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Chapter Text

On a cool sunny day, Spyro the Dragon was charging past the tall trees of Summer Forest, with his dragonfly friend Sparx buzzing right beside him.

“Come on, Sparx!” taunted Spyro.  “I know it’s been a while, but I didn’t think you were this out of shape.”

Sparx then began swirling around his dragon friend’s head, trying to disorient him.

Ever since their last adventure in the Forgotten Worlds, the two had been loafing around the Dragon Realm bored out of their minds.  They’ve had no enemies to fight and the other dragons were busy taking care of the newborn dragons.  This left Spyro and Sparx with nothing to do.

That is until Spyro received a letter, addressed from Avalar.

Dear Spyro,

I hope you’re not busy.

I was thinking maybe we could spend some time together, just you and me!

Meet me in Summer Forest!

—Love, Elora

XOXO

Spyro couldn’t wait to see Elora again.  The last time they went out was before his trek through the Forgotten Worlds to take on the Sorceress.

He especially wanted to make up for their last date at Dragon Shores.

Racing past the crystal clear waters, Spyro dug his claws into the ground as he came to a screeching halt in front of the porcelain white castle.

“Haha!  I win again!” laughed Spyro.

Sparx hung his head in defeat.

High off his victory, Spyro sat down and waited anxiously for Elora to arrive.  For a moment, things were quiet.  A breeze passed by, rustling the tree leaves and causing the nearby rabbits and sheep to scurry away.  The sound of the nearby stream trickling down into the pond echoed in the air.

A moment passed without anything happening.  Spyro looked around and saw fluttering leaves and calm meadows, but Elora was nowhere to be seen.  He was beginning to worry about her.

“She said to meet her in Summer Forest, right?” he asked Sparx, somewhat nervously.

Sparx shook his head affirmatively.

Spyro double-checked the letter.  “Y’know, it doesn’t say where to meet,” he muttered to himself.

Sparx only shrugged, unable to give his scaly friend an answer.

“H-Hey, Spyro!” stammered a voice.

Spyro looked around…and saw Elora hiding behind a large bush.  He beamed brightly.

“Hi, Elora!  Man, I’m glad to see you!” he said, wagging his tail in elation.  “I was getting worried for a second.”

Spyro then tried stepping towards her, but Elora quickly cried out.  “Stop!  Don’t come any closer!”

Spyro jumped and immediately stopped in his tracks.  “Huh?  Why?” he asked, worriedly.

“Just don’t!” shouted Elora.

“What’s going on with you?” Spyro asked, raising an eyebrow.  “Didn’t you invite me to go out today?”

“No!  I mean, yes, I did!  But…we can’t now.”

Elora’s face turned bright red as she continued hiding herself behind the bush.

Spyro was concerned.  “Why not?” he asked, somewhat disappointed.  “Is everything okay?  Why are you hiding behind a bush?”

“Um, no reason,” replied Elora.

“Well then, let’s go!” egged on Spyro.  “The Farmer’s Market at Sunny Villa is gonna open soon!  We better get there before they run out of fresh meat!”

“No!” snapped Elora.  I mean…I can’t go!”

Elora then sighed.  “Look, the truth is,” she began.

Elora gulped.  “I’m…I’m not…wearing any clothes,” she said, embarrassed.

“…huh?” Spyro asked, confused.

She explained further.  “I was on my way here, but I tripped and fell into the river.  And the river ripped my dress to shreds.”

Elora stuck her hand out, holding up what was left of her usual leaf dress, now reduced to a mere strand of grass.  “So, sorry,” she said, mournfully, “but it’s too embarrassing for me to go out today.”

For a moment, Spyro and Sparx stared at her with a blank look on their faces.  Then, they looked at each other, before looking back at Elora.  “…is that it?” Spyro asked, bluntly.

Elora blushed even deeper, shocked by Spyro's nonchalant response. "What do you mean, 'Is that it?' she asked, indignantly.  “Didn’t you hear what I said?  I’m not wearing anything back here!”

Spyro and Sparx tilted their heads, looking genuinely puzzled.  “So what?” he asked.

Elora looked at her dragon friend again, still surprised by his reaction.  “You’re…not bothered by me not wearing any clothes?”

“Why would I?” replied Spyro.  “A lot of people I know don’t wear any clothes.  Hunter, Bentley, the dragons in the Beast Maker world…heck, I’m not even wearing clothes!”

Sparx covered himself, jokingly hiding his lack of clothing.

Elora looked down at herself again, this time feeling a little better.  Spyro did raise a good point.

“Is that all?” Spyro asked.  “Because we’re really running late for the Farmer’s Market.  So come out from there already and let’s get going!”

Elora still had her apprehensions.  “But what if someone says something about me?” she asked, nervously.

Spyro then lifted his head up and spread his wings out.  “Then they’ll have to answer to me!” he said, boastfully.  “I’ll burn their clothes off and see how they like it!”

Sparx put his hands up as if he was ready to box someone.

Elora let out a small giggle.  She could imagine Spyro setting fire to someone.  She was beginning to feel less ashamed of herself.

And so, Elora took a deep breath, and cautiously stepped out from behind the bush.  Without a dress on, Elora’s entire furry body was completely exposed.

“See?  Nothing to worry about!” Spyro replied, cheerfully.

“It’s…strange,” she replied.  “Me and the other fauns always wear clothes, so this is kinda…odd for me.”

“You’ll get used to it.  Now can we go now?”

Elora took another deep breath to calm her nerves.  “Okay, let’s go,” she said, somewhat confidently.

And with that, Spyro, Sparx, and Elora began to make their way to the portal that would take them to Sunny Villa.

As they passed under the tall trees, a gust of wind passed by, causing the leaves to flutter to the ground.

SUNNY VILLA

At Sunny Villa, the monthly Farmer’s Market was taking place in the town square.  It was a kaleidoscope of people and merchants selling lots of different trinkets and foods.  The smell of roasted meat and fresh fruits filled the air as did the sound of the people chatting and vendors calling out to the public.

“Hand-made jewelry!  Very fashionable!  Very cheap!”

“Fresh fruit for sale!”

“Who wants a big chicken?!  Fresh eggs and poultry!  How can you go wrong?”

Spyro and Elora pushed their way through the crowd.  Spyro, ever the meat-eater, was fixated on finding fresh meat for him and the other dragons back home.

“That giant chicken is rather tempting, isn’t it?” Spyro said to Sparx.  “Then again, Jed could easily devour that thing in a minute.”

“ More like a second, ” laughed Sparx.

“How about you, Elora?  See anything you like?”

Spyro turned to face her.  He saw her with her arms across her chest, anxiously looking around, too preoccupied about people looking at her for her lack of attire.

“Will you relax, Elora?” he said.  “Everything is fine.”

“It's just,” replied Elora, “there's so many people.”

“Yeah, and none of them are looking at you.”

Sparx nodded in agreement.

Spyro was right.  With so many people around, everyone was too engrossed in their own pursuits to even look in their direction.  They were all focused on either haggling for better prices or eating delicious food.

“Hello there!” said a voice.

Elora turned around and saw a small lion behind a table filled with handmade bracelets and necklaces.  “Care for a nice necklace around your slender neck?  Only 200 gems!”

“Um…I…I don’t know,” Elora replied, nervously.

“Nonsense!” said the neighboring merchant.  “Surely someone like her would love this beautiful white wool toga!  I will give to you for 500!”

“Oh!  S-sure!” stammered Elora.  “I mean, if me not wearing clothes bothers you…”

“Bothers me?” the toga merchant asked.  “It is no bother.  I just think this would look great on you.  And I need the money…”  He whispered the last part to himself.

Elora was taken back by the merchant's easy-going attitude towards her not wearing clothes.  “This doesn’t bother you?” she asked, pointing to her bare body.

“Why would it?” the merchant replied.  “It’s a nice, sunny day!  Why not enjoy it clothes-free?”

“We used to do that all the time,” mentioned the other merchant, “but somebody had to ruin it for everyone!  Stupid Marco…”

Elora’s apprehension melted away again.  She smiled as she felt less nervous about walking around clothes-free.

“Hey!” shouted Spyro from a distance.  “This isn’t a Wumpa fruit!  You just painted a mango orange!”

As Elora heard Spyro arguing with another merchant, she quickly darted off to keep him from causing a scene and potentially incinerating the whole marketplace.

SEASHELL SHORE

With a picnic basket full of fresh veggies and meats, Spyro and Elora then went to the sandy beaches of Seashell Shore.  In contrast to the crowded marketplace of Sunny Villa, the shore was more peaceful and serene.  Apart from Spyro and Elora, only three seals inhabited the beach.  With one building a sand castle, another squid surfing in the ocean, and the third sleeping on the shore.

“This looks like a good spot,” Elora said.

She and Spyro sat on the shore, their basket of food in-between them.  Spyro was quick to take out a giant chicken leg.  “Oh man, I can’t wait to try this,” he said, his mouth watering with delight.

Spyro cooked the chicken leg with one burst of fire from his mouth.  He then quickly sunk his sharp teeth into its meat and took a bite out of it.  “Not bad,” he mumbled, “how’s your food, Elora?”

Compared to Spyro’s massive chicken leg, Elora stuck with a regular apple.  “Pretty good,” she said, sinking her teeth into its juicy insides.

As they gorged on their food, they looked out towards the horizon, watching the seals riding on large squids surfing on huge waves.

“This is nice,” commented Elora, “there’s no people and it’s more relaxing than the marketplace.”

“Doesn’t it feel better without clothes on?” replied Spyro, playfully.

“…a little bit…”

The palm trees began swaying gracefully as a gentle gust of wind passed.  Elora gasped as the wind tickled her fur.

“Oh, that’s…kinda nice.”

Her eyes wandered to the seal sleeping on the beach.  While the others had on a sailor suit or an old-fashioned striped swimsuit, the one on the beach lay bare under the hot sun beating down on every part of his body.  And yet, none of his friends said a word.  They minded their own business while he slept peacefully.

Elora laughed.  “Y’know, if people really don’t care whether I wear clothes or not, maybe I should just stay like this.”

“That’s the spirit!” cheered Spyro.

“ Uh-huh! ” buzzed Sparx in delight.

As the sun began to set on the beach, Spyro and Elora sat close together as they enjoyed their picnic on the beach.

Elora placed her head on Spyro’s back while he, in turn, rested his head in her lap.  With the sound of the tree rustling and the waves crashing onto the shore, they slowly drifted off to sleep, both content being in each other’s presence.

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter Text

On the tranquil shores of Evening Lake of the Forgotten Worlds, Hunter awaited the arrival of his girlfriend, Bianca.  With Spyro busy going out with Elora, he thought it would be a good day to spend some time with Bianca.

As he waited, Hunter looked down at his reflection in the lake, teasing and styling his hair, trying to look “cool” for their date.

“Hey there!” he said to his reflection.  “Ready for a day out at Avalar?”

He then shook his head and redid his hair.  “What’s up, Bianca?” he said, again to his reflection.  “You looking good tonight!  Maybe we oughta take a ride on the Tunnel of Love?”

As Hunter continued his playful banter with himself, he didn’t notice the rabbit magician walking behind him.

“Hey, how about I show you a magic trick or two?” Hunter said in a cocky tone.

“I’d love to see that,” teased Bianca.

Hunter jumped, almost losing his balance and falling into the lake.  “B-Bianca!  H-Hey!” he stammered.  “I was wondering when you were gonna get here.”

Bianca laughed as Hunter quickly fixed his hair.

“So…uh, r-ready to go?” Hunter asked, composing himself.  “I thought we would spend some time at Sunny Beach, maybe ride a few rides at Dragon Shores…”

“Sounds like a plan!” smiled Bianca.

“Alright, then let’s go!” Hunter said, excitedly.

“Oh, wait!” Bianca said, suddenly.  “Before we leave…”

Bianca looked up at the bright sunlight beaming down on them.  “It’s such a nice day, maybe I'll take this old thing off,” she said.

Hunter watched as Bianca unhooked her cape from around her neck, letting it float gently down to the ground.

“Yeah, good thinking!” agreed Hunter.  “The cape is cool and all, but it’s a nice day!  Why not…enjoy…it…?”

Hunter’s voice trailed off as he realized Bianca wasn’t stopping at her cape.  She tugged at her dress, pulling it down to her waist!  Hunter’s eyes nearly popped out of his head upon seeing Bianca’s bare chest.

“Whoa, hey!  Bianca, what are you…!?” he stammered.

Oblivious to Hunter’s reaction, Bianca then pulled down her skirt all the way down to her ankles!  Bianca kicked her clothes off to the corner, leaving her wearing nothing but her boots.

Bianca took a deep breath as she felt the wind blowing through her fur all over her bare body.  “Much better,” she sighed.

“Bianca!  Put your clothes back on!” scolded Hunter.

Hunter reached down and hoisted Bianca’s cape up, covering her body.  “Hey!  What are you doing?!” she snapped.

“What am I doing?  What are you doing?!” Hunter asked.  “You just took your clothes off in public!  You can’t do that!”

“Why not?” teased Bianca.

“Because,” Hunter said, blushing, “you can’t just walk around without any clothes on!  It ain’t right.”

Bianca then looked down at Hunter.  “So then, why aren’t you wearing any clothes?” she asked, annoyed.

Hunter's cheeks burned brighter as he realized his own state of undress. "Well, uh, that's different! I mean, I... I just...," he stuttered, searching for an excuse.

Bianca crossed her arms, her expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Oh, come on, Hunter.  If it's okay for you to walk around without wearing clothes, why can't I?"

Hunter's mind raced, trying to come up with a response that wouldn't sound completely absurd. "It's not about that! It's... it's about decency and, uh, uh..."

Bianca raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to finish his sentence.  “Uh…you’re a rabbit.  A-And…I’m a cheetah!  It’s a…cheetah…thing?”

Bianca continued to glare at him, clearly not buying his excuses.

“Uh…okay fine, I don’t have a reason,” he conceded.  “But it’s still not proper!  I mean, what’s everyone else gonna think seeing you like that?”

“Most everyone else don’t wear clothes either,” Bianca shrugged, “I think I’ll be fine.”

Just then, the two heard the sound of Bentley the Yeti humming to himself as he strolled along the shore of Evening Lake carrying a fishing rod.

“Hey, Bentley!” Bianca called out.

Bentley turned and waved to Hunter and Bianca, oblivious as to what was going on.

“Ah yes!  And a good day to you as well!” he said, cheerfully.

He then continued on his merry way.

“See, Hunter?” asked Bianca.  “Bentley gets it.”

As Hunter tried to wrap his head around the situation, Bianca twirled around, reveling in the sensation of the breeze against her fur. "So, are we going out on a date or what?" she asked, playfully.

Hunter gulped.  “Y-Yeah, sure,” he said, nervously.

“I think you said something about a Sunny Beach?” asked Bianca.

As Bianca tried to get Hunter to snap out of his funk, Bentley could only chuckle.  “I’m sure those two are gonna have the most unique of dates today,” he murmured to himself.

SUNNY BEACH

Despite his worries, Hunter and Bianca continued on with their date to Avalar, neither of them wearing a shed of clothing.

Their first stop was Sunny Beach.  True to its name, it was a beautiful sunny day.  The sun shone brightly, its rays shimmering on the ocean waves.  The palm trees that lined the white sandy beach swayed with the wind, their leaves rustling.

Bianca wasted no time laying out a towel on the hot sand.  She let out a sigh of relief as she stretched out and felt the ocean breeze tingling every strand of her fur.  “Ah!  This feels great,” she murmured.  Having never been to the beach before, Bianca was loving every moment of it.

Although Hunter wasn’t feeling relaxed at all.

While the beach was sparsely populated with baby turtles playing in the sand, he was still worried about someone coming across Bianca undressed.

Suddenly, a trio of elder turtles walked by.  They spotted Hunter and Bianca on the beach.  “Oh!  Hello there!” one of them said, kindly.  “I don’t believe I’ve seen you two before.”  His name was Moppet.

“Hi!  This is our first time here!” Bianca replied, happily.

“I can see that you are rather comfortable without clothes on,” another sage (named Gromit) said.

“I know, I’m really sorry,” Hunter said, frantically.  “I told her it was a bad idea.  I’ll make sure she gets dressed right away!”

“Oh, not at all!” replied the third sage (named Hermit).  “In fact, we welcome it!”

“You do?!” asked Bianca and Hunter.

“Sure,” said Advisor Moppet.  “As a matter of fact, we three were on our way to our meditation circle to partake in unclothed meditation.”

“Would you like to join us?” offered Advisor Gromit.  “Perhaps you may find enlightenment in your state of undress?”

“We do,” added Hermit.

“...seriously?” Hunter asked, grimacing at the idea of seeing the elder turtles without their robes on.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun!” agreed Bianca.  “Come on, Hunter!”

“I’m…I’m not really a meditating person,” murmured Hunter.

Suddenly, Bianca began dragging Hunter by the hand and the two followed behind the trio of elder turtles to the meditation circle.

The elder turtles led Hunter and Bianca to their meditation circle.  It was a serene spot shaded by tall palms, where a circle of smooth rocks formed a peaceful meditation space.

Advisor Gromit spoke gently to the group. "Welcome, young travelers. We are here to embrace the harmony of nature and ourselves.  Now let us remove our clothes and our worries."

The elder turtles tugged at their togas, letting it fall to the sand gracefully.  Hunter groaned as his eyes caught a glimpse of the turtles’ sagging skin and wrinkly bodies.  Suddenly, Bianca not wearing clothes didn’t seem so bad to him.

Everyone then sat down cross-legged on a rock, which were all conveniently placed in a circle.

“We believe that by shedding our clothing,” explained Moppet, “we are able to further our connection to nature and obtain a sense of tranquility not possible while wearing clothes.”

“Really?” Bianca asked, genuinely intrigued.  “No wonder it feels so freeing.”

“Indeed,” agreed Hermit.  “Nothing like feeling the wind on your skin to bring you closer to nature.”

“Now, let’s begin,” said Moppet.

They all closed their eyes and began chanting softly.

"Let your thoughts flow like the gentle waves," Gromit continued. "Feel the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the breeze."

Bianca sat down, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Hunter, on the other hand, fidgeted uncomfortably on the rock.  Despite the Turtle Sages’ insistence on being one with the Earth, he couldn’t shake the unfortunate visual that he had just witnessed moments ago.

No one seemed to pay any attention as the turtles continued chanting in unison.  Soon, they began slowly levitating off the ground.

Hunter turned away from the geriatric sages and faced Bianca.  She had her eyes closed as she tried to follow their example.  She tried deep breathing and soft chanting, but she didn’t really know what she was saying, and so she stayed firmly on the ground.

Master Moppet's voice echoed across the meditation circle. "Let your worries drift away like clouds in the sky. Embrace the stillness within."

As the turtles continued their chanting and levitation, Hunter struggled to maintain composure. With each passing moment, his unease grew, especially after accidentally catching sight of the floating turtles. He shifted uncomfortably on the rock, trying to focus on anything other than the surreal scene unfolding around him.

Bianca, in contrast, appeared serene, her fur gently rustling in the breeze. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying the moment of peace and relaxation.  “ How can anyone be okay with this?! ” Hunter thought.

He kept his eyes closed waiting for the moment to be over.

DRAGON SHORES

After their impromptu meditation session at Sunny Beach, Hunter and Bianca next visited the famous Dragon Shores amusement park.  The sound of laughing and cheerful music echoed in the air as they got closer to the park entrance.

From behind the park’s high walls, a giant dragon head with a roller coaster track coming out its mouth greeted them.

A newly-refreshed Bianca reached up to the sky, stretching her arms out.  “I don’t know about you,” she said, “but that meditation really made me all loose and limber.”

“Y-yeah, that was a real treat,” Hunter muttered, trying hard not to think back to that moment.

As they waited in line to get into the park, Bianca looked up and watched as a coaster train filled with screaming guests launched out the dragon’s mouth.  It then circled back and dropped down behind the park walls out of sight.

“Wow!” gasped Bianca.  “I can see why Spyro loves this place so much.”

“Oh yeah, it’s a real hoot,” Hunter said.

He began to relax as he watched another roller coaster train roaring above the crowd.  He hoped the rides and games would help take his mind off even with all the craziness that had just happened.

Soon, they arrived at the gate, where Gniles the Gatekeeper welcomed everybody coming in.

“Welcome to Dragon Shores!  We got games!  We got rides!  We got all kinds of prizes!”

His demeanor changed as Hunter and Bianca tried to walk in with everyone else.

“Whoa!  Hold on there!” he said, using his cane to stop them in their path.  “Sorry, folks!  I’m afraid I can’t let you in.”

“Huh?  Why?!” Hunter asked, confused.

“Ah, well, the thing is,” Gatekeeper Gniles said, politely, “we got a dress code here.  By which I mean, you gots to be dressed to be allowed in.  Sorry, but dem’s the rules, I’m afraid.

Bianca looked at him with a fierce glare.  Hunter shared her frustrations.  “What do you mean you won’t let us in?!” he snapped.

“Oh, you’re fine, sir,” added Gniles.  “It’s your bunny friend that I can’t let in.”

“What?!!” exclaimed Bianca.  “How come he gets a pass, but I don’t?”

“Look, I-I’m sorry,” Gniles said, nervously, “but my hands are kinda tied here.  I’ll tell you what, I can throw in a free T-shirt for you to wear.  But otherwise, it’s a no-go for you!”

“But that’s not fair!” argued Bianca.

“If he can come in without wearing clothes, then so should I!  Right, Hunter?”

Hunter gulped as Bianca looked at him with intense eyes.  This was his biggest fear coming true.  Despite how he felt about Bianca being undressed earlier, he did sympathize with her about how unfair the rule was.

He stammered as he tried to think of something to say that would help the situation.

“You think you could make that two shirts?” he asked Gniles.

Bianca just threw hands-up, exasperated by Hunter caving in to pressure.

Now adorned in matching “Dragon Shores” T-shirts, Hunter and Bianca were let into the park.  Hunter was determined to get their date back on track, but Bianca wasn’t having any of it.

“Alright!  What should we do first?” Hunter asked, excitedly.  “Play some carny games?  Ride the roller coaster?”

Hunter caressed Bianca’s arm and spoke to her in a sly voice.  “Or maybe we can take some laps on the Tunnel of Love?”

Bianca then snapped her arm away from Hunter.  She crossed her arms and looked away from him in disgust.  Hunter knew Bianca was in no mood for love, the feeling of inner peace having now vanished.  “Oh jeez…” he murmured.

Hunter scratched his head nervously.  “Bianca, come on,” said Hunter.  “Let’s just focus on getting our date back on track.”

Bianca said nothing back.

“Uh…h-hey, look!  A shooting gallery!” he said, in feigned excitement.  “Let’s go check it out!”

Throughout the day, Hunter led Bianca all around Dragon Shores, hoping to cheer her up and forget what happened at the gate.  But Bianca remained cross-armed and miserable.

He managed to score a bull’s eyes at the shooting gallery on his first try.  But Bianca didn’t care.  She just sulked as Hunter handed her the giant Gnasty Gnorc plush doll he won.

Hunter then tried buying themselves a large ice cream to share.  But Bianca refused to eat it, allowing it to melt in the hot sun long before Hunter could finish it himself.

Even on the Dragon coaster, while Hunter was holding on for dear life, Bianca remained quiet and unhappy.  She didn’t utter a peep once during the ride, not even when the coaster went through its famous large loop.

“Oh man, what a ride!” Hunter said, afterwards.  “I’m not gonna lie, I thought for sure I was gonna fall outta my seat when we were going through the loop!”

He then turned to Bianca.  “Did you like that ride?” he asked, hoping she would snap out of her funk.

Bianca merely looked away from him again.  She flared through her nostrils.

Hunter sighed.  He had hoped the roller coaster would have cheered her up.

By the time the two walked through the ride’s exit, the sun was beginning to set over Dragon Shores.  More people had arrived in time for the park’s firework show.

“Hey,” Hunter said, rubbing his neck nervously, “do you wanna get a spot for the fireworks show?”

For a moment, Bianca was silent, like she’d been the whole day.

A sigh of defeat finally broke the awkward silence.  “I’d rather just go home now,” she muttered softly.

Hunter saw that there was nothing he could do to cheer Bianca up.  Try as he might, Bianca was going to let what happened earlier slide.

“Okay, that dress code rule is stupid,” he conceded, “if I could have come in here without having to wear any clothes, then I don’t see why you couldn’t.”

“So then how come you didn’t say that to the guy at the gate?” asked Bianca, slowly showing signs of life.

“I just wanted us to have a fun date,” replied Hunter, “I know the rule is dumb and that those turtle sage guys didn’t care, but not everyone sees it that way.  It’s just not how things work.”

Hunter sighed.  Secretly, he had been thinking about that moment too, and was somewhat relieved to get it off his chest.

“Look, can we just forget the whole thing and end things on a high note?” he pleaded.  “Let’s just stay and watch the fireworks.”

At last, Bianca let her arms fall freely.  She went from being angry to feeling down and somewhat exhausted.  “Okay, sure,” she shrugged.

“Great!” Hunter said, cheerfully.  “Let’s go get a spot!”

Amongst the crowds, Hunter and Bianca managed to find a spot on the beach to watch the Dragon Shores fireworks show.

“Oh man, this spot is perfect!” Hunter said, happily.  “We’ll be able to see everything!”

“Yeah, cool,” murmured Bianca.

Bianca looked around and saw that many of the other park guests were walking around without any clothes on.

Or at the least the male guests weren’t.

The female guests were all fully-clothed, with none of them paying any mind to it.  Nor did they care about the odd double-standard.

Slowly, Bianca’s anger began to build again.  She was infuriated that none of the Gnorcs hassled any of the male guests, despite breaking the “dress code.”

Just then, the lights went out and everyone cheered as bombastic music began playing over the speakers.  “Here we go!  It’s starting!” cheered Hunter.

Suddenly, a bright flash of color went off, not in the sky but instead right next to where Hunter was standing.

Startled by the sudden explosion of color, Hunter turned around…and saw that Bianca was nowhere to be seen.  “Bianca?” he asked, confused.

He then looked down and saw a single Dragon Shores T-shirt lying discarded in the ground.  He reached down and picked it up, slowly realizing what happened.  “Did she just…bail on me?” he asked, heartbroken.

Surrounded by a crowd of elated guests gawking at the colorful fireworks high in the sky, Hunter just stood there, feeling dejected.

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter Text

After Bianca’s disastrous date with Hunter at Dragon Shores, she met up with Elora in Autumn Plains the next day.  The two talked about their dates.  Bianca was also surprised that Elora went clothes-free with her date with Spyro.

But to say that Bianca was jealous of how well Elora’s date with Spyro went was an understatement.

“You just left Hunter there by himself?!” gasped Elora, who was now wearing a new leaf dress.

“I feel bad,” said Bianca, who was also now fully-dressed, “but the whole thing just made me mad.  Seeing the guys not dressed but the girls are and no one saying a thing about it.  And then Hunter didn’t stand by me,…it just got to me.”

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that,” sympathized Elora.  “I guess I got lucky and managed to run into people who didn’t have an issue with me not wearing a dress.  Also, Spyro is surprisingly understanding about me not wearing clothes.”

“Yeah, I just wish Hunter was the same,” replied Bianca.  “I wish every guy understood like Spyro.”

The two continued walking through the gardens of Autumn Plains.  Brown and orange leaves fluttered in the breeze as the two continued talking about their dates.

“But seriously,” continued Bianca, “why is it that the ladies are the ones that have to stay dressed while the men are able to just go around without clothes and no one bats an eye?”

“I…I don’t know,” Elora said, struggling to come up with an answer, “I guess it’s just how it’s always been.  But I mean, not every guy goes around without clothes.  The satyrs in my world are always fully-dressed.”

“I bet if they did go around without clothes, no one would even blink,” Bianca replied, rolling her eyes.

Elora scratched her head.  She wanted to say somebody would, but she knew no one would bat an eye.  In fact, the fauns might actually appreciate it.

Bianca sighed.  “I’m sorry to keep harping on this,” she said, sadly.  “I just think the whole thing is silly.  Why can’t we go around being comfortable in our own skin?  Or fur, I guess.”

“1000 gems, 2000 gems, 3000 gems…”

Bianca and Elora then heard a voice from behind a tall hedge wall.

Suddenly, Moneybags appeared from behind the hedge wall, pouring her newly-acquired gems into his burlap sack.  He looked up and saw the two staring back at him.  “Oh!  Pardon me, ladies!” he said with a cheer.  “I was busy counting my gems.  I made quite a fortune at the Speedways today.  I didn’t mean to intrude on your conversation.”

The two just glared at him, suspicious of him as always.  “O…kay,” Elora said, feeling somewhat uncomfortable that Moneybags overheard them.  “Well, anyway…”

“But I do find myself intrigued by what you fine ladies were talking about just now,” interrupted Moneybags.  “Yes, the idea of women like yourselves being chastised for following the lead of your male counterparts…”

“We’re not going to talk about this with you,” Elora said, bluntly.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Moneybags said, frantically.  “What if I told you I had a solution to your problem?”

Bianca raised an eyebrow at him.  “What kind of solution?”

“A simple solution, really,” Moneybags said coyly, “what if I were to tell you that you two could have your own…little private piece of paradise.”

Elora and Bianca were confused.

“Imagine this,” Moneybags continued, his voice lowering as if sharing a grand secret.  “A serene oasis--with sandy beaches, palm trees swaying in the wind---where you can roam free and be yourselves!  A barren, empty place!  Where you can be free to be as unclothed as you wish!  No clothes, no judgment!  Just the feel of the sun and the breeze on your bare furry bodies!”

While Elora remained suspicious, Bianca was becoming intrigued at the idea.  “You just happen to have a place where we can go clothes-free without anyone bothering us?” Elora asked, unconvinced.

“Absolutely!” Moneybags exclaimed, his face lighting up.  “A lovely, secluded spot by the coast, with all the amenities one could desire!  And again, you can go clothes-free without anyone saying “boo” about it!”

Elora looked over and saw Bianca with a hopeful look on her face.  “No thanks,” she said, bluntly.  “We’re not interested!”

“Now, hold on!” Moneybags said, trying to stop Elora from pulling Bianca away.  “How about I give you a tour of the place first before you pass judgment?”

Bianca hesitated, glancing between Elora and Moneybags.  "“Maybe we can take a peek?" she said.  “What’s the harm in checking the place out first?”

Elora crossed her arms, still doubtful.  "Moneybags, if this is some kind of trick—"

“Trick?!  My dear faun, I’m hurt!  I’m not even charging for consultation!”

Moneybags placed a paw to his chest in an exaggerated show of sincerity.  “I merely wish for you ladies to experience the beauty and tranquility of this hidden wonderland of unclothed freedom!”

Elora sighed, clearly exasperated.  Everything about Moneybag’s sudden generous demeanor was rubbing her the wrong way.  But Bianca nudged her. “Come on, Elora.  It wouldn’t hurt to take a look.”

Moneybags grinned, clearly sensing his victory. “That’s the spirit! Now, follow me, ladies! You’re just a quick portal hop away from paradise!”

Reluctantly, Elora decided to go along with Moneybags.  She and Bianca followed behind him as he escorted them to a secret portal.

--------------------

And so, Moneybags led Elora and Bianca to his private oasis.  True to his word, the place was magnificent.  Sunlight spilled over golden sands that stretched out along the coastline, with crystal-clear waters gently rolling onto the shore. Tall palm trees dotted the area, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze, and tropical flowers added vibrant bursts of color here and there. It looked almost too good to be true.

Moneybags stepped aside, sweeping his arms out grandly.  “What did I tell you?” he bragged.  “THIS…is Moneybags Cove!  A true paradise in every sense of the word!”

Bianca looked around, her eyes wide with wonder.  “Wow… it’s actually beautiful. I didn’t expect anything like this from you.”

Even Elora was impressed.  With as many worlds as there were in Avalar, she couldn’t remember seeing a place as gorgeous as what they were seeing before them.

“Alright, I’ll admit, it’s pretty nice,” Elora said, with a hint of defeat in her voice.  “But why would you want to let us have a place like this?  Why do you even have a place like this?”

Moneybags chuckled, smoothing down his waistcoat as he began to explain. “Ah, Elora, one doesn’t simply reach my level of success by ignoring the finer details of business.”

Clutching onto the helms of his coat, he walked past the two, his head up towards the sky.  “You see, there’s always demand for a little escape—a hidden getaway, if you will, where my patrons can unwind without the usual… distractions of everyday life!”

Moneybags then let out a depressed sigh.  “Admittedly, I did have plans to redevelop the area into a lot of fine luxury condos, but…those plans fell through.”

Moneybags gritted his teeth and shook his fist.  “Lousy Idol Springs Foremen and their unions.”

He then turned back to Elora and Bianca.  “As for why I’m offering it to you two specifically… well, I was about ready to cut my losses and leave this place to be, but then you two came along.   And it sounded like you were both in search of a place to unwind, and Moneybags Cove is the perfect solution!”

With the biggest smile on his face, Moneybags raised his arms up in jubilation.  “It’s a win-win situation!”

Elora raised an eyebrow, still unconvinced of Moneybags’ true motives.  “I don’t know, there’s a catch somewhere, isn’t there?” she asked, suspicious.

“If you’re worried about cost, I’m pleased to inform you that Moneybags Cove is available to you free of choice!” Moneybags said, bombastically.

Bianca’s eyes lit up, but Elora quickly put a stop to her excitement.  “Free of charge?  Oh, you’re definitely up to something!!” accused Elora.

Bianca turned to Elora with a pleading look.  “Seriously, Elora?!” she asked, annoyed.  “This place is amazing!  And Moneybags isn’t charging us a single gem!”

“That’s exactly what makes me nervous,” Elora said, bluntly.  “Moneybags never gives anything away for free, especially not a beautiful place like this.”

Moneybags placed a paw on his chest, feigning offense. “Elora, my dear faun friend!  I assure you, there’s no loopholes or hidden fees or anything of the sort.  I’m just feeling a bit…humble and generous today.”

Elora’s glare didn’t waver. “Moneybags and generous?  That’s rich.”

Bianca let out an exasperated sigh.  While it did sound too good to be true, the allure of a clothes-free beach utopia was too good to pass up.  “Come on Elora, look around!” she pleaded.  “This place is exactly what we’ve been talking about—a place where we can be comfortable and free!  Where no one will judge us!”

Elora hesitated, looking around again. She had to admit, it was a really gorgeous seaside vista.  And the thought of having a private, peaceful place to relax was appealing.

Elora crossed her arms, shifting her weight to one side as she studied Moneybags carefully.  Everything about this felt wrong. It felt…too easy.  And too convenient. The very idea of Moneybags offering something for free was about as believable as Ripto deciding to give up villainy and open an orphanage.

Yet, when she glanced at Bianca, she saw genuine hope in her eyes.  Bianca’s date with Hunter left her feeling greatly frustrated.  And now, there was a place that could make Bianca feel much better about herself.

Elora let out a deep sigh.  “I guess if it’s truly free of charge,” she said.

Both Bianca and Moneybags clapped their hands together in triumph.  “Splendid!” cheered Moneybags.  “I knew you would come around!”

But Elora narrowed her eyes at him.  “I still don’t trust this.”

Elora then turned to her friend, who was beaming in excitement.  “But for Bianca’s sake, I’ll give it a shot.  But the moment something fishy happens, we’re out of here.”

“Thank you, thank you, Elora!” Bianca said, embracing her.

“You won’t regret it, Elora!” added Moneybags.

He chuckled to himself before turning away, strutting toward the portal back to Avalar. “Well, I’ll leave you to enjoy Moneybags Cove in whatever manner of dress you’re most comfortable in!”

Moneybags then hopped into the portal and disappeared from sight.  Bianca and Elora were left all alone.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Bianca began slipping off her robe, taking in the fresh ocean breeze with a relaxed smile.  “Shall we?” she asked Elora.

Elora still had their apprehensions about the place.  The idea of Moneybags suddenly developing a charitable streak didn’t sit right with her at all.

Yet, as she watched Bianca stretch her arms in the warm sunlight, her worries began to feel more and more distant. The ocean breeze carried the scent of salt and freedom, the waves sang a soothing melody as they lapped against the shore.

For a moment, Elora decided to forget her worries.  Maybe, just this once, she could stop overthinking and just enjoy the moment.

With a deep breath, Elora tugged at her leafy green dress, letting it fall to the sand.  A rush of exhilaration swept over her as she slipped out of her leafy green dress.

--------------------

Meanwhile, back in Autumn Plains, the shimmering portal rippled as Moneybags stepped through.  His bag of gems jingled with each step he took.  He dusted off his suit with a smug grin, strolling through the elaborate gardens of the castle like a businessman who had just closed a particularly lucrative deal.

"Hmmm…" He tapped his chin, his mind already working on the next phase of his plan.  "I wonder just how many other ladies out there feel just as repressed as those two…"

A devious glint flashed in his eyes as he adjusted his monocle.

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TO BE CONTINUED