> The Troll who had the Moon. > by softland > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Softer Than Stone > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a story about a Troll named Troldemousse and like any other troll is mother and father where always pushing themselves, nothing extraordinary for him it was a routine that only lasted for the last 2 million years, he's a young troll. Troldemousse doesn't complain too much, well except for is older brother who is constantly blocking the sun. Trolls don't mind bathing in the suns light even if it restrains them from moving but for Troldemousse he didn't have enough sun for is plants to grow. Most troll like to let plants grow on them but because of is brother, Troldemousse had too much moss that prevented other plants to grow. Worst of all Troldemousse's disturbing brother was old enough to move himself and go far away if he wanted. Troldemousse tried to convince him, he tried and tried again but he never listened. Until one day after a long, very long nap Troldemousse awoken with something that he almost forgot that it existed, light, he was so happy at last he could grow something else but moss but only when he could move in a few million years and get ride of the moss himself, but now that he had light something was missing, he looked on is left no one was to be seen he looked on is right no one either. "That's strange" he thought. He tried to call for is mum and dad but no response. "Where is everybody" is mind began to fear, oh yes he feared that is family abandoned him. "HEY WHERE ARE YOU ?" he shouted "PLEASE SOMEONE IF THIS IS A JOKE IT'S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE" and still there was no response. Troldemousse began crying, to young to walk and not old enough to be alone. He cried and cried lakes began to form he cried for so long that a sea was created then a ocean. When is tears stopped he was there alone in the middle of a ocean of is own tears. He opened is eyes and was stupefied of the what he saw in the water, a big white disc was on it and going in is direction. Has beautiful has it looked he worried what will happen when it will touch him. He began asking it to stay away but the disc didn't respond. When the disc was almost at him he began to panic no one ever touched him before except the plants, he tried to move shaking himself but is feet were not old enough to break from the ground. "This is the end" he thought "mum, dad even you big brother I hope that you are ok and..." he prayed. He closed is eyes when the moment arrived trying to not feel the horrible pain that will consume him. But when he thought the moment had come a new sensation enveloped him, it was warm and cold a bit like the sun but not on the surface of is rock skin it was more of a inside feeling. He was warm inside and all is problem began to be forgotten. He opened is eyes to thanks the white disk but it was gone. "It can't be gone I can still feel it" he thought. And again he looked right and left, but now one, then an idea came, he looked up and there it was is saviour it was big, very big and so white it could have been milk. "Thank you" he polite said, but still no response. "You don't talk much hum... well I don't mind, if you stay here we have each other company won't you say ?" he smilled. "You feel so warm do you mind if I take nape" and again the troll napped for a very long time. When he awake something had changed again he looked a round him and was amazed the ocean was gone and trees and plant had grow everywhere that had so much growth that they where as tall as him. "It must have been the big white disc who had done that" he thought. But that wasn't the only surprise he looked down and to his surprise he saw feet, finally he was old enough to walk now he could go seek his family and put away his moss, a small tear ran is rock-cheek, he looked up to see the moon but something was different he wasn't sure the moon used to go from one side of the horizon from another not straight up . After nights and nights of walking he found something again new to his eyes, small cubical colored pointy rocks aligned. "So this is the world" he thought "So much to discover". Curious he began walking next one of the cube. Each foot step make everything tremble near him, the cubes where shaking like coconuts and it didn't take long for the inhabitants of the cubes to get out of their home. Scream began to be heard, he turned himself to see a small group of four legged creature. Some of them screamed in terror "The horror The horror". Some fainted and others fled. Troldemousse knew he wouldn't do anything to harm those creatures but he sensed something was going wrong. A large boom was heard in the distant a black cloud was coming fast. Afraid Troldemousse began to run but slipped on something and smashed in one of the house. The inhabitant saw the cloud and began to cheer. "Luna is going to save us, Luna, Luna, Luna". The troll what just beginning to get up before something began lifting him up "This is familiar" he thought. He was then thrown to the ground a great windy voice shouted. "Who is thy fool who tries to seek the lives of those who I protect !?" the voice was loud and powerful, to loud and powerful for him, afraid he curved on himself now he looked like a giant boulder. "The princess has defeated the monster" someone yelled, cheers and flatteries began to rain on Luna. The princess approached of the boulder she looked at it. "The beast is merely tamed please all of you stay back while I go with this creature" Luna approached her horn and began lifting him then fly away. To be continued. > Long Time Friend > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Troldemousse felt he was being lifted. Horrible thoughts passed through is mind "is it gonna hurt me ?" then he remembered the powerful voice that forced him into is boulder position. "ho no ho no ho no" is thoughts where focused on the voice, he tried to remember how the beast looked but is fear was to big and all memory of it were sucked out and instead it putted worse ones. Trying to remember the creature is mind created a ridiculous monster looking creature, a monster with a beak looking mouth so wide that it could gobble him up. "haaaaa" he shouted, will thinking of being eaten by the creature. Then he felt that is body had it the ground, something was touching him outside of is cocoon like defence. "Is it trying to taste me ?" he then tried to hear something but only muffled sounds reached him. He felt himself being lifted of the ground "that is it" he thought "it is going to gobble me" at the end of is thought he sensed a slow acceleration and a brutal landing, but nothing to harm him. And again after a few minutes something poked him again. He completely forgot about the eating thing and was curious of what just happened, so he tried to listen again and this time he eared shouting, "It is the loud voice of the monster" he thought, what he eared was angry shouts so he stayed in position. Time passed and he was almost convinced that the creature was gone when he felt another poke, this time he tried really hard to listen and he heard a different voice "another monster !" he said loudly and frightened. The voices suddenly when silent, then began speaking again. After that he felt a bit hot, but nothing to be concerned about. Being calm again he tried to visualized them by listening to the ground, Troldemousse knows how to do that, when he was younger he liked to look near him to know what the critters where doing. Concentration filled his mind has he began to see eight marks a few steps from him, sometimes one the the marks being lifted from the ground. After a small moment the eight marks separated into four and went further until Troldemousse couldn't sense them anymore. He felt being lifted again but this time he was smacked on the ground reapetadly and again on some harder surface he even was left a moment in water. This time he didn't have to listen, to hear the infamous angry shouts that was tossed to him, he didn't mind and he let it be, thinking that "If I stay still and do nothing it will go away". Suddently he felt warm inside, he smiled, "I know who this is" he thought. It seamed strange to him a bit but without hesitation he left is boulder form to is normal form. The first thing he eared was crying and sobers and whining but in front of him there was nothing, he looked behind and saw a dark blue and white creature crying on the ground. He approached, is head was now over it and blocked the moonlight, the creature stopped whining and began to lift is head. He saw the eyes of the creatures looking straight at him and thought "this cannot be the terrible creatures that tried to eat me" and the four leaged creature stood still not moving and thought "If I stay still and do nothing it will go away". _______________________________________________________________________ A few minutes before this all happened Selena was happy that this herd finally began to stay in the houses. But still nopony was still volunteering to help on the night sift. "It will come she thought" trying to think positive. In the end she didn't mind being awake the night she even like it she saw more thing in the night that in the day even if the night is full of dangerous predators. The night is full of life good or bad a firefly passing by, the frogs croaking and other sounds from creatures coming from everywhere. Selena enjoyed the orchestral symphony that was brought to her ears each night it sometimes makes her sing , ho yes she singed but not to loud because she could wake up someone by mistake. Mostly she singed while trotting on her patrol around the houses, the trip wasn't long, what they build wasn't big but it was enough for the small herd they were in. She decided that the houses where ok, she felt a bit thirsty, a rectangle fountain was in the middle of the village, it will be nice when water will flow in it but for now the villagers had to put buckets of water regularly in it, to her surprise the fountain was empty, she wasn't happy and bucked the bucket, it went far away. "pfff" she thought "I've got to go to the lake" but then she remembered the rules of the villages, they are clear , no pony leaves the villages at night even less when alone, but her throat and sore tong said otherwise. She rationalized that the lake wasn't far from the houses it would take only a few minutes. At the lake she took large sips of water and when she felt satisfied stopped. Something cough her eyes before leaving a reflection in the water, there was the moon, but also a butterfly, a shinning butterfly dancing swivelling above the clear and mirror like water of the lake, an aerial ballet that fitted the orchestral sounds surrounding her. She was far enough from the houses she didn't have to restrain herself she singed with all her might. All the small animals and critters of the lake began to gather around the lake enjoying Selena on a cloud dancing and signing with the strange butterfly. A brutal scream was heard and ended everything, all went blank, no music, no sound, no dancing, no critters. Selena felled down her cloud and landed directly in the lake, the butterfly was already gone. Completely soaked she panicked and climbed back on her cloud she used her magic and went faster that she never thought that she could go, when she saw the villages a large creatures was already in the villages. Before she could reach she saw the creature destroy a house. Rage filled her mind her voice raised but she stayed aware. When she arrived she lifted the creature and throws it away will shouting "Who is thy fool who tries to seek the lives of those who I protect !?" To be continued > Long Time Friend part 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Selena levitated the monster away from the village. She needed to get away, but not too far her sister was going to look for her. Suddenly the monster began to shout, she had to land quick, fortunately a clearing was beneath her. After landing she stayed on her guard her horn constantly charged and began to study the creature. She went behind it, turned around it, poked it, but still the same conclusion came to her mind "It's a rock covered in moss" If she hadn't seen what it had done she wouldn't know what it was, outside of being a rock. Selena saw tons of different creatures but none of this kind ,Griffins ,Minotaurs ,Dragons, Chimeras ,Manticores she had seen lots of them but this "Maybe a gargoyle" she thought. She lifted it taking a look under the creature but nothing new, "this is frustrating" the mare thought. She went higher in the sky then simply let it fall. The creature crashed into the ground in a hellish rattle. Selena landed to see only a new crater formed around the monster, she poked again and even tried to open it, but nothing. Her eye twitched "I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY A ROCK !!!!!" she shouted. Selena's facial expression changed to a psychotic form of angry. She began to look around her trying to find something that could break open the position of the monster but before she could find anything her sister appeared from the woods. "ooh bless the night you're not hurt" Celestia said "are.. are you alright Lulu ?" she asked seeing the expression on her sister's face. Selena instantly calmed down. "yes Tia I'm alright" she responded. "What is that thing lulu ? " Celestia asked "did it tried to do something ? on the way I've heard a big bang". "It was I" said Selena "I tried to open it by letting it fall from the highest point that my cloud could reach". Celestia looked at the monster like her sister before and came also to the same conclusion. "It's a rock covered in moss" she said. "I KNOW IT'S A ROCK DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW A ROCK WHEN I SEE A ROCK ?" "WE SPEND HOUR LIFE'S SEEING ROCKS" Selena shouted with frustration. Celestia saw the distress of her sister. "Don't worry Lulu" Celestia said while hugging her sister "we are going to face this like we always did, together" Her words cheered her up. "So what do you think it is Tia ?" Selena asked. "Well looking at it I think it's maybe some kind of gargoyle or maybe.." Celestia was interrupted has the voice of the monster raised in the air. "Another monster" Selena heard. "You heard it Tia ? it's another monstrosity we need to end it NOW ! We cannot risk what we have done" Selena firmly said. Celestia tried to analyze the situation "The monster attacked the house but then nothing, it didn't do anything after you landed ?" asked Celestia. "No Tia it didn't move, well except when I tried to open it" she responded. "I'm going to try something, please stay behind me" Selena went behind her sister. Celestia's horn began to glow more and more until a yellow beam burst out of it impacting whit great force the monster. The ground was completely burned but the creature didn't have a scratch it wasn't even hot. "This is indeed problematic" "Listen Lulu I'm going to go back to the village and tell them to prepare, just in case" Celestia said. "Stay here and keep an eye on it please" Celestia asked "I'll be back shortly". Celestia went away but Selena had another idea, open it. After a few minutes Selena lifted it again but instead of letting it drop she began to furiously smash the creature against anything she could see. But the more she tried the more anger began to build off the failed attempts. The clearing looked now like the moon, filled with craters. Selena began to feel tired of this and an idea came through her mind "Maybe I can drown it !" fortunately for her a small lake that she saw when coming in this area was not far, she went there with the monster and throw it in the lake. "This long, TO LONG!" the patience of the mare was again reached. After putting it back on the land, Like her sister she began to charge her horn. But instead of a yellow beam a white and blue beam went on the creatures but again nothing happened. Selena dropped on the ground exhausted and began to cry out. "This is useless" she thought "I can't even beat a rock" she continued. Before she could continue something strange happened the light changed so she lifted her head. Two black eyes with a copper ring was looking straight at her. A kind of fear that instinctively passed through her body paralysing her from running. "If I stay still and do nothing it will go away" she repeated herself again and again. She wished her sister be back soon and by soon she meant now. The monster began to move around looking at the mare he then reached her face whipping one of her teardrops with one of is fingers. He looked at it then back to Selena and began to lift her, laying in its palm Selena decided to play dead. "Are you alright" he asked, but no response . "You still don not talk much" he smiled to her, at that precise moment Selena felt something. Something part of her that have been sleeping for a long time. "Hello" she said unsure of her. "Haaa finally, Hello my friend" Troldemousse said. Selena was lost "My friend ?" she didn't know what to say. Never a creature this massive has ever talked to her, well it was also the first kind of monster that was a rock. The monster sat. She hesitated to continue the conversation but it didn't show any kind of animosity towards her. "My name is Selena" "Pleased to know your name Selena my name is Troldemousse" before Troldemousse could say anything else Selena interrupted her. "Why did you attack our homes ?" she asked "Attack ?" he said with surprise he remembered how he fell on one of the weird cubes. "What is a home" he replied. Selena wasn't that much surprised her kind doesn't have a place to stay normally. But still most creatures have a cave, a den or some kind of territory. "A home is a place where you can live with others". "oh like a family" he said. "That's it" she said with a smile. The troll began to understand. "The cube that I have fallen on, was it a home ?" "Fallen ?" Selena was astounded this creature didn't want to attack them this was a premier "Yes it was" she said . "I am sorry for what happened I just wanted to know what it was" he continued. Again Selena didn't know what to say but an idea came to her mind "what if this creature could guard the village". "It seems pretty frightening and understand our language maybe we can.." But other questions came to her mind. "Wait how do you know me ? you said that I didn't talk much and you called me friend". "We have met a bit of time ago yes I remember" said Troldemousse. "This is not making any sense" Selena said "Can you put me on my cloud it must be around I have to go see my sister". Troldemousse looked around and saw a dark cloud levitating he took the cloud with two of is fingers, he presented it to Selena. "Why is there a hole in it ?" she asked, she looked at the Troll jaded thoughts came in. "Could you take me to the village ?" Selena said she didn't have a lot of choice her sister was taking too much time this wasn't right. "The village ?" he responded. "The village you know the homes that you crashed" Selena was to exhausted to be angry. Troldemousse didn't know where to go so he asked and Selena pointed the direction. A few minutes of silence passed before Selena saw something strange This massive troll is moving in a dense forest and there is no noise. She looked left and right but none of the tree that Troldemousse touched were injured. She talked about it and he said that it was always like that when he moved in a forest that he had to not harm them and he couldn't go any faster because it won't work anymore if he did. While walking Selena asked questions to Troldemousse. "What where you doing in this part of the world ?" she asked. Troldemousse stopped to look at her and said "I'm looking for my family and also a place to put the moss off my back to find a place where it could grow" he said. He also asked "Haven't you seen any of my kind ?" "No you are the first of... what are you ?" she asked "I am a Troll, I sleep the day, I move the night". he responded "A Troll !" Selena remembered the old faerie tails that were told about gigantic rock creatures with an amazing strength who could destroy lands with a simple swift. "No I didn't see anything like you before today" she said, "why do you want to get rid of the moss ?". "We Trolls feed on plants and the plants feeds on us, unfortunately only moss would grow on me but now that I can move I am going to find someone who would like to be with me" the Troll responded. Selena found that strange but she couldn't judge with the position she had. "And with kind of plant would you like on your back ?" Selena asked. Troldemousse waited a bit, thinking. "A willow tree, yes, that is what I would like". "And you Selena what would you want ?" Troldemousse asked. Selena didn't have to think to respond to him "I would like to see my real family again". Troldemousse stopped again. "So you have a lost family too ?" "No there not really lost even if I don't know where they are" "No actually our family is separated, we have to, it's a tradition, like they say" Troldemousse listened and began to walk again. "Each mare and stallion who goes into adulthood have to find a new herd, a new family "So after wandering a long time, trying herd after herd, my sister and I we thought of something" "We cannot go against the tradition but what if we don't have to move constantly" "The tradition would be conserved and everypony could see each other when they want" "We have almost succeeded but we have lots of problems with attacks on the group" "And some ponies think that we shouldn't go against what we have always done" Selena explained, her face full of sadness. "This is complicated" Troldemousse replied. Again minutes passed and when Troldemousse looked at Selena she was sleeping. A bright light was coming towards them. Troldemousse stopped The light stopped near him, a yellow glow enveloped Troldemousse and he began to be lifted from the ground. But instead of being thrown away is head was near the ground. A voice shouted "WHERE IS MY SISTER!" Troldemousse lifted is head and saw a sorrow faced mare he didn't understood what she said but looking at her expression he opened is hand. Celestia canceled her spell. He hit the ground face first. The sound of it waked up Selena, her sister was already hugging her. "oh Lulu I'm so sorry" Celestia said while crying. "What happened ?" Selena asked with anxiousness. "They left us Lulu they left us" at that moment Celestia exploded in tears and sobs. Troldemousse was back on is feet and both Celestia and Selena where in is hand. He looked at the two sisters listening to the cries, not knowing what to do he stood still listening. Something struck him at that moment, something that normally only the same specie can feel between there kind. Empathie that is what he felt, there was no words for him to say it. He spoke to Selena and asked what had happened. And began to move on again. "Where are you going ?" said Selena. "After your family"he responded. To be continued.