Secrets
Chapter 18
Zelda the Fierce
The fabric from within the space began to tear open and then expanded itself to a big black whole from within the training pit, the Hero's Forge. One by one every member of Team Trollhunters came through the portal before Claire closes it after everyone was out.
"We better move quickly," said Claire. "Who knows how long NotEnrique's diversion will keep Queen Usurna occupied."
"I really don't like that troll," Talia said, with her arms crossed.
"Then why were you nice to her when you first met her?" Marshall asked.
Talia looked at Marshall and said, "May I remind you that my ancestor's were trollkind's enemy? If I act aggressively towards one of the council leaders. They could throw me into prison. Besides it's like she's got everybody under control. . .besides Vendel of course."
"I know exactly how you feel, Tally." Marshall said.
"You do?" Talia asked.
"Yeah, I don't trust that woman either," he said.
While they were talking Arrrgh pulled a lever in one of the arena's recesses. Enormous gears cranked behind the sheer rock walls, and the foreboding relic know as the Soothscryer emerged.
"You sure you wanna put your arm in there, Jimbo?" asked Toby. "The last things I saw go into the Soothscryer were those PyroBligst gorbs. And they never came out again!"
"I have to, Tobes," said Jim. "It's the only way I can reach the Void."
"And the Council of Trollhunters," concluded Blinky.
"It's like you mentioned earlier, Blink," Jim said. "Trollhunters throughout time have tried to locate and understand The Book of Ga-Huel, only to turn up empty-handed."
"But together, their spirits may have enough collective information to piece together a bigger picture-a greater understanding of how its fortuned-telling powers work!" said Blinky, catching on. "One which might. . . .might. . ."
"Save Blinky," Arrrgh finished.
As Talia and Marshall continued their conversation after Jim summons his armor and materializes.
"The only thing chasing us on that day when Jim and I try to escape were only a couple of Gumm-Gumm scouts," Talia said, putting a hand on her hips. "If these Krubera people were so tough they - aaahhh!" Jim pulled on Talia's arm bringing her up towards up the Soothscryer.
"Come one Tally, I need you to come with me on this one," he said.
Talia then pulled her arm back releasing herself from Jim's grip and said, "Whoa. Whoa. Jim. . .I'm not putting my hand in there. I may have been to the void in my sleep, but. . ." she pointed at the Troll looking statue with razor sharp teeth spinning like a blendor. "Me being awake and getting my arm chomped off by that thing?! No way!"
Jim took a hold of ther other hand giving her an assured face calming her down and said, "You won't lose your arm Tally. If your lion spirit could bring you bring you to the Void. . .so can the Soothscryer. . .just trust me." Talia looked back at the spinning jaws of the gate to the spiritual plane before turning back towards Jim and nodded with a slight gulp in her throat.
Jim held her hand out into its mouth as it still glows with it's teeth still spinning. Talia shut her eyes tight waiting for the worse to happen. Jim looked back giving Blinky a thumbs up before giving Marshall a slight glare. The magical force pulled them both right in and vanished into thin air.
Talia felt the strange power at first and then felt. . .nothing. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself in a disoriented landscape with Jim beside her. Talia then let go of his hand and took her first step taking in all of her surroundings. It has been some time that she had been to this place and just like Jim her pulse was filled with nerves and excitement. Then she suddenly felt her feet cold all of a sudden and looked down finding herself in the state where she does not enjoy the most.
"Seriously?!" she said, looking at her astral plane dress and her feet all bare foot. "Even if I'm awake I still come back looking like this?! There a dress code policy in this place or something?!"
Jim raised his eyebrow and said, "It's not a big deal Tally."
"Easy for you to say," she said. "Your here wearing your armor."
Numerous spheres of energy flew out of the Void's haze and approached them. One by one, the incandescent balls expanded and took shape. They looked in awe, soon finding themselves surrounded by the Council of Trollhunters. Each of these spirits had served in turn as Merlin's champions. And once their bodies had fallen (almost always in battle), their souls had then ascended to this rarified plane.
"Um, hey," said Jim lamely to the impassive Trollhunters.
Some of the transparent figures shifted aside, making way for two of the finest warriors to ever wield Daylight- Kanjigar the Courageous and Deya the Deliverer.
"Well met, Trollhunter," greeted Kanjigar. "Do not mistake our silence for displeasure. And yet we know your appearance here is of grave import."
Deya stared disarmingly into their eyes and said, "Forsooth, we have witnessed your recent woes from the Void. We already understand what- and who- lies in the balance."
"Then you can help us save Blinky!" Jim said hopefully.
"That remains to be seen, human," said the spirit of Spar the Spiteful.
Jim and Tally could tell from the faraway gaze in Spar's eyes that he was still blinded in the afterlife. Another Trollhunter, a Krubera like Arrrgh, and gave the two a hearty slap on the back. Both caught off guard, Jim stumbled forward, while Talia became completely stung by the pain from the brutes strength, and wondered how could've they felt that in a place populated entirely by ghosts.
"Greetings, flesh children!" said the Krubera Trollhunter with a bemused laugh. " I am Boraz the Bold! Surely you recognize me from the many statues, songs, and sagas made in my honor?"
Jim and Tally looked at one another confused before turning back to Boraz.
"Um. . .sure?" lied Jim.
"Naturally!" Boraz the Bold said without actually stopping to listen. "Then you are no doubt aware of how I inherited the Amulet from Spar after he was felled by that Gumm-Gumm scum. But did you know that I, Boraz the Bold, aslo encountered The Book of Ga-Huel during one of my many memorable conquests?"
Before Jim could answer, Boraz laughed another haughty laugh and said, "It's a trick aquestion. Of course you knew. Who doesn't know about Boraz the Bold's every adventure?!"
Jim and Tally turned back toward Kanjigar and Deya for help, but they merely shrugged in a "What can you do?" fashion. Boraz wrapped one muscular arm around Jim's shoulders while gesturing grandly to the horizon with his free hand.
"Except it's one thing to hear about my greatness and another thing to see it," Boraz continued, while Talia looked at him utterly annoyed by this guy's huge ego. "So come with me - Boraz the Bold- and witness history in the making! Would that make my little fans happy?"
Before Jim could correct Boraz, he realized they were no longer standing in the Void-or the Hero's Forge for that matter. Instead, the trio stood in an altogether different arena, yet one that seemed strangely familiar.
"Welcomed to the famed Coloseum of Rome!" said Boraz the Bold. "I'd hazard we're here circa the year 70 CE on your funny human calender. Actually I know for a fact it's 70 CE because that's when. . .well, you'll see!"
"No way. . . Boraz," Talia said in awe, looking at the stadium as if it was good as new. "Did you. . .did we travel back in time or something?"
Boraz let out a harty laugh once more and wrapped his arm around Talia's shoulders. His strength was so unbearable she could hardly breath. "Oh,no. My dear girl! This is but a window, a fragment of my memory. During one of my great triumphs. And it's 'the Bold'. Boraz the Bold. Say it with me. Boraz the Bold."
Talia tap his arm trying to get him to loosen his grip, but he stood still waiting for her to say his mantra out loud. She gasped, struggling, wheezing, knowing the only way to get out was to satisfy this guy's ego and said, "Boraz the Bold!"
"There!" he said letting her go making her drop to the floor gasping for air. "You're getting the hang of it!" Boraz the Bold said cheerfully. Jim ran up helping her lift from the ground patting her back making sure she was okay. "Look!"
They followed Boraz the Bold's pointing finger to one of the gladiator pens. It's gates burst open from the inside, and out strutted. . .another Boraz the Bold.
"That's . . .that's you!" said Jim to the ghost of Boraz the Bold beside them.
"Great Gorgus, I'd almost forgot how good i looked!" said Boraz's spirit. "Now wath this part. Watch what I do here!"
They watched as the living Boraz the Bold threw a potbellied, bespectacled Troll over his shoulder and leaped from the pens to the middle of the Colosseum.
"Watch it, Trollhunter!" cried Bodus, nearly dropping, The Book of Ga-Huel onto the arena's sandy floor. "You're meant to save my life-not prematurely end it!"
Dozens of Gumm-Gumms chased after them. They hurled their Parlok Spears at the squealing Bodus, but Boraz the Bold dodged each volley with admirable skill. The spirit version of Boraz winked at the two young teenagers. "Bet you can't do that." Talia rolled her eyes once he looked back at the fight, 'Oh, please.'
A Gumm-Gumm roared, "For once, we have no quarrel with you Trollhunter! Hand over the Dishonerable Bodus so that our general Gunmar the Black, might discuss his last rites!"
Both Boraz the Bolds threw back their heads and laughted at the same time. The living Boraz on the field started talking to the Gumm-Gumms. But Jim and Tally noticed how the ghostly Boraz beside him mouthed the exact same words, as if he had memorized them.
"-and that's why Boraz the Bold will never yield to you! Ever! No matter who gets caught in the crossfire!" said the living Boraz before jumping back into the Gumm-Gumm mob.
Unbeknownst to the 70 CE Boraz and the Dishonerable Bodus. A figure from above the stadium watching the reckless arrogant Trollhunter remained fighting against the Gumm-Gumm crowd while he was not paying any attention while one of them was getting back up from the ground grabbing his spear coming straight towards Bodus.
Just when the Gumm-Gumm had seized the opportunity to kill the small Troll and finally claim the book. The Gumm-Gumm was tackled down and was slashed across the throat swiftly by a five finger blade like claws. He looked up with his last dying breath to see a female warrior with long silver hair, ice-cold glowing blue eyes, wielding a sword, and wearing amazon armor with a lion insignia just like Talia's pendant.
Jim and Talia's eyes turned wide eye upon the woman with quite the masculine looking body who made a sudden appearance in the arena under the moonlight. Boraz crossed his arms as if he knew this warrior and was not quite thrilled to see her face.
Bodus turned as a chill went up his spine seeing yet another one these powerful beings.
"Oh, no." he squeeled shaking his legs. "Not you lion's again."
"Wait!" Talia said. "Jim. Did you hear. . . what he'd just called her."
"Yeah," Jim nodded completely dumbstruck. There was no doubt in there mind. This woman is one of Talia's ancestors; a Silver Lion, right before them in spirit. The woman turned towards Bodus reaching out her hand demanding him to turned and walked over what she had been ordered to retrieve that might save her people and defeat their enemy, "Dishonerable Bodus! I have come for The Book of Ga-Huel." Bodus backed up clinging the book tight in his arms refusing to cooperate.
"Who is she?" Talia asked with curiosity and amazement.
"Oh, that is just Zelda." Boraz said not amused before his voice turned annoyance. "Zelda the Fierce. One of the most so called observant and wisest's warriors of the Silver Lions."
"A. . .a Silver Lion!" Talia said excitedly and yet happy to see another one just like her even thought this was just a memory. The living Boraz the Bold looked back and saw Zelda with the defenseless author of the book. He threw the Gumm - Gumm in the palm of his hand down the sandy ground and came charging right at her. Bodus tripped and fell back still persistantly not allowing this full grown lioness anywhere near him or his book. Zelda felt the ground shake and slowly turned towards the charging armored Krubera, and slammed her right into the side of the arena. She looked up cringing looking at the Troll pinning her up against the stone wall.
"How many times must we go through with this, Silver Lion?!" Boraz roared.
Zelda coughed from the dust and said, "I am seeking answers to destroy. . .not just my enemy. . .but yours as well, Trollhunter."
While Boraz was at quarrel with Zelda Bodus lifted himself up and watch the two rivals argue. But then another Gumm-Gumm armed with a spear stabbed Bodus in the back letting the book slip from his hands, and his body shattered into piece's. Zelda then took notice of Bodus remains and snatching the book. The Silver lion kicked Boraz off of her and used her speed to stop them in their tracks with now the book in their possession.
"You all are not going anywhere," she said, extending her hand. "Now hand over the book and I may let live." But the Gumm-Gumm's did not respond to her request. The Gumm-Gumm holding the book put it away in his back pocket and held out his Battle-axe. Zelda figure that they would rather do the hard way instead and draw out her sword. They all came down upon her all at once with their weapons, but Zelda endured and used all of her strength to push them off. Side-kicked the one on the left, ducked her head and left hooked to second's abdomen, and came up with an uppercut slash turning him into stone. Another was coming right at her from behind. Boraz the Bold then quickly came to her aid knocking the Gumm-Gumm aside.
"Bet you did not expect one of them to strike you from behind? Now did you?" Boraz scoffed.
"I had it undercontrol," Zelda assured, throwing her sword right at him. Boraz stepped aside and the sword pierced the Gumm-Gumm into his stomach turning him to stone. She walked up and pulled it out shattering the Gumm-Gumm and said, "But thanks." The two parried with the rest of the Trolls taking them all one by one.
Jim and Talia still continued watching them while the ghostly Boraz shadow boxed mimicking his old self's move. After the fight was done, Boraz stood tall in triumph bragging while Zelda searched every dead body trying to find the book.
"Ah, ha! Any Gumm-Gumm or any challenger who would dare face me will feel the might of Boraz the- -" A striking pain hit Boraz in the stomach shutting him up and wheeze in pain. "You imbecile!" Zelda snapped with her fist against his abdomen. Boraz fell on knees cringing in pain, "One of them got away with the book and now I have to return and telling my chieftan that the mission was a failure." Zelda then took off leaving Boraz alone in the coliseum.
The ghostly Boraz pouted crossing his arms with an immature expression. "Well she didn't have to be so mean about it."
"Well. . .she may have a point, Boraz." Talia said. "You let your guard down, let Bodus get killed, and let the Gumm-Gumm's slip away with the book.
"Yeah, you didn't do anything," Jim said.
"First of all, it's Boraz the Bold," said Boraz's ghost. "Say it with me. Boraz the-"
"We're not chanting your name!" Jim and Tally said.
"Some fan you are," Boraz jilted spirit. "And second of all-didn't I?"
Before any of them could say anything, they found themselves back to the Void. Boraz was nowher to be seen, thankfullly, allowing Jim to mutter, "Geez, what a jerk."
"Tell me about," Talia moaned.
"Hey, I heard that!" replied Boraz's disembodied voice.
"Aw, pipe down, Boraz the Blowhard!" said a different, much smaller Trollhunter who approached Jim and Tally. "You had your chance to teach these rookies. Now it's my turn."
"And you are. . .?" Jim hesitantly.
The short Troll stood akimbo and boasted, "I am Merlin's greatest champion! I am he who laughs in the face of danger. I am. . . Unkar!"
"Oh, no," Jim and Tally said just as they felt their bodies depart the Void once more.