Skylanders: Shrink Squad

Ch. 16 Introduction

Sharpfin and Mags finish adjusting the last of the tethers around the Core of Light on Flynn's ship. Mags gives them a hardy smack proclaiming, "That oughtta do it!"

"She's as secure as she'll get," Sharpfin confirms.

"Excellent work," Eon praises. "With that done all that is left is for us to decide who will join us on this expedition."

"I will go," Brain volunteers. "I can provide an extra layer of security should the Skylander not be enough." He says. "Not that I don't think you will be." He quickly adds.

Eon nods his head in approval.

Buzz steps forward. "I will go."

Eon softly shakes his head. "That will not be necessary." He says. "I wish to limit the amount of heroes on this expedition. It is not necessary for us all to go."

Buzz slowly agrees.

"That makes me, Brain, and Kaos," Eon continues. "All that's left is a pilot."

Everyone's eyes fall on Flynn. He shifts his weight on his ankles, awkwardly rocking back forth. "I get the feeling you're talking about me." He looks over everyone, shrugging his shoulders. "When you're the greatest pilot in all of Skylands I suppose that's what you should expect. Sure I'll fly ya."

"Then it is settled," Eon says. "May the light guide us all."

*******

Cleasai... No, the King of Chaos. That's who he was. Not some lowly being named Cleasai. He was much more than that... yet sometimes he still saw Cleasai.

Poor, foolish, weak... happy. Cleasai.

Why would he be thinking about him now? A dead man's memories flashing through his mind, one after the other in rapid succession.

Cleasai walking next to a woman... Zareen — her name suddenly appearing in his mind. Zareen and her child... their child. Acadia. His daughter walked between the two of them holding each of their hands, kicking up her legs and swinging along to the family's laughter.

The setting, while initially foggy in his mind, began to clear out as the memory became stronger.

The happy family walked along side others on a busy path. Signs and rides surrounded them advertising the fun to be had at the amusement park... what had it been called? Mayhem Isle! That's right! There was some significance there but it wasn't making itself apparent to the Chaos King.

What was it? And why was he struggling to breathe?

That didn't matter. The memory continued on... on towards disaster.

The family was outside the Chaos Coaster when it happened. Screams. Hundreds of them full of absolute terror. Acadia looked around in confusion. Cleasai picked her up, pulling her in close.

A dark tear in reality had opened above the park, large tendrils of mist extended from it, leaking a black smog on the people below. The smog flowed through them, dropping them to the ground in spasms. Their bodies convulsing as the opaque mist covered their bodies, taking control of them.

Cleasai ran, carrying his daughter towards the hope of safety. His wife, the woman he loved, tripped behind him and fell to the smog. Cleasai had wanted with every fiber of his being to go back for her. To pull her out of the smog that was slowly taking her over, making her scream in pain. He wanted to keep her from it but he knew going back would only subject his daughter to the same fate. And so he kept running.

The memory brought back a pain in the Chaos King's chest. A crushing feeling like the universe was conspiring to crush him beneath their boot. Why was he feeling this way?