Skylands Legends

9.1 Fizzland

Spyro stood alone at the back of the ship, watching as clouds and nearby islands passed by in the orange glow of the sunset. He wondered what Jet Vac had told the others about him. If they knew he wasn't there to fight, mainly to assist. He hoped that wouldn't change how everyone looked at him.

Spyro sighed and looked down over the railing. Below, another sky ship soared with the breeze. He knew another three ships were surrounding them out there somewhere. Together, the five ships carried over four hundred fighting mabu.

They made him question why he was even here. He wasn't going to fight and he probably wouldn't be that much of a help strategizing either. Especially since four battalion leaders from the Mabu Defense Force were with them.

He felt... useless. Which then only made him want to join the fight to prove that he wasn't, but then he would think about his family and go back to his original position all the while feeling bad for himself. He knew it was a self destructive cycle, but he couldn't find a way out of it.

He would rationalize that with an army this big, how could one beast stand against them? He wouldn't be needed. But then Eruptor would enter his mind and he'd have to push him away. He felt guilt for Eruptor's death, almost like he was the one who caused it to happen. He knew that was ridiculous, and he would constantly tell himself so, yet here he was, spiraling through a guilt laden self destructive cycle.

He wanted it to end.

The click of the metal door behind Spyro opening suddenly made him jump. He turned to find Smash Hit joining him on the back deck. He nodded to Spyro and said, "Just watching the sunset. You don't mind if I join you, do you?"

"No," Spyro shook his head and gestured to the railing beside him. "Go ahead. Gaze away."

Smash Hit grunted a laugh and joined Spyro at the railing.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Smash Hit said.

"Usually is." Spyro responded. They both stood there in silence for a moment before Spyro asked, "How was the meeting?"

Smash Hit shrugged. "Pretty much a repeat of back at the academy."

"Ah. I figured it would. Jet Vac always liked to run through plans at least ten times before even thinking of beginning. He's probably going mad thinking about how he will only have twelve hours to come up with a legitimate plan."

"Well, he's not the only one going mad then." Smash Hit said with a light laugh.

Spyro gave a weak smile and a nod.

Smash Hit's mirth abruptly came to an end as he turned to face Spyro. "You really not fighting?"

Spyro winced and looked down to his claws as he scraped them along the railing. "No."

Smash Hit just nodded and turned back towards the sunset. After a moment he said, "Might be the smart choice."

Spyro looked at him. He continued to watch the sunset.

Dark came and Spyro felt no better about his decision.

*****

The sky ship pulled in to dock at Fizzland in the middle of the night. A group of purple furred bottle beasts waited there to escort them to the 'Castle of Fizz'.

The mabu briefly discussed and sent Latch as their representative while the remaining three battalion leaders did their rounds with the men. Jet Vac had Spyro, Stealth Elf, Bushwhack, Smash Hit, and Crusher join him to go see Pop Fizz. Terrafin, Fryno, Rocky Roll, Wrecking Ball, and Slobber Tooth would all stay behind.