Legacy of the Portal Masters

Ch. 0: The Awakening

We humans have not always been alone in our existence. Long, long ago, before even the dinosaurs were around, there was a time of peace and prosperity on Earth, a time of… magic. In those days, in that true golden era, dragons, unicorns, elves, and all manner of mythic fables roamed the lands of Earth and beyond, and we humans were equally abundant in both worlds.

Yes, dear reader, you heard me correct. Whereas we humans were native to Earth, all the other creatures I told you of were born in a magical world called Skylands. Skylands was, or, more rather, is a collection of islands floating in the sky. Travel between our world and Skylands is only possible by using a Portal, which can only be activated by someone with enough magic in their body, the Portal Masters. The Portal Masters were some of the most powerful people ever, and believed in peace, prosperity, and the Light. They were not only travelers and peacekeepers, they were great explorers, and had great skill in exploring.

But, that was also their greatest weakness… for once, while exploring the boundaries of Skylands, a Portal Master found the Darklands. The Darklands are an area surrounding Skylands filled with the Darkness, the opposite of the Light, and the cause for all evil. That Portal Master who discovered the Darkness was also corrupted by it, and spread the Darkness into the world. The Darkness traveled, growing in size and power, and the Portal Masters knew it was up to them to assemble the ultimate team of heroes to defend their world. So they formed the Skylanders, a team of heroes that swore to protect Skylands from the Darkness until their very last breath. The Portal Masters also built the Core of Light, a great machine that helped keep the Darkness at bay. The Core, combined with the might of the Skylanders, beat back the Darkness and held it in the Darklands. The Portal Masters also created the Elemental Crystals, eight gems that had been enchanted with the full power of one of the eight Elements: Air, Earth, Fire, Life, Magic, Tech, Undead, and Water. The Crystals were so powerful that they were stowed away in a secret location, only to be brought out if the Darkness once again amassed and invaded Skylands, and the Skylanders were not enough to stop it.

But they also knew that to truly detain the Darkness, they must give it no place to escape to. The Portal Masters tried to put all the magical doorways that connected Earth and Skylands into a sleep of sorts, and they succeeded, but not before great amounts of the Darkness escaped into our world. We were shut off from all magic once the doorways slept, and eventually we humans had all but died off until our new era in the present day, forgetting Skylands, and calling magic a fable.

The Darkness in our world, once shut off from the magic of Skylands, was weakened and could do no more than persuade us to do evil with anger and greed, which it had created. The Darkness in Skylands was still a threat, but there, with the Skylanders and the Core of Light, a time of peace settled over all of Skylands, and they too forgot all about us, and went about their lives for millions of years, not worrying about the Darkness.

Until now...

(Skylands, Eons Citadel: Present Day)

Eon's Citadel is a beautiful Skyland, as long as fifteen football fields, and as wide as thirty. It had rolling green hills, lush trees, a beach, and Eon's Keep, a gleaming spire of pure white marble soaring into the sky. But, most astounding of all, was the Core of Light. An emerald green dome, laced with gold around the edges, spewing a brilliant rainbow column of Light into the sky.

Eon looked to the sky, and his old, white-bearded face frowned. Eon was a spirit, wearing a blue mage's robe with a sash that showed the symbol for all eight Elements. He held an oaken staff in his left hand, with a blue orb atop the end. As he watched, a black speck appeared in the distance. The Portal Master started to worry when he realized the speck was growing bigger, and coming closer. When it was about ten miles away, Eon could discern that it was a giant, floating castle, with black granite walls and soaring towers. A small platform floated outward, piloted by a figure in a dark cloak.

"Eon!" the figure called in a deep, booming voice, "I know your reputation. I know you and your Skylanders have beaten back every single one of Kaos' attacks. But," he added, feeling pleased, "I also know of the Doorway set under your precious Keep. And I intend to blast you and all your miserable Skylanders into the far corners of the universe, wrenching open the Doorways, and letting the Darkness expand, and rule the universe! I, Draxx, will bring victory to the Darkness!" He screamed

"Skylanders! To battle!" Eon shouted, giving the time honored battle cry used by Skylanders and Portal masters for generations. Portals appeared around the Citadel, and hundreds of Skylanders, ranging from Minis to Giants, Swap Force to Trap Masters, and all others, came swarming from the Portals, clashing into the hordes of robotic, skeletal Arkeyan minions summoned by Draxx. Lights flared as the battle raged, and cries of the dead and dying echoed through the battlefield. Draxx hurled dark lightnings into the battle below, and Eon deflected as many as he could using the force of Light. Draxx retreated into his castle suddenly, and Eon rushed into his keep. He leapt at a small box, and tore it open. Inside were eight glowing gems. The Elemental Crystals. He ripped them out of their slots and ran to the balcony.

"Skylanders, to the Portal!" he cried, rushing into the under levels. When he arrived, he saw all the Skylanders gathered around his fifty-foot diameter Portal. He also saw, set into the far wall, the Doorway. He ran over to the Door and opened it slightly, peering into its black depths. He knew anyone that set foot into that blackness would be lost forever, so he dared not to tread too close. He heard a large machine starting up, along with the Arkeyans marching out of the blast radius, and knew he had only moments to spare.

"Skylanders under Spyro, to the Portal!" he called. Thirty two Skylanders hopped onto the Portal, grouped by element. He gave the leader of each element their corresponding Crystal. "Find the next Portal Masters. Choose wisely, and bring them here. The Doorways will be open, so all you have to do is help them direct their Portal magic. You will arrive first, so you will guide them until the others arrive." he said, "I may not live through this, but I hope I do." he concluded. He dug into the Portal Magic inside him, and, with a flash of light, the Skylanders on the Portal vanished. He then evacuated all those under Tree Rex's command, then Wash Bucklers, then Snap Shot's.

Eon heard the whirring of the charging weapon transfer into a steady, high pitch note, and knew that the great weapon was ready to fire and release the Darkness. Eon himself jumped onto the Portal, and, using the last ounces of magic within him, he shot himself through the Doorway a split second before everything he ever loved came toppling down behind him.

As his spirit spun in space, hurdling into the unknown, Eon saw eight figures soaring after his Skylanders. He knew at once they were the Dark Mages, some of the most notorious and dangerous beings in the Darkness' control. 'I have failed,' he thought to himself 'the Darkness has finally beaten me... Skylands is lost...' That was his last thought before his spirit came hurtling towards a giant rock covered in greens, blues, and wispy white clouds.