This is just something that I wanted to put together to keep everything linked with each other (or at least the more important stuff). That way, you wonāt have to scroll through everything to find anything in particular. Hope this helps with everything.
If thereās anything that you want to see on this list, please just let me know and Iāll add it.
My other accounts:
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Moomin:
Sick: click HERE
First Time For Everything: click HERE
Storms: click HERE
Reunion: click HERE
Possession:Ā click HERE
Nightmare: click HERE
Snufkin AU:
Shot in the Dark AMV series:Ā click HERE
The Phoenix:Ā click HERE
Rise: ???
Big Bro Snuf AU
Disclaimer: click HERE
Names: click HERE
First Meeting:Ā click HERE
Kaimaki:
Momoharu Week 2021: click HERE
Childhood Friends:Ā click HERE
Kingdoms (Fantasy AU): click HERE
Limitless (super power au):Ā click HERE
Running (Limitless sequel): click HERE
Momoharu Week 2022: click HERE
Kingdoms Sequel by Emerald_Shadow on Ao3: click HERE
This was a request made by one of my readers on A03. Hope you all enjoy it.
Happy Pride Month!
Going to the parkour gym was fairly new to Pipās routine. After discovering that Dude had decided to make it a new form of exercise, she decided to attempt it herself, effectively becoming a buddy for Dude while they went. It took a while to make it work well enough to not disturb everything else, but once it was concrete, (and Pip had some breathable clothing to move around in under Dudeās insistence) she made a start. The first month consisted of testing how high she can jump, her upper body strength, how her speed was, as well as her reaction time and how well she can balance.
In the time she had been at the gym, Dude helped her to work on mostly strength, jumping and balance since the Rick chick was already a good enough runner. With the amount of times the Gang had needed to run, it was natural that any of them would get better at it.
On a particular day, Dude, along with the coach decided to work more on Pipās balance. On feet, she could walk on a beam that took a couple of weeks for her to get right. Now she was trying to do handstands. However, she either couldnāt get her legs to kick high enough or she kicked too high, as she always lost her balance. Dude had helped a couple of times, having held her ankles to help keep her upright. When that happened, Pip would be able to stay like that for a few seconds before falling over or she got back on her feet.
The day they went for another run shouldāve been a day for Pip to improve. However, even while doing warm ups, Dude could tell that something was distracting Pip. It wasnāt anything too new, as either one of the gang would get distracted by one thing or another. However, this distraction had Pip wrapped around its little finger for the last few days. And that rope seemed to have gotten tighter with each day. It was a miracle that she hasnāt missed her cues during the shows. Though Dude had a feeling that she would sooner or later if she didnāt say anything about it.
When Pip tried again to do a handstand on her own, she had kicked too high. As she felt her body go up, she felt herself go backwards. She panicked and tried to go back to being upright, but it was too late. She slammed backwards onto the padded flooring. A wheeze left her lungs as she had the wind knocked out of her.
Time to intervene.
āPip, are you okay?ā Dude asked as he leaned over the stunned rock chick.
āNo, Iām embarrassedā¦ā Pip groaned, her breath coming back to her.
āThatās not what I meant.ā Dude said as he calmly offered a hand. Pip eyed at it for a moment before accepting the help. Dude carefully pulled her up into a sitting position. āHow about a break? Get more of your breath back?ā
āSays the guy thatās been doing nothing but watching me.ā Pip snorted.
āSpotting. I was spotting.ā Dude lightheartedly fired back as he sat down in front of Pip. The gym wasnāt particularly busy that day, so they were able to sit where they were without getting in anyone elseās way. As they sat in silence, they listened to the few that were there as they ran, jumped, pulled themselves up and performed many tricks. It was a new rhythm that Pip had become accustomed to. Not for the first time, she was coming up with music in her head in time with the beat that she was hearing. Seeing that Pip started to relax, Dude decided again to break the ice.
āWhatās on your mind?ā He asked, watching Pipās expressions carefully. āYouāve been more distracted than usual as of late.ā
āNothing!ā Pip exclaimed, pulling back from Dude slightly. She wasnāt making eye contact either. Sheās hiding something.
āCome on, Pip.ā Dude smirked knowingly. āIām the leader, I know when somethingās wrong with anyone in the gang.ā Pip wanted to shout another protest, but it died in her throat. She knew that if she did, it would only spin them both in circles. So, she stayed silent. That was Dudeās hint that he wasnāt wrong. He just needed to probe further, but just apply the pressure gently.
āHas someone been bothering you?ā He asked.
āNo, itās not that.ā Pips sighed, still looking down. That was the truth. If someone, especially if it was Misty, had been upsetting Pip, the rock chick would be ranting at a mile a minute until she ran out of puff. So no one had been bothering her, but something was if it was enough to distract Pip. Dude pondered over what it could have been.
It probably wasnāt a thing that was bothering Pip.
It wasnāt anything she couldāve been excited about either, because she wouldnāt shut up about it.
It was something but maybe it wasnāt all negative or positive? A mix of both maybe?
It was a shot in the dark but it might help make some eliminations.
āLet me guess: you like someone?ā Dude asked teasingly. It was a joke, but Pip didnāt laugh. She flinched so hard that it was as if she was struck. She then hid her face in her knees, but not before Dude caught how red it had become. That made the eliminations alright. Dude found the source. āWow. Didnāt think Iād hit the nail on the head.ā
āSince when did you turn romantic?ā Pip huffed, her voice muffled by her knees.
āHa, ha.ā Dude remarked. He then glanced around to make sure that no one was paying attention. Luckily, everyone else was still concerned about what they were doing. No one was going to bother them. āJust want to make sure that youāre okay.ā Pip rose her head, looking less embarrassed but still a little pink. āSo, who is it? Is it Bud?ā
āBudās great, but not my type.ā Pip smiled fondly, shaking her head a little. āBefore you ask, itās not you either. Great mate, but again, not my type.ā
Thatās two people down.
āSprout?ā Dude asked hesitantly.
āNo!ā Pip exclaimed. Dude chuckled a little, knowing that Sprout was a long shot. Not that many people left to identify.
āCanāt be a Redcoat?ā Dude asked cautiously.
āDefinitely not.ā Pip agreed. Dude doubted it was a guest as well. Unless she saw a particular one enough times and hung out with them long enough, there wasnāt a way that Pip would develop a crush for them. If Dude was wrong then heāll happily accept that and try, but it didnāt feel like that would be his answer.
āOne of the girls?ā Dude asked slowly. Pipās faces crumpled to shame and she lowered her head again. Now Dude needed to be careful. He was on new ground for him., and he didnāt want to cross any liners. If Pip didnāt want to say anything, then Dude will drop the matter, but she didnāt. Dude then started thinking about each of the girls in the gang and how Pip interacted with them. It didnāt feel like anything was obvious at first glance. Then Dude recalled those moments again. A name popped up. āCandi?ā Pip curled up tighter, but again, she didnāt tell Dude to back off. āHow long?ā
āI donāt knowā¦a long time I thinkā¦ā Pip mumbled but loud enough for Dude to hear. Dude stayed quiet, giving her space. She needed it. After a minute, she picks up her head and starts spilling out words. āI justā¦I donāt know why. Candiās a brilliant friend. She listens when she needs to, sheās sweet and kind. Sheās justā¦someone I think I could rely on when it counts and be able to love dearly.ā Then Pipās face turned red as she couldnāt help but say: āAnd sheās so cute too!ā
āWonāt deny that.ā Dude smiled, understanding what Pip was saying. As Pip calmed down from her high, he thought it was a good time to ask his next question. āDo you plan to tell her?ā
āAnd then what? Ruin our friendship?ā Pip asked back, looking ashamed of herself for even speaking her secret. āWhat if she doesnātā¦you know?ā Dude didnāt need validation for what Pip was leading to.
āYou donāt know unless you try.ā He said encouragingly. Pip only gave a hopeless sigh. āDo you want me to help out?ā
āNo offence Dude, but youād be hopeless.ā Pip shook her head. āIf anything, if you try to sneak around about it, youāll probably make it worse.ā
āFair point.ā Dude agreed with a laugh. āIām not the most subtle guy in the world.ā Pip laughed along with him. It broke the tension she had and made her feel better. Talking about coming out, in a parkour gym of all places, and to Dude no less, was something she didnāt think sheād do so easily. It felt good. It just made everything feel right for the first time in a while.
āJust donāt tell the othersā¦at least not until Iām readyā¦ā Pip begged, anxiety creeping ion again.
āDeal.ā Dude simply said as he offered a hand to shake. Pip accepted then gesture. It wasnāt Dudeās secret to share, so he wonāt. But heāll be there to support Pip when the time was right. He owed her that much. Time to change the subject as to not linger any longer. āNow, how about those handstands?ā
āPlease, help!ā Pip pleaded desperately. Dude laughed again as he and Pip prepared themselves for another try for the rock chick.
It had been a couple of weeks since that conversation. Dude and Pip, in front of everyone else, acted like nothing had happened. Dude kept his words about keeping Pipās secret, and Pip was grateful for that. She became less distracted since coming out, as if she was merely going through a phase. However, she couldnāt be alone with Candi. Whenever she was, it was like a time bomb was ready to blow and the only way to stop it was to avoid her pink crush, or have someone join them. She was too scared to ruin everything. Dude tried to talk with her about it in private; sometimes, she would open up, but other times she wouldnāt.
Candi herself didnāt seem to notice at first, but after a while, it was starting to affect her too. She was confused and sad that Pip was starting to act strangely around her. She just didnāt understand anything. Dude, while still trying to keep Pipās secret, tried to tell Candi that nothing was wrong, and that Pip just had a lot on her mind, bout that didnāt help much. It was like a gridlock situation. Something needed to be done, otherwise everything could fall apart.
One day, Dude was relieving some stress by playing basketball and practicing some throws. While doing so, he was trying to think of a plan to resolve the issue. He canāt force Pip to come out to Candi. He might need to have a sit down with her and talk about it. He still needed to be careful, and try not to pressure Pip into anything. That was the worst thing hew could do. While Dude was still thinking things over, a Redcoat suddenly walked up to the court.
āDude? Someoneās here to speak with you.ā He called out, snapping Dude out of his thoughts. Speak with him? That sounded a little ominous. Though Dude thought that he was overthinkingĀ it.
āIāll be right there.ā He said, his basketball tucked under his arm. āWhere are they?ā
āBy the main stage.ā The Redcoat answered as he pointed to the pavilion. āTheyāre sitting near the back of the sitting area.ā
āThanks!ā Dude smiled as he broke into a light jog towards the pavilion. He didnāt even think to store his basketball somewhere safe. He even dribbled it a little before he went inside. As he scanned the sitting area, he spotted an individual at a table. They had short dark hair, with a hair clip keeping a part of their hair back from their face. They were wearing loose fitting clothing in the form of wide jeans and a baggy shirt. They were looking down at a book they were reading intensely. They had an A3 portfolio propped against a table leg with a satchel next to it. As Dude got a little closer, he noticed a pin badge that was of the non binary flag on the satchel.
āHello.ā Dude greeted gently as he approached the table. The individual looked up eagerly as they heard him. āYou wanted to speak with me.ā
āYes. Iām Mel.ā Mel smiled as they stood up and offered out a hand. āIām part of the local LGBTQ+ community.ā
āPleasure to meet you.ā Dude smiled back as they shook hands. āHow can I help?ā Mel then reached for their portfolio and laid it out on the table. They opened it up and pulled out a glossy looking poster for a festival and a date was printed on it.
āWe have Pride Month starting next week.ā Mel explained as they offered the poster to Dude so he could have a closer look at it. āI have some posters here about a festival weāre hosting for the end of the month. With your permission, Iād like to put some up to advertise it. Weāve done it before in the past with the old gang but I wasnāt sure how youād be okay with it.ā
Dude scanned the poster up and down, impressed by what it was advertising. Nothing flashy. Just enough to grab the attention of those that would have an interest.
āThatās perfectly fine by me.āĀ Ā He answered, approval evident in his voice. āIf youād like, you can put them up in the old areas that they have been previously. Put up as many as youād like.ā
āThank you so much.ā Mel sighed in relief, closing the portfolio. As they grabbed their satchel and put their book in their satchel, Dude was suddenly struck by inspiration. He looked at the poster again. It was a farfetched idea, itās might be cheesy, but at the same time it felt right. With how Pip was acting and her coming out to him, he thought that it might break the ice a little. If not, then he doesnāt know what else to do about it.
āDo you mind if I take this one myself? Or perhaps a leaflet if you have any?ā Dude enquired, gesturing to the poster. When Mel gave him a curious look, Dude continued: āI think a couple members of the gang would be interested in going if we have a non busy period.ā
āSure thing! The more the merrier!ā Mel beamed, excited for new faces to join the yearly event. Dude and Mel exchanged goodbyes and went their separate ways. Keeping the poster close, Dude ran to Central Stage. It was currently;y closed, no one, not even staff were there. Except for Pip. Sometimes, she found writing songs or playing her guitar there when it wasnāt being used was better than the house. Less distractions, and she wouldnāt cause trouble for being too loud. As Dude got closer to the doors, he could hear Pipās guitar as she let out a couple of rifts. She paused for a few seconds, possibly to write down or change an idea she had, and then continued her music again. When Dude opened the door, Pip was found sitting on the stage, pen tucked behind her ear with her notepad lying open beside her as she played. Sensing that someone was in the same room, she looked up.
āHey, Dude.ā She greeted, strumming a couple of notes.
āHey, Pip.ā Dude said, holding out the poster for her to see. Pip paused her song, and looked at the bright paper. āPride Month. The town is having a festival.ā Pip scanned the date of the event and got excited. She had been to Pride events before with her dads since she was young. It would be her first time representing herself and she felt more excited for it.
āThanks for letting me know.ā She smiled, placing the poster by her notepad. She was ready to start strumming again, when she caught the looks on Dudeās face. āWhat? Ohā¦ā Message received. That was why Dude brought her the poster instead of taking it to the house for everyone to see first. He was hinting on how Pip could open up to Candi. But only if she wanted to.
āItād be good timingā¦ā Dude offered, taking a seat next to Pip on the stage.
āWouldnāt it be too corny? Or predictable?ā Pip asked anxiously. If only she knew that Dude had a similar thought when he formed the plan.
āIt seemed right to me, but itās your choice.ā He shrugged. Pip bit her lip and looked away. Dude wasnāt wrong, but she still wasnāt sure. Dude gently placed a hand on her shoulder, providing an emotional anchor. āAnd only if youāre ready. The problem right now is that Candiās suspecting that somethingās wrong. Sheās probably thinking that she did something to upset you or something.ā Dude loathed bringing Candi into the conversation like that. He felt like he was manipulating Pip like that, but he couldnāt stop himself. It would seem that his words caused Pip to think about it though.
āIāllā¦Iāll think about itā¦ā she said quietly. She knew that Dude was right. She had seen the harm that she was starting to cause Candi. She knew that it needed to end. She just didnāt know how to fix things.
āMaybe ask your dads about it too?ā Dude suggested kindly, offering another door for Pip to open. āWho knows? Maybe talking to them will help.ā That was something Pip honestly hadnāt considered. Why didnāt she do that in the first place? Was she that insecure about coming out to them? She shouldāve known better. After thinking it through, Pip calmed down and felt better again.
āThanks, Dude.ā She said, more confident. Dude rubbed her a little before he let go and stood up. He felt a little better himself.
āIāll leave you to it.ā He smiled and left the rock chick alone. As the door closed behind him, Pip looked down at the popster again, a small, but firm, resolve forming in her mind.
That night, after everyone retired to their rooms, Pip was still stuck in a rut. The poster was laid out on the bed in front of her, almost mocking her. Her phone was in her hand, her fingers clenched around it like a vice. With the house being mostly quiet, with some noises making it to Pipās super hearing, gave her some comfort that everyone had settled into their nightly routines. It gave her an extra cushion in knowing that she wouldnāt-shouldnāt-be disturbed. Dudeās words kept replaying in her head, a broken record that she couldnāt stop playing. She needed to do it, thatās what she also had on repeat. Just anything to help her with her situation.
She looked down at her phone, her contacts list open for the world to see. Knowing the current time, and her familyās routines, Pop was probably the better option as heād be taking a break from his music and Dad would more than likely be doing some painting or something like that. Pip played a small beat in her head, gaining more courage as her head moved to the beat. One more deep breath, and Pip hit the call button. She waited for ten seconds before the screen changed to Popās face on the video call. He had stubble on a tanned face with brown eyes that held a silent strength that showed through his music. He was wearing a leather jacket and his hair was up in a man bun. It seemed that, like Pip had predicted, he only just finished practising his music and hadnāt started getting ready for bed due to being too hyped up. He brightened up as he saw his daughterās face, a smile that Pip always associated with whenever he was ready to burst out into a power ballad.
āPip! Hello, Rock Star!ā He beamed, the video shaking little as he seemed to tremble with excitement.
āHey, Pop!ā Pip smirked, just as excited. Her smile helped to hide her nerves.
āIs that our daughter?ā Dadās voice suddenly called out. So he wasnāt painting after all. Or maybe he was somewhere close enough to hear the phone. Pop shifted from where he was sitting as his husband sat next to him. He was almost the complete opposite of Pop. He had short, light coloured hair with eyes thatās held a serene calmness. An old shirt had paint stains that dried up a long time ago. He had a splatter of paint on his cheek, which he attempted to wipe off with a small towel.
A rough, rock genre orientated musician and a calm, collected artist.
Complete opposites, and yet, they somehow work well together.
āHey, Dad!ā Pip continued to greet as both her dads were seen on her phone screen. Things felt like they were falling into place.
āHello, sweetheart.ā Dad smiled back, the paint now off his cheek. āHavenāt heard from you for a while.ā
āYeah, Iāve been busy.ā Pip agreed, her nerves returning to her. She can do it. She knew that she could. She just needed to build up to it so she doesnāt shock them too much. She grabbed the poster and held it up as best she could so they could see. āListen to this: Iām going to a Pride Festival. Iāll be representing you two.ā
āThank you Rock Star.ā Pop beamed again as he and his husband shared a grin at their daughterās news. āWeāll be going to our local one too. Weāll miss you being there, but we appreciate you going to yours for us.ā
āAnd for meā¦ā Pip couldnāt help but mutter as she was reminded of the main point she wanted to talk about.
āPip?ā Pop prompted, his smile vanishing. Like Pip, he had immaculate hearing, almost as great as Pipās. Pip dropped the poster, and played her beat again. She needed to take it easy.
āHow did you two know that you love each other?ā Pip asked. She knew that she loved Candi. At least, she wanted to believe that. She didnāt entirely know why she asked that. Maybe a part of her believed that it was just a phase she was going through. Either way, she wanted some kind of validation to quell her doubts.
āPip, whatās wrong?ā Dad asked, his concern showing. The big question had been asked. Pip wished that she got her answer instead, but she knew that she needed to nip it in the bud.
āIā¦Iām a lesbian, Dads. She stuttered, her attempt to stop her voice from shaking was gone. āAt least, I think I amā¦ā The men didnāt say anything. They exchanged a mildly surprised look before looking back at her. The fact that they were silent somehow made things feel words. Pipās breath came at short breaths as tears started to well up in her eyes. āI think I like one of my friends as more than a friendā¦I donāt know what to do.ā
Everything came crashing down. The secret is out and her dads know now. Suddenly everything that she had bottled up, even things she didnāt think to tell Dude, felt liked it was all out inn the open for everyone and anyone to see. There was nothing she could do to stop it and all negative that she had feared rose in levels before she could stop it.
āPip, calm down, sweetheart.ā Dad spoke through the fog. Pip, with her blurred vision, looked at him as he seemed to take over the screen. He made a hand gesture as he started to breathe slowly. Pip, after a few botched tries, followed him. In for five, hold for five, out for five and repeat. After the fifth breath, Pipās chest no longer felt tight and she could see clearly. When he saw that she had started to be calmer, Dad allowed Pop to share the phone again. He then spoke calmly. āYou really love this young lady.ā
āYeah.ā Pips whimpered as she wiped her eyes. It wasnāt a question, but she didnāt pay attention to that.
āThen donāt overthink it.ā Pop interjected encouragingly. āYou need to be honest with her.ā Honestyās good.
āI didnāt know about my sexuality until I met Pop.ā Dad referred to Pipās earlier question. Pip paid close attention. She knew the story of how they met. In their college days, Pop was dragged to an art exhibition by one of his friends. That was where he met Dad. Pop knew he was homosexual and Dad slowly learned that he was bi after they first met at the gallery. It always sounded cheesy, but Pip liked that story. āWe talked with each other and it clicked into place after a while. Weāre not perfect, but thatās okay. If you really care about this girl, then you need to tell her. Nothing is worse than keeping it bottled up, especially with her.ā
āAnd if she doesnāt like me like that?ā Pip asked, voice hoarse from her breakdown.
āThen best case scenario, sheās still your friend.ā Dad answered calmly. āAnd judging by how much youāve spoken about your friends, Iāve got a feeling that youāll be okay.ā
With her mind more calm and rational, Pip thought those words through. She thought back to how Candi was. Even if she was upset at someone, which was rare enough, if she was close to them, she wasnāt one to just abandon them when there was still time to fix everything. She calmly talks things through, and listens. Pip then thought about the way she had been acting with Candi and the concern that Dude had brought. Was there any time to fix everything? There had to be. Even at dinner, Candi was acting like her normal self. She couldāve been masking when she roped Pip into talking, but the rock chick hoped she wasnāt. There was still time to fix things. Like Dad had said, even if Candi wasnāt into girls, she wasnāt the kind of person to judge harshly and abandon a friend for those reasons.
Thereās still a chance.
āThanks.ā Pip smiled tearfully. Her dads smiled, looking relieved that they managed to get through to her. They also looked more relaxed about the situation. They did their job by helping Pip during her own sexuality crisis.
āTry to get some sleep. You look like you need it.ā Dad suddenly pointed out as Pip let out a huge yawn. With all her worrying, Pip didnāt sleep as well as she thought she did, and after talking with her dads, exhaustion was catching up to her. āClear your head and youāll feel better for it.ā
āAnd Pip, no matter what, youāre our daughter and we love you.ā Pop added with a wide smile. āWeāre very proud of you for coming out to us.ā
āCongratulations, Pip.ā Dad smiled proudly. Those words meant more to Pip than either of her parents would know. She did what she needed to do and everything felt better and better with everything that went well. There was still more that Ashe needed to do, but it didnāt feel so heavy anymore. It was still on her shoulders, but at a point where she could lift it easily.
āThank you.ā Pip yawned again, her eyes becoming droopy. āI love you both too. Goodnight.ā
āRock on, Rock Star!ā Pop shouted, flashing the rock on hand gesture. Dad rolled his eyes affectionately at his husband, but didnāt say anything else against it. He was used to it by now.
āGoodnight, Pip.ā Dad waved off. After an exchange of waves, Pip hung up. Her smile gave in to sadness, but it didnāt affect her too much. She placed her phone on the bedside table and turned off the lamp. She slid under the covers. She stared at the ceiling for a long time, trying to think of what she wanted to say to Candi.
When she scrapped the third idea, exhaustion finally took over and she slipped into a restful sleep.
Over the next few days, Pip worked hard to repair broken bridges with Candi. She managed to get them both back on even ground, and Candi no longer felt like anything was wrong in their friendship. They can both speak alone without Pip needing to bring anyone else in or leaving Candi alone. However, when Pip tried to bring up the topic about her liking Candi to trying to ask her out to the Pride Festival, she couldnāt either she was interrupted by someone or something, or she just couldnāt get the words out. She kept the conversation she had with her dads as her first thought, but whenever she tried to bring up the topic, no words came out, as if the phone call never happened.
Then the festival came. Pip felt like she ran out of time and gave up in asking Candi to join her.
āHeading over there?ā Dude asked as he caught sight of Pip combing out of the house. She was out of her usual attire and wiped off her make up. Instead, she was wearing a black shirt, purple jacket, black jeans with purple motifs and black boots. She still wore her chocker and head band but nothing else; she figured that she should make herself less recognisable as possible. She didnāt want to make herself coming out as fully public yet
āYeah, while thereās still plenty of time to enjoy it.ā Pip said as she slung a small shoulder bag on her shoulder.
āAre you taking Candi?ā Dude asked in anticipation. Pipās face fell a little, remembering her botched attempts to ask Candi out.
āNo, I havenāt told her.ā She confessed with a sigh. āI couldnāt in the end.ā
āSorry, Pip.ā Dude sympathised, looking disappointed himself. He really hoped that his suggestion would work. To hear that it didnāt brought down his mood.
āThere might be another time.ā Pip smiled, more optimistic than Dude was expecting. She then pulled out two pin badges that she had ordered. One of the Pride Flag and one of homosexuality for women. She stuck them on her jacket proudly. āAt least Iāll be representing myself and my dads.ā
āFocus on the positives!ā Dude smiled and he and Pip shared a fist bump. āHave a good time!ā
After exchanging goodbyes, Pip strode off for the town, a small skip in her step.
However, little did either of the two know, a certain grey mischief had been watching and listening.
In all fairness, Misty didnāt mean to eavesdrop, one of the rare times it was genuine. She was just coming back to the house, wanting to grab a snack or two, when she saw Pip coming out of it. She found it strange that Pip had decided to change clothes. So she listened in. She picked up on Pipās odd behaviour, everyone else would be blind if they hadnāt. They were probably too polite to bring it up. So Misty wondered if she would pick up on some clues. And that conversation was a treasure trove.
Pip going to the festival that the posters advertised was confusing to Misty. She didnāt think that Pip would be one to go to places like that. Then she remembered about Pip having dads, and concluded that was part of the reason for her going. She wasnāt entirely wrong. She found it odd that Candi was brought into the conversation. Then she saw the pin badges Pip had put on so proudly. She only knew a few of the LGBTQ+ flags, but she recognised the lesbian flag almost immediately.
Now that explained a lot.
She could out Pip, but then she changed her mind almost after she thought that. Thatās too low, even for her. Seeing as how Dude knew about the situation too, Misty wanted to ask him about it. Then heād probably ground her for eavesdropping. She then thought about Candiās reaction if she were to find out. Misty wasnāt Cupid nor be one to be involved with people in a romantic manner, but honesty she couldnāt stand the attitude that Pip had. It was entertaining at first, but she got bored of it after a coup,e of weeks. Since Dude was too much of a pushover, Misty decided to take matters into her own hands. She dashed away from the house, and hoped that Dude hadnāt spotted her. She scanned the general areas first like the Pavilion and Sky Park. No sign of Miss Pink. So Misty went to the rides. She was just in time as Candi had just stepped off the Merry-Go-Round. She was smiling and waving to some kids that happened to be on at the same time.
Time to go to work.
āHey, Candi.ā Misty called out, trying to put on the friendliest act she could muster. Manipulate, donāt let Candi on to what she was trying to do.
āHi, Misty!ā Candi cheered as she spotted her opposite. Good, Candi was her usual, gullible self. The thread was there, and it was time to sew all the pieces together in order to send Candi on her way to Pip.
āThereās that event going on in town right now.ā Misty gestured towards one of the poster that had been pinned up on one of the glass doors for the pavilion. Candi looked at it, blinking curiously. At what Misty was suggesting. āHeard that Pip was heading there. Maybe she could have a certain pink friend to join her.ā Candiās eyes lit up for a moment at the suggestion. She enjoyed being with any of her friends at anytime. However, the excitement dimmed a little when she recalled her recent interactions with Pip. First the rock chick was distracted, then the started to distance herself from Candi, and now she started talking to her again, but seemed to be avoiding a topic.
āAre you sure?ā Candi asked, tilting her head. āSheās been acting a little strange recently.ā
āJust go!ā Misty urged as she got behind Candi and started to push her forward. āNo time to make up for everything like the present!ā
As Candi was moved forward, she thought about it a little more. She did consider going to the Pride Festival out of curiosity. She didnāt want to go alone and she was quite shy about asking anyone to go with her. Since Pip was already there, and was quite possibly alone, she didnāt need to ask. It was probably better to not be alone, even if Pip was tough.
Why did Pip go anyway?
āWell, if you say so.ā Candi said cheerfully as she pulled away from Misty. āIāll just get changed into something else real quick. Bye, Misty!ā As Candi waved and ran off for the house, Misty couldnāt keep a sly smile off her face. She really outdid herself. She was looking forward to the outcome. Even if it ended all mushy. Either way, it might get things, mostly, back to normal.
āMistyā¦ā
Misty flinched and let out a wince. She slowly turned around to see Dude standing right behind her. Judging by his arms crossed and brow furrowed, he either caught her running from the house, or had caught the tail end of her sending Candi off.
āHi, Dude.ā Misty said, trying to shake odd the issue.
āWhat are you up to?ā Dude asked, tapping a finger on his arm.
āI donāt know what you mean.ā Misty shrugged. She tried to walk past him, but Dudeās hand shot out as a reflex and grabbed the strap of her dungarees. He pulled her back so she was standing in front of him again.
āMistyā¦ā he spoke slowly.
āRelax, Iām not the kind of rat to out somebody.ā Misty said, not sure how else to get out of her situation. Dudeās eyes flashed with irritation. Better say something quick. āJust guided Candi to where Pip is.ā Then Misty pried Dudeās hand off her and ran.
āMisty!ā Dude called out to her, but she was gone. Dude looked back and forth between where Candi was running to and where Misty had disappeared. He briefly if he should stop Candi and explain everything. No, he canāt do that. He promised to keep Pipās secret locked up tight. If he stopped Candi, then heād be forced to break that. So he let it go and hoed that things would go well. With that thought in mind, he went to chase down Misty to give her a stern talking to.
Pip had arrived on time for the festival during a quieter period. Her ear drums rattled from the live music that the local bands had been playing. Among them, people were talking among their own groups. Some were sharing their own coming out stories, while others were catching up and updating their friends on their lives. Some people seemed to be on their own, either experiencing the festival for the first time or fully comfortable with the atmosphere. Stalls were set up selling food (which made Pipās mouth water, especially ones selling burgers), drinks, handmade carts and even offered face painting.
These were all things that Pip was familiar with. She had seen everything before in a different place. That didnāt matter to her. She was somewhere that she felt like she belonged and was able to feel comfortable. She felt like she was happy despite being alone. She was sad that Candi wasnāt with her, but she felt better the longer she stayed. She planned to stay for at least another half an hour to an hour before heading home.
āPip!ā
Pipās head snapped up from the table she had been looking at. She stepped a little further out into the open, scanning the area. Thatās when she spotted Candi heading towards her. She was wearing a pastel pink dress, white pumps with pink flowers, and a white sun hat. She had a small bag hanging off her arm. Pipās heart was beating so fast as she kept herself under control. The less she wanted to blurt out that Candi looked beautiful to her, the less trouble sheāll be in. Candi seemed oblivious to the struggle as she ran up to Pip.
āCandi? What are you doing here?ā Pip asked, her voice shaking a little.
āI was told that you were here.ā Candi beamed, her eyes sparkling. āIāve never been to a Pride Festival before so why not today if a friend is here too?ā
āWho told you?ā Pip asked, suppressing a shudder. She started to rack her brain. Dude couldnāt have set her up right? He promised to not share her coming out, but he didnāt promise to not tell Candi about her going or telling Candi to join her. Pip thought that it couldnāt have been him, he wasnāt that kind of guy.
āMistyā¦she heard that you had planned to come here.ā Candi continued to smile, but her spark dimmed a little.
āWhat else did she tell you?ā Pip asked again. That little mischief! She must have overheard Pip and Dude talking. She had to have heard all of it. She knew! Pip knew that! If Misty knew, then who else has she told? What did she tell Candi?
āNothing.ā Candi answered quickly. She saw Pip starting to hyperventilate. She quickly grabbed her hand, the touch seeming to soothe her. āPip, whatās wrong?ā Pip looked at Candi deeply. That question. That all important question. Pip needed to answer it as best she could. She gently grabbed Candiās hand and pulled her to a quieter area. Candi was confused, but complied. When they were somewhere more private, Pip let go of Candi. She paced a little, trying to plan what she needed to say. Then her dadsā words came back to her. Honesty is the best policy.
āI really like you, Candi.ā She stated, looking Candi in the eyes.
āI like you too, Pip.ā Candi smiled. She meant it as a friend, Pip knew that.
āNoā¦I meanā¦ ālike youā like you.ā Pip reworded, still maintaining eye contact. Candiās brow furrowed for a moment. Pip could see the cogs turning in her head. Candiās eyes drifted to Pipās jacket, spotting the pin badges. Then it dawned on her as to what Pip meant.
āPipā¦ā was all that she said as she processed everything.
āLook, if you donāt like me like that, then thatās fine.ā Pip hurriedly spoke, panic rushing in her again. āIāll still be happy being your friend.ā
āItās not thatā¦ā Candi sighed, looking conflicted. Pip waited, allowing the pink girl to take her time and choose her words. āI donāt know if I like girls like that. Itās not something Iāve explored or thought about before. I think I do but Iām not sure.ā Pip nodded, acknowledging Candiās conflict. Then Candiās eyes brightened. āSo, if youāre okay with what Iām suggesting, could we try having a date? Nothing too romantic, but maybe as a possibility. I think it would be lovely to at least try it out.ā
āWhat? Like right now?ā Pip exclaimed in surprise.
āWhy not? Weāre both here already.ā Candi giggled. Pip couldnāt help but jump with excitement, causing Candi to giggle again. She couldnāt believe it! She really couldnāt! It was better than she was hoping for. She was lighter than air with how happy she was.
āAm I okay to kiss you?ā She blurted out, unable to contain it. Candi thought about it for a moment.
āJust a little one.ā She said as she pointed to a spot on her cheek. As gently as her excitement would allow, Pip pecked Candiās cheek, right on the spot that she was pointed to. She felt Candiās skin go pink before she gave the pink girl a gentle hug.
āThanks, Candi.ā She whispered, close to tears. Candi smiled as she returned the hug, rubbing Pipās back as she felt the rock chick being close to tears. It wasnāt a yes, but a maybe. Candi had agreed to date her. Pip couldnāt have hoped for a better answer. When the two broke away, and after Candi gently dapped Pipās eyes a little with a tissue, the pink girl grasped Pipās hand. She dragged the rock chick behind her as they ran back into the festival to enjoy what time they had there. Both were content and ready to see where these ādatesā would take them. They wonāt rush and push without permission.
All it took was one step at a time.
First of all, I hope you all enjoyed this one shot. Second, I apologise if it seemed corny or rushed. It had been a while since Iāve done a short story with a romance centred genre. Thank you for reading this one shot!
Felt a little nostalgic for Rainbow Magic all of a sudden. So I decided to draw three of my favourite fairies. Thereās Ruby the Red Fairy, the first fairy of the series, Evie the Mist Fairy (I donāt know why, but I found her very pretty) and Amy the Amethyst Fairy, part of the inspiration for my internet name. Might do more but I havenāt decided yet.
The free falling wasnāt the thing that terrified Danny the most. Nor was it that there was nothing that he could do to stop it.
What terrified him was that he was going to die in this strange world. He wasnāt dying old. He was going to keep falling until he collided with whatever might come out from under him. Or keep falling forever. And no one would know where heād be. His mind briefly wondered back to the Davidsons at the pizza restaurant. He didnāt know why but it did. He wondered if they noticed that he had ran away and if they even cared.
Probably notā¦
āHold on, kid! Iāve got ya!ā
Over the roar of the wind in his ears, Danny heard the voice as clear as crystal. As the world was spinning around him during his descent, he couldnāt focus on where the voice was at all. He couldnāt tell which way was up. The colours swirled around him in a toxic blend; green, blue, brownā¦purple? That last colour didnāt make sense until Danny recalled that it might belong to a ship or hot air balloon. Then abruptly, he felt something clamp down on his shoulders. The descent through the sky then turned into one of assent. It was at a fast but steady pace, as if Danny was gliding. His legs dangled limply as he was held like a puppet on strings. Whatever was holding onto him, it was gripping tightly. Something that felt akin to needles could be felt through his hoodie and shirt, which poked at the skin. Above the wind in his ears, he could hear the beating of something. A rhythmic, calming beat that shattered through his fright. Danny opened his eyes. Underneath him, an island that he wouldāve passed during his fall became smaller with every sound of the beating. The height that he was gaining was at a steady rate, nothing like the rapid decent he experienced merely moments ago. Dannyās looked around, trying to gain an understanding as to what was happening. To him. That was when he saw what had his shoulders in a tight grip. Paws. Purple, scaly paws with sharp claws clung onto him without a chance of the grip wavering. The source of the beating was a pair of wings that was brimming with confidence.
āTalk about a first impression, kid.ā
That voice. That was the same one that called out to him. It came from just above his head. A pair of red eyes looked right back at him, piercing into his blue ones. As Danny looked even further, he found a fanged smile, a purple snout and a pair of horns. Whatever thin hope he had that it was a human that spoke to him was shattered like glass. A dragon! A real dragon! Not something that was large like he had dreamed up or seen in the movies, but still a dragon nonetheless. And his life was hanging by this dragonās claws.
āThe nameās Spyro.ā The dragon grinned widely, not seeming to be worried about the human that he had caught.
āYouāre a dragon!ā Danny exclaimed, trying to keep his legs from kicking out automatically. He thought that the less he moved, the less chance he had of continuing his fall.
āTook you long enough.ā Spyro responded sarcastically. He shook his head a little, before returning to the situation he seemed to have flown into. He focused back on continuing upward. As Danny looked around, he saw some āpeopleā looking towards them from their ships and balloons that happened to have seen what was happening. None of them were human. Were they Mabuās too? They looked a little different from Flynn. But the similarities were all there. They were all clapping and cheering, as if this was the most exciting thing thatās happened to them. Maybe it was, Danny thought. As that thought crossed his mind, Danny saw the island that he had previously fallen from. Those that he had seen were al;l crowded around the edge of the island, except for Gideon and Rachel. Maybe they were still fighting off those little monsters.
āWhat theā¦ā Danny heard someone say, but he had no time to process who. Once they were high enough, and away from the edge, Danny was deposited onto the ground. With his numb legs, he couldnt land steadily enough. He collided with the earth on his front, a groan escaping his lips.
āDanny!ā Crystal exclaimed as she and the others ran over.
āAre you okay?ā Kyle followed up, helping Danny sit up. Danny couldnāt bring himself to respond. He wasnāt able to form any words. The entire system in his body to form words just seemed to have stopped functioning temporarily. All of the shock of everything that happened worked against him. He tried to think name five things her could see: grass; a stray stone; a flower that was trampled on in the chaos: the sky (even though that was the last thing that Danny wanted to think of right now), and one of those little monsters. Upon seeing the creature, Danny was finally able to let out a scream.
āDuck! Now!ā The dragon suddenly called out as he circled back. Seeing that Spyro was charging right towards them, Brian, Crystal, Danny, Dylan and Kyle ducked down as low as they could manage. The inside of Spyroās mouth glowed a dim orange that erupted into a fireball. It zoomed so closes and fast to the group that Danny felt sweat forming on his back. It slammed into the creature, setting it ablaze until it was a pile of ash. The preteens looked at it in wonder as Spyro circled around again, this time heading towards Gideon and Rachel where they continued to hold the line. āAll fired up!ā
Gideon and Rachel, seeming not to have noticed what something was happening behind them, snapped their heads in surprise at the voice. Spyro reacted just as quickly. Another fireball was launched from him. With steam coming from his nostrils, he charged forward, knocking back more monsters before they could have a chance to take a chunk out of him. Finally, he turned his attention to the pod that the creatures were spawning from. He opened his mouth. Another flame burst from it. This one was white and hotter than the others. A powerful flame that caused Spyro to be flown back from the momentum. The flame hit its target with perfect precision. The pod was lit like a Roman candle. There was something like a small shriek as the pod disappeared into smoke and ash. Coming out of the flame was at least one more of those monsters. It was disorientated, going around in a circle.
āNot that tough now, are you?ā Gideon huffed. Before the creature could do anything or be conscious enough to attack, the boy delivered a swift and powerful kick. As if it was a mere, cheaply made football, the creature went flying off the island. No more was left after that. The danger had passed. Spyro landed gracefully on the ground behind Gideon.
āWell, thatās went rather her well.ā The dragon smiled smugly. The voice caused Gideon to whirl around, raising a fist. Spyro put his paws up frantically. āEasy! Iām on your side!ā
Rachel grabbed Gideonās arm gently, causing him to pause his actions. He took a couple deep breathes, coming down from the adrenaline rush of the fight. Spyro relaxed too and looked around him. He counted seven humans when he saw the trouble, one fell off which he hands grabbed; that meant that seven humans were still on solid ground and safe. Safer. Nothing and no one hostile was coming out or back anytime soon to attack.
āHopefully that will deal with the Chompies.ā Spyro said as he scanned the land one more time just to make sure.
āThatās what those little things were?ā Dylan asked as he got to his feet. One by one, those that had to duck low on the ground just moments ago did the same.
āYep. No one got bit?ā Spyro asked, glancing from one human to the next. Now that he was on the ground, Danny could tell that Spyro was smaller than he thought. At the least the size of a greats Dane with orange spines along his back and an orange end to his tail. With the response to his question, everyone checked themselves over. No bites, not even a scratch or scrape. They were completelyunharmed from the whole mess by a miracle.
āWho are you?ā Brian asked as he looked up and down at Spyro. He looked like he was carefully dissecting the dragon with his eyes, mentally documenting every detail. Danny couldāve been wrong, but he felt like the dragonās gaze on him lingered a little longer compared to everyone else. Then again, he did have a harrowing ordeal so her guessed thatās Spyro was just making sure thatās he was okay.
āIām Spyro, Skylander of the Magic Element.ā Spyro finally answered as he finished processing what everyone looked like around him. The way he said that was as if he was expecting a heroās welcome. Well, he did save everyone from tiny predators, so maybe he kind of was. However, all he got was more confusion.
āMagic Element?ā Danny repeated.
āWhatās a Skylander?ā Brian asked eagerly. Spyro once again looked at everyone as if he was expecting someone to answer. All he got were confused glances and silence. He realised that the whole conversation was getting nowhere.
āIāll fill you kids on what you need to know later, I promise.ā He finally said, his voice holding a firm vow. At least that was something. Everyone would get the answers they all needed. āNow, my question is where is your driver?ā
āDriver?ā All the humans repeated, all little in shock. Surely they werenāt expected to know how to drive a vehicle already.
āThe ship that you all came on.ā Spyro quickly clarified. That made a lot more sense. That was when everyone remembered how they were left on the island in the first place. āDonāt tell me you missed it?ā
āQuite the contrary, he left us behind.ā Rachel started as she gestured to the empty dock where they all departed from. Spyro looked confused for a second, before it twisted into annoyance.
āLet me guess: a cocky Mabu with a red scarf, says boom and calls himself the best pilot in all of Skylands?ā He asked, listing off the details so calmly her may as well have gone shopping.
āSomething tells me that you know himā¦ā Dylan grumbled, readjusting his beanie.
āSounds like Flynn.ā Spyro facepalmed. Dylanās suspicion was right. āYou remember which direction he was headed?ā
āThat way, I think.ā Crystal answered as she recalled where the ship was heading towards.
āIāll try to see if I can catch him.ā Spyro insisted as he flexed his wings.
āHeās probably long gone by now, mate.ā Kyle suggested, as he looked into the distance. No sign of the ship was there.
āTrust me, Iām a pretty fast flyer.ā Spyro smirked as he flapped his wings, his body lifting off the ground. āIāll do my best to catch up to him.ā Without another word, the purple dragon took off like there was no tomorrow. The humans that he left behind watched him leave and hoped that he would come back before anything else would happen.
True to his word, Spyro was able to get Flynn to return where he dropped the group of preteens off. As he was fast like he glad claimed to be, he was bale to return before the ship. That was when he had a hurried introduction with everyone and was able to be on at the very least some middle ground. Then he took off again for the ship when it started to come into view. Whether it was to get Flynn to hurry up or just to make surer that the ship didnāt go past the island by mistake was anyoneās guess. Either way, whatever he did worked. When the ship returned to the dock, the Mabu was marched to them, by Spyro, with the dragon head-butting him a couple of times to get him moving. He was standing sheepishly before them like a kid caught with his hand in the biscuit tin. In return, the humans all shot him rather dirty looks. They didnāt exactly want to forgive him anytime soon for abandoning them when he was meant to wait for them to continue their journey. Whether he forgot about that detail in his job or he didnāt think it was a big deal, didnāt matter. If Spyro hadnāt helped them when they did, or if Flynn hadnāt given them a ways to escape the Chompies, they wouldāve been in more serious trouble.
āFlynn, they donāt know how to open portals yet. Why do you think you were told to give them rides other than for that particular reason?ā Spyro highlighted as he crossed his arms. āNot to mention, none of them have Skylanders yet. What if they were in trouble and needed to get away?ā
Portals?
āSorryā¦ā Flynn said again, this fur turning a little red on the cheeks. It wasnāt a perfect apology, but the acknowledgement was there.
āWell, lesson learned.ā Spyro sighed as he shook his head. It felt like he was used to this kind of situation from the Mabu. At the very least, he was able to keep level headed about the issue for that reason it may seem. The dragon then gestured to the humans. āWhen we get to the next island donāt suddenly abandon them, okay?ā
āAre you staying with us?ā Danny asked, unable to keep the sensation of being giddy out of his voice. He couldnāt explain it, but he had this feeling, a subtle pull that he just wanted to continue staying with Spyro for as long as possible. The thought of travelling with him felt like this whole new adventure was going to be more exciting. And a little safer.
āSomeoneās gotta watch your backs while youāre here.ā Spyro winked confidently. As he said that, everyone else also started to get excited and comforted at having a more reliable figure around them.
āLook on the bright side, kiddos.ā Flynn interjected, his massive grin returning to his face. āYou get to spend more time with the best pilot in all of Skylands.ā
āIs it too late to find another pilot?ā Gideon whispered as subtly as he could to Dylan. If Flynn heard it, he was choosing to be ignorant.
āSo, weāre good to go yeah? Alright!ā He grinned. With a flourish he spun around and made his way back to the gangplank of his ship.
āWait!ā Crystal suddenly spoke up. As she got everyoneās attention, she was scanning the area around them. āThere was another kid with us. A boy around our age.ā
āWhereās he then?ā Spyro enquired, looking around just as sharply.
āWe donāt know.ā Kyle shrugged. āHe abandoned ship before us.ā
āYou donāt think those things got him, do you?ā Dylan pondered worryingly as he pointed to the former battlefield behind them.
āI donāt think so.ā Rachel shook her head calmly. āIf anything he might have been in another area or had a lucky escape.ā She was right. If the boy was being attacked by those Chompies, he still wouldāve been there or there wouldāve been more evidence of an attack halving happened before everyone else came to the scene. Not to mention they probably wouldāve heard him being attacked. He was probably okay, but they couldnāt just leave him behind like that.
āIāll search by sky.ā Spyro said as he flexed his wings as a warmup. He then looked towards Danny. āHey, Danny? Want a ride?ā
āMe?!ā Danny exclaimed. Why him?! There was no rhyme or reason behind it. He didnāt really need to have a flight. The last one was horrifying enough.
āYeah. You know what he looks like.ā Spyro spoke up convincingly. There was a valid point there but it wasnāt solid enough to just choose Danny out of all the humans that were there. āWith your help, we might be able to find him.ā
āGood idea. Weāll search on the ground in case heās gone into any buildings.ā Brian added, poimntimng towards the town that they spotted since they first arrived to the Restored Islands.
āAre you sure that you can carry me?ā Danny asked as he looked at the dragon. No one else was volunteering to take his place and he felt a little more than outnumbered.
āTrust me, youāre not that heavy. Iāve lifted much worse.ā Spyro grinned confidently. With a gentle nudge from someone behind him, and encouragement from the dragonās smile, Danny carefully mounted Spyroās back, avoiding the spines on his back. When he got his feet off the ground, Danny held on tight as Spyro dashed forward. With a heavy beat from his wings, the dragon leapt off the edge of the island. Danny yelped as he felt like he was going to fall again. However, Spyro, true to his word, ascended through the sky. He rounded a calm turn as he rose higher and higher. The island was below them, with the wind whistling down Dannyās ears. A waves of calmness washed over Danny as he watched the land below. His new friends were running to the main island at that point, with Rachel leading at a steady pace, while Dylan and Brian struggled to keep up from the back.
While flying overhead, Danny scanned the open streets of the town. His friends went in and out of buildings, occasionally exchanging a head shake as they came out of random buildings empty handed. They spoke to a couple of Mabu, only to get the same result before they moved on. Aside from the humans searching carefully, there was no other human in sight. Not the boy that they were searching for, nor any other kid that might have happened to arrive to the island.
āI donāt see him.ā Danny sighed hopelessly.
āHe might have found his own way off the island.ā Spyro shrugged, his voice crystal clear. Danny nodded, not caring if Spyro had noticed or not. Given that the boy didnāt get caught up in the Chompie attack and how long everyone else had waited for Flynn to return, it was a possibility that the boy left the island whether it was through another ship or even a balloon. āSo, Danny, got any interesting stories?ā
āWhat do you mean?ā Danny stammered. The question was out of nowhere. It was so uprising that Danny almost lost his grip on the only thing that kept him from having another involuntary free fall.
āWhere are you from? Whatās there?ā Spyro asked in rapid fire. āWhatās Earth like?ā
āItās okay I guess.ā Danny said, not entirely sure about what he was supposed to say. He then glanced at the mid air islands. āNo floating islands though.ā
āSounds boring.ā Spyro huffed. āWhat about dragons?ā
āOnly in stories.ā Danny stated.
āEven more boring!ā Spyro whined, shaking his head disapprovingly. He then turned his face towards his human rider and smiled. āTrust me, youāre going to love Skylands.ā
That might take awhile to ālove Skylandsā considering everything that happened earlier. However, Danny couldnāt deny that he felt something kind ofā¦connection to this world. Like it was already reeling him in like a fish on a hook. He couldnāt resist it. It was like he wanted to stay in this world already. A place he felt like he could fit in.
But why?
āHold on tight!ā Spyro suddenly announced. Before Danny could react, Spyro suddenly dived. The boy clung on tighter as he felt like he was on a rollercoaster. The peaceful glide turned into an adrenaline rush as the dragon dived, weaved and soared in different ways as he dodged balloons, ships and even random clumps of land that were just floating needlessly. The wind and gravity combined threatened to rip Danny off, making his grip almost impossibly tighter than it was before. Finally, after performing a tight turning circle, Spyroās flight steadily returned to a controlled glide, slowing down his speed. They were above the town once again.
āPretty fun, right?ā The dragon grinned.
āPlease donāt do that again!ā Danny begged, his skin gone white as a sheet and his body trembling. He didnāt know what was worse: the free fall, or the sudden rush that Spyro had given him without much of a warning. Spyro opened his mouth, possibly to convey an apology, when he suddenly stopped moving. He was flapping his wings to keep himself in the air as he paused his flight path. He was looking ahead. Under his shins, Danny could feel a small heat, as if the dragon was getting ready to launch a fireball. Danny looked ahead at where Spyro was glaring at. Blimps, a small fleet of them. They were heading towards the Restored Isles, looming the sky like a storm cloud. Before Danny could ask about them, or what was wrong, one of the blimps aimed a cannon at him and Spyro. As the cannon fired, Spyro dived once again, this time without the carefree attitude that he had a mere minute ago. The projectile narrowly missed the top of Dannyās skull, just scraping the hair on his head. The fleet seemed to have not been phased as it continued towards the Isles.
āCan one dragon just have a normal day of flying?!ā Spyro growled, his muscles tensing underneath Danny. He swooped upwards, flying above the fleet. Danny scanned the decks. Figures were preparing for running around. All of them were different shapes and sizes but all had two things in common: long pointed ears and green skin. Some were holding spears, some throwing blades and hulking figures with half of a shield on each arm.
āWhatā¦are those things?ā Danny shuddered as he eyed at the sharp point of the spears.
āTheyāre Drow!ā Spyro growled, his own eyes trained on the figures on one of the blimps, like a cat locking onto a laser pointer. āNasty elves! Work for Kaos!ā
āWhoās Kaos?!ā Danny asked. However, Spyro immediately tensed up again, his posture changed.
āHold on, Danny!ā Hey warned, no more containing a playful attitude. āIām not playing around this time!ā
Then Spyro dived towards the blimp that he had locked on. Danny gripped on tight once more as gravity threatened to cast him off the dragon. Tears formed from his eyes as the wind hit him hard. The heat that he felt under him erupted from the dragonās mouth, the fireball striking the deck. Some of the Drow were able to move out of the ways, while others werenāt that lucky. Spyro launched another attack, this time aiming at the balloon holding the blimp up. The canvas turned into an inferno as the blimp tilted downwards to oblivion. Danny watched it.
This wasnāt like what happened with the Chompies. It was far more dangerous.
Danny then looked toward the town. The ones he came with, the ones that he hoped to continue calling them his friends, were still there. They were in danger. They could get killed. As if spurred on through telepathy, Spyro charged toward the town, determination simmering under his scales.
āWhat is it with this place and getting attacked?!ā Dylan exclaimed after another cannonball smashed into a house. The moment that the group heard the first explosion, they all rushed out and regrouped. That was when theyād spotted the fleet. Mabu rushed past them, screaming. A loud bell clanged its warning as the fleet got closer. The Drow that were on the blimps jumped off and started to charge the street.
āGet somewhere safe!ā Kyle shouted to a group of Mabu as they huddled behind some crates. They were spurred on by his words to keep moving. Crystal and Brian were swept up in the crowd, not like they felt like they could be much help. Dylan himself was huddled out of the way, overwhelmed by ther chaos around him. Meanwhile, Gideon was already at the frontlines. He pushed through the Mabu that charged past him. The Drow didnāt relent in their charge as they went in and out of houses, and shops to loot whatever they could find. Gideon cracked his knuckles, determined to land a punch.
āNot a good idea!ā Rachel shouted above the crowd, her hand firmly planted on his shoulder.
āWhat?!ā Gideon exclaimed, his eyes wide in shock at what Rachel had said. Reached projected an air of calm around them, her eyes like a calming ripple on the water.
āWe need to help with the evacuation!ā She reasoned, gesturing to the panic.
āWe canāt just-ā Gideon started to protest.
āIām not suggesting abandonment.ā Rachel interjected, her grip tightening on Gideonās shoulder. āIām suggesting that we help a different way. We donāt know those things and we could get killed.ā That was when something that could only be described as a frisbee with blades attached to it whizzed past Rachel, nearly cutting off her hair. As it struck some brickwork behind her, Gideon glared at it.
āWhen you put it like thatā¦ā he muttered. Then he backed away from Rachelās hand and climbed onto a stack of crates. After taking a massive breath, he belted out. āHEY! ANY BOATS, BALLOONS OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE, GET TO THEM! ITāS NOT SAFE!ā The crowd seemed to have heard him as the Mabu now started to moving in a more calmly fashion. Still rushed, but somewhat more organised.
āWell done!ā Rachel smiled proudly as she went to assist a Mabu that had tripped over. That was as when a shadow flew over her. Expecting an attack, she glared upwards, her muscles tensing. However, upon seeing the purple streak in the sky, she felt calm again. She pointed upwards for Gideon to notice. āLook! Danny and Spyro!ā
āFinally, some even ground!ā Gideon cheered as he jumped down from the crates. āLetās move so we donāt get in the way!ā
Meanwhile, Spyro continued to fire away as much as he could without hesitation. He dodged more projectiles as the Drow continued to try shooting him out of the sky. Danny suddenly screamed, however, as he ducked down to avoid getting hit. Spyro looked toward his passenger before changing the course of his flight path. He couldnāt do more with Danny on his back. He knew that, and he shouldāve done this in the first place before his pride got the better of him. Danny wasnāt safe with him like he originally thought. Spyro landed in a quiet area that hadnāt been attacked yet.
āIām dropping you off here!ā He declared as he came to a stop. Danny climbed off his back, legs wobbly from not having used them properly during his flight with Spyro. Spyro didnāt appears to be phased as he pointed in a specific direction. Flynnās ship. It was still there. āGet back to Flynn! Wait there until your friends get on the ship and leave!ā
āWhat about you?ā Danny asked, looking at the dragon.
āIām a Skylander! This is what I do!ā Spyro answered, his voice brimming with confidence and urgency. āNow go!ā Without another word, Spyro soared back upwards to the sky. Danny watched as the dragon disappeared across the rooftops of a building. The chaos from the attack came through the air. Spyro was right. Her can handle this. Her does stuff like this all the time right? He can do anything to protect anybody. The Chompies were probably a weakly in the park for him. He can handle those Drow. Danny turned, intending to get to safety. Then he felt a violent o pull inside of him. Something that was new and strange. He felt this urge to go back, top see what was happening. Even if he made it to safety, there was no guarantee that the others, nor Spyro would. He cant, he wonāt leave them behind like that. Not unless he knew that they were okay.
With that resolve, Danny turned back around and towards an alleyway. It was the only direct path that he had to one of the streets. He didnāt know what he was doing exactly. He just wanted to know if everything was really okay. From what he saw earlier with the Chompies, Gideon and Rachel were more than capable of handling themselves. The others, including himself, werenāt like that so theyāre probably either helping Mabu escape or trying to reach Flynnās ship themselves. Just somewhere to escape for the time being until Spyro could clears that fleet. It was the worry that if could on his own that ate away at Danny the most. He wondered if back up was coming. If there was a way on the way, then they need to hurry up. Surely there should be more than one dragon-or Skylander for that matter-that was willing to help this place, right?
Danny finally reached the end of the alley after his thoughts were occupied about his worries. The street was deserted of Mabu, all of them having been evacuated by then. It would seem that none of the others were there either.
Had they already reached safety?
Danny heard a noise. A fireball being launched. He listened to them enough times already to recognise them from Spyro. It was from another street. Danny rushed to another alley, hearing more screams and yells as he got closer to the chaos. That street still had some Mabu stragglers rushing to an evacuation point. Danny spotted Dylan still hiding, still looking overwhelmed. Gideon was seen punching one of the Drow as they got too close for comfort with a spear. Rachel meanwhile was dodging flying blades gracefully. She even caught bone and launched it back at the female Drow that had thrown it at her with almost terrifying accuracy. Brian, Crystal and Kyle were nowhere to be seen. Spyroās shadow flew over the street, fireballs having erupted from his mouth, covering Rachel and Gideon. Her barked orders for them to run and to take Dylan with them. Gideon and Rachel understood, trusting the dragon to watch their backs. Rachel was the first to reach Dylan and worked as calmly as she could in order to get him on his feet. Gideon scanned the street, making sure that they werenāt ambushed. No one had spotted Danny at all. They were too concerned with getting to safety for the time being. Danny looked up at the sky, watching Spyro as he cleared the street as best he could. However, while he was distracted with the enemies on the ground, he wasnāt able to keep an eye on the blimps in the sky. One hit was all it took. Spyro was hit in the back and was stunned. He crashed into the ground below him, the force having made a crater under him. A high pitched whine rung in Dannyās ears as he watched. He shouldāve called out. He shouldāve shouted a warning. He shouldāve done something to help. But all he did was stand there as if he was watching something on TV. He was just watching as Spyro struggled to get up from the ground. One of the hulking Drows that he recognised from one of the blimps jumped and landed on the street. The ground rattled, causing Gideon and Rachel lose any composure that they had and hid along with Dylan. It was clear that it was the first time that they saw one of those Goliaths. Danny watched as the Drow approached Spyro as the dragon continued to fight in recovering his breath. The ringing in his ears and his heart beat got louder and louder with every second. Danny couldnāt move, he couldnāt speak. He was justā¦
Patheticā¦
Burdenā¦
Uselessā¦
Dumbā¦
Slowā¦
NO!
āLeave him alone!ā Danny suddenly yelled stepping out of his hiding place. Why did he do that? Why did he say that? Why didnāt he just run?! His voice was enough. The Goliath Drow turned his head, locking onto the preteen human that was just standing there like he knew what he was doing.
āDanny! Run!ā Rachel shouted, her eyes wide with alarm.
āYou idiot! Get out of here!ā Gideon joined in, looking just as shaken. Danny couldnāt move, he couldnāt breathe. There was just something keeping him in place. He wasnāt shaking any more. It was like his body had its own form of control. Just anything to keep the monster away from Spyro. Spyro himself seemed to have started to get back on his feet, looking at Danny with extreme concern op0ver the human he had attempted top bond with over just one flight without danger up until now. The Drow kept on target as he let out a massive roar. He then charged, bringing his arms together to make the shield whole. Finally Danny felt like he could move as the hulking creature rushed toward him. Not to run, but to bring his hands up, palms facing forward, as a feeble attempt to protect his face. After all, he couldnāt do anything to stop the monster.
Patheticā¦
Burdenā¦
Uselessā¦
Dumbā¦
Slowā¦
He couldnāt run.
Pathetic.
Burden.
Useless.
Dumb.
Slow.
He couldnāt breathe.
Pathetic!
Burden!
Useless!
Dumb!
Slow!
So what good was he?!
Spyroā¦I need to help himā¦
Hope!
It was like electricity pulsed through Dannyās body. He couldnāt explain what had happened to him. He opened his eyes for just one second to see the Drow coming within metres from hitting him. That was when he noticed something strange about his hands. They were glowing. Not just glowing, but carried a bright purple hue as mist seemed to have come out of them. The next thing he knew, something launched out of them. It was bright, shaped like many stars, as it hit the Drow. The massive body couldnāt stop its charge in time-or maybe he just didnāt see it-as he was launched back. Danny himself, not having been ready for the sudden burst, was knocked off his feet too by the momentum. Danny looked down at his hands, the glow dying down. There were markings on both sides of his hands. Stars. Danny tried rubbing them, as if they were temporary tattoos that he suddenly got. They didnāt budge. With the way that they were colourised, it was as if they were part of the skin like birth marks, rather than being etched onto it.
As Danny marvelled by this new discovery, the Drow recovered quite quickly. However, he didnāt get a chance to charge again as Spyro immediately got back into the fight. Another fireball and the Drow was gone in the inferno. Without another word, he flew back into the sky, almost like he hadnāt been injured in the first place. Dylan, Gideon and Rachel cautiously came out from where they were hiding and went up to Danny.
āDanny? How did you do that?ā Dylan asked slowly.
āI didnāt know I couldā¦ā Danny stammered as Gideon helped him to his feet. The sound of the battle in the sky raged on, crashes and explosions could be heard with Spyroās form acrobatically avoiding more projectiles.
āAre you guys okay?ā Crystalās voice suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Everyone else turned to see her, along with Brian and Kyle, running up to them. They had taken advantage of the crowd now being non-existent in order to regroup, despite the danger.
āA little rattled, but I think weāre okay.ā Rachel answered for everyone else.
āDanny, your handsā¦what happened to them?ā Brian observed as he noticed Dannyās hands. Danny looked at his hands again, allowing everyone around him to take a look for themselves.
āI donāt know.ā Was all that he could muster. What else could he say? It wasnt like he even knew bios to start with explaining what had happened. Dylan, Gideon and Rachel were witnesses, but even they couldnāt begin to explain the events that led toĀ that. While Danny was still trying to think of an explanation, the sounds of the battle were abruptly silent. No cannon fire, no shouts, nothing at all. Just a gaunt quiet.
āSounds like Spyro dealt with the last of them.ā Kyle said quietly after a minute of silence. No one said anything tried agreeing nor disagreeing to that. It was as if they were all expecting some kind of sneak attack at any second. Nothing happened. Then a dragon sharped shadow flew overhead. The humans all looked up to see Spyro approaching them. He seemed exhausted, maybe even a little battered after all. Other than that, he looked fine.
āDanny!ā Spyro shouted, trotting up to the humans as fast as he could manage. He still had a serious look on his face, causingĀ
āSpyro, Iām sorry.ā Danny started with his apology. āI know you told me to run, but-ā
āYouāre right, you shouldāve ran.ā Spyro interrupted with a small growl. Danny clamped his mouth shut and looked down, shame burning inside of him. Then Spyro broke into a smile. But, you saved me back there. Thank you.ā The shame melted into pride. Danny couldnāt hold back a smile. Despite the dangerous situation that he had put himself in, he couldnāt deny that it felt good to know that he did something right for once. Spyro then looked at Dannyās hands, his smile getting wider. āAnd it looks like weāre partners from now on.ā
āPartners?ā Danny parroted with a raised eyebrow. Then Dannyās phone suddenly started to ring. Danny reached for it and stared at the screen. Unknown number again. Wondering if it was going to be the same voice that he heard back on Earth, he answered it. It was the same voice. The man only said one thing:
The Golden Desert was a paradise for the Doom Raiders.
It was quiet, hardly anyone came out so far inland because it was so hot. The temple that they had was one that Golden Queenās had been planning on turning into a base for a long time. Since it was one that none of the Skylanders knew about, it was the safest place she felt it was safe for as long as they needed for the Skylanders to give up. It was just one Skylander that they took. Theyāll give up on him sooner or later.
Even if they donāt, itās not like Golden Queen will surrender him that easily. She went into a lot of trouble to try to get him the first time, only to find out that he ran away in the night. She bided her time and held so much patience. To find out that he was a Skylander was a shock. That elven couple kept their word about bringing him back. Well, on a technicality. Multiple actually. She never thought that he would be part of the investigation to find the Doom Raiders. It was a mere coincidence. That time window to grab him was tiny, but worth the risk in grabbing him. Turning that other Skylander to gold was just the cherry on top.
Now if only she could get him to cooperate, then she can have the best gold hunting spree of a lifetime. If her fellow Doom Raiders wanted something within reason, then they can have their piece of cake and eat it too. She just took more of a priority.
Not that the Doom Raiders had tried to ask for anything immediately. They all knew that they needed to wait until the heat died down. They made a list of things that they want the Fire Elf to find for them. Components for Krankcase. Ingredients for Pepper Jack. Instruments for Wolfgang. Chompies for Chompy Mage. Dream potions for Dreamcatcher to steal dreams. And finally, soda for the Gulper. Every single one of them were given clear orders to not make a move, to not ask the elf for anything until the time was right.
Only the Gulper tried to go against her orders. She ought to have turned him to gold the moment she found him with the elf. However, she wanted t give him a fair chance. She hadnāt seen the Gulper for a while now that she thought about it. Chances were that he was sulking in a corner somewhere about not having soda.
Suddenly, Dreamcatcher reeled back from something that she had seen. She had been monitoring the Skylander search party situation for anything, whether it be if theyāve given up or they were still persisting. She floated past the other Doom Raiders and stopped just a couple of metres away from Golden Queen.
āBad news!ā She cried out, her eyes wide. All the other Doom Raiders stopped what they were doing and looked up at the giant head. āItās the Gulper! The Skylanders have captured him!ā
āWhat?! How?!ā Golden Queen demanded. Upon her voice, the entire room fell silent. Wolfgang stopped plucking his bone harp. Chef Pepperjack and Chompy Mage/Puppet stopped their arguement. Krankcase stopped tinkering. The sound being cut off was so sudden that no one dared to even breathe. Golden Queen had wondered where the Gulper had been hiding. She didnāt think, despite all of her warnings, he would get out to satisfy his thirst. She cursed herself for not doing more but she didnāt think that she needed to. She had the other Doom Raiders had taken measures behind Gulperās back.
āHe was at that lame Soda Festival!ā Dreamcatcher scowled, seemingly oblivious to how angry Golden Queen was. āI thought that he wasnāt supposed to know about that!ā
āHe wasnāt!ā Golden Queen seethed, stamping her staff on the ground. The metallic clang echoed throughout the throne room, causing a shudder to run through the Doom Raiders. āHow did he find that out?! Who told him?!ā Golden Queen scanned each of her crew one by one. They were all wide eyed and scared. They chose their next words as wisely as they could manage.
One after another, the Doom Raiders gave their answers, trembling a little from Golden Queenās anger. No matter how they reworded them, all their answers were the same. No one had disclosed the information that wouldāve gotten the Gulper caught. Golden Queen waited five minutes for someone to say something. However, she still didnāt get her answer. They were all telling the truth. None of them betrayed her orders. And Gulper wasnāt smart enough to find out about the Soda Festival without someone telling him about it.
So then who did?
Then it occurred to her.
She remembered the incident that happened earlier.
With a frustrated and determined stride, Golden Queen stepped down from her throne. She ignored the other Doom Raiders. They all exchanged a glance. They were briefed about what the Gulper had done before he did his disappearing act. They knew where Golden Queen was going. They followed her, wanting to see where the show was going to go.
Flameslinger hurriedly pulled himself back from his second sight. He closed his eyes allowing himself to only see darkness, refusing to allow his eyesight to see through any flames. He fought to keep his breath steady, his body from shaking. He needed to stay calm for what was coming.
He had been watching the Doom Raiders for a while. Not long after the Gulper had left. Since there were no flames at the Soda Festival, at least none that could allow him to see everything clearly, he didnāt know if his plan had worked or not. So he decided to watch the Doom Raiders, spy on them. He knew that they had to be keeping an eye on the search for him. He knew that sooner or later, they would figure out that that something was wrong. His patience paid when finally he overhead that the Gulper was caught. He literally felt like cheering when those words were like music to his ears.
Then Golden Queen figured out the big clue that led Gulper into the trap.
Flameslinger himself.
Stay calm. Donāt panic.
Suddenly, the door slammed open. The force was so hard that it caused a small dent in the wall and the hinges threatened to snap. Golden Queen was standing in the doorway. Her eyes were flashing so bright with fury, that Flameslinger was convinced that that they rivalled his own. He could hear her teeth grinding as they clenched in her anger. She was clenching her staff so tight that it was shaking slightly. The Doom Raiders slowly appeared from behind her, one by one. Each of them were all just as scared as each other, even Wolfgangās fur seemed to have gone a pale shade. Golden Queen didnāt take notice. She made determined strides toward the Skylander, her heels clanking loudly on the ground. Flameslinger kept himself still, fighting to keep his breath steady.
āYou told the Gulper where to go! Didnāt you?ā Golden Queen seethed, getting uncomfortably close to him.
āI donāt know what youāre talking about.ā Flameslinger responded, deadpanned. That was the wrong thing to say. Golden Queen reared back her hand and swiped at Flameslinger. It was so fast that he didnāt have any time to try to avoid it. A searing pain scratched his face, causing him to let out a pain shout. He felt a warm trickle of something wet going down his cheek. He saw red specks on Golden Queenās claws. As the pain slowly started to subside, Flameslinger felt the scratches on his face, narrowly missing one of his eyes. He felt like that was too close for comfort. Maybe he shouldāve been a bit more careful. Another swipe like that, or worse, and he might very well be put in a worse situation.
āDonāt play me for a fool!ā Golden Queen scowled, her golden glow getting brighter. āWho else could it have been?!ā
āHe told me that you changed your mind!ā Flameslinger blurted out. āHe forced me to tell him!ā Not much thought was put into it, but he needed to at least try to stall or trick them into not punishing him any further. However, that made Golden Queen furious. If there was one thing that she loathed more than being denied her gold, was being made a fool out of. She wasnāt one to be made a fool of. She suddenly grabbed Flameslingerās throat and put light pressure on it. It caused him to flinch. He tried to pull back but the hand remained.
āNow because of you, heās been caught!ā Golden Queen continued to shout, her grip tightening. āEverything has fallen apart!ā
āWhat a shameā¦ā Flameslinger glared as the pressure increased. He could feel the air being cut off in a slow, agonising way. Darkness started to edge his vision. Despite the trouble he was in, he was still pleased about his gamble paying off. Just hearing it from Golden Queen was all the more sweeter.
āGulper will squeal on us!ā Wolfgang suddenly pointed out. His bravado was back as he rationalised the situation. Golden Queen finally let go of Flameslinger and faced the werewolf. āHeāll lead the Skylanders right here and theyāll no doubt have an army to take us on!ā
āDonāt be over dramatic!ā Golden Queen chastised as she heard Flameslinger inhale deeply behind her.
āAm I?! We have one of their own and another that was turned into a gold statue!ā Wolfgang argued, gesturing wildly to a random direction and Flameslinger. āThey have been searching for him since we brought him here! What makes you think that they wonāt be out for our necks?!ā
āHe has a point.ā Flameslinger shrugged as much as the chains would allow him to. The Doom Raiders glared at him, waiting for his next remark. āThereās no shame in letting me go and giving up.ā Golden Queen reared her hand back once again. Flameslinger braced himself, expecting the strike to come at that second. With his wooden limbs rattling with a rapid stride, Dr Krankcase rushed to get between Golden Queen and the target of her anger.
āEasy!ā He shouted desperately, holding his hands up. āYou donāt want to damage him, right?ā Golden Queen froze, contemplating the word spoken to her and her actions. After a minute, she lowered her hand and seemed visibly calmer. However, her eyes remained glaring at Flameslinger. He had a feeling that next time, even her own minions wouldnāt be able to stop her. Better keep it in with the taunts and snarky comments for the time being.
āSo what do we do?ā Pepper Jack asked. āTake the elf and run?ā
āWhat other choice do we have? Weāll be outnumbered.ā Krankcase responded.
āItās too late! Theyāre already assembling and ready to get here!ā Dreamcatcher announced as she showed a projection of a group of Skylanders assembling. They were at the Academy by the looks of the background. More and more started to join them. āStupid Portal Master will be using his stupid portals!ā
This progressed faster than Flameslinger had hoped. At the rate that things were going, the rescue looked like it was happening soon. Heāll be free from the nightmare. Things can go back to some form of normalcy. The Doom Raiders would be locked up and he can move on without having to look over his shoulder. Freedom was so close that he could taste it. He needed to hold out for a little more.
āPrepare the minions! Hold them off!ā Golden Queen ordered, banging her staff on the ground. As if they were electrocuted, the other Doom Raiders were fast to vacate the room. With Golden Queen being that furious as everything was falling apart, they didnāt want to test her patience any further. Flameslinger hung his head a little. Just a small hitch, he thought. Just a little distraction and fight. Then he can be saved. Then he noticed that Golden Queen was still in the room with him. Two heavy sets of footfalls were heard approaching. Two massive forms managed to squeeze through the doorway and bowed to Golden Queen. Flameslinger instinctively and feebly pulled at the chains as he recognised what the minions were. Grave Clobbers. Golden Queen didnāt bat an eye as she heard the chains being pulled. She only gave a simple command:
It was only Dude, Mimi and Sprout that time in the lift. There was no point in everyone going down to the Core. It was easy to remember where the lift was for their journey. The moment that they were told to go to the Core, Dude immediately pulled Mimi and Sprout with him while everyone else either rested or kept an eye on things while they were gone. They didnāt speak during their descent. Sprout had tried cracking a few quips, but they fell flat.
āSoā¦why the sand?ā Sprout suddenly asked after awkwardly listening to only the clanging of the lift.
āWhy do you smell like burnt gunpowder?ā Dude fired back. Sprout raised an eyebrow before taking a quick sniff of himself.
āThought that vanished with the clothingā¦ā he muttered, earning a confused glance from Dude and Mimi. Thatās when he realised that maybe Dudeās team didnāt go through a wardrobe change like he and the others did. He then shrugged carelessly. āTo make a long story short, I was the human cannonball again.ā
āWhat?ā Dude and Mimi exclaimed.
āIt was an accident this time, I swear!ā Sprout shouted, waving his hands wildly. Seeing the question as to how it happened being written on Dudeās face, he couldnāt stop talking a mile a minute. āAnd Misty only fired me out of the cannon to get me out of a pinch. And the safety net was definitely in place this time.ā Dude and Mimi exchanged a glance, seeming to share a silent message and decided not to press any further. Sprout then looked at Dude and Mimi as silence cloaked the trio again. Seeing Dude brush off an irritating speck of sand from his neck, it prompted Sprout to ask his first question again. āSo, the sand?ā
āTo make a long story shortā¦ā Mimi started before she let out an involuntary shudder, āletās just say I get why Mistyās skin crawls over the concept of being buried aliveā¦ā
āWha-ā Sprout started.
āDonāt ask.ā Dude cut him off. Sprout once again observed both of his friends. While Dude had his arms crossed, his hand was gripping one of his arms so tight that his nails started to dig into the skin and his shoulders were tensed up. Mimi seemed just as uncomfortable as she was tapping the yellow Crystal lightly but rapidly. Neither were willing to open up. So Sprout decided to drop the issue. He didnāt want to stir up trouble. Finally, the lift came to a halt as they reached the underground level. Dude reached over and pulled the door open. āHere we are.ā
The torches on the wall were dimmed down to a mere flicker of flames. The frost had grown more in size, threatening to smother the cave in white. The Coreās light was still faint. It flashed white to a dull blue hue and vice versa with each beat, but it wasnāt enough to compensate for the lost light from the torches. The cold had intensified, the cold from the chamber had leaked to the tunnel. As the trio advanced to the Core, goosebumps started to appear on their skins.
āCold, cold, cold. Very cold.ā Sprout shivered, shaking cartoonishly from the cold.
āI shouldāve asked for a scarf.ā Mimi complained with another shudder before breathing onto her hands to regain a modest bit of heat. Despite the freeze, the three keep moving. They didnāt have time to complain. Time to return two Crystals where they belonged. With shaking hands and misty breaths, Sprout and Mimi approached the Core while Dude was watching them closely. They circled around, looking up and down for the right places. When they found a space, they tried to slot the Crystal they each held inside. Nothing. It was on,y shortly after his second try that Sprout noticed a spot that was high up. He jumped up as high as he could manage. Not even close. He tried again and again, that time trying to grip onto the Core to climb up. The Core was too smooth to grip onto anything and his legs werenāt quite long enough.
āDude, give me a boost while youāre here.ā Sprout said after giving up on the third jump. Dude was already approaching him at that point. He saw Sprout struggling and knew that he needed to step in. He bent down and hooked his hands together. Sprout placed one foot there and with a silent nod to Dude, he carefully climbed up. Dude, at the same time, straightened himself up and heaved Sprout just enough so the green friend could stand on his shoulders. As he braced himself against the Core, with Dude holding onto his ankles to keep him steady, Sprout slotted the Crystal into place. Meanwhile, Mimi was kneeling at a lower point of the Core, ignoring the ice biting through her dungarees. She had found the spot for her yellow Crystal and slid it into place. As both Crystals were returned to their rightful spaces, the air grew warm. Once Sprout had jumped down from Dudeās shoulders, the Core flashed green and yellow before settling into the white.
Three Crystals.
Five were still out there but this was a small victory to revel in.
A shared, exhausted but uplifting silence circled the trio as they rode the lift back up to the surface. It was something that made the mission of rebuilding the Core somewhat hopeful. They were getting somewhere and with all the progress that they had done, things felt like that would go smoothly (even just by a little) from then on.
However hope always seemed to have dimmed when they needed it the most. Once they reached the library, even before they had a chance to open the doors to enter, a muffled, hacking cough was heard through the wood. A chill ran down their spines as they realised who could be making that sound. It sounded much worse compared to the last time they had heard it first hand. As they stepped across thee threshold, they immediately looked toward as the source of the coughing. Conjurer was slumped at the table, the walking stick on the floor next to him, evidently having been dropped. No one else seemed to have noticed the three returning as they were all crowding around him.
āAre you okay?ā Candi asked as she gently rubbed his back.
āSit down.ā OJ insisted, pulling out a chair.
āDonāt. Iām fine.ā Conjurer rasped, and he pushed Candi back as politely as he could.
āClearly youāve taken a page out Dudeās book about being stubborn.ā Pip fired back. Conjurer looked at her, and then everyone else. He saw the worry, they knew that he did. Nine against one. And with the current state that his magic was in, it wasnāt like he could give himself as leg to stand on. He could barely stand without the use of his walking stick. Sighing in defeat, he sat down in the chair OJ had offered him. Everyone gave him space, allowing him the time he needed to get at least some strength back. When it seemed to have passed, he let out another cough. It wasnāt as horrible sounding as the first, but made everyone else wince nonetheless. Whatever composure Conjurer had was gone in an instant. When the coughing subsided again, Conjurer looked at his glove before clenching his fist. That was when Misty felt a slight twinge. A feeling.
Magic.
āWhat magic did you just use?ā She accused, her voice echoing across the library.
āPardon?ā Conjurer asked in a shocked tone.
āI sensed you using magic. What did you do?ā Misty demanded, daring to take another step closer as if to make a point. Conjurerās eyes widened momentarily. Everyone else looked just as surprised by Mistyās sudden accusation. Only those that werenāt fully aware of Misty picking up ion the magic and becoming ill herself for a couple of moments at a time didnāt understand to the full extent. Candi, Dude and Mimi didnāt say anything to argue against what she was saying. They wanted to hear what the magician himself had to say in his own defence.
āJust cleaned my glove.ā The magician said as if it was the most normal thing that he could say. Cleaned his glove? What was on it before he erased it?
āHey! No more unnecessary magic!ā OJ barked, one hand slammed on the table as she leaned over Conjurer to look him in the eyes. āBelieve it or not, youāre limited just like the magic is, remember? You said something similar yourself.ā
āYouāre rightā¦ I apologise.ā Conjurer relented. He saw no point in continuing the argument. He didnāt know how to at that rate. Now that he had calmed down, everyone could see him properly. Grey hairs streaked across the dark colour. Wrinkles had creeped along his face. His body was sagging, as if all the coughing and even that little dose of magic he had used had drained almost all of his energy out of him. The only positive thing that can be seen was the yellow and green stripes that now accompanied his clothing. It was showing progress, but at too slow of a rate.
āYou need to see a doctor.ā Dude suggested, stepping forward.
āNo doctor can help me.ā Conjurer shook his head, some strength coming back to his voice.
āWe can bring one to you.ā Dude tried to throw a lifeline.
āNo! No outsiders!ā Mr Conjurer suddenly shouted, banging his fist on the table. The sound was like a thunder clap that ended with a deafening echo. That was the first time that anyone had seen him out of a controlled emotional state. His eyes were wide with resistance and anger at the mere thought of someone else being dragged into the situation. āItās too dangerous!ā
One breath.
Time had stood still.
Two breaths.
Erratic heartbeats started to calm down from all sides.
Three breaths.
The storm calmed down.
āHeās right Dude.ā Bud calmly agreed, placing a hand on Dudeās shoulder. The anchor brought Dude out of trying to continue his side of the argument. āIf we let someone else in, thereās a chance that they will let this all slip out into the open. Then we could be in a lot more trouble.ā
Logic overruled everything.
Dude looked around; at the library, at his friends, at OJ and then finally the Conjurer. Too much. Too heavy. Then Dudeās fists unclenched slowly, a soft crack coming from his knuckles. Far too much was riding on this to cause a wider rift than there already was.
āSorry.ā Dude relented, the tension in his shoulders loosened.
āItās fine. I know that youāre trying to help me.ā Mr Conjurer sighed as he slouched forward. The fist that he banged on the table released, like a hedgehog uncurling from its ball. It laid flat on the table, a struck white clashing with the dark wood. āBut the only thing that can do that-for all of us-is fixing the Core.ā In other words, get the job done and things can go back to some form of normalcy again. Everyone knew it, they didnāt need to be told. It was easier said than done.
Rainbow looked between down at the floor where the walking stick was, and back up at the man in the chair. He might not understand everything that was happening, but he knew enough to understand the danger his home was in. And that the strange man couldnāt move around easily. He had seen enough visitors with long sticks like those to assist with walking and moving around. Without an invitation, he trotted forward and grasped the stick in his mouth. He bit down enough to have a hold, but was mindful to not bite so hard that he would leave teeth marks. He sat down in front of Mr Conjurer, his tail wagging a little at the good thing he was doing. The man gave a small smile, the light returning to his eyes as he reached out. He took the walking stick back and gave Rainbow an affectionate pat on the head.
āDude, give me a boost while youāre here.ā Sprout said after giving up on the third jump. Dude was already approaching him at that point. He saw Sprout struggling and knew that he needed to step in. He bent down and hooked his hands together. Sprout placed one foot there and with a silent nod to Dude, he carefully climbed up. Dude, at the same time, straightened himself up and heaved Sprout just enough so the green friend could stand on his shoulders. As he braced himself against the Core, with Dude holding onto his ankles to keep him steady, Sprout slotted the Crystal into place. Meanwhile, Mimi was kneeling at a lower point of the Core, ignoring the ice biting through her dungarees. She had found the spot for her yellow Crystal and slid it into place. As both Crystals were returned to their rightful spaces, the air grew warm. Once Sprout had jumped down from Dudeās shoulders, the Core flashed green and yellow before settling into the white.
Three Crystals.
Five were still out there but this was a small victory to revel in.
A shared, exhausted but uplifting silence circled the trio as they rode the lift back up to the surface. It was something that made the mission of rebuilding the Core somewhat hopeful. They were getting somewhere and with all the progress that they had done, things felt like that would go smoothly (even just by a little) from then on.
However hope always seemed to have dimmed when they needed it the most. Once they reached the library, even before they had a chance to open the doors to enter, a muffled, hacking cough was heard through the wood. A chill ran down their spines as they realised who could be making that sound. It sounded much worse compared to the last time they had heard it first hand. As they stepped across thee threshold, they immediately looked toward as the source of the coughing. Conjurer was slumped at the table, the walking stick on the floor next to him, evidently having been dropped. No one else seemed to have noticed the three returning as they were all crowding around him.
āAre you okay?ā Candi asked as she gently rubbed his back.
āSit down.ā OJ insisted, pulling out a chair.
āDonāt. Iām fine.ā Conjurer rasped, and he pushed Candi back as politely as he could.
āClearly youāve taken a page out Dudeās book about being stubborn.ā Pip fired back. Conjurer looked at her, and then everyone else. He saw the worry, they knew that he did. Nine against one. And with the current state that his magic was in, it wasnāt like he could give himself as leg to stand on. He could barely stand without the use of his walking stick. Sighing in defeat, he sat down in the chair OJ had offered him. Everyone gave him space, allowing him the time he needed to get at least some strength back. When it seemed to have passed, he let out another cough. It wasnāt as horrible sounding as the first, but made everyone else wince nonetheless. Whatever composure Conjurer had was gone in an instant. When the coughing subsided again, Conjurer looked at his glove before clenching his fist. That was when Misty felt a slight twinge. A feeling.
Magic.
āWhat magic did you just use?ā She accused, her voice echoing across the library.
āPardon?ā Conjurer asked in a shocked tone.
āI sensed you using magic. What did you do?ā Misty demanded, daring to take another step closer as if to make a point. Conjurerās eyes widened momentarily. Everyone else looked just as surprised by Mistyās sudden accusation. Only those that werenāt fully aware of Misty picking up ion the magic and becoming ill herself for a couple of moments at a time didnāt understand to the full extent. Candi, Dude and Mimi didnāt say anything to argue against what she was saying. They wanted to hear what the magician himself had to say in his own defence.
āJust cleaned my glove.ā The magician said as if it was the most normal thing that he could say. Cleaned his glove? What was on it before he erased it?
āHey! No more unnecessary magic!ā OJ barked, one hand slammed on the table as she leaned over Conjurer to look him in the eyes. āBelieve it or not, youāre limited just like the magic is, remember? You said something similar yourself.ā
āYouāre rightā¦ I apologise.ā Conjurer relented. He saw no point in continuing the argument. He didnāt know how to at that rate. Now that he had calmed down, everyone could see him properly. Grey hairs streaked across the dark colour. Wrinkles had creeped along his face. His body was sagging, as if all the coughing and even that little dose of magic he had used had drained almost all of his energy out of him. The only positive thing that can be seen was the yellow and green stripes that now accompanied his clothing. It was showing progress, but at too slow of a rate.
āYou need to see a doctor.ā Dude suggested, stepping forward.
āNo doctor can help me.ā Conjurer shook his head, some strength coming back to his voice.
āWe can bring one to you.ā Dude tried to throw a lifeline.
āNo! No outsiders!ā Mr Conjurer suddenly shouted, banging his fist on the table. The sound was like a thunder clap that ended with a deafening echo. That was the first time that anyone had seen him out of a controlled emotional state. His eyes were wide with resistance and anger at the mere thought of someone else being dragged into the situation. āItās too dangerous!ā
One breath.
Time had stood still.
Two breaths.
Erratic heartbeats started to calm down from all sides.
Three breaths.
The storm calmed down.
āHeās right Dude.ā Bud calmly agreed, placing a hand on Dudeās shoulder. The anchor brought Dude out of trying to continue his side of the argument. āIf we let someone else in, thereās a chance that they will let this all slip out into the open. Then we could be in a lot more trouble.ā
Logic overruled everything.
Dude looked around; at the library, at his friends, at OJ and then finally the Conjurer. Too much. Too heavy. Then Dudeās fists unclenched slowly, a soft crack coming from his knuckles. Far too much was riding on this to cause a wider rift than there already was.
āSorry.ā Dude relented, the tension in his shoulders loosened.
āItās fine. I know that youāre trying to help me.ā Mr Conjurer sighed as he slouched forward. The fist that he banged on the table released, like a hedgehog uncurling from its ball. It laid flat on the table, a struck white clashing with the dark wood. āBut the only thing that can do that-for all of us-is fixing the Core.ā In other words, get the job done and things can go back to some form of normalcy again. Everyone knew it, they didnāt need to be told. It was easier said than done.
Rainbow looked between down at the floor where the walking stick was, and back up at the man in the chair. He might not understand everything that was happening, but he knew enough to understand the danger his home was in. And that the strange man couldnāt move around easily. He had seen enough visitors with long sticks like those to assist with walking and moving around. Without an invitation, he trotted forward and grasped the stick in his mouth. He bit down enough to have a hold, but was mindful to not bite so hard that he would leave teeth marks. He sat down in front of Mr Conjurer, his tail wagging a little at the good thing he was doing. The man gave a small smile, the light returning to his eyes as he reached out. He took the walking stick back and gave Rainbow an affectionate pat on the head.
However, the peaceful moment didnāt last for long. There was a soft rumble and creaking. The floor shook a little, like a warning sign of an earthquake fast approaching. Everyoneās stomachs felt off, a result of the vibrations running through them in a toxic mix. Any light that was in the room flickered momentarily, another warning. No one was willing to wait for another rumble. When the noises, shaking and the nausea paused, Conjurer, still shaking, slowly got to his feet. He did his best to straighten his posture, a crumbling act that was ready to break apart.
āThatās that for today.ā He announced sombrely. He wanted them to continue, everyone could see that. He wanted the issue to be fixed faster than ever. However, he knew himself that he couldnāt push them too hard, and he needed to regain as much strength as he could. āAll of you get some rest for the next day. You need it.ā
No one was given a chance to give a response. With a sad gesture of his hand, Mr Conjurer had the Skyline Gang ejected from the Sky Crystal. Like last time, they all landed with a loud thud that made them feel bruised. It felt more violent than last time, highlighting an underlying urgency that Mr Conjurer appeared to have had. No one had broken anything, but it came pretty close.
āThatās it.ā Dude declared with a groan. āBefore we go back to the house, weāre getting one of the crash mats down here. I donāt want anyone breaking anything.ā Everyone around him gave a collective groan in response. As they all got to their feet one by one, before they could go and search for a crash matt, there was a high pitched groan. It came from the Sky Crystal. Another vibration rattled underneath everyoneās feet. It wasnāt as prominent as the shaking inside the crystal, but it was not I able all the same.
āI donāt like the sound of thatā¦ā Candi whimpered as the sound died down. Rainbow let out a long whine, his ears folded back as his tail tucked between his legs.
āTry not to worryā¦ā Pip whispered encouragingly, looping an arm around Candiās shoulders as she tried to lead the pink girl away. Mimi followed behind them with Misty as Rainbow brought up the rear. Sprout opened his mouth to try to crack a joke, but nothing came out. He just didnāt have the energy to even think of anything good to laugh at. So he limply went up the stairs. Dude and Bud exchanged a worried look. They didnāt need to say anything. They felt like there wasnāt any time to. In the end, they knew the dangers of what could happen if they lingered any longer.
After everyone worked together in setting a crash mat beside the Sky Crystal, the Skyline Gang returned to the house. When they went through the pavilion, it no longer felt warm and welcome. It was cold, bitter. The lingering darkness that seemed to have been left behind from their adventure with the Sceptre of Shadows seemed to have started to I make itself known. There was just something there that the Gang didnāt want to feel ever again.
When they returned to the house, they were just as quiet as when they left the crash matt at Sky Crystal. Not a word, laugh, bark, not even a cough was exchanged between all of them. When the day finally drew to a close, everyone turned in for the night, trying their best to fall into a restless, haunted sleep for the next day of where the adventure would take them next.
Skyline Gang: Sky Crystal. Chapter 17: Mummies, Rags and Crystals
Prologue: click HERE
Chapter 16: click HERE
Chapter 18: click HERE
No air.
Tight sensation.
Compressed.
Unable to move.
No light.
Muffled noises.
Then all of a sudden, gravity.
Air.
Freedom.
Free fall.
Mimi felt this feeling of falling for a few feet before she landed on her back. The fall was cushioned by sand under her, breaking the worst of her fall. However, she felt this sensation of being paralysed when she made contact with the ground. All feeling in her body had vanished, the blood flow fighting to run its normal course. Her heart was beating like a trapped bird as her lungs took any air that she could inhale. For a moment, she couldnāt breathe or move. She laid there, waiting for something to happen.
Then sand continued to fall onto her face, going into her mouth. Like a jolt of electricity had run through her, Mimi snapped out of her daze. Her body could suddenly move and her rolled to the side. She spat and sputtered sand from her mouth, desperately trying to clear her airway again. Once she was clear, she heard a loud groaning from above. She dived away as the ceiling above her caved, ancient brickwork and sand rained down. She barely had enough time to grab her backpack, where she saw the one of the straps poking out like a flag. She stumbled and limped away from the debris as she heard the bricks crashing onto the floor where she previously was. Her vision blurred as she found the doorway that was her only way out. The moment her foot stepped outside the room, she immediately felt like collapsing from shock.
She glanced back into the room. The ceiling had almost completely collapsed, sand raining down like that of a sand timer. Mimi wondered if the room had been drained of the quicksand or if it was barely scratching the surface. She brushed off the remnants of the quicksand from her clothes and hair, desperately trying to maintain at least some form of fabulous. If anyone else saw her like that it would be an embarrassment.
Anyone else?
The others!
With that, Mimi looked back into the room she stumbled out of. Sand continued to fall, but not at a slower pace. The pit must have a noticeable amount of sand missing. Maybe if the others were still up there, they might be able to hear?
āDude! Pip! Rainbow!ā Mimi called out as she cautiously returned to the room. Nothing. Could they not hear her? Did they really move out that quickly? How long had she been under for? How long did it take until the ceiling collapsed, allowing her to be freed?
Not wanting to see if the entire ceiling would go above her, Mimi fled the room. Her hands shook as she fumbled for the torch in her bag. Everything inside it was remarkably in tact, as if the magic that created it, and its contents, had protected it. Once she flicked it on, she scanned the area around her. The corridor that she was in was empty, void of anything else that was living. She looked to left. Then right. Then left again. The only sound that reached her ears was the sand falling. No scarabs. No mummy. No Skyline Gang.
Mimi reached into her pocket. The familiar weight of her phone brushed on her fingers. Triumphant, she pulled it out. Despite the quicksand, the pressure and wet sand, the phone was miraculously undamaged. Since her clothes were (sort of) magical, maybe thatās where her phone was protected too? Mimi didnāt think about it for too long. She unlocked it, the background flashing with a selfie she took with everyone. She pressed Dudeās number in her contact list. She pressed it to her ear. However, she heard three dull beeps. She looked at her phone. She was so stupid. Of course she wouldnāt have any signal in this tomb.
What was she thinking?
Defeated, Mimi slumped against the wall, sliding down until she was sitting down. She felt intolerably lonely. Being underground, with no one else around her, Mimi wanted nothing more than to feel the sun on her skin and see her friendsā faces. That was all she wanted, even more than the designer shoes that she had seen on sale just a few days prior. That was all before this mess with the Sky Crystal started. She reached into her pocket again. In the centre of her palm was the yellow Crystal Fragment. It was so small and fragile. As much as she enjoyed jewels as much as the next fashionista, Mimi couldnāt hold back a glare. She wanted nothing more than to throw it away and try to forget about the Sky Crystal altogether. She just wanted to go home and pretend this never happened.
But first she needed to get out of the tomb.
She picked up her phone again, desperately clinging to it like a lifeline. As the Home Screen flashed, her heart ached as she saw the faces of her friends. However, she tried to push through that as best as she could. That was when she noticed something. She had a bar of signal. That was impossible. She had no signal just a minute ago.
She looked at her phone, then the Fragment in her hand. It was glowing slightly, as if it was reacting to something. She couldnāt be near the Crystal already, could she?
Mimi looked at her phone again. Pursing her lips a little, she moved the Fragment closer to the phone.Ā
Two bars.
Three bars.
Full service!
Mimi felt like crying from pure joy! It was a little hesitant, but this was a big step for her. She went back into her contacts and tried one more time.
If this didnāt work, sheād be in more trouble.
āDude? Youāve got to get up, mate.ā Pip said as encouragingly as she could manage. Dude didnāt respond directly at first. Since losing Mimi, Pip and Rainbow had to drag him away from the room, rounding a corner several metres away. Since then, Dude had sat down, looking drained and void of any emotion. His eyes had lost their spark. It was like he was shutting down. Pip knelt down. After exchanging a glance at Rainbow, she reached out and touched Dudeās shoulder. He reacted like a wind up toy, flinching back violently and snapping his head up to face her. Pip stepped back as Rainbow let out a small whine. Then as if he was waking up from a nightmare, Dudeās body sagged as he looked around him, remembering where he was. And remembering what had happened.
āI shouldāve kept an eye on her.ā Dude muttered, taking his cap off and running his fingers through his hair.
āItās not your fault.ā Pip offered, extending a peaceful hand to him. That was a mistake to say that. It was like a trigger had been pulled and the bullet pierced through Dudeās quiet demeanour.
āWhat kind of a leader am I?!ā He barked, his voice bouncing off the walls. Pip flinched as Rainbow jumped back. Dude glared at Pip, his face hard as stone. āPip, tell me!ā As Dude heard his own voice fade away, the pent up anger seemed to deplete. He couldnāt bring himself to be angrier at the situation. He just looked down again and sealed himself away. Letting out a small whine, Rainbow went to Dudeās side. He curled up and nudged Dudeās side with his nose. Dudeās hand, which mimicked that of a puppet on strings, gently placed itself on Rainbowās head, stroking the fur. The texture was a little off, with Dudeās fingers catching grains of sand almost instantly. However, just the sensory touch of the fur was what helped to keep Dude grounded. Upon seeing the tension in his shoulders give way, Pip felt deflated herself. This whole adventure has been chaotic from start to finish. They couldnāt have known how serious the risks were going to be when it all started. Finding the Crystals sounded easy on paper. But now? This was point where it was all becoming more serious. But they need to keep a steady head.
āA good one, and a better friend.ā Pip stated as she took a seat next to Dude. āBut you canāt save everyone.ā Dude pulled a face that made Pip wince internally. Probably the wrong thing to say at the wrong time. The grief was still raw and it will be for a long time. But they needed to get moving. If they donāt, the Mummy will probably find them. Even if the monster didnāt, time was still ticking away. There was no time to sit and grieve. Just maybe try to set Dude down gently. āIf you want, I can tell the others. You canāt put yourself through a worse state.ā
Again, it seemed to be the wrong thing to say, but Dude responded to it a little. He nodded his head a little and patted Rainbowās head a little more.
Focus on the Crystal. Grab it, get out and back to the Sky Crystal.
Dude then thought of OJ and how Mr Conjurer was able to bring her back. He wondered for a moment that if they got lucky and once the magic was back to normal, maybe he could bring Mimi back too. It was the best possible chance that they had. If he can do it, then it could help with moving forward.
āLetās just get that Crystalā¦ā Dude finally said, his emotions in check. Just keep a clear head. Stay on track. The quicker they move, the faster they can retrieve the Crystal. Dude got to his feet, ignoring the numbness that was in them. He offered Pip a hand, which she had accepted. Rainbow jumped to his paws, nudging Dudeās side a little. Just a little insurance that helped to keep the blue friend on even ground.
Suddenly, as the trio were examining their surroundings, there was a blaring sound of music. It echoed around, acting like a lighthouse in a storm. Dude felt a small vibration in his pocket, causing him to automatically react by diving his hand into it. Recognising the music, Pipās eyebrows raised.
āI didnāt know you had signal.ā She commented, scratching her head.
āI shouldnāt have. At least not a great one.ā Dude responded, pulling out his phone. He didnāt bother to look at the caller ID. He just accepted the call. In a split second, he wondered if it was the others with some good news. Or bad. Or any kind of news. How was he going to explain what happened to Mimi? Dude quickly shook that thought off as he looked at his screen. āHello?ā
The call was a video call. However, the signal wasnāt on anyoneās side. The video was heavily pixilated and lagging, making it impossible to make out who was calling. The sound wasnāt fairing any better. Heavy static, allowing only a few syllables to be heard.
āā¦deā¦ā a voice crackled.
āThatās a rubbish signal alright.ā Pip agreed with Dudeās previous comment. āCanāt make anything out.ā
āWhat? What are you saying?ā Dude asked as slowly and clearly as he could. He wasnāt sure if the signal was just as bad to this caller, but he hoped that something distinguishable got through.
āā¦fraā¦oneā¦ā the voice called out through the crackle.
āFraā¦own?ā Pip parroted, tilting her head slightly. Dude turned up the volume on his phone as much as he could. Even with the increase in volume, however, the signal only let so much come through. Dude was almost tempted to hang up when finally one word came through with crystal clear clarity.
āā¦Fragmentā¦ā the voice said, sounding like the caller was desperately shouting.
āFragment?ā Rainbow repeated with a gruff tone. Dudeās finger froze as Rainbow repeated that single word. The cogs could be seen working away in his brain as his hand dived into his pocket.
āWaitā¦ā he muttered, pulling out the Fragment he had. He looked between it and his phone before he glanced at Pip. All she did was shrug and gestured for him to go ahead with whatever was in his plan was. With the affirmative, Dude brought the Fragment closer to his phone. The screen started to become clearer and the sound was less patchy. With the revelation, Dude held the Fragment and phone in the same hand.
Finally the signal was perfect.
The screen cleared and the sound was no longer patchy.
A very familiar face met with Dude and Pip.
āMimi?!ā Dude and Pip exclaimed as they saw the face of their friend. The one they believed that they had lost.
āIām still alive!ā Mimi smiled tearfully, brushing away a tear of relief. āIām not ready for mummification quite yet!ā Upon hearing Mimiās voice, Rainbow let out a loud howl, not caring if the Mummy was close or could hear him. He was just as happy to hear her again as Dude and Pip. Dude almost dropped his phone and the Fragment in shock and extreme relief. All those feelings hit him so hard that his knees almost buckled from under him. He had never felt so relieved in his life.
āHow?ā Pip exclaimed, grabbing Dudeās hand to keep him from losing his grip. She fought to keep herself together, but she couldnāt hold back the shocked and relieved smile spreading across her face.
āTurns out that at the bottom of that pit, there was an opening.ā Mimi explained. The camera flipped to show the tiled floor. After showing that Mimi was walking, the screen showed a room that was filling up with the quicksand that they had all seen mere minutes ago. āI fell right through it. Thatās probably why I was pulled under so quick.ā A lucky escape. One of many that happened since the morning dive.
How much longer until it runs out?
āAre you okay?ā Dude asked almost immediately.
āI am hot, sweaty, and covered in sand that will take hours to wash off!ā Mimi listed off with a grimace as she shook some damp sand out of her hair.
āI meant are you hurt?ā Dude rephrased. Despite a small prick of annoyance, he couldnāt hold back a small laugh. Even after the near to death experience, it was nice to hear that it hadnāt changed Mimiās personality. She was still the same old fashionista.
āOhā¦no, I donāt think so.ā Mimi said as it clicked in her head. She then flinched a little as if she had remembered something. Then the camera moved a little. Judging by the movement, Mimi might have been checking herself for injuries. She probably didnāt think to check properly until Dude had said something. After a few seconds, the camera focused back onto her face. āProbably a bruise or two but nothing serious.ā
āWhere are you exactly?ā Pip asked, her brow furrowing.
āAll I can say is that Iām a level below you.ā Mimi said, pointing at the ceiling above her. āI had to get out of the chamber where the sand was falling into.ā
āStay where you are.ā Dude ordered, eyes like steel. āWeāll try to find a way down to you.ā
āAnd if the Mummy shows up?ā Mimi enquired, looking around nervously. If that Mummy hadnāt heard Dudeās phone going off by then, he will have certainly heard them talking. He could be making his way to either the group of three or Mimi for all they knew.
āRun, find a safe place and try to call again or message to say so.ā Dude instructed, keeping his voice steady as he looked around himself.
āOkay. Stay safe.ā Mimi agreed.
āYou too.ā Dude responded and hung up the call. When he slipped the phone back into his pocket, he did his best to make sure that the Fragment was pressed up against the phone. If Mimi needed to call again, they would have a strong enough signal at the start.Ā
āHow are we going to get to her?ā Pip asked. Dude glanced around one more time. No obvious way down and they needed to get to Mimi as fast as possible.
āIāve got one idea, but I donāt think that youāll like it very much.ā Dude said and gestured down the hallway. The hallway where they just came from after they thought they lost Mimi.
āOh no!ā Rainbow whimpered, covering his eyes with his floppy ears.Ā
āI am going to kill you after this.ā Pip scowled a little as she caught on just as quickly as Rainbow did. Dude only gave a sympathetic look and a small shrug. Then he turned and retraced his steps back where they came from.
It was bad enough to know that the others thought that she was dead, but waiting for them to come find her was somehow worse. It just made the lingering senses of being alone and possibly stalked heavier, like a cloak made of lead that was placed on her shoulders. This was the worst. Even all the fashion disasters in the world couldnāt match up to this. As Mimi was mulling over that, she felt a slight tingling warmth in her pocket. She brought the Fragment out of her pocket again. It still gave off a glow. Small, subtle. Warm. While she was still pacing, Mimi noticed that it was going between glowing brighter and dimming again. She stopped walking. She held her breath and slowly turned on her heels. The glow got brighter by a tiny fraction. Dude said to stay where she was, but he didnāt say anything about staying still. With that small loophole in mind, Mimi walked a little closer to the direction where the Fragment started to get a reaction to. It glowed a little brighter, the warmth increase in her hand.
Mimi smiled as she saw that, knowing that things were getting a little better. That was when she heard the sound of the sand falling again. It was different. It had more weight to it and sounded less like a sand timer. She hurried back to the room to witness a news cascade falling into the room. There was a muffled noise, like someone trying to listen from being underwater. There was a new wave of sand as three distinct colours fell with it. Blue, purple and orange. Dude and Pip fell through first. Then Rainbow tumbled out and fell on top of the pair. They groaned loudly from the impact of a large dog landing on them but all three seemed to be okay.
āDude! Pip! Rainbow!ā Mimi exclaimed, almost tearing up upon seeing them.
āSorry that took a bitā¦ā Dude groaned, wiping wet sand from his face.
āMimi!ā Rainbow barked. He scrambled to get off of Dude and Pip, giving them momentary relief from the weight being taken off them. Rainbow trotted up to Mimi, wagging his tail so hard that it could detach. He bounced so hard that the floor was starting to feel like it was shaking.
āHey, Rainbow!ā Mimi beamed as she made a fuss of Rainbow, ignoring the current sandy texture in his fur. She then looked towards Dude and Pip as the former got to his feet. āAre you all okay?ā
āIāve got sand in places I didnāt know I had.ā Pip groaned before accepting Dudeās hand and was pulled to her feet. Rainbow shook himself furiously, trying to banish the itching in his fur as Dude and Pip brushed themselves off. There was a loud groan which prompted everyone to evacuate the room. A loud crash reverberated from within the room and the entire ceiling collapsed. Sand slammed down with the bricks and flooded the entire room, spilling out of the doorway. That was too close for comfort. Everyone took a sigh of relief and just felt exhausted. They hadnāt even found the Crystal and already they just want nothing more then to turn back. However, even if they wanted to do that, there was no clear way out. Trying to shake off the initial shock of the room collapsing, Dude straightened up and approached Mimi.
āAre you sure that youāre okay?ā He asked, gently gripping Mimiās shoulders and scanning her for serious injuries.
āI promise, Iām fine.ā Mimi said, gently taking a step back and squeezing Dudeās hands. She couldnāt describe how good it was to physically touch someone after all that had happened, it just felt nice to feel grounded once more. Dude opened his mouth but Mimi didnāt give him a chance. With how recent her discovery was, she was quick to recover her Fragment from her pocket. āThe good news is that I think weāre closer to the Crystal now. Look.ā Without missing a beat, Mimi grabbed Dudeās hand and pulled him to the direction where her Fragment had a reaction. Upon seeing the shine, Dude and Pip pulled out their own Fragments. The blue, purple and the orange Fragment glowed just as brightly as Mimiās yellow.
āAt least some good came out of this.ā Pip said optimistically.
āLetās get going. We canāt afford to waste more time.ā Dude urged, readjusting his backpack. With that said, Rainbow took charge and started to lead the way. Pip followed close behind him, keeping in time with him. Dude and Mimi hung more in the back, with Dude glancing behind to make sure that they werenāt being followed. Mimi meanwhile just once again felt good to be near someone human again. Then she was shocked out of that moment of bliss. Suddenly, Dudeās hand came out and pushed Mimi. It wasnāt enough to hurt, just enough to cause her to stumble.
āHey! What was that for?ā Mimi hissed as she caught up with Dudeās stride.
āThat was for scaring me.ā Dude quoted, remembering the submarine earlier that morning. Mimi blinked as she recalled that moment in the Sky-Sub. That moment where she was both scared and angry at Dude for the fright he had given them. Now the roles were reversed.
āWhat is it?ā Pip asked Rainbow. She was expecting another chase but there wasnāt any need for it. She looked into the doorway before waving Dude and Mimi over. They peeked in before they stepped into the room. A large chamber was displayed before them. Treasure lined almost every inch of the floor, some piled high with gold. On the far side of the room was an alter where a sarcophagus lay. The resting place of the Mummy. Standing above the sarcophagus was the Orb of Ra, clearly having been moved since the last time everyone had seen it. Whether it was done by the Mummy himself so no one would find it or because of the Crystalās magic, no one bothered to think about it. They cautiously started to step into the chamber.
āWellā¦weāve found the right roomā¦ā Pip commented as she scanned the room. With all this treasure around, it might be hard to dig through it, even if a Fragment leads them to the right pile.
āWhereās the-ā Mimi started her question.
āMummy!ā Rainbow suddenly barked. He had heard a noise and turned around. That was when he gave his warning. The teens looked and the Mummy was standing right there. His arms were stretched out as he charged towards the intruders.
āScatter!ā Dude ordered. Everyone split up and ran to different corners of the room. When Dude glanced over his shoulder, he noticed that the Mummy seemed to be thinking about who he should chase before settling on the blue friend. This caused Dude to pick up his pace into a mad sprint. āTry not to let him corner you!ā With that said, Dude weaved between the treasure. The Mummy tried to keep up with him, but Dude prove to be too fast. He ducked behind a pile, attempting to catch his breath. Spotting what seemed to be a rod made of gold, the size being the length of a cricket bat, he grasped it tightly. Something to use for defence, nothing more. Dude peeked around his hiding spot. The Mummy was looking around before heading off in a different direction. That was when a hand suddenly placed itself on his shoulder. Dude swung around, ready to swing the rod. However, he stopped when he saw Pip, looking just as scared as he was.
āPlan? Please tell me you have a plan!ā She begged, her eyes darting around.
āFind the Crystal and leg it!ā Dude said for lack of better words. There literally was no other plan. At this point everyone was making up everything as they go. āDuck!ā Pip ducked down as she saw Dude suddenly hold up his makeshift weapon. Dude then swung it hard. The Mummy, whom had crept up behind Pip while she was distracted, was hit solidly in the head. His body flopped to the side and Dude and Pip took the opportunity to run. The Mummy once again chased after them.
Meanwhile, Mimi and Rainbow were scanning the room. The Fragment in Mimiās hand was still glowing, just a little brighter than before. Quickly checking to see if the Mummy had noticed, and noticing that she was in the clear, she held the Fragment out and started to turn. It was only when she faced the alter the Fragment showed a positive reaction. She groaned internally. Of course it was the alter. After sharing a glance with Rainbow, Mimi crept up the steps of the alter. The Fragment got brighter and hotter in her hand. Rainbow stayed close by her side, ears folded back in anticipation. Once Mimi reached the top, the Orb of Ra seemed to have this pull towards it. She fought hard to ignore it after seeing that it didnāt just happen to have a newly acquired Crystal decorating it. It was the sarcophagus that had the most reaction. Mimi shuddered as she realised what she had to do. She looked behind her to see how Dude and Pip were doing. Pip was nowhere to be seen. It was at that point that Dude was caught off guard by the Mummy. He had split away from Pip, ducking and weaving through the treasure. Then all of a sudden, Mummy had managed to cut him off.Ā
āKeep him distracted!ā Mimi shouted down to him. Dude didnāt have a chance to respond. The Mummy had grabbed him and tossed him into the air like a rag doll. The wind was knocked out of him, causing him to lose his grip on the rod he had. Distracting? That was easy.
āā¦no problemā¦ā Dude groaned, recovering as quick as he could. The Mummy charged at him again. That time, he managed to recover the rod. While still down, he swung it, hitting one of the Mummyās legs. He went down, buying Dude enough time to get up and run again. Meanwhile, Mimi had managed to heave the lid of the sarcophagus off. So far the Mummy was more preoccupied with playing cat and mouse to hear it being disturbed. The bottom of the sarcophagus was lined with linens that appear to have been ripped and torn. A layer that the Mummy fought out of the first time when Misty previously stole the Orb? Maybe. But that wasnāt important.
āEw! Ew! Ew!ā Mimi grimaced as she touched the linen. She hesitantly rummaged, trying to ignore the grim action she was doing. She squeezed her eyes shut, thinking that it was better if she didnāt look. āJust think of shopping. Dresses, make up, shoesā¦gemstones-oh!ā Mimiās hands stopped as they touched something solid and warm. Her eyes snapped open at the realisation. She dug through the bandages in that area and the light bounced off something. She grabbed it and the yellow Crystal was in her hands. She beamed brightly as she held it up high. āFound it!ā
That was when the Mummy finally noticed. Mimiās face drained of colour as he stared right at her. He let out a furious roar and started to charge toward the alter. Rainbow let out a warning through a growl and bark. That was when Dude and Pip charged themselves out of nowhere. They held a bejewelled spear and drove it toward the Mummy, the monster had no time to brace himself at the spear caught the wrapping on his shoulder. Dude and Pip continued their charge until the spear was embedded in the wall. Not permanent but itāll do for a head start.
āRun!ā Dude ordered as he and Pip backed away. Mimi and Rainbow sprinted down the steps of the alter, being careful not to trip over. By time the Mummy had winched himself free, the fours members of the Skyline Gang had already fled the chamber. They ran back the way they came from and passed the room that was flooded with quicksand. They were like rats in a maze, trying to find a way out while a predator was chasing them. They hadnāt made their way to the chamber in a conventional way so they had no markers to tell them where to go for the exit.
āNow where do we go?ā Pip panted as the group skidded to a stop. In front of them were two corridors that branched away from them. With the Mummy getting closer, the teens and dog started to panic. There was no guarantee of a safe way out no matter which one they chose. That was when Mimi felt a tug on her hand. The Crystal was pulling all by itself. It was trying to go to the right.
A way out?
What else if there to lose if they donāt try?
āThis way!ā Mimi shouted as she started running to the right.
āMimi?!ā Dude exclaimed.
āTrust me!ā Mimi called out over her shoulder. As the Mummy let out another roar from behind, Dude, Pip and Rainbow immediately ran after Mimi. With the Crystal now acting like a magnet, Mimi made herself aware of which direction it would pull. Another few turns and the group found themselves back at the point where they lost Mimi in the first place, right where she fell through the trap door.
āHow?ā Dude asked as he caught up to Mimi.
āThe Crystal!ā Mimi panted as she held up the Crystal. āItās like itās showing us the way out!ā
āLess talking! More running!ā Pip shouted from the back. All pushed forward as best they could. Now that the hallways look more familiar, and with subtle looks towards where each marker was, relying on the Crystal like a compass was no longer needed. The Mummy was getting closer, but not as close as the exit. Up the stairs. Out of the abandoned dig site and along the sand. Rainbow had taken the lead at this point. The Mummy didnāt stop his pursuit. To him, the Crystal was his newest treasure. He wanted it back. But he canāt. He can never have it back.
āThe portal! Go!ā Dude yelled as he spotted the light. Without much thought everyone dived in, leaving the desert and monster behind.
After the blur of colours vanished, Rainbow landed flat on the ground, unable to get a firm footing on the floor. Dude, Pip and Mimi tumbled and fell on top of him, sending sand that was still clinging onto them scattering about. Hearts pounded, lungs were tight and fighting for air. Their limbs were unresponsive. The adrenaline was gone. No heat. No sand. No Mummy had chased them through the portal. Just the private security of the Sky Crystal. They were safe.
āWhat happened to you four?ā OJ exclaimed, looking at the group.
āYou donāt want to know!ā Mimi hissed, glaring up at the orange lady. She pointed the Crystal that was still clenched in her hand at OJ. āWe have it!ā It was as she said that, they noticed that Budās team had gotten back, with Sprout holding a green Crystal in his hand. They also noticed the state that Mr Conjurer was in as he leaned on his walking stick. He tried to put on a mask, but everyone could see how weak he had gotten, even without the hint of the walking stick. Nonetheless, he maintained as much authority as he could muster. As he approached get a closer look at the Crystal, Dude, Mimi and Pip got to their shaky feet. Rainbow remained still, opting to regain his strength. As the magician looked at the yellow Crystal, he gestured towards Sprout and the doors.
āGo to the Core.ā He commanded. He then looked down disappointingly at his leg. āYouāll be faster than me at the current state Iām in.ā
Sorry for not posting for a long time. Uni has been busy. Now that Iām finished with uni for the year, Iāve got more time for writing until September time.
Once again I decided to draw on OG member of the Skyline Gang. This is OJ. Like the Conjurer, she was in the gang until 2005 (left at the same time as the Conjurer). There are shorts of her on YouTube as well. From what Iāve seen in the comment section of one of the videos, sheās a cheeky character, so kind of like Sprout in a way.
Decided to do a couple of sketches of The Conjurer, who was a member of the OG Skyline Gang until 2005. I never got to see him in shows, but from clips that Iāve seen on YouTube and reading the comments on some of said clips, he seemed like an interesting character.
I know that Iāve had him in my recent Skyline Gang fanfic but I started writing him in before I knew more about the lore behind him, so he might be OCC which I apologise for.
Felt like doing a redrawing of characters from an original fantasy series that Iāve been writing since the pandemic. The series is called Dragon Seekers (link in pinned post). I havenāt touched the project for a while, mostly due to uni but itās still important to me. The first beta version is online but I am working on it offline towards a final draft. These are Jamie (he/him), Ash (she/her) and Dreama (she/her). If anyone has any questions about the characters or the series itself, ask away.
Quick run through each of the characters:
Jamie is a boy from this world and the main protagonist. He accidentally goes through a portal to a world where humans and dragons coexist (name of the world is being workshopped).
Ashley (or Ash) is the first friend that Jamie makes in the dragon world. Sheās a part of the fire element. Sheās a tomboy and a skilled fighter but she knows when to hold back if needed. The spear was a gift from her father who was a Dragon Seeker, but was killed while performing his duty. She wants to be like her dad. Also if anyone tries to put a dress on her, sheāll literally run away.
Dreama doesnāt make a huge appearance in the novel but she acts as an observer and guide for Jamie. Sheās a part of the air element. Due to her element, she was born with an air current around her, meaning that her feet rarely touch the ground. Sheās able to sit on a chair like a normal person but thatās the most that she can do gravity wise.
I apologise for my lack of writing recently. Uni has been tough with assignments and writerās block has been a pain in the backside. Iāve also been more drawing as a stress outlet compared to when writing was the primary for stress relief. Iāll be back on track soon, itās just been a stressful time right now.
Anatomy is a little off but Iām happy with how this came out. Scenario that I had in my head was that Misty didnāt want to do something and Dude, being just as stubborn as she was, wasnāt taking no for an answer.
