Oneshots based on the December of Daylight prompts. Genres will change, story is rated T for safety. Merlin's portrayal may also be more negative than in my other stories based on the prompt and the idea that formed based on it. Also, unless otherwise stated in the oneshot, Jim is in his human form, regardless of whether it takes before or after the end of the third season. Just consider it an AU or a hopeful dream for future series. I will usually note which of the forms he's in for simplicity's sake if he features. I can't tag the prompt on fan fiction but I hope you enjoy these snippets anyway.
Magic Market Mayhem is nearing completion and What Only We Could Do will follow it shortly. The former will be uploaded as a single entry so those most interested in the finale will not have to see multiple updates for a story that – while I hope they find it enjoyable – is not as heavy as the finale. At any rate, please enjoy the December of Daylight prompts. I hope to upload a story each day of December it at all possible. Multiple genres and multiple characters will feature.
Days of Daylight
Prompt One
For the Glory
Aaarrrgghh very much enjoyed PyroBligst. And that made him uneasy.
It was so similar to a battle. The bodily contact, the roars of rage and effort and the audience's swelling cries of joy and dismay. Violence to attain a victory, wrestling the ball away from the other team, searing any injuries with molten metal so one could keep fighting…it was a game that had been created to teach young trolls to enjoy combat, strife, and glory.
Most trolls did like those things to a degree anyway. They all liked a good tussle or a match of strength. But PyroBligst…Aaarrrgghh liked this game too much for comfort.
Perhaps for a human, two hundred years of being free of Gunmar and practicing a pacifist philosophy would be impressive. For a troll it was a polite nod, a quaint little gesture that might be akin to a drunkard turning down drink for a month.
Draal plowed into him, interrupting his thoughts, and Aaarrrgghh was immediately back in the game. He gripped the younger troll's arms and let the force of his impact roll, throwing him to the side. The ball that had been in his arms was flung away and Aaarrrgghh's teammate dove for it. Draal took to rolling, the peculiar talent unique to the spiky troll that Aaarrrgghh was never sure of it being terrifying or a little humorous. Aaarrrgghh took to upper levels, galloping along them and dropping down just behind Draal.
He could injure him from here. There were four places he could strike the troll to make the game painful, slow him down. Aaarrrgghh avoided these, instead grabbing one of Draal's horns to slow him. Draal bellowed and the shriek of his spikes against the stone was awful. Aaarrrgghh's teammate threw him the ball before being knocked aside by Draal's, and with a leap Aaarrrgghh pelted the ball into their goal. A deep chime rang out and Aaarrrgghh relaxed. Vendel loomed above them, gray eyes fixed on the arena.
"Five minutes before the final round. Tend your injuries – you've all been playing marvelously! Let us finish the game well after your rest." The crowd cheered in approval and Aaarrrgghh ambled back toward the gate. Blinky waited within, fairly dancing with excitement. A bowl of molten metal was in his four hands.
"Aaarrrgghh, you are masterful at this game! I've never seen such a natural talent!" Aaarrrgghh smiled then winced – a collision with Draal had gouged a good wound in his side. Blinky scurried forward and Aaarrrgghh lifted his arm, grimacing when the liquid fell against his side, sizzling and steaming hot. As it cooled it brought relief, sealing the wound. "It does one's heart good to see Draal get knocked down a peg. He's a bit of a braggart when it comes to his athleticism." Blinky helped smooth the metal and Aaarrrgghh looked across the room. Draal was not injured and Aaarrrgghh was relieved.
Aaarrrgghh did not want to tell Blinky that the reason he was so good at PyroBligst was because, as a Gumm-Gumm, they too had played games. Not PyroBligst, but "games" of war and blood and training. The losers would die, often losing their heads. Those that could bring the most dismembered limbs to the Black would be rewarded with power, privilege, and glory. And keeping their own heads.
PyroBligst, for all its "death is not against the rules" nonsense, was not meant to end in a player's death. Everything amongst the Gumm-Gumms was practice for survival, for further conquest, and above all, the glory of Gunmar. You lived for him, you played for him, you ate for him, you slept for him. And last of all, you died for him. A game being for fun was still…foreign. Even after two hundred years.
"Son." Aaarrrgghh's ears perked and several trolls murmured; Kanjigar was here. The Trollhunter strode with dignity, wearing his armor and glittering with the uneasy power of Daylight. Draal's jaw hung down before he shut his mouth. "You're playing well."
"Father! I didn't realize you were in the stands. Your mission…"
Kanjigar glanced to the side. "I managed to settle the matter quickly. I heard you were playing, and…I wanted to come cheer you on."
Draal's unfriendly face broke into a grin. "I'm sure to win with you here."
"Just be careful and do your best." Kanjigar hesitated before putting a hand on his son's shoulder. Aaarrrgghh wondered at the awkwardness of it. The Trollhunter was distant to everyone, even his son, and the krubera felt as though he were intruding on something private. "Have fun."
Draal's eyes were bright and Aaarrrgghh knew that gleam. Fun was the last thing on his mind. Glory gleamed, and a desire for admiration and pride was almost as golden. Blinky had finished applying the metal and the tone rang out again. "Last round Aaarrrgghh! You've made me proud my friend! Let's finish this!"
Aaarrrgghh galloped back out into the arena and the battle waged again. Draal had new fervor, new energy, and now the shining of his father's armor winked from the crowd. Aaarrrgghh adjusted in turn, never letting the fury of his past rise to the top. But it was so strange to play against someone with that familiar look in their eye. It wasn't desperate – not quite – but it longed for victory in a whole other way.
Draal had the ball. He came charging in and he was easily a match for any of Gunmar's lieutenants in ferocity and majesty. Aaarrrgghh glanced at his side. He could stop him with a slide and a hard blow to his unprotected core It would knock the breath from him, possibly breaking the stone. Aaarrrgghh could steal the ball and blast past Draal's teammate.
Aaarrrgghh paused just an extra moment more and missed Draal as he dove. The troll grinned with triumph and leaped, sinking the last goal of the game to the delight of the crowd. The krubera smiled as Draal pumped his fists in the air, soaking in the adulation. Kanjigar clapped hard from the stands, audible over all others.
Blinky was waiting, looking a little disappointed. "You did very well Aaarrrgghh. I would have liked to see Draal get a little humility, but…well, did you have fun?"
"Yes. Fun game. Draal good at it." Aaarrrgghh turned to his sore, bedraggled teammate. "Sorry I missed."
The other shrugged. "Whatever."
Aaarrrgghh felt bad for his own teammate, but the sight of Draal running to talk to his father again was a nice one. He'd never had the opportunity to throw a game before this, and…it was actually not a bad feeling. To be able to play for fun, not for the glory.
Blinky shook himself and smiled again. "Let's go celebrate a game well-played, shall we? I think the pub is nearly finished, and Egelum makes a grand plate of salty niblets." Aaarrrgghh grinned and followed his friend away from the cheers and noise.
End of Prompt One