Hair-Jitsu: Enter the Tragon Chapter 3, a trolls fanfic

Chapter 3: A Survivor's Clear Path.

Next chapter time! Like I've said before I'm excited about this fanfic and how it's turning out. I'll be ready with a new chapter every few days or so. This time the adventure team have to go through a mysterious place whose magic allows it to go beyond the rules of reality.

Enjoy

After about an hour of star gazing and having dinner the two trolls and tragons retired to bed. Poppy and Branch slept in the tent Storm and Poppy set up. While the tragons simply curled up and slept outside. The next morning Branch had woken up and got up to start the day. He looked over to see Poppy was still asleep. After all the walking they did yesterday Branch figured he'd let her sleep while he prepares breakfast. But when he exited the tent, he saw that Thunder was already up and in the process of making it. Thunder's back was facing the tent, Branch was about to say something but without even turning around Thunder beat him to it.

"Sleep well?" Thunder surprised Branch.

"How'd you know I was there?" Branch walked up next to him seeing he was preparing some bacon and eggs and even found oranges to juice. "And what're you doing up so early?"

"I've had to navigate my way through dangerous forests, travel at night though hot deserts and use the stars to way find my way across the ocean. My body is use to lots of travel and environmentally adapting sleep schedules. Early morning wake ups are nothing!" Thunder said confidently like it all that was no big deal.

"Can you really afford to sleep in dangerous environments?" Branch wondered. Sleeping where threats lurked would obviously make one vulnerable.

"I can go a day or two without sleep." Thunder flipped the eggs he was cooking. "Travelers should be able to go with sleep so they actually get where they need to go. But for rare cases I do need to sleep in dangerous places I trained myself to sleep with my eyes open."

"How does that help?" Branch didn't get.

"I learned that you still take in info and alert your brain to wake you up if there's danger." Thunder explained. "It comes in handy during a night time attack or if you fall asleep riding a critter." While that last part confused Branch, the fact of this skill actually sounded pretty beneficial.

"That actually makes a lot of sense." Branch smiled at Thunder's travel knowledge. "You do this more practically then I thought."

"Well duh." Thunder rolled his eyes. "Traveling is my thing, my profession. You seem to think I carelessly take it lightly. I may be a less serious survivor then you are all the time, but I'm still a survivor." Branch still of course doesn't completely agree with a life of constant danger and thrill seeking that Thunder normally does but he seems more serious about it then Branch thought he lead on. "Actually there was this one time the eyes open sleep didn't work out all that well." Branch raised his eyebrow to this.

"How so?" Branch questioned.

"Well…" Thunder cringed.

Flashback.

Thunder was sleeping up in a tall tree with his eyes open. In case any bird or other winged critter might attack. He also had his leg tied to the branch he was sleeping on in case he fell. Thunder snored and shifted in his sleep making him fall over off the branch. But the rope stopped him from falling and he hung upside down. Thunder dreaming, laughed in his sleep as he dangled. Unfortunately the rope holding him couldn't hold forever and snapped. His eyes open sleep allowed him to take in the danger and wake up mid fall. "Danger!" Thunder snorted awake. But he wasn't aware enough to flap his wings and stop before he hit the ground. "Ow!" Thunder groaned rubbing his head from the fall.

End of Flashback.

"Yeah not one of my best moments." Thunder rubbed the back of his head embarrassed. Branch was actually very amused by Thunder's tale. He was about to say something but was interrupted at the sound of Storm mumbling in her sleep. Her restless sleep got both Branch and Thunder concerned for her. "You think she's ok?

"I'm not sure." Branch answered.

Storm was having the same dream she had before. A waterfall, a cave, then nothing, something pink and far away, a flash of light, colors everywhere, a strange guitar, an overwhelming shrill and everything turning red.

"Man she must be having some crazy dream." Thunder watched as Storm covered her ears in her sleep cause of the noise in her dream. Branch could see she obviously wasn't having a good one. He was gonna let her sleep at first, seeing the distress she was in he couldn't take it anymore.

"Storm!" Branch yelled trying to wake her up, but she was still fast asleep. So he walked over to her and tried to shake her awake. "Storm wake up!" Branch's yelling finally got through to her as he saw Storm's eyes shot open.

"Make it stop!" Storm bolted herself surprising Branch knocking him onto his back. Storm took a sec to regain her full consciousness. "Oh sorry Branch." She apologized seeing him sit up rubbing his back.

"No problem." Branch groaned. "Spines are overrated." That joke made Thunder snicker.

"At least you didn't irreversibly contort it." Thunder mocked.

"Don't you even start." Branch scowled getting back on his feet. "So what were you dreaming about?" Branch turned back to Storm as she got up.

"I don't really know." Storm stretched. "First there was nothing, then there was lots of color which I'm totally fine with and then there was this REALLY loud annoying noise."

"Was it Cooper trying to yodel again?" Branch asked half lid.

"Thank goodness no." Storm answered gratefully. "I have no idea what it was. I've never heard a noise like it in my life."

"What're you guys talking about?" The three outside turned to see Poppy yawn.

"Dreams." Thunder simply put.

"Oh I had a great dream!" Poppy perked up at Thunder's answer. "We were all on the Moon and-"

"As much as I'd love to hear what that head of yours cooked up." Branch interrupted. "Thunder is finished cooking breakfast." Pointing at the tragon setting his frying pan of eggs on a rock.

"I guessed you like your eggs sunny side up." Thunder looked at the troll queen readying a plate.

"You guessed correctly." Poppy smiled sitting next to him accepting the plate of breakfast. Branch and Storm sat down to join them.

"Personally I like my eggs the way I like my prey." Thunder shared giving Storm her breakfast.

"Scrambled." The tragons said in unison.

"it's times like this I'm glad tragons are intelligent." Branch said uneased. "And whatever you are." He gestured to Thunder. That got an eye narrow from the tragon in question. Noticing Branch's glass of freshly squeezed orange juice an idea came to him. Thunder sneakingly slid his tail around Branch over to the cup. Whipping his tail he tossed the cup into the air falling on Branch's head dousing him in juice. The girls were watching wide eyed in surprise at Thunder's move. The three of them could actually feel Branch's anger and annoyance as he wiped the juice off his face giving Thunder another scowl.

"Orange you glad tragons are intelligent?" Thunder joked with a smug smile taking a sip of his own orange juice.

"Why you little-" Branch bolted up to get him but Poppy intervened using her hair to hold him back, sitting him back down, but at least letting his hands free so he could continue eating.

"Branch cut it out." Poppy sighed. "Let's just eat breakfast." Branch having no other choice did as she said with an annoyed grumble. Storm at her friends and brother's banter. But then her mind went back to the dream she had. She's had it twice in a row and that noise is still echoing through her head. For what reason she's been having it Storm had next to no idea, nothing in it was familiar. But Storm decided to try and ignore it, she especially didn't want the others to worry about it. So she and the others continued having her brother's well-cooked breakfast.

Time Skip.

After finishing breakfast the four freshened up at the lake and took a little time to digest before packing up camp and getting back to their adventure. They seemed to be leaving the woods and were getting into some rocky terrain. After what Thunder pulled on Branch, Poppy and Storm struggled to make sure nothing escalated between the two of them. The girls tried to make sure they were walking in between them to make sure they behaved. But Branch growled under his breath still pretty upset about what happened.

"Branch calm down!" Poppy whispered to him. "If we're gonna be on this trip together the least you could do is try to get along with Thunder."

"But he's being very difficult!" Branch murmured trying to suppress his anger shooting another glare at the tragon.

"Gee I have no idea what that's like." Poppy said sarcastically. She looked at Storm walking next to her. "Is this always how these behave toward each other?"

"Pretty much." Storm shrugged. "Honestly the juice isn't nearly as bad as when those two had a trap-off."

"What's a trap-off?" Poppy contemplated weather or not she wanted to ask.

"It's where the two of them set up routes of traps for each other to go through and make it to the finish under a certain amount of time." Storm explained. "Branch is still bitter Thunder beat him last time with a pitfall trap. Since Thunder has wings he really should've marked pit traps as unfair prior to the game.

"I shouldn't have had too it was obvious!" Branch heard their conversation and chimed in.

"Or you could've made wings against the rules." Thunder got in on the conversation.

"Surviving should mean being able to use your natural strengths!" Branch argued.

"So it's your natural strength to fall down holes?" Thunder joked crossing his arms. "That makes sense considering you live in one." That last remark got a look from Storm and steamed Branch. Poppy kept her eyes on Branch to make sure he stayed put. "And besides who are you to tell me how to be survivor? I've been through a lot of dangerous situations and I'm just fine."

"Constantly putting your neck on a chopping block doesn't seem like the ideal way to survive." Branch commented pushing Poppy aside and crossing his arms back at Thunder.

"And due tell what is the ideal way to survive?" Thunder asked mockingly. Poppy was about to break it up but Storm stopped her. "It's better to let them get it out now."

"Having the proper foundation and supplies, preparing for any disaster or casualty and making sure you live to see the next day." Branch described.

"That's not living!" Thunder blurted out. "It's just not dying!"

"He's got a point." Storm leaned in. Branch gave her a 'really?' look at her comment. "What? If we're gonna live, we might as well 'live'." Thunder nodded with his sister agreeing with him.

"Exactly!" Thunder continued. "If you reflected on your life as a troll the moment before you die, would it be satisfying realizing you stayed in the ground without having sung a single song in over 2 decades?"

"Hey I've been coming out of the bunker a LOT more often embracing my inner troll and I've started singing again." Branch pointed out.

"Really?" Thunder was pleasantly surprised. "Wow a lot of things change while I gone this time around." This gave Branch an idea.

"Well, since you've never heard me sing before-" Branch started walking right up to Thunder. "How'd you like a sing-off?" Thunder was very interested by this and he wasn't one to turn down a challenge.

"Oh you're on!" Thunder cracked his knuckles. The two walked a small distance from each other for their battle. While the girl just watched.

"Well this is a first." Storm was actually interested on how this would turn out. Branch still didn't sing last time Thunder visited. So they've never settled their differences through song. A bunch of surrounding critters came out of hiding for the song, they'll probably need backup singers.

Bold for action and to tell whose singing.

Branch spun around to sing at Thunder.

Branch:

Now that you're out of my life
I'm so much better
You thought that I'd be weak without you
But I'm stronger
You thought that I'd be broke without you
But I'm richer
You thought that I'd be sad without you
I laugh harder
You thought I wouldn't grow without you
Now I'm wiser
Thought that I'd be helpless without you
But I'm smarter
You thought that I'd be stressed without you
But I'm chillin'
You thought I wouldn't sell without you
Sold 9 million

He then step forward dancing offensively towards him.

Branch (Critters):
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon' give up (What?)
I'm not gon' stop (What?)
I'm gon' work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)

I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon' give up (What?)
I'm not gon' stop (What?)
I'm gon' work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)

While Poppy and Storm didn't support the argument. It was hard not to dance of any sorts to their music. Especially with how impressively the two are making their points through song. Thunder then danced forward taking his turn.

Thunder:
Thought I couldn't breathe without you
I'm inhaling
You thought I couldn't see without you
Perfect vision
You thought I couldn't last without you
But I'm lastin'
You thought that I would die without you
But I'm livin'
Thought that I would fail without you
But I'm on top
Thought it would be over by now
But it won't stop
Thought that I would self-destruct
But I'm still here
Even in my years to come
I'm still gon' be here

The critters watching came down to dance with Thunder.

Thunder (Critters):
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon' give up (What?)
I'm not gon' stop (What?)
I'm gon' work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)

Branch took a glance toward the girls and took a deep breath calming down, turning back to Thunder.

Branch (Critters):
Wishin' you the best
Pray that you are blessed
Bring much success, no stress, and lots of happiness
(I'm better than that)
I'm not gon' blast you on the radio
(I'm better than that)
I'm not gon' lie on you and your family
(I'm better than that)
I'm not gon' hate on you in the magazines
(I'm better than that)
I'm not gon' compromise my Trollanity
(I'm better than that)
You know I'm not gon' diss you any more than that
'Cause my grandma taught me better than that

At this point Branch and Thunder were too busy having fun with the song to use it to argue. They started dancing together for fun. This put a smile on the girls' faces.

Branch (Thunder):
Oh (oh) oh (oh)

Branch:
After all of the darkness and sadness
Soon comes happiness
If I surround myself with positive things
I'll gain prosperity

The two were having so much fun at this point once Branch finished that line he motioned Poppy and Storm to join in. The Four danced and sang the end of the song together, each taking a star turn at each verse.

Branch, Thunder, Poppy, Storm (Critters):
[4x]
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon' give up (What?)
I'm not gon' stop (What?)
I'm gon' work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)

The song ended with Branch and Thunder panting from both the dancing and singing. But in the end they both had a smile on their face. "Huh, not bad." Thunder complimented.

"You're not so bad yourself." Branch returned. After all that the boys took their own cloths to wipe their sweat and took a drink of water. And all the critters that backed them up went back to their homes.

"I'm gonna savor this moment." Storm leaned and whispered to Poppy. "It's not every day those two complement each other." Poppy nodded completely understanding.

"So if you guys are done, can we get moving again?" Poppy asked the two. They seemed to have sung out whatever conflict was left. But knowing them she wanted to make sure.

"Yeah, we're almost to the labyrinth anyway." Thunder finished a drink of water. Throwing his pack back over his shoulder he went back to leading them there. "Come on!" The team continued on their way through the rocky terrain.

Clearway Labyrinth.

Thunder lead the group though the rocks. The farther they walked the foggier the air got, to the point they could barely see anything. So Thunder had Storm grab onto his tail, Poppy to Storm's and Branch held onto Poppy.

"Ugh it's too foggy I can barely a thing." Branch tried to wave the fog away. "How are we supposed to find this labyrinth anyway?"

"Oh it won't be long." Thunder answered. "This fog means we're getting close." They continued forward through the misty veil for a few minutes till Thunder had them stop. "We're here." With that the four let go of each other but stayed close. Branch squinted his eyes and step forward to try and look around.

"And this is Clearway ho-WOAH!" Branch nearly fell off what they seemed to be standing on a rocky plateau. Luckily Thunder caught his vest before he could making him lean horizontally over the cliff, pulling him back to safety. Poppy hurried to him with worry.

"Branch are you ok?" Poppy worried.

"Yeah just surprised." Branch panted from the shock. Then he looked over and gave Thunder a look. "You knew that was there didn't you?"

"I'll never tell." Thunder smirked.

"So where is this Labyrinth?" Storm asked looking over the cliff. Thunder whistled gain their attention where he seemed to have been standing on a stone carved circular floor. Epicenter of the circle was a gemstone button, which Thunder proceeded to stomp on. All of a sudden the fog surrounding them parted and while the sky above them was still dim and cloudy, the plateau overlooked what seemed to be a light blue rock coated valley. Thunder walked forward to the edge of the cliff.

"This is Clearway Labyrinth!" Thunder echoed his voice across the labyrinth below. The others stood by him to take in the view.

"It doesn't seem like a labyrinth." Poppy observed. "It just looks like a rocky valley.

"That's because the walls are nearly, if not completely invisible." Thunder explained. "Last time I was here it took me forever to find my way out. I was lucky enough to find the exit at all."

"Well that explains the name!" Poppy said happy she finally understood.

"Why not just fly over the labyrinth?" Branch perplexed. "You have wings, you know that right?"

"I tried that!" Thunder answered. "It never works! But if you don't believe me-" Thunder stepped aside gesturing the way forward. "-try it yourself." Branch was skeptical at first but was curious how flying across wouldn't work. So Branch shaped his hair into a hairglider and flew into the clouds and mist above the labyrinth. Thunder and the girls just stood at the cliff waiting for any sort of response from Branch. After a minute or two they saw Branch's silhouette in the fog as it appeared he was making his way back. But once he got out they saw he had a surprised look on his face upon his return landing back on the plateau, looking around confused.

"B-but how in the?" Branch struggled to find his words. That got concerned looks form the girls but Thunder wasn't surprised at all.

"What?" Storm asked. "What happened in there?"

"Nothing!" Branch answered. "I know I flew straight through the mist. Next thing I know, I'm right back here."

"Told ya it wouldn't work." Thunder teased.

"You could've told me that'd happen."

"Even if I didn't you still probably wouldn't have believed me." Thunder pointed out which honestly Branch wouldn't have without seeing himself.

"So you have any clue on how to get across?" Poppy asked Thunder who gave an uncertain look.

"Sort of." He answered walking up to a wall with some kind of ancient writing inscribed on it. "It has this riddle but I couldn't make heads or tail what it meant. Like I said, I was lucky to make it out the first time." The others joined him but they couldn't read the language.

"Uh what does it say?" Storm asked her brother who began reading it.

Your path is clear with one way through.

With every 100 will take its due.

Wills of steel the Labyrinth will test.

Slow down and stop then forever you'll rest.

To move forward don't look ahead.

Then to the exit you will be lead.

"Well that middle part sounds foreboding." Storm commented with worry.

"It means once we start we can't stop and rest." Thunder explained. "Not even for a second. That's the dangerous part of this place. It is one of the ultimate tests of willpower. If just one of us stops, the labyrinth will take us all." This got scared looks from everybody.

"Now I'm really wishing we didn't come on this adventure." Branch said in a scared tone. He turned to Poppy and Storm. "We've had a good trip so far but this place is beyond any of us, let's turn back."

"After making it this far?" Storm questioned. "We all agreed to go on this together. Might as well see it through to the end."

"But how do we know it won't end here?" Branch said in a bit of a panic.

"She's right Branch." Poppy agreed with Storm. "We won't know unless we try.

"But-" Branch was about to protest but was interrupted when the gemstone button began to flash. Which gave Thunder a worried look altering the others. "What is it? Why is it flashing?"

"Uh oh I forgot about this part!" Thunder looked back where they came. The fog was coming back full forward to fill the space the button cleared. "Brace yourselves!" When the mist came back they weren't met with a wet wind, the mist somehow pushed the four of them off the cliff to the labyrinth below. More unfortunately when the mist pushed them, it pushed them apart. Separating each one of them down to different parts of the labyrinth.

There was no turning back now.

To be continued.

Songs: Survivor by Destiny's Child.

Well that was awesome! I've been looking forward to finally getting to Clearway Labyrinth. The mystery and mind boggling nature I gave the place I feel like is really paying off. I also think I did well at the riddle clueing the danger and how to get through it. I hope I portrayed Branch and Thunder's competitive but friendly rivalry well in this. While they do annoy each other constantly, they both know the other is good natured. One thing they can easily set aside their differences for is their love for Storm. As her brother and oldest friend it'd be a shame to always be bickering, even though she's used to it by now. I wanted to continue the chapter into the labyrinth but that'd make it a bit too long so I'll save them going though it till next time.

So next chapter the team will have to brave though the mysterious Clearway Labyrinth. Can they solve the riddle and find their way through? Or will it ware them out and take them forever? Only one way to find out.

Can you figured out what the riddle means?

Please leave a review and tell me what you think.

Purple-Eyes Out!