Chapter 4

It took us quite the while to get to Serpent’s Peak. It looked like a cliff of dusty, reddish rock under a sunset.

“So, why are we here again? There’s barely anything…” I said folding my arms at everybody; they turned around and saw that I had a sword in my right hand.

“Venima, eh… Where did you get that?” Wash asked, observing the sword. Then there was a flashback of me finding my way through the woods to everyone else, I tumbled down a hill in front of a sword. So I picked it up and went to find the others and tag along. What I expected was the viper to come out the blue completely and everyone (prepared) would take it on straight away; nope. There was nothing there…

Five minutes later all we saw was a normal snake (not like me or Shake, it was tiny and didn’t have arms) stop in front of us staring like we were up to something. It just seemed pointless standing around in the heat with just a little bit of wind blowing against us. I felt like going back to the house and letting Night Shift and Rubble Rouser take my place (but I barely know how to look after kids) and it seemed like hours since we arrived. So I just said.

“Forget it! I’m going home… “ Then I saw a shadow across the horizon and turned around. Then there was a giant snake which was the same colour as that evilized greeble I saw when I left Windsong islands. It also had crystals on its head and several parts of its body.

“Is that the thing you were talking about?” I said, with the sword I had ready.

“Yes, afraid so…” Shake replied. Well, ok… I guess if we fight this thing and get rid of it things will go back to normal in these parts. So I had my sword ready and charged towards the right side of the cliffs. The Fire Viper started chasing me. And everyone went left.

“Venima! Run!” Shake started shouting.

“How am I meant to run?! I don’t even have legs for that!” I answered. Then I realised I had my amulet, so I put my hand on it and turned into a lizard then made a run for it. The viper started breathing fire and tried burn me and such (I see why they call them fire vipers now…) I kept running around in circles and circles for ages. So I decided I had to do something or I would be stuck doing this for ages; I stopped, then jumped onto the head of the snake.

“Wow, she’s kinda stupid…” Magna (Aka: Magna Charge) said.

“Nope, I’m going after her” Shake added on. Meanwhile I was trying to make my move by hitting the snake on its crystal head with my sword. Then I felt someone tap my shoulder and I turned around, it was Rattle Shake (except he had Blast Zone’s legs for some reason)

“Umm… I don’t think that’s how you fight with a sword around these parts…” He said. I looked up and stopped hitting the crystal.

“Umm… Rattle, Shake?” I answered.

“It’s Rattle Zone for now. Well, if you want to fight with an actual sword you use the edges of it not the faces. Now we’ve got to get you outta here…” I shook my head and followed what Rattle Zone had said about sword fighting with the edges not the faces. It still didn’t work, and the viper tossed me off its head onto the cliffs; I landed on my feet then began swinging my sword around distracting it, it only made it angrier. So it trapped me in a ring of fire. There were so many flames I hadn’t noticed the moon in the sky before the snake picked me up and took me away into the caves below the cliffs (it’s called Skylands for a reason…)

Now let’s get to Night Shift, Rubble Rouser and Rocket back at the house (she was giving them a hard time then) Rubble had been tied in plasma webs while Night was trying to get Rocket off his head while she was giggling constantly (Night Shift was tired, he refused to read her a bedtime story so that was what he deserved; she said) Rocket had pushed Night into the wall, shaking him.

“Tickle her! It’ll make her stop! Or just read her a story, she’ll calm down…” Rubble advised Night, who finally managed to get the tiny 8 year old spy off him, she then disappeared out of sight.

“Great, where’d she go..?” They were stupid enough to not notice she was on the ceiling, and she came down behind Night then blasted him (not literally, she tied him in plasma webs like Rubble) Rocket climbed onto the bookshelf opposite the room and got the largest book (it was yellow) Next she sat on the bed with Night and Rubble at the end tied up while she read it. They had no choice but to watch her read (isn’t reading fun?)

Meanwhile I was stuck in the caverns below the cliffs; it was lit by a few torches so it wasn’t entirely dark. Luckily the fire viper was asleep but it was in front of the opening; and it was lying on top of me (again, not literally; it was the end of my tail he was lying on) so I decided to lie down and wait for Shake (Or Rattle Zone as he liked being called now) to come save me. I barely knew much about Cloudbreak itself, but I knew I couldn’t shape-shift now because it could startle even the largest of creatures. I climbed over the back of the snake and started to talk faintly;

“Hey, you know there’s this place called Windsong. Pretty neat, I came from there and I…” I paused and there was someone at the entrance. He was a pretty huge, blue anthropomorphic blob with a trident and crown; he was standing outside the cave entrance with his tongue sticking out.

“Uh,” I said “Who might you be? Never seen you around…” The blob then snapped out and saw me, I hid under the snake; peeking over the top, it saw me again and pulled out its trident.

“Alright, come out scaly thing!” It said in a booming, deep voice. I slowly came up the over the snake’s back; but I couldn’t get at least halfway over the thing’s back since it was lying on my tail.

“I’m kinda stuck… Could you maybe, help me out of here…?” I asked him. He came nearer and started looking at me with an innocent look.

“Gulper isn’t meant to help strangers…” It said; I guess his name was Gulper. I crouched down and held the end of my tail then started tugging it so I could get it out from underneath; it took about ten minutes, then I was finally free.

“Ok, Gulper; could you help me out of here just once? C’mon, pretend nothing happened and don’t say a word about it to whoever says you can’t help, it’ll be fine!” I pleaded. Gulper finally shrugged and leaned over the snake’s back then picked me up and brought me out the cave; but then there was a tumbling of rocks below; it was a bad idea coming out here. The snake woke up with its yellow eyes blazing and its purple crystals glowing; yet another bad idea. Gulper wrapped his large arms around me and tilted his head onto mine. I told him I’ll deal with it myself, pushing him away gently. But he still wanted to help me; so he picked me up again and threw me up into the air, I managed to get the crystal part of the snake’s head with my sword and sliced several crystals from the head off; it did nothing. Then I used my amulet again to turn into a lizard so I could kick it in the eye (keeping tight hold of the necklace)

“Senorita! Use your powers now!” I knew who it was immediately. I was falling, so I used my life powers to form vines then I ran around the snake tying it up; I jumped off and landed on the cliffs next to Shake (who apparently had Wash Buckler’s legs now) He grabbed me before I could do anything else.

“Wait a sec,” I said, “I still need to add the finishing touch!” Then I charged up my right hand and ran as fast as I could leaping at the edge of the cliff (somersaulting in mid-air) blasting the viper and kicking it in the face at the same time. It managed to survive; but it flew away leaving several trees on fire. Swift had seen the explosion and had flown to me. I let go of my amulet and turned into a snake again as if I never shape-shifted.

“What. Just. Happened?!” Swift asked; jaw-dropped.

“Nothing much…” I said, giggling. I wasn’t the best at martial arts or sword fighting; I guess I’ll have to learn. All the others had seen what happened; so they were there as well.

“Venima, that was crazy; what were you thinking?” Wash said. Well, they had been fighting the snake too and putting out the flames while waiting for it to come back out. I looked behind me to see if Gulper was still there; he wasn’t.

“It’s all right, guys… We did it, right?” I murmured under my breath. Rattle Shake, Wash Buckler and Blast Zone looked at each other; I turned away then back again. They were all completely normal now. “Huh? I don’t understand, one second Wash Buckler; you had Shake’s bottom half now you’re normal. And Blast Zone; didn’t you have Wash’s legs?”

“Well…” Wash began to say. “About Ninety-six years ago before you were probably born we went over to Mt. Clou-“

“Wait a minute… You’re, Swap Force Skylanders? My mother told me that story when I was Rocket’s age and I still remember it now…” I interrupted. I could hardly believe it; they were Swap Force and I never knew until now. “Well, I and Shake are going home; are you coming?” He shook his head. When me and Rattle Shake were going through the forest alone; he took me by the hand and stopped. Then he took my other hand and wrapped his tail around mine.

“You were brave, I understand that…” He whispered.

“Umm… Thanks?” I whispered back. He brought me closer; we were about to kiss and then.

“RATTLE SHAKE! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?!” It was… Stink Bomb!

“I can explain…?” He said, and then he turned to me “Sorry, amigo…” He let go and took my hand again, then quickly took me home as if Stink Bomb never saw what just happened. But he followed...

Meanwhile…

I haven’t talked about Kaos’ Mom yet; haven’t I? Well she was up to no good and had run out of ideas. Kaos, her son, was leaning on a pillar drinking orange juice cartons.

“Then what is Plan ‘B’, mother?” He said, looking at his confused mother as she paced the throne room. The first plan was to go to Windsong Islands herself and make Victor hand me over, it failed and led to my curse of course. But she had other plans.

“Patience, Kaos… Evil plans take time” She answered. “Plan A may have failed; but this will work! I promise you and Glumshanks with all my heart, dearie…” The doors made a banging sound.

“Oh, look! They’re here!”

“Who, mother?” Kaos demanded. Kaos’ Mom told whoever was at the door to come in, the door opened. The girl who walked in was about fourteen years old with silver eyes and pale skin; her hair was also platinum blonde (it was up to about halfway down her neck, and it was spiky) She was wearing a black sleeveless shirt lined with purple with black jeans and purple boots that went up to her knees; she was carrying a guitar that was also purple and black. (Kaos also picked up the fact she had a large purple ribbon at the back of her head and she was wearing a music note broach that looked like a Semiquaver) Then a werewolf with orange-red fur and red eyes peered around the door; he also had black leather pants on with a skull on the belt. And carried what looked like a harp.

“Mother,“ said Kaos, “Why are we leaving your ‘plan’ to a bunch of MUSICIANS?!” The girl’s left hand began glowing; she fired at Kaos’ mouth forming a thin layer of purple crystal it, Kaos stared at the girl in disgust and insult then sat down at the pillar folding his arms.

“That’s why, sweetie…” She said; her voice was high pitched & scratchy. The girl then proceeded up the stairs; with the werewolf tagging along behind.

“Then, who are you and who is this dog?” Kaos’ Mom asked.

“Uh, the gal up there’s Nai, ‘am Wolfgang…” The werewolf said. Kaos’ Mom then offered them a seat, but ‘Nai’ shook her head and rested against the pillar opposite Kaos.

“So, I came right? We both did; eh, I’m sorry Dr. K couldn’t come down ‘n’ all, he’s,” Nai paused, “busy…?” She sat down strumming her guitar.

“My name isn’t exactly ‘Nai’, you know?” She added.

“Then what is your real name, dear?” Kaos’ Mom asked. Nai stood up and stopped playing

“It’s Naivel... Naivel Note!” She announced. Kaos laughed at her name as if it made any sense at all (he managed to break the layer of crystal on his mouth) Wolfgang ran up the stairs and stood next to Naivel. Kaos’ Mom didn’t really seem to care that the girl had fired crystal at her son’s mouth; she seemed more interested in the magic or sorcery behind it, to her it seemed unusual for a girl in Skylands to be able to do that unless she was secretly a witch or sorcerer

“I think your hands and Wolfgang’s music here will come in handy. I’ve heard so many stories about you; and I have heard you two being one of the most notorious duos in Skylands! But hear me; I want you to find a specific person… Venima Skyfang, she has blue eyes blonde hair and she also wears her hair in a ponytail, most of the time anyways…” Kaos’ mom said; then she began talking about how much gold they were going to be paid. Naivel nodded in agreement; and paced down the stairs.

“Don’t worry, darlin’,” She said, “our queen’s gonna be proud for sure!” As she was about to leave, Kaos’ Mom told her to stop.

“Who is this ‘queen’ of yours?” She asked. Naivel froze and turned around a little surprised.

“The Golden Queen, she leads us.” Naivel answered in a faint voice. Kaos’ Mom got up from her throne then began yelling.

“I don’t care about this ‘Golden Queen’ of yours, find Venima, and begin NOW. Look your whole lives if you have to! Or there shall be consequences!” As she finished, Naivel and Wolfgang had walked out the door.

“Eh, hear that, Wolfy! We’re gettin’ paid big time! Big time…” She whispered. The throne room fell into silence…

Meanwhile back at the house…

I woke up hearing someone coming through the door. Startled, I looked out the window, it was midnight; I knew that nobody could be coming in at this time. Everyone was asleep, and they were all Skylanders so it wouldn’t be a problem. So I went back to sleep without a clue who came in. But whatever came in started poking me, getting me to wake up again. As I opened my eyes I realised immediately who it was; Rocket.

“Hey, it’s midnight. Isn’t it time you were in bed?” I said.

“Umm… I had a bad dream…” Rocket murmured. I felt really bad for her, she was only eight years old after all.

“Well, you can come in… Don’t worry, it’s all ok… It’s just a dream after all, what was the dream about?” I answered, picking her up.

“It was this weird… Floating head thingy… That’s all I remember…” She said. I understood her clearly, and lay her down on the pillow next to me, soon after that I was asleep again…