Updating Stories That Have Been Dead Part Two: Electric Boogaloo. How y'all doing?
Anyway, this is the second to last story that I haven't updated since last year and I'm really sorry it has taken me this long to get through it. Again, I'm one of those writers that get bored easily with their creations so I just randomly stop updating and move on to the next one. Yet, I was receiving PM about this one and Fully Human on how people were waiting patiently for an update or just completely forgot about it altogether. So here I am, fighting myself through an update and trying to remember what the FUCK I was planning.
I hope you guys enjoy this though and hopefully, I'll write more for it later!
My Beta Reader: Ian wuz here :P I decided to beta read at 3 in the morning cuz FUCK IF I KNOW
Walking the outskirts of the woods near the roads of Arcadia Oaks was one of my favorite past times over the past few months. Even before I had the amulet I loved the silence and the beauty that came from seeing the city lights in the distance but having the isolation of nature beside me. It felt natural to be between society and seclusion. The fine line between what was bright and the darkness that filled the unknown. When I was younger, Toby would always claim that it was because I had this rip in who I was and who I was supposed to be because of my father leaving when I was very young.
That or he loved to say that I just wanted to be the cool mysterious hippie kind of guy that got all the girls in the movies, but I rather just laugh at that one and carry on.
But it does make sense now why I was always drawn to such a place. In-between what is known and the unknown. It's basically what I am now as the Trollhunter. The bridge between what was deemed as real and what was fantasy, and as I now walked between the two now, I feel this confidence swell within my chest knowing that it was where I was destined to be.
"Earth to Atlas, Earth to Atlas, Homebase Captain Claire calling." I pulled out the walkie talkie that Claire and I agreed on using besides our phones on the scout with a smile on my face.
"Astronaut Atlas here. Man, that was kind of cool actually. Can those be our code names with this thing?" My smile grew wider as I heard laughter on the other line.
"To be honest? Hell no. But you should come down Fourth Street. I found something that might interest you."
I put on a glove that was in my pocket and put one of the covered fingers into the green essence that laid in the middle of the road. I brought it up into the light of the streetlamp to see that it was completely translucent. I squished the slime-like substance between my thumb and index, pulling it apart to see it was a lot stretchier than it had seemed.
"Yep, goblin essence. They were here." I pulled the glove off so that the slime was now in the glove instead of outside it, bundling it up in my hand. "It looks like it was run over. See the tire tracks there." I didn't have to look over to Claire to see she was nodding along.
"There's a tire mark over there as well." I looked over about six feet away. "Maybe something like a trailer backed up or something? There's no indication of swerving." I nodded to her conclusion.
"If so, there was something in it that they wanted." I stood up and turned to see a puzzle-faced Claire with her hand on her chin.
"What could they have possibly wanted?" I gave her a shrug as I looked up to the sky to see the sun started to rise in the distance.
"I have no clue, but let's call it a night and start brainstorming later, alright? We might be lucky if we can get a couple of hours of sleep before school."
"Good idea. It might be good to talk to Blinky after rehearsal. He might be able to help." I nodded my head. "Then the plan is made. Normal time then?"
"Of course." I brought my hood over my head and adjusted my gloves. "I need to wash these anyway." I shook the hand with the slimy essence on it slightly which only rewarded me with a small laugh and a shake of her head from Claire.
"See you soon." She started dashing her way back home, which luckily for her, wasn't far. I watched her for a second as she turned the corner of the street before I turned myself and started dashing off towards my own home. The desire for slumber easily took over once I was able to make my way to the barely used sheeted bed.
A hum came from Blinky as his upper right hand rubbed under his chin as he thought slowly.
"Goblins. What could they want from a human travel system..." His lower hands tapped lightly on the stone counter he was leaning against.
Throughout the day, I tried making a list of what they could possibly want. But it seems Blinky is as stumped as I am on the idea. I had a few ideas. Pieces of Heartstones. The Cape of Stranglethorn. But neither of those made sense. Either they had enough of them or it was something that the Changelings could get themselves. It didn't make sense to me why they would send Goblins after it. Usually, they would only use them for items that would be dangerous for them to be spotted with. Items that would give them away. The Cape of Stranglethorn is seen as a historical object, so any of them seen with it while having any form of history based background and they could get away with it. Heartstone pieces can be just brushed off as crystals. I should know. I had just shrugged it off multiple times in the past.
There must have been something on that trailer that was major enough that it would get them caught instantly if seen with it.
Think, Atlas, think.
Wait.
Killahead Bridge.
"This is the masterpiece that leads to our true leader." I looked up to the large bridge with wide eyes.
"This is what holds Gunmar? How?" Stickler just ruffled my hair as he looked back to the bridge.
"The Trollhunter Deya used it as a lock and key to hold him in the Darklands. It's the only portal to those plains."
"But it's missing pieces."
"Exactly." I looked over to Strickler and gave him a confused look. "There are many more pieces we need to find. But once we have them all, we will need you to finish the project. The Amulet of Daylight is the only thing that can open the gateway."
"So this is my destiny?" Strickler just gave me a smile.
"Marvelous, isn't it?"
"Killahead Bridge." I looked up to Blinky. "It's a piece of the Killahead Bridge. From what I remember, the Janus Order has collected quite a few of the pieces. They have been getting close to completion for a while. Last I knew they were missing two pieces."
Now they just need me.
"Great Scott." Blinky looked at me wide-eyed. "If this is true then-"
"Gunmar is close to his release." Claire cut him off this time. "But you said there's another piece? What would that be? Is there any way we can get to it first then?" I grabbed the amulet out of my pocket and showed it to her.
"We already have the final piece." I watched her eyes widen at the fact.
"So that means-"
"We're going to have some trouble coming our way." I looked over to Blinky who now spoke in a somber tone. "We have two options in this situation. One of them would be that we try our best to lay low and wait for their next move. This I would be cautious to go with, personally, due to how Bular would be on the hunt."
"Don't remind me." I shivered slightly as memories flooded my mind. "What's the other option then?"
"We must find out where they are hiding the pieces and take one for ourselves." I looked down at my hands that placed themselves together on top of the counter I was leaning against.
So, we have to either wait out their attacks or sneak our way into their lair. Dangerous either way, but one will bring us onto a high alert with very few resources. The other will give us time and an upper hand since they cannot enter Troll Market without the heartstone key. But this isn't like the goblins we have dealt with all together before. Changelings are more dangerous and clever than their lackeys. Even then, if we wait for them, there is a high chance they'll throw something out of the norm our way.
Stalkings are a possibility.
I swear to Deya if I ever have to deal with one of those again it will be too soon.
"Knowing the Janus Order, they will send dangerous things if we don't antagonize them first. So infiltrating their base is the best plan of action." Claire leaned on the counter as well as she placed a hand on her head.
"The first question is then, where are they based? Where can they hide a whole bridge from society without anyone questioning it?" I placed a hand on my chin as I straightened up my back as I went into deep thought.
"Well, if I remember correctly, one piece of the bridge was the size of my torso. It would be obvious if they were hiding it in any place smaller than a garage of some kind or an abandoned building. Even then though, that was never their forte. They were always those that would hide themselves and their actions in the open. It would be a place you would never think they would be operating."
But where would that be? Where have I seen more than just Strickler at?
Wait.
Nomura.
She's working at the museum.
"The museum. I recognized a changeling I used to train with when I was young. She's one of their higher-ups in the Order. Knowing her, she must be tasked with putting the damned thing together."
"Which one was it?" Claire gave me a confused look as I answered her easily.
"Ms. Nomura. One of the most frightening changelings I have ever encountered. But she never does a mission alone. There must be more of them in the area."
"So what would be the first action then, Master Atlas?" I look over to him with a determined smile.
"Do you have a gaggletack? Because our best form of action is to go changeling hunting." Blinky gave me a smile as he went over to a chest that he had up against a wall.
"As a matter of fact! I believe I do!" After a few seconds of rummaging around in the chest, he stood straight up with his lower hands on his hips as his upper hands raised the artifact up with pride. "Eureka!" He turned to us with a giant smile on his face as he handed it towards us. It was like a small horseshoe made of stone with dark engravings around it.
"That's a gaggletack? What does it do?" I took the artifact and turned it around before Claire so she could get a good look at it.
"It forces a changeling out of their human form and into their natural form. It's a totem of sorts. You point it at the person in question and it causes their illusion to fade if they're a changeling. It has no effects on humans or trolls." I gave her a smile as I took one of her hands and placed the totem in it. "You might as well get used to holding it. We'll have to find them together since we lack another." She nodded her head with a determined gleam in her eyes.
"You can count on me." I gave her a soft smile.
"I know I can." I looked between her and Blinky for a moment before I started speaking once again. "After we lower their numbers, we can infiltrate. Take a day or two to find a few. Make them weak before we plan out how we want to go about stealing a piece of the bridge. But we have to be careful with how many we take out as well as how soon we do it. If we take too many too fast, they'll become desperate and either decide to create more changelings or call upon other beings for assistance." Both of them nodded their heads in agreement.
"Another good idea is to go to the museum again and get a grasp for the layout. It'll be best before we decide to attack." I smiled over to Claire as she spoke.
"Perfect idea. We'll do that after the first day. The second day can be the plan. The night of the third will be the attack. Unless we can find a way to place everything closer without causing us to collapse from physical exhaustion."
"No that seems reasonable. Especially because we still have school and rehearsal on top of this. We can go to the museum tomorrow since we never have theatre on Fridays. Then Saturday we can find out where some of them are while planning out the final attack while Sunday is self-explanatory."
"AAARRRGGHH and I will lend our help the best we can. There might be another who would be good to ask though for assistance with all of this." I gave Blinky a confused looked before I spoke.
"Vendel?"
"No. But he would be of great assistance too, yet I don't think he would take too kindly to another human being in our presence."
"Then who?"
"Draal." I felt my eyes go wide at the name.
"Get out of here kid!" I stared wide-eyed as Nomura used her dual blades to keep the massive troll in place.
"What are you doing with the Trollhunter, Nomura!? How does the Janus Order have them?!" The loud booming voice of the troll was frightening as I felt myself shake at the sound.
"It has nothing to do with you, Draal!"
"Nomura!" I cried out to her as she looked over her shoulder to see I was still standing there. She pushed the troll back with her arms before kicking them straight into their stomach. The action causing the troll to skid back a few feet.
"Atlas, I will not say it again. Get. Out. Of. Here!" I felt tears well up in my eyes as I watched the troll pick itself back up with ease. I turned quickly and started running my way out of the forest and back to the secret base that was hidden deep into the forestry. I heard Nomura's scream after I only made about a good six feet of distance so I found myself staring back to where I was running from for a moment before I rubbed my sleeved wrist onto my eyes to dry them off quickly before turning back to where I was heading. Going into a straight run afterward.
This was the first moment I realized that what Strickler said was true about there being more than one species that desired the Trollhunter and how there are some that would do anything to get to me. This was when I started to believe that it was best for me to stay with the Janus Order for my training.
When I believed that they would protect me from those that would harm me because of my destiny.
If only I knew how wrong I would be. How they would harm me so much more than those outside of it would ever.
I felt a hand place itself on my shoulder as I shook myself back into reality.
"Atlas? Are you okay?" I looked over to Claire with the best smile I could muster.
"I'm fine." I looked back over to Blinky. "I've met Draal before. Not in the best ways, but I have. How have I not seen him in Troll Market since my arrival?" Blinky gave me a soft look as he placed all his hands behind him.
"It's a long story. It all revolves around him being tasked to fight you, Master Atlas. He was the only one that Vendel trusted to find the lost Trollhunter. But when you arrived, it was obvious he failed. Soon after he was banished and that was the end of it." He shook his head slowly at the thought. "But I know he would jump at the chance to help you. If not for the morals that his father displaced in him, then to regain his honor in Troll Market to gain back his allowance to the area. Luckily for us, AAARRRGGHH and I know exactly where he is."
"So should all of us go to meet him then?"
"No, you two should handle finding out this 'museum's' layout as AAARRRGGHH and I will go and speak with Draal. He might not be too thrilled with our appearance at first anyways. Since the moon shouldn't be out for much longer, we might not be able to accomplish it today, but tomorrow is the most definite." I nodded my head along with his plan.
"With what I know of Draal, he will be of great help. Thank you, Blinky." The multi-eyed troll just gave me a smile before nodding his head.
"Helping and guiding you is my job, Master Atlas. Whatever you or Fair Claire need, I am here to lend one of my many hands." He gave us both a wide smile as he raised all four of his hands together. Claire and I both shared a laugh at his actions.
"I guess that's that then. Plans have been made, totem in hand, and idea cemented. Let's get some rest and see what tomorrow brings us." Both Claire and Blinky nodded to the statement. Soon after, Claire and I made our way out of Troll Market and back into the realm of human reality. The air was gentle as it blew against our clothes while the moon was giving signs of its soon slumber from the sky as it danced close to the Eastern horizon.
"So much for a decent amount of sleep." I chuckled at Claire as we both gathered the bikes that we had left resting against the solid cement of the bridge's inner structures.
"Not used to not having eight hours yet?"
"I don't think I'll ever will, but I'll deal." I smiled over to her as she looked over towards me as she set her bike up to go in the opposite direction. We made an agreement that mattering on how close sunrise was that we would go our separate ways after our training hours in the Hero's Forge. If we had the time, we would make sure the other was safe on their way home. Yet after she realized that I was drifting in class at times from how late we were out, she made up that promise from earlier.
"It takes time. Just don't end up collapsing on your way home. You know the drill though." She rolled her eyes at me while a playful grin danced on her lips.
"I know, Dad. Text you when I get home to make sure some creature didn't snag me in the middle of the night." I shook my head at her as she gave me a small laugh that echoed through the small empty canal. We stayed there for a moment on our respected bikes, idling there in silence. After a small amount of time had passed between us, I decided to break the welcomed silence.
"I guess we should get going." I looked over to her who had a soft smile on her lips as she placed her hands on the handlebars.
"I guess so. See you at school, Atlas." I smiled at her as she placed her left foot on the pedal, ready to go.
"Get some sleep, Claire." She nodded her head towards me before launching herself off in the direction of her home as I sat there for another moment.
Infiltrating changeling headquarters is going to be difficult. The last time anyone had tried, it ended with their quick yet painful death because of their capture. We'll have to be careful about how we go through this. I have fought changelings before multiple times, but even this will be challenging for me due to pure numbers. This will be Claire's first real encounter with any creatures after starting her training.
I felt a surge of anxiety fill my chest before I shook it off as I started making my way towards the path I normally took at night.
No. I won't let anything happen to her. She's been progressing well with her training anyway. She can handle herself if she ends up having an encounter with one. I'm sure of it. But I swear to Deya that I'll do whatever I can to make sure she's safe.
I ashweaum inibag guakum.