"... so that's what happened."

Stealth Elf looked at the faces of all the Skylanders, who she and Master Eon had just told about Vexelle's reactions to Master Eon's offer.

"Wait, so we were going to make Vexelle of all people our training instructor?" Spyro asked, unconvinced that the Aura Dragon was up to the task. "We had to spend twenty minutes telling her what a target was!"

"Spyro, she said she knew what a target was and that she was wondering how idiotic you all thought she was not to know," Master Eon said pointedly. "In fact, she said you all saw her as incapable and weak. Even the cadets. She clearly wanted a chance to prove her skills, but you all judged her too harshly. Did you know she completed the obstacle course today with her eyes closed and didn't falter even once?"

Silence fell. "None of you considered Cynder weak when she first arrived and she didn't even know what her powers were, nor had she used them," Master Eon continued. "Vexelle arrives in control of her very strong powers and with years of experience. Why do you judge Vexelle but you didn't judge Cynder?"

The Skylanders all looked down, realising he had a point. "It's just hard not to see her as weak as she was after what Sprocket did to her," Spyro said eventually. "We all got used to having to be careful with her."

"I understand that," Master Eon said. "But you all must realise that she's healed now. You need to give her a chance to prove herself. You'd do the same for anyone else, so why not for her?"

With that, Master Eon left. Jet Vac stood up the moment he was gone. "Woah, woah, woah! Where are you going, JV?" Spyro demanded. "I'm going to apologise to that dragon, that's where I'm going!" Jet Vac announced, determined as usual. "We're one violent act short from treating her like a Chompy and as a professor at the Academy I should set a good example for my students!"

"I'm going, too," Stealth Elf said, jumping up from her seat. "Even after she saved my life I still treated her the same way you guys do. I shouldn't."

"We're all in!" Eruptor announced, not leaving room for the others to argue. Not that they were planning to, either way. "Let's go!"

Stealth Elf and Spyro, the only two who had been there before, lead the way to Vexelle's cave. The other three Skylanders were amazed to see worn out targets posted in some of the trees around her clearing. "She really did know what targets were," Pop Fizz realised. "And she has excellent accuracy, too," Jet Vac commented, taking note that only the centre of every target had clearly been shot numerous times.

"Vexelle?" Spyro called, knocking a little on the cave wall near the entrance. "Are you in there?" Stealth Elf questioned.

"G-guys?!" A frightened voice stammered. "Quick! G-get away from h-here! I don't want t-to hurt you!"

"What? You can't hurt us!" Spyro said cockily, as was his nature. "No! You d-don't unders-stand!" Vexelle yelled. "Please! Get away! Run!"

"No way," Stealth Elf shook her head. "Vexelle, I'm coming in!"

Stealth Elf teleported inside the cave, then her gasp was heard. She teleported out again, looking like she'd seen a ghost. "Guys, we need to help her!"

"What?! What's happened?!" Eruptor asked worriedly. "It's like what happened to me!" Stealth Elf answered. "But something's different! She's not collapsing from it, she looks like she's getting a headache instead! We need to go get Master Eon and fast!"

"No!" Vexelle could be heard yelling at them. "I'll be f-fine, just please! Go! I-I could hurt you all!"

As she spoke, a nearby tree suddenly shrivelled and blackened, leaves falling to the ground. It was withered and dead within a few seconds. "Go!" Vexelle urged. "I don't want to d-do that t-to all of you! And don't b-bring anyone, e-either!"

Looking at one another, the Skylanders finally decided to leave. They hurried back to the Academy to tell Master Eon what was happening.

~•~

Eventually I won the battle yet again. But I knew it was only for so long. They would only try again. And again. And again. Never stopping until I was defeated.

I slowly emerge from my cave and get a drink from the stream. My reflection distracts me for a moment. I look terrible. My eyes are bloodshot, my scales are even paler than usual and my horns lack their usual shine, making them appear dull.

It's the efforts of my battles. But these scars are just hideous.

A puff of green appears behind me, but I don't have the energy to freak out over Stealth Elf's sudden appearance. "Vexelle, are you alright now?" She asked gently. "For now, yeah," I nod. "Sorry about earlier. I just didn't want to hurt you guys."

"What happened back there, anyway?" She asked. I hesitated. "I can't tell you."

"What? Why not?"

"I can't tell you, Stealth Elf," I sigh, laying down. "It's not like you actually care. You're only asking to ease your conscience or make yourself look or feel good or something. Don't think I don't know."

She's shocked and guilty. "See? You're feeling guilty. You wouldn't feel guilty if it wasn't true. And I'm guessing it's the one that makes you look good. Otherwise you wouldn't have your friends hiding behind us. Hey, guys."

They all emerged from the trees with guilty looks on their faces. Then even their master comes out, though he doesn't look guilty at all. He just looks concerned. "Vexelle, what is going on?"

"Nothing any of you stalkers will care about," I say, heading back to my cave, but Spyro jumps in the way. "You've got to tell us," he said. "Please, Vexelle. You need to tell us. We know something's wrong."

I sigh, realising there's no way out of this.

"... I've been containing that Essence Reaper that Stealth Elf had. It's killing me."