Chapter Fifty-Five: Into the Unknown
Upturned earth marked the path within the woods, holding the carvings of drills within them. Such a device was certainly strange, plowing away at the trees and plants in its wake with far greater power than any tool in the Empire's possession. It was quite...frightening.
If a tool like that could do this, what could it do to the rest of Skylands?
Royal Guard member Grilla Drilla followed the path, continuing on with his mission. The implications of the tool bothered him greatly, but he had something to do before he worried about that. Trolls operated that drill machine, and they currently had his King. At the very least, he was glad that their path was easy to track. He didn't know the layout of these woods, and having that path from the drill was very nice.
Grilla Drilla paused in his tracks, his stomach grumbling. He really didn't want to stop going, but he knew he couldn't keep on without a short break. It was necessary to find something to eat, but that was easier said than done. Grilla Drilla had run out of his provisions, and he had no idea which foods were safe up here.
Something caught his eye near the bushes. The sunlight reflected on a strange thin string, having nearly the same appearance as spider silk. Grilla Drilla crept toward it cautiously, trying to analyze what it was. He jumped back as the string snapped, and he heard the clanging of a metal contraption, followed by the yelps of an animal. Grilla Drilla stepped by the bushes, skirting around to discover what had happened. He found a strange jaw-like device chomping down on a dragon bunny, its neck broken and its blood pooling out.
He grimaced at the sight. It was the cruelest way to catch something that he'd ever seen.
Grilla Drilla looked up ahead, spotting a strange glow among the trees. It looked like a pair of eyes, green and intimidating. Was that the creature that set the trap?
Grilla Drilla put his fists up, shouting, "You'll pay for how you abused this creature!"
"If you feel that strongly, then perhaps you should have stopped it," a voice shouted.
The eyes shifted forward, and colors started melting around them. These colors morphed into a shape. It was feline, with purple fur marked by blue stripes. It had a belt around its waist, a strap on its back, and a scarf on its neck. It certainly looked to be a terrifying hunter.
"I'm not quite sure what kind of problem you have," the creature continued. "I need to eat, and in order to do that, I hunt. I'm sure you need to do questionable things in order to feed yourself, don't you?"
"There are better ways to go about hunting than this," Grilla Drilla growled.
The creature knelt by the trap. He pried it open, pulling the bunny out. "I doubt this little thing suffered," he insisted. "I also doubt that this is any of your concern. Why don't you just move on and leave me by, hm?"
Grilla Drilla turned his head away. This really wasn't his problem, was it? He had more important things to do than argue with a stranger about hunting.
They felt a sudden shake in the ground. Grilla Drilla looked toward the upturned earth, that worry in his gut growing even stronger.
"Hmph, trolls," the creature spat. "Their activity out here has been making it difficult to hunt. I don't see any use in bothering with them, of course."
Grilla Drilla ran off, hurrying down the path. There were trolls up ahead. They had to have his King. Grilla Drilla wouldn't have to worry about his own personal needs for long. Once he found the King, everything would be okay.
"What are you doing!?" the creature shouted after him. "It's not worth bothering with them!"
Grilla Drilla brushed him off. He wouldn't even have to worry about strange hunters anymore, either.
He leapt over the rocks, swinging past trees, stumbling slightly as the shaking increased. A loud crash sounded up ahead, causing him to pause for a moment before continuing on. Grilla Drilla pushed back one last thicket, nearing the site where the trolls worked at.
Grilla Drilla didn't run in immediately.
He gazed at the land ahead, looking upon the destruction before him. He looked at the churned up earth, the broken trees, the squashed plant life. And sitting in the middle of it all was the troll operation. The slimy green monsters operated ratty old machines, cutting up the trees and breaking the rocks they came across. Sometimes the machines halted, spilling out a strange black liquid, causing the trolls to exit them to fix them. It was quite the horrible sight.
How long had such destruction happened above his head?
Grilla Drilla rushed into the scene, hopping around the fractured rocks until he was right in front of the operation. The trolls saw him almost immediately, halting in their actions and coming to face him. They brought out their sharp and rusted weapons, prepared to fight almost as much as he was.
"Hey you bog dwellers!" Grilla Drilla shouted, the gears on his drill gauntlets churning. "Your king took my King, and I'd like to find him! I might go easy on you if you tell me up front!"
"Oh, you'll go easy on us?" one troll grumbled. "You'll want us to go easy on you!"
The trolls charged at him, weapons raised. Grilla Drilla swerved out of the way, grabbing one by its bushy red fur. He threw the troll at a large rock, ducking as two trolls went after him. He burrowed his way under the dirt, emerging at the trunk of a fallen tree. He put his fists up as a troll shot something at him, and he leapt toward it to throw another punch.
Grilla Drilla heard a strange hissing sound behind him. He turned around, spotting a troll standing by a cracked rock. The troll placed a cage before him, containing a black-striped snake that hissed and twisted everywhere. Grilla Drilla looked at the troll's mangled face, finding evidence of years of animal hunts.
He recognized that face as the one behind his King's capture.
"I didn't expect to find one of your kind up here," the scarred troll sneered.
Grilla Drilla brought his fists up. "Tell me where my King is!" he demanded.
"I'm sure you'd like to know. I'll tell you that your empire's precious treasure will make us rich beyond compare. But we can't have any meddlers cross our path."
The scarred troll opened the cage, releasing the snake. Grilla Drilla backed away, but the snake seemed to jump after him. It bit him on the arm, and Grilla Drilla stumbled in pain. He ripped the snake off, prepared to go after the scarred troll, but he had already fled. Grilla Drilla heard trolls coming after him, and he turned toward them and threw the snake at them. The trolls scattered away, and the snake slithered back into the trees.
Another troll ran at Grilla Drilla, and he thrusted his wounded arm at it. He struck the troll in the face, but this action caused him pain. The troll went in for another attack, and Grilla Drilla retaliated with his good arm, churning his drill gauntlets on the troll's stomach and pushing it back. The troll ran off, gathering with the others.
The fight seemed to be wearing down. Grilla Drilla decided that this was good for him. He needed to track the scarred troll down. He couldn't do that in his weathered condition.
A condition that… seemed to grow worse. It grew worse from the pain in his arm to the effort in his breathing. He even felt some dizziness. Was that from his bite?
He watched as the trolls ran for their machines, clearly hoping to escape. They cried out in fear as they found their machines busted, with wires broken apart and holes punched in the metal. The trolls suddenly pulled backward, seemingly not in their own power. A figure came into view, revealed to be the feline creature from before. He used chains to bind the trolls together, and threw a metal trap at a few trolls that tried to run from him. In no time, all the trolls were incapacitated, and the fight was over.
It was certainly surprising to see the creature here again.
Grilla Drilla's legs started wobbling, and he knelt to the ground to keep balance. He spotted the creature walking over to him, his arms behind his and his chin turned upward. The creature muttered something, but it came out muffled. Grilla Drilla's heart sped up as his vision blurred, fearing what kind of power that snake bite held. He shouted at the creature, trying to call for help. But he couldn't properly form the words, and they came out muffled anyway. The colors blurred, growing darker and darker. Grilla Drilla felt one last sensation on his good arm before the darkness took him completely.
The Underground really was quite beautiful. An assortment of crystals lined the cavern walls, illuminating them in pinks and purples. Where crystals gathered in large groups, plant life grew, the light growing warm enough for such a phenomenon. When one knew how, the crystals could be cultivated anywhere.
That was how the drillas had survived for generations. They collected their colony at the center of a large cave system, carving the large stalagmites into great buildings for all of them to live in. They had farms collected in smaller tunnels near the main cave, and everyone used them for whatever business they need.
Grilla Drilla's business was in the Center Building, where the King made his residence. He had trained for years to join the guard, and he had devoted every ounce of his time to ensuring the King's safety. The King usually asked everyone in his court for advice on how to move forward periodically, and on that end Grilla Drilla wasn't exactly helpful. He trusted his King to know what to do, and the King usually had good judgement.
Of course, in the Drilla Empire, leadership wasn't a lifelong position like it was in other places. Every seven years, the current ruler would pick one of the guards to be the new ruler. It was something that Grilla Drilla was a bit nervous about. He'd served the current King since almost the beginning of his rule, and he wasn't sure about this change. There wasn't anything he could do to stop it from happening, and he knew he shouldn't try anyway, but he couldn't help but feel that way.
It happened a few days ago, during the selection ceremony. The whole population was gathered in the main cavern, eager to see how it played out. The King and his guard were getting things in order at the large crystal marking the center of the cavern, lining everything up for the ceremony. Grilla Drilla meekly pulled the King aside for a moment, expressing his feelings.
"I could guess that you felt this way," the King noted. "You've served me loyally for a long time."
Grilla Drilla nodded.
"But I'm afraid the only thing you can do is wait with time. Eventually you'll get used to the new rule."
"I know. But I still feel weird about it."
The King pursed his lips in thought. Then he turned to Grilla Drilla and said, "We don't always know how the future will turn out. Sometimes the only thing we can do is listen to our hearts to determine our next course of action. If, in the time of this next rule, something feels off, then choose the course of action that will set things right."
Grilla Drilla nodded. That certainly was sound advice. He decided that he had no need to pester his King anymore, and fell back in line with the other guards.
And thus the ceremony began. The population gathered around them, and the King and his court led the procession. Grilla Drilla kept his place, until he started noticing rubble drop near the center crystal. Nothing too unusual- activity from above could sometimes shake the ceiling. Grilla Drilla then looked up, and noticed cracks growing above them. That was certainly bad. If the ceiling caved in, it would destroy the whole capital.
No. It would take every life gathered in it.
Grilla Drilla couldn't ignore that feeling. He gathered the guards together, and they assembled to deliver the population out. Thankfully, that task was easy enough- once Grilla Drilla pointed out the cracks, everyone was more than willing to leave. The cracks grew larger and larger, and before the whole population could leave through the tunnels, the cave fell through.
The hole kept itself placed above the center crystal, causing minimal damage. But ropes lowered themselves down from this hole, placing themselves within their kingdom. Creatures descended on the ropes, surrounding the crystal and brandishing weapons at the remaining stragglers. A few of them focused on the crystal, trying to dig it out of the ground.
A creature with a mangled face stood in front of them, smiling deviously. He set his weapon aside for the moment, announcing, "Whichever among you is the leader of this flea-bitten colony, step forward. We have some questions for you."
Grilla Drilla looked on in worry. These creatures had to have ill intentions. No one broke into another's home without them. If the King complied with their orders, then they could all be in danger. They ought to fight back and push them out.
But he didn't move. He didn't know how he was supposed to fight strangers he'd never seen before. Even as his gut screamed at him to fight, he stayed in line.
His King had good judgement. He would certainly know what to do.
And so the King stepped forward, chest puffed up. He glared at the creatures, shouting, "I bet I know what you want, you dirty trolls. You came for our Drilla Diamond, didn't you? I'm afraid it is not something we will willingly give you."
The scarred creature, apparently a troll, laughed at the declaration. "Normally I like a fair bit of destruction myself," he explained. "But your Drilla Diamond is far too precious to destroy. It could power our machines for centuries to come. If you won't help us pull it from the earth, then we'll force you to tell us how to do it!"
The scarred troll leapt at the King, pinning him down and tying his arms together. Grilla Drilla and the guards ran forward to stop this attack, but a large shaking in the ceiling stopped them in their tracks. The rocks around the hole cracked even more, frightening the stragglers.
"Mark my words," the scarred troll sneered. "If your forces go out to try and get your ruler back, all of you will die."
The trolls went back to their ropes, hauling the King away with them. They grabbed onto the ropes, and something pulled the ropes up to take them back to the surface. No one made a move to stop them. It was clear what would happen if they tried.
But it only made the anguish in Grilla Drilla's heart grow. He should have done something. He really should have.
Before the trolls had climbed out of the cavern, Grilla Drilla peeled away from the guards. He took a path heading left, making his way to the nearest tunnel. They didn't want their kingdom's forces hunting after them, but one individual couldn't possibly alarm them this much. Grilla Drilla would take a tunnel to the surface. He would face all the dangers it entailed, and he would do it alone.
It was his fault his King was captured. He had to get him back.
The world came into focus, even if Grilla Drilla couldn't yet recognize what kind of world it was. Colors merged into shapes, and the shapes became objects. Grilla Drilla found himself in some kind of shelter made of reddish cloth, with an open hole to a pink and orange sky. On the left were strange metal objects of varying forms- some were thin and had sharp prongs on the end, while others were dome-shaped and held objects within them. In the center, a fire crackled, heating something underneath one of the dome things while it was carried by thin metal sticks. In front of that bowl sat… the purple creature, studying whatever was inside.
What was the purple creature doing here?
Grilla Drilla suddenly thought to the position he was in. He laid on a flat sack thing, and had a fluffy cot set behind him. Both were quite plush, though the cot was a little more so. He had a brown blanket draped over him- it seemed rather thin, though he didn't feel all that cold despite that. A soggy rag sat on his forehead, and it was rather lukewarm and uncomfortable.
In any other context, Grilla Drilla would have found this weird. At this point, however...he knew he had almost died.
The purple creature had saved his life.
Grilla Drilla tried pushing himself up with his good arm, but he was still too weak and weary to really move. His arm trembled when he put weight on it. He knew the logical thing would be to sit and wait until he was fully recovered, but that worry in his gut wouldn't go away. His King needed him. He'd already failed him twice, and he couldn't keep failing him. Grilla Drilla tried using both arms, but pain flared up across his bad arm. It made him flop back down, and pain rushed through his entire body. He let out a yelp as this happened.
The purple creature looked at him, alerted by the sound. He got up from the dome thing and walked over to him.
"Take it easy, alright?" the creature told him. "You're not exactly ready to get back in the fields, yet."
Grilla Drilla gulped, realizing how dry his mouth was.
"Yeah, that fire's making things a bit warm," the creature muttered, walking into a corner to get a bucket. "I don't know about you, but I'll have trouble sleeping tonight, even after I put it out."
The creature scooped a cup into the bucket, filling it with water and bringing it near Grilla Drilla's face. Grilla Drilla felt a sense of guilt for being in this position, but he had to survive if he was going to find his King. He shifted himself as best as he could, drinking from the cup as the creature slowly tipped it.
" 'Course, I haven't been sleeping very well since the past two days I've had you in my care," the creature noted.
Grilla Drilla's eyes widened at that statement. "I was asleep for two days!?" he gasped.
The creature took the cloth away, feeling Grilla Drilla's forehead. "Afraid so," he nodded. "You were bitten by a Blackstripe Python, or as I like to call them, Bad Boys. They say a bite from them can cause death within ten minutes."
"Then how…?"
"A hunter always comes prepared, and you were lucky to run into a hunter. I've captured a few of those awful things in the past, hoping to add Bad Boy antivenom to my arsenal. I keep some around whenever I go hunting in this jungle- I try not making it a habit to be bit by things, but those hideous creatures are infamously unpredictable, and I like to be prepared if things go south. This time it did, but not for me. Once a victim loses consciousness, it's a steady slope to their vital functions shutting off. To be honest, I wasn't sure if you were going to make it, even after giving you that antivenom as fast as I could."
The description was quite harrowing. It was made even worse by the scarred troll having one of those things in his possession. How many more did he have?
Grilla Drilla could only give a curt nod in response. There wasn't much else to say to that.
The creature looked over at the fire. "I bet those herbs are finished," he decided. "Let me give you those so I can finally put out that fire."
The creature walked away, collecting the dome thing. The creature walked back with it, and Grilla Drilla noticed that the metal sticks above the fire were fused together to form some sort of ring. This creature certainly had a strange array of tools.
"Some herbs for immunity," the creature announced. "They'll help get you back into shape, but I can't guarantee they'll taste good."
The creature set the dome thing next to the bucket, scooping a cup into the herb soup mixture. He delivered it to Grilla Drilla, helping him drink it once again. Grilla Drilla halted the process the moment he tasted it, gagging at the bitterness, but he pushed on nonetheless. He grimaced as he finished it, affirming that he did not indeed like how it tasted.
But it was kind of nice to have something warm when he was feeling this bad. Though perhaps he was getting a bit too toasty. The warmth of the medicine and the warmth of the shelter were making him drowsy. He couldn't sleep again so soon. He had a mission to complete.
The creature brought a hand to Grilla Drilla's bad arm, pinching the edge of bandaging he hadn't realized had been there. The creature mumbled something to himself, then grabbed another item from the corner. He pulled out more bandaging, as well as some kind of salve, and started undoing the bandaging.
"You're starting to look a bit tired. I bet you won't even feel this," the creature wondered. "You'll probably need some more time before you're fully healed. Just sit back and close your eyes. Try not to stress about it."
"I don't have more time," Grilla Drilla stammered. "I need to track down those trolls."
The creature huffed. "We got rid of 'those trolls'. They fled their machines after I ripped them apart. You've done more than enough fighting, especially for such a pointless cause. You've earned your rest."
"The one with the scarred face has my King."
The creature paused in his work, apparently astonished. "You're looking for a king?" he wondered.
"My King was taken by trolls. They want him to find our people's treasure, and they're probably going to destroy the rest of our territory once they figure out where it is. I have to get him back. I have to stop them."
The creature finished dressing Grilla Drilla's wound. "Sounds like quite the task," he thought. "That scarred troll… was he somehow responsible for that snake bite?"
Grilla Drilla looked up at him, trying to stir some rising emotion he couldn't yet identify. "He had it in a cage. He opened it up and sent it after me."
The creature touched his chin in thought.
"D-Do you know him?"
"Our paths haven't crossed, but I've heard that description before. I thought he was just a hunter- the others in my tribe tossed that description around a couple times before I left home. I wonder what he's doing with a group of trolls. Hunters can hunt in groups, but trolls don't exactly strategize well."
"Then you know why I have to go."
The creature set a hand on Grilla Drilla's chest, motioning for him to stay put. "I know why you want to go. But you're in no condition to head back out there. Can you even sit up properly yet?"
Grilla Drilla shook his head.
"Tell you what. If you need tracking done, there's no one better than me to do it. If we work together, we'll track down that scarred-up vermin and get your king back. At the very least, you probably won't get yourself killed before you get to him."
This was supposed to be Grilla Drilla's undertaking, and his alone. He was meant to atone for his mistake. But the fact of the matter was… he would be dead if it weren't for this hunter. If he was willing to lend his aid, it would be silly not to take it. Besides, it couldn't matter too much on how he completed his mission, so long as he got his King home safely.
"...I don't think I caught your name earlier," Grilla Drilla muttered.
The creature smirked at him. "It's Trap Shadow," he replied.
"My name is Grilla Drilla."
The creature bit his lip in confusion. "Serious?"
"Yeah."
"...Very well, then."
"I'll gladly accept your help."
Trap Shadow stood up, hands on his hips. "Great! We'll set out once you're up and moving!" he announced.
"But you have to tell me why you helped me fight those trolls earlier."
Trap Shadow rubbed the back of his neck, looking up at the hole in the cloth. "...To be honest, I don't really know," he muttered. "I just got this feeling that I had to do it. That won't deter you from teaming up, will it?"
Grilla Drilla sighed, setting his head back on the cot. "It won't. I just wanted to know," he admitted.
"Then we'll set out once you're better."
Trap Shadow started collecting his supplies together. Grilla Drilla watched him lazily, thinking on this decision. If Trap Shadow could track where the scarred troll had gone, then they should be able to find his King. He had to put his faith in that. There was nothing else for it.
Grilla Drilla's eyelids had grown too heavy. He let himself drift to sleep, realizing that some of his worry had alleviated a bit.
A few days passed, and Grilla Drilla found that he felt much better. His arm still hurt, even with the wound mostly healed, but he had the rest of his strength back. Trap Shadow insisted that they were ready to set off after that. Grilla Drilla still had that worry that his King was in a terrible condition, but he had to hold onto hope that they would find him.
Grilla Drilla pointed out the spot where he saw the scarred troll. Trap Shadow snooped around for a moment, crawling around and trying to find something. He paused to gag, and Grilla Drilla hurried over to him.
"What is it?" Grilla Drilla asked.
"I'm fine," Trap Shadow coughed. "I just found your guy's scent. Animal scents come and go, but troll stench lasts forever."
"Can you figure out which direction he went in?"
"Yeah. He went northeast, though I can't figure out how far he went. We'll just have to follow the path as far as it goes."
Grilla Drilla nodded, and they continued onward.
The two of them followed the path through the forest, watching each other's backs in the event of danger. Things went along calmly, for the most part. Grilla Drilla didn't find any destruction that they could associate with trolls. It was something that alarmed him greatly. They were following the path that the scarred troll went on, yet there was no destruction to be found. What was even going on?
They stopped once they reached the edge of the island. The island next over hovered just slightly higher, and the two of them were connected by vines wrapping around the trees. Trap Shadow motioned for Grilla Drilla to stay put, and he threw a chained trap on one of the next island's trees. He pulled himself up onto the next island with this chain, and he moved around for a moment to look around. He then threw a chain down to Grilla Drilla. Grilla Drilla tentatively touched it, and then put his full grasp on it. Trap Shadow pulled him up, and then directed him to something in the sky.
"I think I found where your King was taken," Trap Shadow announced.
Grilla Drilla looked at the sky above the trees, spotting a strange vessel floating among the clouds. It appeared long, and had some kind of sail on top of it. Since the vessel was still so far away, it was hard to accurately identify. But Grilla Drilla had seen depictions in his kingdom's old storybooks about various aerial vessels, and he decided that it had to be a ship.
"Wh-why would they be on a shape?" Grilla Drilla stammered, fiddling his thumbs together. "They wanted my King so they could find something of ours. They shouldn't be leaving. Unless…"
"Unless they have tools to attack your home?" Trap Shadow muttered.
"Tools or animals. Like that python you talked about. I can't get my King off of that without knowing what I'm supposed to fight."
"Then an observation is in order. I can easily do that."
"They probably won't let us near after what we did to their digging site. This really won't be easy."
"It certainly won't be."
Grilla Drilla wrapped his arms around his body, trying to figure out what to do. That scarred troll didn't want any drillas to retrieve the King. He had been threatened by Grilla Drilla's presence. The scarred troll set the snake on him to get rid of him and allow his plans to go through uninterrupted. If Grilla Drilla showed his face to him again, the troll would kill him on the spot. There was simply no way he could do this.
But he probably hadn't seen Trap Shadow at the digging sight. The purple cat had been invisible for most of it. The scarred troll wouldn't be worried about him.
"Do you know how to obscure my face?" Grilla Drilla asked. "Or somehow make me less recognizable?"
"I could give you a black eye," Trap Shadow chuckled.
"I'm serious, I can't have that troll recognize me."
"It won't matter if he recognizes you so long as you stay in the shadows."
"I'm not exactly good at that."
"Clearly."
"Which is why I need you to get me in there."
Trap Shadow blinked at him. Then he groaned, placing his face into the palm of his hand. It seemed that he caught on to what Grilla Drilla was thinking.
"You know we're screwed if this doesn't work, right?" Trap Shadow asked.
"I'm screwed no matter what else we come up with," Grilla Drilla insisted. "But I didn't come out here without planning to risk my life."
"Very well."
The next day, the two of them arrived at the ship. It was a rickety old ship, composed of rusted red metal, with the end sporting a long pipe that spewed out awful-smelling smoke. Grilla Drilla found himself surprised that the craft could stay airborne at all. No matter how the trolls' tools and vehicles were crafted, they somehow worked as they were supposed to.
There was something quite frightening about that. Grilla Drilla once again thought about the greater world, and what kind of destruction was going on within it. Once he brought his King home, it wouldn't stop the trolls' plans on razing forests and digging up the earth.
But he was getting ahead of himself. He still needed to save his King.
Before they introduced themselves to the trolls, they prepared for their plan. Trap Shadow slathered mud and char on Grilla Drilla's face, mucking him up so he couldn't be recognized. They placed bandaging on both of Grilla Drilla's arms to make it look like a fashion choice rather than someone recovering from a snake bite. He also put a gag on him, and set his hands in cuffs. But he also put the key on a string connected to Grilla Drilla's finger, and with this Grilla Drilla hid the key in the palm of his hand. Once they got far enough onto the trolls' ship, he could unto the cuffs himself.
They went along like this for the next mile until reaching the landing site, with Trap Shadow pushing Grilla Drilla along. They paused for a moment as they reached the clearing, watching the trolls move around cages containing wild animals. The animals were of various shapes and sizes, even if Grilla Drilla couldn't recognize them. The trolls tried teasing the animals by putting their fingers into the cages, only to draw back when the animals tried to attack them. At the center of the clearing stood the scarred troll, barking out orders concerning the capture of more of these animals.
"He's certainly a hunter," Trap Shadow whispered. "No, he's one of those 'pack hunters' that train animals to bring prey to him. There's certainly something poignant about that. I'll deal with those cages- you just get in there and focus on the trolls so you can get your king back."
Grilla Drilla nodded, and they continued onward.
The two of them entered the clearing, with Trap Shadow waving after the scarred troll and calling for his attention. The trolls stopped moving around, and the scarred troll turned to look at them. He walked over to them, crossing his arms and focusing his attention on Trap Shadow.
"You have the composure of a hunter," the scarred troll wondered.
"As do you," Trap Shadow beamed, flashing him his sharp teeth. "They usually have such unkind words to say to pack hunters, but I say, whatever gets food into your stomach is good enough."
"I'm not a hunter as you might think. I'm a troll- it's in my nature to collect tools to do my job. And you're getting in the way of that."
Trap Shadow hummed, drumming his fingers on Grilla Drilla's shoulder. "Hmm, am I?" he wondered. "Because I heard some trolls stomping by my territories, and they kept talking about finding the treasures that the drillas had. I was wondering if I could get in on that."
The scarred troll walked right up to Grilla Drilla, looking him over. Grilla Drilla's heart pounded as the troll studied his face, and it only pounded harder as he studied his arms and legs. He hoped that the scarred troll didn't recognize him. He needed more time to get to his King before having to fight.
"Is this drilla your idea of a peace offering?" the scarred troll asked.
"This one said that him and two others went looking for their king. I was wondering if you might want to find the other two."
"I'm more annoyed than worried. I thought I disposed the one drilla I found on the outside. I'd certainly hate having to waste more resources on destroying the rest of their kind. Though there is something quite fascinating about that idea, just watching my soldiers and my animals lay waste to their whole kingdom."
It was a description that chilled Grilla Drilla to his very core. He couldn't let them destroy his home. After everything he'd been through, he didn't want to fail everyone else, too.
"You still haven't answered me," Trap Shadow huffed. "Can I get in on your plans and get my paws on some drilla treasure?"
"It's an intriguing idea, to say the least," the scarred troll pondered. "But what more can you offer than one silly little monkey?"
"I'm a hunter. I've got various tips and tricks for going after prey, including some on interrogation."
That seemed to pique the troll's interest. He looked at the ship, saying, "Trolls aren't exactly verse in language. We destroy rather than interrogate. Even with all the time I've spent away from our colonies, learning what I can to hone my skills, I'm afraid I can't get that king to tell me where their treasures are."
"Is he the noble goody-two-shoes type? The one who puts his loved ones before himself?"
"...Seem like it. The threat to kill everyone who tried to go after him appeared to shake him. He hasn't attempted to escape, though he still won't talk."
"That's what we'll use this monkey for! Show him to that king, and threaten his life if he doesn't give up the location of his kingdom's treasures. That should get him talking."
The scarred troll smirked. "You might be of some use after all," he wondered. "Alright. Why don't you stay out here to look after my animals- I don't trust any of these idiots to do it for me. If I come back down to tell you he talked, I'll let you stick around to help us find the treasure. If I don't tell you, well...you better hope I tell you."
Trap Shadow nodded, releasing his grasp on Grilla Drilla. The scarred troll grabbed him by the arm and dragged him toward the ship. Grilla Drilla had to fight the urge to stay still, and to ignore the voice in his head telling him not to go along with it. He had to continue on. He had to save his King, and he wasn't going to do that without following this process.
They walked on until they found a rope hanging off of the ship. The scarred troll gripped him tightly, tugging on the rope. He held onto the rope, and someone pulled the two of them up. Grilla Drilla and the troll set their feet on the deck, and he looked around to see all the trolls working on their machines. The scarred troll dragged him to a hole in the floor, which had a set of stairs below it. He carried Grilla Drilla down these stairs and into the lower deck. At the end of the lower deck's long hall, there sat a room with bars stuck in front of it, and in that room sat the King of the Drilla Empire himself. He really was here! Grilla Drilla was so close!
But a few trolls also worked down here, fixing up the doors. It wouldn't be much longer until a fight would break out. Grilla Drilla figured he couldn't avoid it for much longer.
"How are you doing, dear sire?" the scarred troll sneered, dragging Grilla Drilla closer. "Are you well rested from your break?"
The King stood up, his legs wavering in shock. "Wh-What is the meaning of this?" he stammered.
"It seems a few of your subjects didn't listen to me about my threat. I've already slain one of them- he seemed really intent to try and ruin my plans."
The King stepped back. "You didn't. You couldn't have."
"I did indeed."
Grilla Drilla looked from the corners of his eyes, trying to figure out what the other trolls were doing. They peeked over slightly, but mostly stuck to their work. He hoped they wouldn't notice too much if he tried to get away. Grilla Drilla pulled the key out, slowly inserting it into the cuffs' keyhole. He tried to do it slowly, to create as little noise as possible.
The scarred troll pulled a knife out of his pocket, bringing it close to Grilla Drilla's neck. "I'm sure that drilla died slowly and painfully. His blood is on your hands, whether you like it or not. And soon, you'll have more blood on your hands."
"Don't you do this," the King gasped, gripping the bars. "He doesn't deserve this kind of treatment. None of them do."
Grilla Drilla felt a soft click! as the cuffs unfastened. He grabbed them into his right hand, holding his current position for a little bit longer.
The scarred troll brought the knife closer, continuing, "Just tell me where the Drilla Diamond is, and he'll be spared. Just tell me, and no one else will have to die."
The King bared his teeth. "How can I trust that?" he growled. "You've already killed one of my subjects. How can I be so sure that you won't kill any more of them?"
"Fine. You don't have to tell me. But, of course, this drilla doesn't have to die, either."
The King looked over at Grilla Drilla, his face cast with despair. But then his gaze drifted toward Grilla Drilla's right side. Grilla Drilla looked down slightly, unable to move much with the knife at his throat. The cuffs rested just behind his leg, but a tiny bit of the end could be seen if one looked hard enough. And guessing by the King's face, he had seen them.
The King bowed slightly, placing his forehead on the bars. "Fine. I'll tell you where the Drilla Diamond is," he muttered, his voice cracking. "Just take that knife away. Take it and drop it on the ground. I won't talk if you don't do that."
"You're not exactly in a position to make demands," the scarred troll scoffed. "...But...very well. Look closely, because I am getting rid of the knife."
Grilla Drilla and the King watched the scarred troll closely. They saw him draw the knife away, presenting it directly in front of the cell, He released his grip on the handle, letting the knife drop to the ground.
Grilla Drilla could hardly believe it. He wasn't sure if the scarred troll would really do what the King wanted. Perhaps it was from the desperation of wanting the interrogations to end, or perhaps he was just tired of wasting time. Either way, he had let go of the knife.
It was time to take action.
Grilla Drilla quickly took the cuffs out, placing one on the scarred troll's wrist. The scarred troll looked on in surprise, but retaliated with a swift punch. Grilla Drilla ducked below the attack, but he couldn't follow through once the rest of the trolls sprung into action. He slid out of the way, landing a drill punch on at least one. He bounced out of the way of another attack, and kept this pace for a good minute as he tried to figure out what to do. It wasn't open down here, and the trolls certainly knew how to move around in this space more than he did.
So he decided he had to limit their space.
After dodging once again, he drilled a hole into the ground, revealing the island below them. Another troll attacked him, and he dodged again. After that dodge, he drilled another hole. He followed this pattern until most of the space was filled up. The only free space was the one Grilla Drilla left for himself in front of the King's cell. With the floor checkered like this, the trolls had to think more closely about the way they moved, lest they fall through the holes.
The trolls hopped around the rims of the holes as they tried to get to him. They thought more about hopping than they did about attacking, and this was how Grilla Drilla gained the upper hand. He punched the trolls as they came to him, knocking them out one by one.
All that remained was the scarred troll, standing over by the stairs. He was much larger than the others, probably too big to fall through the holes, but certainly big enough to propel over them without a problem.
Grilla Drilla spotted the knife on the ground, somehow still in place despite the tussle. Once the scarred troll got a hold of that, he would use it as his primary weapon. And if their earlier encounter was any example, that knife had a secret as deadly as a Blackstripe Python.
The two of them stood around for a long time. They looked at each other, and they looked at the knife. Grilla Drilla dove for the knife, and the troll leapt from the stairs. Grilla Drilla go hold of the knife and slid it into a hole, watching it fall through to the island below. The scarred troll reached him and landed a heavy blow onto his back. Grilla Drilla jumped up and shoved him off, turning his attention to the King in his cell.
He took off his gag, shouting at the King, "You have to drill into the floor, Sire!"
The King blinked at him in surprise. "Grilla Drilla…? Yes! I have to do something this time!" he shouted.
"...It's you…," the scarred troll muttered coldly.
Grilla Drilla slid away, entering one of his holes. He hung over the side, his gaze drifting to the ground below. They were miles up in the air. One fall might result in broken bones, or even worse. But he saw a commotion happening below. The trolls were running away from the animals, and Trap Shadow stood on one of the cages. He was his only hope for getting out of this pickle- Grilla Drilla hadn't quite thought this next step through. He called down to him, and Trap Shadow seemed to spot him, as he started running for the ship.
The scarred troll stomped on Grilla Drilla's good hand, causing him to ease his grip on the rim of the hole. He now hung by his bad arm, which was growing quite sore from the battling he'd done earlier. Grilla Drilla looked across the way, finding the King hanging outside now.
"I thought I'd gotten rid of you," the troll growled. "You're quite the persistent creature, aren't you? Well, I can't have you interfering again. This time, you're not coming back. And I'll make your suffering just that bit longer."
He started stomping on Grilla Drilla's fingers one by one, each hit sending needles of pain all the way down to his shoulder. Grilla Drilla looked at the King, and reached his hand out.
"Swing over! I've got you!" Grilla Drilla shouted.
"It's too far! I won't make it!" the King whimpered.
"It's okay! Just jump!"
The troll stomped on another of Grilla Drilla's fingers. "Don't fret over it, Sire," he shouted. "You wouldn't make it."
Grilla Drilla's grip weakened, and he let go. The King swung after him right before he did, and the two of them began falling together. Grilla Drilla managed to grab the King's hand, and he looked for any sign of Trap Shadow. In a matter of seconds, he found it in the form of a chain swinging towards them. He had the King grab it, and the two of them swung back, before being pulled up to the side of the ship. Trap Shadow held a chain in his other hand, with a trap biting on the rim of the ship. He looked down at them, scoffing, but trying to hide a smile.
"You really must be trying to die," Trap Shadow shouted. "Can I lower you two down? You're getting heavy."
Grilla Drilla nodded, but the King insisted, "We have to get back up there! We have to get rid of those trolls!"
It was surprising to hear from his King. Grilla Drilla thought he'd only concern himself with the well-being of their people. At that moment...he seemed to hold the same nagging feeling that Grilla Drilla had.
Trap Shadow gritted his teeth, groaning, "You've got to be kidding me!"
They suddenly spotted a troll chipping at the trap's grip. Trap Shadow swung the two of them over, and Grilla Drilla grabbed the rim of the ship. The two drillas lifted themselves back up, and Grilla Drilla took down two trolls that charged for them. The King hoisted Trap Shadow onto the ship, and he hung back as the cat and the guard fought the trolls that came after them. Grilla Drilla spotted the scarred troll coming back up the stairs, and he ran after him. The troll swung a fist, and he narrowly avoided it. He grabbed the other cuff and locked it onto the opposite ankle. The scarred troll fell on the deck, struggling to get out of his bindings.
"Is that...all of them?" Grilla Drilla panted.
"Yeah, we got them all," Trap Shadow announced, arms crossed. "Can we go now?"
The King shook his head, and ran for the control deck. Grilla Drilla and Trap Shadow ran after him, finding him messing with the controls at the front of the ship. The King grabbed the wheel, spinning it. Everyone jerked to the side as the ship turned, moving away from the edge of the island. The trolls tumbled around, but none of them fell overboard.
"What are you doing, Sire?" Grilla Drilla asked.
"I never believed for a second that those trolls would be so merciful," the King insisted, studying the buttons. "I'm sure if they thought it was necessary, they would have destroyed us all even if we gave into their demands. I stayed put thinking that they might not do anything if I complied, but when they brought you here… we can't let them stay here any longer. We need to take the rest of them and send their ship away."
Trap Shadow set his hands behind his head. "I think a better way to get rid of them would be to blow up the ship," he noted.
The King nodded, going, "Which button is self-destruct?"
"Sire, I agree with Trap Shadow here," Grilla Drilla insisted. "We're done. We've brought them down. Let's just go home and gather the rest of our forces to really defeat them."
"And then wait for them to regain their strength? To let them gather more of their forces? We can't let them bring more harm to our home. I'm not going to be king for much longer, so let my last act as ruler be this."
Trap Shadow scratched his head, his brow furrowing in concern. "I hope you don't get yourself stuck on here when it blows," he warned him.
"I very well could be," the King sighed. "But I still have to do this."
Grilla Drilla stepped back in shock. Something didn't feel right about this whole situation. He knew his King cared about their people, but for him to sacrifice himself like this was just horrible. There had to be something that would set everything right.
He couldn't stand back and let everything go wrong again.
Grilla Drilla pulled his King away from the control panel. "I'm not letting you do that!" he shouted. "I came out here to bring you home, and that's what I'm going to do!"
"Grilla Drilla…," the King muttered.
"I know how you feel about this whole thing. I've been feeling it, too. But there's a better way to solve this. Let's go home and figure it out together."
Trap Shadow pushed the King aside and took his place in front of the control panel. "I can do it," he decided. "I know how to work this troll tech better than either of you. I know how to get off before this thing blows."
"Are you sure?" Grilla Drilla stammered.
"Take your King and find one of the life ships on the back. Try not to fly too far away once you get in, because I'll need you around for my escape. Got it?"
"Got it! See you in a bit!"
Trap Shadow nodded, and he started messing with the control panel.
Grilla Drilla took his King and started running back. They skirted past the trolls trying to escape Trap Shadow's bindings, and they reached the stern. Grilla Drilla helped the King into a ship before getting in himself. He undid the ropes, dropping them down. As they fell, wings shot out of the ship's side, catching them and carrying them through the air. Grilla Drilla found a steering wheel and took control of it, flying them over to the side of the ship.
"Remember to hold on," Grilla Drilla instructed.
The King nodded. He put a death grip on the rim with one hand, grabbing Grilla Drilla's hand with the other.
Grilla Drilla spotted Trap Shadow running from the front, climbing over the side. Grilla Drilla stretched a hand out, catching a chain that the cat threw. Trap Shadow jumped off, shaking the life ship with the force of his swing. Trap Shadow pulled himself up with the chain, and Grilla Drilla helped him into the life ship. The cat then took control of the wheel, veering them away from the ship. As they flew away, they watched as the ship blew up, the force pushing them along just a tiny bit.
Grilla Drilla looked on, thinking of how narrowly they avoided that explosion.
"Is everyone okay?" Grilla Drilla asked.
Trap Shadow stepped away from the wheel, flopping onto the wooden floor. "I'm fine," he sighed. "Just really…. really tired. I think I'm going to lay here for a while."
"I'm a bit winded myself, but I'm okay," the King replied. "Think I can take control now?"
Grilla Drilla nodded, sitting down. "I'll leave it to you, Sire," he smiled. "Take us home."
The King nodded, grabbing the steering wheel. Grilla Drilla looked over as he corrected their course, putting them on the path for their kingdom. He then looked over at Trap Shadow, who had turned over and closed his eyes. Perhaps now Grilla Drilla really had earned his rest. He decided to go for it, shutting his eyes and feeling the breeze on his cheeks as they flew along.
Things settled into relative normalcy once Grilla Drilla and the King returned to the kingdom. Everyone was still on high alert in the capital, especially in the area around the ceiling's opening, but the atmosphere was growing calmer. Every time Grilla Drilla passed a group of people, they would cheer at him and applaud him for his mission. Lots of people insisted that he was a hero. That attention made him kind of bashful. He really hadn't thought about receiving it when he left.
The King had invited Trap Shadow to come into their kingdom as well, insisting that everyone would welcome him in once they heard of his heroics. Trap Shadow refused, saying that he wouldn't enjoy the crowds, and explained that he would wait outside until Grilla Drilla was ready to see him off. Grilla Drilla understood his feelings about the crowds, but he wasn't sure how long the purple feline would wait for him until he decided to leave without a goodbye.
Once they had returned home, and found that everyone else was okay, the King and his court started preparing for the ceremony once again. Even with this delay, they still had a tradition to uphold. Grilla Drilla participated where he was needed, but one day, the King asked him to accompany him into the lower tunnels of their home. They traveled downward until they reached the treasure vault. They opened it up, revealing a small cave with plant growth surrounding a small pond. And on a stalagmite in the middle of the pond sat a white crystal that emanated a pale light.
It was their beloved Drilla Diamond.
"You remember the old fable, don't you?" the King asked him. "Our ancestors found this crystal within this very cave, discovering the magic that the crystals have. They discovered that they could move their whole kingdom underground, protecting their descendents from the terrors of the surface."
"Nothing remains safe forever," Grilla Drilla moped.
"Indeed. In order to survive, we must adapt. And I feel like you can offer that adaptation."
Grilla Drilla looked at him in surprise. "Wh-what are you saying?" he stammered.
"I admit this process isn't exactly appropriate to do- usually you save this for the ceremony," the King continued. "But in order for us to survive, we need to discuss this properly. Grilla Drilla, I've never known such an honorable soul like yours. You fight to protect those you care about, and you fight until the very end. You have a good heart, and I keep thinking about how you pulled me from my despair. You've seen what the outside world is like, and you can teach others to combat it. Which is why… I want to make you the next king of the Drilla Empire."
Grilla Drilla stepped back in surprise. He couldn't believe it. His King wanted him to be the next ruler? Did he really possess the qualities of a good leader? It was quite the honor, one that he would carry with pride.
And yet…
"Thank you, my King," Grilla Drilla sighed. "But I'm afraid I can't accept that."
The King folded his hands, looking down at them in thought. Then he turned to look at Grilla Drilla, wearing a soft expression. "You've fallen in love with the outside, right?" he asked.
"I guess so. There's just so much out there that needs protecting, that needs looking after. We know there are more trolls out there, and perhaps there are more creatures exactly like them. I can't happily be here knowing that the greater world is in danger. Even if I can only make a small difference, I want to try."
"I get that. If you really want to leave, you're free to do so. In that case, I will lead teams out to the surface, learning all we can about it, and one day I'll find a leader among them."
"It sounds like you'll be King for just a bit longer."
"Yes, and it's all thanks to you. Grilla Drilla, will you kneel down for a moment?"
Grilla Drilla did as he was told, settling himself into the grass. The King collected some mud from the pond, using it to decorate Grilla Drilla's forehead with a few dots. He knelt down before him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Our hearts will always be with yours," the King promised him. "When you feel weary, think back to us. When you decide to return home, know that we will welcome you."
"Thank you, my King," Grilla Drilla choked.
Grilla Drilla made his way out after a few hours. He took the tunnel he used before, emerging into a forest decorated by sunset. He spotted firelight nearby, and was surprised to find Trap Shadow sitting by it. Grilla Drilla walked over to him, wondering what he was still doing there. Trap Shadow noticed him coming, and stood up to face him with crossed arms.
"You certainly took long enough," Trap Shadow scoffed.
"I thought you would've left after a while," Grilla Drilla explained.
"I needed to figure out if you were coming back to say goodbye."
Grilla Drilla touched a finger to his forehead, reaching for the mud spots. "I'm heading out into the wider world to fight more trolls," he explained. "I know you said you found fighting them pointless, but I can't just get rid of the feeling that I need to fight this battle. So, that's what I was going to do. I guess… maybe this is goodbye, but maybe we'll cross paths again."
Trap Shadow looked down at the grass, not responding to what he said. Grilla Drilla didn't know how to finish this interaction himself. The purple feline didn't exactly express himself too much, and Grilla Drilla didn't want to do it for him.
So he waved goodbye, and walked on. He walked slowly, wondering how better that interaction could have ended. Maybe if he walked slowly enough, he might figure it out.
"Grilla!" Trap Shadow shouted.
Grilla Drilla turned around, looking at him. "Yeah?"
Trap Shadow stood tall, brow furrowed and hands tentatively clenched. "I just… y-y'know what you asked me before. The reason why I helped with your snake bite?"
"You said you didn't know. Do you know now?"
"I'm not sure about the snake bite thing, exactly. But...when we were fighting those trolls...and-and watching each others backs and making calls...it felt...good. Not like, simply fighting felt good, but fighting...with someone, I guess?"
Grilla Drilla looked at him in surprise. He'd never heard him stumble through his words so much.
"I haven't fought with a pack in a long time. I-I felt uncomfortable doing it back home, but the packs back home were kind of big. I could do it with one or two others. I didn't realize how good it felt...to fight alongside someone. Maybe I was just...I was just lonely, but I can't shake it. I could hunt in a pack, and I could do it with you, even if you were going on your troll fighting crusade. S-So… maybe you'd want to do it again?"
Grilla Drilla smiled, walking back to the campfire. "Yeah, I'd like that," he decided. "Let's keep working together."
Trap Shadow started laughing, and he covered his face up. Maybe he did it to hide tears, maybe he did it to hide blushing. But Grilla Drilla knew how genuine he was.
"I sounded so stupid, I can't believe you said yes," Trap Shadow sighed.
"You don't have to be embarrassed about it," Grilla Drilla insisted. "Why don't you decide where we go first?
Trap Shadow sat back in front of the fire. "I don't know about finding trolls, but the Outlands are a good place to find baddies," he insisted. "We'll find something out there. But why don't we set off in the morning?"
Grilla Drilla nodded, sitting next to him. He couldn't shake the excitement he felt. He was heading out into the wider world, and he wasn't doing it alone. For the first time in a while, Grilla Drilla found himself perfectly at ease.