing sirens sounded around as red light flooded into the room, and the Machine Ghost flickered for a moment! His sudden jump brought his attention back to the windshield, then he gasped and turned around.

"'Enehana, it seems more of these Arkeyans have arrived!" the Machine Ghost shouted, even though his own voice just barely strained over talking volume. "Let's finish them!"

'Enehana nodded, their hands clenched into fists and steps solid as steel, not wavering a bit as they stormed over to where the consoles laid and planted their hands around its metal. Their fingertips flared with orange light as they selected a few buttons, then pulled down a lever with a grunt. As the lever reached its lowest, they glanced back at the Machine Ghost for a moment, then pulled another pair of levers down!

"Engaging the cannons!" the Machine Ghost and 'Enehana both cried as they pointed ahead!

The Machine Ghost's body slammed its hands together as the Arkeyan copters flew in by the dozens, cannons charged and ready to fire! The robot body's hands peeled back as the lasers fired at it, but the hands didn't stop for a second. They slid in within the bodies' depths while hot white light charged forward, and in a snap flared over the robots, enveloping them in its hot embrace! The sound of frizzing electricity just faintly rang in the air as the light faded and unveiled the robots as they fell into the depths, but they were paid no mind. The Machine Ghost's body just stormed forward, the parts brushing against its chest and rolling down into the depths as it stopped at a bridge.

Steam burst out of the body's hinges outside and vaults inside, forcing a few members of their group to scurry away before hot steam smacked in the face, and as the steam receded, beams of light took its place, pouring in from the outer world as the back door receded.

"I have to admit, it is quite thrilling, fighting within this robot body. I should do it more often!" the Machine Ghost remarked. He turned around and bowed to the group for only a moment, then turned back around to the console. "But, anyways, I believe this should be your stop. I will keep the body warm while you take care of the generator."

"Alright, follow me—I'll lead us to the generator," 'Enehana said as they pulled away from the group and marched to the door, all while pulling out a map from their backpack without even looking back. They unfurled the map until it was all its full stretch, with a blink a monocle formed in front of their eye and shone light onto the eastern portion of the map. "I'll take care of hacking the system, but there's likely gonna be guards. I'll need someone to keep them off my back!"

"Just leave that to us!" Sihiri and Tree Rex cried in tandem!

The rest of the Elder Elementals and ancient portal masters stormed out in tandem, all shouting and vowing as they raced into the light… Well, almost all of them. Within the robot still laid Ermit, who just huddled into the corner.

"Don't look at me!" he faintly shouted at someone as the robot body's door began to close. "I'm staying where it's safe! All this hero stuff is your job!"

Another, fainter protest came from behind as the door inched into a close, steam still spewing from it as it sealed itself shut. Now, all that was left was a shrieking silence, the kind of quiet that was far too good to be true—especially with the sights ahead.

The spiraling, brown and orange stone paths surely once made of shiny bronze and copper in their heyday held no guards or traps whatsoever, just an empty approach that lead to a round platform with a crackling, glowing beacon in its center. The back half of the path fed into some cliffs suspiciously more carved and shaped compared to the rest of their raw brethren, with only a tall, rusted tower that held some kind of faintly-visible apparatus on its base. But still, aside of those few devices, there was nothing. Not the scent of oil that came with Arkeyan presence, not the rumbling sound of stampeding feet or the cries of robots as they raised their weapons! The light was all natural sunlight, not that of harsh lasers or beaming light cannons, or even the glint that shone off of a metal armor piece… It was just, empty.

"That can't be right," 'Enehana said as they lowered the map in their hands. "Where in Skylands are all the guards? The lasers puzzles? Anything?"

"Well, you did say this was secret, right?" Swarm asked as he bent down and shrugged. "It's probably so secret, he didn't think to put any guards here!" Swarm grinned and slicked back his antennae. "That just makes our job a whole lot easier!"

"That isn't like Arkilles and you know it, Swarm," Tree Rex added, placing a hand on Swarm's shoulder as he glanced out at the path with a tense glare. "He stations guards at every corner he finds! Surely, there's gotta be something here…"

"We just haven't found it yet," 'Enehana said as they rolled up the blueprints. Stowing away the blueprints in their backpack, 'Enehana tip-toed forward. "Be on your guard."

The others nodded as they tip-toed along with 'Enehana, larger members to the back and smaller ones to the front. Their eyes shifted in every angle, at even the slightest noise that came, and a few summoned weapons or readied spells as they crossed over the path. And yet, despite their leeriness, still nothing came and they stepped foot on the platform where the beacon stood with not a single hitch! A few parties glanced around, others lowered their weapons…

And at the head of the group, 'Enehana frowned as they crept towards the beacon. "If I recall correctly, this beacon should be what reactivates the power here," they said as they knelt down in front of the beacon's base and flipping open a panel before toying with the wiring within. "I just need to couple these, decouple those, and then…"

A lightning bolt burst out from the beacon and slammed into the orbs that lined the back part of the pathway, jumping from orb to orb in a zig-zag pattern before finishing its stop at the tower! It charged right into the tower's apparatus, lighting in in a bright golden share while lights flashed around its rim! It looked even more like a beacon than the beacon itself, as the beacon's light dulled the moment the tower lit up!

"And that's that!" 'Enehana cried as they stood up. "Just have to re-route the power there, and—"

'Enehana shouted and stumbled back as the ground below them began to quake, then the moment their feet hit the floor, then they rushed away from the platform and leaped into Jorden's arms!

The platform that they once stood on cracked as the rumbling grew louder, with parts of the platform shattering and collapsing into piles of rubble! The beacon itself was upturned, its thick and tough wires shooting into the air while the beacon itself decoupled from the wires and collapsed into the massive rivers below. Rubble tumbled down the sides of the piles as they arched higher, and the quaking upturned the more stable parts of the platform and transformed them into jagged stone borders! A large dirt battlefield had unearthed itself, and out from it spewed a whole army of Arkeyan robots—knights wielding axes and swords and ones with wheels for legs that held energy bombs in the front, and large chompies made entirely of metal holding up the rear!

"Should've known this was too good to be true!" 'Enehana hissed.

They fell to their knees immediately and punched the ground, and in turn orange light pulsed out from their knuckles and burst into a pillar around them! The pillar's light started to solidify as it shone, taking the shape of shoulders, helmets, legs… Then, they all slammed into 'Enehana as they came to light, forming into a gigantic robot exosuit with 'Enehana at the center, their head poking out from the helmet's clear glass!

"I'll go on ahead, you just keep these guys busy!" They called.

Jorden gasped, blushing furiously as 'Enehana knelt down and punched through a few robot soldiers before jumping off, then Jorden himself quickly shook his head and ran off.

"Ena, wait for me!" he cried with the most lovestruck tone in his voice, not even noticing the robots that stood in front of him! That is, until one drifted right in front of him, but even then he just punched it in the face before chasing after 'Enehana and calling for them!

"And we'll keep them out of trouble!" Ninjini cried as she teleported ahead of the robots.

Bouncer, Crusher and Eye-Brawl leaped into the skies and bounded over the armies, disappearing in an instant along with the rest of the group—the only remnant of their presence was the sound of Ninjini's voice carried on the wind.

"Just make sure they don't find us!"

A few of the robots turned around, still clenching their weapons as they seemed to inch around to where the others were consolidating at the other side of the bridge. A few robots sped off, and in that moment beams of light pierced through their chests! They exploded in seconds, taking the rest of the robots with them, and what remained of their forces turned to where Luz knelt in front of his ground, his shield dug tight into the earth and charging up another laser as he sat!

"You heard them!" Luz called as he yanked his shield up and spun it around, tossing more lasers into the fray with every spin. "We've gotta keep these tin cans off their tail—and what better way to do that than lightening the mood?"

A few of the wheeled robots swung forward, swerving around the lasers as they came close while they threw green and pink electric bombs back! The bombs soared and stuck to the stone floors below, blowing their stones to pieces as they ignited, and a few landed right beside Luz's feet! The bombs heated up as Luz scrambled back, its once green and pink surfaces growing redder to the touch! Luz immediately snatched up one bomb with his shield as a tray, then he yelped and dropped it to the ground!

"That's way too hot!" he cried as he waved his hand and blew it off.

So, behind him, Hot Head just smiled and scooped the bombs off of the ground. Though their bodies still glowed red-hot, Hot Head didn't even flinch—instead, he just chuckled as they grew warmer, igniting his palms with warm light. He giggled once more as he squeezed the bombs in his palms, blowing them to bits! Their flames coursed around his hands, and puffs of smoke and embers burst from them before he flicked open his fingers and shot a volley of fire right back at the robots!

The flames grew even larger, completely blocking off the path ahead as they engulfed everything in their fires, and the only sound that could be heard was the faint sound of something blowing up! Geysers of fire spurted and died from the flamethrower as the smell of burnt, charred black smoke echoed, while the flames petered out.

All that was left behind was a charred, broken ground, its stone top completely shattered and melted off in parts, with many only faintly singed metal orbs colored in shades of blue and silver, red and gold. They seemed to shudder for a moment, the dirt and dust that had piled on their heads crumbling and rolling off as they jostled the earth around. With one last shake, they all leaped out of the ground, unveiling their true form—more of those Arkeyan knights and chompies! The chompies snarled and leaped off the ground with surprising speed despite their large stature, and their sight was fixed on the Elder Elementals! Tree Rex was knocked back before he could even react, and the others couldn't even call for him or warn the others before even more chompies tackled them!

Sihiri gasped, covering her mouth as Tree Rex crashed int the ground with a nasty crack, then the swoop of an oncoming blade caught her eye! She flung her hands out and crafted a barrier of magic right as one of the knights came for her—but, it just slashed its sword right through it! Sihiri swept away right as the blade pierced through and nearly stabbed her, but the knight just yanked its sword out and slashed again! The barrier was covered in so many cracks that this simple blow not only shattered it, but cast out a wind so great that Sihiri tumbled back! She rolled across the ground before landing right in Inochi's lap, shuddering as her back hit the soft cloth of Inochi's kimono.

Inochi gasped, cradling Sihiri close and pulling Sihiri further onto her lap, then narrowed her eyes as the knights came in closer. She lifted a glowing, green hand, and out from it popped an entire weed of chompies about the size of a person with the sharpest fangs a chompy could have!

The chompies yowled as they stumbled forward on their stubby little legs, while the knights raised their weapons and swung… But in that moment, the chompies leaped up and bit into the weapons' handles! The knights' grip loosened, and the chompies yanked the weapons away before running off and dropping them at the feet of the other portal masters. The chompies disappeared in puff of green smoke that clouded the area around them in a thick mist, so thick that not even silhouettes could be made out.

"Well, well," Vatra remarked as he lifted a sword from the ground and squeezed its handle tight. "Seems it's time for us to have some fun!" Vatra squeezed the sword once more, and flames burst from his hand, coating the sword in a layer of fire. "Now, I'm no swordsman, but I think a flaming blade is enough to take out anything, no?"

The mist cleared, and a few growls as a couple of smaller, mechanical chompies wove in underneath the knights' feet, knocking them off their balance as they struggled not to trip! The chompies' sharp, metal fangs brimmed in the sunlight as they leaped for Vatra—but Vatra, in turn leaped up and rolled through the air, soaring well above the mechanical chompies! The chompies grunted as they fell down, while Vatra just slammed his sword in the ground!

Veins of red hot light formed in the bridge, glimmering hotter by the second as they formed zig-zagged patterns that crossed right underneath the chompies' feet. Then as the sun reached its peak, its light beamed down on the veins and ignited them, bursts of fire erupting from their veins and burning the chompies alight!

And while the chompies burned and melted away, Luz kicked aside an ax and chuckled as he laid down his shield. The shield's core brimmed with light, then shot a laser that pierced right through the flames before solidifying, creating a square mirror that reflected the fires' light towards a path across, then another, and a third. Soon enough, it birthed a string of lasers that fed into a whole barricade of mirrors! The mirrors' light fanned over the oncoming robots in a strikingly bright wave, so bright that they were only briefly seen before their singed remains were unveiled by the fading light!

The robots' corpses burned away for a moment, and a completely frozen ax sliced them in half in one blow!

As their top halves flew in the air, Dej nodded and turned to Nemir beside him, who just nodded and hummed as he held out his hands. Silvery mist fed out from the lines in his palms, making a quick trail for the robot halves before seeping into their exposed wiring! As the mist sank in, rust coated and corroded both the inner and outer parts of the broken robots, their once shiny armor reduced to a dull hunk of metal covered in thick patches of solid red rust.

"Sihiri, do it!" Dej called!

While the robot halves sparked even more furiously, the flames above them relented, curling away to form as path as Sihiri jumped to her feet! She panted heavy breaths as she sped forward, then leaped up and clapped her hands together! As she landed on the ground, a purple light enveloped the broken Arkeyan corpses and hurtled them right in front of her! In fact, they flew so fast that Sihiri fell to the ground to shield herself, then turned around and lifted herself up as the Arkeyan robot corpses flew across the floor!

The corpses' sparking, bursting halves smashed into the legs of the larger mechanical chompies, exploding with such fury that the chompy who wrestled with Tree Rex slipped and fell off from where it wrestled with him! As it stumbled backwards, Tree Rex wound up his arm and punched it right in the gut, sending it flying back before he charged forward and gripped its sides tight, so tight that it cracked the chompy's arm and unveiled pulsing green flesh within. Tree Rex roared as he heaved the squealing, flailing chompy up over his head, and with one toss he flung it right into the water! The chompy fell in and sent a pillar of water splashing up, and Tree Rex just crossed his arms.

"Drop anchor!" Thumpback cried from behind!

Tree Rex turned around right as Thumpback's anchor flew for him, and he stumbled back just before the anchor could decapitate him! Tree Rex blinked for a moment as the anchor swung into a nearby chompy instead, but only for a moment—his footing slipped down into the piles of rubble that bordered their arena, and he shouted out as he flung himself forward and charged back up!

Before his eyes, Thumpback smiled and pulled back his anchor, which now wrapped so tightly around the chompy that the chompy looked about ready to pop. Thumpback chuckled as he lifted up his anchor, turning it around just a bit…

"Wait, Thumpback, stop!" Tree Rex cried. "This area's too narrow! If you swing it around, it'll knock us all into the ocean!"

And Thumpback loosened his grip on the chain, just slightly enough so that the anchor's grip on the chompy wouldn't loosen. The roaring bellow of mechanical cries came from behind him as another group of chompies came for him, and Thumpback just grunted as he heaved the anchor's chain over his shoulder.

"Then I'll just have to change tides!" Thumpback cried!

With one last heave, the chompy he had captured flew over him and smacked into the group of oncoming chompies, flattening them like pancakes! Their armor cracked and shattered in parts, revealing more of that pulsing, glowing green flesh as they whimpered, but it pulsed for only a short time before murky water blew from Thumpback's blowhole and completely shattered! The rain burned away at their armor and flesh alike like acid, and the chompies squealed as they rolled away and ran off from Thumpback…

And right into Hot Head, who giggled as he stomped his foot! The flame atop his head burned even brighter, becoming a full volley of fire while embers rained down and set the chompies alight! They squealed and hopped around as their bodies burned away, their arms thinning and severing themselves from the bodies as they plopped onto the ground like dead leaves. The chompies hopped around in pursuit of some kind of sanctuary when sharp winds cut into them, knocking them into the seas!

The storm of fire relented as Swarm chuckled and blew off his arm blades while the sky blue glow around them faded, then he turned back to the path ahead—a gaze that everyone else followed. Ahead of them a few explosions sounded, leaving some to wince as all that was left was the smoke.

"Seems like they could use some help!" Sihiri shouted as she stepped forward, waving to the others as she leaped. "Come on!"

Sihiri spun forward, then as the orbs on the bridge ahead lit up, she gasped and flew right back! Their lights shone bright and shrieked with heat, and out from their surface came another, zig-zagging light pattern… Then a second and third, a fourth and sixth, and in that moment the whole path ahead was blocked by a hot laser grid! Sihiri held out her hands, but before she could cast her spell, the lasers' cyan light turned to a milky, whitish color while they all folded over and parted! She turned to her side, and smiled as she was met with a chuckling Luz.

"You know," Luz remarked as she strode across the bridge with hands behind his back. "I wonder if they've got that dam thing taken care of yet…"

Luz whistled a tune as he took a few more steps across the bridge, then hopped off its end and shielded his eyes as he turned ahead. Then, he gasped and ducked back as the head of an Arkeyan knight flew right above him! He got up and winced as the knight's head exploded behind him, then turned ahead and winced further.

In front of him, the canyons laid dented and the floors cracked and ravaged as even more robots fought with the rest of their crew! Bouncer and Ninjini leaned back and sniped them from behind while Eye blasted a few from above, and on the ground Brawl and Crusher pounded into the earth as they stomped and smashed through more of the robots! And, amid all the dust they raised, the faintest glow of bronze could just barely be caught wandering through the fog. Then, it glowed even brighter as stone spires burst out and skewered tons of robots on their spines!

"I hate to rush things along, Ena," Jorden called as the mist faded and the spires receded into the ground around him. "But are ya done with that codey thing yet?"

And at the back of the group, 'Enehana laid knelt on the ground, their lip bit as they fiddled with a control panel inside. They tapped away at the keyboard provided for mere moments, but as lasers and whirring sounded around them, they snarled and shot out one of their hands, crafting a laser that seared right through the Arkeyan knights that charged for them!

"I'm trying!" they shouted back as they turned to the keyboard, then growled and shot another robot. "But these robots keep sneaking up on me!" 'Enehana winced, then turned back to the keyboard while their fingers wiggled over the keys. "Now, what was I supposed to do next?…"

The sound of charging cannons sounded before them, and 'Enehana turned around before gasping and rolling away as a bullet of raw light shot for them! The bullet sniped a hole right through the canyon behind them, leaving only a searing smokey mist, and 'Enehana cringed as they glanced at the hole. With a stomp, the ground rumbled before them while spiraling pillars of gears burst forward and churned, blocking 'Enehana from view! They sighed as they sat back down at the keyboard and tapped away, then gritted their teeth as sharp, grinding sounds came from the barrier before an array of bullets slipped through and bouncer around the area, forcing them to duck once more!

And on the other side of 'Enehana's barrier, the robots that had gathered screeched as they shot and chipped away at the barrier, not moving a single finger!

"Hey, let them work, will ya?!" Jorden shouted as they charged forward and raised their pickax. "Their codey thingies are hard enough without you guys!"

Jorden smashed their pickax into the ground, and in turned it quaked and rumbled, knocking the robots onto their backs! The robots clunked and shouted out garbled, distorted noises as they bounced and rolled down the hills, and as they finally reached the base, a string of hot bullets shot forward and completely riveted their backs! The robots flailed and jerked their arms around, squealing out as the bullets ripped apart their backs and exposed their insides, then their noises and lights dulled as they laid limp on the ground before them.

Jorden turned back just in time to catch Bouncer as he blew the smoke from his fingertips, then Bouncer grunted as a larger Arkeyan with round blades akin to halves of a shield leaped up and slashed him right across the back! Bouncer cried out as he crashed to the ground, and Jorden ran off right before he could get smashed underneath! Instead, it was merely the corpses of broken Arkeyan robots that flattened underneath as Bouncer laid down and groaned, the large slash across his back sparking and turning red hot as the Arkeyan crept up to him. It raised its blade, the lights in its face burning red as it lowered its blades…

And Ninjini tackled into it, pushing it aside before skewering its chest with her wishblades! She drew the wishblades out and slapped the robot away with her tail, then floated over and pulled Bouncer back upright, her gaze fixed on the wound in his back.

"Bouncer, dear, are you alright?" Ninjini whispered, holding out a hand. "Let me, I can—"

"Don't worry about it, babe," Bouncer croaked as he patted his back. "I can take care of this."

His hand felt around his back before finally reaching the edges of the open wound, then he lifted it back as it glowed orange! In turn the sprawled metal of his back turned orange as it curled forward, sealing the wound back up and seeped into the metal until it was completely invisible! Bouncer chuckled, pushing himself out of Ninjini's arms and wheeling up so that his eyes turned on the slightly smaller robots that bounced to and fro below his wheel. A clunk came from behind as part of his back swept out, and a rain of rockets burst from his back and rained down on the robots! A flurry of explosions burst from the ground, flames burning and flashing for moments before they faded just as quickly, and Bouncer wheeled away.

Ninjini swept in where Bouncer once stood, waving her hands as they glowed purple… Then stopped, the light in her hands fading as the explosions faded as she glanced down to find the robots were gone! A string of pops came around her, and Ninjini backed away as the robots teleported around her, floating a thick ring that choked around her! She held up her hands once more, wincing as their purple glow returned, then she swept away as one exploded beside her!

"Over here! Eye can see you bobbing around!" Eye shouted as he floating above, flapping his wings in an almost teasing manner.

The robots all squealed, then the fires underneath them burned even brighter as they all zipped up to Eye! With his much more diminutive size, they had him completely encircled, forming a tight cocoon around him—but between the gaps in the cocoon, silver light shimmered before lasers slashed out from parts of it! The robots all exploded as one, and Eye screamed as the explosion vaulted him back! He plopped right back onto Brawl's top as Brawl raced forward, squealing and flailing as his eye burned red while its blood veins burned.

"Augh, my eye! It burns!" Eye cried!

A burst of water washed in and poured over Eye, dripping into Brawl enough that Brawl had to stop and turn around. Atop Brawl, Eye pushed himself up as the redness in his eye faded, then he chuckled and floated up.

"Thank you, strange water blast!" Eye remarked before turning around. "Although, eye do wonder where it came from…"

"Over there!" Crusher shouted as he ran up and pointed to the bridge. "It's the others!"

Tree Rex charged forward with a roar, his gauntlet held out as its spikes grew long and sharp, then he pounded the ground and cracked it underneath his punch! The robots around him flew in the air, and as they did Crusher swung in behind Tree Rex and spun around, slamming them everywhere with his hammer! The robots fell into the ocean and smashed into the canyon walls, and both Crusher and Tree Rex smiled at each other before the ground's rumbling left them scowling instead.

Ahead of them, the robots that had once crowded around 'Enehana's barrier now marched towards the two of them, lifting their weapons as their eyes turned red. The robots raised their hands, and their shrieking echoed in the air as they charged, while Elder Elemental and portal master alike steeled themselves. Though, behind their ranks, just barely they caught a glimpse of 'Enehana still dutifully working away at the tower, their barrier still churning despite how dented it was—and that was enough for their entire group!

Crusher shouted out as he slammed his hammer into the earth, and beside him Jorden pounded his fist and summoning pounding machines made of raw stone! The world quaked and cracked underneath Crusher's hammer, and the quaking was further fed by the rumbling and pounding of Jorden's machines! They backed away as the robots stumbled on their own feet, struggling to keep their balance amid the quakes, then the two of them parted ways as Inochi and Tree Rex charged forward!

Inochi rushed in first, twirling through the air as she landed down and stomped the ground! The cracks in the earth filled with green light as she floated away, and Tree Rex shouted out as he bodyslammed into the earth! The green light shrieked, glowing its brightest, then around Tree Rex vines shot from the earth, snapping up at furious speeds while the buds at their tops covered the sun!

Behind them, Luz clapped his hand and the sunlight glowed even harsher, while Eye shot out lasers not made of silver, but shining gold! The light burned into the stems and sent thin smoke floating from them, so Dej and Thumpback only cast out their hands and clouds covered the skies above them, crackling and thundering while rain poured down into the plants!

The sunlight and rain alike parted as the buds' petals unfurled, unveiling flowers with sharp, grinding fangs for centers! The flowers licked their lips as they loomed over the robots, then they pounded into the ground and snapped their jaws right through the robots, only lifting up to gobble the robots down and lick their lips!

The remaining robots immediately shot for the base of the killer flowers' stems, then skidded to a stop as a burst of fire streaked along the battlefield like a comet, jerking left and right as it flew in front of them and revealed Vatra at its helm! Flames sparked and popped from the tips of his hair as he thrust out his red-hot palm, the heat around him growing almost unbearable as smoke burned even further around him, and out from his palm shot a flaming comet that tossed the robots back!

As the robots flew back, globs of oil shot down from the skies and crashed onto the robots, and their flames flared even higher as they skidded up to Bouncer's wheel! Bouncer rolled back a little, then waved a hand and cast an orange glow down on the robots, one further illuminated by their flames that already burned from their bodies. The robots' bodies crunched and creaked as they staggered back up, smoke burning from all orifices of their bodies as its thick, burning stench filled the air. The once red lights in their eyes turned orange, and they bellowed out distorted, warped screamed as they charged right for the remaining robots and exploded!

Another string of explosions rocked the ground and split it further as the robots broken corpses fell in droves, and Bouncer wheeled out while the rest of the group converged in the heart of the battlefield. The canyons had been devastated, their once thick stone cracked and bitten out in significant chunks while their floors were shattered, filled with cracks just small enough that they could be walked on but big enough to be noticed, and the smell of flames, smoke and oil filled the once fresh skies…

"I'm almost done over here!" 'Enehana shouted from behind their barrier. "Just keep an eye out!"

"Understood!" Sihiri shouted back.

The ground shuddered a bit, and a soft thunk like footsteps hit the air.

Sihiri's eyes narrowed, turning back to one of the walls they had cracked during the battle, then she cast out her hands and formed a sparkling border right as another robot burst out!

It was much taller compared to the last, at least a head or two over the Elder Elementals, with its own head vaguely humanoid in shape while its body was round and burning with fires. Cannons lined every inch of its body, from across its arms and legs to its back, and it let out some unholy mixture of a scream and a fan's churning as it turned around and fired!

Its cannons burst at every angle, slamming into the barrier and shattering it completely! While the others fell back and scrambled away as a laser crashed and exploded just inches away from them, Bouncer scowled.

"Initiate launch sequence!" Bouncer cried as rocket cannons dispatched from his back!

The rocket cannons seated themselves on his shoulders and fired in one swift instant, burning through the skies and smashed right into the robot's chest—but, instead of blowing the robot to bits, it was the rockets themselves that shattered! Dull explosions burst as their crumbled remains fell to the ground, and the robot roared once more as it fired!

Crusher grunted and slammed his hammer into the ground, and in response a shield of solid, shiny crystal shot up. And though it was completely clear, not a single laser or rocket from the robot smashed it! He sighed for a moment, then turned around and winced.

"That thing's rock-solid!" he cried. "I don't think an ordinary attack's gonna break it!"

Sihiri jumped to her feet next, then Ninjini, and both of them nodded before clasping their hands. A wave of purple magic pulsed over the area, shaking the crystal barrier for moments with every pulse. And more than that, it shielded them from view, their bodies slowly fading away every time the magic hit.

"Swarm!" Sihiri called, turning to him just before he disappeared for view. "Scout for weaknesses, now!"

"On it, leader lady!" Swarm cried!

He saluted her right as he faded from view, the only indicator of his presence being the beating of his wings. A few lasers shot for him, and he yelped as he flew away, then he leaned forward and zipped around the robot, the air around him beating as he dodged lasers and scouted the robot's body. He flew around the back, and a small chuckle just barely sounded off as a string of hard air blasts smacked into the robot's back!

Golden glass fragments burst out as its lights flickered, and the robot groaned as it plunged into the ground, Swarm floating down next to it.

The crystal barrier receded, and they all became visible once more as they rushed around the robot. A few of them stepped back as the robot's hand twitched and clawed for them, reaching out for a moment as a laser started to charge in its palm. The laser's light faded just as quickly as it came, and the hand only slunk down to the floor, shifting its arm away and unveiling a suspiciously golden glowing spot behind the shoulder.

"The next weak spot's in the shoulder!" Swarm shouted.

Eye nodded, then floated above the robot while silver light charged in his cornea. A laser shot right forward and slammed into the golden spot, turning its light silver while the sound of cracking snapped in the air! The light faded, only pulsing just enough to be seen as cracks formed in the neck, and Eye flew back.

Nemir stepped forward, falling to his knees and crawling forward while he patted the area around the robot's neck, then he grunted and ripped our a cracked, silver orb! He tossed it aside and it shattered into tiny pieces beside him, then he turned around as Swarm slashed away a spot on the other side of the robot's neck!

The robot growled, its guttural noises still bellowing and growling as it tried to lift its head up… But then, its noises silenced and it planted its head into the floor. Soft panting came from up ahead as the robot rested limp, then its head smashed in as 'Enehana leaped in and stomped it right down!

'Enehana hupped as they landed right in front of the downed robot, beaming as they adjusted their backpack's position.

"Alright, power's been restored to the east dam!" 'Enehana proclaimed. "We should see the water levels rising any second now!"

And just to prove their point, the sound of crashing, rushing water echoed from behind! Everyone raced to peer over the cliffs as the water levels rose, swelling up so high that the once fairly shallow creeks covered most of the pillars hoisting up the bridge ahead! They had done it—the dam had been restored!

Ninjini waved her hands while purple sparkles cascaded down, and they were teleported back to the beginning of the bridge in an instant. The light faded, and as they blinked and regained their stances, the sound of creaking metal came beside them.

"My knees are a bit damper than usual—I can only suppose you have risen the dams," The Machine Ghost said. Steam hissed as he lifted up his body's chest, while the drawbridge spilled out and slammed into the bridge. "Come along now, we will now proceed to the west dam."

Everyone piled into the drawbridge, and as the last of their group filed in and the Machine Ghost's chest closed up once more, he turned around. Water sloshed around him as his body took heavy, labored steps across the increased rivers, the east dam growing further and further in view as the tower shone its golden light behind him.

§

The Machine Ghost grunted as he pushed up a switch, and as he did his robotic body sputtered and rattled for a few moments.

A few bursts of water poured in from the pipes that stuck out around the body, one of which dumped its waters onto a sleeping Ermit's head, splashing him awake! While Ermit flailed around and shouted, the Machine Ghost just chuckled… Then, as the torrent stopped and left a very soaked Ermit in its wake, the Machine Ghost coughed and turned back around to the controls.

"It seems as though all this water is slowing our progression speed," the Machine Ghost said as his fingers hovered over the controls, then tapped away with furious speed. "Re-routing all power to the thrusters immediately."

The lights above flickered and dimmed for moments, earning attention and confused whispers from the rest of the group, then finally the lights completely dulled! The whole room turned cooler and dimmer, now lit only by the light of the windshield ahead while the paneling rattled. The area ahead of them blurred in the windshield's view, and behind them the robot body roared as they sped up so fast that everyone not in the pilot's seat was tossed back and pinned to the back of the room!

Their gums flapped and their eyelids peeled wide open as steam rattled around them, and they only watched straight ahead as their robot escort powered even faster, so fast that copters smashed against its windshield right before their eyes! The robot veered right as bit, and they all tumbled right, another swerve and they all rolled left before smashing into each other in one big, amorphous pile, and one more tip backwards flung them onto the back of the floor once more!

Ermit grunted, spitting out a broken tooth as he crawling out from underneath the pile, then shook a fist. "Hey, watch where you're piloting, you half-dead half-wit!" Ermit shouted. "We're all getting dizzy back here!"

The Machine Ghost turned around and winced at the sight of everyone crawling out from the pile, eyes spinning around in heads, bruises on bodies and all, then cleared his throat.

"It seems as though I may have forgotten to account for passengers in our speeding up," he remarked. "Unfortunately, I cannot bring up any seats without re-routing the power again…"

"Just let me take care of that!" 'Enehana shouted as they waved an arm.

The floor below glowed orange as it started to rise in pillars and bubble, but it didn't split or break—rather, seats morphed from the floor of the room and lifted the rest of the group inside their comfort. Belts strapped around them as the sunny orange glow that dusted over the floor faded away, and some relieved chatter came from the back as they marveled.

But, then they hit another turn and were sent flying sideways, the straps straining their hardest to keep everyone in tight! A few grunts and pained, choked shouts came as they swung right, and as they finally settled back in, the chairs creaked underneath them.

"This feels like the worst rollercoaster ride I've ever been on," Ermit lamented as he hung his head, his face paling by the second.

"What's a rollercoaster?" 'Enehana asked. They shook their head, then smiled and lifted their head to the windshield. "Well, nonetheless, you won't have to stay there for long! I can already see the west dam on the horizon!"

The robot's thrusters burst, sparks and embers flying in front of the windshield before disappearing as it charged forward! Its speed started to slow as it came closer to the bridge leading on to the dam, and it moved towards a more up-right position. The bridge came closest it could, and the robot started to settle in—but before it could bridge the gap, it slammed right into something and flew backwards! Its back smacked into the canyon, and a few more steam valves burst as everyone in the back flew backwards! Their seats disappeared underneath them and once again they smashed into the back wall, bodies shuddering as they piled together.

"Is this part of the trip too?" Luz grunted as his arms trembled.

"Shouldn't be!" 'Enehana shouted back as they pulled themselves up with the side of the console as their crutch. 'Enehana rubbed their eyes, then turned to the console. "I thought we had enough breathing room between there and the bridge, what could have—"

A shadow cast in front of the windshield and the entire room was almost completely darkened!

Those in the back shouted and questioned as 'Enehana and the Machine Ghost clung to their controls, their mouths clenched tight as their fingers twitched, and their eyes didn't move an inch from the front, the sole source of their blocker.

In front of them laid a robot identical in build to theirs, but much taller and shinier! Its metal was colored in the signature reds and golds of the Arkeyan empire, and its fists lined with sharp spikes around the knuckles while its eyes glowed their brightest. But, perhaps most importantly, it had completely blocked off the bridge to the west dam with its bulky body—and judging by the way it wound up its arm as if it was preparing to punch, it had no intentions of letting them in, either!

'Enehana pulled the robot back while their opponent's punch crashed into the canyon, and they winced as the wall they themselves had dented completely buckled under the punch's weight, taking the entire canyon ledge with it. They frantically pressed a few buttons to be met with nothing but a faint clicking noise, so they jumped to a lever or two and yanked it down. However, not even those would budge!

"It's no use, I'm afraid!" the Machine Ghost cried, a wince coming from his as he glanced at the control panel. "I re-routed all power to the thrusters, including the power to the weapons system! Until I can supply it with power, all our weapons are offline!"

'Enehana gasped, then frantically pressed button as if that would do something by some miracle. "How long will it take to re-route the power, then?"

"At least ten minutes, maybe longer!"

"What?!" 'Enehana cried, turning to the Machine Ghost with frantic speed.

In that moment, the opposing robot landed another punch! Its spiky knuckles cracked the windshield and split holes into the inner room as it pushed them into another canyon wall, the robot's body creaking as it hit! The sickening smell of fresh air leaked through the newborn holes and cracks while the group behind them smashed into the wall once more.

"Good going, you stupid ghost!" Ermit shouted. "Your bloody idea's left us sitting ducks! Couldn't you have at least saved power for some firearms?"

"I wanted us to get there as fast as we could!" the Machine Ghost cried back while his hands fritzed and returned to normal. "We can't—"

Another punch rattled the robot, and the Machine Ghost and 'Enehana both crashed to the floor! The Machine Ghost phased through it for a moment before jumping up and grabbing the controls just in time to roll away from another punch, then threw a punch of his own! His punch landed right in the opposing robot's chest, its metal denting slightly as it skidded back, while the Machine Ghost himself jumped over to the other side of the console.

"Re-routing power to weaponry now," he said.

'Enehana nodded as they pulled themself up, then cracked their knuckles. With a snap of their fingers, the holes in the walls and cracks in the windshield sealed up, their orange glow brushing against 'Enehana's back as they dug their hand through their backpack and slipped out a warp start. The warp start glimmered in the light for only a moment, but another strong blow tossed 'Enehana on the floor and the warp start out of their hands! They pushed themselves up as the warp start landed by the now-upright group, then narrowed their eyes.

Behind them, the opposing robot wound up another punch and jabbed—but in that moment, 'Enehana slammed their hand on the console and orange light flooded the room! The Machine Ghost's body jumped back in that moment, and as the opposing robot's arm laid static, the body grabbed it and twisted it tight, so tight that its metal started to twist and buckle! The opposing robot yanked its arm back, but at that point it was held so tightly that it only severed the arm! As the opposing robot leaning down while sparks rained down from the empty space where its arm once was, 'Enehana nodded.

"We can't afford to dally!" 'Enehana shouted. "Use that warp start to get en route to the west dam! I'll stay here and help keep this guy occupied until our weapons come back online!"

"But, 'Enehana! What about you?" Bouncer shouted, wheeling out as he spoke. "You're the one who has to hack these things! You know their code and everything!"

"You have the Tech Ancient's blessing, correct?"

'Enehana's smirked as Bouncer nodded.

"Then something like that would be child's play for you, now GO!"

Before anyone could protest, 'Enehana waved their hand and the warp start glowed bright!

Its vermilion light poured over the room, tinging it in warm shades as everyone hesitantly glanced around. Then finally, Bouncer nodded and wheeled ahead! As he disappeared in the light, Ninjini, Sihiri, Swarm and Eye-Brawl all jumped on after him! The light warped around them, twisting into a tornado of orange sparkles that covered their bodies in a warm, magical blanket…

And when that blanket faded, they no longer rested within the robot's walls.

No, they stood on the rusted remains of what was once another strong copper and bronze bridge, its surface cracked and its top lined with similarly-cracked crystal orbs that probably would've been sleek otherwise. The rocky, rough texture of the ground below pressed against their lower halves as they stabilized their balance, while beside them the sounds of punching, denting metal and crumbling rocks alerted them to the battle that warred beside. In fact, just a glance showed the Machine Ghost's robot and the opposing one, punching and swiping and shooting away at each other! And ahead of that, embedded in the canyons that stretched along the back, was a scene near-identical to the one at the east dam. A terminal stretching into the sky along paths carved into the canyon's rock, all lead into from a bridge spanning from the front of the round platform that rested square in the center of the bridge they stood on now. The only difference was that there was no power beacon in the circle—instead, the terminal had already been charged and shimmered with light. The air was clean and fresh in scent, but the rumbles from aside paired with the splashing of water as it was disturbed and lashed against the bridge showed it wouldn't be for long.

Bouncer, huffed, then leaned forward and rushed off first, his gaze solely on the bridge underneath his wheel. "With all those orbs cracked, I doubt there'll be any security up," Bouncer whispered. "Now, if I make this play quick—"

"Bouncer, wait! Slow down!" Ninjini cried from the back!

The crackle of electricity came from behind, and Bouncer turned around right as one of the orbs at the front of the bridge sparked, electricity leaking from its cracks as a lightning bolt jolted from one orb to the other! The lightning spread from orb to orb with rapid speed, the electricity that leaked from it leaving the lightning stronger with each pass—then as it jolted past Bouncer, it splintered into four! These four lightning bolt jumped into the orbs' cracks and zapped together, expanding as they fused till they formed a wall of solid electricity that seated itself right in front of Bouncer!

Bouncer winced and wheeled back a bit, then turned around as Ninjini floated up and gripped his shoulder.

"Looks like they did have security measures here after all," Ninjini remarked. She frowned for a moment, but her frown quickly lifted as she turned around. "Luckily, it seems like the terminal controlling it is over there."

Bouncer swerved back to the beginning of the bridge, where across from the place that Eye-Brawl, Sihiri and Swarm stood at was another, shorter terminal. It glowed bright as a few tall robots laid down by its side, slunk down with dim faces as if they were deactivated. Or perhaps, dormant as they laid in wait for attackers?

"We'll draw out the robots, and you see if you can do something about the terminal." Ninjini winked and flew off. "Besides, it'll be good practice for when you re-route power to the dam!"

Bouncer went to protest, but by that point Ninjini had drawn her wishblades and flown off—so, he just sighed and rolled after her.

"I've never really tried this before. Hacking stuff usually 'Enehana's job," Bouncer said as he held out a hand. His fingers withdrew, shifting, twirling their parts around until they formed into something vaguely like plugs. "But, new playstyles are always part of the game." Bouncer nodded, then zipped behind Ninjini. "Just gotta figure this one out!"

Bouncer clenched his hand into a fist as the plug-like tips sank back into his fingers, then wheeled beside Ninjini. Ninjini glanced in turn, motioning with her hand first towards him, then towards the terminal, and Bouncer just nodded back before he zipped forward, so fast that he knocked the robot sitting at the front of the terminal into the ground! Bouncer yanked open the terminal's panel as the sound of creaking metal and charging guns came from behind, then lashing whips and screeching, mechanical noises!

And behind him, Ninjini and Sihiri smirked as ropes made of magic drew the robots right towards them! The ropes faded away right as the robots pushed themselves up, and in that moment Sihiri snapped her fingers and cast up walls of magic in a circular formation, ones that locked off everyone and everything around.

"That should keep you from disturbing Bouncer's work," Ninjini sneered.

An explosive orb flew over her shoulder, and she ducked away just in time to catch it smash into the wall behind her and blow a hole in it. "Or not!"

A few more of those green and pink, sparkling explosive orbs shot for Ninjini, and she in turn waved her hands and cast them back, shooting them right into the robots' chest! The orbs exploded right as they reached into the robots' chest cavities, leaving only smoldering piles of broken metal where they once laid, and Ninjini turned her attention to the larger guards that stood right chest-high to her as they held out their hands.

She readied her own hands, perhaps anticipating another strings of orbs, then spun away as a laser shot from one's palms and hit into the wall behind her instead! More lasers shot from around, forming a precarious spiderweb of hot pink light that bounced from one wall to the next and reflected from that.

Ninjini yanked her arm away as one came right for her, then jerked her head to the side as another just barely nicked her ear. The lasers spread past and around her, pinning her to the hot, searing light of the wall as they glowed brighter and brighter!

Before her, Sihiri, Eye-Brawl and Swarm all pressed themselves to the other parts of the wall, while the robots that cornered her slowly crept into the center, their hands held out as they brushed against each other's backs.

The light around grew hotter, shrieking like bats as the emanating heat turned it from its pinkish-purple color to a harsh white, and Ninjini herself cried out as the wall burned against her back, only to press herself against it once more as she inched closer to the lasers! Ninjini scowled, then fished her arms from the lasers, slowly creeping alongside the wall as she navigated between their precarious strings. Sweat dampened her face as she slid between the close spaces of one laser, then the other, until finally she pulled one arm in! She beamed for a moment as her left arm broke free, then slipped her right arm out and yanked her bottle from her back. Her whole body turned to sparkly purple fog as she leaped inside the bottle, while the bottle itself collapsed to the floor with a sharp clang, one that brought the robots' attention down to the floor.

The robots lowered their lasers just a bit as the bottle's lip turned to them... Then out from the bottle came strings of rockets that smashed through their faces, leaving gaping holes of gutted machinery behind! The robots' faces smoked as more rockets slammed into their chests, flinging them through the walls and shattering them completely as their smoking, hole-ridden bodies laid amid the disjointed remains of their fellow robots.

One head landed by Sihiri's feet, another few just barely smashed into Brawl's arm and yet one more beaned Swarm in the leg. But they only minded the robots for a few moments before Ninjini emerged from the bottle and attached it back to her back.

As she fixed its position, her glance passed to where Bouncer stood at the terminal, optics wide and a wire in hand. She smiled, then set the bottle in place and waved.

"Is the security taken care of yet?" she asked.

"Almost," Bouncer replied as he turned back to fiddling with the panel. "Just gotta do this, then this…"

Bouncer hummed as he slashed a few wires in half and reconnected them to the other broken halves, pressed a few buttons, fixed some other wires' positions, then closed the panel and frowned, his glance now turned to the bridge.

Its electric wall flickered and slunk down sightly as it laid on the bridge's top. The wall flashed one more time, then it slammed down and exploded in sparks, its electricity feeding into the orbs that lined the bridge! Each orb sparked for a moment, but all quickly faded save for the ones at the front—they shot out a beam like before, but this time it merely bounced from orb to orb in a zig-zag fashion before fizzling out as it reached its end!

"And done!"

Bouncer smirked as he zipped past them, but his speed slowed as he zig-zagged along the bridge in tandem with the laser beam. He came to a complete stop as the others slowly trailed along behind him, eyes not moving from the lasers as they walked from space to space.

Well, save for Ninjini, who just sneaked into her bottle and hastily rolled along the floor before popping back up at Bouncer's side. He smiled and lifted up her bottle as she filtered out of it, then as she claimed the bottle from his hands, he smiled and winked.

"Y'know, 'Enehana's right—this hacking stuff isn't so bad," Bouncer said. "If that terminal's as easy as that was, I'll have it finished in no time!"

Ninjini chuckled as she fastened her bottle onto her back. "Don't get too cocky, now. We still don't know what they have ahead for us."

A crash came from beside, and they both winced as their gazes turned to where the Machine Ghost's laid pinned to the canyons by the robot he fought. The robot pushed forward, shattering the canyon and leaving its rocks to fall into the depths below, then the body punched it away before flicking out its hand and casting a sword of orange light! With the sword grasped tight in both hands, the body rushed forward and slashed away at the opposing robot right as it raised a hand. The sword slashed right through the hand as it became a fist, leaving that fist to crash into the waves below!

As the opposing robot forged its own light sword in the broken space where its hand once was and slashed back, Eye-Brawl, Swarm and Sihiri floated around them and winced.

"Looks like they've got things under control there," Eye said before popping off of Brawl and flying off. "Come on, eye can spy the terminal from here!"

Bouncer pulled himself from the bridge and drove after Eye, though he still cast a single glance back at the battle between the Machine Ghost and his opponent. The others came up to his side as he finally hit solid canyon rock instead of rusted metal… And as he rolled a few steps forward, a massive crash came from behind, the winds it crafted so strong it knocked them all on their fronts!

Bouncer groaned and turned around right as the bridge crumbled to bits, while not that far from him the Machine Ghost's body and its opponent tumbled across the canyons!

The closer view showed that the opposing robot had regained its broken arm, with a giant cannon of some sort taking its spot. Its eyes glowed as it thrust the Machine Ghost's body into the wall and cracked it… While above them, the terminal rocked back and forth in its spot! Despite the dents in its armor and the steam that leaked from his cracks and orifices, the body grunted and pushed against the robot, knocking it back into the other side of the canyon before punching it in the gut!

Bouncer jumped to his wheel and rushed off, his optics set on the terminal as it swayed back into place. "I've gotta get to that terminal!" he whispered, lifting his hands as he leaned in. "If they keep this up, it'll be scrap before I do!"

A few robots stumbled out the sides of a cavity in the walls beside him, their weapons readied and charged with hot light as they turned them on Bouncer, and Bouncer himself held out his hands. His back creaked, parts of it shifting out as rocket launchers stationed themselves on his shoulders, and he gripped his hand tight. The launchers shrieked, preparing to fire… But quickly quelling themselves as sharp winds came from aside and slammed into the robots, knocking them into the water!

As the robots tumbled off the side of the cliffs, Bouncer zipped right for the terminal, leaping up and crashing right before it with such force that the smaller rocks around him leaped and crashed back down.

Bouncer yanked open the panel, perhaps in expectancy of some stray buttons or some old wires in need of cutting—but instead, what greeted him was a sleek screen with a keyboard underneath it, its body made of sleek red and gold metal with no signs of rust or wear whatsoever! A message and a box flashed across its screen in ancient Common, and Bouncer's optics narrowed.

"Enter your admin passcode?" Bouncer read. He grimaced, then typed away. "Let's see, what would Arkilles make his security passcode…" Bouncer typed away. "His own name? Sounds about right to me."

Nope—the screen flashed red as Bouncer submitted, then the passcode disappeared and the box grew empty once more.

"Ultimate ruler of all Skylands?"

Also brought nothing but a red screen. Bouncer gritted his teeth, shavings of metal peeling off and falling below him, then he typed away further—but still, nothing but red.

"Glorious Arkeyan emperor?"

"God of Skylands?"

"Arkilles the ultimate ruler?"

All nothing but red. As his last attempt resulted in nothing more than a flashing red screen and the sounds of crashing, clashing battles grew louder, Bouncer groaned and banged his fists against the keyboard before hanging his head… Then, green light flashed against his face while a string of cheerful beeps came, and he lifted his head as the screen changed!

"Well, that's one way to get in," he remarked as he stood to full height.

Several boxes flashed across the screen, each with their own icons of pouring water or levers or more, and Bouncer winced.

"Now, which one should I pick?" Bouncer's finger hovering from box to box. "That waterfall looks like it'd work, but—"

A distinct sound of screeching, crashing metal came from behind Bouncer, and he turned around right as the opposing robot flew past him! The Machine Ghost's body came shortly afterward, but not in pursuit. Instead, it leaned against the canyons while its eyes flashed orange.

"Bouncer, what's wrong?" 'Enehana cried from within, their voice amplified over the robot body's speaker. "Have you cracked the code yet?"

"'Enehana, perfect timing!" Bouncer turned back to the terminal. "Which of these buttons controls the power?"

"The bars in the top-middle—that's the power settings!"

Bouncer nodded and tapped the button, and in turn it expanded, changing the screen to a selection of sliders.

"Now, there's a specific input code to re-route the power. You press the down button twice, up button twice, then press right, left, right, left and hit the two runes at the top simul—"

'Enehana grunted as the opposing robot swung forward, nailing the Machine Ghost's body in the side with a sharp punch and sliding both the robot and presumably them back in turn! As the body collapsed into the sea and staggered up, the robot stomped down on its chest, pushing it further into the depths, but the Machine Ghost's body just grabbed its foot and yanked it up! Water splashed up in large torrents as the robot fell on its back while water rained down on the battlefield, drenching the rocks in its cold, salty liquid while both robots jumped up and wrestled against each other.

Bouncer winced as they crashed into the waters below and fell to their knees, then flinched as water snapped his head and turned back to the console.

"Let's see, down, down, up, up," Bouncer whispered as he pressed the keys in turn. "right, left, right, left, hit the two runes at the top…" Bouncer narrowed his optics and winced. "Which two runes?" Bouncer glazed over to two slightly larger, round runes near the top of the keyboard. "These two?"

Just before Bouncer pressed down, a shriek of purple light came for him and he ducked right as a purple orb of magic slammed against the wall behind him and exploded! He winced and got up as the orb poured down the wall as a cascade of sparkles and turned back to where the others battled swathes of robots below, then balled his hand into a fist. His wheel started to turn, and he leaned aside, as if preparing to jump into the fray—but stopped as Ninjini turned to him.

"We've got this covered, Bouncer!" Ninjini shouted as she held back an ax-wielding robot with a pair of wishblades. Ninjini leaned forward and slashed the robot's head off before flying back into the battle, eyes set on another, larger robot. "Just get that dam taken care of!"

Bouncer just nodded, then leaned back at terminal and pressed a pair of buttons on the keyboard—but the screen only flashed red! As the color faded, Bouncer grimaced and retyped the combination, his hands pressing on another pair of keys instead. But, still no luck, as once again the screen taunted him with its red glare. A crash sounded behind him, and Bouncer only grimaced as a few rocks pelted him in the head.

"Hey, 'Enehana! Hate to interrupt your match there," he shouted as he turned around and waved for 'Enehana, "but what was the last part of the combination?"

No use, 'Enehana didn't even acknowledge him as the Machine Ghost's body grabbed the robot and turned around, spinning back and forth before slamming it against a wall! The opposing robot squirmed against the Machine Ghost's grip, trying its hardest to pry his fingers off, but instead, the Machine Ghost just gripped it tight!

Bouncer scoffed and crossed his arms, his optics narrowing. "If only they weren't stopped by that tinhead," Bouncer scoffed. "This hacking stuff's way out of my league, and only they know the code…"

The Machine Ghost squeezed the opposing robot's shoulders tight as it squirmed, then finally slipped away and wound up its arm before sending a double punch directly for the bottom of the robot's chest, another double punch up top…

Bouncer blinked, then wheeled forward. "Wait, down, down, up, up…" Bouncer whispered as his optics brightened. "That's part of the code!"

The Machine Ghost punched away further and Bouncer cracked his knuckles.

"Right, left, right, left… And then…"

The Machine Ghost's body grabbed the robot by the shoulders and swung around before headbutting it! Its head slammed into the upper-left of the robot's head, smashing the glass of both its large eyes in. Letting go of the robot as it staggered back, the Machine Ghost's body stumbled back and wound up a punch.

But, Bouncer's attention drifted away from them with a blink, and turned back to the keyboard as he scratched his head. His eyes drifted back to two, larger keys stationed at the head of the keyboard, ones in a triangle shape much like the opposing robot's eyes and he gasped before typing away!

"Down, down, up, up, right, left, right, left, then…"

Bouncer slammed down the two larger keys, and a green light flashed against his face! He lifted up his head, and the sound of something unlocking pricked his auditory sensors as the bars on the screen grew brighter! He beamed widely, then moved his finger across the screen as the bars all slid as far as they could, and the sound of gargling, rushing water brought his attention away from the terminal at last!

Before him, the river's waters rose even further, reaching up to the Machine Ghost's body's waist and just inches underneath the remains of the bridge!

"The dam's up!" Bouncer cried as he pumped his fist. "Score two for Bouncer!"

Another blast of magic sounded behind him, and Bouncer smirked as he turned his attention back to the battlefield. A clunking sound came as parts of his back shifted open once more, and a twinkle shone in Bouncer's eyes.

"And I'd better rack up some extra points while I'm here!"

His rocket cannons emerged from his back and shifted onto his shoulders as he rushed down below, their insides charging up and lighting with blazing hot fire… Then with one sweep down, the cannons shifted back and fired a whole swath of rockets for the robots ahead of him! The robots only turned around as the rockets crashed into the ground below their fight and exploded, blowing their metal bodies to smithereens! Their broken bits soared across the skies and rolled along the ground as the flames quelled, and Bouncer grinned as he rolled over their remains!

"Alright, got the dam taken care of," Bouncer shouted, grinning and placing his hands on his hips as he spoke. "What's next?"

A rumbling avalanche roared from beside as another cliff collapsed beside them—and from what else than the Machine Ghost? His body pressed tight against the rocks, cracking their stone surfaces and shattering them completely with every further strain and push, and steam bellowed from his neck as he gripped the shoulders of the opposing robot. The Machine Ghost's body pushed back, yet its grip was barely felt as the robot lifted him up and slammed him back against the ledge, shattering it to bits while the body's metal dented, caving in and splitting in parts even!

Bouncer's shoulder cannons folded back into his body, and beside him Ninjini summoned her wishblades and floated up.

"If you ask me, the answer's obvious," Ninjini said, pointing a blade towards the Machine Ghost's body before shifting it towards his opponent. "Everyone, formation sixteen!"

Sihiri jumped up as a pool of lavender magic sparkled below her feet, then floated up to Ninjini's shoulder and sat down! Beside her Eye flew up and sat down right as Brawl ran underneath him, and Swarm floated down not long after. Swarm huddled in close to Bouncer and gripped his hand as he in turn grabbed Ninjini's, and soon she joined hands with Brawl in turn. Their hands held tight as the light below them glowed its brightest, they all closed their eyes right as the sounds of crashing rock sounded in the distance.

When they opened their eyes, they found themselves on a rocky cliff, well above where the now-destroyed platform they once stood on was.

"Good thing we made it outta there," Swarm smirked as he rubbed his wings.

Ninjini and Sihiri made no remarks, however. They just held out their hands, and a set of rotating scopes that churned within each other like gears formed before their palms. The scopes shot out and swung around the river, hovering around the Machine Ghost as he and his opponent trudged through the water, then they disappeared for moments. But, in their place, pillars of lavender light shone across the opposing robot—some from its neck, another from its back, a few more where the hinges were…

"Those are where its weak points are!" Sihiri cried. "Target it there!"

"On it!" Bouncer cried.

The antenna on his head unfolded, and out from it burst another fleet of rockets that burned with all their might as they zipped across the river! Their flames' red light shone even against the midday sun, their smoke and flaming scent lingering in the air and growing stronger as they turned around and smashed into the opposing robot's back! A booming explosion burst and shattered a few more cracked cliffs as the opposing robot went limp, and in that moment the Machine Ghost punched it in the chest, knocking it back and leaving it stunned enough to body slam it right into the waters!

Bouncer winced and closed his optics. "Man, glad I wasn't in there…" he whimpered.

"Eye, Swarm!" Ninjini called. "Target the arms, while it's distracted!"

"Got our eyes on the prize, ninja lady!" Swarm shouted!

His wings reverberated with harsh buzzing as he flew off with Eye in tow, and the two of them jerked and jolted through the skies as they charged for the opposing robot, their movements sharp and swift as they wove around its punches and blows towards the Machine Ghost.

A burst of thunder shot down from the skies and cleaved off the opposing robot's one remaining arm as they disappeared in the distance—undoubtedly Swarm's doing—and the opposing robot limped back as it slogged through the water, leaning towards its right as the electrified arm's charred shoulder crumbled away. The wiring of the arm slunk down, the actual arm itself just barely visible as the rest of it fell into the deep, and sharp flashes of golden light shone as the wires snapped and the rest of the arm went with it! A flash of red and gold light shone from the left arm's open gap for only a moment before fading as large shards of what seemed like maybe glass cascaded down from the robot's left side and sank into the river's waters, and on the right side, its arm rusted and corroded before withering away to bits!

Ninjini grinned, then held her fingers to her temples as she closed her eyes.

"'Enehana, little ghost, if you can hear me," Ninjini whispered. "Try to bring that robot here, and we'll finish the job!"

The Machine Ghost's body paused in midair, turning to Ninjini for just a moment before twisting around. It ran the best it could towards the de-armed robot, its strides slow and muddled by the thick masses of water in the river before his, but still wide enough that in the matter of minutes he reached the robot's side and yanked it up by the neck! The Machine Ghost's body held it tight and swung it back, ready to toss it—then a laser shot from the robot's eyes and zapped the Machine Ghost's neck!

The Machine Ghost's body immediately dropped the opposing robot, smoke pouring from its neck as it backed away, while the opposing robot staggered up as laser cannons burst from the empty spots in its arms! The lasers tore straight through the canyon as the robot spun around and halved the tall rocky walls, and the Machine Ghost's body just barely ducked before the lasers could saw him in half!

Ninjini gasped and teleported everyone away as one laser shot right into the cliff she once stood on and reduced it to rubble, then ducked behind a large rock and poked out towards the battlefield. Her fingers dug into the sandy grit covering the rock for moments, then she waved her arm and tossed a blast right towards the Machine Ghost's body. Her lip twitched as its purple light faded for moments, then as a sparkling purple shield formed around the Machine Ghost's body, she grinned—but, only for a moment. Her smile faded into stern, tight-browed observation as the Machine Ghost drew back, its fists still raised but its body motionless otherwise.

The opposing robot trudged for it, running the best it could in the thick waters, then it raised a laser cannon and fired a charge. The Machine Ghost's body ducked underneath, the laser instead disappearing into the waves. The Machine Ghost's body punched out the robot's knees, sending it staggering down before he rammed his knee into the hunched-over robot's head and knocking it back.

With one punch, the robot landed right in the water before it forced itself back up.

The Machine Ghost's body stormed forward as it staggered, then yanked onto its shoulder, the body's fingers digging into its dented metal before the body ripped off the laser cannon and tossed it into the water below! The cannon slammed into the water with a mighty splash, tossing water against the Machine Ghost's body's back for moments before it ducked underneath the swing of the robot's other cannon, then the body leaped up and tugged onto the second cannon, pulling against its hinge before yanking it off and slamming it against the robot's head! The blow came with such force that the robot's head flew clean off, and without a head to guide it, its body fell to its knees. Its headless body barely stood above the waves until the Machine Ghost lifted it up and spun it around, and with one last spin it flung the body across the horizon, never to be seen again!

"They did it!" Ninjini cheered, thrusting a fist in the air as the others cheered behind her.

Ninjini snapped her fingers, and in a flash, her group found themselves within the Machine Ghost's body once more!

The lights had turned back on—seems that the power had finished re-routing, showing the somewhat sad state the whole room was in. Everyone else laid sprawled across the floor around them, alive but groaning and shaking while their eyes spun around their head, and the whole area smelled faintly of saltwater while an orange glow shone around the floor and walls. Remnants of a repair, maybe? Nonetheless, at the head stood the Machine Ghost and 'Enehana, who both grinned back at them.

"The west dam is taken care of, I presume?" Machine Ghost asked.

At the sight of Ninjini's nod, 'Enehana smiled and turned back to the controls, wiping their hands the whole time.

"Then it's time to unlock that vault!" 'Enehana cried as they pushed the robot forward!

§

The Machine Ghost's body slogged through the rising waters as it traversed the vault's pathway, its steps slow and labored as the weight of the risen waters pushed against it. The body's limbs creaked, arching and blowing off steam as it struggled to pull itself backwards, away from the towering robot before it that loomed above with its metal of crimson and gold. It took a few steps back, and was immediately met with a punch to the chest that knocked it backwards! The waves crashed above it, raining down as it staggered back up just to be met with another punch that knocked it backwards! It crashed into a nearby building and reduced it to ocean-bound rubble, and as it finally jumped back into the water, an orange shield burst around it!

And from within the robot's chambers, everyone crowded around the console, all eyes either on 'Enehana or the Machine Ghost… Or the damages that surrounded. Water and steam leaked from the roof while Bouncer attempted to patch some parts with his technomancy, and every step left the room shrieking and creaking as if the whole robot was preparing to fall apart!

At the console, 'Enehana and the Machine Ghost both winced as they fiddled with the controls, one pressing buttons, pulling levers, doing anything while the other struggled to move. Another punch slammed into the robot as they flew back once more, and everyone scrambled, jumping onto whatever they could and clinging tight before they could get knocked out!

"What's going on?" 'Enehana shouted towards the Machine Ghost as they gripped the console tight. They winced as the windshield before them started to shatter, but shook their head and focused solely on the Machine Ghost instead. "Why aren't we moving, or punching, or doing anything?!"

"I'm trying!" the Machine Ghost cried back, gripping the control tight as he swerved to the side. "All this water is impairing my movements! Just walking is a battle in itself!"

The metal creaked as another punch came forward and shattered their shield completely, and 'Enehana snarled. Slamming their hands on the console, they scoured the buttons and levers once more, one hand gripping the console tight as the punches kept coming. But, with every punch their legs trembled, their hands even moreso as they tried their best to hang on—and with one last punch, they grunted as they hit the floor with a hard crash. The Machine Ghost fell beside them, and they snarled as they leaped up and rushed to the console.

"Oh, forget this!" 'Enehana cried, gripping the console tight as they took control of steering. 'Enehana flipped aside a few controls, pulled a few levers, and pressed the largest button on their side of the console they found. "If I can't fight this water, then I'll just work with it!"

Another creaking sound came, but not from a punch. Instead, the Machine Ghost's body groaned as it flew up, water pouring down while it raised above the waves just slightly. The creaking continued as the body held out its arms, turned slightly…

Then spun with such speed it sent everyone spinning around inside, and churned the water outside into a rapid whirlpool! The body flew up as the whirlpool grew even more furious below its feet, eating away at the waves around as it sucked in everything around! The opposing robot stumbled back and stood silent, trying its best to keep itself free of the whirlpool's grip, but its legs quivered and shuddered, and the keenest of eyes could spy it moving inch by inch.

The body, in turn, knocked its feet together and cast out flaming jets from its soles, and with the added speed it zipped away! The flames evaporated the water underneath and cast out a thick, steamy mist that hid everything from view, including the body itself as it charged!

The opposing robot turned its head and lifted up its palms, preparing to fire a laser only to peter out as the body kicked right into its chest! The opposing robot fell back at last, sliding across the waters and towards the whirlpool at a much faster speed than before—and one made much faster as the body yanked it up and punched it in the back, knocking it right into the whirlpool! The opposing robot's body creaked as the water seeped into its cracks and joints, but the Machine Ghost's body above it was still perfectly dry and free! It hovered above the whirlpool and rubbed hands charged with lightning, while on the other side of the body's cracked windshield, the Machine Ghost gently pushed 'Enehana aside and took back the controls.

"To add the finishing touch," the Machine Ghost said as he pressed a button. "I'll light things up a little."

With a single clap, lightning crashed down from the body's palms and into the waters, dancing across its surface and rushing into the robot's body!

The opposing robot's body turned red-hot as the lightning hit it, flashing like a time bomb as its body broke apart and its severed parts swirled further and further into the heart of the whirlpool. As they all hit the center, a dull explosion bellow underneath the waves while hot steam geysers leaped up, forming a rare dry hole in the ground below that was completely covered in moments! The steam slammed into the robot body, sending it tumbling back from the force—and completely shattering its windshield!

Everyone screamed as they tumbled out the side of the windshield and into the depths, but the robot body quickly snatched them from the air and sat down on the canyon tops.

As they all jumped back in the inner room, the robot craned its head around, seemingly in search of some kind of opposition, but when none was found, its head slunk over as if it was resting.

As the others all crawled in, Jorden turned around and waved their hand, crafting a new windshield in place of the old, shattered one, then hopped down between 'Enehana and the Machine Ghost as he wiped his forehead.

"Phew! Thought I saw my life flash before my eyes for a second there," Jorden remarked.

"Jorden, we're already dead," 'Enehana said, before biting their lip and turning back to the windshield while a slight flash of realization crossed their eyes. "We all are."

Their face fell for a moment, and they cast a glance down at their hands, flexing and closing them for moments as they faded and brightened in turn, then shook their head. They glanced up at their reflection in the windshield, one barely there if not for the bright sight of the orange lights that surrounded them, and they reached out for a moment.

However, it was another hand that touched theirs next, the cool blue ectoplasm of the Machine Ghost's hand phasing right through their own. 'Enehana gasped, and their hand started to twitch before they furiously shook their head and turned to the rest of the group in back, not even acknowledging the Machine Ghost beside them.

"Anyways, you said the west dam is taken care of, correct?" 'Enehana asked.

Bouncer nodded as he sealed a pair of dented panels back in place with an orange laser.

"You got it!" Bouncer said as he turned to 'Enehana. "Both those dams are at full power, and that vault is ours for the taking!"

"Don't get cocky just yet." 'Enehana's voice turned colder, and they turned back to the control panel once more. Typing away at the controls, their eyes turned glassy for a moment before they shook their head. "The waters may have been lowered, but we can't access the vault just yet—it locks behind whoever opens it."

The Machine Ghost's body lifted off the canyon and flew over the rivers below, the sound of the canyon it once sat on crumbling only barely heard in the distance as it flew further and further ahead.

The air once warm with intensity had chilled, turning the inside of the robot into a veritable, metaphorical icebox as the other portal masters glanced amid themselves. Some examined their bodies as they glimmered, flickered and faded, others opted to turn away and fix their eyes firmly on the ceiling instead—and above them, the Elder Elementals just winced, awkwardly glancing away from their portal masters or sharing in their cold, disheartened glances.

"Say, there's no chance our bodies would have still remained after all these years, right?" Sihiri whispered to Inochi.

"I'm not sure, I only remembered that big flash after the battle—everything afterwards was one big blur," Inochi whispered, holding a hand to her chin. "For that matter, how did we even get to all these places after then?…"

"Does that really matter?" Vatra added in. He glanced down at his own hand as it flickered and winced. "The fact of the matter is, if not for those pendants, we wouldn't even be here—we shouldn't have survived. And what'll happen to us now? Will we just completely fade away?"

Both Sihiri and Inochi glanced at each other, but Inochi was the first to turn back to Vatra.

"I mean, it could be hard, but theoretically I could use life magic to make new bodies for us," Inochi suggested.

But, as Vatra's fingertips started to burn, Inochi drifted away.

"Nevermind."

Vatra sighed, clenching and releasing his own hand as he glanced at it in tension, then finally lifting it up as Nemir brushed a hand against his shoulder.

"Calm yourselves, everyone," Nemir said, lifting up and turning to the others. "Our souls survived this long in dormancy, I'm sure we'll find something—"

"That's not what I mean!" Vatra shouted. He gritted his teeth and grunted as he crossed his legs, then with a sigh hung his head. "Just look at how much time's passed—we've been gone for ten thousand years! To everyone we know we're dead, hell, they're probably all long dead and in the afterlife now, too! We weren't supposed to be here, and now, and now what are we going to do? Will, will we really have a place…"

"Hey, chill out, Vats! What's the point in getting worked up about all this?" Luz asked. "You're getting way ahead of yourself! Just worry about getting Arkilles first, then we can worry about all the weird existence stuff!"

And yet, despite Luz saying this, nobody loosened their tense glances or relaxed their postures—at most, a few just turned away and glanced, the chilling air dropping even further. The other portal masters just moved away from one another, leaving each other to stew in their corners. Well, save for Dej and Jorden, who just cast aside tiny glances before turning back.

"Ten thousand years, huh?" Dej whispered, crossing his arms. "To think, we've managed to get along this long, huh? Wonder how all my old haunts stood up…"

"I'll admit, I kinda have a hard time wrappin' my head 'round all this fancy stuff," Jorden remarked as he took off his helmet and scratched his head. "But, getting' worked up over all this stuff's not really my thing, either. I never really had much to worry 'bout anyways…" Jorden chuckled and popped their helmet back on their head. "Sides, I'm sure we'll figure out somethin'! We always did, and we always will!"

Jorden turned over to where Tree Rex sat in the corner and grinned. "Right?"

Tree Rex raised a brow, but only forced a smile and nodded as he turned away.

Even though he seemed to agree, the tension still rang—not that it wasn't unwarranted. A bunch of temporal travelers, finding themselves years into a future they weren't supposed to witness… What would become of them after this? Would they fade away into the afterlife, or lose their souls in the process and end up in the world beyond where they've should've gone a long while ago? Would they be able to find lives for themselves in this new, strange world they once called their home? Surely, none of them truly knew, and that was probably the worst part.

"We're here," 'Enehana said as the robot creaked to a stop.

The view from the windshield changed to a large pair of golden doors engraved with fancy carvings and embedded with giant crystals seated within the side of a canyon, but the Machine Ghost's body didn't stop there. No, it instead shifted gears and parked near a spiraling building made of worn, but strong stone with spiraling pathways curled around it. A solid stone pathway carved out of the canyon rested to the right, near the beginning of the path itself, and the body's drawbridge joined it as it opened the door.

'Enehana was the first to leave, pulling themself away from the console and trudging through the room with their head hung down the entire team and fists clenched.

"Come on," was the only thing they said, their voice as cold as the air around as they left the area.

'Enehana hopped down the bottom of the drawbridge and crossed their arms, shaking a bit when Jorden laid a hand on their shoulder. The warmth of Jorden's touch brought 'Enehana attention up to him, and he only smiled for a moment before drawing back. For a moment, they seemed like they would speak, but Jorden swept them into his arms and hoisted them on his shoulder, with them only able to make out a surprised shout.

"Think you can see that security system thingie from here?" Jorden shouted as he held a hand above his eyes. "I'm not spottin' anything other than rock, personally! There's some sedimentary, and some limestone, ooh, and I think that has to be some really nice stuff! I wouldn't mind makin' a few places out of this…"

'Enehana chuckled, then withdrew a pair of binoculars from their backpack and peered ahead. "You're right, it doesn't seem like there's anything around. No guards, no traps…"

"So this'll be easy as pie, right?"

"Normally I'd say that,"—'Enehana lowered the binoculars down to Jorden's eyes—"but take a look for yourself."

Jorden frowned and took grip of the binoculars, holding them solidly in front of his eyes for moments. He craned a bit to the right, then gasped.

"Holy smokes!" he cried. "That's some wreckage!"

The sound of stomping came from behind, and 'Enehana nodded as they took the binoculars and tweaked them a little, until a projection of the area ahead emerged from the binoculars' center in bright, sparkly orange. The projection solidified as 'Enehana hopped down from Jorden's shoulder, still holding them tight as they ran up to meet the rest of the group. It cleared a bit, light parting in places, and finally it unveiled an area pretty much void save for the smoking garbage of what was once some kind of machine, a sight that left 'Enehana wincing.

"Bad news, everyone," 'Enehana said as they held up the projection for all to see. "The outer unlock system's completely trashed!"

A few gasps came from the back of the group, but not from Tree Rex, who just steeled his face.

"Chances are, he probably knew we would tail him and tried to keep up from entering," Tree Rex reasoned, but a twinkle shone in his eye as he glanced down at 'Enehana. "But, something tells me this is the part where you say you have a backup plan."

"You know me well," 'Enehana stuffed the binoculars in their backpack and walked off. "Just follow me."

The others nodded, consolidating back into a small crowd that trekked along the thin passageways with care.

"We had two unlock systems installed for the vault, just in case something happened while someone else was still in there," 'Enehana explained as they crossed their arms behind their back. "The one Arkilles trashed was the outer one, but knowing him, he probably left the inner one intact, just to be safe."

'Enehana came to a stop at the scene of the security's system's destruction, and their glance soured at the sight.

But then again, who could blame them—the sight of smoking, charred, melted metal merged and fused together in amorphous lumps so indistinct it was hard to tell they were once a machine would do that to anyone. Only the faint sights of wiring or broken pieces that poked out left any indication, really. The black smoke that emitted from their bodies burned the air, leaving a few gagging in its wake. Even a couple birds flew over it only to drop dead in that moment, its smell and sights so nauseating that they held no other response!

'Enehana's lip twitched, but they only held their head up and scurried away from the sight, conspicuously avoiding the sight as they beelined for a wall on the lefthand side of the area instead. Their fingers withdrew into their hand and reemerged as keys that plugged into the wall while dust cascaded over them and faded right through, piling at their feet. 'Enehana didn't stop to brush it away, no, they just continued to stay still and silent as they rested in front of the wall, then finally drew away as a string of beeps emitted in faint tones. As their hand returned to normal, the wall before them shuddered and slowly drew away, sending even more dust falling down as it parted to reveal a dark tunnel from which the sound of churning gears echoed in a melancholic rhythm.

"It should be right in here." 'Enehana turned back and waved to the others, then walked through the tunnel and disappeared into its shadows. "Come on."

The others followed suit as they tailed 'Enehana into the tunnel, the Elder Elementals having to push and squeezed through just to get in, and by the time they all entered they had completely blocked off the view outside and any light that came. Everything in the room was covered in shadows, the only guide being the sounds of the churning gears that had grown slightly louder and the fainter sounds of other machines working away in the distance. Even the ground underfoot was a mystery, its texture somewhere between stone and metal and the exact contents a mystery otherwise.

That is, until 'Enehana pulled a lever and turned on the lights.

The lamps overhead flashed one by one, revealed that surprisingly enough, the room itself was much bigger on the inside! Metallic gold lined its whole surface and red floors with machinery embedded into the stone walls, while their gears turning away into nothingness despite the rust and grime that had formed on them. Past the pathway ahead and the distinct scent of oil laid a series of round platforms shaped like gears, each with a large key where the center would have been, and several other square platforms with tall consoles sitting on them poked out from the sides. But beyond that, all that could be seen was murky depths shrouded in mist so thick it shielded the area below. Hopefully, it wasn't very easy to fall off. Hopefully.

'Enehana hupped as they slid down the path underfoot, revealed now to be a slope made of what seemed like some kind of worn crystal, then hopped onto one of the clockwork platforms and turned its key. The platform clunked in turn, slowly turning around before stopping right where the next platform laid, and 'Enehana just walked up and turned the key before moving to the next, hopping from platform to platform till they reached the end.

As they hopped off the last platform and found themselves by a gate with tall, pronged tops and a disc bearing a Tech Element symbol attached to a gate of intertwined gears and wires.

"Just take care of the Elemental Gate," 'Enehana whispered as they planted their hand onto the disc's surface, then frowned as it unfolded and sank into the ground right before them, "and the console should be here."

The room darkened around them as 'Enehana passed into the narrow passage the gate once guarded, lit only by tiny, shining crystals embedded into the ceiling ahead. The path itself was as short as it was narrow, leading into a rocky dome where the only sign of technology was a rusty pylon charged with electricity that had a control panel seated in the plaque ahead of it. It burned in bright shades of red and gold that painted the otherwise drab stone walls around it in warm, evocative shades…

And yet for 'Enehana, just the sight left them grimacing and clutching their stomach. They ducked their head low as they ran for the control panel, and flipped it open just as fast with their eyes still glued there—in fact, if they hadn't been a ghost, the panel's flaps would have probably smacked them in the face. But, they were, so it just harmlessly phased through and only left them with a lingering shudder instead.

"Just tap this in, twirl those knobs, and that should be it," 'Enehana whispered as they toyed with the console.

Their hands shuddered with every press and twist, but they still held as good enough a grip that their inputs were accepted, the control panel beeping for moments before folding itself back up and sinking into the ground. The pylon, too, lost its shine before it sank back into the ground, its light dulled and leaving behind a dark, dully-lit room of brown stone remaining.

But, 'Enehana just breathed a sigh and smiled, holding a hand over their chest before lifting it back.

"That's right, ghosts don't have pulses," 'Enehana whispered as they turned around. "Not sure why I expected that. Guess seeing those colors together, it just…"
'Enehana shuddered and turned away.

"Anyways, since that was the admin code, I doubt it would've been enough to activate any security measures." 'Enehana ducked out of the tunnel and wiped their hands. "I should get back to the rest of the group, the sooner we stop Arkilles, the better—"

FWOOM!

'Enehana leaped into the air, but not by choice. Rather, the stone slab that slammed down over the tunnel before them came down with such a crash, the whole room shook! A few gears popped out of the walls and into the depths of the mist while the platforms shook with such fury that it seemed for a moment they would follow, and the sound of rattling metal rang in the air around 'Enehana as they crashed back down, falling face-first and quickly pushing themselves up. They shook their head as those red and gold colors poured over the room and sirens wailed over the sound of working machines, unpleasant enough a sight and sound for them that they could only bring themselves back to their knees. They shuddered, but quickly clutched their arm to quell the motion as they scanned the area ahead.

Thunking sounds came from underneath the platform, and their glance turned down for a moment as they got louder and louder, before finally another, closer thunk came right down as a trio of Arkeyan robots flipped onto the platform!

They looked to be knights dressed in shiny green and gold armor with metal bones underneath, and what seemed like sprouts grew from the few cracks in them. The red eyes in their helmets glowered as they pointed their lances straight for 'Enehana's neck, the handles held so tight that were they not of made of anything other than hard metal they would have cracked!

'Enehana winced, then stepped back.

"Only three, huh?" they whispered, still squeezing their arm tight. "I thought they had assigned more—thank the Ancients." 'Enehana winced, holding out their free hand. "Just need to take remote control of their systems, toss 'em off the bridge, and I'll be on my way…"

'Enehana held out their free hand as it glowed with orange magic, the same glow spreading to their eyes as they gritted their teeth. Beads of ectoplasmic sweat dripped down from their body as they narrowed their brows, their strained grunts growing louder as they stepped forward and brought their glowing hand close to the robots, then finally they leaped and gripped one of them by the face. And in that moment, their eyes went wide and they collapsed! They rolled back to the wall and grunted as they finally came to a stop, but this time they didn't pull themselves up. Instead, they just laid on their side, shuddering and clutching themself the whole time.

"My, my techomacny!" they whispered. "Something blocked it!"

Shadows cast over 'Enehana as they turned around, and they gasped as the very same robot they tried to hack raised their lance above 'Enehana and got ready to swing! They clutched their pendant and curled their body around it, eyes shut and teeth grit in anticipation… Of a blow that never came. The sharp shing of a skewering blow and the twist of split metal hit the air, and 'Enehana opened their eyes to find the robot before them had disappeared, its space taken by a large crystal slide ending in a pointed ledge with that same robot's skewered body dangling from its center.

"Ena!" Jorden called from the distance. He came into view quickly, sliding across the crystals before hopping down and scooping 'Enehana into his arms. "Are you alright? I heard this awful racket, and—"

'Enehana only nodded, perhaps still a bit too stunned to speak, but stable enough to stand on their own two feet. They slipped away from Jorden's grip at last, and as the crystals disappeared before them, they grabbed a taser from their backpack and leaned forward. The robots before them backed away with weapons held tight, and 'Enehana stayed still, hands twitched and legs swaying just slightly as they prepared to leap.

The robots backed into the golden railings that blocked off the platforms from the depths below, then turned their heads aside while stomping rattled the platforms! For a moment they started to tip over, and their weapons finally slipped from their hands as they clung to the railing instead! The platforms slid down and dropped their weapons over the edge as the robots clung, but they quickly flipped back on right as they stabilized only to be greeted by fully-charged solar laser cannon!

"Alright, Arkeyans," Tree Rex hissed, the rest of the group armed and ready to strike behind him as he pointed his laser cannon closer to the robot's necks. "Burn!"

The solar cannon shot its laser, the light burning against the caverns as it shot into the robots… But in that moments, the sprouts that poked out from their bodies grew, forming a full shield around them! The shield absorbed the light in an instant and disappeared, and in the moment of peace the robots ran right for the platform's key and spun it around as fast as they could! The platform around them spun so fast that it spread to the rest, breaking them apart as they spiraled, churned, and moved from side to side as they bounced against the walls! The robots themselves stood back and nodded as the sudden speed knocked Elder Elemental and portal master alike off, when the sprouts on their back dove into the deep and yanked them into the depths!

Meanwhile, 'Enehana grunted as they grabbed onto a gear in the wall just before they could fall, then glanced down and winced as the robots disappeared into the deep unknown below… And gasped as Tree Rex went to follow, the others of their group slipping in after them! 'Enehana turned back to the wall as their body glowed a bit more orange, then kicked the wall with a grunt!

Orange magic flowed through the cracks in the walls as the others fell in, and the gears that rested in the walls dislodged themselves and flew across, meeting each other in the air and latching together! They formed a full platform in mere moments, then swept down into the mist and shot back out with such speed that it cleared a brief hole in it, showing what seemed like the glint of an eye for moments before it swept back out with the others in tow!

'Enehana hopped down as the platform passed them by, then winced as they sat next to Sihiri and Inochi.

"Just what was that, 'Enehana?" Sihiri asked as she turned to them.

"Seems like the security systems must have activated," 'Enehana replied as they glanced back at the mists and scratched their head. "But, I don't know how! I used the admin code, and it unlocked like it should've, so the security shouldn't have…"

'Enehana raised a brow and turned to a shuddering Inochi. "Inochi, are you alright?"

"Yes, dear, is something wrong?" Sihiri asked as she drew Inochi close. "You've been shaking like this since we got here!"

"The life energy here," Inochi sputtered as she clasped her hands. "It, it's absolutely horrendous! Just sitting here is giving me chills… It's like everything's here been corrupted!"

"Well, it won't last for long." Sihiri turned towards the path ahead and smiled as she pointed. "Look, the entrance is… Right there?"

Sihiri lowered her hand as vines leaped from the ground, splitting the crystal floors and wrapping onto the entrance like a spider's threads, so tight and thick that they completely blocked it out! Thorns burst from the vines soon after, and everyone leaped off the platform as it crashed into the vines and bounced off. The platform crashed before their feet and split into a pile of broken, rusted gears once more! The world around had dimmed a bit without the light from the entrance, even though the vines themselves were sharp enough that they almost glowered, and all they were left to do was turn around and glance back at the path.

"Alright, something's definitely wrong here!" 'Enehana cried as they bounded forward. "I definitely didn't install something like this!"

The ground around rumbled, and before they could take a step more, but Inochi yanked them back.

"Look out!" Inochi cried. "The platforms, there's something coming from them!"

'Enehana grunted as they fell on the floor, then staggered back up and ruffled their hair.

The platforms ahead still spun back and forth across the passage, though their speed had slowed a little, and groaning, warped beeps and codes entered the air as vines shot up from the mist and latched onto the platforms! The vines swung up like ropes as Arkeyans of all kinds, all with plants growing from the cracks in their armor, clung to their thick cords and landed on the platforms! The Arkeyans' eyes turned red as they all flew off the platforms, and they bore their weapons as they charged for 'Enehana!

'Enehana grunted in turn, then yanked a stray, worn pole from the ground and squeezed it tight. The pole glowed orange as the gears from before flew forward, their shine and luster returning as they latched onto the pole and refashioned it into a sharp, shiny spear, one that fit comfortably in 'Enehana's hands as they rushed forward!

The first wave of Arkeyans had come in, but 'Enehana only had their sights set on a knight that had turned around and blocked their first blow! The staffs of their spears ground together before 'Enehana whacked its knees and turned aside as the head of its spear flew just inches away from their face, then they leaped forward and plunged the spear right into its chest! Sparks flew from the chest, slapping into 'Enehana's body and leaving them with sharp burns as they grunted and pulled their spear out from the knight's chest, and in that moment a few more sparks exploded with enough power that it knocked 'Enehana back!

They rolled around the floor and rested on their knee, spear clutched tight in hand as they pushed themselves up to find that a pair of knights had joined their injured ally, and 'Enehana only clutched their spear and rushed forward! With one swing they knocked the whole trio's heads clean off of their bodies, and with another they smacked each body into the crowd right as they exploded!

Severed robot bodies rained down from above, but 'Enehana just tossed their spear aside and rushed underneath the rain. With one last leap, they landed on the first platform and clung to its key, grunting as they tried to turn it… But it wouldn't budge! It just kept spinning, moving back and forth, up and down as 'Enehana tried to turn it further. With one particularly powerful spin, however, the key slapped into 'Enehana's gut, sending them flying back into the throes of Arkeyans!

The Arkeyans held out their weapons, ready, to strike, but in that moment the sprouts that lurked from their body bloomed into masses of flowers! The sudden growth tore their bodies to shreds, only the flowers left behind as a cushion for 'Enehana to land on underneath a grave of Arkeyans remains. The flowers themselves faded as Inochi helped them up, and 'Enehana just rubbed their head.

"It's no use—those platforms are completely locked! In fact, it's kind of like something's controlling them!" 'Enehana said before they lowered their head. "But if it were those two robots, it should've faded. Falling from that height would mean death for even the most well-made robot…"

"So what is it, then?" Inochi asked.

'Enehana hummed, now stroking their chin.

"Well, when you were coming out of that mist, I could've sworn I saw an eye or something like it underneath there." 'Enehana lifted their head, their gaze now turned to the mist as it churned below while bellowing and the scent of something akin to burning wood and oil emanated from it. "If I had to guess, it's whatever is in that mist, but how do we lure it out?"

"Eye will handle that!" Eye cried as he popped off of Brawl and swooped above the platforms. "Just follow my lead!"

More robots, this time larger ones bearing shields and swords, groaned as they latched onto the platforms below and climbed atop in the dozens, their combined weight massive enough that it tipped the platforms for moments before they steadied. But as they fell, Eye hummed and zapped a few robots in the back! The sudden sniping knocked them off the edge and back into the depths, where a faint explosion sounded, followed by a howling noise from the depths, one that shook the platforms for moments before speeding them up again!

Eye hovered down above one platform, meeting eye-level with the robots that stood on it as he giggled.

"Hello, fine fellows, how's the weather today?" he asked… Then he gasped and jumped back as one robot swung its sword at him. "Alright, not in the mood for small talk, eye see!"

Eye chuckled again as he zipped away, dashing from platform to platform as the robots made chase!

"See if you can keep up, then!"

The robots' beeps turned to screeches as they stampeded after Eye, all so fast and so cobbled together that the platforms below swayed from side to side! They tipped left, pouring robots into the depths, then swayed right and poured more, thinning out the ranks as they charged for the beginning. But right before they could reach, Thumpback swung his anchor and slashed right through their chests!

Thumpback's anchor flew back and slammed into the ground, sending up a wall of ice that acted as a barrier from the explosion that came next—all that could be made out from its mostly-clouded surface was a flash of warm light and a dulled explosion. The ice melted away soon after and poured into the misty depths, running around the battered helmets and torsos of the robots that once made chase. Thumpback himself knelt down and gently pried his anchor from the ground, then stepped back as 'Enehana came forward and lifted a helmet from the ground.

'Enehana themselves sighed, clutching the robot's head close to their chest for a moment before tossing it into the depths. The platforms slowed to a stop and hooked back together as they stood, and 'Enehana turned around. They frowned a bit as a low rumbling came from the depths, but shook their head.

"Well, that should take care of that," 'Enehana said as they wiped their hands. A shadow and a small, twisted root brushed by their boot for a moment, and they glanced down and raised a brow as it disappeared. "Come on, let's get back—we can't…" Another, thicker and longer shadow ran along the ground, and as the rumbling returned, and 'Enehana shuddered as they walked ahead. "Can't let Arkilles get away and all."

The rumbling grew louder with every slow step 'Enehana took, gears dislodging themselves from the ground and pouring in while the ground shuddered. 'Enehana, for their part, just hung their head and ignored it. Instead they trudged forward, just barely reaching the rest of the group's ranks when…

"'Enehana, look out!"

'Enehana turned around as they shadow fell completely over the tunnel, then rolled away right as a massive claw swooped down and smashed into the ground! Their back hit the wall as shards of shattered crystal flew off to reveal hard ground underneath, and they glanced aside as the others crawled back from the onslaught of shattered crystal, then back to the path ahead. But it was gone, blocked off by a massive bark demon unlike anything else!

The bark demon had to have been as tall as the cavern itself, its withered top smashing against the ceiling and crumbling it to pieces! The broken remains fell around it and sent light pouring through the road, revealing its withered gray bark so pale and wrinkled it looked more like the skin of a corpse. The only color from it was a faint, muddled green and orange glow that pulsed from the few parts of exposed flesh left underneath its cracked face, radiating like it was radioactive and ready to burst. Two black voids sat where its eyes would've been, and its mouth held none of the branch-like fangs that bark demons usually held, being made of sharp metal swords and spears instead. Its body seemed bulky, but on closer inspection it was thin and ragged—the illusion had been made from the masses of armor that had been absorbed into its skin, all rusted reds and golds. Arkeyan armor, maybe?

'Enehana gasped as the bark demon wailed and smashed through the walls and the rest of the ceiling, carving out a battlefield of raw, untouched stone while the light shone down. They backed away, too dumbstruck to grab a weapon or even run as the bark demon plunged its hands into the ground and sent withered, radioactive roots tearing through the ground before they fused into a round bomb and exploded right where 'Enehana stood!

They gasped, rushing to their feet right as the bark came for them, but a string of stone pillars blocked it off first! 'Enehana turned to their side to find Jorden and Crusher, holding their hands out while brown glows burst from them, then 'Enehana themselves gulped and stood to their feet.

"So it was a giant plant?" Jorden cried as they summoned a gigantic stone ax. "Now what I expected, but that's alright! I can do a little weeding!"

Jorden cried out as they rushed down the hill, ax held wide out his head as he bounded forward and flew straight for the demon's left arm! With one cry, the ax doubled in size and slashed right into the armor—but instead of cracking or slashing it, the ax shattered on impact! Jorden gasped as its crumbling bits fell into the mist below, and in that moment the demon slapped him back onto the ground!

Jorden grunted as he slid across the stone floors below, then groaned and pushed himself up. "Alright, maybe I should've used diamond instead?" he asked.

Another roar came from the bark demon as it plunged its claws into the ground, and Crusher immediately jumped in and slammed his hammer into the ground! A shield formed from the cracked remains of the crystal path and landed in front of them, its body reinforced by layers of extra stone and standing tall as the demon clawed away at it! With every slash, only a few scratch marks were left behind and vanished as quickly as they came, much to the demon's frustration as it roared and scratched away.

"Tree Rex!" Crusher cried as he turned aside, grunting and shutting his eyes with every blow the shield took. "Now!"

"On it!" Tree Rex cried as he charged forward. "TIMBERRRRRRR!"

The ground below Tree Rex glowed green, and out from the ground sprouted a giant flower that leaped up and swallowed Tree Rex whole before it set itself forward with a click and spat him right into the bark demon's path!

Tree Rex roared as his whole body glowed green, then doubled in size for only a moment as he smashed right into the bark demon with enough force to knock it into the ledges it had formed! While the bark demon reeled, Tree Rex shrunk back down and whipped out his hand to cast a thick, curling vine towards a ledge and swung away.

The bark demon's armor cracked as it slammed into the ledge, and its bark peeled off and fell into the depths. The green, misty miasma spread up, tickling the bark demon's face and leaving it wailing in agony as its flesh melted and bubbled! It clawed at the miasma in some kind of failed attempt to send it away, but all it resulted in was burning away the bark around its fingertips—so, the bark demon wailed and bit into the platforms that still hovered, before spitting them out and knocking them into the ground!

The miasma splintered, its trails floating over to the path where the Elder Elementals and ancient portal masters laid before solidifying in the form of goopy, green flowers that looked to be made of pure acid!

Tree Rex grunted as he swung back down onto the platform, and the flowers shuddered, flicking acid drops everywhere and melting away the stone! He gasped as he glanced over the burning stone, then towards the flowers as round bubbles ran up their stems, almost like…

"They're gonna shoot!" Tree Rex cried!

He slammed down his fist as the ground glowed green, but before he could cast a single spell, a blob of acid shot right for him and nailed him in the shoulder! Tree Rex screamed, his voice strained and roaring with such pain that it left the world shuddering, then he turned over and clutched his shoulder, only for the acid to spread to his hand! He screamed and panted as he pounded his burning hand against the ground, while his bark melted away to reveal flesh, and even that started to bubble and pulse away!

"Tree Rex!" Bouncer and Hot Head both cried as they ran to his side only to be pelted with acid in turn!

The acid slammed into Bouncer's chest first, and he fell to his knee as it poured down and melted away his outer metal over covering before leaping for the wiring next, eating away at it and sending sparks billowing from his chest like fireworks! Bouncer spat out garbled nonsense as a shower of sparks burst from his throat, billowing out and spewing towards Hot Head as the acid hit him in turn!

Hot Head screamed as the acid and sparks alike burnt into his flames, and the fire atop his head burst like a volcano as the light around him grew brighter, like a flashbang waiting to happened! The light glowed its brightest as he groaned, but quickly faded as he fell to his knees, then his side while Bouncer crashed behind him. The two of them laid aside Tree Rex, groaning and crying in pain as the acid ate into them, melting away their bodies with every single drip… Then, a bright green glow surrounded them, forming a dome-shaped shield of light that rained down onto the trio. The light blanketed over their wounds and melted away the acid until not even a drop was left, then wrapped around their wounds and slowly restored their bodies back to their full status!

Tree Rex groaned as his once acid-covered hand restored back to its full, regular state, and finally he pushed himself high enough to peer down below him.

Inochi stood down below, her hands raised high as more of that sparkling green light poured from her palms and fed into the shield, and the two only smiled at each other. Tree Rex and Inochi glanced aside as Bouncer and Hot Head's wounds healed enough for them to stand, and Inochi lowered her hands for a moment.

While her hands fell to her side, Inochi took in a breath, then whipped around and tossed out her hands, shooting raw blasts of poisons that slammed into an oncoming onslaught of acid blasts!

The blasts soared back, nearly grazing past Ninjini as they shot right for the plants and blasted holes into their centers! The flowers reformed quickly, the holes once burned into them quickly filled by the masses of dripping acid that made up their bodies, and the flowers bubbled as they prepared to fire once more—but just before they shot, the bases of their stems turned purple and they froze! They strained and jerked as the purple glow spread from their stems to their tips in rapid speed, and they jerked around and shot their acid blasts at the bark demon instead!

The bark demon backed away the best it could, then snarled and flung its armored arms in front of its face when it realized it had nowhere to turn. The acid splattered against its armor and spread around, burning away the armor with rapid speed and then falling onto the bark demon's thin, withered arms when it ran out of armor to eat! Green smoke steamed from the bark demon's arms as they withered away underneath the acid's grip, their remains snapping off from the bark demon and plummeting down into the depths while the bark demon screamed! It flailed it arms and flicked off the last of the acid, but the acid's effects still remained. Only stumps remained of its arms, ones that bubbled and withered as sticks poked out of its severed arms just to break off and crumble to ashy bits that floated away in the wind! That smell of burning oil and wood grew even stronger with each attempt, and the bark demon's face strained as it panted out labored, tired breaths. With one last attempt, a few more sticks popped out and crumbled into the depths—but this time, it took the rest of the arms with them!

The bark demon wailed at the top of its lungs, shaking the world around and nearly blowing the ground off the ground if not for Ninjini casting up a shield! Beside her, Swarm flew up and held his arms across his chest, his eyes and stingers flashing azure before he sprung forward and sliced the wind, shooting blades of solid wind and cracking into the bark demon's chest! While the bark demon slammed down and slunk into the misty depths, Swarm dropped down beside Ninjini and winced.

"What's up with that dude?!" Swarm cried, wincing as the bark demon started to stagger up right before his eyes. "I've never seen a bark demon like that before, and I've seen a lot of bark demons!"

"It's definitely unnatural, alright," Ninjini replied as she held her hands towards the barrier. "With its looks, it should have withered and died long ago!"

"Not to mention, the energy it gives off is so corrupted, too…" Inochi added as she stepped up. She shuddered as she held her hands to her face, and a single tear fell from her face. "It's like it's been placed underneath a curse!"

A few whispers came from around the group, but 'Enehana was the only one to step forward and raise their voice. Clearing their throat, they pushed themseld towards Inochi and glanced at the barrier, their eyes narrowed at the sight of the bark demon. They breathed in, breathed out, and a low hum came as their eyes fell on what remained of the demon's armor, then towards the stumps that remained of its arms, which now glowed with light in a silverish kind of blue...

"Or perhaps, it evolved," 'Enehana said.

"Evolved?" Inochi repeated as she turned to 'Enehana.

'Enehana, in turn, placed a hand to their chin.

"Once upon a time, this may have been an ordinary bark demon that got trapped in here… Or perhaps, it had grown low on prey, and came in here and started feasting on the guard robots as a substitute. Its body would have evolved to accommodate this, but that evolution's proved too much for its simple, organic body to handle."

'Enehana's hand started to tremble, then fell to their side. "It should have died long ago, yet it's scrambling to find whatever it can to sustain whatever frail remains of life it has…"

A roar bellowed from the front, and a twisted mass of roots tore through the ground and smashed through the shield! Inochi just barely pushed 'Enehana aside before the roots plunged into them, and instead it was her they took, wrapping tight around her chest and leaping into the air! Green light trailed down the cracks in the roots, amplified by the sunlight and glowing even brighter as it sped its way into the bark demon's body!

Thin sprouts of a trunk began to form in the spots where the bark demon's arms once rested, emerging a strong, healthy brown before quickly dulling and decaying as they grew further. The bark demon snarled as it glanced down at its slowly-regrowing arms, then licked its lips and roared once more! More roots burst out from the ground in front of it, then lashed forward and snatched the rest of the group off the ground!

The roots curled around the others tight, and in the center of it all, Inochi's head whipped from left to right, shocked gasps bursting from her with the sight of each ally they took! She grunted and lifted her head as a brighter green glow, one completely unlike the one the roots held came from her, and strained as it glowed its brightest… Then exhaled and slumped over the root as it faded.

"It's no use," Inochi panted, her head hung so low that her face couldn't be seen. "I, I can't untie them! It won't respond to my magic!"

"That's probably because it took in aspects of those robot guards," 'Enehana proclaimed between strained grunts. "The powerful technology must make it immune to the influence of magic spells!"

"Then we'll just have to do this the old-fashioned way!" Vatra cried!

He grunted and kicked the back of the root, shattering its bark completely and with such force that it immediately dropped him! The moment he released, he crafted a sword out of fire and dashed off into the air the moment he swung it, sending a massive burst of fire that sliced through the roots—but it didn't stop there! Instead it powered right through and slammed into the bark demon, shattering the chestplate on its chest and exploding into flames! The fires lingered on its body, burning away its remains—first the bark, then the flesh, and finally, a pulsing shell of what may have a been a heart.

'Enehana winced as the flames burned away at the rest of the bark demon's body, then spread along to the chest as the bark demon wailed in agony. Its once powerful cries were reduced to shrill wails and screeches just barely loud enough to count as a shout, a chilling sound to any person… And as the cries faded away, 'Enehana just shuddered and turned their head. The cries faded to little more than a whisper in the wind, and they finally stood up and glanced back at the fog, right as the ashy remains of the bark demon poured into the depths, never to be seen again.

"Are we like that demon?" 'Enehana whispered, their glance turning down to the pendant around our neck. "Never meant to live this long, only surviving by a sheer stroke of luck? Are we holding onto an existence never meant to be ours?"

Light poured in from the back of the room, and 'Enehana only bit their lip. More weighed on their mind for sure, but they undoubtedly couldn't find the words, so all they did was stand. Still as stone, still as metal, still as the stone walls that once made up this cavern, just gazing out at the mist as it slowly faded away. Its clouds thinned, revealing the faint traces of what seemed like a graveyard littered with the remains of Arkeyans robots…

"'Enehana, we're done here!" Vatra called. "Come on, we're making our leave!"

And just before the mist cleared, 'Enehana sighed and turned away, all slouched over as they trudged back to the outside world. They walked up to Inochi's side and lifted their head as she laid a hand on their shoulder, then forced a smile as they were met with her kind gaze.

"I understand how much it must hurt, having to fight your own creations," Inochi whispered. "Especially rendered in a state like that…"

"Ah, don't worry about me, Inochi," 'Enehana said as they pushed ahead. "Let's just take care of Arkilles."

'Enehana ran far ahead of the group, far away from their talk and whispers surely about them and their behavior.

In fact, they ran so far that they had arrived back at the robot in mere seconds, and hopped in before anyone else! They rushed right for the controls and panted as they held a hand to their chest, then shook their head as the others came in.

Inside, the Machine Ghost hummed as the last of the group entered, then took hold of the robot and steered it back to the vault. His hands tensed as the vault hissed and opened before him, its doors slowly creaking open into vast darkness, and as it creaked open to its fullest, he gulped. The Machine Ghost turned around, and only one question came from him.

"Is everyone ready?"

And to that, varying degrees of enthusiasm came—cheers from Swarm and Luz, weary smiles from most of their group, a half-hearted nod or two from 'Enehana and Vatra… But they all held one, solid answer.

"Yes."

"If that's the case," the Machine Ghost said as he took hold of the controls, "then we'll be going now. Prepare yourselves."

And the robot ducked underhead as it crept into the vault, the doors closing behind it as it trailed into the watery halls…

§

Within a single, lonely room of the vault, light shone from only the faintest presence of lamps rusted by the millennia of dormancy, illuminating a sparkly, gold stone tablet that rested on a surprisingly rust-free podium that stretched out from the waters. Its engravings held no signs of erosion even in spite of the thousands of years it had spent sitting there and gathering dust, the map carved into it clear as day and shimmering brilliantly. That is, until a long shadow fell over the podium, while the scent of smoke that floated in from the other rooms came to a close as a large Conquertron landed right in front of the podium, its descent so forceful that it splashed water across the cavern, including the podium! The rocking waves nearly knocked the map straight off the podium, but the Conquertron was quick to claim it before it could fall into the waves!

"Careful now!" chimed Arkilles from within the Conquertron as he gingerly lifted the map to his face. "It would be such a shame if this map was lost to the waves after all the work I did to get it~" Arkilles chuckled to himself, the Conquertron tilting its head in tandem with his laughter, then he cleared his throat. "Anyways—Conquertron, scan this map into the databanks!"

"Understood, your radiant highness," bellowed a voice from within the Conquertron.

Its eyes flashed red as they panned back and forth over the map held ever so carefully in hand, and within the Conquertron itself, a map had formed in its control room! The bright light of the map stood like a luminescent screen over the windshield, its features slowly drawn over the map itself… And before the map stood Arkilles, who just chuckled and drummed his fingers together.

"Oh, it's so close now! Once this map is finished, I can head back to Arkus and get my empire back!" Arkilles proclaimed, spinning around with the joy of a schoolchild. "I'm sure it's just the way I remember it! After all, with all the security there, I doubt anybody's gone spelunking in the past few millennia… All my robots, Arkus's inner workings, I can just feel their presence in this room!" Arkilles laughed again, but his tone turned lower, a bit more malicious. "And once I get the fist back, then the Arkeyan empire will rise again!"

Arkilles shuffled back over to the pilot's seat and jumped in, his legs crossed together as he ruffled his head, then blinked as he lifted his hand.

"That's right, this body doesn't have any hair." Arkilles shook his head. "Ah, but that doesn't matter, I can make a nice hair growth potion for it once I meet up with the royal alchemists back in Arkus. Ah, have I missed its pleasures… Those bumbling monkey-things and meddling trolls simply don't compare! Why, I can already hear them say—"

"Stop right there!" cried another voice from behind!

Arkilles raised a brow, then jumped to the controls and swerved the Conquertron around! The downloaded map jumped into a simple round glass dome embedded into the console that flickered with white and blue light as he did, while outside, the Conquertron laid the real map back on the podium and turned around.

Right then, the Machine Ghost flew back in and planted his own feet on the waters.

The Conquertron clenched its fists as its eyes dimmed, but quickly released at the sight of the Machine Ghost's robotic body.

The Machine Ghost's body had gained its fair shares of dents, cracks and bumps still, a bit of steam pouring from a few angles before orange light spread across its body and sealed them up, good as new! The body's hatch poured open, and out climbed and flew the Elder Elementals and ancient portal masters, all seating themselves on the robot's shoulders as it closed the hatch and drew into a fighting stance, fists raised and legs spread!

"Well, well, look what we have here!" Arkilles teased, his voice echoed and a bit more robotic in sound as he spoke. "A bunch of washed-out heroes and some old ghosts of the pasts! I'm surprised you managed to get this far!"

'Enehana snarled, their teeth gritting together as Nemir pulled them back before they could do anything reckless… But as Sihiri turned to them and nodded, 'Enehana nodded in turn and stepped back. Their scowl stayed stuck to their face, but they merely crossed arms with tight fists and let their brows dig into their eyes as Sihiri raised her hand to her throat and cast a spell.

"Your reign of terror's revival ends here, Arkilles!" Sihiri bellowed, her voice echoed to one of a thousand as she stared down Arkilles. "Nothing's going to stop us from stopping you—not your armies, not your tricks and traps, not even death itself!"

"Sure wish it stopped him, though!" Vatra scoffed from the other shoulder.

"I heard that, you know," Arkilles remarked, piloting the Conquertron directly in front of the podium. Arkilles chuckled as the faint sight of burning flames came from where Vatra stood, then stroked the Conquertron's chin and sighed. "Unfortunately, I'd say I'm just as stubborn as you pests are! After all, I'm downloading the map as we speak, and my loyal subjects are just dying for their king to take the throne back! They've been waiting so patiently… I'm afraid I can't keep them waiting any longer!"

The Conquertron drew back, and within its depths Arkilles sneered.

"So I can't entertain you for long—I'll just have to end your miserable existences right here and now!"

The Conquertron thrust forward with haste, its legs leaping from within the water's grip with not a single hindrance from the waters below. No, it was as light and elegant as a swan's flight, shooting forward as it thrusted a punch right into the heart of the Machine Ghost's controls—but in that moment, the Machine Ghost clapped its hands and created an electrical shield, one that was quickly reinforced with a bright flash of purple magic! The flash left it so strong and tall it completely blocked the Machine Ghost and everyone surrounding from view!

The Conquertron plunged its fist into the shield and blew it to bits, crafting a shockwave that knocked it into the waters while the lightning coursed around its fist and spread to its chest and head… But the Conquertron quickly stifled itself, the lightning faded as Arkilles chuckled and staggered out.

"Ah, so you're still not very quick to lie down and die—I should've guessed that when you showed up again after ten thousand years!" Arkilles remarked. "Ten thousand years, and your souls still refuse to rest. My, how miserable. Surely you'd have better, much more enjoyable things to do in the afterlife than fighting little old me…"

"Conquertron destruction formation, now!" Tree Rex cried as he leaped off of the Machine Ghost's shoulder!

The other all cried off and shouted in agreement as they leaped off and followed after Tree Rex, Sihiri and Ninjini being the first to join him as they flicked out their arms and shot purple light out. The purple light moved underfoot and consolidated into stars, then landed underneath the feet of those who couldn't fly and soared forward!

The stars propelled them right towards the Conquertron, but while they flew, the flyers diverted away and swerved around the back! The ones in front charged for Arkilles, and he snarled as golden light formed in the Conquertron's eyes and emerged as sharp lasers—but before they could make contact, the front group split!

The lasers hit the walls instead, blasting small holes into their rocky, metal-laced surfaces, and Arkilles growled.

The golden light formed in the eyes once more, but quickly faded as something smashed into the Conquertron's back and knocked it forward, a creak sounding as its stone casing started to smoke, and Arkilles turned around to be met with Swarm, Eye and Ninjini all shooting hot lasers of colorful light right beside him!

Luz and Vatra floated in, and with a snap of their fingers, the lasers doubled in size and grew so hot that their colors bled out, replaced with a searing white that melted away the metal in the Conquertron's front!

The Conquertron stumbled back and forth as the lasers' heat spread to the lower half of its body, and with its balance offset, it stumbled right for the map!

"No!" Arkilles cried as he took control of the Conquertron and swerved it away from the podium!

The Conquertron crashed through one of the walls instead, sending water pouring through the newborn cavity in its bodice, but quickly stumbled back and slugged a punch right for Swarm, Eye and Ninjini's group. The group scattered in that moment, the punch hitting nothing but thin air and lingering in the air still!

Ninjini and Swarm jumped onto the arm, then smiled as burning flames sounded off from the side, right as Bouncer flew down beside them! Ninjini summoned a pair of swords and leaped up, then sliced them together and shot slashes of magic right into the casing of the arm!

The arm cracked, bits of calcified metal and rock crumbling into the depths, then strings of sharp, hot laser blasts pierced through the casing and cracked them further! Parts of the casing started to peel off, unveiling rusted wiring underneath, and with one last blast of solid air from Swarm, the casing shattered completely! The loose wiring was all that remained, sparks flying from small gashes in the wires and snapping towards Swarm and Bouncer, who in turn leaped up while Ninjini cast a platform underneath Bouncer!

Arkilles' growling grew deeper, more enraged by far as he glanced down at the Conquertron's casing-free arm, then he lowered it to his side and swung around, his still-intact arm swinging along and nearly grazing the group! They stumbled forward and fell together onto one star platform while the arm swung into the ceiling, smashing one row of its beginning! The ceiling crumbled as its remaining half tumbled towards the ground, threatening to crush all underneath…

But just before it could reach, a bronze glow surrounded it and in stopped in midair before shooting forward, slamming right into the Conquertron's chest! The Conquertron flew back, flying straight into the hole it had broke into the wall earlier and collapsing underneath the broken ceiling's weight. Sparks flew from its hinges as Arkilles grunted and tossed the rocks away, then staggered back up and lurched hunched-over into the heart of the fray. A massive dent had been left in the Conquertron's chest, one with gashes filled with sparking wires covering its front, and steam bellowed from the hinges! The sparks from the exposed arm grew into full-blown electrical fires as water seeped into the wires' gaps, and sirens wailed from within the Conquertron!

"Error, error! Major damage has been sustained to systems!" bellowed a voice from within the system!

"Yes, I'm aware!" Arkilles cried as he jumped to the console. Arkilles winced at its sights, all pushed in and smashed together while half its buttons and levers had fallen off and piled at his feet, but he quickly shook his head and pushed, pulled at anything he could!

"Now shut up and give me the button that does something about it! I don't have time to fiddle with useless machines!"

Back in the outer world, Jorden and Crusher both grinned as they bumped their fists together, then turned around to where the Conquertron creaked up. It lifted its head while steam burst from its back, a glint of malice shining in its eyes, and the two of them readied their weapons in turn. They crept forward on their star platforms as the Conquertron lifted itself higher and started to charge, sparkles shining at the back of their platform like an engine revving… But as a searing hot laser shot for them and the Conquertron twisted around, they gasped and flew off instead!

The Conquertron resorted to spinning around as fast as it could, lasers shooting from every orifice of its top as it did! The lasers smashed through rocky walls and cliffs, boring holes and leveling formations and platforms around, and the smell of hot smoke filled the air! The sheer heat had evaporated the water, lowering its levels to about half and increasing the Conquertron's speed as it spun further, rotating like a top around the battlefield and stirring up tsunamis as its lasers' light cut through the stone around them!

A few of the others ducked down, but Inochi just stood firm and clapped her hands together! Beneath her, a green glow shone underneath the remaining waters, tinting them into a seafoam shade, and with a flick of her hand, a whole garden of giant flowers grew around the Conquertron and shouldered the light's blow!

Their stems drank up the raging lasers while their closed buds absorbed the light, growing in brilliant shades as they unfolded, twisted around the Conquertron and bit into its shoulders! Their stems squeezed around the legs and yanked them out of their sockets, while their heads dug further into the shoulders and tore out parts of its wiring and shoulders! Even as the Conquertron struggled and tried to break free, its limbs could barely even wiggle!

Thumpback and Brawl both sped out on their stars, whooshing past Inochi with such speed that her kimono fluttered in the breeze!

Thumpback just glanced back at her and nodded as he pulled out his anchor, and beside him Brawl summoned a javelin of bone and lifted it well above his empty head! They came in close while the Conquertron lifted its head, its eyes charging with golden light… And in that moment they tossed their weapons right through the Conquertron's eyes! The glass shattered and poured into the depths, and the cannons inside laid smashed to pieces—in fact, a few of the cannons' remnants clung to the head of Thumpback's anchor as he reeled it back in!

The flowers finally unwrapped and faded back into the depths, and the Conquertron, released at last, fell down against the wall. It was freed of its legs and left unable to move, its left arm was completely fried, its head cannons left in pieces and anything in its chest surely in the same state. Even its communications were garbled, the faint shouts of Arkilles screaming and panicking garbled by thick, heavy static. The water seeped in further and drenched its chest while parts of its armor began to fall again…

"It's completely defenseless!" 'Enehana cried as they frantically waved their arm. "Get in for the kill, now!"

The static around communications started to clear, and the first thing that came over its cleared speakers was Arkilles, laughing and cackling with his whole chest! A jetpack emerged from the Conquertron's back and lifted it up, pushing around the waters below as its damaged body dangled like a puppet over the waters. The others backed away as Arkilles' laughter continued, and in turn the Conquertron raised its right arm, the only intact part of its body left.

"You haven't won just yet!" Arkilles cried, his voice strained and cracked as he flailed the arm around. "I still have one arm, and by the great Ancient, I intend to use it! Even if it kills me a second time, I won't let you beat me to my own empire!"

Arkilles's laughter grew frantic as the robot thrashed and spun its arm around the best it could! It slammed near Tree Rex and Hot Head first, nearly knocking them off the platforms they rode on, then swung to the side and into Swarm's chest, knocking him right out of the air!

A pillar of ice rose and splintered as it caught Swarm in its grip, and beside it Dej gasped and jumped up as the arm swung for him, landing on its wrist right as it stopped. The arm's casing froze underneath Dej's feet, and he clenched his brows as he summoned a sickle made of ice and leaped up.

"Alright, it's time you froze for a second!" Dej cried, slashing his sickle in the air. "Take this!"

Solid ice blasts emerged from the air with every slice, smashing into the arm and freezing it solid! It laid stiff and frozen in its place, completely unable to move even as Arkilles cried out and flailed it around! Arkilles grunted and swerved left, and a burst of billowing flames slammed into the arm, bubbling as the ice melted off. And the arm went with it, its metal turning gooey as it dripped into the depths of the waves!

"No! Not my arm! Not my last line of defense!" Arkilles cried as the last of the arm melted away!

He gasped as the jetpack's flames petered out in turn, and before he knew it the Conquertron hit the floors with a clunk. Arkilles just gasped, sputtering in strained, trilled fear as the Elder Elementals and ancient portal masters all surrounded his broken, hapless robot. They raised their weapons, all aimed for the robot's chest and throat, and he hyperventilated, his breaths strained and whimpering as they inched in closer.

"Oh, woe is me, this truly marks the end of my empire! And to be beaten in such a shameful fashion… What a disgrace!" Arkilles bawled, leaning back in a way that almost made it seem like he would faint. "I suppose you are going to wipe my spirit from this plane, deny my entrance into the afterlife and leave my soul to wither away into nothingness."

"It's what you deserve, Arkilles!" Vatra cried, flames engulfing his hands and burning at his hair's tips as he spoke. "Thousands dead, entire islands wiped clean, all those who couldn't even stand a chance against your armies… Have you no shame?!"

"Skylands nearly fell into ruin because of your selfishness!" Sihiri shouted, her voice strained with pain. "All so you could fulfill your own desires of having an empire!"

Tree Rex stayed stoic, only raising his solar cannon as it shrieked, charging with light.

"Ah, so the execution begins now," Arkilles said, his voice quaint and like a whisper. "If these are my last words to be spoken, then I simply have to ask… What exactly are you fighting for?"

"To protect Skylands from you, of course!" Tree Rex shouted, his voice bitter and strained as his solar cannon charged its fullest. "It's our home, and we're not going to watch as it's brought into ruin so you can have an empire again!"

"But is it really?"

That single question was enough to raise Tree Rex's brows , and the light in his solar cannon flickered for a moment before restoring. He steeled his glance, his legs shaking for a moment before he moved his solar cannon from the Conquertron's chest to its throat. But as Arkilles laughed, he shuddered and the cannon sparked again!

"Ah, so you have been thinking about that! In fact, I'd been wondering myself how you'd take it. Getting caught up on what I missed was quite an experience, after all." Arkilles cackled. The once strained tone in his voice had completely vanished, its haughty girth returning as he bellowed with laughter. "After all, ten thousand years is quite the long time! The places we once called home have changed, been destroyed, vanished to the sands of time… Most of those who lived then are little more than notes in history books. In fact, I'd argue that the Skylands of today was a completely different world from the one we once knew." Another soft chuckle came from Arkilles. "It was quite a shock to me when I discovered it, so I had to wonder how my dearest enemies would take it~"

"And what does that matter to you?!" 'Enehana spat. "You lost your whole empire, didn't you?!"

"Ah, but that's fine by me!" Arkilles chided, cackling as his words left the others wide-eyed before him. "Empires can always be remade, and so many of my forces were finely preserved. I guess it's true that Arkeyan technology was built to withstand the test of time~"

'Enehana winced, clenching their teeth while their hands started to spark.

"But look at you! Everything you've cared about is most definitely long gone now! Why are you fighting so hard to protect a world like this? Regardless if I win or lose, this is no place you lot can call home now!"

Sihiri winced and flew forward. "That's not—"

"Oh, but it is true!"

The Conquertron lurched up, just enough to stand the best it could while it smoked and popped, and it gestured a bit as if raising arms it no longer had.

"Those you once loved have been dead for generations! They're only remembered as faint pages in history books if they made any marks at all… You'll never see them again, no matter how much you wish for it! All that time spent fighting to live in peace with them was futile! Your family, your friends, your lovers and neighbors… They're all dead! Dead, you hear?"

Luz whimpered, backing away slowly for only a bit before he rushed for Swarm's leg and started to tremble. A few small sniffles came from him as Swarm nuzzled him close, and beside him Brawl only bowed his head in solemn silence while Eye sank into the cavity on Brawl's top. They only glanced aside a moment as Sihiri shuddered, shaking and floating back as she clasped her hands over her mouth while tears started to fall.

"Don't listen to him!" Tree Rex hissed as he glanced from side to side, struggling not to move an inch. "He's just trying to get under out—"

"And what of you, wise leader of the Elder Elementals?" Arkilles broke in. "The places you once cherish are nothing like you remember them, even if they're still around!" Arkilles chuckled, and the Conquertron's head just barely creaked from side to side. "And that's true of all of you lot! Your homelands have been left ravaged and changed beyond belief by the sands of time! Their names have been eroded, their most treasured places destroyed and unrecognizable… Why, I doubt anyone there would even know what you would were talking about if you tried to come back!"

Inochi whimpered and bowed her head, and Tree Rex gently swept her into his arms. Nemir floated beside him next, his eyes wide with shock while he held his crown in his hands, but even he quickly turned away and tried to fix it, as if hiding himself from Arkilles' piercing glare. Nemir shuddered as Arkilles glanced at him, and Jorden and Hot Head flew in front of him as a shield, but both of them carried tense, contemplative looks and shuddered themselves.

"And those aspirations you all held, all those things you surely dreamed of doing once you defeated me—well, what good are they to you now? You're all either fragments of a dead era, or dead! The people of now only think of you as legends, as bedtime stories they tell to their children! This world holds no place for fossils such as yourselves!"

'Enehana gritted their teeth further, their hands shaking as Dej wearily clasped one and turned away. Vatra's own flames extinguished as he turned away and joined them, his back completely turned to Arkilles. Above them, Bouncer, Ninjini, Thumpback and Crusher all shared weary, tense glances as they glanced at each other and the others around them.

Surely, they all held that same conflict—they wanted to refute Arkilles, to cry out and tell him he was wrong…

But, they couldn't.

He was right, Skylands had changed a lot in all those years. How could they combat his arguments, when this world was so different and they knew so little about it? When everything they once held dear had disappeared so long ago? And to hear these piercing taunts from their worst enemy, of all beings, tore right through them.

"Don't try to fight me, you know I'm right!" Arkilles cackled. "You came here all gung-ho to fight me again, and didn't think for a moment of what would become of you afterwards! If anything, I'd say you're stupider than you think I am, rushing in full charge to fight for a world you barely understand, all for purposes that become moot millennia ago!"

So, they all stood and watched Arkilles, expecting him to laugh in their faces or gloat further. But, instead, he lifted the Conquertron's head and cried only one thing.

"Repair system, start operations on this Conquertron!"

A bright light shone from the ceiling, and everyone gasped, eyes wide as they jolted around while the light rained over the Conquertron. Its broken body levitated into the air as the light spread around, summoning the Conquertron's broken and busted parts from the waters and the wreckage and drawing them to the Conquertron like a magnet. The damage its head and chest had sustained completely repaired itself as the light shone down, even removing the calcification to bring back its shiny gold and bronze coloration! Its arms snapped back into their spots one at a time, then the body lifted itself up and seated itself snugly on its lower half right as the light faded! The Conquertron was revived at last, sparkling and brand-new as it drank in the gasps and shocked looks of those around as it raised its arm.

"Now, don't think poorly of me for doing this," Arkilles said as he clenched the Conquertron's hand into a fist. "In fact, be grateful! I'm liberating your from your pointless existence and sending you where you truly belong!"

The fist came in with a snap, smashing right through the Elder Elementals and portal masters' ranks—before they could even blink, their bodies flew back and cracked from the punch, blood dripping from some bodies while others flickered in and out of existence!

The Conquertron loomed over them as they sank towards the sea, and yet they couldn't even open their eyes, they just fell closer and closer to the water's embrace, not even motivated enough to move. Arkilles' cackles ringing in their ears from above, the waters moving and sloshing below, the crushing feeling of their bodies begging to just give out already… It had all coalesced into one sinking, crushing feeling.

"Think of me when you reach the life after, my dearest enemies!"

"I am afraid that will not be happening!"

A hand swept down and captured the group just before they could hit the ground, and the Machine Ghost's body lifted them up to eye-level. A light formed from the body's palm and cascaded over them, and in one flash their wounds healed and their bodies stabilized, enough that they could all sit up and glance at the Machine Ghost within. But, he said nothing, instead swerving towards a ledge in the distant part of the vault, one far away from the conflict but close enough to witness.

"I'm lucky I found the instant healing feature of this robot in time," the Machine Ghost said as he dropped them on the ledge.

He turned away and wiped his hands, and his robot body's eyes flashed red as he glanced at Arkilles.

"Do not fret, I will take care of Arkilles from here—you just sit back and rest!"

The Machine Ghost grunted as he swung forward and gripped the Conquertron's side, but the Conquertron in turn just swept away! The Machine Ghost's body turned back like it was expecting a punch, then stumbled back when it found nothing but empty space to its side. Its head turned to the Conquertron, which had a hand to its chin as Arkilles chuckled within it.

"My, what a peculiarity… Another one of my robots, rebelling against me? But a robot like you only exists to be controlled and nothing more," Arkilles mused. "In fact, you shouldn't even be able to talk, let alone think!"

Arkilles grunted as the Machine Ghost smashed a punch right into his face, shattering the glass in his eyes once more, then jumped back and snarled.

"Actually, forget that! Sentient or not, any robot who rebels against its master should be punished!"

The Conquertron struck first with a punch of its own, and in turn the Machine Ghost's body turned aside and chopped its elbow, denting the arm just slightly before the Conquertron elbowed his body's chest! The Machine Ghost hacked as the blow jabbed the body upwards, and as he flew, a pair of punches from the Conquertron knocked him into one of the walls! The wall shattered beneath the blow's impact, rocks raining down on his head as he slunk down into the waters while steam blew from his joints, and the Machine Ghost grunted as the body staggered back up…

But instead of jumping back to fight, his body just turned tail and ran!

"That's it!" Ermit cried, his voice echoed from the robot body's speakers. "I'm not dealing with this bloody robot nonsense anymore! I'm going where it's safe!"

The robot body stopped mid-run and swung around, nearly falling over itself. "No we're not!" the Machine Ghost cried as the robot body seated itself down and rushed for Arkilles once more. "We can't just let him run around and hurt other people!"

"Yeah, but that the heroes' thing to fix, not mine!" Ermit grunted, and the robot swung back for the entrance once more. "I'm just gonna go where it's safe and take my robot with me!"

The robot body came only within inches of the entrance, then it completely froze, standing like a statue—upright and frozen, not even a twitch of its finger! It slightly swung left or right, but every move was stopped midway through. And all the while, arguing bellowed out, ringing around the vault's shattered room.

"We can't leave, not now! At this rate, Arkilles will—"

"The Skylanders should be coming soon, they can deal with this! I'm not letting a robot I worked hard to win get trashed and go down with it! I'm just some writer, not a fighter!"

"If you don't let those controls go, then you really will go down! We're completely vulnerable at the moment—Arkilles could strike at any minute!"

"You let go first! I only got a robot, I didn't want an annoying ghost who blabs around and uses it as he pleases! You're just a freeloader who didn't come with the package!"

The sounds of splashing waves drowned out the argument as something leaped behind them, and the Machine Ghost's body turned around right as the Conquertron leaped up and punched them right in the chest! An explosive burst of lightning and fire blasted out from the Machine Ghost's body's chest, knocking both it and the Conquertron across the room. The Conquertron fell to the left, collapsing in the waters before staggering back up, while the Machine Ghost's body hobbled in and clutched its chest.

Sparks and flames still burned, but with a simple pat of the hand they extinguished and the Machine Ghost's body charged forward, leaping into the air and slamming down on the Conquertron just before it could reach full height. The Conquertron collapsed back into the ground, waves flying around it and roaring as they crashed back down only to be disrupted once more as the Machine Ghost's body plunged a fist straight into the Conquertron's chest. Its metal and wiring splat right open, and with a twist of the robot body's fist, a shockwave rang out and fried what was left inside. The shock blew the wires wide open, their lightning-born flames bursting into an inferno while sirens bellowed from the Conquertron's sound system, and its arms and legs flailed with rapid, hard fury. Its kicks rappied into the robot body's back while its slaps beat against its face the fastest they could, as if they were racing to see which hand would knock the body's head off its shoulders first!

An explosion of furious fire burst from the chest and knocked the Machine Ghost's body into the water, then its electrical fires dampened the moment the Conquertron crashed. The body skidded across the waves, the steam that came from it turning to smoke as its metal started to tear, and only pained grunts could barely be heard from the fading speakers as it tried to push itself up. A creak and a burst came from the back as something blew open, churning out thick smoke, but the Machine Ghost just pulled the robot body back up and clutched its arm.

"Wait, what's going on with you, ghost?!" Ermit cried. "Your body, it's all clear and stuff! And why's it fritzing like that?!"

But, the Machine Ghost didn't respond—he just leaned his body down, then charged forward and raised its fist. The first charged with lightning as it grew closer to the Conquertron, who in turn shot out its hand and tried to grab the head. But, just before it could reach, the Machine Ghost's body swerved away and turned for the entrance once more!

"That's it, we're leaving! This robot's taking too much damage, it'll take me too much gold than it's worth to repair it!" Ermit cried!

The Conquertron slid forward and slammed right into the Machine Ghost's body as it ran, and it crashed face first into the waves with only grunts coming from both Ermit and the Machine Ghost over the speakers!

The Conquertron stomped its foot into the body's wide-open back and not only squashed it, but pushed it straight into the waters! The water seeped into the back as sparks burst from all around, spreading across the robot's body and then to the Conquertron's. They both froze, their systems rattling and sirens blaring, and the sudden shock forced the Conquertron up long enough for the Machine Ghost's body to stand.

"Systems… Systems in major disrepair!" Machine Ghost panted, his voice turning glitchy and distorted as the robot struggled to keep balance in his control. It swayed back and forth, its legs quivering and barely able to stand, and his voice strained even further. "Have, have to make repairs!"

"Yeah, we can do that when we escape!" Ermit screamed. "So let's get out of here!"

A red-hot laser shot from the back and knocked into the robot body's wounds, setting its back ablaze! The hot embers danced and turned to full flames as they spread and churned out even more burning smoke, but the robot body just turned around and slammed its palms together, shooting a shockwave right back at the Conquertron! The Conquertron's sirens wailed as it jolted up, the lightning freezing it right in place! The shockwave settled while the Conquertron slunk over, and the robot body almost ran off…

But, just as he took a step forward, part of its back creaked while the seared wiring and panels of the robot spilled out their guts, hanging over the splintered back of the robot itself. A few parts of its armor that barely dangled from its back finally severed themselves and dropped into the deep, raising pillars of water, and with every drop that brushed against the robot's guts, sparks flew and snapped at its systems.

"Go already! There's no way you'll be able to finish that bloke in this state!" Ermit cried.

The Machine Ghost panted, letting his body slouch over for moments and clutch itself… But then, he rose.

"I am afraid I cannot do that," was all he said as he pulled the robot to full height and tightened his fists, "I have… Have to finish this battle."

The Machine Ghost steadied his robot body, and its eye flashed rest as the Conquertron started to raise before him.

"I do not remember much of my past, but whenever I see this robot, whenever I hear this man's voice, it fills me with a rage unlike anything I had ever felt before." The Machine Ghost growled over the speakers, and his voice started to raise, letting out a garbled, glitched scream as the robot body charged forward. "I must, I must defeat him!"

The body leaped in the air and body-slammed right into the Conquertron, knocking it off-balance enough that it fell straight into the water, then it plummeted down and crashed again! The body's knees dug into the Conquertron's chest next, and it lifted its sparking arms before wailing away, smashing its fists into the Conquertron's chest and splitting it right open. The Machine Ghost's screams and cries echoed through the air, leaving the room to rumble as the body's fists dented and smashed through the Conquertron's chest! With it finally broken open, the body turned for the inner wiring next, ripping out the Conquertron's wires and yanking out its gears and devices before crushing them to bits, even smashing them against the Conquertron's splintered chest. The body sputtered and rumbled, flames and smoke and more bursting from its joints while its armor popped off and splintered, revealing bright red, overheating metal underneath—but the Machine Ghost didn't even relent, he just continued goring away at the Conquertron will all he had!

"R-repair system, start operations on this Conquertron immediately, quickly, hurry!" Arkilles screamed, a stroke of genuine fear in his voice!

The lights began to shine, but the Machine Ghost's body simply grabbed a missile right out of the Conquertron's chest and flung it right at the source of the light! Bright, hot flames burst from the ceiling, and the light faded with them as its source crumbled to bits, both parties left to linger on its remains…

Then, the Machine Ghost lifted his hands high, eyes fixed on where a shining core rested in what remained of the hollow chest.

"And now, to finish this!" the Machine Ghost cried as the thickest smoke of them all churned around his body, practically shrouding it as his hands shot for the core if not for the bright, hot red light that came from it.

"No, wait!" 'Enehana cried from the stage. "That robot's hit its limits! If you keep going like that, it'll blow and take you all with it!"

"What?!" Ermit shouted back.

The smoke cleared, and in that moment the Machine Ghost's body swerved away—but not with the core in hand. No, it hobbled up and ran away, all while still glowing like a star as it stumbled and swayed on its way towards the entrance.

"That's it, I'm getting off this wild ride!" Ermit cried.

"I'm afraid that won't be happening!" Arkilles shouted back!

A kick came from behind, and the Machine Ghost's body creaked and popped in an ear-shattering volume as it flew across and slammed into the all behind it, the force popping parts of its armor straight off while dulled, muffled explosions burst from around it. Parts of its armor seeped out, and its right arm fell right out of the socket, its dangling wires the only thing keeping it connected to the body still. Lightning popped from every orifice and crackled around it as the Conquertron slunk up to it…

And yet, the Machine Ghost's body still raised its trembling, rattling left fist, refusing to go down.

"Oh? And what exactly do you think you're doing?" Arkilles sneered. "Do you really think you can kill me in that sorry state?"

A low rumble came from the Machine Ghost's body as the fist rattled harder, pivoting away from the Conquertron… And towards the map! It popped off and rocketed right for the map before anyone could even blink, and blazed even further as it shot straight for the map of Arkus, smashing right into its center before its flames petered off. The map's shattered fragments rained down as the fist laid where it once stood on the podium, then flopped over and rolled right into the water, sinking into the depths along with the fragments.

A few gasps came from the ledge where the Elder Elementals and portal masters stood, but the most enraged came not from them… But Arkilles!

The Conquertron turned back as Arkilles roared, then he yanked the Machine Ghost up from the ground and squeezed its head, popping it off its socket!

"YOU INSOLENT BASTARD!" he cried as he swung the Machine Ghost's body into the wall and smashed it right through!

The Machine Ghost's body flew and rolled along like a ragdoll, and Arkilles screamed as he rushed forward and pummeled against its side, smashing down its metal until most parts had flattened, only inflating as they split open and spewed out mechanical guts!

The Conquertron smoked, its own body turning red hot as its casing split open in turn and spewed out wires of its own that burned and sparked, but Arkilles just screamed and pounded away! The Machine Ghost's body clanked and clunked with every punch, its limbs splitting out as their wires frayed and split open, sirens only half-blaring from its distorted, garbled speakers while flames burst and sent smoke flying towards the area…

And with one brush, that flame spread to the Conquertron, setting it alight! Its metal melted and burned away, and the wires exploded one by one as Arkilles pulled away! He screamed as they split and dropped its arms to the ground, then the Conquertron leaped up and crashed through the ceiling's remains as his screams echoed through the skies!

The rubble crashed down, and Jorden and Crusher both lifted up their hands as brown glows pulsedfrom them—but they didn't need to do a thing. The Machine Ghost's body charged forward and flew over them, taking the blow as the avalanche crashed down. Its body let out another hard clunk as the rocks flattened it, while its chest smoked and flamed as it popped its door open and spat out Ermit and the Machine Ghost!

The two of them laid sprawled and trembling on the floor, Ermit's body covered in bruises and sores with both his eyes swollen and purple, and his already torn clothes ripped even further, unveiling skin covered in bloody scratches. And beside him laid the Machine Ghost, except he could barely be seen! The once deep, rich blues of his ghastly body were painted a faint, nearly transparent white with only faint streaks of blue that barely kept their color or visibility, and it glitched and fritzed with every move he made, every breath he took. He couldn't even open his eyes!

Inochi gasped and gently lifted up Ermit, who coughed and hacked as he rested against her, then groaned as she carried him back to their group. With a cast of her hand, she crafted a bed of leaves and laid him down, allotting his coughing to slow some. But, not for long, as something else crashed through the room and rattled him so bad that he started again!

The Dread-Yacht had burst through, its body smoking but in a much better state by comparison, and it craned its head for a moment before immediately bursting for the ledge!

Its front opened up, and Chihiro was the first to rush out with the others quick on her tail. But, the moment she caught sight of the Machine Ghost and Ermit, her face turned pale and she stopped in her tracks!

"Ermit! Machine Ghost!" Chihiro screamed, her voice strained to its highest as she lifted the Machine Ghost in her arms and peered up to the others. "What happened? What happened to them?!"—Chihiro's eyes flickered, and she quickly shook her head—"no, we'll, we'll find that out later! Take them to the infirmary, they need medical treatment, stat!"

Spyro and Flynn both frantically panted as they lifted Ermit's bed of leaves and carried him back to the Dread-Yacht, and Chihiro almost did the same with the Machine Ghost…

But, the moment she tried to lift him up, he just phased right through her arms, dropping back onto the ground! She gasped, then lifted her ectoplasm-covered arms and gasped as it faded away into faint sparkles.

"Oh no," Chihiro croaked, before shaking her head and turning her gaze to Nemir. "Nemir, you're the undead guy, right? You should know something about this? Can't you heal him?"—Chihiro turned her head as tears fell down her face, oblivious to how they all stepped away—"wait, no, maybe—"

"It's alright."

A cold hand brushed against Chihiro's own, and she peered down to where the Machine Ghost laid on the ground. He still flickered and fritzed in and out of existence… But now, he bore a smile on his face, a weak but kind smile that didn't relent even as parts of his body frazzled, going in and out of existence. Chihiro gasped and lifted him into her arms again, and he smiled as he wiped a tear from Chihiro's chin.

"My time was bound to come sooner or later," the Machine Ghost conceded, making a small nod as the bottom of his body devolved into sparkly, glitchy light. "At the very least… I-I-I, I'm gla-gla-gla-glad that I, I, I mana, to stop… Arkil…"

The glitching, sparkly light spread further, engulfing the Machine Ghost's chest and that his arms. Only his neck and head remained, and even that was fading soon… But, he just smiled still, his eyes lowering by the second.

"Glad I met… You… Even if… For a sho-sho-sho-sho-sho-sho—"

The glitchy infection grabbed his neck next, and his chin started to fade in turn—so, he just closed his eyes.

"I'm glad I met all of you… Even if it was for just a short time."

And with that, the infection snatched his head far too fast, and his whole body burst, its glitchy masses swallowed by the white light and exploding into blue sparkles that flew into the sky, floating up to the exposed evening sun. But, even those disappeared in the sun's harsh light, engulfed by its warm red and golden hues and flickering out just as quickly as they came.

The remains of the blue light faded from Chihiro's arms as she glanced down, her eyes wide and the tears falling, and Chihiro inhaled harsh and sharp, her breath barely even there as her lip trembled—and with nothing more she could do, Chihiro threw back her head and screamed at the top of her lungs!

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The tears streamed down her face as she flung her head back and buried her head within, blubbering so loud that the birds in the skies above flew off from the sounds. Streams of tears poured, puddling together at her knees while snot streamed down her face and joined it. Her cries rang even further as she slung down, falling down into the puddle and pounding her fist against the ledge, and not once did her volume relent. She screamed, screamed for the loss of a friend, screamed for the failure of a mission, screamed because there was nothing else she could do but that.

"Why, why? Why?" Chihiro wailed as she tried to push herself up, unveiling her puffy, teary red-tinged face before she collapsed onto her puddle of tears once more. "It, it, this isn't fair! Why, why, why couldn't we…"

Spyro flew out from the Dread-Yacht and landed back on the ledge, but he didn't say a word. He just flew towards Chihiro and sat down, gently leaning her against his back and curling around her. His wing folded over her back as she clutched him and sobbed into his shoulder, and a single tear shed as he sat down and wrapped around the rest of her body.

The others followed after him and joined the Elder Elementals' group on the ledge, but nobody said a word. They just stared out at the battle's remnants, at the rivers thickened and polluted with oil and the broken walls, at the podium covered in the gold dust from what was once the map to Arkus, at the ravaged, mangled robot body that once belonged to the Machine Ghost.

"We may have stopped Arkilles from getting the map," 'Enehana whispered as they hung their head to hide their ears, their hands squeezed tight, "but, it doesn't feel like we've really won."

And though nobody said a word… It was clear that they all agreed as they stood and took in the ravaged remains of the battlefield.

§

The Dread-Yacht creaked as it carried the Machine Ghost's ravaged body far, far away from the vault, till the vault's home island was little more than a blurry mass of stone to the eyes. The evening skies around warmed the colors of its metal, tinting it in warm shades like the golden light of victory. And yet, in spite of all that, the ravaged sight of the Machine Ghost's body, broken nearly beyond repair, and the now faint sights of the open, damaged vault below hardly inspired any smiles or confidence.

The Dread-Yacht's body creaked once more as it blew off some steam, then finally it knelt down on a grassy, abandoned island and laid the Machine Ghost's body down. It flew back and transformed into a ship as it landed beside the body… And finally, its mission now at an end, it collapsed, panels falling off and smoke bursting from the windows.

Everyone coughed and hacked as they left the Dread-Yacht and gathered together on the grass, and the moment its soft, natural blanket hit their feet, they all collapsed. Some slunk against each other, others flopped down and fell asleep, but nobody shared a single look of joy. Their shoulders slumped with the sun, as they caught their breaths, nobody quite willing to speak.

That is, until Chihiro sighed and stood up. Her face was still red and puffy, and she had to bite back tears, but nonetheless she turned back to the others.

"So, well," she started, her voice strained from crying still. She gulped, whimpered a bit as she puffed her cheeks, but quickly exhaled. "Is everyone alright?"

Sihiri cringed as she glanced back at the Dread-Yacht. "Well, thankfully, we, er, well…"

"Thankfully, most of us got off with only minor injuries," 'Enehana interrupted. They crossed their arms, then gritted their teeth together. "And if that idiot hadn't panicked, then he would've been perfectly fine, too!"

A few small gasps came from the crowd, but 'Enehana didn't act shocked at all. They still stood stoic, save for their trembling arms and their similarly-shaking scowl, one just barely visible from their hung head. Their fists clenched like they were going to shout, to say something more, but they merely turned around and huffed.

"Now, 'Enehana, don't you think that's a bit harsh?" Inochi asked as she clasped her shaking hands and turned aside. Seemed even the tension from their looks had spread to her, too. "I believe he was only—"

"I said what I said." 'Enehana scoffed and stuck up their nose. "That robot only got as damaged as it because he panicked and tried to run away! He knew what he was getting into when he decided to help us! If he—"

"But he didn't," Vatra hissed as he pulled himself from the floor and walked up to 'Enehana. "He was a civilian who just got dragged into all this nonsense. Anyone in his position would have likely acted similarly. I know you're upset, but please, calm down!"

"I won't!"

'Enehana thrust their face into Vatra's as they cried out, and sparks started to fly from their hands as they clenched them the tightest they could. "If he hadn't jeopardized the mission, Arkilles would be long dead and an Arkeyan revival would be the least of our worries right now! But he—"

"Calm down, you two, arguing will get us nowhere!" Sihiri shouted as she flew between Vatra and 'Enehana and pushed them aside. "We've already had enough strife for one day, we don't need any more."

"Sihiri's right," Spyro added as he flew up. "If anything, it's our fault for roping a civilian into all this. But, what's done is done, and now we're just going to have to work from here. Pointing fingers won't get us any closer to stopping Kaos—" Spyro shook his head. "—I mean, Arkilles."

Vatra conceded quietly, only nodding his head and straying away, but 'Enehana just clenched their teeth tight.

Their hands still clenched and sparked as if they were going to lash out or retort, but they merely scoffed and muttered under their breath as they wandered off to the Machine Ghost's broken body. As they disappeared within the body's battered corpse, Vatra just shook their head and sat down.

"Hey-o!" Flynn called as he strode over the Dread-Yacht's deck. "How's it going down there?"

Flynn was immediately met with a handful of harsh glares, and he gulped before turning away and scratching his head.

"Alright, probably not the best question to ask."

Flynn swung over the side of the deck and landed on the ground with a hup, then cracked his knuckles as he approached the group.

"Your amazing pilot is here with an amazing news update—well, it's more like half amazing news and half… Not so amazing news." Flynn smirked and rubbed a fist on his chest. "But someone as handsome and awe-inspiring as I am delivering it makes it much better!"

Flynn got shot a couple more glares, and he just winced.

"Geez, tough crowd."

"Give us the bad news first," Spyro said, clenching his front paws. "Might as well get that out of the way."

"Well, the bad news is, the Dread-Yacht's super busted, and we're gonna need to crash here for the night so I can do repairs."

A creak sounded from behind as a few of the Dread-Yacht's panels fell off, and Flynn glanced at them in fear for only a moment. With a sigh, he turned back to Spyro and started to smile.

"But, on the bright side, the hermity dude's being treated by Cali and Whirlwind right now, and thanks to those healing rainbow thingies of Whirlwind's, the worst of his injuries are all fixed up! Still gonna need a little bit more time to rest, but he'll be fine."

Flynn's ears folded down as he turned to the others, but his smile didn't waver. The sight of them with their heads hung low and their worn, tired eyes wouldn't have inspired a lot of joy in anyone, but coming on the heels of such a failure, from such heralded heroes… It was a little hard to look at, seeing even those of legends so downhearted.

"And hey, look on the bright side! That map's gone, which means that Kaos or that Arkeyan king dude or whoever in that bald pipsqueak's body right now can't get back to Arkus."

"I appreciate your optimism, but I'm afraid that this isn't going to stop Arkilles," Sihiri said.

Flynn lifted an ear in confusion. "But, the map's gone, isn't it? How's he gonna get there without a map?"

"Arkilles is a stubborn man—at most, we've been able to halt his trip for a little while, but he'll find another way. However that may be, he won't stop until he gets back to Arkus."

"That's not gonna be easy though, right? Cali's told me that even Skylands' best archaeology dudes and know it alls couldn't even find it! Of course, if it were me at the helm, I'd probably have it found before lunch…"

"He already has a way—that Conquertron."

All eyes turned to the front as 'Enehana emerged from the Machine Ghost's body, and 'Enehana snarled and gritted their teeth.

"He had already scanned the map into its databanks and prepared to leave when we had arrived—all he had to do is repair it and he'll have a fully-functional map to Arkus! If we had just destroyed that Ancients forsaken thing, we wouldn't even have to worry about that!"

Sihiri reached out a hand for 'Enehana, but they just turned around and trudged back towards the robot.

"Leave me alone."

And so, Sihiri frowned and lowered her hand, while beside her Flynn winced and turned away—seems even he recognized the tension in the air, and how unwise it would be to stir it.

"Anyways, I'm gonna go back to do repairs, I'll leave the rest to you," Flynn said as he walked back to the Dread-Yacht.

Flynn smiled and winked back at them for a moment before climbing back up the Dread-Yacht's side, using the grooves in the fallen panels as grips as he scaled its side… But despite his optimism, it didn't lift the air any.

"Once you guys get a plan, just let me know and I'll speed things up!"

They all watched as Flynn finally pulled himself over the side of the Dread-Yacht and disappeared down its docks, then sighed as they all dispersed.

Most of their ranks headed for the Dread-Yacht while Jorden drifted away towards the Machine Ghost's broken body, probably to see 'Enehana…

But while they all left, Tree Rex just sat on the ground, eyes on the sky as the evening faded into night, and Sihiri sat right by him.

"Don't take what Arkilles said to heart back there," Tree Rex whispered as he planted his fingers, growing small patches of purple flowers between him and Sihiri. "He was only trying to get under our bark." Tree Rex forced a laugh and winked. "Luckily, mine's pretty thick."

Well, that's what he said, but, those words Arkilles had taunted him with ate through his heart, nagging at him in the dead silence. He glanced down at where Sihiri sat, not even acknowledging the flowers he had grown beside her. She just curled into a ball, the skirts of her gown pressed closed against her chest as she glazed over the skies, and her sparkly purple eyes carried a bit less light with them.

"Do you really think everything we fought for's truly gone?" Sihiri whispered, her voice starting to crack in their privacy. She frowned, clutching her skirt's fabric as she sighed. "It's a stupid question, I know. But yet, we survived this long by some miracle!"—Sihiri's voice cracked further, and tears began to form as she turned to Tree Rex—"surely, there has to be someone, something that survived from our ages! It can't just be us and him, it just can't! After all, there were others with us, maybe they're still around!"

Tree Rex frowned and pursed his mouth tight. Logically, it was doubtful—seeing all that had changed in such a short journey proved that…

But, he had been there when they were all banished to Earth. Surely, if all the others were alive, there was a chance that some of the other magicians of his time could be alive? For that matter, how did they all get scattered to Skylands, anyways? Tree Rex wasn't quite sure, but maybe there was a tiny inkling in his heart that if they survived, surely more of their ranks could have as well? He didn't quite know why he was reflecting on this, this tiny sliver of hope that maybe there was more from his time that survived.

After all, it was only be sheer luck they even survived death's hand themselves.

Nobody else would have been that lucky, not enough to survive the end of eras, the loss of everything they knew and the spread of new generation after new generation. Living ten thousand years was a feat most were surely incapable of… Ten thousand years. Something about that number had seared itself into Tree Rex's mind in that somber moment. Now that he had a quiet moment, it was starting to really hit him just how much time had passed since then. How many generations had been born, lived, died without him even knowing? How many of his friends and allies, enemies and foes had been buried? Did they have descendants who lived on in their steed? Did his homelands still bear their same names, or were they called something entirely different, if they even existed at all?

Just the thought was sobering, that the Skylands he once called home had died, replaced with a land as foreign to him as the Earth he had been trapped on. And surely, the others felt the same way—just the sight of Sihiri, their dear leader, so rattled by the prospects that they were all that was left of their time.

Surely, Tree Rex had to find some worth in something about that, that Skylands managed to live on without him, a sure sign that he succeeded in the very mission he vowed on the same day he, the same day they all were crowned Elder Elementals—defeat the Arkeyan Empire and save Skylands, so he could save his homeland from a future of Arkeyan tyranny. But now here he was, doing the same thing he did before in a world he couldn't even recognize as his own home. Was it futile to fight, knowing that his efforts could be rendered moot once more, especially in a situation like this? That he was fighting for a world that didn't recognize him as anything more than a name in a historical tome, something little more than an ancient legend? That he was fighting for a world he wasn't even sure he could call his home anymore?

And what was he going to do afterwards, for that matter? Once upon a time, that answer was easy enough—he'd help the survivors rebuild and tear down the Arkeyans' remnants, and lead a peaceful life in the new era. But would that be even possible anymore, when Skylands had changed so much and he knew so little about it?

Sihiri sniffled beside him, and Tree Rex gently brushed his finger against her, being as careful as he could to not bowl her over. Surely, this hurt her even more than it did him—being the mighty tree from an isolated forest he was, he never had many connections outside of his own allies within their rebellion's ranks, but she had friends, family and more she had to leave behind for the rebellion, beings she surely desired nothing more than to reunite with once this war was over… And now, almost all of them were gone, and only she remained.

But he had no idea how to console her, so he simply grew a flower with soft petals from the grooves in his bark, and she in turn leaned against it like a cushion. They sat in silence, only glancing up as the sky changed from its warm tone to the cool blues and purple of night, lit up by massive streams of stars swimming through the oceans of the night sky like schools of fish and twinkling as miniature suns—just the sight left Tree Rex smiling, and a small chuckle from Sihiri showed that she seemed to enjoy it as well.

"You know," she whispered, "so much in Skylands has changed, and yet the starry sky is still the same as it's always been."

"That's true," Tree Rex replied, the starlight pouring over his face as he smiled. "It's still just as beautiful as it was ten thousand years ago."

The two of them basked as the intermingling shadows and light of the night cast over them, the only sounds that of the wind blowing around them and the grass as it whistled and twirled underneath them. The clouds moved in their slow, melancholic paces, as if even the quiet of night had left them as tired as the rest of Skylands was, and the scent of cool night air had begun to drown out the lingering smoke and burnt oil scents let off by the broken vessels behind them. All was right for such a quiet moment, even after all the awful that had just occurred… It was funny, wasn't it? How something so simple as watching the stars could wash away the pain of earlier.

"There you two are—I was wondering where you went."

Tree Rex and Sihiri both jolted up as Inochi and Ninjini stepped out from the shade of the Dread-Yacht, both with their weary, but kind looks on their faces. They seemed a little more tired than usual, and Inochi's eyes had puffed up a little… Had she been crying? Well, Tree Rex could barely tell, so he just scrambled back.

"We were just keeping watch. Did you need us for anything?" Tree Rex claimed.

Well, he was lying, and he was sure they knew it, but luckily they just nodded—seems as though none of them wanted to press the issues that had just happened even further.

"We're, well, we're trying to plan out our next course of action," Ninjini said, turning back to the Dread-Yacht and frowning.

"Unfortunately, nobody's really come to a decision just quite yet," Inochi added, wincing as she clasped her hands. Judging from that, Tree Rex could already tell tensions were high, unsurprisingly given the prior events.

Ninjini nodded in agreement, but quickly turned to Tree Rex. "You, you don't need to come in just yet if you're not ready. We haven't really made any progress just yet." Ninjini held up her hands. "I'm pretty sure we still haven't gotten past the initial arguments."

"No, I'll go."

The voice came from down below, where Sihiri wiped away her tears and floated off. She didn't even say a word, nor did her face move beyond its stoic expression as she linked arms with Inochi and wearily floated over to the Dread-Yacht—she had collected herself so quickly, but Tree Rex supposed that was a leader's skill. After all, Tree Rex doubted it would inspire any confidence if she came to the meeting in shambles and tears.

Tree Rex turned to Ninjini and nodded, rising without a word. The two of them had already started to run off when the sounds of panting and footsteps so soft they could barely be heard over even the still winds came from aside, and they stopped in their tracks and turned around. They backed away a bit, half-expecting another ambush…

But no, what came for them was 'Enehana, their eyes wide in wonder and their strides filled with energy, totally unlike how they had been when they left to sulk!

"Tree Rex, Ninjini, there you are!" 'Enehana cried as they came to a stop. "Where are the others, I've got important news!"

Important news? But what? Tree Rex had wanted to ask, but Ninjini pushed him aside first and bent down to 'Enehana's height before he could even inquire.

"They're in the Dread-Yacht, plotting out our next course of action," Ninjini explained.

"Then that's where we're headed!"

§

Spyro groaned and held his head as he flew into the dormitory's halls, the sounds of yelling and insults past tossed still ringing in his ears. Who knew one strategy meeting would be this stressful? Well, he had, he'd had his fair share of meetings like this before… But for some reason, this one just drained the life out of him. Maybe it was the stress of all the unforeseen events of all these past few days, from their mission's derailment to Kaos being possessed to their loss today, or maybe it was the high-strung tension that rang in the room, but he was sick of playing mediator.

So, he just closed the door and sighed as he fell to the floor on all fours, but quickly scrambled away as it creaked open.

"You doin' alright, Spy?" Gill Grunt asked as he crept in the halls and slowly closed the door behind him. "That meeting got pretty intense…"

"I, I'm alright," Spyro replied as he hung his head. His temples throbbed, and Spyro groaned as he massaged the pain away with some healing magic. "I, I'm sorry I couldn't calm things down there."

"Don't blame yourself, little buddy." Gill Grunt patted Spyro on the back. "It's been a tough day for all of us. You did the best you could…" Gill Grunt sighed and turned back to the door. "Seems like nobody's just in the mood to listen right now."

"You got that right."

Spyro and Gill Grunt both sighed, then turned their heads as a distant, sobbing noise came from down the halls. Well, Spyro had wondered where Chihiro had went during the briefing—guess there was his answer. His heart sank a little at the sound of her dulled, strained cries, still rife with anguish even after all the time that had passed. Now that Spyro had thought about it, she'd never witnessed a death like this in the field. They had their close calls, but they always bounced back one way or the other… And the time they almost didn't, well…

"Speaking of taking things pretty hard, I've never seen Chihiro cry like that before," Gill Grunt remarked, parting ways from Spyro's side. "I'd better talk to her—"

"No, let me," Spyro said, holding out a paw in front of Gill Grunt. "I, well…"

Gill Grunt nodded and stepped away, a twinkle sparkling in his eyes as he turned for the door.

"I understand," he said as he opened the door. "You go talk to her, I'll see if I can't calm things down back there."

Spyro nodded as Gill Grunt closed the door, then flew off in a slow pace, as if his body piloted itself. Its target was the sound of her cries as they grew louder and louder, leading it to her dorm room on the right where they sounded off the loudest, and Spyro just jiggled the knob. But, Chihiro only continued to sob and sniffle, not even hearing his entrance, so he just sighed and knocked.

"Hey, Chi? It's me, Spyro!" Spyro shouted as he leaned against the door. "Can I come in for a bit?"

The sound of frantic sniffling started to dull, then someone wiping themselves off… And finally, a small, strained voice.

"Come in."

Spyro nodded, then opened the door—and sure enough, Chihiro sat on the bed with her front to the wall and her head hung, all curled up and sniffling still. Spyro winced and flew over to the bed, quickly sitting down and gently wrapping a wing around Chihiro's back, and in turn she lifted her head a little and turned to meet his glance, her face still just as red and puffy as it had become when the Machine Ghost died in her arms. Maybe even worse, considering how her hands trembled still and her entire face was wet and sticky. Heck, the tears still fell even as she looked at him!

"Oh, Chi…" Spyro whispered, unable to do anything else—just the sight of her so upset had left his heart stuck in the depths.

She gasped and turned away from him, and Spyro in turn frantically flapped his wings. "No, no, don't turn away, it's, ah—"

Spyro shook his head, then summoned a cloth and gently wiped away her face, cleaning off the tears and snot that had amassed. She grunted a little, pouted a bit as the cloth's fabric brushed against her eyes and cheeks, and when it disappeared, she just stood in silence, watching for a moment as it disappeared into sparkles right between her and Spyro…

Then as the last of the sparkles disappeared, she sniffed for a moment and threw herself into Spyro's grip the next, moving so fast that he barely had time to steady himself before they both fell on the floor. Her shaking skin and the cloth of her clothes left damp by her tears hit his scales, then more cold, damp sensations fell against his shoulder as she buried her face into his shoulder and wailed, crying as loud as she could—not like she did back at the vault, her voice had been strained so much that she could barely gather any volume, but in the silence of it all, her voice seemed like the loudest thing there was.

"I, I, it's all my fault!" Chihiro wailed, squeezing Spyro tight as she curled closer into his grip. "If, I had just gotten there sooner, if I had just fought harder, if I had stopped him back then, maybe, maybe he'd, he'd still be—"

"I know, Chi, I know," Spyro whispered, stroking her back as he wrapped both his front paws around her and hugged her right back.

Chihiro whimpered a little, her sniffling and sobbing quelling itself as she pushed her head into his shoulders, and a small hiccup came from her as he hugged her further. Chihiro squeezed him one last time and unwrapped herself just a bit from his grip, then sighed and fully pulled away, Spyro unwrapping himself from her in response. The two of them just sat on the bed, not even looking at each other and focusing their glances down at the bed's unmade blankets instead.

"Spyro… Does this happen a lot for you guys?" she asked, her voice still barely a pained whisper.

Spyro winced, but then steeled himself and nodded. "Unfortunately. We try our hardest, try our best to save everyone we can… But sometimes, we're just a little too late, come up a little too short…" Spyro sighed and folded his wings. "Sometimes, we just can't save everyone, no matter how hard we try."

"It hurts, doesn't it?"

Spyro lifted his head and glanced at Chihiro, but she shied away from his look and turned aside.

"How do you even deal with all that?"

Well, that was a loaded question, wasn't it? Spyro pursed his snout shut, humming for a moment before he took a breath. He pulled his head aside, a bit uncertain as to whether he should speak to Chihiro or not. After all, she was already so upset, and surely this could easily make her feel worse, right? But, well, it was worth a shot.

"Well, every time it happens, I want to blame myself, I want to get angry at myself, at someone else, at anything. I guess it's easier to think that there was something that could've been done. But sometimes, things don't work out the way I'd like. It's hard, I know." Spyro lifted his head up and turned back to Chihiro. "But, I guess, even if I can't save them, I can save as many as I can. I'll mourn the ones I couldn't, then pick myself up and try my hardest for the people still here, in honor of all the people I couldn't save."

Chihiro stirred a little, shuffling her weight to the left, and Spyro tilted his head.

"Does that make sense?"

Chihiro nodded, then wiped her face off a little.

"Yeah, it does." Chihiro gulped, then hopped off the bed, her hair fluttering for a moment but quickly resting at her shoulders once more. She glanced to the wall, her lips now steeled and no longer trembling, and though her eyes were still red and puffy, that same sparkle of determination shone in them like it always did. "I, I don't want any more people to end up like he did."

Chihiro took a breath, then stormed towards the door and yanked it open with such force that a cold burst of wind flew in! The whole air chilled around her as she summoned a sword, then raised it to the air as she entered the halls. That same blue glow that always came from her spellcasting trickling around her, lighting her veins in a bright shade of blue, a sight of energy after so long.

"So while I'm still here, I'm gonna stop that Arkilles guy, no matter what! Even if it's the last thing I do, I'll stop him!" she vowed before turning around with sword still in hand. "Where's everyone else? We need to get ourselves together and figure out how to stop this guy!"

Spyro winced, the faint memories of the earlier meeting tension still in memory, but he nodded and flew off after Chihiro nonetheless.

"We were actually holding a strategy meeting in the lower decks," Spyro explained before scratching his horn. "But, uh, it hasn't been going well…"

"Take me there, now."

Fire burned in Chihiro's eyes, and not the metaphorical kind—no, hot blue flames masked around her normally brown eyes, tinting her skin in a cool cyan tone that still burned into Spyro's heart! In fact, just her gaze, cool and tough without relenting as she held her sword's hilt the tightest she could. The Chihiro who had been crying her eyes out had disappeared, and a new determination flooded her. Just being in her presence, even left Spyro shaking for once, which was saying a lot!

So, Spyro nodded and teleported them off in a flash, purple light enveloping them for moments before it disappeared and dropped them off in the lower decks. Spyro didn't even need to open his eyes, just the sounds of screaming and arguing were enough to show that he had arrived.

He opened his eyes at last as the light faded… And the first thing he did was lean aside as a gold coin shot towards him and embedded itself in the wall!

There before him, crammed into the biggest room they could manage, was almost every member of their team—the Elder Elementals sans Tree Rex and Ninjini on one end, the rest of those portal masters sans 'Enehana on the other, and in the back every other Skylander not named Whirlwind crowded together. They all curled around a simple wooden table practically on the verge of splitting in half, the calmer members of their ranks tense as they pulled a few more… Spirited types away before they knocked anyone's teeth out.

Gill Grunt hid in the back and winced at the sight of Spyro, and Spyro only sighed in response. Looks like Gill's mediating session hadn't gone quite as planned, either.

"I'm telling ya, we need to hit 'em where it hurts!" Terrafin cried as he slammed his fist against the table, cracking its surface. He snarled as wide as he could, his pearly white fangs glistening with hot yellow light that shone in his eyes and gave them a bit of a murderous glint. "We're going back to that creep's hideout and taking him in!"

"Yeah, yeah!" Trigger Happy cried as he bounced in the background and spun around his gold pistols. "I wanna blast some robot heads off! Like, ka-pow, ka-pow!"

Trigger Happy pulled the trigger and fired off a few more golden coins, and everyone else grimaced and ducked as the coins ricocheted around the room before embedding themselves in the walls.

"That's preposterous!" Vatra cried, oblivious to how Inochi and Sihiri tried to pull him away as he slammed his hands on the table in turn. "We've already tried to storm his hideout once. Surely, he probably thinks we'll go back there again! He'll likely have moved bases or upped the security. Hell, he's probably already prepared his fair share of traps lying in wait! It'd be much better to—"

"To do what?" Terrafin pushed himself against the table, cracking it further as his face brushed right against Vatra's. "Run around Skylands looking for something to magically stop him? Hate to say it, but we don't have all the time in the world like you think we do!"

"And rushing in head-first is going to get us all killed! What good will that do anyone?!"

"And what do you care about that? You're all already dead!"

A few gasps came from the portal masters' and the Elder Elementals' corners, and yet Vatra hardly reacted… Or so it seemed. His hair started to flare despite the lack of air, and a scent of burning started to waft in the room. In fact, just the tiniest hints of smoke came from his fingertips as he dug then into the wood, kindling it slightly.

"Take that back," was all Vatra hissed out as he dug his hands further.

Terrafin only scoffed and crossed his arms. "And why do I have to? It's true," he snarked. "Hell, I'd say all those years sleeping in those weird crystals of yours must have messed up your head!"

"Damn shark!"

Vatra threw a punch, nearly hitting Terrafin's face if Inochi and Sihiri hadn't pulled him away—and just before Terrafin could react, Gill Grunt and Stealth Elf both yanked him away as well! The two still struggled, their eyes narrowed and glaring with sharp looks amplified by the light overhead, and more importantly, didn't even lock off of each other! Even though they were both held back tight, neither party was going to give in!

"Let me go!" Terrafin shouted. "This guy's gotten on my last nerve!"

"Cool it, Terrafin!" Stealth Elf shouted back

Gill Grunt grunted as Terrafin's fist hit him on the head, but he still squeezed tight. "Yes, calm down! All this arguing getting us nowhere!"

"He was the one who started it!" Terrafin cried, pointing to Vatra. "Tell that to him!"

"Vatra, what have I told you about that attitude?!" Sihiri scolded.

But, Vatra just grunted and pushed away, just enough to lean forward. "I'm telling you, my plan's obviously the better one here! Why are you listening to that meatheaded shark over me?!"

Terrafin's eyelid twitched, but before he could launch forward, Gill Grunt and Stealth Elf pulled him back once more.

"We aren't, Vatra!" Inochi pleaded. "We just want you to calm down a little so we can discuss this properly!"

"And why should I do that?! We've got the fate of Skylands on our hands and Arkilles still at large! This is the least suitable time for idiotic ideas!"

"Says the guy who doesn't have any idea what we should be doing!" Terrafin shot back.

Eruptor scoffed and crossed his arms. "I'm with Fin on this one. All this sitting around is making my lava boil!"

"No, Vatra's right," Nemir said. "We have to calm down and think this through properly!"

The Elder Elementals and Cali backed away as the arguing grew louder, rumbling the chamber as the shouting flew once more! Snarls and frowns were on pretty much every face as they all leaned in, raring to fight…

And in that moment, Vatra and Terrafin finally freed themselves of their allies grips! They jumped in to fight, but quickly jumped back as a sword made of magic smashed through the table right between them! They backed away as the table's halves collapsed, then glanced back to the door.

There, Spyro carefully backed away as Chihiro hung her head, snarling while her fist twitched. That blue glow that once surrounded her had dyed itself red with heated warmth, and her clothes and hair fluttered with rage. She breathed, in lifted up her head, and…

"What the hell do you all think you're doing?!" Chihiro screamed, pointing a finger at the group.

A few gasped and excused themselves to their corners, others breathed sighs of relief at the final conclusion.

But, in the center, Vatra and Terrafin just relented and crossed their arms. They both stood stoic as Chihiro stormed up to them, yet neither picked a fight or caused a fuss—they just stood, silent.

"The Machine Ghost… He didn't die so we could argue and make a big fuss about who's right and who's not! We can't just stand around and bicker when lives are on the line!" Chihiro shot glares at both Vatra and Terrafin, her eyes glowing blue, and in turn they backed away and gulped. "We need to plan our next course of action to stop Arkilles right now, and that's final! No fits, no fuss, just planning."

Chihiro stomped her foot, shaking the room just a bit.

"Understood?"

Both Vatra and Terrafin cringed for a moment, but finally gulped down their pride with a nod. They both mumbled in agreement and raised a brow at Chihiro, then when she nodded, they both lifted up the broken halves of the table and pieced them together, long enough for Chihiro to seal it back together with magic. The three of them gathered at its sides, the others crowded around the rest—and with them all together, Chihiro crafted a paper out of magic and laid it on the table.

"Now, there's no doubting that Arkilles is going to try and find another way to Arkus—he's probably begun work on repairing that Conquertron and extracting the map as we speak," Chihiro said.

Terrafin, in turn, laid a hand on the table. "And that's why we've gotta storm his base again and knock him out—"

"BUT, we've already tried storming his base once. He probably would expect us to try that again, and surely he'd have protective measures in place for that." Chihiro glanced aside as Terrafin reluctantly removed his hand. "Therefore—"

"We simply find an alternate means of stopping him!" Vatra proclaimed. "I'm sure knocking down a few of his armies would suffice."

"Not quite. That's only going to slow him down, not stop him, and he'd probably expect something like that too."

Terrafin and Vatra both glanced at Chihiro and raised their brows, and even the others around her just whispered and gawked in confusion.

"So what are we supposed to do?" the two of them asked.

Chihiro breathed in and out, then held her hands over the paper.

"I propose a different route—we beat him to Arkus ourselves, take out him armies, then catch Arkilles right as he gets there and stop him for good!"

A few gasps and nervous bits of chatter raised in the air, while Vatra and Terrafin were both left to gawk.

"Alright, that sounds all good in theory and all, Chi, but I think you're forgettin' something," Terrafin said as he crossed his arms. "How're we supposed to get to Arkus without a map?"

"Thought about that too." Chihiro parted her hands, and an illustration of a robot appeared on the paper underneath her. "Theoretically, those Arkeyan robots still in the vault could have the map in their databanks. Once we've got the Dread-Yacht fixed up, we can go back and send a team in there to hack them and get the instructions. But, it might take a little while to find a robot with the map's location, not to mention it could be dangerous in this current state…"

A soft cough came from behind, and all three heads turned back to Nemir as he strode forward.

"If you'll pardon my interruption, I believe I may have an easier solution," Nemir said as he raised his hand.

"Go on."

Prompted on by Chihiro's nod, Nemir cleared his throat. "Back in my homelands, we've all grown up on tales on the Oracle. Now, I'm not sure if any of you are familiar with him—"

"Wait, you mean that Oracle legend?" Sihiri added in from the back. "The one of the near-omnipotent being who knows practically everything there is to know and more?"

Nemir smiled and nodded. "Indeed, he knows basically everything. I'd know—I've communed with him personally, as have every king, every high priest… Anyone who's ever held a position of power in my homeland have sought his wisdom, and he has never steered us wrong once. I have no doubt in my mind that he can guide us to Arkus."

"Then, where is this place?" Chihiro asked.

"Well…" Nemir hummed and rubbed his chin. "Back in my time, my homelands were known as the Warê Gihandar-Mirî—the border between the supernatural and the mundane. But, I'm sure it's undergone a change in name since those times…"

A door creaked open, turning everyone's eyes to the back right as Cali pushed open the door and stepped in, curiously in her eyes and a flick in her ears.

"Warê Gihandar-Mirî? I know that place!" Cali added. "Well, it's called Molekin Mountain now—see, in all the years you've been gone, a bunch of Molekin moved there, and, well… We can save that for later!" Cali shook her head and grinned. "I should have a map there in my quarters! We can get right there once repairs are done!"

"Is that so?" Nemir asked, raising a brow.

"Then that's where we're going!" Chihiro cried, cracking her knuckles.

§The next morning…§

Dawn had just started to crack, but nobody had gotten a single ounce of sleep—and yet, the island was still as lively as it was the night prior! As light poured over and painted the world in bright shades of pink and orange, warmed the chilling airs around and roused the birds into singing their songs, the sounds of hard work rustled the air! Over on the Dread-Yacht, the faint echoes of mechanical works came from within, a symphony of buzzing drills, creaking wrenches and pounding hammers amplified by the sounds from aside!

There the Machine Ghost's body laid, still in quite the massive amount of disrepair but at least better than it was last night. Bouncer and 'Enehana busied themselves as they straightened out its body parts with their technomancy, stretching our arms and limbs like accordions before smoothing out their metal the best they could. Down below, Hot Head, Spyro and Vatra used their flames as torches, sealing in new metal while Jorden and Terrafin pried out old parts far too damaged to be salvaged so Trigger Happy and Chihiro could pop in new ones. The metal once burnt and disarrayed had at least regained some of its color thanks to Whirlwind and Luz painting it back again…

And at the bottom of it all, Ermit huffed and sat down as he pushed a box of tools their way. His clothes had been mended some and a few of his bruises had faded, while his cuts had all formed their scabs. But, the bandages that covered his head and body and the crutches that laid to his side still showed he was still fairly worn. And yet there he sat, striking his frazzling beard and adjusting his dented nose ring as he handed off the tools.

"Are you sure you want to help, Ermit?" Chihiro asked as she levitated a wrench from him. "You still need a lot of rest before you can recover…"

"It's my robot, ain't it? I can make sure it's getting repaired to my liking if I want!" Ermit shouted. "Now hurry up and take the wrench already!"

Chihiro just rolled her eyes and levitated the wrench above her, tossing it over the shoulder to where a few of the other Elder Elementals tightened in some new tech. A faint clunk and a shout of pain came from the air, and she gasped as she glowed blue.

"Sorry!" Chihiro cried as she teleported to the back.

Ermit sighed, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms… But his frowns and disapproving glances turned a little more somber as he glanced over the robot. "That bloody ghost king or whatever better be taken care of when all this is over," he mumbled. "I'm not spending the rest of my life…"

"What was that, Ermit?"

Ermit jumped up, and in that moment he yowled out, doubling over and clutching his side! As he fell to his knees, Spyro gasped and lifted Ermit up, then levitated Ermit's crutches onto his back as he guided Ermit back to the Dread-Yacht.

"Actually, nevermind, I'll take you back to the infirmary," Spyro said. "I think Flynn's about ready to shove off, anyways!"

A wave of feedback rumbled in the air, shaking leaves off the trees and sending the birds into flight! Everyone stopped what they were doing to cover their ears, tools dropping to the grass for moments. And as they peered up, a megaphone emerged from the Dread-Yacht, its crimson color turning brighter against the sunlight.

"Alright, everyone! This is your dashing captain speaking!" Flynn shouted over the megaphone. "The best airship in all of Skylands has finally had its repairs done, which means we're setting off for Molekin Mountain!"

With a nod, all eyes turned to a simple trailer hooked into the Dread-Yacht's back, then everyone else skidded away as Sihiri, 'Enehana, Bouncer, Ninjini, and Chihiro all surrounded the Machine Ghost's body. Strained, pained groaning came from the team as they held out their hands, and an orange and purple light surrounded the Machine Ghost's body as it flew up and carefully inched towards the trailer's open door, its team of movers inching behind the whole way…

Then as it slipped into the trailer, its glow faded and it rested down while the sextet slumped down and panted.

They all rolled down the trailer's door and sighed as they pushed it shut, then with the last bits of strength in them, they rushed up the Dread-Yacht's drawbridge and laid down as the drawbridge itself shut. The Dread-Yacht sputtered below them, and they all beamed as it took flight, sending leaves and grass flying in the dawny pink skies as it soared through a thicket of clouds and past the sun, finally disappearing into the skies as the sun reached its zenith.

§

"'When the jet water had settled,'" Glumshanks read off the worn book that laid underneath his fingertips, its pages illuminated by the candlestick to his right, "'add the crushed spell bells and ash to the brew—'"

The door to Glumshanks' chambers slammed open, and on instinct he snatched the book off the table and shoved it into a nearby drawer. Slamming the drawer down just as the door opened to its fullest and filled the worn chamber with light, Glumshanks leaped from his seat.

"Lord Kaos—" he shouted, before stopping himself as he found one of those Arkeyan soldiers standing in his doorway.

His heart stopped for a moment, as if he was still expecting Lord Kaos—but no, Lord Kaos was still bedridden, and probably would be for at least the next few weeks. He wasn't sure what happened back at the vault, but whatever it was, it left Lord Kaos in the worst state Glumshanks had seen him in, and that Conquertron in complete disrepair. It was a miracle they were even able to bring it in without it falling apart and disappearing into the skies! And besides, right now, Lord Kaos wasn't Lord Kaos, he was that ghost.

"Butler? Butler!" the Arkeyan soldier called.

Glumshanks shook his head, then nodded. "Yes?"

"Our resplendent Arkeyan lord wishes to see you in the medicinal bay," the robot echoed, its voice as cold and robotic as its metal body. "Arrive there post-haste."

The robot disappeared down the halls, and Glumshanks glanced aside, back to the potion he was working on. He almost contemplated bringing it with him. But no, it wouldn't be any use to him or Lord Kaos, not in its current state.

So, he just left the incomplete brew on his desk and trailed down the halls, his eyes not lifting from the floor. He wasn't entirely sure if this ghost really was that old Arkeyan king Glumshanks had read about or just somebody with a serious case of mistaken identity… But Glumshanks knew one thing, and it was that he couldn't bear to see Lord Kaos pushed out of his own body—the Lord Kaos that stood before him was no different than somebody wearing his skin, and Glumshanks missed hearing the young lord's over-the-tops schemes and squeals about the doom of all Skylands. He had even begun to miss all the insults that were flung at him on a seemingly daily basis!

Glumshanks sighed as his eyes drifted to the medicinal bay's door, and he pushed it open to find Lord Kaos laid on a bed, seemingly asleep while two more Arkeyan robots changed the bandages dressing his many wounds. The swelling and bruising that covered his body had gone down some, but his legs were still wrapped in tight casts, and he groaned and moaned as he twisted in his sleep as if just laying down was still excruciatingly painful for him. Seeing him in this state was almost as painful as hearing that ghost man's voice uttering from his lips, and Glumshanks couldn't help but wince.

The slight sound of his voice brought both robots' eyes to him, but they didn't make a sound—they only left the room, slowly and quietly closing the door behind them until only Glumshanks and Lord Kaos remained.

Lord Kaos grunted, his teeth clenching and grinding as he twisted in his bed, but finally he forced an eye open and scoffed.

"There you are, Grabblerabble," Kaos groaned in that awful man's voice. "It took you long enough to arrive. I'd have chewed you out if not for the awful state I'm in."

Kaos groaned again as he turned on his side, and Glumshanks crept up to him in turn.

"Is there anything you need, Lord Kaos?" Glumshanks asked—but before he could come any further, Kaos slapped Glumshanks' hands away.

"To begin with, do not address me by that rat's name. I am your radiant Arkeyan king, Arkilles, and nobody else!" Kaos hissed, a bit of venom in his narrowed red eyes.

Glumshanks drew his hands back, warily nodding the whole time. The slap had barely made contact, and yet it stung so badly… Was it from the presence of that strange man in Kaos's body? Perhaps.

"Second of all—" Kaos turned on his other side and coughed, "—how are repairs on the Conquertron going?"

"We have the best mechanics in our armies repairing it as we speak. However, it was still extremely badly damaged. It'll probably take…" Glumshanks glimpsed down at his fingers and hummed as he counted them off. "At least a week before it's fully operational again, and that's being generous!"

Kaos growled and shook his arms in the air the best he could. "Well tell them to hurry it up! I need that map to Arkus right now! I know it's in the databanks somewhere, and—"

Kaos's rant was cut short by another coughing fit, and Glumshanks sighed and shook his head.

"We're doing the best we can, but we only have so many mechanics to spare…"

"Then I have a new assignment for you!" Kaos slammed his fist against the bed. "Send out our forces to the Warê Gihandar-Mirî, look for their high priest and take them out! We can't have those insolents seeking out their Oracle's guidance! If they do, the plan will be—"

"Warê Gihandar-Mirî?"

"It's probably called a different name now, so find what it is and search for it! I'd do it myself if I wasn't bedridden because of those, those…"

Kaos moved to press his head into his pillow and mumble something in a frustrated, undignified manner, and Glumshanks just nodded at the sight.

"Alright then, I'll get onto that," Glumshanks said as he reached for the door. He creaked it open and gulped, his spine shaking as he avoided Lord Kaos's gaze…

"Oh, and Grabspanks?"

Glumshanks froze in his place and turned back to Kaos. "Yes?"

"Know your place," Kaos hissed as he shot one last glare at Glumshanks. "I won't tolerate any suspicious actors in my armies."

Glumshanks clenched his teeth, and for a moment the potion he was making flashed back into his mind… But he forced a smile and nodded nonetheless.

"I, I'll be sure to keep that in mind… Lord Arkilles."

Glumshanks slowly stepped out and closed the door behind him, then took a small breath. That name had already turned to ashes in his mouth, so sickening with their burnt taste. Could that ghost have already caught onto Glumshanks' ploys from before? Glumshanks hoped not. So, he strode down the halls and withdrew his tablet from his pocket, then chiseled in his latest assignment under a long list of added assignments brought on by Lord Kaos's injuries.

"Next up, send out those Arkeyan soldiers to do negotiations with the monarchs of Tempest Towers… Hmm, actually, that gives me an idea."