Chapter 2: Hitting the Road.
I've excited to continue this story! I really love this idea and I can't wait to get where it really gets good. Which might not be for a while unfortunately. But I'll try and get to it soon. For now here's this new chapter.
Enjoy
Troll Village.
After accepting Thunder's adventure proposal, Poppy, Branch and Storm went to get packed. Poppy went to her Pod and of course packed scrapbook supplies and glitter, but more practically a sleeping bag and change of clothes. In the Fear Bunker Branch and Storm were gathering supplies as well. Despite being against going on this adventure Branch figured he'd at least pack what's important. Frying pan, slingshot, and sleeping bag. Necessities mostly and of course plenty of food. While Storm personally didn't need a lot of things, being able to survive on her own. She at least got a few things being her claw file, toothbrush, guitar and favorite pillow she named Snowflake. Once they gathered all they thought were necessary, they went to meet with Thunder and say 'see ya later' to their friends and Peppy. They found Thunder all ready to go and the Snack Pack talking with him. Then Thunder noticed them approaching.
"You guys all ready to go?" Thunder asked turning toward them.
"Yeah I'd say so." Poppy replied. Storm and Branch had their bags packed and ready lugging them more securely onto their backs.
"In that case we should start hitting the road." Thunder cracked his knuckles and stretch. "No telling how long we'll be gone." Branch coughed to get their attention. "I'm still against us going on this in the first place." Thunder simply chuckled at Branch's concern. "It'll be fine Branch. I do this sort of thing all the time. You really need to let loose, embrace the unknown, that's what makes life fun!"
"So how long do you think it'll take Thunder?" Storm asked her brother.
"Well the way to the hieroglyphs is about a two days journey." Thunder answered. "But from there on I don't know where the map will lead. From the glyphs on, is a mystery. If it's time you guys are worried about, the sooner we go, the sooner we get back."
"Sounds good to me!" Storm reared up to go. Turning toward Poppy and Branch. "You guys ready?"
"Yeah just give me a minute." Poppy answered and made her way to the Snack Pack and her father. "You guys gonna okay while we're gone?"
"We'll be just fine Poppy." Smidge chuckled like it's no big deal.
"Yeah you guys go have fun on your adventure, we'll help keep a handle on things here while you're gone." Guy Diamond added.
"And when you guys get back there'll be a welcome home party waiting for you." DJ Suki side hugged Poppy. "Then you guys can tell us all about it."
"Just promise you'll be careful Poppy." Peppy asked with slight concern in his voice. Poppy smiled and walked over to him.
"Don't worry dad." Poppy reassured him. "Last time I started a big adventure I was on my own for half of it. This time around it'll start and end with the four of us together, I promise." She leaned in and gave him a hug. "I love you and I'll see you soon dad."
"I love you too Poppy." Peppy returned the hug. Poppy then broke off from it and went to Branch and the tragons to officially start their journey.
"Bye everyone we'll be back soon!" Poppy and the others waved to the Snack Pack and village before finally embarking.
Outside the Village.
"So where exactly will the path to these glyphs lead us?" Branch asked walking up to Thunder's side.
"Well the way down there is actually pretty steady." Thunder answered. "If we keep a good pace we'll reach a place called Star Sky Lake by nightfall. That will be the mid-point, now the next we'll have to go through a place that's really something."
"And what's that?" Storm asked.
"It's called Clear Way Labyrinth." Thunder answered with a kinda uneasy tone. "Now that place is a real piece of work."
"How so?" Storm asked a follow up. "Is it like any other place you've told me about?"
"Oh trust me it's nothing like any place I've been before, it's a mystery." Thunder stated.
"What do you mean?" Poppy looked back at Thunder. Her question made Thunder struggle to find the words.
"Eh its ways are confusing, it's not easily put into words." Thunder tried to answer. "It'll be easier to explain tomorrow when you guys see it."
"If you ask me its name alone is confusing." Branch added. "If it's a labyrinth how can the way be clear? Doesn't make a lot of sense."
"There's a lot of things that doesn't make sense about that place." Thunder remarked. "But the name is actually the one thing does."
"But how-"Branch was about to continue till Thunder interrupted.
"Please hold all questions until we reach our mid-point destination, thank you." Branch seemed a bit upset by his interruption. "I'll show you what I mean when we get there."
Thunder was right about the current path ahead. The path was steady and peaceful for the most part. While they did get a predator or threatening plant once in a while, it wasn't anything the four of them couldn't chase off. Thunder took Branch's slingshot and confiscated it, much to Branch's disliking. But Thunder pointed out that since they were on a Hair-Jitsu journey they should rely on their own hair and strength only for protection. While Branch didn't like it, he understood the reason. This journey would likely lead them to sacred ground, places such weapons shouldn't brought. Since Poppy and Thunder knew each other the least they often took the time to get to know each other. Thunder would tell her about many of the places his adventures over the years has brought him.
"So you've found the Fountain of Glitter before?" Poppy was surprised she'd been somewhere Thunder has been.
"Sure!" Thunder answered nonchalantly. "I found that place ages ago."
"Well you're more aerodynamically faster than a blimp to avoid bird strikes and crazy rivers." Storm added.
"True but my trips aren't fun because they're easy." Thunder pointed out. "Danger on adventures is inevitable, but it's what makes them fun." Branch rolled his eyes at that remark.
"Agree to disagree." Branch whispered under his breath.
"There's also a field of Illusion Lilies I've passed through more than once." Thunder continued gaining more of Poppy's interest.
"What are those?" Poppy asked. Obviously by the name it's a type of flower but the illusion part is what got her.
"This'll be good." Storm smirked at her question. Thunder has told her about them before.
"They grow by a certain river." Thunder began explaining. "I don't know the name of it but it's a pretty trippy place. Along that way you have to either go through the river or the field. I always pick the lily field. The interesting thing about them their pollen make you see things, hence the name Illusion lilies."
"Why in the world do you always pick a field of hallucinating flowers over a river?" Branch asked confused by his constant path choice.
"Because I've gone down that river before and in my opinion the things those lilies show you aren't nearly as weird and trippy as what roams that river." Thunder remarked getting chills from what he encountered. "Besides, nothing those flowers make you see is dangerous. Last time I went through they just made everything I see swap colors, another time they made everything look upside down and underwater. Honestly they can be fun sometimes, you never know what you'll get."
"So you're saying you enjoy having flowers mess with your perspective?" Branch was just more confused with what he said.
"Branch you question everything I think is fun." Thunder said at Branch. Storm gave Poppy a nod at what Thunder said confirming it was true. "They're still better than the alternative." Thunder got chills again.
"Can you tell us at all about that river?" Poppy's curiosity was too strong for her not to ask. "If it makes you too uncomfortable to talk about you don't have too."
"Let's just say, beware of bubbles and candles." Thunder summarized.
Time Skip.
After a long while of walking the group stopped to take a break and have something to eat. While Poppy, Branch and Storm sat to eat, Thunder went off to forage for his own food. A perplexing move to both Branch and Poppy especially considering he already had food in his bags.
"I don't get why Thunder would go hunting if he's already set?" Poppy asked Storm as they eat their lunch. "Even if he didn't have food, I'd be more than willing to share with him." Storm swallowed a bite so she could explain.
"Thunder prefers to keep his stock up in case he can't find any food wherever he's at. If he ate his food too often, he might not have enough when it really matters."
"Ok now that's one practical thing he does I can agree with." Branch said taking a sip from his drink. "Wouldn't want to be in the middle of a desert or the ocean with only a handful of food."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Poppy contemplated then understood. After that said there was a long silence as they continued eating their food. A certain curiosity was growing in Poppy regarding Storm and her brother but she decided to wait till after they finished lunch. Sometime later the trio finished their meals, gathered any scraps and trash and Storm disposed of their junk by burning it with her fire breath. Even after finishing they had to stick around for Thunder to get back. Storm leaned against a tree with her arms crossed, Poppy sat down beside said tree next to her, while Branch sat across from her checking his maps to make sure they were still on the right track. Poppy decided to take the opportunity to ask Storm her question.
"So Storm?" Poppy started gaining the tragon's attention. "You haven't shared much detail, what was your and Thunder's childhood together like?" It seemed Poppy's question caught Storm a little off guard for some reason. Storm decided to answer anyway.
"W-well as far as I know my family has lived where Troll Village now stands for many years." Storm started. "Thunder is my older brother so obviously our parents had him first."
"You haven't really said a lot about your parents beyond what you said happened to them." Poppy mentioned with a hint of sadness. At one point Storm had told the story of how she lost her parents, but it obviously wasn't a memory she liked to revisit.
"They were the best." Storm continued with a fond smile. "My parents Lightning and Rainn raised me and my brother for many happy years. They taught us everything there is to know about Hair-Jitsu." That gained Branch's attention.
"But I thought Hair-Jitsu was the ancient troll art of hair fighting." Branch raised his eyebrow. "How did those two know it?"
"My dad said he learned it from his father." Storm answered. "Then when he met mom, he taught it to her. I guess my family has just always known it somehow." That fact got Branch thinking. Storm decided to continue. "Anyway Thunder and I spared and practiced with each other all the time. Out of all of our practice battles he won most of the time. I still had a lot to get the hang of. But our parents obviously didn't just teach us Hair-Jitsu, they also taught us basic tragon and survival skills. How to find food and water, how to track and hunt, how to fly. We learned at a very young age how to take care of ourselves. Of course our childhood wasn't just learning stuff. The four of us lived not too differently from you guys."
"Really?" Poppy said curiously. In the back of her mind she pieced together the factual joke that her father's name was Lightning and they named their first son Thunder. Thunder came after Lightning.
"Yeah, singing, dancing and with fur like ours its hard not to hug." Storm answered. "One key difference between our species is that tragons are critters. We can sense things through nature, hear things you can't hear and can smell a swampkin a mile away. Not to mention more naturally strong. Which is why Thunder started adventuring when he was 10. Although he wasn't gone nearly as long as he is these days. Most of the time it was just me, mom and dad. And while Thunder loved adventuring, the one thing I loved more than the everyday song and dance was playing my guitar especially to the two of them. Thunder would come back and tell us all about the things he found and the struggles he overcame." Storm reminisced the many happy times she had with her family. Until she frowned finally leading up to an unhappy time. "But then…" Poppy heard this before and quickly caught on to what she was about to say.
"It's ok." Poppy interrupted and stood up placing her hand on Storm's shoulder. "You've told me this before, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." This put small smile on Storm's face.
"Well I'll at least say that it was about the third time Thunder left on an adventure." Storm maneuvered around talking about her loss. "When he got back that time around, I struggled with telling him the horrible news. He was heartbroken of course, but he never blamed me. Thunder stuck around for a few days… but then left once again for his adventures." Poppy could actually see a hint of anger in Storm's eyes at that last remark trying to hide it. "Those days were dark and grey for me."
"But why would he do that?" Poppy asked. "Why would he leave you after what happened?"
"Adventuring has always been Thunder's way of dealing with things, even grief." Storm answered. "It's his outlet." Storm saw that Poppy even though understood that's how he dealt with things, didn't agree with leaving his little sister alone when she obviously needed him. "It's alright, I'm fine with it." Storm said reassuring Poppy. But Branch wasn't fooled, he knew Storm too well. That last statement was a lie and it gave Branch a look of concern for his old friend. Storm looked up with a smile and continued "Then after a month or two you guys came along."
"I was too young to remember when we moved to your home." Poppy pointed out.
"I remember it quite well." Storm stated. "You were that little pink trolling princess in the hands of her father with her little cowbell." Storm said jokingly pulling Poppy's very bell out of her hair. Poppy laughed snatching it back putting it back in her hair. "Anyway, I was scared at first. I've never seen trolls before you guys. I didn't know what to expect so I observed from afar. After a while I saw you guys weren't all that different from us, especially the hair. I was still nervous though, smaller and weaker species or not. A traumatic experience can still make even a tragon shy around new company."
"Understandable, yet a little insulting." Branch commented crossing his arms after she referred to them as 'smaller and weaker'.
"It's true, deal with it." Storm replied. "It wasn't till I spotted a certain fellow colorless troll standing out among the rest did I make my presence known to your village."
"So Branch was the first troll you ever officially met." Poppy said less as a question more of an observation. Branch having been there continued this part of the story.
"Yep, it was a first for the both of us. I was the first troll she met and she was the first tragon I met."
"The process of getting to know each other was slow but steady at the least." Storm got back to telling it. "It was easy just by the look of each other that we must have had something in common, there was… a connection." Storm looked at Branch with a fond smile.
"We eventually broke each other down until I told her about my grandma and she told me about her parents." Branch added. "Since we both felt alone we decided to look out for each other, survivors stick together. After what we've been through we agreed we both wanted a place we could be safe together, where we knew we'd survive anything."
"Hence the Bunker right?" It wasn't hard for Poppy to guess where he was going with this.
"That's right." Storm confirmed Branch's side of the story. "Branch drew up the plans and while I was using my claws got to work on digging the place up, he started gathering our years' worth of rations. You have no idea how claw care my claws needed after years of digging. After a while I realized that unlike Branch I shouldn't spend all of my time in the bunker. A whole village of trolls moved into my territory I figured I might as well get to know my new neighbors."
"I still remember the day we met." Poppy said with nostalgia in her eyes.
"Same here Poppy." Storm shared the same look of nostalgia. "I also remember the amazement and curiosity the entire village displayed when I finally revealed myself. Had to fly out of swarming crowds more often than I can count."
"Can you really blame us?" Poppy shrugged. "You're one of single most interesting critters we've ever seen. You're basically the critter's version of a troll."
"Can't argue with that." Storm admitted. That practically is what tragons are. Trolls with wings, claws, horns and tails. "But I doubt every troll likes being mobbed, even if it is in admiration for special qualities. You were about to invite me to a welcome party, that is until I told Peppy that I didn't move into your home, you guys moved into mine."
"That definitely was a surprise, but also not a surprise at all." Poppy commented. "It's such a great environment, guess we should've expected someone to have already been living there. I remember after you told him that I had to re-plan the party from a welcome party to a thanks for welcoming us party."
"Well technically you guys came without my say so, but regardless even sad I can't turn my back on people who need me." Storm then had a stern face of realization. "Plus it would've definitely gotten incredibly lonely and boring if you guys hadn't moved in."
"A very happy coincidence to moving there." Poppy gave Storm a hug who gladly returned it.
"I certainty can't argue with that." Branch walked up to them. "Years of isolation I'm glad to have had a friend to share it with." Storm giving him a smile reached out her hand which Branch gladly took and Storm pulled him into the hug her and Poppy were sharing. Surprising Branch for a sec then he immediately gave into their affectionate squeeze. After while Storm broke from the hug turning her head toward where she heard something approach. Turned out to be Thunder finally making it back forging licking his fingers.
"Well my belly's full and ready to get back on the move." Thunder wiped his mouth. "So what I miss?"
"A stroll down memory lane." Branch answered while Poppy actually hadn't stopped hugging him. "Ok Poppy that's enough." Branch whispered to Poppy as she let go. "From what I can tell from the map we should get going if we want to make it to your mid-point Sky Star Lake by sundown."
"Correctamundo Branch!" Thunder pointed at his nose. "We better hit the road." With that said everyone got up and moved out.
"So what did you eat?" Poppy asked Thunder curious what he found to eat.
"Mm Fish and fruit." Thunder answered. "There was a stream nearby with pretty good tender salmon. One time I tried glitter fish and lemme tell you, they do not taste as good as they look." Poppy giggled at that fact, Branch rolled his eyes, while Poppy looked Storm's way to see her reaction but she didn't seem all that happy. Storm was just looking down at the ground as she walked. Poppy would've said something but she figured after all that reminiscing maybe Storm had a lot on her mind and decided to give her some space till they reach the mid-point.
Sky Star Lake.
After a lot of walking the foursome finally made it to the mid-point Thunder told them about, Sky Star Lake. And what a lake it was. From what the four could see it was so huge it was as if they were at the ocean on a beach. While Branch and Storm started unpacking to set up camp, Poppy was amazed by the place even though she couldn't tell why it was called Sky Star. She walked to ask Thunder about it, who was admiring the view of the lake.
"This is Sky Star Lake? It's huge!"
"Yeah this is definitely the place." Thunder didn't take his eyes off the lake. "I know what you're thinking. I've been here many times and while it is big, it qualifies as a lake. As for the Sky Star part of it-"Thunder turned his head to look at Poppy. "-You'll have to wait till the sun goes down for that answer."
"Enough chit chat!" Branch caught their attention. "Come here and help us set up camp." Branch was making a fire pit while Storm had gotten to setting up a tent for the two trolls.
"Alright Branch we're coming." Poppy said as her and Thunder made their way to help. Thunder decided to help by checking inventory while Poppy started helping Storm with the tent. She looked and saw Storm still looked pretty lost in thought about something. Come to think of it Storm had been pretty quiet the rest of the way. "Hey Storm are you okay?"
"Huh?" Storm snapped back to reality. "Oh yeah I guess."
"You sure? You seem pretty down."
"It's just, talking about the past got me thinking about something."
"Is it about your parents?"
"No actually it's about Thunder." Storm's explanation surprised Poppy. From what she could tell those two couldn't be closer. What about him upset her. But when she thought more about it even best friend siblings aren't always right as reign. Having finished pitching the tent, Poppy had an idea. Whatever it is that is upsetting Storm about Thunder, they should talk it out.
"Hey Branch!" Poppy saw he finished the fire pit. "It's almost nightfall, what do you say the two of us go collect some firewood?"
"I say that's a good idea." Branch stood up. The duo made their way back to the woods. Before they left Branch turned to the tragons "You guys watch the camp we'll be back soon."
"Maybe I could come with?" Storm said speedily it seemed she was trying to avoid Poppy's plan.
"No that's ok." Poppy caught on to her. "You stay and catch up with Thunder. See you guys later!" After the two trolls left, Thunder came to sit by his sister at the fire pit.
"So has much things change since last time I left?" Thunder tried starting conversation.
"A few." Storm answered plainly. This gave Thunder a questionable look.
"Hey you okay?"
"Let's just say reminiscing with Poppy and Branch made me realize there was a big oopsie you made awhile back."
"And you're only bringing this up now? You never brought this up the last few times."
"Maybe cause I was still a tragonling and never put a lot of thought to it till now."
"So what exactly was it I did?"
"If you don't know why should I have to explain it to you?" Storm gave Thunder an annoyed look.
"Because I have no idea what you're talking about! Does it have to do with Branch? If this is about the time I caught his vest on fire, how was I supposed to know that ration of his would make me sneeze."
"No actually Branch compensated for your mistake when we met. Ya know Thunder as much as I love you and as much fun as adventures can be. I'd pick staying with my friends in troll village any day. Living a life always on the move might be your thing but living in troll village, partying, protecting my friends I would trade that for anything."
"Why did this come up?" Thunder was just getting more confused. At this point Storm couldn't keep it in any longer with Thunder not getting what she was getting at.
"Because after we lost mom and dad you still left me all alone!" Storm yelled then looked away with sadness in her eyes. "Losing them was the hardest thing that ever happened to me. I really needed you."
"But before I left that time you said it wasn't a big deal if I left."
"That's just something people say to be polite!" Storm looked mad at him again. "Oh it's no big deal." She said sarcastically. "Of course it's a big deal!"
"Don't you think I was upset about it too? Adventuring has always been my outlet for emotions like that. If I'd stayed I don't know how long it'd be till they'd get to me."
"And I wouldn't want to be the one to keep you from your passion. But try having an outlet that help cause that depressing time. Playing my guitar was the best, until that one day I ended up attracting the predator that took them. I couldn't bear to play it after that and while I still loved singing and dancing, it's not as much fun without others. I guess the trolls moving in was the best thing to ever happen to me. Especially after Poppy inspired me to play my guitar again." Thunder sighed and placed his hand on Storm's shoulder.
"Storm I-I'm sorry." Thunder's apology caught Storm's attention. "I guess I really could've stuck around longer."
"Its... fine. Maybe I just needed to get that off my chest." Storm gave weak smile. "I guess our passions, what makes us happy in this world will always demand us being apart. I just miss you and I wish things could be different."
"Your right Storm-" Thunder began. "-Our passions we love do demand us being apart. But remember that you're my sister and as much as I love adventuring, I'll always come back to see you." Thunder finished with a fond smile. Storm returned a smile and surprised Thunder with a big hug, which he returned. Unbeknownst to them Poppy and Branch were returning with fire wood. Poppy seeing the sight of the tragons hugging made her smile, a good sign whatever was wrong they worked out.
"Hey guys how's it going?" Poppy asked setting her sticks down alerting the tragons of their presence.
"It's going fine Poppy." Storm smiled at her pink friend. Branch saw the sky was getting dark enough he took the sticks to start a fire. With it just about nighttime an idea came to Thunder to better cheer Storm up.
"Hey Storm can I barrow your guitar real quick?" Thunder broke from their hug. "A special song came to mind."
"Sure thing." Storm pulled out her guitar and handed it to Thunder. Branch had gotten a campfire going and sat down on a log on opposite from the tragons where Poppy sat next to him.
The four sat at the fire watching Thunder begin to strum the guitar starting a song.
Bold for action and to tell whose singing.
Thunder:
Yeah
Thunder looked at Storm
You are my fire
The one desire
Believe when I say
I want it that way
Thunder got up and walked towards the lake gesturing Storm to follow, Poppy out of curiosity went with them and for safety Branch grab a stick from the fire using it as a torch followed as well.
But we are two worlds apart
Can't reach to your heart
When you say
That I want it that way
Stopping at the lake Thunder turned to face them, the lake behind him. Some of the fish in the lake and critters around them came out to sing with him.
Thunder and critters:
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never want to hear you say
I want it that way
Am I, your fire?
Your one, desire
Yes I know, it's too late
But I want it that way
Storm couldn't help but smile at her brother's performance. Thunder looked over at Poppy and Branch and gestured encouraging them to join in. Branch at first simply crossed his arms but Poppy excitedly pulled him into it. With a sigh he figured he'd give them this one.
Thunder, Poppy, Branch and critters:
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why,
I never want to hear you say
I want it that way
Thunder looked up at Storm with some sadness and walked forward.
Now I can see that we've fallen apart
From the way that it used to be, yeah
He smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder.
No matter the distance
I want you to know
That deep down inside of me
Thunder guided Storm up to the lake she stood next to Poppy while he stood with Branch.
Thunder (Poppy and Branch)
You are my fire
The one desire
You are (you are, you are, you are)
Thunder blew out Branch's torch allowing them to clearly see the night sky and revealing why the Lake is called Star Sky Lake. The clear reflective waters mirrored the starry sky exactly making a breathtaking view of endless stars.
Thunder, Poppy, Branch and critters (Thunder):
Don't want to hear you say
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
(Don't want to hear you say)
I never want to hear you say
I want it that way
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never want to hear you say
I want it that way
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never want to hear you say
(Never want to hear you say it)
I want it that way
Thunder:
'Cause I want it that way
After Thunder finished his song Storm tackled him with another hug for the two siblings to share. Poppy and Branch were pleased by the sight, deciding to share a hug of their own. The four ended the day sitting together savoring the beautiful view of Sky Star Lake.
To be continued.
Songs: I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys
Well that's the end of this chapter, a longer one too. I honestly think I did well with the emotional turmoil and sibling quarrel between Storm and Thunder. I'm kinda disappointed I wanted to get this chapter up on the 17th since that would mark Trolls World Tour exactly 3 months away. SUPER EXICITED about it too! I would suggest sticking to the end of my story. I have a few head canon tidbits and connections I have that'll poke at the coming events of TWT that might interest you guys, if you guys haven't noticed any already (hint, hint). You could say this is a slight prequel.
Next chapter the four will go through the mysterious Clearway Labyrinth and find the hieroglyphs that'll lead them to a mysterious place and a surprising discovery.
Please leave a review and lemme know what you think.
Purple-Eyes Out!