Scorpius. Had. Had it. Up to HERE with Kaos!

Kaos kept complaining about what had happened to his warehouse yesterday. He just wouldn't shut up!

Scorpius: ENOUGH!!! (growls)... (panting) Look Kaos, I get that you're upset, but-
Kaos: Upset? Upset?! Try FURIOUS!
Scorpius: Oh hush and drink your juice big 'K. What happened yesterday was a fluke. I have no clue how they managed to get there, let alone leave alive. But I do have a plan to make, them, pay.
Kaos: ...Well?
Scorpius: Ophi! Bring those scrolls in here!

"Ophi" was technically one of Kaos's... "archivers"... so to speak. Ok, so really he just looked into Kaos's mom's old library(s) from her old castle(s) to see if any of them had something Kaos could use for another one of his crazy plans. He was basically a walking snake with emerald green skin and small fangs sticking out of his mouth. Ophi actually didn't mind too much. Sure, he was being forced to work for Kaos, but it was the only way to keep Kaos and his forces from taking over his home. Besides, he liked books and things and, not going to lie, he did kinda like having access to all the knowledge Kaos's mum had. Like they say, knowledge is power... sweet sweet power...

Ophi placed the scrolls onto the desk, some dust coming off and getting in the air. Glumshanks picked up a scroll and looked at it. Looked normal enough for an old scroll. He started reading it as Ophi looked through the scrolls until finally picking one in particular.

Ophi: Yes Kaos, we have found something indeed. Something worth your interest I believe.
Kaos: Well? What is it?! And if it has anything to do with the Darkness forget it!
Scorpius: Well, how is anything NOT somehow connected to the Darkness nowadays Kaos😒. Tell him Ophi.
Ophi: (clears throat) I have found information suggesting an ancient group of warriors fought for the Ancients' honor against the Darkness long before the Giants came, which as we all know were the first Skylanders. They called themselves the Zodiac Warriors, for they were said their powers have come from the stars. They matched in perfect personality with their respective signs.
Kaos: ....And these warriors are relevant because...?
Ophi: They would reincarnate every 100 years, so the Ancients always called them to arms whenever there was trouble. However, their incarnations needed to awaken the Zodiac powers in them, during the time of their respective signs, before they could be "gathered and united and fought for one cause".
Jagged: Then how come we've never heard anything of these "Zodiac Warriors" until now?
Ophi: Their existence was lost to time. When the Arkeans came, the Ancients simply didn't have time to gather the Zodiac Warriors because, due to the only awakening their powers during their sign, would take a whole year to gather them. So the Ancients gathered the Giants, then after that... they just stopped calling them.
Scorpius: Meaning that they've been reincarnated over and over again without awakening their powers for over a dozen millennia Kaos! They've been living "normal lives"... until now.
Glumshanks: You're saying we'll gather them? How? We have no clue-
Ophi: The scrolls do speak of them and give rather subtle clues as to how to find and awaken them. We just have to find them during their respective signs' time according to astrology. It'll take a year, but with persistence and determination I believe we can find them. Taking their power as our- I mean, yours Kaos- it'll surely be enough to take down the Skylanders and rule all of Skylands!
Kaos: So how soon can we begin to find the first one? Uh...
Scorpius: Aries. And as luck or fate or whatever would have it, the time of Aries is here already.
Ophi: March 21st through April 19th to be exact.
Jagged: 😲 March 21st was just a few days ago! That means...
Scorpius: The time is now to find Aries, the Ram of Fire!
Kaos: (Cackles maniacally) Excellent! I want you to begin searching immediately Scorpius! Where do we find this goat?
Scorpius: Ram.
Kaos: Whatever.
Ophi: Where is it where is it where- Oh Glumshanks, you have it.
Glumshanks: Oh! Um, here.
Ophi: Thank you. Now, according to this scroll about Aries the Ram of Fire, he was said to have been born in a mountainous region somewhere. Now before you say anything, let's think about it a second. Rams that live in a mountainous region...
Jagged: Oh! The Gemstone Gully! It has rams and mountains there!
Kaos: Then get searching! We only have 29 days before the end of Aries! Find him!
Scorpius: At once Kaos! We won't disappoint you.
Kaos: See to it that you don't Scorpius.

Some days later

Scorpius came back with all the rams him and his Anti-claws could catch. They weren't used to catching such... easy prey, but their traps worked alright enough. Hopefully nobody will notice them gone before Scorpius finds Aries' reincarnation. And in case you're wondering, Scorpius wasn't planning anything horrifying for the rams. Heck, he wanted to take the rams back to Gemstone Gully after they find Aries. He had nothing against rams afterall!

Scorpius: Right. So, how do you "awaken" an Aries?
Ophi: W-well, according to his scroll, (clears throat) "it is written that Aries will awake from the incarnated slumber by facing up and leading the flock..." that's all it says about it Sir Scorpius.
Scorpius: "Facing up and leading the flock"? Hm... I'm guessing only Aries would know the answer?
Ophi: Well, perhaps someone with the Aries Zodiac sign would know as well, but that's only a gander. I'm somewhere between Scorpio and Sagittarius I believe.
Scorpius: Hmm... I guess it takes one to know one... Oh well! I think I've got something in mind! Come along Ophi!
Ophi: U-um, right.

Later

Ophi: 😲 Uuuhhh... Sir Scorpius... A-are you sure this is wise?
Scorpius: Certainly! Aries is the Ram of Fire! Why not?!
Ophi: Uhhhh... Maybe because it'll kill all the rams by barbecuing them alive!?
Scorpius: Hey, if none of them are Aries, food for us! If he is, we got a Zodiac! It's a win-win situation I say!😁
Ophi: 😕... W-whatever works for you, I-I suppose.
Scorpius: That's the spirit! Ok boys! Start pushing them!

Scorpius blew his black flame breath into the trench they had dug and filled with quicksilver, making the trench a fiery pit. There were two ramps on both sides of the trench; one to cross the fiery obstacle, and the other to land. See, the plan was to force the rams closer to the trench. In theory, if one of them was Aries, he'll will be the one to use the ramps to jump the blaze and show how to use the ramps to the other rams. Wow, was Scorpius an Aries? Because that sounded like it'd actually work!

The rams were obviously terrified of the fire, but the trolls were pushing them closer and closer. It was a slow process, but it seemed all the more horrifying the closer they got. Their hoofs dragged across the dirt floor as they hoped to not be any closer, but it was in vain. The trolls pushing them were not stopping any time soon...

But then it donned one of them...

Maybe... those "hills" there... were like ramps? But was it high enough to avoid the fire?

...

Only one way to find out!

Ophi: Hey! I think one of them is going to jump the fire!
Scorpius: Yes, yes! Go Aries! Go Aries!

One of the rams was in fact planning to jump the fire! He didn't have a lot of room to run but he was going to make it or die trying! Scorpius told the trolls to halt, and that gave the ram a chance to run. It charged, and he jumped. And he made it!

But then, as the ram panted, it soon realized that a stray flame had burned some of its fur. The burns were growing ablaze by the second! The ram freaked and tried to put it out by rolling in the dirt, but the flame was growing stronger! As everyone started to panic and even turn away, the ram eventually was consumed in fire while he hoped around madly hoping the pain would stop! Everyone but Scorpius and Ophi turned away.

But then...

A light began shining around the ram! It blinded most everyone, and the flames that had consumed the ram was starting to fade. There was a roar like that of a bonfire before the light and flames were suddenly gone. And the ram?

His fur was now red and orange like the flame had tried to hurt him. His eyes burned into those who looked and had a look of determination. It's horns had grown much larger and looked as ic they were made of smoked iron.

He was Aries, the Ram of Fire! He hath awoken once more!

Ophi: 😲 A-Aries! The legends were right! The Zodiac Warriors live on!
Scorpius: YES! YES! Inform Kaos of our success!
Aries: (shakes head) Whoo! About time! (Stretches out) Alright Ancients, what's up this ti- Wait... This isn't the Citadel is it?
Scorpius: (chuckles) No, not quite. 😈
Aries: Ooohhh, I see. Ok. This is new. Um, welp, guess I'll just RAM IT!
Scorpius: Trolls! Surround him! Don't let him escape!

Anti-claws surrounded Aries, but that won't stop him. He aimed to win any competition his way, including troll slinging! He charged and kicked just about every troll away! One troll did manage to jump on Aries, but they found out the hard way that Aries' fur was too hot to handle with the bare hand! Aries lit his horns ablaze and charged the door that led outside, busting it wide open! And to make sure he wasn't followed easily, he left a trail of fire in his wake! It seemedto be in no time at all that Aries found where the Anti-claws kept their small ships.

Unfortunately, he knew zilch about how to drive a ship. Or, drive anything, actually.

Aries: Welp. Uh, so many buttons. Oh don't tell me! It's this one that starts it! (Pushes button)

The ships weapon was fired, blowing up one or two or maybe a dozen other ships.

Aries: Nope! That ain't it! Uh... This one! (Pushes button)

The ships lights turn on. After pressing the button multiple times the ships lights start flickering.

Aries: Shoot! You know what? RAM IT! (Hits head against all the buttons)
Scorpius: There he is! Get- Oh wait wait wait!

The ship was taking off and was heading off the island! Scorpius chased it until it had flown past the island's borders. Aries somehow managed to turn on the intercom in the ship and yelled back at Scorpius.

Aries: So long boys! (Laughs)
Scorpius: *growls* 😠... COME ON! JUST. ONE. TIME. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK!? *panting*
Ophi: Sir Scorpius, I don't think we have to worry much. We-
Scorpius: NOT WORRY!? Do you realize that Kaos will-
Ophi: Be mad, yes. But, I have a solution. Perhaps... we let the Zodiac Warriors come to us...
Scorpius: *panting* ...Ooohhh. I got ya. (Chuckles)😈

Meanwhile

Back at the Academy, Master Eon himself had just checked up on Emolition after what had happened the day before. It was just an "instinctual outburst" as Emolition called it. He still remembered too well what it was like to have emotions like normal people. Master Eon also checked up on Vilay. She was apparently "created" by a scientist that was now passed away under circumstances that Vilay didn't speak of. Then again, Vilay soon showed she was the type to not linger in the past. Eon respected that and didn't push her to say what she didn't want to speak of. Vilay was offered protection in the Academy and she took it accordingly. If she wished, she could enlist to be a Skylander, but that was her decision.

Master Eon was somewhat exhausted from working like he was. But he did need to look into this possibility that Scorpius may have found some remains of the Dark Dragonslayer or was trying to rebuild it. But he felt he needed someone to help keep an eye on the Academy for him while he was gone.

Maybe his old friend Muerte could do the job...

---

Done! So the Zodiac Warriors are starting to arise, and they aren't going unnoticed by Scorpius! And who is this Muerte Eon knows? Stay tuned to find out! Cheers!🐉