Episode 4 "Trumptus Lost"
It was fairly simple; my arm had started prickling so we sat down near a table.
Opening my book to reveal the pink runes appearing seemingly out of nowhere.
"Seriously how do you not freak out whenever you see this happening?", Vicent's breath hitched with excitement as he fidgeted next me.
"You get used to it."
"Really?"
"No! But I also still can't believe that it is all real!"
"So what does it say-"
"Look who we have here?"
"Who do we have here? Sorry", the minion parroted earning her a stern look from the leader of the group.
"Violetta?", I asked as she looked back at me with a wide smile. Oh… that can't be good.
"Mia, I believe we got off on the wrong foot. Which is okay, because I don't like you. And honestly I don't really want to be on the right with you."
"She doesn't like you." Paula got another side eye from Violetta.
Despite staying silent the girl kept talking.
"I knew from the very start that you don't fit in, but even I underestimated how weird you are."
"You don't fit in-" "Stop it Paula."
She shrank back as a response.
"Everywhere you go you have that silly book with you and every time I see you your face is in it."
"My friend… Paula told me you don't even let it out of sight even at night."
"Can I see?", she asks but grabs it anyway.
"Hey-", I protested weakly.
"Fairy Tales, are you serious?", she started flipping through the pages.
"This is what you've been looking at? With Elves and unicorns? This is the book you are so obsessed with?"
She flipped through the pages.
"Oh, how cute a tiny goat man", she mockingly said.
Vincent snatched the book from her.
"Give that back, don't touch that book", he scowled.
Violetta adjusted her posture and wore a smirk.
I took a deep breath.
"It was the last gift I got from my parents since they died. C'mon Vincent let's go", there was a stunning silence, as we ushered past them.
"That was close…", he breathed as we walked on the path.
"I'm sorry… about your parents I mean… I didn't know."
My heart squeezed but I let it not show.
"Don't worry, I figured this may make her leave it alone… that is if she does even have a heart".
Which got him to chuckle.
"You think miss Perfect has one?"
"Maybe who knows?", certainly in the second season she had a change of heart.
Wait what was that season about again- wait would Violetta travel with me? How did that happen again?
We walked towards the Shack.
"Are you going to dematerialize again?", was only one of the many questions he had asked me.
"Yeah, somehow, it then rematerializes me in a golden pocket dimensional void and shoots me out into Centopia."
"How does that feel? You know how to poof into molecules?"
"It is prickly like needles and my body starts feeling numb. But that fades quickly"
"Do you think it is because it starts unbuilding your nerves and then rebuilds it?"
I paused to look at him.
"You know, besides the magic, that actually sounds very logical", I applauded, agreeing that is probably why it was so unpleasant.
"Does… it hurt?"
"Huh?" He looked at me again and made us stop in our tracks.
"Does this whole process hurt?", he repeated, but his face was serious unlike his usual goofiness.
"My wings", I mumbled.
"Your wings? Right, you mentioned you become an elf? What about your wings?"
I folded under his judging gaze. "They hurt."
He blinked and motioned me along.
"Did something happen to them? Or is it because of like growing pains when you rematerialize?"
"I don't know, but even when I went to Centopia the first time, my wings were already hurting and messed up. I'm sure that isn't normal, she-I wasn't like that I-"
"Woah, woah Mia breathe!"
I stopped and took a deep breath.
"So… your wings are messed up right?", I shot up, an idea coming up.
"My book! Last time I built back together with Phuddle the Trumptus, there is a clear image of my elf self with my wings, we could look at that."
"Good idea!"
- :O
"They look a little off, but they don't look broken or anything, I don't know what would be wrong with them. Have you tried moving them?"
"Yes, you genius, who wouldn't try to fly when they suddenly have wings?"
"Okay, sorry, I was just saying. But what happens when you try to fly?"
I huffed, leaning back in his chair. Only to wince.
"Are you okay?"
I bent forward. "My back or rather shoulder or neck? Well, where my wings started hurting when I came back from centopia for the first time, it hasn't led up."
Before he could say anything though I continued.
"When I try moving my wings, it really… and I mean really hurts. Even running is difficult with them but Lyria, the unicorn I told you about, has been carrying me around instead. So at least I get around fast enough."
He had his hand towards his chin, a typical thinking pose before humming. "Do you think it could be because you never had wings? Like you are human here, so suddenly getting these new limbs… didn't. I don't know work? You know, like muscle atrophy?"
"Muscle what?"
"Never heard of it? Its – imagine you break your leg, it's in a cast for weeks and you can't move it, so your muscles grow weak because they are never used. And when you try moving it, it's weak, uncoordinated and hurts. Or so I've read."
A lightbulb went up my head.
"So- what you are saying is- its because it's a muscle I never used before- it ended up like", I gestured widely with my hands to get my hands across.
"It could be… but that would kinda assume, you'd have them longer right? Suddenly having some magical limbs, I don't know why they wouldn't just work with just the magic-"
"Oh that reminds me Vincent!"
"Yeah?"
"The day the volleyball hit my head I also had a bad crash landing in Centopia, but when Lyria used a tear of hers, my injuries and pain were gone! Magic healing!"
"What about your wings then? Can her magical tears heal that?", my face faltered at his question, and I shook my head.
"I asked her immediately after she healed my head, but after that it functions like a glorified painkiller, nothing happened. But in terms of magic, - Oh Phuddle offered to help me fix them too… though I don't know if that would go over we- ouch", my hand prickled painfully.
"Hey what's wrong? Is it your back or?"
"No, I think the Bracelet is telling me to hurry up, it's stinging."
"I guess it is time then, man I'm so excited to see this", I laughed and shook my head as I read the oracle for today.
"What does it say?"
"Bound by earth and cannot fly, hope gets scattered by a mighty sacrifice."
"That doesn't sound good… will you be okay?"
"I agree doesb- ouuuch ocuh, I'm going I'm going", I hissed as my arm felt like it was burning.
"Mia-"
I tapped the Bracelet quickly, and answered the voice asking for a password:
"Bound by earth and cannot fly, hope gets scattered by a mighty sacrifice."
"See you Vincent-", and I was gone, the pain subsiding. In the show the bracelet never hurt Mia, Me I mean and surely Mom and Dad wouldn't give me something dangerous right?
But as I am yet again reminded by the pain stemming from my wings, I could only cry out as I crashed into several rocks at high speed.
- :O
The first thing I could feel was pain throughout my body. Then the smell hit me, I nearly gagged with how horrid it smelled. Nope this was too much.
I'll save the details of what my stomach produced; I was sure it had to be empty.
This horrid mist or vapor was unbelievably thick, it fogged up my glasses but even if they didn't, I'd doubt I could see anything with it.
And then I heard the loud whining from close-by.
"Lyria!", I yelled, coughing in response. Was it me or was everything spinning.
But I had to get to Lyria.
And not a moment too soon. "HEY YOU THERE!", I yelled and the Munculus attention was easily drawn to me, -
Why was I on the ground, when did that happen?
A loud roar from a dragon sounded in front of me, but Lyria seemed to have escaped at least… and then the dragons left, and everything turned black.
- :O
Gentle rocking slowly made me drift back into consciousness. The air fresher, devoid of mist.
But the world still spun, and I had to shut my eyes.
"Lyria?", I whispered, my voice cracking quietly. She nickered back.
Yes, are you okay? She seemed to ask, but I think she wouldn't be convinced that I was okay after breaking out in a cough.
Worried I felt her muzzle press against me.
- :O
The next time I awoke I was back in the forest still on Lyria's back.
Feeling a lot better. Weird, the mist never affected Mia that badly in the show- me in argh
I still felt dizzy, but it was manageable, my body also didn't hurt anymore.
"Did you heal me?", I wondered, only to get a yes as an answer.
"Thank you, Lyria, you are the best."
I tried hopping off her back but stumbled a few feet, but I caught my composure.
"What were you…", I halted my question as the answer already was clear as day. She was looking for Ono. I recalled.
Poor Ono, poor Lyria.
She softly butted against my face.
"You shouldn't go there Lyria, this can't be good for Onch- BABY your foal I mean", despite my desperate attempt to not say her foal's name, I could see her raise her eyebrows.
I coughed in my fist.
"Anyway… now that we are here… I've come with a new Oracle, but I don't really know what it means… I think it means me again… and that the Trumptus gets lost but…", I hummed unsure what it could mean.
She nickered asking what it was this time.
"Bound by earth and cannot fly, hope gets scattered by a mighty sacrifice."
"I mean if it doesn't mean me, it could still mean any pan or unicorn… but I don't know if all Oracles so far addressed me specifically", I crossed my arms.
Sacrifice she seemed to mutter under her breath.
"Yeah no. If something happens to you, if you get captured, I don't think you and your foal will be able to make it. So don't even think about heading into danger, you should save your energy and not go into poisonous mist. Really."
She looked taken aback, but it didn't really tell me what she was thinking.
Hopefully she understood that her giving birth to Onchao was the only hope Centopia really had.
Lyrias head shot up, hearing something, with an urgent sounded get on, she ushered me on.
And I hopped onto her back, as I grabbed onto her tightly.
She took off fast, after her herd.
And now I could tell why, the loud roaring from the dragons was quite telling.
But then I heard it.
The loud, absolutely unbearable noise of the Trumptus, Lyria halted suddenly.
Seeing why, as a dragon stood in the way, but not for long, as a figure swooped down in front of us, sounding the Trumptus.
The Munculus screamed, clutching its head before exploding into flowers.
My stomach churned at the sight. This is unbelievably brutal isn't there a more peaceful solution?
Soon the dragons disappeared, and the elf landed now looking back at me.
"You!"
I squeaked, it sounded really hostile!
His face scrunched up. This was prince Mo of the elves.
"Yes, You!", a female voice growled next to me-
I fell of Lyria as I shrieked but Lyria stood on her hindlegs, her front hooves challenging the elf.
I winced, recovering from my momentary shock and pain of the fall.
"Wait Yuko, I think the unicorn is protecting him", Mo pointed down his water glare. Him?
Yuko took another moment to assess the situation, but Lyria one hoof dug on the ground a few times.
A warning to not come close as she huffed at them.
In a way, it made me feel really fuzzy around my heart. Lyria was protecting me.
I got up and gently brushed my hands through her mane.
"It's okay Lyria, I don't think they are dangerous", it took a moment, she looked back to me before relaxing visibly, but making no attempts to move, remaining a barrier between me and them.
"So, you are the elf that stole the Trumptus from Phuddle last time", Yukos arms were crossed as she flew back to Mo.
"What", I blinked. "Stole?", I repeated.
"You held Phuddle hostage until the King found you, didn't you?", and I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Uh what? Pfihihi what?", I could only repeat as I started laughing uncontrollably. W-what?
Trying to regain my posture I still couldn't help but let out a giggle.
"What… hihi made you think that?", I took a deep breath.
"You find this funny huh, stealing our only weapon against Panthea and holding our pan captive the entire time, breaking into our home", she readied her water glare.
I blinked. "What is that gonna do, make me wet?", she frowned before crossing her arms again.
I shook my head finally catching up on what they were saying. "Wait-wait wait. Phuddle broke the Trumptus and I helped him fix it in time back in his home, the King just caught me as I went poof", I twirled my hand at the notion of "poof".
"He what", the prince stood still for a moment. It looked almost calculating. Didn't Phuddle even tell him that last time? Did the prince even listen?
"I swear if I get my hands on this useless pan I- urgh!", Yuko was already flying away, fast I might add.
"Yuko hey wait!", Mo flew after her.
I clapped my hands together.
"What just happened?"
- :O
"Do you think Phuddle lied? And told them a different story?", I murmured, now having had time to process it. Would he do something like that? This is why you don't trust people… they lie, they cheat and they betray. What? When was I ever betrayed? No, I was, was I? I wasn't… when was it? Who…?
A nudge against my shoulder drew me away from my thoughts.
"Lyria, do you want something?", but looking at her, she only seemed to have her eyes focused on me. Worried, I realized.
When had I started clutching my head?
"Sorry… where are we going again?"
Her gaze lingered but we continued to move.
- :O
Until I was splashed with water in my face, falling off Lyria yet again, having an angry elf neigh in front of me, if Lyria wasn't the way.
"Where is the Trumptus you thief!", she screamed at me. Her face was an angry shade of red. I sank back a bit further in turn, feeling uneasy.
"We had it last we confronted you, but than it is gone, you must have taken-"
"You- you lost the Trumptus?", my brain seemed to catch on faster than I thought because I already voiced it before I realized what they were saying.
"No, you stole it!", she screeched, I did not think I ever heard that tone before but it was furious.
"Where is the Trumptus, Mia?", the prince asked in a calm but obviously still pushing matter of fact voice.
"You- I you-", I gestured wildly with my hand.
"After all my efforts to get you the Trumptus, fix it when he broke it, you lose it?", I don't think my voice had ever been shriller.
"We can't lose it, when you are the one that took it", flabbergasted I looked back at her unable to say anything.
"I- do you even listen to yourself?"
"I'm only asking one more time- Where. Is. The. Trumptus?", the prince threatened, but any step forward was met with Lyrias intercepting with threatening huff.
"Okay… Why don't we just turn back to where you last had it? You just said, last time you saw me you still had it. And I don't have it", I hissed the last part.
What's with elves being so, so angry at me?
The two elves looked at each other before the prince cleared his throat.
"Alright but if this is a trap…", the Prince mumbled but flew ahead. Alongside his guard.
"What are you waiting for?", they look back at me and Lyria.
We exchanged glances.
"I'll go with them, you go back to the herd, without the Trumptus we can't risk you getting hurt", I whispered, and eyes remained on me for a while before I added… "And maybe they'll feel better if it is just me?", I hoped at least.
The Yuko and Mo I knew from the show weren't this hostile toward- me. Towards me.
Her ears flickered, clearly unhappy, but she turned and neighed a be careful, as she turned to join her herd once more.
"I can just go poof if things get dire! Don't worry."
And thus, I turned to the elves.
"Now we can get going, I don't want Lyria in any danger if we don't have the Trumptus to protect her with." "The Trumptus you took", Yuko muttered.
I just sighed, and they started flying ahead.
But then they turned back angrily buzzing. I didn't know they could do that.
"Why are you still on the ground, hurry up! We don't have all day!", impatient the elf flew from the right to the left over and over.
"Ah well about that…", sheepishly I scratched my head. "What could it possibly be?", crossing her arms must have been her favorite posture, because she did it again.
"Is something wrong?", the prince asked in a far more concerned tone than I thought they were able too. "I bet he just wants us to go headfirst into the trap he set!"
"I can't fly! My wings- they are, I just can't fly okay!?", I shouted back at her.
Once again, I was getting tired of it for sure, the strange elves exchanged glances, before each suddenly grabbing my arms and lifting me up in a fast and swift motion, that it took me multiple seconds of the ground and wind around my face to realize what they did.
"Oh- okay that wo-works", I stumbled upon my words, as they flew with me.
Flying- I was flying! Had the ground always been this far?
"Woah, is this even safe? We- we are so high up", I babbled, my heart thumping heavily against my chest, as nausea rose more and more.
"Don't worry I'm the best flier in all of Centopia and Mo is decent enough (hey!)", yet we must have hit every speeding violation possible, I was sure.
Thankfully we landed soon right after, they set me down, and my legs wobbled before giving out.
"Sweet mercy my dear ground I'm never taking you for granted again", I wanted to cry as I relaxed, knowing this short yet dangerous flight was over.
"C'mon it wasn't even that bad", the young elven maid muttered, but her back was turned away from me. "Easy for elves that have been flying all their lives. I've never even been up in the air- no that can't be right, I used airplanes before with… no I never flew?", I mumbled, getting up shaking my head.
But as I looked up out of the corner of my eyes, I saw gold… and eyes staring back at me.
We stared at each other, blue hands frozen over gold.
"Ah."
I had no idea how to react as Gargona snatched the Trumptus and started laughing hysterically.
"Gargona!", Yuko and Mo growled simultaneously.
And quickly the two were up in the air moving swiftly shooting their water glares, as-
"Yuko look out!", but too late as she noticed a munculus already bound her wings with snakes.
Trying to run to her, only made me trip as my wings shot hot searing pain through me thanks to the jerking motion. I had no water glare, no Trumptus. There was nothing I could do.
But it didn't matter, because something went and wrapped around my torso aka my wings.
I muffled a scream as a wave of pain erupted at my too sensitive wings, fighting back the tears.
Only to hear another thud, and yell, as Mo also was shot out of the sky. Not good, terrible.
- :O
I awoke sitting on a dragon, pain erupting in waves made me muffled another scream. The jerking motion and the tight binding of the snake tore into my wings, at least that was how it felt like.
But it looks like we already arrived.
At least as we landed, it eased on my wings, as I was no longer jerked around.
"Move", Gargona ordered as the moment we set foot on the ground, my legs collapsed, exhaustion settling in way too soon.
"Elves", Gargona muttered, sounding done with us already.
"Carry this one", she waved at the Munculus dismissively, and suddenly I was thrown on one of their shoulders. But it was an… improvement.
"This is all your fault", Yuko spat at me with all the venom she could muster up.
"What- who lost the Trumptus!? I never so much as touched it, since I fixed it with Phuddle!", I bit back.
"You led us in a trap!?", she shot back.
"How in the world should I know what they are up to? I only care about Lyria and Phuddle!"
"Be quiet! If you don't want me to feed you, you to the dragons!" Promptly we shut up.
In the throne room, the highest part of the castle, the Munculus sat me down, but I gathered up enough energy to at least stay by their side.
"So, this is the Trumptos I've heard so much about?", the queen herself mused.
"Trumptus my queen."
"Odd how something so small and badly put together can cause so much trouble? You have done well, General Gargona, for once."
"Thank you, queen Panthea."
"Now that this thing is out of our way, it should be no trouble for you to bring me countless unicorn horns. Did you hear that, elves? I defeated you hah", the queen laughed amusement all throughout her echoing voice.
She stepped towards us, and I could only feel my panic rising at me, my breath hitching as she stepped closer.
This was Panthea in flesh and blood!
"The prince and his guard friends. You are smaller than I expected." She walked past us in a graceful stroll.
"And you are older than I expected!", her head snapped back towards Mo.
"I am young!"
"You are awfully old."
"Reallyyyy terrifically old", Yuko added, and I could only flinch under the Queen's following outburst.
"Quiet you! You are lucky I'm not feeding you to the dragons."
Then her attention was on me. I swallowed thickly, despite my mouth feeling dry. Reminded by the throbbing of my wings, that I could not escape.
Her cold hand encased my chin…
"I haven't seen you before, you are probably unimportant", and she let me go.
I couldn't help but let out a shaky breath. Oh, if only you knew…
But then an idea formed…
Anything I could say…
Remember to use it to distract her…
"I know what you did to Ono!" I blurted my nerves, barely holding me upright.
She halted her step.
Paused.
And then she slowly turned back to me.
"Oh, and what would that be?", it was calm, subtle and slowly spoken.
My breath hitched.
"He- he came to fi-fight you but l-lost", she was unmoving, remaining in her position to look at me.
"And how do you know that?"
"How?", I repeated and blinked.
The show! Wait. But Centopia is my book- how can the show when I am?
I only now noticed her having grabbed my chin again, yanking it towards her.
"I don't? I-", I muttered still- how could I know? I couldn't know.
"Curious, there is something about you…", instinctively I shut my eyes, but she let go of my chin and when I opened it, she stood in the middle of the room with the Trumptus.
When did she move?
"Well then elves, I'll do with the Trumptus exactly what I did with Ono", I could feel her gaze lingering at me as she threw the Trumptus towards the wall, as Yuko and Mo gasped distraught.
My heart leapt dangerously in my chest as her gaze continued to linger on me.
But I could only watch- I knew this was going to happen or Onchaos birth would be meaningless.
The Trumptus fell apart in pieces scattered across the floor.
"Gargona pick those pieces up, Munculus bring the prisoners forth", I hissed as I was pushed forward.
And the other two grumbled unhappy but said nothing.
"Munculus I have a job for you!", she turned to look at us gleefully.
"Well then elves here you go watching your last and only hope disappear."
Gargona bowed, offering the Trumptus pieces to her Queen.
"Munculus scatter the pieces of the Trumptus in every vast corner of Centopia, hide them, share them, make sure they are lost forever!"
She laughed, but subtle hissing tore me from the sight.
Of course I remembered this!
My nerves were high… but, slowly I scooted closer to the cat of Panthea, the snake wounded around me, taking great interest in the cat's tail.
But the cat scooted closer to Panthea… and with my heart leaping in my throat, so did I, not paying attention or rather the pounding in my ears too loud to hear what she said.
Scooting close enough, I breathed heavy, trying to be quiet, but I could hardly breathe, but then.
"MEOOW", the snake had bit and I was suddenly free, my wings thanking me endlessly.
As quickly as I could I went to Yuko and Mo, while Panthea had Ziggo stuck on her face.
Freeing Mo first, he dodged Gargonas Snake as I freed Yuko as soon after.
"Munculus defend me!" The Queen screeched.
But the two elves flew in the air dodging the snakes from the Munculus with an unmatched grace, as if it was as easy as baking pie, shrinking them simultaneously with the water glares. Seeing what Gargona aimed for, I stood in her way-
But only for her to grab me tightly.
As soon as all Monculus henchmen were shrunk the two turned their attention to us.
"Flee!", I shouted, and they only glanced back for a moment, before flying off.
My heart painfully stung as they abandoned me without a second thought, but I squashed that feeling down, seeing them leave and feeling my arm starting to prickle.
"Abandoned by your own kind", Panthea laughed dryly. Gargona giggled, as she held onto me, there was no way for me to press the bracelet myself- not that I needed to.
"Left behind", she added with a light chuckle before grabbing my chin staring back at me close up and directly.
I flinched away, closing my eyes, but her grip held strong. I felt my breath hitching, trying hard to squash down that sob trying to escape me. Shaking it was difficult to open my eyes to look at her, not without my breath picking up more.
I can't breathe!
"I never thought those pesky elves would leave one of their own behind so easily", she forcefully jerked my head towards her. My arm was starting to feel numb.
Good any moment now!
"Who are you?"
My heart pounded in my ears.
"I- I'm-", and I busted into gold. I could hear the outraged cry as I promptly dissolved into Gold.
"What is happen-"
- :O
And then I was back at the desk.
"Woah, I don't think I'll ever get used to that. Welcome back!"
Breathless I spread upon the desk. Choking a few sobs.
"That was so scary", I breathlessly hacked out.
"Mia, what happened, are you okay?"
Tears stung in my eyes and I couldn't hold it any longer, I started sobbing, tears streaming down my face as exhaustion rippled through my body.
"Mia!" Vincent exclaimed awkwardly, fidgeting, before deciding to embrace me slowly instead, I returned the embrace tightly.
This was so scary.
"It's okay, calm down first and we can talk later."
"Okay", I choked a sob but did not let up in my embrace.
Thank goodness Vicent was my friend.
Authors note:
I do realize that the oracles sacrifice part in this one doesn't quite fit. I'll leave it in though, I'll change that in the rewritten version, since even when Mia stays behind or mentions Ono, it still doesn't feel like any sort of sacrifice.
Also I do hope I could portray Panthea being creepy and Mia being terrified of her.
So.
It's like, children will see the danger and not know its threat, but an adult sees the danger and the threat. But that is going to be spoilers if I say more.
Also how sus is Mia lol, ever thought about it? Like only one being allowed near unicorns, riding on a unicorn, you know nothing about them, other than them suddenly giving you a weapon, then you know they break into your home and next you meet the Trumptus is in enemies hands.
Like I mean they are in the middle of a war, with a strange elf poofing in and out of existence, rattling about oracles and avoiding you like a plague.
Like as Yuko and Mo, I'd find Mia sus as hell.
It is probably where this started to derail in my pansy writing. But makes for great notes when I start the rewrite hehe