The Queen's Axe

Barb led Eddy up the castle as she pushed the huge door to her practice room. Eddy just looked in amazement. The walls were lined with amps and speakers of every shape and size and had an array of guitars, sitting on stands and resting in cases.

"This is my Jam Room" Barb explained, proud of her collection, having more guitars than Eddy could count, varying in shape and color, though most of them were black. Barb picked up one of the guitars, plucking one of the strings as she turned the peg, strumming as it sounded in tune.

"Get Ready, cause I'm blowing your head to the back of the room" Barb proclaimed flicking a switch and turning up a volume on her guitar as the Rock Queen slid her fingers up the guitar neck, strumming a power chord, playing a song. Eddy had never heard anything like it, and never this close up, in amazement of the old Music, Barb then walked to a microphone stand, still playing as she shouted into the mic.

Her voice was loud and powerful as she ran her fingers down the neck, picking the strings, continuing her song Eddy could not help but move his head to the beat. Barb enjoyed being watched while she played. Eddy watched while she finished her song. Eddy clapped in applause telling her how good she sounded as Barb only looked at her black fingernails.

"I know, I could teach you, if you want" Barb offered as Eddy looked at her, asking why the Queen of Rock would bother giving him guitar lessons as she set the guitar back on the stand walking to Eddy, poking his chest, saying she wanted something from him in return.

"Me, You're the Queen of the Rock Trolls, what could I possibly give you that you don't have already?" Eddy was confused as Barb explained she wanted him to teach her how to ride a Backhog.

"I never thought a Backhog could be tamed, let alone ridden, so you could imagine my surprise, seeing you handle that beast, so If I teach you how to play guitar, would you teach me how to ride a Backhog?" Barb proposed as Eddy looked at her saying he would teach her, but he wasn't taking any responsibility if she got herself hurt.

"Then we have a deal," Barb proclaimed, extending her hand to shake as Eddy shook it, complementing her grip, which she credited to her playing, and saying she could handle herself as Eddy nodded, saying he would make a first-aid kit just in case as Barb chuckled.

"Pick an axe and I'll start you off with some basics," Barb instructed as Eddy asked if he could pick any guitar he wanted, Barb simply nodded, not worrying about them, she had so many and was prone to smashing them. Eddy walked through the guitar stands and cases.

The first Guitar he saw was a black SG with a flame finish as Eddy looked at it impressed, the next one was a brown Les Paul with golden pickups, The third was a Blue Stratocaster with lightning bolts. Eddy complimented Barb on her collection as she nodded. Telling him to pick one as his eyes were drawn to a guitar as he approached it, laying in a case.

It was a Black Flying V with a metal skull-shaped bridge, he sensed a weird aura coming from it, but the most unique factor of the instrument was the strings. wrapped around the pegs and running down the neck to the bridge were six strings, but a single string stood out, resting in the Low E spot and glowing bright red.

"Barb, what's with this guitar, I'm no expert but guitar strings should not be glowing," Eddy asked as Barb who was repainting her nails looked from her hand seeing Eddy near the guitar, ordering him not to touch it, Eddy only put his hands up.

"That guitar has been passed down from Leader to Leader, it's priceless. You better not have messed it up" Barb shouted as Eddy claimed he never even touched it, only asking why one of the strings was Red as Barb looked at him confused.

"You really aren't from around here, you don't know about the six strings of Music?" Barb asked, confused as he looked at her, in a way that showed he was shocked but knew what she was talking about.

"I mean, I heard about them, but I thought they were just a legend, a fairy tale," Eddy answered as Barb closed the case, telling him the strings were very much real, saying it all started with the first trolls as Eddy looked at her, explaining he knew the story, having read it in books, telling the story

"Long ago there was only silence, but one day that changed, Six Trolls changed all that. The story started with the first ones, who went about their business until one day when they heard a sound. It could only be described as the most beautiful sound they had ever heard. with that inspiration they created music, and through their discovery obtained godhood and ascended to the next plane of existence. Before leaving, each Troll plucked a single hair from their head, channeling their god-like powers into them and cast them into an instrument known as the Harp of Harmony. Giving the Trolls the Harp so they could know the joyous gift of music" Eddy explained as Barb looked at him, surprised he knew so much.

"I Don't recall anything about Gods, but yeah that's the story" Barb interjected her thought as Eddy said it was a very old book as he continued the story

The Trolls were split into six tribes. The Techno Tribe, who were known for their electronic beats and synthesized sounds, The Funk Tribe, which was known for the grooving Bass and Keyboard rhythm, The Classical Tribe, whose elegant sounds were an ensemble of brass, wood, and string, The Country Tribe, whose natural acoustic sound had a certain twang to it. The Rock Tribe, which was loud and energetic with their electric guitars and pounding drums. And The Pop Tribe, with its catchy rhythm and beats.

For a time the six tribes lived in harmony with each other, playing their songs together using the Harp of Harmony, the sounds it made were said to be the most beautiful music ever heard. a universal instrument that could play any sound imaginable. As a result, tons of new genres were created by the Trolls. But leaving such a powerful gift in the hands of Trolls would not only unite them but also divide them. The Trolls began fighting over the Harp, and fighting turns to war when someone takes it too far. Despite each tribe wanting the Harp they never moved it until one night, when The Pop Queen Rose used the cover of darkness to move the Harp to her kingdom.

"Exactly!, the Pop Trolls ruined it for everyone, the other Trolls invaded The Pop Kingdom and broke the harp, each leader taking a string" Barb explained, knowing that part of the story as Eddy sighed, saying it was a shame the strings would never be reunited and that Trolls would always remain divided as Barb looked at Eddy.

"What would you say If I told you, I actually had a plan to reunite the Strings and the Trolls, to put them all under one banner?" Barb asked as this made Eddy Interested, he knew from history books about Barb's World Tour and concluded that was where he ended up. Eddy decided the best thing he could do was make sure events played out as they were supposed to.

"Sounds like an interesting plan and if you're really gonna go through with it, I'll want in," Eddy replied as Barb explained an idea that technically her father came up with in his youth but never acted upon, to get the other five strings.

"There would no more fighting over music, we would finally be in perfect harmony again," Barb explained as Eddy told the queen that he would support her plan as the Queen was shrieking like an excited child at the idea of the plan being acted on before clearing her throat.

"I Mean, Cool. This is the first time I've ever actually told anyone about this plan. I was partially worried they would laugh it off as a power fantasy" Barb added as Eddy crossed his arms, saying the Rock Trolls would easily go for it.

"I mean who doesn't want peace, and reuniting the strings has the chance to do that, I wonder why your father never acted on his plan," Eddy asked as Barb shrugged her shoulders, saying it wasn't his mission anymore, it was hers. Barb opened the case, plucking the red string of the guitar as Eddy felt a surge rushing through his body, Barb told him it was the string filling them with energy.

"I'm gonna tell everyone about this plan at tonight's party, they are gonna be so stoked to hear this,'' Barb said grabbing another Guitar from one of the stands as they left for the party.

"After you, My Queen" Eddy said, gesturing for Barb to go first, considering her Rank as they went down to head for the biggest Party Volcano Rock had seen for a while.

A/N and with that we are introduced to the Axe of Rock, a scared heirloom passed down for Rock Leader to Rock Leader. I wanted to give Barb's Guitar some history as she wasn't seen with it until the big show. I also expanded on the creation of the strings and the Harp Of Harmony. a reminder that Eddy's Back Hog hasn't been named yet.