Fallen Stars
Mystery Twenty-Eight
Hard Nosed Vet.
(In Powder, Trolls’ Territory.)
Draco walked around with his hands behind his head.
Draco: Whoa.
Draco, upon entering the village, sees nothing but bridges around the area.
Draco: Why are there so many?
Draco looks around, he only sees a few houses. Green with blue rooftops.
Draco: This place is empty.
Draco walks over bridges and goes up to a door and knocks.
Draco: Yo.
He hears nothing. A tumbleweed flies behind him.
Draco: How empty is this place?
Draco goes back to walking with his hands behind his head.
Draco: I should’ve brought Ap. At least I would have someone to talk to.
Draco starts whistling. After a few minutes of walking.
Draco (confused): This is the darkest place in the city so far. Shouldn’t it be evenly spread out?
Draco walks onto a bridge, he goes to the side.
Draco: This bridge isn’t over water or anything…
Draco runs over to another bridge.
Draco: This one either...
Draco runs back and forth to different bridges. After a few more minutes.
Draco (perplexed): None of them are.
He notices a fire under the eastern bridge.
Draco: That’s where they are.
Draco slowly walks over to the bridge and listens in on the underneath.
Joe: Did he leave yet?
Bun: I think so. He ran to the Western Bridge.
Draco jumps down.
Draco (smirking): Yo.
Draco does a short wave. The Trolls look shocked.
Joe: I-I thought you said...
Bun: I-
Draco interjects.
Draco: Let’s cut the small talk.
The two trolls stand up, with long brown hair, and long noses. With grey skin. they were covered in feathers. Standing around 4 feet tall.
Draco: (Two creatures under a bridge. Oh man, Déjà vu.) I want to take out the Army here. And I need some help from you guys. Down?
Joe (stern): As the Supreme Leader of Powder. I, Joe, speak for everyone in saying, no.
**Joe**
City: Stephano
Powder Village’s Supreme Leader
Race: Troll
Draco: Supreme Leader, huh?
Draco does an evil grin. An evil feeling comes off Draco, but he just walks.
Draco: Alright, I’ll see you later.
Joe: What? That’s it?
Draco: I’m not going to try to convince you. I offered you a chance and you turned me down.
Draco walks away.
Bun: That’s a good thing, right?
Joe: I-I don’t know.
Draco stops and turns around.
Draco: One thing, before I go. This is something my friends and I came up with.
Draco slowly waves his index finger and shakes his head, having a severely serious tone. The feeling comes back around Draco, he has a fearsome smile.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Draco: Either you’re with us, or against us… and you don’t want to be against us.
Joe: Is that a threat?!
Draco: Take it how you want. I couldn’t care less.
Draco walks away with his hands behind his head. Back to whistling.
Bun: Joe, I think we should help them out.
Joe: And why is that?
Bun: I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about him.
Joe: What did I tell you about going off your feelings?!
Bun: It’s our trait, fool! You feel it too!
Bun and Joe look at Draco walking away.
Bun: The “Presence” coming from that kid.
Draco: Man. So they decided not to come. I’ll visit them afterward.
Draco with a slight grin continues walking.
Draco: The next place was Soot, right? The Trows might join in.
Draco heading East walks for fifty minutes. Making it to Soot.
Draco: What is this stuff?
The ground is covered in black powder. Draco picks up some, rubbing it in his fingers.
Draco: It’s like a fire has been through here. Was Vega here?
(In Soot, Trows’ Territory.)
Draco continues walking through the village, all the buildings are covered in black powder.
Draco: This place is so… different.
Creatures looking at Draco from the roof of some buildings.
(On the Roof.)
Bakso: Who is that?
Bistec: I don't know!
They both are small trows. Pale white skins, with big green hats, with brown beards. Long ears, and long green shoes.
The two are frightened.
Draco: Hmm.
Draco’s stomach starts to growl.
Draco: I am hungry. I could stop for a minute or two.
Draco goes down the street looking for a restaurant but sees nothing but nail salons.
Draco: (What is up with that. Where are the grocery stores or something.)
Draco upon coming down the street spots a diner on the right side of the street. Draco decides to go inside, and the sign reads…
**Bulgogi’s Diner**
Draco walks in with the bell ringing, alerting a customer has entered. Mocotó turns around with a smile.
Mocotó (perky): How can I-
Mocotó’s smile disappears. She yells out.
Mocotó: Sorry, sir! We’re closed! Sorry!
Draco, not expecting that.
Draco: (Hm.) And why is that?
Mocotó hesitates to speak. Someone comes from the kitchen. He’s wearing a white apron, long green shoes, and a big green hat.
Bulgogi: Don’t listen to my daughter. Come on in and sit.
Bulgogi guides Draco to a booth. He hands him a menu.
Bulgogi: Take your time.
He walks away. Draco looks at the menu. Laying his sword down.
Draco: What... Do I want?
Back in the kitchen, Bulgogi pulls Mocotó in.
Bulgogi (stern): Whatever you do, keep your smile on. No matter what the customer is.
Mocotó (cautious): But he’s a human. He could be a part of the Army.
Bulgogi: I doubt it. Look at him.
They both peek out of the kitchen.
Bulgogi: He’s not wearing a uniform.
Mocotó: But Dad-
Bulgogi stops her.
Bulgogi: Go serve our customer.
Mocotó (pouts): Fine.
Mocotó goes over to her customer, greeting him with a smile.
Mocotó: Ready to order?
Draco still looking at the Menu.
Draco: Yeah. Some water. And I’ll take the Restaurant Special: Bulgogi on Fire.
Mocotó: Alright sir. I’ll be back with your water and put the order in.
Draco hands her the menu.
Draco: Thanks.
She puts the order in and comes back with his water.
Mocotó: Here you are.
Draco: Mhm.
After fifteen minutes go by. Bulgogi delivers the Bulgogi on Fire himself.
Bulgogi: Enjoy!
Draco flopped the napkin over his lap.
Draco: I’ll try to.
Draco digs in, eating all the Bulgogi on Fire in minutes. Not stopping to drink his water. Then finally after it’s all gone, he drinks all of the water. Draco stands up burping.
Draco: Ah!
Draco stretching grabs his sword and places it on his back. Walking to the counter.
Draco: How much do I owe?
Mocotó: That comes to… $50 Sols.
Draco: So good. I might come back another time.
Draco hands over the money.
Mocotó: Thank you! Come again! Sorry about earlier!
Draco heads out.
Draco: Before I go, a word of advice.
Draco turns to Mocotó with a serious tone again.
Draco: Don’t say that word.
Mocotó (confused): What? “Sorry?”
Draco: Yeah, that. Only weak people say that. Haha.
Draco walks out of the restaurant, with a smile on his face. Mocotó still has a confused face.
Mocotó: (Eh?)
But on the bench at the front is Bulgogi waiting for Draco.
Draco: Is there a problem?
Bulgogi stands up.
Bulgogi: I got some information that you came from, Slog. The Trolls Territory. Are you here on business?
As Bulgogi gets in a wild karate stance.
Draco: (...?) I was planning on working with them, but they turned me down.
Bulgogi: You went... to them?
Draco: I plan on taking down the Army here, with my friends. But the Trolls didn’t want to help.
Bulgogi was shocked.
Bulgogi: Sloppy turned that down?!
Draco: Sloppy?
Bulgogi: Oh, Luhaha. That’s what I call my old friend. We were war buddies. His name is Joe. He’s a Hard Nosed Vet.
Draco (smiles): A Hard Nosed Vet? Hahaha, I talked to Joe, but there were only two of them.
Bulgogi goes to sit back down.
Bulgogi: There are only two trolls left.
Draco: Only two?
Bulgogi: About three years ago, The Trolls went to war with the Army here and were all wiped out, but Joe and Bun. I invited them to come to stay here but they refused.
Draco: Hm. We can leave them alone for this thing we’re doing then. But, will you and the Trows join us?
Bulgogi thought about the events three years ago.
(In Powder, Troll’s Territory
Three Years Ago.)
Joe (intense): Gogi! We’re going after the Army! Join us!
Bulgogi: Sloppy... My people won’t join this. They are too shy to even hold any weapons. We would just hold you all back.
Joe: Well, we’re going! Right!
About fifty Trolls all holding up pitchforks and shovels.
The Trolls: Yeah!!!
(In Slag, Knockers Territory.)
Ring, Ring, Ring.
Private Kate: What is it this time, Zrazy?
Zrazy (excited): Kate! Happy to hear from you!
Private Kate (sighs): Aaah, What is it, Zrazy?
Zrazy: Just a warning, I would watch out for those Trolls. I heard they have been getting rowdy lately.
Private Kate (wary): … Thanks for the info.
The Trolls ran into Ash, but the Army was waiting for them. They clash with the Army. A tall figure standing eight feet tall with spiky blonde hair is seen laughing at the Trolls saying, “you little inferior creatures”. After the battle, Joe is crawling back to Powder.
Joe (crushed): Gogi! We could’ve done it! If you helped!
Bulgogi is scared, helping his friend back into the village.
Bulgogi: What happened?! Where is everyone else!?
Joe gets his silver flask out. Takes a sip.
Joe: *Sniffles* There was nothing we could do… They were too strong…
Joe passes out.
Bulgogi's eyes are full of tears.
Bulgogi: Sloppy! Don’t die! Next time we go after them, I’ll convince all of the Trows to help! I promise!
(Back in The Present Time)
Bulgogi (extremely serious): To answer you. Yes, we will help you against the Army.
Draco (happy): Nice. Let’s do this.
Bulgogi puts out his hand for Draco to shake it. Draco just looks at it, smugly.
Draco: Nah, I don’t shake hands with people.
Bulgogi: Oh...
[Trows acquired]
[The Trows are in!
But, What’s Next?!]
Mystery 28 Fin