Faded Rainbows Chapter 32: Stand up, a trolls fanfic

Music in this chapter are both by five finger death punch

The first is To be alone, the second is Lift me up

…

Darkness can be a truly terrifying thing. It's impossible to know what lurks within, and anything can spring out and attack you.

But it can be a comfort to. While it is true that danger can lurk in the darkness, it's also possible to hide in it as well. It can protect and comfort as well as hurt and destroy.

This is the environment Trollex opened his eyes to. At least, he was nearly certain he had opened his eyes. He looked around to the best of his abilities, but still saw nothing. He blinked a few times to ensure that his eyes were indeed open, and they were.

He looked down at his hands, and smiled. At least it wasn't pitch darkness. He had his color and natural glow. He tried to concentrate, to brighten it, but to his shock and horror, his light dimmed instead. The more effort he put into illumination, the less light he cast. He panicked and stopped, returning to his prior glow.

"Where am I…?" He was a bit shocked to hear his voice like this. With nothing to bounce off of, it sounded… so small. He sounded like a child lost in the dark.

He supposed that was actually pretty accurate.

He clutched at his chest slightly, feeling that familiar carnal fear whenever he got caught in the dark. He didn't mind darkness too much, but it had never been so… complete before. It felt like a living thing, wrapping around him and squeezing him tight.

He whimpered, curling in on himself. He could almost hear the jeering voices around him, calling him a coward and a fool for trying this. He had no idea what he'd be in for, he didn't know what to expect… That's when he felt something shift in his hair.

He blinked a bit, and reached up; pulling out the Abalone shell his dad had given his mom. He smiled softly at it, cupping it in his hands as he admired the natural rainbow pattern to it. "Even now, after all this time, you're still here, aren't you guys? Please, I need help… I want to save everyone… I want to be their guiding light through this darkness. Can you please be mine…?"

He closed his eyes and held the shell to his heart, focusing on his heartbeat.

He jolted when he heard the whispers again, coalescing into a single voice. "You really think you can take them from us, hmm…? How amusing…"

Trollex spun around, looking desperately for the source of the voice whispering to him. "W-Who's there? Who are you…?"

He was met with nothing but darkness and silence, until that was shattered by a booming voice. "You don't even know a trolls voice when you hear it? How pathetic!"

He jolted a bit, the light from his body illuminating a figure forming from the darkness; though to call it a troll was being generous. It more closely resembled a walking stick figure, draped in loose and wispy material, which seemed to be a part of the darkness that surrounded the two.

The figure chuckled, a deep, raspy voice that gripped Trollex's heart with icy talons. He bit his lip, clutching his shell closer. The creature spoke, a voice that sounded more like a removal of sound. "You are the young king Trollex… the one who, through his own foolishness, killed his parents…"

He bit his lip, floating back a pace to put some distance between them, but the figure only closed the distance once more. "The one who decided to have a fun adventure across the world while your trolls suffered alone…"

He could feel tears pricking at his eyes. He screwed them shut, trying to block out the creatures voice. "The one who abandoned everyone to the darkness of the Abyss…" His eyes snapped open again in shock when the voice came much closer than he liked, and found himself staring into glowing white sockets where eyes should be, and a menacing grin that looked more like a tear in the universe. "How does it feel, young king of the Techno trolls, to be alone…"

Hey you
Can you tell me when enough is enough?
When you've pushed enough buttons and it's time to back up?
Well, would you know when someone else has had enough of you?
(Of you) Of you
(yes, you)

As the creature walked circles around him, he let out a whimper, trying to shut out the jeering song. He could hear the echoes of other voices, taunting him, reaching for him, dragging him deeper and deeper into darkness and despair.

Just take a second, you should listen to yourself
Everybody is to blame, but no one else is around
Is any of it sinking in and making sense to you?
(Of you) Yes, you
(It's true)

He covered his ears, trying his best to get the voices out of his head.

Is there no means to an end?

He curled in on himself, clutching tightly to the shell. He could feel his mind drifting to whatever dark place had bourn these monstrosities.

So tell me, how does it feel to know that no one is coming?
No one is running
When you hit the ground (you hit the ground)
How does it feel to know that no one's around you?
No one will be there
When you hit the ground (you hit the ground)
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be alone?

For the first time in so long, he felt alone. He truly did. No one could come for him… (Why would they come for you, you young fool?)

Well, now that I've got you here and you're all alone
Is there anyone you need to call before we move on?
Well, is there anybody out there thinking of you? (It's true)
Of you (yes, you)

He looked up, his ear fins pressed down against this head as he stared into the hollow eyes ahead. He felt like he was looking into a mirror… or his future.

I can see the empty look in your eyes
Like someone came along, stole your heart, and left you to die, yeah
I know the feeling 'cause you did the same things to me
(Of you) It's true
(It's true)

The creature was suddenly in front of him, hand pressed to Trollex's chest, claw like fingers digging into the scales that covered his racing heart. He couldn't pull away, barely able to let out a pained whimper.

Is there a means to the end?

He felt himself pushed down, though direction was impossible to tell. The creature's claws dug in deeper, drawing pinpricks of blood to the surface as he let out a cry. He could feel the sharp edges of the Abalone shell digging into his palm.

He opened his eyes a crack, staring at the manic expression on the creature above him. He wasn't alone…

To be alone

He gripped the shell a bit tighter, focusing on the hard shell, the sharp edges, and the strength the Abalone had.

To be alone

He pulled his arm back, and grinned up at the creature.

To be alone

"But I'm not…!" He swung his fist, connecting with the creatures face, and to his surprise, passed right through. He blinked in shock, sitting up and running a hand over the place the claws had been digging into him. To his shock, there was no blood, or even a cracked scale.

He chuckled as the creature reformed a few paces ahead of him, scowling. "You know, if you had done this before… like when I first lost my color, or my parents, I might have bought into that… I might just have let you take me away to whatever terrifying place you had planned…"

He gave a little shrug, and a grin split his face. "But I've got trolls I have to get home to." He opened his palm and looked down at the shell, and to his surprise, it was glowing.

He felt something touch his shoulder, or perhaps the ghost of something. He glanced over to his right, and was shocked to see his mother. A look to his left and he saw his father. Tears welled up, and he closed his eyes, feeling more figures forming behind and around him.

When next he opened his eyes, he saw all the rulers he had befriended. He could see each and every Techno troll in his tribe. He could see the Dark Ambient trolls, and the other friends he had made along the way, like the Reggaeton trolls, K-pop, the Snack pack, Bach, and even Beat was there…

He returned his attention to the creature, who looked fearful now, despite trying to maintain his terrifying composure. "And what is this supposed to accomplish? They aren't real! They can't help you…!"

He shook his head. "Maybe not, but they're all my family. My friends. Trolls that will miss me. Trolls that I need to help…" He closed his fist around the glowing shell. "And I plan on helping them. So if you don't mind… I think it's time you got out of my way!"

It ain't no mystery
I'm all I have left
I'm pushing back running you over

He dashed at the figure, throwing another punch that connected with its chest, knocking it back in the air. He didn't let up, chasing after them.

I've been thrown down,
Run around
Beaten 'til I hit the ground
I'm telling you right now that it's over

"I refuse to let you talk down to me… or anyone else!" He puffed his chest out, a smug grin crossing his features. "Not even me. Not anymore."

There's no room for mistakes
All the parts are in place
Say what you will but say it to my face

Better back the fuck up
Better shut the fuck up
I'll do what I want
And I'll never give up

He could feel the blood rushing through him, giving him energy as his natural glow brightened, aided by the light of the shell encasing his hand, and the trolls of light formed behind him.

I won't be broken
I won't be tortured
I won't be beaten down

I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around

He turned from the creature, which now shrank from him and his light. He looked over the trolls of light, and smiled.

Lift me up above this
The flames and the ashes
Lift me up and help me to fly away

Lift me up above this
The broken, the empty
Lift me up and help me to fly away

The trolls each shifted from their current forms to wisps of light, which began to gather around him. He smiled at the figures of his parents. He had nearly forgotten what they looked like…

I'm gonna change history
Enlighten the world
Teach 'em how to see through my eyes
I'm gonna lash back check that fate as a heart attack
Stomp out all the ugliest lies

He watched as his parents gave him proud smiles before fading to wisps of light with the other leaders, joining the glow that shone from him. He turned back to the creature, which now shivered and shied away from him.

You can't convince me to change
We ain't on the same page
I've had my fill
There's nothing but rage

He moved forward, closing the distance between them both. He heard it hiss, though weather that was a threat or a fear response, he couldn't tell.

Best get out of my way 'cause there's nothing to say
Is that all you got because I ain't got all day

I won't be broken
I won't be tortured
I won't be beaten down

I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around

With a final cry, the creature dissipated, fearful of the light. Trollex cupped his hands together, and looked down at the shell in his hand, glowing brightly with its own light now.

Lift me up above this
The flames and the ashes
Lift me up and help me to fly away

Lift me up above this
The broken, the empty
Lift me up and help me to fly away

The shell lifted from his palms, and floated in front of him a moment, before zipping off. He followed behind, trusting the shell, his friends and family, and all those that depended on him to guide him from this darkness.

I won't be broken
I won't be tortured
I won't be beaten down

I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around

He could see a pinprick of light in the distance, and laughed giddily. He was going to make it out!

Lift me up above this
The flames and the ashes
Lift me up and help me to fly away

Lift me up above this
The broken, the empty
Lift me up and help me to fly away

Lift me up to fly away
Lift me up to fly away
Lift me up

As he reached the light, he couldn't keep his eyes open, screwing them shut as he felt his very being jostled as he exited whatever realm this was.

When next he opened his eyes, he was in the sky, floating amongst the clouds. He blinked a bit in the light, rubbing at his eyes to clear any remaining tears. He looked down, seeing that he was still riding on the black fur of the Guardian, which looked back at him with a happy expression.

He grinned at them, and gave them a scratch behind the ears. "Thanks… I have a feeling you'll need this." He held out the shell. "Go get the rest… bring them to… hmm, where can we hold everyone for now…? I don't think any of the current territories can handle THAT many new trolls… Ah! I got it; bring them to the pebble beach beneath the volcano. It might be a bit scary, but it's the best place."

The Guardian nodded, before starting to run through the air. "W-Wait, hold on! Where are we going NOW?" As they bounded through the clouds, Trollex couldn't help but admire the view. After a few minutes, when they broke through the next cloud, he could see the volcano up ahead. "Oh! You're bringing me there before you go! I get it~." He gave the Guardian a hug. "Thanks."

With a cheerful yip, the Guardian final set down, its massive paws crunching over the stones. Trollex floated down, then held out the shell. "Here. Don't be too long, ok? They've waited long enough for this freedom. But, if you can… bring back the shell?"

With a nod, it lowered its head and took the shell ever so gently in its mouth, before vanishing in a swirl of darkness. He turned towards the volcano, and smiled. "I should probably let Barb know the plan… maybe send a message to everyone else to, let them know I'm back."

He flicked his tail and made his way towards Volcano rock city. He was back at last.