Chapter 7: Gaining Trust.

It's time we get into the deeper lore of tragons and their knowledge of hair-jitsu. I actually put a lot of detail into the tragons and the differences between the different breeds.

Important characters will be introduced in this chapter. If you want to see what they and Mahina look like. Go to deviant art and search "Mahina, Niobe and Zocko" and "Marco, Tip and Galveston." Under the username DaydreamShimmer2875. And the symbol for hair-jitsu I made up is on that same profile as "The Ancient Hair-Jitsu Symbol"

Enjoy!

Poppy, Branch, Storm and Thunder had finally reached the end of their journey. Obviously finding more than they bargained for. Hair-jitsu was apparently created in a ginormous tree, surrounded by various terrains and ecosystems. Not only that, the whole place is populated and protected by tragons. Who seemed to have never seen trolls before? Now they seem to be at their mercy standing before their king. King Typhoon Tip had brown fur, his wings were had slight tears in them and his eyes seemed to be a sea green. His blue hair was much like a mane, he also had a beard, tuffs of hair on the tips of his wings, a trail of her on his back and a long one along his tail. He also had four mighty horns standing from his mane and his belly scales were the same color of his hair. He wore a thick gold collar necklace with a diamond at the epicenter and along the rest of it were circled marks of those same six main colors from the hair-jitsu symbol.

King Tip got up from his throne grabbing a wooden staff that sat next to it. The staff seemed pretty old, probably carved a long time ago. The ring of it at the top mysteriously had eight different colored… hairs, strings maybe? The eight of them each a different color, all together made up a rainbow. Except for one of them. While the others glowed brightly, one was dull and colorless.

King Tip stepped forward on his throne's pedestal to get a better look at these newcomers. Like the tragons they passed along the way, Tip also was surprised to see Poppy and Branch. "Can it be?" Tip gasped, he made his way down the steps of his throne. The young female tragon who was on the pedestal with him got very curious.

"What is it father? You know them?" Calling the king her father, it was safe to presume she was Princess Marco who Mahina mentioned. She actually looked similar to Storm and Thunder the only thing she seemed to have in common with her father was a lighter color of blue hair and her belly scales which looked heart shaped to be honest. What made her different was her bright pink fur, light blue eyes and glittery wings. Her horns, claws, back spikes, flowerlike shaped ears and heart shaped tail tip were all a pinkish red. All in all Marco had a very cute and friendly appearance. The tragon princess eagerly jumped down from the pedestal to stand by her father's side, looking at the trolls curiously.

"You could say that Marco." King Tip walked up to meet the trolls.

Poppy thought it best to introduce themselves. "Uh hi. My name is Poppy and we-" Tip stopped her there raising his hand to speak.

"It has been a long time since Stormbrooke has ever had trolls." Marco and the surrounding tragons all gasped at this. The foursome could hear many of the tragons coping with this revelation.

"Trolls here, after all this time?"

"I've only heard about them in stories."

"They're smaller than I thought."

"Why are they here now?"

"So they're trolls!?" Marco asked excitedly, running right up to Poppy and Branch. "Oh my gosh, I've always wanted to meet a troll!" Next thing they knew she was asking like a million questions. "Is it true your guys' hair works the same way as ours? Don't one of the guardians protect you? You two obviously come as a set. Does anyone find it genderly ironic you're a girl who's all pink and a boy who's all blue?" Poppy and Branch were honestly at a loss for words.

"Uh… I'm Branch." Branch managed to say. Marco asked her questions faster than they could answer.

"Oh hi, my name's Marco." She took Poppy and Branch's hands shaking them, she shook so hard their whole bodies did. Marco looked over and saw Storm and Thunder, who were muffling laughter at her eager friendly gesture. "And who are you two? I've never seen you before and I know just about every tragon."

"My name is Storm and this is my brother Thunder." Storm answered and Thunder waved. "We came with them." She pointed at the trolls.

"So you two pink hearts are not of Stormbrooke." King Tip presumed. "Where do you four hail from?"

"We've journeyed far from our home Troll Village." Poppy answered.

"I'm an adventurer and awhile back I found a map that lead us here." Thunder explained. "The other day was Storm's birthday so I invited her and her friends to come with me this time around."

"Well happy late birthday to you!" Marco wished Storm.

"A map you say?" Shaila questioned.

"Our village's location is only known to a select few." King Tip said. "Where did you find this map?"

"An old batch of ruins, not too far off after we got out of Clearway Labyrinth actually." Storm answered. "Mahina and Shaila said your guys' territory started around there right?"

"That it does." Tip answered, seeming relived.

"So besides an old map and an adventuring curiosity, what else brings you guys here?" Marco asked.

"Well is it true this place was where hair-jitsu was created?" Branch answered with his own question.

"Sure is! You guys wanna learn?"

"We kind of already know it." Poppy answered. "But we unfortunately don't have any official way of determining mastery. We figured this place might explain a way."

"I still don't get why we don't have a test to know if a troll has mastered the ancient troll art of hair fighting." Branch said.

"Ancient troll art? You mean ancient tragon art." Mahina corrected.

"Say what now?" Poppy, Branch and Storm all questioned. Thunder just gave a curious look.

"It's true." Shaila stepped forward to confirm. "Stormbrooke Tree has been our home since ancient times. Our ancestors created hair-jitsu as a mean of protection and defending others. Here we've been able to preserve and further develop it."

"So it wasn't the trolls who taught the tragons?" Poppy got out her scrapbook to show them the hieroglyphs she copied, showing the glyph of the trolls and tragons doing hair-jitsu together.

"The other way around actually." King Tip corrected. This truth of hair-jitsu shocked Poppy and Branch. Although that would explain how Storm and Thunder knew a bit more. Their kind created hair-jitsu, so they traditionally know more about it. It would seem the trolls had a less effective way of preserving their given knowledge.

That got Poppy thinking. "So if the trolls and tragons used to live together. Why did you guys leave? And why'd you call Storm and Thunder 'pink hearts'?" Her question gave King Tip, Shaila and Mahina uncertain looks.

"That's a very interesting and important part of our history!" Marco chimed. "You see we-"

"Don't answer that!"

Everyone but Tip, Shaila and Mahina jumped at a sudden outburst. Turning to find the owner of the voice, Poppy and Storm were surprised to see the tragon approaching. He had dark grey, nearly black fur. His piercing eyes, hair, belly scales and major parts of his wings were slightly dimmed green. His horn were curved and pointed forward, he had an arrow shaped tail tip and large back fangs. His horn, ears, claws, spikes, tail tip and wing flaps were all a faded gold like Mahina. But what surprised Poppy and Storm was that he had two scars over his right eye, like the tragon shadow from their dream. Marco and Mahina both sighed as he came up.

"Galveston, really?" Mahina groaned.

"Pardon the surprise aunt Mahina, but such sacred knowledge shouldn't be carelessly handed out to outsiders." Galveston gave the four a glare. "Personally I think it'd be better if they went back where they came from."

"Please we came all this way to learn." Poppy tried to reason. "Is there anything we can do to prove ourselves?" Poppy's question got King Tip thinking.

"Galveston is right about that knowledge being sacred." Poppy and Branch's faces lowered at Tip's remark. "But there may be a way." Tip gave Mahina a nod.

Mahina smirked, getting excited about something. She looked over to the trolls and made her way to them. Looming over them Poppy and Branch got nervous, she raised her wing, the trolls braced themselves in case she was attacking again. But instead their backs were met with a gentle pat from her wing. "We tragons have a sayin'. 'In the heat of battle, truth burns the most bright'."

"Zero clue what that means." Branch said, Mahina only smiled more.

"Things are revealed in combat." She clarified.

"So you want to fight us?" Poppy worried.

"If the two of you know a thing or two about hair-jitsu. Battle me and we'll see what his majesty has to say."

"Alright bring it on!" Storm was raring to test her fighting abilities. But Shaila stopped her.

"As tragons you and your brother are already obligated to learn more of hair-jitsu. But this test is for your troll friends." Storm was worried. While Poppy could handle herself fine, Branch was still learning. Plus the fact that there's more to hair-jitsu then they knew. Meant Mahina knows far more moves than either of them.

Tip and Marco went back up to the throne, while Shaila and Galveston guided Storm and Thunder to step aside. Mahina bought Poppy and Branch to one of their battle and sparing fields.

"If you two can pass this test, we will share with you our culture and history." King Tip proclaimed. "But if you fail, I'm going to have to ask you two to leave our land." Poppy and Branch were uncertain at first.

"You guys got this!" Storm cheered. Storm's encouragement gave them confidence.

"She's right!" Poppy cracked her knuckles and stretched. "We can totally do this Branch."

"It's the two of us against one of her. I'd say our chances are actually pretty good!" Branch stretched.

"If you two are done braiding each other's, let's do this!" Mahina was raring to pounce and see what they're made of. Many tragons gathered around the field to watch.

Storm and Thunder were still concerned for them and hearing a few comments from the other tragons didn't make them feel any better.

"Bet ya lunch there won't be anything left of them."

"Is Mahina really the safest tragon to test them?"

"That might be the idea."

Shaila stepped in between the combatants. "You three are ready?" Mahina didn't need to say anything, Poppy and Branch nodded getting into battle stances. "Alright then, Battle!" The crowd of tragons cheered. Shaila walked back over to Galveston, who had a disapproving look on his face crossing his arms.

Mahina began circling them, Poppy and Branch did the same. "This'll be the first time we've seen trolls fight. Let's try and put on a show!" Mahina swiftly flipped into the air toward the trolls. Gaining momentum, bringing her fists down on the trolls. The two manage to dodge in time, Mahina's fists pounded into the ground leaving cracks.

Her eyes locked on Branch, whipping her hair to strike him. Seeing Poppy behind her the two made their counter move. Branch used his hair to jet himself into the air at Mahina and Poppy did the same. Coming at her at both sides. Branch brought his legs up for a kick but Mahina caught him. Luckily she didn't see Poppy coming and she was able to free Branch and knock her down.

"Lucky shot wee troll." Mahina to advantage of their close range. She spun herself, extending her hair tripping them both. Mahina grabbed them both and threw them across the field. Branch was able to land safely but Poppy ended up be thrown into a tree branch. Mahina decided to use a special hair-jitsu move on her. She waved her claw over her hair charging it with energy.

Storm and Thunder suspected she was going to pull a hairball-duken. Instead she pulled strains of her hair that were charged her energy, straightening and weaponizing them. Mahina shot her needle-like hairs at Poppy. She aimed them to pin Poppy and her dress to the tree, immobilizing her.

"What was that?" Branch asked. He and the others hadn't seen a move like that before.

"Hair needles." Mahina charged another attack. "It really helps us get our 'point' across. And I've got a batch right here with your name on them." She shot more needles at Branch. He was able to use his hair to catch them and redirect them back at her. Mahina didn't have enough time to dodge so she shielded herself with her wings. "Ow!" She breathed feeling the needles poke her wings.

Marco watched their fight with uncertainty. "Dad are you sure this is necessary?"

"I'm afraid so Marco. Separated or not, we've always kept tabs on the trolls. But I recognized Poppy and Branch's type. We lost connection with them when your grandfather was young. The same with their guardian. Since then to this day we haven't be able to choose or send a new guardian to them." Tip glanced at Storm. "Perhaps that can finally change."

"If you know of them. Why the test? You didn't do anything like this to the red blood guardian who came here the other day."

"It to prove themselves for the other tragons." Tip pointed out Galveston and the surrounding tragons watching the fight. "Galveston was right about our history. If we just went and shared it with them. Many of the others wouldn't have approved and welcome them here. They succeed, they earn the approval of our people and the right to learn more. As for the tragon guardian. What he sought was forbidden knowledge only a select few may know for his queen. Secrets that I fear he'll return forcibly for."

"Well even if we didn't share with them our history couldn't we at least taught them more hair-jitsu?"

"You are compassionate my princess. But this matter requires a delicate course of action."

"And yet you chose Mahina to execute it?" Marco joked. "Of all the words that could describe her, delicate isn't very high up the list."

King Tip chuckled at her joke. "When you're queen, you'll understand." That last part only made Marco look down sadly. Galveston noticed this and silently growled.

Poppy was able to finally unpin herself from the tree, rejoining the battle. She engaged toward Mahina. The two started exchanging close combat moves against each other. Poppy grabbed Mahina's arms with her hair, striking her legs and knocking her down. Branch took the time to observe and look for an opening.

"You show promise lass." Mahina immediately got right back up, swinging her tail at her.

Poppy used her hair to dodge. "Thanks, I try." She ran back at Mahina to engage her again. Branch decided to launch his hair at Mahina as Poppy engaged.

Seeing both of her incomings, Mahina had an idea. "You're good lass." She grabbed Branch's hair with her claw, surprising him. "But you're not a master." Poppy was now close enough, she spun and wrapped Branch's hair around her. Tying her up and cutting the rest of his hair with her claws, knocking him back. Poppy laid down on the field, struggling to get free from her binding.

"Oh come on!"

Branch got back up. Mahina turned her attention back to him. "It's just you and me lad."

"Really? I should've brought snacks." Branch said sarcastically.

Mahina chuckled at his remark. She then pounce at him, ready to tackle and pound him into the ground. Like in his battle with Thunder, he ducked and grabbed her with his hair swinging her down. This time he did it fast enough before she could react unlike Thunder.

Mahina got up again dusting herself off. "You've got some moves. Let's see if you can handle a special red blood move without your girlfriend's help." Branch blushed at that last part.

"Actually she's not-we're not… wait, special move?" He tensed up.

Mahina smirked as her hair flared up and glowed with energy. Galveston and the other tragons like him and Mahina out of all the others seemed especially excited on what she was about to pull. Which only worried Storm and Thunder further. Mahina brought her head down, jetting her hair across the ground at Branch. But as it did parts of it rose, crackled, glowed and flared like a trail of fire was coming straight for him. Branch managed to jump out of the way. As he passed by it, he could actually feel heat from it. It was as if Mahina turned her hair into fire that would only burn where she wanted it to. She redirected it to follow him. Branch ran from it, trying not to get burned. After a few seconds of dodging he noticed it wasn't following him anymore. Looking around, Branch realized Mahina's hair fire surrounded him. She then directed it to close in on him.

Poppy got worried by the situation he was in. "Branch!" She tried harder getting free. She was nearly there but probably wouldn't get out in time. King Tip saw her struggle and took note of that, returning his gaze back to Branch. He was curious to see how Branch might get out of this predicament.

"Tell me lad, how would you like yourself? Medium or well done?" Mahina and her fire inched closer.

Branch had to brainstorm quickly. He saw to have her fire close in, Mahina had to walk closer as it did. He could use a direct attack with the risk of getting burned from her hair and he couldn't use his own or else it'd go up in flames. He realized there was only one move that could get him out of this. He waited for the right time.

Once Mahina was close enough for it to count, Branch brought his hands to his hair charging it into a hairball. "Hairball duken!" Branch shot his attack at Mahina. She tried using her hair to block it but the force of his attack was able to overpower her, blasting her down. The crowd was amazed at Branch's show of strength.

Branch cautiously approached the seemingly unconscious Mahina. "You have raw talent, I'll give you that." She opened one of her eyes. "And raw things are meant to be cooked!" Mahina grabbed Branch by his hair picking him up and began spinning him. "Hair Spin!"

Poppy finally got out of the hair she was trapped in. She gasped at what Branch was going through.

"WAHHH!" Branch screamed getting extremely dizzy being spun by his hair. But that wasn't all, Mahina whacked Branch into things as she spun him.

On the ground. "Ow!" Poppy cringed.

Into the tree. "Oh!" The crowd reacted.

Mahina got a little carried away and swung him into a table. "He's gonna feel that one in the morning." Thunder commented, feeling bad for him.

Mahina spun him around her one more time before throwing him into Poppy.

Branch laid super dizzy on top of Poppy, slumping his head back. Mahina came over and sat her foot on the two, claiming her victory. "The two of ya did good, but not good enough to beat me."

"Way to go Branch." Poppy groaned sarcastically.

"I'd protest but I feel way too sick." His head was still spinning.

Shaila stepped forward. "I believe it is safe to say Mahina is the victor." Mahina took her foot off the trolls, lifting her arms up in triumph. Poppy pushed Branch off of her so she could get up. With the match finally over, Storm and Thunder ran over concerned for Poppy and Branch.

"Holy trolly are you guys okay?!" Storm helped Poppy up. Thunder went over to Branch waving his claw in front of him to see if he was okay.

"I will be." Branch struggled to get up. "Once this place stops spinning." He got back to his feet and wobbled. Thunder gave him his arm to lean on. "Thanks."

"No prob. But if you throw up on me, you're on your own."

King Tip and Princess Marco came up to them. "Sorry about Mahina." Marco apologized. "She can get carried away sometimes… a lot of the time actually."

"What can I say, I like beating things." Mahina shrugged her shoulders. "You should see how I prepare egg whites." Branch was finally regaining himself.

"I guess you'll be asking us to leave now huh?" Poppy asked King Tip sadly.

"On the contrary, you two may stay." King Tip smiled.

"Say what now?" Poppy, Branch, Storm and Thunder all were incredibly confused.

"But we lost." Branch said

"You lost the battle but you passed the test. The goal was never to defeat Mahina. It was to for me to see how you to faired in the heat of battle. In combat I saw your concern for each other's wellbeing, showed teamwork, patience in your strikes and a remarkable show of strength. You two are worthy of staying and learning what history we can share. The four of you may also learn to complete your hair-jitsu training."

The four of them beamed at the news. They are actually going to become hair-jitsu masters! "Victory dance!" They all said. Marco even joined in.

"I can't wait to show you guys around!" She squealed. "Stormbrooke is spectacular! I think you guys will really like it."

"That sounds nice Marco we'd love a tour!" Poppy replied.

"Can we do that later?" Branch stopped dancing and panting. "I'm still sore from being smacked in that hair spin."

"Yeah, that happens." Mahina came up.

"What was that fire hair move by the way?" Branch asked her.

"Yeah I've never seen that in hair-jitsu before." Poppy admitted

"Neither have we." Storm pointed out for her and Thunder.

"That my friends was Follicle Fire, a special red blood style hair-jitsu attack." Mahina answered. "The ability to charge your hair with energy giving it the properties of fire itself."

"You keep saying red blood, what does that even mean?" Branch asked.

"That's what we call my tragon breed."

"Tragon breed?" Storm repeated questionably. "We have different breeds?" Although looking around at the various and vastly different tragons surrounding them. That actually made sense.

"Yep! My nephew Galveston and I are both red blood tragons. The pierced pupils and bat-like wings are our most obvious breed traits."

"Can you please educate us later?" Branch said still tired from the battle. "Is there any place we can rest?"

"Sure!" Marco took his and Poppy's hands guiding them. "I'll show you where you four can stay."

Galveston and Shaila watched Marco leave with the trolls and new tragons. Galveston growled at the sight.

"Galveston please, they've proven themselves. Must you still look down on them?" She asked him

"The trolls had centuries to come to us and now after over a thousand years they've finally graced us with their presence? I'd say it'd take more than one battle to make up for that."

"They did not know. There are some things we and even the trolls are not yet meant to know."

"Oh and what are those?" He raised his eye to her. Shaila just stared at him, unable to answer. "I tire of our isolation." He turned away.

"Well perhaps their coming is a sign of changing times?" She placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Changing times are coming for the tragons, but it won't be the trolls who bring it." Galveston whispered.

"What was that?" Hearing Shaila snapped him back to reality.

"Nothing my love." He turned back and nuzzled her. "I just remembered I have something I need to take care of."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Of course." Galveston spread his wings and took off.

Shaila watched as her mate flew away. "I hope these trolls may find a way to further soften the rock that is your heart."

Outside Stormbrooke.

Galveston flew to a secluded part of the forest where the tragon didn't bother patrolling. Once he landed, he wandered around until finding a clearing.

"You're here." Anyone with him would think he's talking to himself, but he could sense someone there. "I know you are, guardian." He looked around. Suddenly from jumping from the branches above he was met with another tragon.

"BOO!" Galveston jumped and then gave the other an irritated look. "HA! You should've seen the look on your face!" The tragon laughed to the point of tears.

"Why must you be like this?"

"Oh, just lucky I guess." The traons sighed wiping a tear from his eye. "By the way cool it with the whole guardian thing bro, not a big fan of formalities."

"We are not brothers, cousin Korn." Galveston corrected.

"Yeah whatever, what'd you call me here?" The tragon known as Korn crossed his arms.

"Somethings come up and I believe we will need to escalate my plan."

"Good! The sooner I get that map the better!" Korn brought out what seems to be a very dark and edgy looking guitar and handed it to Galveston.

"You're sure it'll get the job done?" Galveston observed the instrument.

"If what you need is music power you've got it all right there. It's one of our best guitars. Just remember what I want in return!"

"You have my word. Once my plan has been executed, I'll give you the knowledge you and your queen seek." With that Galveston took off and left.

"I need to see this! Bet it's gonna rock!" Korn secretly followed him.

To be continued.

Well Poppy, Branch, Storm and Thunder have been welcomed to Stormbrooke and will be taught in the deep secrets of hair-jitsu. Also learning more about the tragons and making all new friends. Maybe even enemies? Galveston seems to be up to something possibly sinister.

Fun facts: King Typhoon Tip was named after the biggest storm ever recorded in history, Princess Marco after the smallest storm ever, Galveston after the storm with most recorded casualties and Mahina the biggest storm to hit Australia.

Also if you want to know what Galveston's cousin Korn looks like. Search on deviant art for "Korn the Tragon."

Please leave a review!

Purple-Eyes Out!