Chapter 17

A little over a month had passed, bringing in the new year without the usual Festival of the Bells, which was designed to awaken the sleeping Fraggle Rock's heart. However, the mud was still warm in most of the caves and tunnels, so the Rock never truly went to sleep.

Princess Gwenalot was finally starting to overcome her sadness at losing Mallory, since watching over the Tunnels kept her busier. She was glad she had that treaty with the Doozers. They were excellent watchers, keeping track of any dangerous goings-on. Fortunately, there had been no real consequence for not honoring the Weeba beast. In fact, it was rather quiet.

Rather dull, actually.

The Princess practiced her sword-swinging to keep in shape.

"Whoa!" a small voice squealed. Her sword just barely grazed the light green cap of a stout light-green Fraggle with a bulbous nose, rather reminiscent of Sir Blunderbrain's.

"I'm sorry!" exclaimed Princess Gwenalot, tossing her sword behind her. "I didn't hurt you, I hope?"

The small Fraggle shook his head slightly. His head seemed to connect directly to his torso. He held his hand to his palpitating heart. He stared at the sword, then glanced at the Princess. "H-h-hooba."

She smiled. "Hooba," she replied. "Is there anything I can get you? You're a long way from the Great Hole."

"Th-thank y-you, P-Princess," he stuttered. He paused until he could calm down. Inhaling deeply, he continued, "I don't mean to bother you – but could I stay with you for a little while? With Blundig gone and everything, I have nothing to do." Before the Princess could mention Fishface's name, he said, "Our Assistant Leader Fishface is busy trying to clean up the Great Hole. The mud is cooling there faster than in other places. The icy cold from the, well, the 'Great Hole' is drying the mud." He unceremoniously plopped himself on her bed. "I just want to see what other places are like."

"Are you comfortable?" asked Princess Gwenalot in an amused tone.

"Yes, it's very warm," answered the Fraggle sincerely.

She smiled. "Do you have any friends?"

He nodded as he stared at her ceiling. "Roughchin is one my best friends, Princess," he told her. He sat up, rubbing his hands together, looking down. "But all he wants to do is polish metal. He does it day in and day out. He's stopped dancing, he's stopped checking the pipes that come down from the Great Hole … he's stopped doing anything that's fun." He sighed and flopped himself back onto the bed. "He's boring."

"Well, I've heard a strange tale of Fraggles who found a special pond and became enchanted by its waters," offered Princess Gwenalot. "We could go try to discover that pond."

"What if we get enchanted?" he asked timidly.

"Pffbt," she retorted. "What's the worst that could happen?"

His eyes grew wider as he shivered. "We could grow fins," he whispered. He stared at his kicking feet. "I don't look good in scales."

"Well, you could help me find Mallory. She's an enchanted mirror. I've lost her and while we're looking, you'd learn something about this side of Fraggle Rock while you're at it." She paused. "I apologize. I just realized I don't know your name."

"Oh! I am called No-Neck. I was hit on the head with a falling boulder when I was younger." He patted his head with a smirk. "At least I don't suffer from neck cricks anymore," he chuckled cheerfully.

For a long month, they searched high and low. However, they never could find Mallory. Some Fraggles had heard of a talking mirror, but usually it turned out they were thinking of seeing Mallory before she was lost. Some heard she had disappeared, which was completely unhelpful.

Still others didn't know what a mirror was.

Princess Gwenalot started to feel sad again. She sat down on a large boulder and sighed deeply.

No-Neck patted her on the back sympathetically. "It's sad when friends aren't friends anymore."

The Princess glanced at him and smiled. "I'm getting upset over nothing, No-Neck."

"You are?"

She nodded. "Even if she's truly gone, she's still my best friend."

He stared at the ground for a few moments. "Does – does that mean that Roughchin is still my friend, even though he won't work or play with me?"

"Perhaps so."

"Princess?"

"Yes, No-Neck," she told him. "You can go back to the Great Hole and see for yourself."