Fraggle Rock: Elder Clan Adventures

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 16

Remember when,
Now and then,
Something all went wrong?
Mallory, would say to me,
“Please be strong.”

Princess Gwenalot continued to clutch at Crooner as she sat on her bed just off the Great Cave, sobbing as she sang the mournful tune. “I can’t – I just can’t,” she pleaded. “I can’t be strong, Crooner. She’s gone.” She started to hit him in his chest. “She’s gone! She was my best friend! I could tell her anything! What could have happened to her?”

Crooner let her sob and hit him and wail and rant. He had made the wish, so now he must be an adult Fraggle and live with the consequences. After all, what did he think was going to happen? Did he honestly expect her to dismiss the loss so easily?

Technically, he didn’t think it had been an official wish. The genie hadn’t been around – or so he thought. He just let his mouth open before his mind could catch up. The wishing business was clearly more complicated than it sounded in the legends.

Still, there was one wish that didn’t seem to have any bad associations. He pulled out the amulet he had tried to give her earlier. She backed away just long enough to see what he had, but she shook her head and declined, sobbing some more, raining tears upon the small jeweled amulet.

He sighed silently to himself. Maybe this wish also had its downside. It was the perfect gift … but he couldn’t seem to give it to her.

“Hooba,” offered a quiet, dreamy female voice. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Crooner smiled and shook his head as Princess Gwenalot sought to hurry and wipe away her tears. “Hooba, Blundig,” he greeted her. “It’s quite warm in these caves. Feel free to gobo and place it on the boom-boom over there in the corner.”

Blundig stared at the Princess but bowed and took off her light blue cap and hung it on a small hatrack. “Princess, are you okay?”

“No,” she replied, bawling again, “my life is over! I’ll never be happy again!”

Crooner stood. “I’ll leave.”

Blundig stretched out her palm to stop him. “Please, I won’t take up too much time.” She walked over to the Princess and kneeled. “No one was seriously hurt in the Great Cave or the Tunnels, Your Highness,” she informed. “The Crystals in the Crystal Cavern were barely affected. Some Fraggles are disgusted by all the mud lying around and some enjoy its warmth.”

“I noticed,” the Princess replied quietly, not wanting to trouble Blundig with the argument she had with Fishface.

Blundig continued. “The Great Freeze was supposed to occur next week, but it seems if the warm mud continues to heat Fraggle Rock, it might be postponed until early next year.” She gulped. “I must admit,” she said softly with a bit of fear in her voice, “it scares me to think of what the consequences might be of postponing the Great Freeze.” She looked up at her Princess. “While the bells waken the sleeping Rock, that still leaves the honoring of the sacred Weeba. No one seems to know of any penalties, but I fear that not honoring the Weeba beast might upset the spirit of the Rock.”

Princess Gwenalot seemed to gain control of herself. She shrugged. “I don’t see why we need to separate it from the rest of the ritual. It can wait until we ring the bells when the Great Freeze comes.”

Blundig looked away, her tail sweeping absent-mindedly across the floor. “I have … a further request, Princess.”

“What is it?”

She looked down. “I wish to take some time to be alone. I am greatly concerned, not only about the rituals being postponed, but also other things that … might affect our future.”

Princess Gwenalot’s attention was now entirely devoted to Blundig, forgetting that Crooner was even there. “What are your concerns? You can tell me, you know. We must be able to work together.”

Blundig shook her head. “Not for this. I apologize, milady, but I need to document everything that has happened so far.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes,” Blundig replied, not wanting to admit to more … personal reasons to leave the Great Hole.

The Princess placed her hands gently on Blundig’s shoulders and smiled warmly. “You have been such a great help to us, Blundig. You are truly legendary. I shall watch over the Tunnels for you. Take as much time as you need.” She wanted to ask if she knew about her argument with Fishface, but she was unsure just how close they were. Blundig didn’t seem to be in a relationship with him … but she wasn’t denying it, either. As Princess, she could order Blundig to tell her, but that would be impolite. It was really none of her business, after all. Still, it bothered her to see this dreamy and idealistic Fraggle suddenly run off with her tail between her legs.

 

[The Count]

*Pats the chapter. *Loves the chapter. *Admires the chapter.
Very very well done. The pathos of the relationships is now starting to take center stage... The consequences of actions taken and not taken... It's all so good, we simply cannot wait for more.

 

[RedPiggy]

Since the Fraggle Wars are coming up in the next arc IIRC, I wanted to make sure I've spent awhile developing relationships so that when it all goes to pot it still makes sense in the Fraggleverse. The Weeba mention just happened spontaneously as I was typing. I liked the idea that disrespect for tradition might end up badly (culminating in war), just as Gobo ignoring the rituals seemed to do. Apparently it occurred to my fingers before my brain that the bell thing is stupid without the Great Freeze, but the random Weeba thing in that ritual might mean something more ominous.

I have some theories as to why Blundig is leaving, though I'm not going to delve into it. It's just some personal thoughts:

1. She's pregnant. I guess I'd be moody too.
2. She's not willing to admit that Fishface is an ambitious jerk. Not stable mate material.
3. I need her to be gone by the end of this arc because "Mokey Then and Now" will take place during one of the slower chapters of the Fraggle War arc.
4. She really is upset by the lack of the whole ritual thing.
5. All of the above.

 

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 17

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

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

Rather dull, actually.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She smiled. “Do you have any friends?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Still others didn’t know what a mirror was.

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

No-Neck patted her on the back sympathetically. “It’s sad when friends aren’t friends anymore.”

The Princess glanced at him and smiled. “I’m getting upset over nothing, No-Neck.”

“You are?"

She nodded. “Even if she’s truly gone, she’s still my best friend.”

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

“Perhaps so.”

“Princess?"

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

 

[The Count]

Thanks for the update. Liked the inclusion of the Friendship Song at the beginning. Nice how Noneck got his friend back. Hope for more when you can post it. *Off to keep watching Narnia on ABC Family's Christmas.

 

[RedPiggy]

Author’s Note: I just realized that out of four songs in this story, two are from Elvis and two are just re-worded Friendship Song.

Chapter 18

It was the beginning of the third month since the usual time of the Great Freeze. Princess Gwenalot had noticed a few Fraggle families on edge. Maybe it was the unseasonal weather, she mused to herself. She gathered some mushrooms one morning and Sir Blunderbrain appeared and snuck some from the pile she was accumulating behind her.

“Hey!” she shouted with mock anger.

He smiled. “Admit it, fair maiden. You are just as bored as I.”

“Does it show?”

He nodded. “There is talk of disappearing Fraggles. I wanted to know if --.”

“I have to watch the Great Cave and the Tunnels, Sir Knight,” Princess Gwenalot informed him bluntly. She stood and gave him a sword.

He looked at it questioningly.

“I have another in my cave,” said the Princess. “Take it. Find out what happened to those missing Fraggles.”

He bowed deeply. “I will only use this sword to protect the lives of Fraggles everywhere, milady.”

He left and Princess Gwenalot finished gathering mushrooms. She soon discovered the worried Fraggles huddling in the middle of the Great Cave and gave them the mushrooms. She told them she had sent the brave Sir Blunderbrain to locate their loved ones. They thanked her and smiled wearily. After all, they had all the confidence they needed, since Sir Blunderbrain was known to have successfully protected the Princess from evil and stopped the genie from continuing his hunt of all Fraggle-kind.

Three days later, Princess Gwenalot heard a celebration in the Great Cave. She rushed and saw several Fraggles, looking exhausted and ragged. They were being congratulated by their now excited relatives and friends.

“What’s going on?”

“They’ve returned!” the Fraggles shouted with glee.

One of the weary Fraggles kneeled in front of the Princess and hung his head, his tail drooping. “Milady, we ran from a terrible beast with blue scales and a long thick tail and sharp teeth. We ran until we found a long tunnel. Suddenly, the tunnel’s wall opened and we were all sucked inside, never to see light again.”

“You’re free now, that’s the important thing,” Princess Gwenalot told them, smiling. “Did you see Sir Blunderbrain?”

They stared at the ground. The whole cave took on a somber tone.

“Milady, he fought the tunnel bravely. He … he will … not … be returning to us, milady.”

 

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 19

Princess Gwenalot started towards a long cave a day’s distance from the Great Cave in silence. She hadn’t expected the loss of Sir Blunderbrain to affect her as much as it was, but there was no denying that she would miss him. He wasn’t her best friend, like Mallory, but he had been loyal and able to criticize her with a smile … somewhat like Blundig. Princess Gwenalot appreciated the fact that they didn’t act angry when they didn’t like something she did.

Soon Crooner appeared in his white cape, his guitar slung over one shoulder and the Magic Pipe in his right hand. He smiled at her. “I thought you might like some company and some help.”

“I can do this by myself,” she told him cheerfully. “I don’t need any help. It’s just a dragon.”

Crooner’s face fell. “It eats Fraggles.”

The Princess laughed, holding her knees and squinting in pain as she laughed so hard. “Just because some scaredy Fraggles ran away from some little dragon doesn’t mean it actually eats Fraggles,” she replied through guffaws. “Come on, Crooner. You know better than that.”

He smirked. “Then why are you bringing your last sword?”

The Princess stopped laughing and glanced at it. “Huh? Oh, well, I might need it to hack away at some vines or something, I guess.”

“Uh-huh,” Crooner answered with a droll tone. “You know, this pipe can make vines untangle and leave. Let me come with you.”

“Crooner,” Princess Gwenalot began, exasperated, “why do you want to come?”

“Because I want to be with you!” he retorted, grimacing. “You let Blunderbrain --.”

“Don’t mention him!” she shot back. She looked away, her voice softening. “He’s gone.”

Crooner stared at the Princess for several moments in silence. Soon he had an epiphany. “You think the dragon got him?” He nodded. “You’re not thinking of revenge, are you?”

She continued to avoid his gaze. “I don’t know exactly. The story seems to be a tunnel ate him, but that’s stupid.” She paused, her voice slightly trembling. “I sent him.”

“He always knew he’d leave the world in battle. That’s how knights are, Gwen.”

“I sent him,” she repeated numbly.

Crooner stepped closer and gently placed an arm around her. “You sent him to rescue the missing Fraggles. He succeeded. He deserves our respect and our thanks.” He kissed her helmet. “You don’t have to throw your life away out of guilt.”

She chuckled, surprising him. She backed away and wiped a tear from her eyes. “Yes, I felt guilty. I guess I still might.” She shook her head. “That’s not why I wanted to go find the dragon. I’m a lot like Sir Blunderbrain, I suppose. I like the thrill of adventure, the excitement of discovering new creatures, the rush of battle --.”

“You like fighting?” Crooner asked, confused.

“It’s all just play,” Princess Gwenalot replied as though talking to a toddler. “I don’t want to hurt any Fraggle.”

“That’s not a prop sword, Gwen,” Crooner told her coldly. “The blade is sharp.”

Princess Gwenalot sighed in frustration. “I know what a real sword is, Crooner! You need to give me some credit!” She pointed at him. “You can make any Fraggle do whatever you want with that pipe of yours. Just because it’s not a sword doesn’t mean it can’t be a weapon.”

“But --.”

“No ‘buts’,” she retorted. “You act like I was born yesterday. You do it all the time! I may not be some sacred Minstrel, but I also have a brain. It’s one thing to suggest an alternative to my solutions. It’s quite another to act like I can’t make any solution whatsoever.”

“I don’t --.”

A female voice cleared her throat. They both turned to Blundig, who stood behind the Princess.

“Blundig?” noted Princess Gwenalot in shock. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to assist my Princess --.”

“Why does everyone think I can’t handle a simple dragon?” screamed Princess Gwenalot.

“No no!” replied Blundig, bowing slightly. “I imply no such thing! I have information regarding the dragon!” She crept up closer to the Princess and glanced at Crooner. “The sacred Minstrel’s music might still the heart of the rampaging dragon, but it also calms Fraggles. There are far more Fraggles to calm than dragons to discover. Everyone seems so stressed out lately. If the Minstrel would be so kind as to calm the Fraggles, it would prevent our fair maiden from being harmed because frightened Fraggles got between her and the dragon’s rage.”

Crooner smirked slightly. He admired Blundig’s diplomatic skills. He was bright enough to see right through them, of course, but he never left her unimpressed. She wanted to spend time with the Princess to see if she was okay with Sir Blunderbrain’s disappearance … yet she still had a point. Crooner would be of more use keeping Fraggles occupied, since he could also tell everyone was starting to feel … on edge … recently. He bowed and left without a word.

As the Princess followed Blundig, the Princess struck up a conversation. “So, how’s all that documentation going?”

Blundig smiled. “Hm, it’s progressing nicely, I think.”

The Princess stopped. “Are you here to check up on me?”

Blundig stopped and glanced at her innocently. “How do you mean? Do you need a check up?”

“Pffbt, no.”

Blundig smiled. “Well, then why did you bring it up?”

Princess Gwenalot started to walk again. “Crooner acts like I’m holed up in my room mourning the loss of my friends all day long.”

Blundig nodded. “I thought he was more perceptive than that. Something must weigh heavily on him if he is so inaccurate regarding his beliefs.”

The Princess stared at Blundig as they headed down a tunnel that acted like a downward staircase. “He wants to be with me every waking moment. That’s his problem.”

Blundig smiled and stopped. “He defines ‘uniting Fraggles’ more personally, then?”

Princess Gwenalot returned the smile. “Males are always redefining things to suit them.”

They shared a round of giggles.

Soon Blundig stopped and averted her eyes slightly. “It … must … be frustrating,” she said softly and wistfully.

Princess Gwenalot found she could not answer. Her instincts had been right: they were having similar problems. She silently patted Blundig on her shoulders. Still, she would not talk about Fishface unless Blundig brought it up first.

A roar nearly deafened them as they appeared in an amazingly long tunnel, porous with countless side tunnels.

Hunched over on a boulder sat a dragon with rocky light blue skin, tendrils drooping from its snout, thick arms and even thicker legs, a dark red crest along his skull and spine, and flame-like scales emanating from what looked like manacles on his wrists. His soft yellow underbelly matched the yellow of his eyes.

“He’s hardly bigger than a Fraggle,” whispered Princess Gwenalot, disappointed.

Blundig nodded. “He is very hungry.”

 

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 20

“The dragon has been roaring and chasing Fraggles with a hungry look in his eyes,” Blundig told the Princess quietly as they observed it from the safety of a rock column.

“So it really does eat Fraggles?” whispered the Princess.

Blundig smiled. “I’ve been watching it for a couple of hours now. It has been chasing and roaring – but I haven’t seen it eating anything.”

Princess Gwenalot patted her sword. “How do you want to go about this?”

Blundig frowned and glared at her. “We’re not harming a creature we know nothing about.”

The Princess returned the glare. “I didn’t say we were. If he’s hungry and he hasn’t eaten anything, then it’s obvious there’s nothing here he … or she … can eat. We need to return it to its food source.”

Blundig nodded cheerfully.

The Princess unsheathed her sword. “You figure out where that is, while I keep it busy.” With that, she ran toward the dragon, screaming her head off, brandishing the brightly polished sword with glee.

The dragon perked up and stumbled backward, terrified of the creature and its weapon. It dashed along the tunnel floor, weaving in and out of the rocky spikes jutting up. Princess Gwenalot hopped nimbly onto a ledge and brought her sword down just in front of it, sparking the floor as metal hit rock. The dragon snapped its jaws, its bright white teeth gleaming. Princess Gwenalot circled around took a swipe, which only served to back up the dragon into a set of columns from which it would be hard to escape. It reared back, the red scales on its wrists glowing, and forcefully exhaled a strong bright orange flame.

“Oh, ho!” cried the Princess. “A fire-breathing dragon! A challenge I can relish at last!” She dusted her smoldering fur and acted like she was going to go around the columns to pin its tail with her sword. The dragon took the opportunity to run, but the Princess spun her heels and rejoined the dragon and thrust her mighty blade towards it. It clanged on a boulder as it nimbly dodged, though out of instinct more than will. That was too close, thought the Princess to herself.

The dragon screamed and whipped around and its tail managed to connect, sending Princess Gwenalot across the tunnel. She flipped and landed and rushed back to the dragon, who tried to dash towards the tunnel from whence the two furry attackers had come.

“Here!” cried Blundig.

Princess Gwenalot hopped and dashed and jumped clear over the dragon’s head and spun around, kicking the dragon in its stomach with a large “oomph”. She used her sword to herd it over to a tunnel that began to cast a strange green glow. The dragon stumbled backwards and disappeared in the tunnel.

Princess Gwenalot panted as she plopped down on the ground in front of Blundig. “Well, I think that’s enough exercise today,” she said happily. “What made you think that was the right place?” she asked, noticing that the dragon had not yet reappeared.

Blundig looked into the tunnel, which no longer glowed. “If the good Princess read more legends, she’d know these things,” she teased.

The young royal Fraggle laughed. “That’s why I have great Fraggle friends like you, Blundig.”

Blundig’s face fell. “The time has come, my Princess.”

Princess Gwenalot stood and looked at her quizzically. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving.”

Blundig nodded. “I request of my Princess that she tell Fishface that I will return someday, when he doesn’t feel so threatened.”

“Blundig,” gasped the Princess.

“Please do this for me … Gwen.”

The Princess held back her tears and nodded. “I will. I hope you return safely.” As Blundig started to leave, she added, “At least take No-neck with you. He really wants to learn more about all of Fraggle Rock. And it’s nice … to have great companions.”

Blundig stopped. Without looking, she said, “Maybe Roughchin would like to come as well. I understand he’s been isolating himself from the others lately. A little exploration wouldn’t hurt.” She walked away and Princess Gwenalot walked up a tunnel back towards the Great Cave.

Back at the Great Cave, Crooner met the Princess and hugged her. He sniffed and stood back. “What did you do? Jump into a bonfire?”

She smirked. “Your concern knows no limits,” she teased. She turned to a bunch of waiting Fraggles and grinned, thrusting up her sword. “The dragon has been contained!” she proclaimed loudly, her words echoing throughout the tunnels.

 

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 21

“She left for good, then?” Crooner asked the Princess. She nodded. He continued, “Let me go tell Fishface. You know what kind of a mood he’s been in. It makes all those bald Fraggles irritable this time of year. I’m a respected member of Fraggledom. He’ll listen to me.”

“I’m not?” asked Princess Gwenalot.

“You are the leader … and Fishface doesn’t like you,” Crooner stated bluntly. “Let me smooth things over.”

“Okay, just hurry back,” she said before returning to her cave.

Crooner walked into the Great Hall with surprise. The mud was nearly all cleaned up.

And yet he wasn’t cold.

“Great Hole no longer make icy wind,” Fishface informed the Minstrel from behind. He stepped forward and waved his arms as bald Fraggles and hairy Fraggles alike made decorations for their bodies and for the cave. “Festival did not happen. Fishface say this bad idea. Blundig say it.”

“Yeah, about Blundig,” Crooner began, “she’s left the Rock.”

Fishface stared at the Minstrel in shock. “She … go to live in Great Cave?”

Crooner shook his head. “We don’t know where she went. She only wanted to tell you that she’ll be back later.”

Fishface walked over to a large chair in the center of the Great Hole and sat down, staring at the floor. Several nearby Fraggles started to inch away from him. After several silent moments, the large cave was nearly devoid of Fraggles except Fishface and Crooner. Soon, Fishface remarked bitterly, “Fishface always see Minstrel as stupid for loving idle Princess. She not listen to Minstrel. She not keep order in all of Fraggle Rock. Fishface do all these things. Fishface is better leader.” He paused, clenching the armrests of his chair. “Why Blundig leave?”

“Did you tell her that you loved her?” he asked.

Fishface glanced up, not moving. “How it work for Minstrel when he do it?” he muttered through gritted teeth.

Crooner blushed and looked away, smirking. “Not as well as I’d hoped.”

“Then save lecture for someone who care.”

Crooner stood closer to the bald Fraggle leader. “The Princess actually wants you to succeed as leader, you know.”

“Is that so?”

Crooner sighed. “Yes, it’s so.” He sat nearby. “She’s been testing you to see how you stack up to her. She needs to know that if she stops being Princess, you’d be there to take over.”

Fishface glared at him. “Princess can stop being Leader any time,” he replied in cold disbelief. “What does Fishface have to do with it?”

“Why don’t you think she’s cracked the Blue Rock?” he growled. “You gave her a simple ultimatum … one that I suggested. She doesn’t belong as Leader. The fact she’s never accomplished such a simple task shows she doesn’t think she can prove how great she is. You, on the other hand, know your way around a command. You speak and Fraggles listen. I admire that. The Princess treats leadership like some childish game.”

“In this,” retorted Fishface, “Princess and Minstrel are alike.”

“I deserve better than that,” Crooner shot back in a low tone. “I take my job seriously. I’m just a glorified song collector. It’s not that hard a job, Fishface. ‘Leader’, though, is a job filled with nothing but trials and tribulations. She isn’t facing up to her supposed responsibilities. It’s time she either face her destiny or choose a new one.”

“With you.”

Crooner stood up. He wanted to slap Fishface hard enough to send him into tomorrow. He clenched his fists. “Save the lectures for someone who cares,” he told him. “The day you get Blundig is the day you can instruct me on the ways of love.”

 

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 22

“Sir, may I go now,” piped a baritone to Fishface’s left. Fishface looked over and saw Roughchin standing there. Roughchin continued, “I’ve finished. I … I need some time alone.”

“Roughchin always alone lately,” Fishface told him. He paused. “Anyone else know about new job of Roughchin?”

Roughchin trembled and shook his head.

Fishface smiled. “Princess not only one to have metal in room.” He patted Roughchin on the head. “Roughchin hard worker. Fishface honor him with time off.”

“Thank you,” Roughchin exclaimed with relief. “I just want some time to meditate and calm my nerves.”

Fishface nodded. “Yes. Go. Hard work deserves hard rest.”

After Roughchin left, Fishface walked out of the Great Hole and headed toward a cave with half a ceiling, the far end of the cave being just a rock-lined ledge over a wide chasm. As he walked, he wondered if Blundig had started to hate the ways of the bald Fraggles. Bald Fraggles had to work harder than the others. This bred good diligence and honesty.

Blundig had always had a habit of saying lots of important words to trick Fraggles into getting her way. She was very good at it. He could tell it impressed Crooner as well. Fishface despised such talk. The way to ensure honesty was to keep one’s sentences simple. The more words spoken, the more chances a Fraggle had to pull the wool over your eyes.

Sometimes he wondered who was better at convincing, Blundig or that infernal Minstrel.

Fishface stood at the entrance to the cave, watching as Fraggles finished up driving bamboo posts into several nooks. It would make an excellent prison, he thought to himself.

He stared at the two holding cells.

He could name several Fraggles he’d like to see there.

Fishface smiled as he returned to the Great Hole, humming briefly.