For as long as they could think back, Eon and Era had been joined at the hip. The twins were so close that some neighbors wondered why they hadn't been conjoined at birth, and only pulled apart by the medical marvels of their age. They accompanied each other everywhere, from the mornings they woke and ate breakfasts, to the afternoons when they studied and tended to their family's humble little farm between meals and jokes, to the evenings where they retired to sleep in the same bed.

They were even mirror images of each other, from their slightly wiry frames that never seemed to gain no matter how much they ate or worked, their white hair, their skin the color of peaches, and the long rectangular noses that marked their round, almost infantile faces. Only their eyes differed, for Era's were a bright red like aestival cherries, but Eon's were a pensive blue like clear skies in the afternoon.

Of course, one should not be careless as to assume that the twins were absolutely one and the same.

Eon was a gentle soul, a delicate boy who preferred to spend his days holed up reading alone, or with the farm animals if he was without his sister. He couldn't be around when it came time for the livestock to be slaughtered, and was practically scared of his own shadow. He even flinched whenever he heard just the caw of birds! Granted, that was after a time when falcons dive-bombed him as he collected the autumnal spoils of gourds and corn, and he was only saved by a furious Era chasing them away with a broom. Still, not one being could see him taking up a sword and fighting.

Era, by comparison, was the textbook definition of a spitfire. She was brash, outspoken, but not cruel by any means. She'd gotten in plenty of fistfights when bullies at the schoolhouse picked on the younger kids, but always stopped to help these younger kids wipe their shirts clean of mud and offered them something to replace the lunch they'd lost. If there was a helpless animal abandoned at the side of the road, it'd find its way into her family barn by the end of the night, regardless of what her parents thought. If anyone dared to tease Eon about how he stumbled over his words when he spoke, or how he always forgot something or the other, or Ancients forbid, tried to caw in his ear and mock him with visages of falcons, well, Era would make certain they wouldn't even dare a glare in her brother's direction afterwards.

The two were practically tied together, and Eon liked it that way. Sure, sometimes he wished he was a bit braver, a bit stronger, a bit better at magic so Era wouldn't have to do all this, but every time he share his concerns with her, she'd just smile and brush them aside.

"Don't worry about it, Eon!" she'd told him more times than he could even remember. "You're my brother. If anything ever happened to you, I'd blow up all of Skylands to fix it! Doesn't matter how big and tough you are!"

And then the two would laugh, and she'd badger him to tell her more about those stories he'd read about in class while she'd recreate the battles using magic until she lodged a magical sword in a hay bale and got scolded by their parents, and they'd laugh about it as they'd get called in to wash up for dinner.

Of course, for all the laughs, and all the fun times, Eon couldn't help but worry about one thing: what if fate separated them someday?

Word of Hektore's conquests seizing more and more parts of Skylands reached by the day. Soon, Hektore might make a stop at his little village, no matter how often the adults promised him they were too remote to be a blip on the radar. What if the wars against Hektore continued when he was old enough to enter the army, he and Era got conscripted, and he died in battle? Eon knew it would be him too, for he was weak, paltry, and too tender a soul to be a warrior. He couldn't bear the thought of bereaving Era like that.

Perhaps business would call them on separate paths? His teachers always talked about how Era was such a gifted mage, and how her talents extended far beyond their tiny little corner of Skylands. Selfishly, he hoped she wouldn't listen. When he thought about their future, he imagined them taking care of the farm the way their parents did, the way their family had for generations. He desperately didn't want anything to change.

But, perhaps, that change would come faster than he thought.

§

Eon was mending a broken fence in the fields when the news came. At least, he tried to mend the broken fence, anyways; he was always somewhat clumsy and not very adept with tools or magic, so it seemed that no matter what, his attempts at fixing that specific broken wooden pole always ended in failure and splinters. After his latest attempt once again left him with a dilapidated fence, Eon sighed and slunk against what remained standing. He knew he needed to fix this soon, for they couldn't risk their prize hogs escaping and laying waste to the garden, but this specific post was such a pain. Surely, he wouldn't be faulted for taking a break?

Eon went to take his rest, but the sound of footsteps pounding against the dirt quickly shook him from his stupor. There above the horizon came Eon's father with his dark hair and bright blue eyes! His muscles, well-formed from years of labor, twitched with anxiety, and his bushy beard swayed in the breeze with his work clothes. Oh no, Eon was in trouble! Surely, Father knew well that Eon slacked on his chores, and he was going to get an earful! Eon jumped to his feet and grabbed some tools as…

Father completely passed him by?

"Father, where are you going?" Eon cried.

"Eon, come, with me, to the storage cellars!" Father panted, gasping for breath between words. "We need, our absolute finest dinner!"

Eon pursed his lips. Stored within the storage cellars were only their best wines, cheeses, meats, breads, and all the sweetest fruits and crispest vegetables they had! But, those were typically reserved for festivals, holidays, or whenever they had important company over, and the nearest festival wasn't for another few weeks! Eon didn't think they expected company either, so what had Father so worried?

"What for, Father?" Eon cried as he obediently tailed after Father still.

Father didn't answer him and instead descended deep into the cellar. He fished out a lantern from the wall that magically lit when it touched skin, and a basket that he quickly loaded with all the finest spoils.

Eon followed in his motions as he seized a smaller basket and loaded it similarly. "Father, what's all this for?" Eon asked again.

"Master Nattybumpo's come to pay us a visit! We can't afford to skimp on even the slightest hospitality!"

Master Nattybumpo? Surely, Father jested! Master Nattybumpo was the greatest portal master of their time; he was someone who'd fought some of the greatest ills Skylands faced since the days of Nefarion's reign millennia ago! He was a hero to all, an inspiration to everyone, a beacon of hope that stretched well across Skylands! What business could he possibly have that would warrant a visit to their quiet little corner of Skylands?

Eon wasn't sure, but his heart did leaps and bounds regardless as he tailed Father out of the cellars. To think, he'd get a chance to meet one of Skylands' greatest heroes up close! He recalled stories he heard from his classmates over lunch of Nattybumpo and his Skylanders' exploits, and Eon grinned from ear to ear. Did Nattybumpo bring his Skylanders with him? Maybe Eon would get a chance to meet them! Maybe it would be Wash Buckler that accompanied him, or Avalanche or Flower Power! Eon couldn't remember all the Skylanders' names, but he knew meeting them would be a story for the ages!

The sound of bellowing laughter filled the air as soon as they got back home, and conversation came with it.

"And that's how we drove back Hektore's greatest army before they could seize the Jewel of Monmouth!" bellowed a gruff, but warm voice from a crack in the opened door. "To think, I believed I'd lose my life that night, but now here I am with not a scar from the battle!"

Father pushed the door wide opened, and it revealed that the sitting area found itself filled by one more person than normal! On one end sat Eon's mother with her gangly frame, cherry-red eyes, and long white hair, and on another sat Master Nattybumpo himself!

Just his presence filled up the room, and not just from his rotund form. His bushy red beard jiggled with his belly as he spoke of lands far away, and the robes he wore intertwined with all sorts of flowers, berries, and skeletal remains of animals Eon couldn't quite name. His skin, tanned from work the same way his parents' was, seemed even brighter underneath the lamplight, and something about him warmed the room. Just being in his presence made the whole house feel warm and cozy!

Era sat to Nattybumpo's side, but she had some kind of expectant look on her face. Maybe she wondered where his Skylanders were, too? No, that wasn't quite it. Eon squeezed himself in, and gently leaned closer to Era.

"Era, what's Master Nattybumpo doing here?" he whispered, trying not to draw Master Nattybumpo's attention away from the story he told.

"I, I'm not sure either," Era whispered back as she leaned in. "I ran into him at the market, and he said he was looking for me, and then he asked to come to our farm…"

"Eon, Era, go set the table!" Mother ordered. "We can't just dally when we have an esteemed guest!"

Eon and Era found themselves off their feet and ushered to the dining room, but that single exchange lingered on Eon's mind. Master Nattybumpo wanted to see his sister? What for? He didn't know, and he could tell from Era's face that the question bothered her, too.

It lingered on her face as they helped Mother set the table, and as they took their own places and ate. She barely touched her hams and cheeses, even though they were some of favorites, nor did she devour the twirling-fruits with the vigor she usually had when she could finally have her favorite treat.

Then again, Eon ate little too, and the same was true of his parents. It seemed that being in the presence of such a great portal master swept away their appetites; perhaps, it seemed like their appetites were little when none ate as much as Master Nattybumpo himself! He devoured whole hams like they were finger food, and tore through blocks of cheese and caskets of wine like a hurricane! Eon supposed those stories about his massive appetite were true as well.

Master Nattybumpo opened one eye, one as green as tree leaves, and placed down the chicken leg he held. "Pardon my rudeness! When I see a good buffet, I just can't help myself!"

"Ah, no, please, help yourself! It's not every day that we get such an esteemed guest," Father said, but he pursed his lips a bit as he hesitantly added, "but, if you'll pardon my insolence, I've noticed that your famous appetite isn't quite present. Is the food not to your liking?"

"We have plenty more in the cellars if you'd like something different!" Mother added.

If that was what they considered a weak appetite, Eon would like to know just how ferocious Master Nattybumpo's appetite actually was. Still, Master Nattybumpo let out a few chuckles and pushed his plate aside.

"Ah, fret not. This buffet is quite lovely! It's just that my appetite isn't quite what it used to be." Master Nattybumpo turned his eyes onto Eon and Era, who both gulped and froze in their seats.

"In fact, that actually brings me to why I came to visit."

Master Nattybumpo cleared his throat, and an air of seriousness came over him. No longer was he the jolly old man that warmed the room, but one with sternness that shone in his eyes like diamonds. Eon could tell this was the same man who'd brought many an evildoer's downfall just from his glance!

"I've heard your daughter is an incredibly talented magic user for her age."

"You bet I am!" Era cried, bolting from her seat. Cyan magic burst from her fingertips, and coated her hands like fire as she waved them around. "I'm the best mage in my whole school! Heck, I'm so good that I'm doing magic lessons with all the adults! Here, I'll show you since you came all the way here!"

"Era, no!" Mother cried. "No magic at the table!"

Well, it was too late for that, for magic filled the whole room! Swords and knights made of magic danced with dragons as the food lifted itself from the table and staged reenactments of battles they just learned about in history class. The air smelled sweet and floral, and even magical grass seemed to spring from the cracks in the floor! The world slowly shifted to the world of a storybook, one where dragons made of fruit swept along the air and breathed pepper-laced fire while potato knights wielded cutlery as their weapons. Their clatter banged and echoed as the potato knights went to war against carrot sorcerers, and soon, Era sprung into a leap as she went to join her culinary battle!

She let out a wild yowl as Father caught her in midair, and yelped as her spells disappeared into bursts of thin air. Soon, the battle was no more, and everything returned to its proper places on the table.

"Era, behave yourself!" Father scolded as he put Era back on the floor. "We have an esteemed guest!"

Master Nattybumpo let out a chuckle. "No, that's exactly what I came here to see!"

Master Nattybumpo lifted himself from his seat with a cough.

"You see, I'm not as young and spry as I used to be, but evil only seems to grow all across Skylands. My nemesis Hektore has shown no signs of slowing down, and other evildoers continue to spring up like weeds! My Skylanders are doing all they can, but they'll need a portal master to lead them and carry my banner when my time has passed. I've been traveling Skylands in pursuit of an apprentice, in other words."

An apprentice? Era just blinked in wide-eyed confusion, but Eon immediately picked up what Master Nattybumpo meant, and the bewildered blinks his parents let off showed they realized the exact same thing.

"So? What's that gotta do with you coming to visit us?" Era asked. "Why'd you ask me to bring you to my place if that's what you wanted to do?"

Master Nattybumpo delved into the pockets of his robe, and pulled out a small, flat disk with a black stone border.

"Era, can you try and activate this for me?"

Era slipped the disc from Master Nattybumpo's worn, calloused hands, and tilted her head as she examined it. Sparks of magic burst from its rim, and swelled the way fires smoked when they were just about ready to burst. Something about the sensation swelled in Eon's heart, filling him with all sorts of strange emotions. Did Master Nattybumpo imply that Era was a portal master? True, she was always incredibly gifted at magic, but, a portal master? Could she truly be…

"How do you make it work?"

Master Nattybumpo knelt down and met Era at eye-level. "All you have to do is think hard of somewhere you want to be, and channel the magic energy within your soul. The—"

A shriek of magic burst and a flare of light came next! Eon's parents shielded their eyes, yet Eon couldn't help but gaze in wide-eyed wonder as that disc Era held leaped from her hands! It doubled, tripled in size as it flew in the air, and its glow shifted in a rainbow of colors as it finally took sanctuary on the table. It did, however, also completely crush the table underneath its weight, but nobody was particularly fussed about that right now.

Instead, Eon screamed, Era screamed, their parents screamed, everyone screamed but Master Nattybumpo. Instead, Master Nattybumpo had the most elated smile on his face as he examined what was once that disc.

Now, what stood what was undeniably a portal! Even though Eon only heard of them in books, he could tell what it was just from looking at it. It looked like an ordinary stone pedestal, but a faraway land that Eon was sure he'd heard of in books stood reflected on its surfaced! It radiated with magic as it almost begged for Eon to reach out and touch it, but Master Nattybumpo shrank it and stowed it away with a wave of his hand.

"You've done it, Era! You're a portal master after all!"

"A portal master?" Father gasped.

"Our daughter?" Mother cried.

Master Nattybumpo waved his hands, and the damages disappeared as quickly as they came. "Well, my suspicion was confirmed. Your daughter is indeed a portal master, for only a portal master could activate a portal like she just did."

Master Nattybumpo cleared his throat and his stern look took hold once more.

"My proposal is thus: I would like to take young Era here as my apprentice. Of course, I'll only take her under my wing if both you and her are alright with such an arrangement."

Just hearing those words broke Eon's heart into a bunch of tiny little pieces. Master Nattybumpo, he wanted Era to train as a portal master? To go all the way to Ancient's Peak and fight evil? Suddenly, all those worries Eon held about his and his sister's inevitable separation raced to the forefront of his mind. He thought of every single way Era could die in the field, or disappear, or otherwise go missing, and Eon would have not a clue until it was too late! He, he couldn't stand that thought!

Eon glanced at his parents in a silent plea, begging for them to say no. After all, Master Nattybumpo said he needed their permission too, right? If they said no, Era would have to stay, and then she'd be safe!

Father scratched his beard. "I'm not sure. I understand this is for Skylands' greater good, but, Era's only eight! Having her take up an apprenticeship at her age, to say nothing of all the danger..."

Eon's heart leaped with hope. Father disagreed! Surely, that meant Era would have to stay, right?

"Actually, I think this might be a good opportunity for her!" Mother proclaimed. "I know it would be dangerous, but if she's a portal master, surely the universe has much bigger things in mind for her future. We'd be suffocating her by forcing her to stay here! Surely, this apprenticeship will give her more than we could ever offer!"

"But, what of her studies? What of the farm? Who will help with the farmwork?"

Father and Mother traded words and concerns alike with tension building in their voices, and Eon winced. He'd never seen his parents fight like this before, and it only added to the tension he felt. Now, he wished this was an awful dream he could quickly wake up from, or that Master Nattybumpo never came to their house! He didn't want Era to leave! He didn't want his parents to fight! He just wanted to go back to how normal everything was just hours ago!

Master Nattybumpo ignored the fear on Father and Mother's faces, and instead knelt down to Era once more.

"Well, young Era, what do you think?" Master Nattybumpo asked.

Eon's attention turned to Era, and he winced as he found that look on her face. It was the look she had when she wanted something really badly, but her heart didn't quite feel set on it. She was all deep frowns and scrunched brows, and she let out a soft hum.

"I'll do it," Era proclaimed at last in a loud burst, "but only if Eon comes with me!"

Father and Mother broke from their fight and their own expressions gaped.

"Era, are you sure you understand what you're asking?" Father asked. "I know you and Eon are always together, and it would be hard on you to be separated, but we'll still need someone to help at the farm!"

"Yes, and, haven't you considered Eon's feelings in this?" Mother added. "I mean, he's not much for fighting, and he gets scared so easily. Surely, all that danger would be too much for him! If you want to stay together, wouldn't it be better for you to stay here?"

Some kind of unrest burned a little bit in Eon's heart, perhaps at the faint concerns in his Mother's voice. Surely, she probably thought he was too meek and feeble to support his sister as many others did! He burned with a bit of anger, so Eon flung himself forward without even thinking.

"I can help, too! I might not be a portal master, but I could help with chores or something!" Eon cried. "Even if I'm not that smart, or strong, or good at magic, or anything, I can help too! I'll do anything, just, just, please don't separate us!"

"Yeah!" Era chimed in. "I don't want to be away from my brother!"

"Eon, Era!" Father scolded. "Don't be so—"

Father's scolding came to a stop as Master Nattybumpo chuckled, and that laughter returned the warmth to the room.

"Oh, who am I to sever such a strong sibling bond?" Master Nattybumpo said. "Yes, I'd be happy to take you both on board." Master Nattybumpo turned his attention back to Father and Mother. "I understand your concerns, but I will make sure the children keep up their studies, and the Skylanders and I will do everything to ensure their safety. As for your farm, I'll make sure to find you some help to compensate."

Father and Mother exchanged leery glances still, but as they looked into Master Nattybumpo's eyes, something in them seemed to finally still.

"Very well then. Era can train as your apprentice, and Eon is more than welcome to accompany her."

"Very well then!" Master Nattybumpo held a twinkle in his eye as he knelt to meet Eon and Era. "We'll depart for Ancient's Peak in the morning. For now, you two should get some sleep, and I'll find some lodging for myself—"

"No, please, don't worry about that!" Mother pleaded. "We have a spare room for guests! You're more than welcome to stay there!"

Eon and Era's parents practically stumbled over themselves as they went to show Nattybumpo the guest room; they were all sputters and fumbled words as they explained the lodgings. Still, Master Nattybumpo took their panic in stride, and shared laughs and stories as they disappeared into the dark.

Eon and Era had little time to think, for they rushed straight to their shared bedroom to pack their belongings. Not once could they even entertain the idea of sleeping, not when they had such a big adventure ahead of them!

"Hey, hey, what kinda stuff do you think Master Nattybumpo's gonna have me learn first, huh?" Era asked as she frantically stuffed clothing and other belongings into a bag. "Wait, forget that! If we're going to Ancient's Peak, that means we can meet the Skylanders! I bet everyone at school's gonna be so jealous when I tell them I met the Skylanders in person! Heck, I'm gonna be living with them now! Hey, do you think Ancient's Peak is as big as they say it is?"

Eon couldn't bring himself to answer Era's questions, and just tried to keep his head from spinning as he focused on packing. Eon had never left his little corner of Skylands before, but now, here he was, preparing to set off to work with the Skylanders! His sister was going to train as a portal master apprentice! Just what was he supposed to think? Everything about tonight felt like some strange dream, one that Eon couldn't shake or wake from no matter what.

Eon whimpered, but he felt a warm hand on his, and looked up to find Era giving him the widest grin.

"Hey, I know this is all a lot to think about, but just remember that as long as we're together, we can do anything!" Era's eyes sparkled, and she giggled as she got the last of Eon's belongings in his sack. "I'll be with you the whole time, so don't worry a hair on your head!"

Something about Era's simple words eased Eon's soul, so the two of them closed up their bags in unison and leaped into bed. Finally, the excitement of today melted away, and their bodies ached for some rest, so they snuggled under quilts of sheep's wool and feathery down. All the while, their minds danced with excitement and visions of their future adventures.

At least, Eon's did, but he knew Era well enough that he knew she surely thought of the same thing. Truthfully, he was still a little scared of all these big, grand changes that happened seemingly out of nowhere… But, Eon supposed that what Era said was true. If she was by his side, surely everything would be alright.