26. Fort in the Road

Chapter 25 - Fort in the Road

The group began their journey by leaving the Plantar farms and the city of Wartwood. They travel to the edge of the valley and cross the chasm where there used to be ice and snow blocking the path. Sprig was super excited about crossing the edge of the valley, he couldn't wait to see what comes next.

Anne and Darrel were much calmer, considering they don't know what to expect when they reach the other side. But then, they gazed in amazement when they saw the lands beyond Wartwood. The group, sans Hop pop and Cronaxx, were speechless.

"It's amazing, it's majestic, it's hurting my eyes," said Anne as she started rubbing them. "It's better than I could've dreamed," said Sprig. "Take a good long look guys," said Darrel. "Who knows if we're going to see anything else as beautiful as this."

Suddenly, Clipper started tha shake again. A little more violently this time, some of the salamanders' stuff fell off and onto the wagon. "Woah, are you alright Clipper?" Tint asked.

Cronaxx glared at the dragonfly's attitude. He grew curious as to what he's doing, but decided to wait it out for a while.

"Is Clipper doing okay?" Polly asked. "I don't know," said Darrel. "He's been acting up like this since we started leaving." "Well, maybe he's just edgy to get out there," said Sprig. "Full speed ahead, Hop pop! Keep driving and never look back!"

However, Hop pop had other thoughts. "Now that we're out of the valley, things can get dangerous fast. So…" The group enters the wagon and Hop pop plops down another rule book. "From now on we're going to follow Hop pop's rules of the road. By me, Hop pop."

The kids groan in boredom, "It was challenging enough with Bessie's life story," said Darrel. "But now this?" "Do you kids have any problems with books?" Hop pop asked. "Why without books…" "Our civilization will crumble into nothingness," said the kids.

After a sample of one of Hop pop's rules, the kids find it difficult to go along with the trip. "Not much we can do about Hop pop's rules," said Darrel. "My mom and dad always set me straight with their rules. But I know never to go against them." "There was one time, my parents and I went to the Grand Canyon, and we didn't stop for anything," said Anne.

"Well if anyone can figure out how to have fun with these rules, it's us," said Sprig. The kids nod and cheer, "Newtopia! Here we come!" But their cheer was interrupted, "Road rule number 29: No Shouting! Marauders will follow the sound and steal your skin" said Hop pop.

Looking back to Clipper, Darrel got to thinking, and came up with an idea. "You know, some of Hop pop's rules won't apply if we ride on Clipper." The kids smirk and climb on Clipper's back. "What's going on?" Hop pop asked. "If all your rules apply to your wagon, then not all of them apply to my dragonfly," said Darrel with a smirk.

Darrel takes Clipper up in the air a bit more, but follows Hop pop's speed of the wagon. "So, what should we do?" Tint asked. "I might have something to pass the time," said Darrel. He pats on Clippers head three times and starts to sing.

(Rawhide by Frankie Laine)

Darrel:

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

Rawhide

Keep rollin', rollin', rollin'

Though the streams are swollen

Keep them dogies rollin', rawhide

Through rain and wind and weather

Hell bent for leather

Wishin' my gal was by my side

All the things I'm missin'

Good vittles, love and kissin'

Are waiting at the end of my ride

Anne and Darrel:

Move 'em on, head 'em up

Head 'em up, move 'em on

Move 'em on, head 'em up, rawhide

Cut 'em out, ride 'em in

Ride 'em in, cut 'em out

Cut 'em out, ride 'em in, rawhide

Anne:

Keep movin', movin', movin'

Though they're disapprovin'

Keep them dogies movin', rawhide

Don't try to understand 'em

Just rope 'em, throw, and brand 'em

Soon we'll be livin' high and wide

My heart's calculatin'

My true love will be waitin'

Be waitin' at the end of my ride

The Kids:

Move 'em on, head 'em up

Head 'em up, move 'em on

Move 'em on, head 'em up, rawhide

Cut 'em out, ride 'em in

Ride 'em in, cut 'em out

Cut 'em out, ride 'em in, rawhide

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

Rawhide

"Alright! Enough!" Hop pop cried. "Everyone get off Clipper and get back in the wagon! Cronaxx, keep riding him for the time being. You kids just lost your singing privileges." All the kids groan and they climb back down into the wagon.

The group continued their journey slowly but surely. Sprig was fascinated by the landmarks they constantly pass, but Hop pop always said no to them. Sprig, Tint, Anne, and Darrel plump inside the wagon. "I swear to frog," said Sprig. "If one more cool and exciting thing passes us by-"

"Heads up, gang," said Hop pop. "Cause we're about to come up to the Ruins of Despair." The four peek out the window to see frog-like structures pop out from the ground. "Woah," they said. "What are those weird structures, Cronaxx?" Darrel asked. "No one else knows, Darrel. They've been here long before history was written," he replied.

"Do you know them?" Tint asked. Cronaxx squints his eyes and concentrates on his surroundings. However, it wasn't enough. "Probably, but it was a long time ago. Maybe when I was only a young hatchling."

"It's a mystery best left unsolved as far as I'm concerned," said Hop pop. Sprig groans, "If I don't go out there and at least touch it, I'll regret it for the rest of my life." Darrel looks up to see Clipper shaking little by little, and comes up with an idea.

He climbs up and glances at Clipper. "Hey Hop pop," he points to his dragonfly. "Clipper doesn't look like he can handle flying at a slow pace. I think we need to give him a rest. Plus, Anne's not feeling good, so we need to stop."

"Dang it, how do humans cope with such unreliable innards?" Hop pop stops the wagon and says, "Just let me know when we can start moving again." Darrel smiled, "Won't be too long."

Just as Clipper lands beside the wagon, Darrel, Tint, Anne, and Sprig bail out of the wagon and run to the ruins. Hop pop spots them and yells at them to come back.

The four reach one of the ruins as fast as they could before Hop pop could catch them. "Okay guys," said Anne. "Pretty sure Hop pop's on to us." She takes out her phone, "So let's take some quick selfies and get out of here."

"Good enough for me," said Tint. The four get into a selfie pose, just as Sprig accidentally opens the door to one of the ruins. Sprig and Tint fall into the door and Anne nad Darrel slide down behind them.

The four reach the bottom and look around, they find the place to be more technologically advanced than usual. "This is impossible," said Darrel. "Yeah," said Anne. "I thought you guys were pastoral or whatever."

"I'm gonna touch everything!" said Sprig. "Woah, hold on Sprig," said Tint. "We don't know what this stuff can do." Sprig didn't listen to him, and just kept touching things. "There's so much to see."

"Sprig is eager I'll give him that," said Darrel as he placed his shoulder around Anne. Anne grinned, "I did a good thing."

Then, Hop pop slid down the pathway. Darrel sighed and smiled, "We're in trouble." "Do you four realize how many rules you just broke?!" Hop pop asked in a sour tone. "17, 29, 36, 55!"

Sprig keeps hopping on a strange contraption and suddenly sees a lever. He showed off an eager face and wanted to pull it. "Don't you dare," said Hop pop. "Rule #68: Never, ever, pull a lever."

Eager to show Hop pop that some rules are meant to be broken, Sprig pulls down the lever. His actions cause the entire room to turn on. "Startup engaged," said the machine. "Woah," said Tint. "This isn't like any magic I've ever seen." "Of course it isn't," said Darrel. "It's technology." "Not sure how I feel about that," said Sprig.

"Better get down from there," said Tint. "Assembly line activated. Routine Protocol engaged," said the computer. "Assembly line?" Anne asked.

Anne and Darrel turn around and see a conveyor belt moving parts across the room. "Looks like a factory of some kind," said Darrel. "Only question is: What does it make?"

"Additional materials required," said the computer. "Please place them on the glowing access point." "Glowing what now?" Hop pop looks down as the floor he stands on begins to glow.

Suddenly a couple of braces secure Hop pop's legs and drag him down the assembly line. The group tries to shut down the process, only to make things worse. Before they could get caught in any more pickles, Sprig shoves the rule book into a compartment slot, causing the machine to rumble.

The five escaped just as the factory exploded. The group may be safe from the factory, but not from Hop pop. "I know," said Tint. "We should've followed your rules." "You think?" Hop pop exclaimed. "You guys should be more like Polly and Cronaxx. I told them to stay put and look where they are."

The five look to see the area empty, "Where did they go?" Tint asked. Suddenly, Polly is seen with Bessie and the wagon, performing like they were on a dirt bike rally. "Bessie made me do it," said Polly.

Suddenly, Cronaxx and Clipper were seen zooming around the group. "Sorry, Darrel," said Cronaxx. "Clipper saw a group of dragonflies, and started following them." "It's okay," said Darrel. "From now on, we stay on course. Following the rules."

The kids slump and return to the wagon. Hop pop looks at how miserable he's making them and feels guilty. "Hang on kids, maybe this only happened because I was being too strict with you. We've never taken a trip like this and I just wanted it to go smoothly. So what do you say we set aside the rules for a bit and make a stop or two?"

The kids smile with glee, "Can we stop at the Hills of Impalement?" Sprig asked. "I've got something else in mind," said Hop pop.

The group makes a stop for ice cream, and along the way question what was being made in the underground factory. "I guess we'll never know what they're making," said Tint. "Some secrets are best left hidden," said Cronaxx.

Later in the day, Clipper spots another flock of dragonflies and shakes profusely. Darrel and the salamanders were a tad uncomfortable, that they were forced to land.

Darrel looks to Clipper as the rest of the group stops as well. "Is Clipper okay?" Sprig asked. "I don't know," replied Darrel. "This never happened before." "I think I know what's the problem," said Cronaxx.

Darrel looks to the elderly salamander, "He's at that point in life where he has to find a mate." Darrel looks to the dragonflies and to Clipper. "So that explains why you get so edgy. You want to find a mate."

Cronaxx looks to the two in sorrow, "That means we have to let him go." The group looked at Cronaxx with surprised looks. "Darrel, he can't find a mate and come with us at the same time. Clipper came with us for so long. Now it's time to let him make his own decisions."

Darrel looks at Cronaxx with a sad face, then turns to Clipper who's looking up at the flock of dragonflies. Darrel starts to cry silently, just as Anne puts her hand on his shoulder, "You going to be okay, Darrel?" Darrel turns to Anne and slowly nods. "Yeah, just let me say goodbye."

Clipper looks down at Darrel and gives him a nudge. Darrel pats on his head and takes a deep breath. "You're right buddy. It's time. I was so focused on keeping our group together, I almost forgot about what you needed. You looked after me since I hatched you. Now it's time for you to look after yourself."

Darrel takes off Clipper's saddle and Clipper nuzzles his head on Darrel as if he was trying to hug him. The group looks over with a few tears coming out of their eyes. "Goodbye Clipper," whispered Darrel. "Go."

Darrel stands clear as Clipper begins to flap his insect wings and fly off to the dragonfly flock. Darrel looks to his dragonfly friend with pride, and smiles at his departure. Anne holds his hand, and he turns to her. "He's going to be okay," said Anne. "I know," said Darrel. "I raised him."

"Come on gang," said Hop pop. "We've still got a lot of ground to cover before we reach Newtopia." Darrel, the salamanders, Anne, Sprig, and Polly enter the wagon and continue their journey.

I hope you all enjoyed the season finale. I sure did, it had highs and lows, and lots of heart jerking scenes. Now that that's over, I'll finally get back on track on my fanfiction story before the third season begins.