Atlas of Heartstone
Walt was shaken awake, not by his wife but by an earthquake that shook the whole of Arcadia. Jim appeared in the doorway, Wally and Xena crying in his arms.
"Mum! Da!"
"We're fine, Jim," Walt slipped out of bed and took the toddlers, "Are you three alright?"
"We're ok. But it scared the bejeebies out of the two of them."
"I'll believe it," Barbara took Wally from her husband.
Jim frowned, "Da? Earthquakes around here usually mean something big is happening. Something bad."
"I know, Young Atlas. I'll call your Onkel and Aunt as soon as I-"
The ringing of Jim's phone cut them off.
"Gran? We're all fi- What!? Are all of you ok!?" The color drained from his face and he sat heavily on his parents' bed, "W-Wha...O-Ok. I...I'm on my way..."
He dropped his phone and stared at the floor. His mother sat beside him. Wally stayed tucked against her chest but looked up at his brother.
"Jim? Sweetheart, what's wrong? Is your grandmother ok?"
"Y-Yeah. Gran and all of them are ok. But...there was a cave-in in one of the gem tunnels. Popa Venal was felled."
LLB
Jim's heart raced as he flew over Heartstone Trollmarket. It had quickly dissolved into chaos. Citizens were running around, screaming for their loved one's. Whelps were crying, some of the built shops had collapsed. He flew faster. He stumbled through his landing at the base of the Heartstone and ran into Vendal's keep.
The fallen troll had been laid on the table. Morgana and Angor sat on one side with Claire and the Nomuras. The Giladrigals stood on the other side.
"Atlas!" Seamus held Cordi closer.
"W-What happened?
"We don't really know any more," His grandmother admitted, "He was down the tunnel with a few other trolls to collect for the healing house. When the earthquake happened he made sure everyone else got out but..."
Jim nodded and hung his head. He lay one hand on the fallen troll.
"Where are Aja and Krel?"
"They're talking to their parents in the keep," Claire explained, "Tronos is with them."
Jim nodded and fell silent once more.
"Atlas... Blinky stepped up beside him, holding Vendal's crystals, staff, and bag.
Jim blinked. He wasn't ready, but he couldn't wait any longer. With shaking hands he took the crystals. He tied them around his waist with his belt; he replaced his apprentice bag with Vendal's larger leader one; he took the staff. Finally, he slipped a necklace with a small white shard around his neck.
"What do you want us to do now, Atlas?" Draal asked.
JIm's tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Claire. He took a deep breath and looked at those around him. His parents, siblings, and the remainder of their family ran in.
"W-We'll hold a fallen ceremony for Popa Vendal later. We need to make sure Heartstone Trollmarket is safe NOW. We don't want anyone else getting hurt," He tossed Arrrgh a glowing green crystal from the counter behind him, "Uncle Arrrgh, take this and check the other tunnels. Make sure no others have collapsed and use the crystal to fix any cracks in the others. Draal and Uncle Bular, I want you two to go and take care of the civilians. Help people find their families and send any injured here. Uncle Blinky? Can you take care of any injured that arrive until I get back? I want to fly up and make sure the roof of the main chamber is stable. Take care of any damage done now rather than put it off."
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"Of course. But we are meant to leave for New York in only a few hours."
Jim took another deep breath and nodded again, "Right. Mum, Da. I think I'm going to have to sit that one out."
Walt nodded and put a hand on his son's shoulder, "Of course, Young Atlas. Your market needs you. And we shouldn't be gone for too long."
"We'll be staying behind on this mission as well," Draal and Arrrgh stepped forward.
"I want to stay too," Seamus insisted, "Heartstone is my home and I want to help."
Jim smiled at his friend.
"I'll stay, too," Elizabeth stepped forward," You'll need help checking on the roof and I can fly too. When I want."
Jim nodded at the other polymorph, "Ok, then. Seamus? Would you mind staying here once Uncle Blinky leaves for New York?"
"Will do, Atlas."
Barbara hugged her eldest son tightly, "You be careful."
"I think that's supposed to be my line, Mum."
"Humer us," Walt hugged his son from the other side, "Would you mind keeping your brother and sister here with you while we're gone?"
"Not at all," Jim forced a smile and looked down at the toddlers, "You two want to stay here with me, Seamus, and Tanta Liza?"
"Yeah!"
"And I'll keep Antonia safe," Elizabeth vowed, taking the baby in her arms.
Otto and Lenora nodded. Neither one was pleased about having to leave their baby behind.
Elizabeth smiled wanly, "I promise to give her back when you return."
"We'll let you know as soon as we get back," Claire kissed her boyfriend.
Jim nodded and put an arm around each Wally and Xena. They watched as their parents and family made their way back through the market. Once they were all out of sight, Jim turned back to the ones that had stayed.
"Alright. We have a lot to do so we better get started. Uncle Arrrgh, Uncle Blinky, Uncle Bular, and Draal, you all know where you need to be. Seamus, I want you to stay here with Uncle Blinky and the kids until Tanta Liza and I get back. Then you can go out and help check and repair the tunnels. Tanta Liza, you said you wanted to help me check and repair the roof?"
She nodded and shifted her grip on Antonia, "But Antonia stays with me. I promised to keep her safe and I can't do that if she's here and I'm there.
The baby in question giggled and reached for her aunt's hair.
"Seamus? Can she borrow Cordi's carrier? Obviously, we don't want to drop Toni either."
"Yeah. I'll run and get it real quick."
"Atlas! Atlas!" Wally pulled on the hem of his hubrik.
"We help, too!" Xena declared.
"Ok," Jim looked around and knelt down closer to their height, "I want you two to...stay here and help Uncle Blinky and Seamus make people better. Can you do that for me?"
"Yeah!"
Jim straightened and ushered the 'twins' over to their uncle. It wasn't long before Seamus returned with the carrier and he and Elizabeth flew off.
"I'll start towards the entrance and you start at the back of the cavern. We'll meet in the middle by the tunnel to Mary's lake."
The older polymorph nodded and flew off. Jim sighed and flew to the crystal staircase. Without anyone else around, he was left with his thoughts. He was the leader of Heartstone Trollmarket now. Vendal was dead. It was his job to take care of everyone in Heartstone. If there was a problem, the trolls would have to come straight to him. If the Tribunal was needed, he was the one who had to call them. If the Tribunal was called, he was the one who had to ANSWER. Never more had he felt more like his namesake. Six years of training had not been enough to train him for all of this. The apprentices in other Trollmarkets had been studying for DECADES. He was barely more than a whelp to them.
