Chapter Six - Return of the Wing Trolls
The next morning, everyone slept in. The party went so late and was so exhausting, and some didn't pass out until just before dawn.
Harper awoke first, painted the sunrise with her watercolors, and then went to the stream nearby with her body wash and towel to take a bath. She found Prowlus already there.
"Early riser, as usual." Harper giggled.
Prowlus nodded. 'Good morning, Harper.'
"Mind if I join you?" Harper requested. Prowlus gestured to the spot next to him. Harper slipped into the water and began washing herself off. "Last night was a fun party, huh?"
'Very fun.' Prowlus would face Harper so he could sign to her, but he was careful to avoid staring at Harper's naked body under the water. Harper found it rather cute.
"I'm glad Branch and Poppy asked us to go with Ash. We spent so much time talking about going on a camping trip." Harper rinsed the soap lather out of her hair. "Next time, though, we'll go without the kids. As much as I love hanging with Ash, you and I need a nice romantic getaway."
'I agree. Ebony can fly us just about anywhere.' Prowlus nodded. 'I have always wanted to visit the Mountain Troll Kingdom.'
"Next time, for sure." Harper kissed Prowlus's cheek. "Love you."
Prowlus cupped her face in his hands and pressed their foreheads together. She learned early on that this was Prowlus's way of saying "I love you," in a more intimate way than signing it. Harper climbed out of the water and dried off. She pulled on her panties and brassiere.
"Okay, Prowlus, I'm in my underwear. Climb on out." Harper said. She turned to give him privacy, and she heard him crawl out to dry off. She reached for her white smock, but curiously found it gone. She heard a whistle, and she turned and gasped.
"Well look at this." The whistler chuckled. "If I knew that's what lady trolls looked like in their underwear, I would've stuck around Troll Village longer."
"Party Crashers?" Harper breathed. It certainly looked like Archer's old group of fake friends, led by his brother. But the Party Crashers' clothes were ragged, indicating their lives of crashing parties hadn't gone so well lately.
"Hey there, pretty lady." Bash held Harper's dress; the strap hung on one finger. He wouldn't stop leering at Harper's body. "Are Pink Queen and Blue Boy around?"
"Why would I tell you?" Harper demanded, using her towel to cover herself.
"Just wondering if there's anyone around to hear you scream." Bash snapped his fingers. "Get her."
Prowlus leaped out from behind the rocks, dressed in his boxers and pants, and swung a stick he carried. The largest Party Crasher caught the stick and slammed Prowlus into a rock. Harper ran to help him, but two other Party Crashers grabbed her arms and pulled her back. She opened her mouth to scream, but Bash tied a gag around her mouth. Prowlus twisted out of his opponent's grip and lunged for Bash. The lead Party Crasher deflected Prowlus's strike and punched the troll in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Bash grabbed a fistful of Prowlus's hair and pulled his head up. "If you're here, the pink queen must be, too. Tell Queenie that I want her in exchange for her friend. You have two hours." He shoved Prowlus to the ground, and another Party Crasher hit Prowlus in the head hard enough to knock him out. The last thing Prowlus heard before blacking out was Harper screaming his name.
Ash took charge and kept everyone calm after Prowlus reported Harper's kidnapping. Bash left Prowlus a map leading to the Party Crashers' location where they would have to make the switch. Unfortunately, there was no Poppy to trade, and Ash had no idea how Bash would react to a mirror chat with the pink queen. The Sunflowers helped direct the travelers in the right direction of the Party Crashers' location.
The Party Crashers set up camp in the middle of a wide meadow, sitting on rocks. Harper was back in her dress, tied up and gagged with three Party Crashers guarding her. Bash sat right next to her, an arm around her shoulders and holding her like a boyfriend would to his girlfriend. Every time Harper tried to wiggle away, Bash would dig his claws into her arm.
"I wish Archer was here." Gris whispered as they crouched in some shrubbery. "This is his brother, after all, his people."
"Yeah, but he turned his back on the Party Crashers." Ash reminded him. "Mom told me all about these creeps."
'I think they've become creepier since Mom and Dad met them.' Prowlus signed. He kept clenching his fists when he looked to Harper and Bash.
"Be at peace, Prince Prowlus." Sir Tandeth said. "I'll take care of this. I will run them all through with my sword!"
"We can't go rushing in." Gris protested.
"Actually, that's probably our only option." Ash said. "They're out in the open, so we can't sneak up on them. There are six of us and seven of them, but two of us are vicious predatory animals." Ebony and Steve looked rather proud of that description. "Prowlus, you still remember when Mom taught you hair-jitsu?" Prowlus nodded. "Okay, then here's what we'll do: you guys charge in there and draw their attention to you. I'm small, so I'll duck around the fight and go straight for Bash to save Harper."
'Maybe I should go for Harper.' Prowlus suggested.
"Prowlus, I can do this." Ash assured. "Besides, you're the better fighter. Trust me." Prowlus still looked nervous but nodded in agreement. Ash pulled out his collapsible shield and dagger. He signaled to his friends, and they charged out onto the meadow. The Party Crashers, at Bash's command, ran to meet them head-on. Bash kept a tight grip on Harper, watching the fight. Unfortunately, he saw Ash coming, and Bash hauled Harper over his shoulder and ran off with her. Ash was right on Bash's tail, even when he scurried up a tree. Harper desperately tried to thrash out of Bash's grip, but Bash's claws stuck in her side. Ash's foot caught on a knothole in the tree, and Bash pulled ahead to a high branch.
Bash shoved Harper against a tree and slapped her, knocking her gag loose and leaving scratch marks in her cheek. "Look, babe, you're going to stop wriggling and be a good hostage, or I'll feed you to a bunch of tarantapuffs!"
"Bash!" Ash shouted as he got up to the branch. Bash pulled Harper away to the end of the branch. Ash unfolded his shield and brandished his dagger. "You've lost, Bash. It's over."
"Is it really?" Bash held Harper by her dress, dangling her off the branch. They were so high up that the impact of the fall would kill Harper, especially since she couldn't brace herself while tied up.
"Hand over my future sister-in-law right now!" Ash ordered.
"My friends are keeping yours occupied pretty well. I really don't think you're in a good place to be negotiating." Bash noted.
Ash didn't dare take his eyes off Bash and Harper, but he did notice none of his friends had arrived to help. "Let her go!"
Bash fake winced. "Very poor choice of words." He released Harper's dress, and she screamed as she fell.
"Harper!" Ash ran to save her, but Bash grabbed Ash's shield and slammed him into the tree branch.
"See, that's why you don't mess with the big boys, squirt." Bash snarled. "Listen closely. The moment she stops screaming will be the moment she hits the ground."
Ash couldn't move his head to see Harper. Not that he wanted to see her die. He could only pray someone could break away from the fight to save her. He could still hear her scream.
Then, her voice abruptly stopped. But there was no sound of an impact on the forest floor.
"What the—?" Bash looked equally confused as Ash. He and Ash looked over the edge of the branch just as someone flew up and hovered above them. A teal troll with blonde hair and warm brown eyes hovered above them. He had a pair of fairy wings with swirling cloud designs, and he dressed in metal armor, chainmail, and a crown. Harper lay in his arms, her bonds cut so she could hold onto the wing troll's neck.
"Somebody drop this?" the wing troll asked.
"Him." Ash pointed to Bash. "But she's my friend. Actually, she's my brother's girlfriend."
"Thought I recognized you rainbow trolls." The wing troll chuckled. He kicked Bash off Ash. Bash landed on a lower branch, and he saw more wing trolls beating off his friends. It was easy to see he failed, so he ordered his comrades to retreat. While the Party Crashers ran away, the armored wing troll carried Harper and Ash back to their friends. Prowlus hugged them both, even kissing Harper out of relief.
"I'm okay." Harper assured. "I'm okay, everyone."
"We are relieved that you are safe, Lady Harper." Sir Tandeth said.
"Is everyone okay?" one of the other armored wing trolls asked. "Anyone injured?"
"Harper is." Ash said.
"Just a few scratches." Harper said.
"We can take care of that." Another crown-wearing wing troll stepped up, this one a female. She looked to Prowlus and Ash. "Wait, I know you two. Queen Poppy's boys, right?"
"Yeah, how did you know?" Ash asked.
Prowlus nudged Ash. 'The wing trolls. Who is there leader? The one Mother told us about?'
Ash stared at the female armored troll. "Princess Ariana?"
"Close, little prince." The female troll giggled. "Have no fear, travelers. You are now in the care of the wing trolls. I am Queen Ariana."
Ariana and her soldiers led the travelers to the Wing Troll Kingdom, just a few miles south of their location. In their rush to save Harper, Ash never realized they were so close to the reclusive Wing Troll Kingdom. Upon arriving, he realized why it took so long for anyone to discover the wing trolls existed. The kingdom's borders stretched across a large section of the forest, but the farmland, village, and castle were shrouded by a thick cluster of trees. No traveler would purposefully go through such thick wildland. In fact, the wing trolls had to lead the travelers to a hidden pathway where Gris and Steve could get through.
The village consisted of houses surrounding a single tree in the middle of the kingdom. In that tree was a great castle. Gris had plenty of space to walk amongst the village and not step on anybody. Ash assumed this was because cuddle pups—from babies to adults—roamed the village freely.
"We have a space near the stables where Steve and Ebony can stay." Ariana said. "Normally, that's where the cuddle pups sleep. We ride and raise them. Thankfully, most of them are okay around predators, provided your animals are well-behaved."
"They'll be good." Gris assured.
"Let's get you all to the castle." The crowned male wing troll suggested.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Ariana hugged the crowned male. "This is my husband, King Zephyr."
"I think Rosie mentioned you getting married." Ash said. "Although, she also said you would be a bachelorette forever."
"Ah, Rosie." Ariana chuckled. "She came to my wedding, you know. I insisted she would be my maid of honor." When they arrived at the castle doors, several servants arrived to greet them. Ariana did a complete switch from her casual demeanor and began giving orders, politely yet firmly. "Tell the cooks we are having lunch on the balcony with our guests. We'll need extra food for the bergen prince. My husband needs his manservants and I need my ladies-in-waiting. We need to get out of this armor. Guards, you are dismissed. Well done. Get a healer for this young troll who is injured." The wing trolls ran about to do their queen's bidding.
"Not bad." Ash mused.
'I remember you being much more…..' Prowlus thought for a moment. 'Lax.'
"I only have to act like that while I'm acting like a queen." Ariana said. "Now, my servants will escort you to the balcony. My grandfather and daughter should be there already."
"Aw, you have a daughter?" Harper cooed.
"You'll meet her when you are properly healed." Zephyr said.
Everyone shuffled off. Harper, Ariana, and Zephyr were led into the castle while the others went to the balcony. As the travelers discovered, the balcony was above a clear area with several chairs big enough for a bergen. Gris took a seat, and Ash, Sir Tandeth, and Prowlus joined two wing trolls at a table on the balcony. One wing troll was an elderly male troll with ruby red skin and indigo hair. His eyes changed color every time he blinked, and a crown rested on his head. He sat in a wheelchair, holding a toddler in his lap. The toddler had purple skin like her mother, with her father's blonde hair. Her eyes changed colors just like her mother and grandfather. She wore a pretty princess dress, a tiara, and her wings hadn't developed their designs yet.
"Welcome, travelers." The elderly troll greeted. "I am Cobalt, former king of the wing trolls. This is my great-granddaughter, Ellisa."
"Ellie, Granddaddy." The toddler giggled.
"You know I'll always call you by your proper name, my princess." Cobalt chuckled, hugging the toddler.
"I'm Ash, and this is my brother, Prowlus." Ash introduced. "We're the princes of the Troll Tree Kingdom. This is Prince Gris of Bergen Town. Pretty soon, you'll meet my future sister-in-law." Prowlus shoved Ash with an exasperated look.
"A pleasure, truly." Cobalt gestured for them to sit down. In a matter of minutes, Harper arrived, freshly healed, and she was introduced to Cobalt and Ellie. Ariana and Zephyr arrived soon after. Ariana wore a magenta dress with gold accents, and Zephyr wore navy blue pants and a white jacket with gold designs.
"So, if you're all royals but Ariana and Zephyr are in charge, why does Cobalt still wear his crown?" Harper asked. "Poppy inherited her crown from her mother."
"Which makes sense." Cobalt nodded. "Wing troll tradition dictates that every living royal gets their own crown. The crown is designed to match the style of that ruler, and that royal is buried with their crown. However, when the heir takes the throne, a piece of the former leader's crown is made into the new one."
"This star piece here—" Ariana pointed to the elegant jeweled star in the middle of her crown. "—was part of Grandfather's crown. To remind me that it's okay to look for guidance from others when I'm lost. Never know where your North Star will be."
'How did you and Zephyr meet?' Prowlus asked.
"When we were nineteen, we met at a ball." Ariana explained. "Turns out, we have very similar passions."
"We both love extreme sports, we're rebellious and brave, and we're kind of the coolest wing trolls ever." Zephyr hugged Ariana and kissed her cheek. "Took a little while to get Cobalt to like me."
"The reason I liked you is because you knew how to act like a gentleman during the proper times." Cobalt said. "You treated my granddaughter with respect and you continue to treat her like an equal."
"We were married a year later, and had Ellie soon after." Ariana concluded. "Rosie's been keeping me up-to-date about you rainbow trolls, but what are you doing out here in the forest?"
"Yes, why did we have to save you during our hunt?" Zephyr asked.
"We're on something of a quest." Gris explained. "Ash wants to find his colors."
"What is so wrong with being grey?" Cobalt asked. "To be born with obsidian hair or silver skin is a rare and wondrous trait amongst wing trolls."
"Not for rainbow trolls." Ash said.
"Rainbow trolls turn grey when they hit their lowest emotionally." Harper explained. "We describe it as 'losing our happiness.' Ash, however, was born like this, and it's taking too long for him to develop his colors on his own."
"We could perhaps visit some of the other wing trolls with rainbow magic." Zephyr suggested. "Perhaps they can pull out his colors."
"Someone already tried that, and it didn't work." Ariana said.
"Wait, someone tried to use rainbow magic on me?" Ash asked.
"I did, when you were a baby." Ariana answered. "I have the ability to restore lost colors. But when I tried to use that magic on you, it wouldn't work. If I couldn't do it, with royal-level rainbow magic, I don't believe anyone else can. Unless I had my sister with me."
"Maybe you can try again?" Ash asked hopefully. "Is your sister still around?"
A somber silence settled over the balcony. "I don't like the sound of this silence." Gris murmured.
"Several years ago, your father, King Branch, asked for the mountain and wing trolls to visit his grandmother's home in Moonlight Kingdom." Ariana explained. "My sister, Erika, fell in love with the mountain troll prince, Icestorm. The mountain and wing trolls hate each other, but my sister couldn't stand the thought of being separated from the one she loved. So Erika and Icestorm ran away. We never found them, and they never came back."
Prowlus hugged Harper closer. Ash pushed his food across his plate. "But they're family. Wouldn't those two being in love help with the hate between the kingdoms?" Sir Tandeth asked.
"If anything, knowing they were in love made it worse." Zephyr sighed. "After they ran away, the mountain and wing trolls agreed to stay away from each other and never interact."
"That doesn't sound like peace." Sir Tandeth pointed out.
"He's right." Ash said. "One wrong argument could send you guys into a war. How have you survived for nearly a decade?"
"Actively avoiding each other." Ariana sighed. She shook herself out of her solemnness. "You know what? Zephyr and I will go into the village and find some trolls with rainbow magic. We'll figure this out. You are all free to roam and explore."
"Thanks." Ash said. "That'd be great. Plus, I want to make sure Bash doesn't circle back for us."
"I'd love to see those cuddle pups." Gris said.
'Harper and I will go flying on Ebony, if that's okay.' Prowlus requested.
"I wish to speak with your royal guard about fighting techniques." Sir Tandeth said.
"Ash, would you like to go with us to see those trolls?" Ariana offered.
"Actually, I'd like some time to just chill." Ash said. "Let me know what you find."
Soon, everyone spread out to do their own thing. Ellie went with her parents. Ash and Cobalt were left alone. Ash stared off into the forest.
"I apologize that my granddaughter couldn't help you with this color situation." Cobalt said.
"The quest is still in full swing." Ash shrugged with a semi-forced smile.
"How did your family feel about this adventure?" Cobalt asked.
"They're happy for me." Ash said. "And I have a magic mirror to keep in touch."
"Good. Very good." Cobalt stared off into space. "If I may offer some advice: your family is everything. You may not choose the family you are born into, but you can choose who you call family."
"They know I'm coming back." Ash assured.
"More than I can say about my eldest granddaughter." Cobalt said. "I'm old, Prince Ash. I can't search the forest like I used to when Erika first disappeared. The one thing I'll always regret is how I treated Erika's relationship with Icestorm. I let my personal feelings and prejudice for mountain trolls interfere with her life, and she cut me out entirely. I miss Erika. I wish I could see her again, and apologize to her and Icestorm." He sighed heavily, and then cleared his throat. "Of course, I can't dwell on them forever. Especially when I have other duties to attend to." He turned and began wheeling himself back to the castle.
Ash hurried after the old king. "Are your 'other duties' really more important than your family?"
Cobalt sighed again. "I suppose you should learn this sooner rather than later. We are royalty, Prince Ash. To be a king or queen, you must be born into it or marry into it. Our lives are split. We have a responsibility to our kingdom, but we also must take care of our families. Sometimes, one has to be put on the backburner. Often, that means choosing who is more important in that moment."
"Why does one have to be more important than the other?" Ash asked.
"Depends on what's happening at the moment." Cobalt answered. "You cannot forget that, as a king, a lot of trolls are counting on you."
It's time you learned this lesson
A lesson all royals must know
Some things deserve more attention
The rest you must let go
We are born into leadership
Our paths are laid before our feet
At times, you must make decisions
Some things are more important, you see
You want to write that book?
A task of research and fun
But the farmers are at the door
The crops are burning in the sun
You are a king, the wisdom they need
That's what it means to be royal family
Cobalt and Ash arrived at a balcony, and they glanced out over the Wing Troll Kingdom. Ash suddenly realized the population in this kingdom was twice that in his home. He could just make out Ariana and Zephyr, talking to the citizens. Wing trolls bowed reverently as their monarchs passed.
Your people need your guidance
They're inspired by strength you show
When they need answers
Where else are they supposed to go?
The moment you came into this world
Your destiny was set in stone
Ancestors before you understood
Things change when you are grown
Your child wants to learn to battle
He's ready with his sword and shield
But there's a war on the horizon
What if the enemy marches on the field?
You are a king, your strength is their lead
That's what it means to be a royal family
Ash shook his head and turned away from the balcony. "That can't be my destiny. That's not all that royals do."
"Perhaps the rainbow trolls have different customs, but the royal family is no different." Cobalt said. "Think, Prince Ash. Think of your parents and grandparents."
Ash wanted to protest that his mother and father never put him, Prowlus, or Rosie on the backburner. Then again, they sometimes sacrificed their own interests for the sake of the kingdom. Poppy spent so much time managing parties to ensure they were fun for the trolls, but she sometimes forgot to have fun herself. Branch was always the first to run into battle when there was a problem. Branch's mother started a war for the good of her people. Rosiepuff allowed herself to be forcibly married to a madman to protect the kingdom. Peppy walked right to what he believed was his death for the sake of the trolls he ruled.
"But what you're saying is they would choose their entire kingdom over their family." Ash said. "All the things they did was for everyone. Every troll in the village, including their family. You're staying that, if they had to choose, they would choose their kingdom instead of the ones they love."
"I'm saying a king has more responsibility than a normal person." Cobalt said. "You will take the throne, someday. Surely, you will have children and be a father. But a king is like a father to his people. What is more important? The needs of few? Or the needs of many?"
She's out there; lost, alone, and afraid
You want to go out and bring her home
But the heir is in need of guidance
Don't ever let your weakness show
Pray she'll return, because you cannot leave
Fulfill your destiny
As royal family
Ash still frowned. "Do you think Erika will ever come back?"
Cobalt sighed. "I can only hope. I certainly can't look for her myself, anymore. My wings aren't as strong as they used to be." He wheeled himself away, leaving Ash alone in the hall to ponder his words.
Ash glanced to the wall and saw a portrait of a younger Cobalt on his coronation day. The young prince had to wonder what he would be like when he became king, and whether or not he would have to change too much once he took the throne.
Once Ebony rested and had some lunch, Prowlus and Harper took her out for a flight. They didn't go too far from the Wing Troll Kingdom, for safety's sake.
"Where do you think we'll head next?" Harper asked.
'As long as we avoid those Party Crashers, we'll be fine no matter which direction we go.' Prowlus signed. He scanned the trees below, paying special attention to the gaps in the branches where he could see the forest floor.
"It had been years since we saw the Party Crashers. I never thought we'd meet them again." Harper said. "Bash seems so much more violent these days."
'I would have hated to see him when he first attacked the village.' Prowlus signed.
"Well, there's no need to worry." Harper assured. "Ebony can fly us, Steve is fast, and Gris is big enough that the Party Crashers won't bother us."
Prowlus nodded in agreement. 'I say we head towards the north. Ash may not want the mountain trolls' help, but it wouldn't hurt to be closer to them.'
"What'd he say?"
Prowlus and Harper jumped and spun around to see a familiar wing troll toddler sitting behind them. "Princess Ellie?" Harper gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Mom said I could take a ride on the birdie." Ellie said.
"Did she say you could ride, or that you could ask Prowlus for one?" Harper clarified.
Ellie looked sheepish. "Um…."
"That's what I thought." Harper rolled her eyes with a smile. "Prowlus, we ought to turn around." Prowlus agreed, and he steered Ebony back towards the Wing Troll Kingdom.
Then, a bolas attached to a rope shot from the trees, wrapping around Ebony's legs. The dark phoenix squawked as something yanked on the rope. The force of the jerking motion knocked Ellie off-balance, and she tumbled right off the dark phoenix. Prowlus dived after her, grabbing the princess in one arm and catching himself on the rope with his free hand. Harper climbed down to Ebony's legs, pulling at the bolas. But something tugged on the ropes, drawing Ebony and her riders towards the trees. Prowlus looked down, and he saw a flash of reptilian scales.
The Party Crashers! Prowlus realized. Ellie squirmed, her wings flapping wildly as she tried to escape. Prowlus couldn't speak to warn her to stay still. Ellie escaped his grip and started to fly, but Bash suddenly shot from the trees, and he grabbed her foot. Ellie screamed as Bash dragged her down to the trees, now only a few feet away.
Prowlus thought quickly. The bolas were too tight for Ebony to escape. The Party Crashers worked together to pull her to the trees, and might just be able to drag her down, especially if they put more ropes around her wings. Plus, they already had little Ellie. This was all just a ploy, so that Bash could use them as bait for Poppy. Except Poppy wouldn't come. What if Ariana and her guards couldn't save them again? Could Ash come up with another plan? Or Gris? Or anyone?
Prowlus knew their best bet rested with their friends. He looked to Harper and locked eyes with her. She quickly realized what he was about to do.
'Get help.' He mouthed to her. Then he drew his knife and cut the rope. Ebony flew up while Prowlus fell down, going straight for the Party Crashers to save Ellie. Harper wanted to go after him, but Ebony understood her master's orders and flew towards Wing Troll Kingdom.
A/N: Sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger, but stay tuned for the next chapter! Original song: "Royal Family"