#walter stricklander
The meeting part 7 (final)
And that’s a wrap. Hope you liked it.
The meeting Part 3
Trollhunter!Douxie The meeting part 1
Author’s Notes : And another! A small one yet again. Hope you all enjoy.
~
Titanhunters (Part 2)
They were met with ruin when the darkness cleared.
Rain poured through a gaping hole in the underground ceiling, the unearthed teal Heartstone drifting high above. The broken ground had collapsed inward, crushing the central hub of Harmonia, New Jersey’s very own Trollmarket.
“I’m…sure it was a lot nicer when you and Jimbo were here,” Toby said, somber.
Claire sniffled. “I hope everyone’s alright.”
“We’ve got things here,” Nomura said. She touched Claire’s shoulder. “You need to go.”
“R-right. Stay safe.” She hugged Nomura then Toby before shadowing away.
Sneak peek #2 for Chapter 6 of The Eternal Day
~
“Even if that’s true,” Barbara said slowly, “you’re in no condition to go after her right now, Douxie.”
“I’m fine, Barbara. Honest, look—” Douxie only made it onto his elbows before he was falling back again, Barbara and Zoe supporting him. A breath of frustration. “Fuzzbuckets! I just…I just need more time.”
“We’re fresh out of that,” Walter said. “When it comes down to it, we need to do what we must to save this world.”
Barbara frowned. “Walt…”
“It’s the facts,” Nomura said. “Even if…” She paused, looking down. “Even if it has the face of a friend, a threat is a threat. And we have to deal with it.”
“It won’t come to that,” Douxie said. “I’ll make sure of it. I’m coming with you.” In a sudden burst of strength he managed into a sitting position, Zoe keeping him steady. Douxie immediately saw double and the room was spinning but he couldn’t have cared less. He reached out and gripped the shard of heartstone, closing his eyes with a shaking breath. “I’ll be fine. I can’t leave her. We can’t just leave her.”
~
*CRIES*
Author’s Notes : And another! A small one yet again. Hope you all enjoy.
~
Titanhunters (Part 2)
They were met with ruin when the darkness cleared.
Rain poured through a gaping hole in the underground ceiling, the unearthed teal Heartstone drifting high above. The broken ground had collapsed inward, crushing the central hub of Harmonia, New Jersey’s very own Trollmarket.
“I’m…sure it was a lot nicer when you and Jimbo were here,” Toby said, somber.
Claire sniffled. “I hope everyone’s alright.”
“We’ve got things here,” Nomura said. She touched Claire’s shoulder. “You need to go.”
“R-right. Stay safe.” She hugged Nomura then Toby before shadowing away.
They followed Blinky and Nomura into the boroughs untouched by the wreckage. The network of vast caverns and concaves was bathed in the soft light of crystals, all varying shades of blue. Before long, trolls began to peek out from their stone homes at the sound of newcomers.
“Blinkous!” Bagdwella exclaimed.
“It’s Blinky and Nomura!”
“Welcome back, welcome!”
“Who are these strangers with you?”
“Where’s the Trollhunter?”
The trolls of Harmonia gathered around, greeting Blinky and Nomura with embraces and handshakes.
“Good to see you all again, my friends!” Blinky said. “Is everyone unharmed? Are you all safe?”
“Barely!” a short three-eyed troll said. “Almost lost three of me eyes!”
“Everyone’s been accounted for, thank Deya,” another troll said. “Even the elders and younglings.”
“Good,” Nomura said. “But we’re not out of the woods yet. Far from it. Where’s—”
“Blinkous. Nomura.”
The crowd of trolls parted up ahead until out stepped an eldery troll, slender and towering over the rest despite being hunched over from age. Crystals adorned her neck and shoulders, glistening upon her cerulean skin. Stripes of purple and green painted her forearms. Her stark white hair was bundled at the ends and nearly brushed the floor, loose braids dangling throughout. She wore a long dark magenta dress. Attached to her hip with a sash and belt was a lengthy, curved, and serrated heartstone dagger. The troll narrowed her glimmering eyes.
“Luma!” Blinky said, approaching her. “The time is most urgent. We must—”
“Now, now Blinkous.” Luma raised a brow at the Blanks zipping about and invading everyone’s personal bubbles. Her gaze landed on Toby, who waved sheepishly. “Won’t you introduce us to these strangers you’ve brought here?”
“O-oh…yes! Of course!” Blinky turned to his comrades. “Might I introduce you all to the beloved leader of Harmonia, Luma The Kind. Luma, this here is my dear friend, Aarghaumont, the one I’ve told you much about. Walter Stricklander, another reformed spy of Gunmar. Tobius Domzalski! Best friend of Master Jim. And uh…Ricky and Lucy. They’re…”
“Hootin’ and happy ta meet ya!” Ricky said, him and Lucy flying up into Luma’s space. She simply blinked.
“I’m a jewelry gal myself!” Lucy said, wide eyes flitting over the gems embedded in Luma’s stone skin. She zeroed in on her reflection in them. “Those crystals are crystal clear!”
“That’s what I like to hear!” The Blanks smushed their faces together.
“Crystal clear!”
“Loud and clear!
“That’s what I like to hea—”
Walter yanked the pair back with his hands clamped over their mouths.
“A pleasure,” he said to Luma.
“Hello,” Aaarrrgghh said with a small wave.
“Thanks for taking care of Jimbo and Claire,” Toby said. “If you need a warhammer, I gotcha covered.”
Luma regarded them for a moment. Then she smiled.
“Welcome, friends of Blinkous, Nomura, and the Trollhunter,” she said. Then she turned to Blinky. “Master Jim and Fair Claire. Are they well?”
“Alright, yes,” Blinky said, before looking down. “Although…Master Jim has been most troubled and distressed after everything. I fear for the wellbeing of his heart and mind.”
Luma said nothing, then nodded. “Jim has suffered much and greatly. But rest assured when the time comes, it will be as it always has. His doubts will be of no concern. Especially,” her gaze went to Toby, Aaarrrgghh, Walter, and Nomura, “with such friends by his side.” They returned her gaze with kindling eyes and firm nods. “Now Blinkous. Do tell us why Harmonia’s Heartstone is floating in the sky.”
When they had finished explaining everything, the crowd of trolls murmured in confusion and terror.
“W-what will we do?”
“To think! Our glorious Heartstone is one of seven primordial!”
“Titans…How will we stand against such beasts?”
“It’s the end for us all! Our last days are upon us!”
“None of that! We can take’m!”
“Fire, ice, what have you, Harmonia ain’t backin’ down!”
“That’s right!”
“YEAH!!!”
“You’re all mad! Were you not listening?”
“Loud and clear!” Lucy said.
“Crystal!” added Ricky.
“These flesh bags loose in the head?!”
While the trolls continued debating, Luma held a claw to her chin, thinking. Finally, after a long while, she made her way up onto a nearby platform. The cavern went silent with bated breaths, all eyes on their leader. Luma swept her calm gaze over each of their faces before settling on Blinky and Nomura.
“Your valiant friends will not face this alone,” she said. “The trolls of Harmonia will stand with you.” Luma raised a hand, quieting the charged and fearful outbursts that followed. “Peace and take heart, my beloved ones. There is no shame in fear. But to lift your head in spite of it, that is courage. So courage, my friends. What have I always said?”
“‘A fight is more than bearing arms’,” Nomura said, “‘but hearts beating for life and death.’”
Luma smiled and nodded. “Ringa! Lopfang! Wyvernst! Glog!”
Four Stalkling trolls made themselves known, their eyes glowing red against the cave ceiling where they hung. They descended around Luma, heads bowed.
“Swift and true,” Luma said, placing a hand on one of their heads. “Bring the message of what’s to come to every troll civilization. Tell them Luma of Harmonia has sent you. Give our condolences and strength to those whose Heartstones have fallen.” The Stalklings took off without hesitation, fast and thunderous as the howling winds. “Elders, take the younglings to the furthest parts of our underground. Stay hidden or defend yourselves. Whatever the matter calls for.” Luma looked up. “The storms are shielding us. Prepare yourselves, those who will join us. We go to the Waterfront.”
Nerves tempered and hearts encouraged, the trolls dispersed and went about gathering tools. Stone clubs and maces were handed out. Boulders and dwarkstones were placed into crates next to catapults. Makeshift weapons were quickly forged. Younglings embraced their parents.
Walter and Nomura held a brief session on basic combat for those who needed it. Toby and Aaarrrgghh consoled the distressed. The Blanks flashed their new guns, trolls rolling out of the way when they recklessly took aim. Luma and Blinky locked eyes for a moment, then nodded in solidarity. She watched his friends aiding in preparations. Let her eyes linger over her trolls and her thoughts on the world.
“Eternity help us,” she whispered.
⬦
Roughly 100,000 trolls marched from beneath Hoboken to along the Hudson River. All around in the distance large blue spacecrafts were filling with frantic passengers before lifting off, disappearing into the slate clouds. The areas all along the Waterfront had been completely vacated, still and silent as graves.
“Hope Aja and Krel are alright,” Toby whispered, watching an Akiridion ship.
“Varvatos and Creepslayerz, too,” Aaarrrgghh grunted, worried.
Nomura stood beside Walter, arms crossed. “Place your bet. Who’s it gonna be?”
“Fire, ideally,” Walter said. His wings fluttered.
“Mm, so I’m going with Ice then. What’s the prize?”
“Bragging rights.”
“Oh come on, little butterfly.”
“Tickets to the next symphony then. Deal?”
Nomura smirked. “Deal.”
Luma stood still as a statue, hands folded behind her and eyes fixed on the churning open sea. An uncertain amount of time passed. An hour, maybe two. But before much longer, a thick white mist abruptly swallowed everything in sight, bringing with it a biting chill. Raindrops became pinpricks of bitter cold. Clouds of breath fumed amongst them.
“S-s-should’ve brought a sweater!” Toby said, teeth chattering. He huddled close to Aaarrrgghh’s furry self.
“Ready yourselves!” Luma shouted. Her hand slowly rose to take her dagger. The shuddering trolls braced themselves. The catapults were hastily loaded. Blinky reached into the sack slung around him, heavy with dwarkstones. They all took a step back as the river froze over. Moments later, the ice exploded, torrents of seawater cascading off a colossal form as it rose from the depths. The Ice Titan dwarfed Jersey City and wasted no time in honing in on the Heartstone. Skrael grinned madly and urged the Titan forward.
Trolls manning the catapults opened fire at Luma’s command, launching dwarkstones and chunks of jagged rock. The Ice Titan staggered as its legs and torso lit up with explosions. Taking another step resulted in another round of projectiles. After the third, Skrael seethed. A vicious flurry blew from the Titans whole body, the relentless cold like a flock of knives cutting through the trolls’ stone skin.
When Blinky lowered his arm and looked up, shivers coursed through him. From the haze floating shapes began to emerge, materializing from the frozen air. He fought the urge to scream when half an emaciated torso of ice drifted towards him, chopped at the ribs, the rest of spine tapering into a tail of ice and frost. A ghostly veil split by a vertical mouth crammed with needle-like teeth served as a head, complete with a pair of short down-curved horns wrapped in tattered strips of dark cloth. Sharpened twelve-inch icicles protruded all along its long arms, both flashing four even longer and deadlier icy claws.
“A specter of frost!” Blinky exclaimed, stepping back.
“F-frospecter!” Toby whimpered as two of the creatures neared the Wingmen.
As the haze began to clear, they saw not one or two, but what looked to be thousands of the things, these frospecters, surrounding them. They descended all at once like white vultures, blowing freezing breath and slinging icicles.
“To the Ice Wizard!” Luma bellowed at Walter and Nomura. She brandished her dagger and roared, “For Harmonia and for glory!”
Walter flew, taking Nomura with him. Shouts filled the air as the trolls and frospecters collided. The frospecters, elusive wisps of cold, wove fast around fists, swords, and clubs. But once a hit landed, their icy bodies shattered like glass. Ricky and Lucy made good use of their new torch features, jets of fire turning the frospecters to mist.
“Hey hot stuff!” Lucy said, back to back with her husband as they mowed down several at a time.
“You’re my spice of life, Lucy Lu!” Ricky quipped back with a wink. “And there goes our champ with that good arm of his!”
Toby leapt from Aaarrrgghh’s back, bringing his hammer straight down onto a frospecters chest and smashing it to smithereens. He landed on his feet, already swinging at the next and then the one after. Another frospecter swooped down, its frigid breath creating a wall of jagged ice. But Aaarrrgghh punched right through it and kept his fists swinging, turning more enemies to dust.
“Aw yeah, Wingmen in the big leagues!” Toby shouted, hopping back onto his partner’s back. He kept his warhammer swinging while Aaarrrgghh charged ahead, leaving a path of pulverized ice demons in their wake.
“Go poof!” Aaarrrgghh said with a chuckle. But the cheering was cut short when Toby got blindsided by a frospecter’s claws to the head, rattling his helmet and sending him flying off Aaarrrgghh’s back. Aaarrrgghh immediately turned back to him, punching off any more attackers. “Wingman!!”
“Ugh, okay, maybe the middle leagues then…,” Toby groaned on his stomach. “I’m good, buddy, I just…” A whirlwind of movement caught his eye and he looked up. “Holy Chompskys!”
Going on two millennia, Luma was dispatching frospecters with such grace she could’ve been dancing. She traded her heartstone dagger seamlessly between her hands and her agility was unmatched, ensuring no enemy on the left, right, above, or below was safe.
“You think my Nana could do that?” Toby asked. Aaarrrgghh scratched his head.
Meanwhile Walter soared high above the Titan’s head with Nomura dangling from his arms.
“Hehe, so that Tchaikovsky concert next month sounds good,” Nomura said. Walter rolled his eyes. “Tell you what, let’s go again. That little ice brat’s head is mine.”
“Hmm, whoever gets the killing blow.” Walter dove, his grin devious. “That’s more like it.”
He swung Nomura out of his grip. She drew her scimitars midair, going right in for a slash when she landed behind Skrael. Skrael snapped his body around without missing a beat, Nomura’s blade scraping against the rod of his staff. Walter swooped around, taking turns hurling his throwing knives and shooting with one of Krel’s laser gauntlets. Skrael pushed Nomura off and retaliated with bullets of sharpened ice. Walter evaded before they could clip his wings. Nomura ducked, hissing when one grazed her cheek.
“Disgraceful,” Skrael said. “Don’t you realize all that we’re doing is for magical creatures like yourselves?” He shook his head, scowling. “But lowly humans have infected you. So much so that you chose allegiance to Merlin’s champions. And for what?”
“To shut you up for one thing,” Nomura remarked. Then her friends came to mind. “But also, I’d prefer to side with the ones who actually care about Magickind.”
Skrael’s eyes flashed and he spat, “You will die with the rest of the vermin!!”
Magic wrapped around him then expelled, sending shards of ice whizzing in every direction. Nomura rushed and slid beneath them but ended up crashing through a conjured wall, rolling hard. Walter got Skrael in the shoulder with a blast of energy then went hand-to-hand with a knife, slicing his face and dropping him. Skrael cradled his cheek bleeding frost and righted his staff for support, snarling in rage. He banged the ground and Walter jumped before a whetted ice pillar could skewer him. Nomura sprinted into the fray, dodging icy spikes, chopping them to bits. By the time she reached Skrael he was back up, their weapons once again grinding in a vicious clash.
On the ground, Blinky was lobbing dwarkstone after dwarkstone, the blasts obliterating several frospecters at a time. He was about to toss another when he tripped onto his back over something rock solid. Dread and grief pierced him when he realized it was a petrified troll, falling to pieces around an icicle. Hundreds more had also met their marks, rimy fragments of gray stone once pieced and alive strewn about wherever Blinky looked. Many more trolls were frozen in place, suspended in ice. Others were retreating with the weight of exhaustion. No matter how many frospecters fell, the hoard remained unfazed, respawning again and again from the surrounding mist.
Lucy winced when the flames of her torch petered out. “Oy vey, out of gas!”
“Drat, not in this economy!” Ricky exclaimed. “Watch out!” The Blanks zipped and bounced out of the way of flying ice needles. They resorted to their cannons, picking off frospecters where they could.
Toby smashed his warhammer into what had to be the billionth frospecter, only for two more to take its place.
“They’re like Nana’s friends when there’s a sale at the antique store!” he cried, hammer head thudding against the ground as his screaming arms went limp.
Aaarrrgghh roared and punched the new terrors away but it was no use. His ears drooped even as he stood his ground by Toby. The things just kept coming. Above it all, the Ice Titan was closing the distance between it and the Heartstone. Blinky squinted up through the rain.
“Come on, my friends,” he whispered.
Another frospecter fell to Luma’s dagger. She stopped and looked about. Knelt and touched what remained of the fallen, grief and anger burning her eyes and heart. When she stood she followed Blinky’s gaze up, fearing more sorrow.
It was a battle of sheer power and speed. Skrael casted blizzard after blizzard, summoned lethal shards and spikes. Nomura spun, ducked, leapt, veered. They traded a couple savage blows then backed away. Rinse and repeat. Skrael simultaneously deflected Walter’s aerial attacks with one hand creating frost barriers. He knocked Nomura sideways before whirling to double down on Walter, firing a barrage of ice shards. Walter beat his wings hard and made one huge loop to narrowly avoid the attack. But when he reoriented himself and noticed the light, bluish tint of everything, he spun around and his mind ruptured in panic.
The Ice Titan was now right in front of the Heartstone.
“No…no, no, n—NNGH!!!” A blast of frigid cold to the back, and Walter was falling, wings shackled by webs of frost.
“Walter!!” Nomura bolted to the edge, just in time to grab his hand. She strained for purchase on the ice. Their eyes met. “I’ve got—” A crystal lance lodged into her shoulder and she shrieked. From agony. From Walter slipping from her grip. She screamed her throat raw, “NO!! CATCH HIM! SOMEBODY CATCH HIM!”
“Waltolomew!!” Blinky shouted when he spotted him.
“Wingman!” Toby cried but Aaarrrgghh was already on it, barreling towards impact. Twenty seconds, maybe less. Aaarrrgghh growled and pumped his hulking arms harder, faster. He rolled at the last second, enough coverage to fold Walter into his arms before he was impaled by a block of serrated ice, tumbling again from the momentum, smashing right through it and flipping several times more. Aaarrrgghh landed on his side and finally skid to an abrupt stop against a truck.
“Nicely done, Aarghaumont!” Blinky and the others hurried around them. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, yes, but Nomura…!” Walter clambered out of Aaarrrgghh’s arms, stumbling to his knees, his disquieted eyes trained on the Titan. The image of that iced javelin piercing Nomura gutted him. He punched the ground, swore under his breath when his rimed wings didn’t budge. “Don’t you dare, Nomura. Don’t you dare!!”
A cry of pain scraped Nomura’s throat. She clutched the ice stabbed into her, teetering backwards. She looked down. Sucked in a harsh breath, stomach sinking and twisting while her entire body sagged. It was already spreading, the discoloration from the puncture wound. Nomura clamped her eyes shut, forcing deep and ragged breaths through clenched teeth until a dry sob burst passed. She’d never been more angry in her life.
“Well that was fun,” Skrael said, grinning ear to ear. He tilted his staff in tandem with the Ice Titan surging and crushing the Heartstone in its grip, its arms glowing. Skrael cackled as the Heartstone’s teal light dimmed rapidly.
Nomura slowly opened her eyes. Her scimitars were on the other side of the field, maybe three yards from where Skrael was. She started, moving quick and silent, setting aside her agony and her body graying by the second.
The last of the Heartstone’s light vanished. In a fury, Nomura leapt and scooped up her weapons. Skrael blocked before she could decapitate him. She locked his staff between her blades and wrung it out of his hands with a brutal twist to the side. She went back on her feet and pounced.
Another icicle gored her stomach.
Her blade missed Skrael’s throat. So she brought down the other, and sliced his left arm clean off.
“NNGAAAAAHHHH!!!!” Skrael screeched, swore, thrashed. Frost and mist spilled from his elbow, thin black veins pulsing icy blue creeping up his skin from the trauma. “YOU WRETCHED LITTLE…! MISERABLE—WORTHLESS—I’LL KILL YOU I’LL KILL YOU!!!!!”
Nomura slumped against an icy wall. Watched her stomach turn gray. Felt the paralysis burgeon. She dug her claws into the ice, turned her face up and let the rain wash over her.
“I’m sorry,” Nomura whispered. “I’m sorry…” All of Skrael’s screaming and all of the gray faded to the background. Instead she heard laughter and saw her friends. Their smiles and embraces and fighting spirits. She thought of Jim, who changed her heart. Harmonia, her first real home. Walter. Her oldest, closest friend. She saw him holding Barbara, that sweetheart, and smiled. A weak laugh. For most of her life, she’d only known strife and brutality. But laying here, Nomura also knew what love was, and believed in it. A lone tear was lost in the rain.
Thank you.
Skrael brought the cold blade of his staff down.
~
Author’s Notes : I had fun writing more of Walter and Nomura’s friendship. Nomura herself is such a blast. And I was torn for a bit about whether or not she’d go in my fic. In the end, it felt right to me. Thing is her death in the movie (like everything else) was just handled so poorly, just disrespectful to her character. I hope I changed that here!
Initially I was going to go with the whole “let’s blow the Ice Titan up” plan. But I as wrote, it just wasn’t turning out that way. Besides, Nomura deserved better than just being blown up. She fought like the savage she is to the end.
Oh, and also Skrael losing an arm just kind of happened lol Sometimes a story does what it wants.
Bless and thank you all again for reading. Until next time.
Sneak peek snippets for Chapter 7 of The Eternal Day
~
Rain poured through a gaping hole in the underground ceiling, the unearthed teal Heartstone drifting high above. The broken ground had collapsed inward, crushing the central hub of Harmonia, New Jersey’s very own Trollmarket.
“I’m…sure it was a lot nicer when you and Jimbo were here,” Toby said, somber.
Claire sniffled. “I hope everyone’s alright.”
“We’ve got things here,” Nomura said. She touched Claire’s shoulder. “You need to go.”
-
The crowd of trolls parted up ahead until out stepped an eldery troll, slender and towering over the rest despite being hunched over from age. Crystals adorned her neck and shoulders, glistening upon her cerulean skin. Stripes of blue and green painted her forearms. Her stark white hair was bundled at the ends and nearly brushed the floor, loose braids dangling throughout. She wore a long dark magenta dress. Attached to her hip with a sash and belt was a lengthy, curved, and serrated heartstone dagger. The troll narrowed her glimmering eyes.
“Luma!” Blinky said, approaching her. “The time is most urgent. We must—”
“Now, now Blinkous.” Luma raised a brow at the Blanks zipping about and invading everyone’s personal bubbles. Her gaze landed on Toby, who waved sheepishly. “Won’t you introduce us to these strangers you’ve brought here?”
-
“Hehe, so that Tchaikovsky concert next month sounds good,” Nomura said. Walter rolled his eyes. “Tell you what, let’s go again. That little ice brat’s head is mine.”
“Hmm, whoever gets the killing blow.” Walter dove, his grin devious. “That’s more like it.”
He swung Nomura out of his grip. She drew her scimitars midair, going right in for a slash when she landed behind Skrael. Skrael snapped his body around without missing a beat, Nomura’s blade scraping against his staff. Walter swooped around, taking turns hurling his throwing knives and shooting with one of Krel’s laser gauntlets. Skrael pushed Nomura off and retaliated with bullets of sharpened ice. Walter evaded before they could clip his wings. Nomura ducked, hissing when one grazed her cheek.
“Disgraceful,” Skrael said. “Don’t you realize all that we’re doing is for magical creatures like yourselves?” He shook his head, scowling. “But lowly humans have infected you. So much so that you chose allegiance to Merlin’s champions. And for what?”
“To shut you up for one thing,” Nomura jeered, then was serious when the faces of her friends came to mind. “But also, I’d prefer to side with the ones who actually care about Magickind.”
~
I didn’t think I’d have any actual OCs in this fic but here we are lol This chapter should be up pretty soon so stay tuned!
Love and blessings~
Author’s Notes : Another 900 years, my friends! :’D Bless and thank you everyone for your patience. It’s a short but hopefully good one. Please enjoy.
~
Titanhunters (Part 1)
Trees had broken his fall. Nothing else was broken, he didn’t think. Though his head was hurting something awful and the pummeling rain wasn’t helping but he couldn’t move.
Douxie blinked up at a dark gray void. Muted thunder. An unceasing high pitched whine. Then…voices. Calling his name, muffled and distorted. He closed his eyes and found solace in the darkness. When he opened them again, there was a pink blob and some big cat looking thing. Whatever it was licked his face.
“Oh thank God, he’s alive…!” Zoe’s voice shook like a leaf. She touched his cheek, leaned close. “Douxie? Can you hear me? Can you…” Her hand slid under his head and her heart froze at the warm stickiness clotting his hair. Her palm came away smeared. Douxie shuddered. Blackness bled into the wet earth beneath him. Oh God…Oh God, oh God. Zoe cupped the back of his head again, chest heaving, fighting the urge to vomit. “F-Fulcio.” Her magic pulsed through his skull. That would hold him together for a bit. “Arch.”
Archie lifted Douxie into his forepaws. Zoe reassured him through his groans of pain. Reassured her own deeply distraught self, two seconds away from a full blown panic attack. Okay. He’s going to be okay, he’s going to be okay, he’s going to be okay. Zoe’s canine dug into her lip. This had never happened. He’d never busted his head open before. He has to be okay, he has to be okay, he has to be okay.
The rain was coming down harder. Everyone limped and stumbled to the servants’ quarters still intact. Douxie and Steve were laid next to each other, beds pushed close, the one shard of Heartstone that had survived glowing between them. Barbara arrived on scene within the hour, horror-struck and armed with all the first aid she could carry. She and Jim carefully pulled Douxie out of his sopping clothes and bundled him in sheets. Jim hurried to find more pillows, helping his mom elevate Douxie’s head and shoulders. Barbara held cold packs to Steve’s broken arm as she coached him through deep, slow breaths to ease his hyperventilating. After wrapping Douxie’s head and securing Steve with a splint, she made her rounds with the others.
Zoe slid her hand over Douxie’s wound and concentrated, struggling to find the right arrangement of soul and spell. She’d never been adept with the intricacies of healing magic, but if there was ever a time to make it happen it was now.
“Sar…Sarcio,” she uttered, turning up the heat of her emotions, pushing her aura. A breath of relief when magic flowed from her palm. Three seconds and it was gone. Better than nothing. She stroked Douxie’s cheek before going over to Steve, gingerly resting her hands on his arm. “Corrigo…Corrigo!” Again, it was only the smallest burst of magic. Zoe leaned on her elbows, trying to catch her breath. She sighed heavily. “I’m sorry…I think that’s all I can do.”
“That’s alright,” Barbara said, a hand on Zoe’s shoulder. “You’ve done more than enough.” She turned to Blinky. “How much will the heartstone help?”
“It’s uncertain, with only a shard and such severe wounds,” Blinky said, downcast.
“But spells should help,” Aaarrrgghh said. “Even though small.”
Zoe’s mouth twitched. “Yeah.”
A grave silence befell them all, a suffocating stillness. Thoughts churning but dampened. Eyes stinging and staring at nothing. The urge to scream and cry like the storm wailing outside. Or to disappear, to sink and drown in the darkness looming over them. Jim sat with his back against the wall, head hanging. Claire was quiet beside him, absently scraping a nail against the stone floor. Walter sat on another bed, leaning forward with his face in one hand and Barbara’s shoulder pressed against his. Nomura stood with her back against everyone else, tense with her arm crossed. Zoe gripped Douxie’s hand. Archie nuzzled his neck. Aja and Eli were at Steve’s bedside, Aja cupping his pained face and whispering comfort. Then she stood.
“This isn’t the end yet,” she said.
“What’re you saying, Aja?” Toby said. “The Titans are gonna wake up and kill us all. We’re toast! Nummy ice cream bars! Those bushes that look like animals!”
“Topiary,” Eli whined.
“Yeah, that!” Toby sobbed and sank to the floor, Aaarrrgghh close and looking sad at him. “What’re we gonna do now?”
“Find the Titans,” Aja said. “And do everything we can to stop them. Isn’t this why we’ve been training?”
They all looked to her before solemnly nodding. After a moment, the smallest of sparks returned to their eyes.
Krel straightened up off the wall and knocked a fist in his palm.
“That’s not all,” he said. “Do you remember what Nari told us? The Hearty Stones of the world were all destroyed before the Titans could do their…uh…Titaning.” He opened all of his hands, face glowing with hope. “We still have a chance!”
“Varvatos Vex agrees with his royals,” Varvatos said. “The fight is yet to be won!”
“Question is, where are the Heartstones?” Jim asked, rising to stand with Claire. “How will we find them? Blink?”
“I had no prior knowledge of seven primordial Heartstones,” Blinky said. “I can’t begin to wager their whereabouts…”
A tremor in the distance.
Toby glanced out a window and his jaw dropped. “Uh…I think I might know where one is.” The others followed his gaze and echoed his astonishment.
Through sheets of rain they’d caught shards of fire rising from the town. Nearly every window came alight, flecking the darkness. Jim, Claire, Toby, Blinky, and Aaarrrgghh all gasped, immediately recognizing the massive cluster of orange and red crystals as it completely unearthed itself, toppling nearby structures. It climbed higher and higher until it was suspended in the air, much like Camelot was, lighting the night with its fiery glow.
Trollmarket’s Heartstone.
“By Daylight’s gleaming…,” Blinky said, breathless. His eyes glistened.
“But how?” Jim asked, unable to look away.
“The…ritual…”
Everyone turned. Douxie was trying to sit up but within seconds collapsed back into the pillows. Barbara hurried to him, the others close behind.
“No sudden movements, alright?” Barbara said.
“Are you okay?” Zoe asked, voice trembling like her fingers brushing Douxie’s temple.
“Oh gods, am I in my boxers?”
“Douxie.”
“M’sorry.” He took her wrist, leaning into her touch. “Feel like I’ve been thrashed by a hippogriff but otherwise alright.” Archie climbed onto Douxie’s chest, butting his chin with a purr.
“What did you mean about the ritual, Doux?” Claire asked.
“It’s all the raw magic from the Seals,” Douxie said. He weakly lifted an arm and flexed his fingers. “I can feel it, actually… But I reckon that’s why Trollmarket’s Heartstone’s been revived. Why it’s floating in the sky however…”
Barbara’s phone buzzed in her pocket.
“The news,” she said, looking up with big eyes.
“One sekton!” Krel pulled out a dark blue disc and a big holographic screen projected from its center. “Come on, come on…” The screen blinked and glitched. A few button taps later and a bedraggled news anchor was panicking on camera.
⬥
“W-we interrupt everyone’s beauty sleep to inform you of a worldwide crisis!” Aerial shots of Trollmarket’s Heartstone were fullscreened. “It appears that all across the globe strange and humongous crystal formations are exploding from the ground and just…uh…floating?” A slideshow of footage played.
The glowing teal Heartstone of New Jersey. A blinding white Heartstone in Argentina. A deep purple one rising in Southern China. A jet black Heartstone crashing through the ice of the North Pole. An every-shade-of-green Heartstone uprooting trees in the Amazon Rainforest. One blood red lifting itself in Israel.
“K-kinda neat! Pretty, honestly, b-but that’s not the crisis part! Uh we got monsters, people! Big ol’ scary guys I definitely didn’t learn about in school!”
The footage switched to stormy daytime and a man being battered by wind and rain yelling into a microphone in a different language. Indonesia, along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Cut to a gargantuan terror, the Titan of fire, crawling across smoking, molten landscape. Its head was a reptilian skull with one gaping eye socket, a golden circular symbol fixed over it. Black feathers ran down its long neck and over the back of its massive clawed wings, fanning out into lengthy tails that flamed at their ends. From the plumage at the nape of its neck and along its underbelly spewed curtains of bright lava, becoming a hellish waterfall as the Titan took flight, flames igniting upon its wings. Between its devilish horns stood Bellroc, who seemed to be controlling the giant.
In Oymyakon, Russia was the Titan sculpted from ice. Skrael stood upon its spherical head that levitated between shoulders like twin mountains, jagged at their peaks. A silver symbol of circles and triangles shone across its blank face. Icicles were shaped around its torso like ribs, its waist cinched and hips protruding like one starved. Its limbs were thick battering rams of hard sharp ice. Cameras from above captured through heavy rainfall as it stomped its way further north, crushing buildings underfoot.
Helicopters soared over the Amazon, a female voice rambling in Portuguese through an intercom, shouting over the roar of thunder. An effeminate centaur, only the lower half was deerlike, rising above the treeline at its knees. Luminous patches made the mottled pattern of a doe along its second back. Hundreds of thick vines composed its hair, draping its humanoid torso all the way down to its deer chest. Two great trees sprouted atop its head for antlers, Nari hovering between them. Its face, like its companions, only held a glowing symbol, spring green and displaying an orb encased in runes instead of mere circles.
A fast pan over and there was the green Heartstone. Not a moment later the forest giant was bounding towards it, wildlife scattering as trees fell and the earth was bulldozed. Just as the Titan drew close, its vines coiled around the Heartstone like a brood of snakes and began to glow. Seconds later the vines unraveled, revealing the Heartstone turned gray and crumbling. It crashed back into the earth, breaking apart further upon impact. Dead.
The broadcast switched again, showing two other Heartstones meeting the same fate. The Fire Titan had already descended upon Hong Kong, digging its obsidian talons and sinking its teeth into the violet Heartstone, draining it of all its color and life. Below was pandemonium, horrified citizens fleeing from chunks of dead crystal raining down and rivers of lava swallowing the city. The black Heartstone of the North Pole was now dull and lifeless, smashed to huge bits at the Ice Titan’s feet.
Finally back to Arcadia’s newscast.
“I dunno what these big colorful rocks did to these guys or why there’s cosplay happening here! A-anyway d-danger! Big danger cause Arcadia’s in the line of fire…again. So uh here’s hoping that every military ever — and maybe some zoologists? — is gonna get on that before we all die! C-Could maybe use some help from those aliens we’re friends with now. M-Mom if you’re watching this, I love ya and I’m the one who ran over your mailbox! Dead of night Arcadia news, s-stay tuned!”
⬥
A whole new wave of dread crashed over them.
“Seklos and Gaylen…,” Aja whispered.
“No…No!” Claire said. “Three Heartstones down already?”
“It’s okay…,” Zoe said, breathing deep. “It’s okay, we can still do this. We still have time!”
“Can you pull up a map, Krel?” Eli said. Once it was displayed, Eli studied it closely. “The Titans will probably go after the next Heartstones closest to them. Bellroc and Skrael will want to destroy Israel’s next. The closest Heartstone to the Forest Titan is Argentina’s.”
“Only these Titans aren’t wasting any time,” Nomura said. “It only takes one of them to kill a Heartstone. Odds are either the Fire or Ice Titan will go ahead to the States.”
“We’ll need to divide and conquer,” Jim said. “Stop them before they destroy more Heartstones.”
“Nari did say the Order can be destroyed, even without her spell,” Claire said. Her moment of excitement soon deflated, grief clouding her eyes. “Nari…She’s…She’s gone and now we have to…”
“No!” Douxie said, wincing as he shook his head. “No, Nari’s not gone. She’s not.”
Archie’s ears drooped. “Douxie…”
“She tried to kill you,” Zoe said, face pained then enraged. “And I bet she would’ve killed us if Bellroc had told her to, that son of a…!”
“Nari could have killed me,” Douxie said. “She could’ve easily just crushed me in her grip but she didn’t.” He held Zoe’s hand, eyes locking with hers before sweeping around the room. “It was only a second, maybe less than that, but Nari was there. I looked into her eyes and she was there, I could feel it!” His voice trembled, eyes dampening as he remembered the moment before Nari tossed him over, a sliver of her will slipping through when he gasped her name. Maybe it was just him being desperate, nothing more than heartwrenching denial. But Douxie had to believe. “I can reach her. Get her back to us.”
Hope flickered around the room, but the uncertainty was still there.
“Even if that’s true,” Barbara said slowly, “you’re in no condition to go after her right now, Douxie.”
“I’m fine, Barbara. Honest, look—” Douxie only made it onto his elbows before he was falling back again, Barbara and Zoe supporting him. A breath of frustration. “Fuzzbuckets! I just…I just need more time.”
“We’re fresh out of that,” Walter said. “When it comes down to it, we need to do what we must to save this world.”
Barbara frowned. “Walt…”
“It’s the facts,” Nomura said. “Even if…” She paused, looking down. “Even if it has the face of a friend, a threat is a threat. And we have to deal with it.”
“It won’t come to that,” Douxie said. “I’ll make sure of it. I’m coming with you.” In a sudden burst of strength he managed to sit up while Zoe kept him steady. Douxie immediately saw double and the room was spinning but he couldn’t have cared less. He reached out and gripped the shard of heartstone, closing his eyes with a shaking breath. “I’ll be fine. I can’t leave her. We can’t just leave her.”
Someone touched his shoulder and he looked up.
“We won’t,” Jim said. He then addressed the room. “Nari’s our friend. She needs saving right now just like…” The words came stifled from his mouth gone dry. A cold sweat was forming. Jim swallowed, the hammering of his heart almost painful. But he continued. “Just like I did.” He locked eyes with Blinky, Aaarrrgghh, Toby, then Claire. Then he looked at Douxie, chest swelling with grief and gratitude. “You guys didn’t give up on me. So we won’t give up on Nari. Right?”
Jim gazed around the group, and soon the somberness and uncertainty were overshadowed by impassioned resolution.
“Right,” Claire said, taking his hand. All nodded in firm agreement. Toby wiped away a tear.
Douxie exhaled, slow and shaky. “Thank you all. Truly.” He reached up and put his hand on Jim’s back. Jim’s hand tightened on Douxie’s shoulder.
“So, how are we doing this?” Nomura asked.
Aja turned to Varvatos. “Contact Zadra. We need to make arrangements to have this planet evacuated. And tell our troops to be ready.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Varvatos said.
“I’m already sending a text in the world leaders group chat,” Eli said, tapping away on his phone. “Gosh, a hundred messages…”
“There’s just…a group chat for that?” Toby said.
“Of course! How else would we talk about universal issues? Though the time differences can be a pain.”
“Krel, Varvatos, myself, and Eli will handle the Titan of Fire,” Aja said, getting a nod from Krel.
“The Wingmen will take on big murdery Jack Frost,” Toby said, meeting Aaarrrgghh for a fist bump.
“Jack Frost actually very nice,” Aaarrrgghh said.
“A bit of a fiend himself though,” Blinky murmured.
“I’ll go with you guys,” Nomura said.
“And I,” Walter said.
“What, you babysitting me, Stricklander?”
“Hardly. You should know I don’t like to be outdone.”
“You can take the Blanks with you,” Krel said. “So they can use their new built in torches! Uh, but also help you.”
“The rest of us will go after Nari,” Jim said. “You sure you’ll be alright, Doux?”
“Alright enough,” Douxie said. He looked down at his bare torso and hugged himself, face warm. “A-after I get some clothes of course…”
Aja nodded. “One hour. Make what preparations you can.”
When the brief hour had passed, they gathered in the foyer. The Guardians of Arcadia regarded one another in earnest, dire silence falling over them.
Outside sirens wailed, the storm showing no signs of stopping.
⬦
Three Akiridion pods zoomed through the squalling skies of Israel, engaging hyperspeed to reach Jerusalem where the dark crimson Heartstone beckoned. They were flanked by a fleet of Akiridion ships that quickly descended as the Fire Titan crawled across the ancient city, engulfing it in flames and lava, decimating structures with every move. Civilians scrambled to the ships as the ramps lowered, Akiridions shepherding people aboard.
Aja soared ahead on her hoverboard, Krel piloting his own pod close beside her. She configured her serrator to the strongest cannon and opened fire, aiming straight for Bellroc through veils of rain. Krel deployed shots along the Titan’s neck, provoking a deafening screech. The Titan swung its massive head, flames trickling from its mouth. Krel barely dodged the swipe of its huge claws. Aja veered left just in time, a blistering stream of fire grazing the underside of her hoverboard. Another pod bombarded the Titan’s back with laser beams.
“Varvatos Vex will stuff his pillows with your feathers!!” Varvatos bellowed.
“Take this you noodle-necked chicken!” Krel said.
While Krel and Varvatos continued to unload on the Titan, Aja’s only target was Bellroc. They snarled in her direction and willed their Titan to unleash more flames. Aja swerved and ducked and spun to avoid giant balls of fire, all while racing towards the Titan’s head. With a warrior’s cry Aja leaped off the hoverboard, somersaulting in the air before bringing her serrator down onto Bellroc’s staff with such force sparks flew.
“What a waste,” Bellroc growled. “A regal being such as yourself fighting for this miserable world.”
“This world is not miserable,” Aja shot back. “It’s my home. And I will protect it from you!”
She scraped her serrator up to force them apart, spinning into another attack. Bellroc ducked and Aja jumped as their staff swept under her. Their weapons clanged in a flurry of strikes and blocks. Bellroc caught Aja in the face, sending her stumbling towards the curved edge of the Titan’s skull. No time to regain her balance when flames came barreling, her serrator’s shield activating seconds before she was cooked.
“All your struggle is in vain,” Bellroc said. “Stop this foolishness, and perhaps the world from which you come will be spared.”
The Titan’s head tipped, sending Aja rolling forward under the fire. Krel’s tachyon enhancers did wonders to help her stabilize, and on one knee she sliced Bellroc in the side. Bellroc screamed and clutched their wound, yellow and orange leaking through their fingers. The Fire Titan roared.
“What do you mean my planet will be spared?” Aja asked, stance guarded.
Bellroc chuckled. “Surely you didn’t think we would stop here. We will end this world and the worlds beyond. The skies erased and the stars crushed!” They brought their staff down, Aja swift to block. Bellroc seethed through the scraping of their weapons. “All will be remade in my image!”
Up above the third pod jerked about in the air.
“Steve, try to keep it steady!” Eli shouted, once again losing sight of Bellroc through the scope of his serrator rifle. The pod suddenly dipped. “Steve!”
“Kinda hard to drive with one arm, Pepperjack!” Steve groused, wiggling his arm in a sling. The relentless rain made the windshield runny, but he caught Aja’s blue glow as she went at with Bellroc on the Titan’s skull. “Kick Miss Jalapenos’ butt, Aja! Woohooo! That’s my ninja alien Queen!”
Eli ducked into the cockpit, flipping water off his face. “Focus, Steve! I gotta get a good shot—AHEEEE!!”
The Titan reared onto its legs, folded in on itself before flinging its enormous wings apart, effectively blowing the pods back several hundred feet.
“Worse than the fairest wheels!!” Krel cried as he tumbled upside down. “Varvatos! Creepslayerz, come in! Are you guys alright?!”
“Nothing more than a gentle breeze!” Varvatos said, going right back in with lasers firing.
“Righto, Krellex!” Steve slurred. “Iz like a swirly…”
Eli pulled himself back up through the hatch. The Titan went still and Aja and Bellroc were circling each other slowly, a perfect chance to take aim. But just as he pulled the trigger, the Titan brought its wings back down, the powerful gust knocking against their pod. What would’ve been a direct hit just grazed Bellroc’s ear and they looked up, locking onto the Creepslayerz and fuming. Eli yelped and retreated back inside.
“No!!” Aja cried as Bellroc commanded the Titan to spew flames in their direction.
“C-Coming in hot!!” Steve squealed, yanking the controls and sending the pod spinning wildly. But not before the fire made contact, the porthole on Eli’s side shattering.
“AHH!!” Eli recoiled as flames licked his arm, eating through his suit.
“Pepperjack!!” The pod violently shook and banged and then they were dropping no matter what Steve did. “W-we’re going down! We’re going down!!”
“Steve—UGH!!” Bellroc’s staff slammed into Aja’s stomach, sending her smacking into a wall of bone and her serrator flying from her grip.
“Hold on!” Krel dove after the Creepslayerz’s smoking pod, mashing buttons and pulling levers. “Come on, come on, come on…Yes!” Panels successfully unfolded, and a pulsing beam of energy enveloped and stopped the pod before it could crash into a golden dome. “Hoho! Anti-gravity ray!”
“N-Nice catch, bro-in-law!” Steve wheezed. “Ugh, anyone gotta barf bag?”
The damaged pod was lowered onto the structure where the dome sat. Steve slouched back in his seat, head pounding and spinning. He looked up, stricken by all the destruction showcased through the remaining windows. Jerusalem burning against the rain, a foul smell tarnishing the air. Structures grand and small now reduced to piles of blackened brick and stone. The Akiridion ships were pulling out, each at full capacity, but desperate screams still resounded all around. Varvatos was taking shots wherever he could, all the while evading teeth, claws, and torrents of fire. But still the Fire Titan inched closer and closer to the Heartstone, the devastation awashed in its deep scarlet glow.
A thump and a heavy, pained groan. Steve looked to see Eli leaning against his seat, clutching his arm.
“Pepperjack? Pepperjack, what’s…” He turned Eli towards him, and one look at his arm made his blood run cold. A nasty, third degree burn marred his bicep and elbow. “Pepperjack…Oh man, Eli’s hurt really bad guys!”
Krel hovered over them, gut sinking. He snapped his head up when the Titan let out an ear-splitting roar. It thrashed its head side to side, ribbons of fire streaming from its maw. Varvatos launched himself onto the Titan’s back, his pod obliterated by the blaze. Aja clung with all four hands for dear life while Bellroc remained rooted in place with her serrator under their foot.
“Last chance,” Bellroc said. “Give up on this world. Join us, even. And no harm will come to your kind.”
Aja grit her teeth, rising onto one knee, two arms holding her stomach. Nari’s face flashed across her mind.
“You’re a liar,” she said, slowly getting to her feet. “You’re full of hatred. Full of yourself! Any universe that bows to you will only suffer.” Behind Bellroc, Aja spotted Varvatos emerge from a jungle of feathers, serrator at the ready. She quickly looked away. “House Tarron will never join you.” Her gaze flickered to her serrator. “And we won’t let this world, any world, fall to you!”
Varvatos jumped as Aja dove. Bellroc whirled, blocking Varvatos’ attack and allowing Aja to scoop up her weapon. With a battle cry Varvatos charged, serrator rapidly alternating between blade and cannon. Flames shot from Bellroc’s fingertips, chasing Aja while their other hand flipped and spun their staff to deflect blasts of energy. Aja dispersed and pushed against the blaze with her shield. She rolled forward as the flames dissipated, and sliced away at Bellroc’s legs.
Bellroc screeched and stumbled back, rivulets of lava bleeding down their calves. They looked up as Krel crested the Titan’s head in his pod, cannons locked on. Aja and Varvatos held them at point-blank range, glaring eyes daring them to move. The final blows were about to be made…
Until Bellroc smiled.
Before Aja could move, before she could think or react, the Titan was lifting a wing, scraping its heated claws against the side of an Akiridion ship that had flown overhead. Then it opened its maw at another ship, unleashing an eruption of red flames. Both ships began to fall out of the sky, lowered by strings of black smoke.
The impatience of time disappeared.
Krel’s pod turned and streaked after them.
Varvatos was pierced through his chest by a sharpened red gem, then thrown off as the Fire Titan took flight.
The crash of the ships rivaled the thunderclaps. Then came the crash of the Heartstone, and the world was plunged into utter grayness.
Aja was on her hoverboard, wind tearing at her face and rain lashing her like shards of glass.
Hearing every scream except her own.
~
Author’s Notes : Man, Bellroc suuuuucks.
I have to find a new place to live by May so say a prayer or two for me if you’re about that. Bless and thank you all again. I’m thankful to God that I can still create things.
Until next time.
