Chapter Text
"Long ago, the world was filled with silence. Until the day music was born. From that point on, the world had never known colour as bright and as vibrant. From the birth of music came the six kingdoms of music: Rock, Pop, Techno, Funk, Classic and Country. Each were unique in their rhythm, their lyrics, and their atmosphere; holding immense power that unified their people together. But above all else, these different species of troll loved to sing and dance with one another. And thus, the ancestors united this desire to be sing together through the Capital. It was through this union that sub-groups of trolls formed. From the K-Pop trolls all the way to the Jazz trolls, more and more music was born, and everyone was happy."
The children gathered around the scrapbook, intrigued on learning their history.
"Of course, where there was happiness, there was also misery. And the first time the power of music had been threatened was when the Bergens laid siege to the Pop Kingdom. They knew no happiness, and believed that the only way for them to be happy was through eating a troll. And it was through their insatiable desire to be happy that they wiped out nearly half of the existing Pop Trolls. Through the efforts of the King of Pop, he ended the gruesome holiday and made peace with the Bergens. However, the fear of music being snuffed from the earth terrified the kingdoms and their people. To protect their inner music, the ancestors manifested their musical influence into the Six Strings of Music. To guard these precious strings, a family chosen amongst the population were assigned 'Keepers of the Strings', dedicating their lives to guarding the physical manifestation of the precious music they all loved."
A few kids pretended to wield weapons protecting the strings (it was a flower vase).
"Fast-forward over three hundred later, the music and sanctity of musical harmony was threatened once again. A new kingdom had emerged down south, known simply as 'Mount Rageous'. They were the first species to not have a single talented singer or dancer among them, and they craved the power of the Strings. World domination blinded the Mount Rageons, and they launched an attack on the Capital. Their only target were the strings."
"It was an intense battle, one that lasted for two days and two nights. The Mount Rageons were defeated, retreating down south where not a word had been heard from them since. The victory, however, was not without its losses. In the midst of battle, the String of Techno had been torn, causing the end of the Techno trolls and displacing its people. As for the Keepers of the Strings, who fought valiantly, they all sacrificed their lives for their purpose."
No longer had the children been playing, intently listening as their history went from something colourful to something dreadful.
"Devastated by the loss and fearful for the preservation of music now that the Keepers were gone, the remaining five kingdoms agreed to go their separate ways and isolate their people from the rest of the world, taking their respective strings with them. The kingdoms now became tribes, and the displaced Techno trolls found new homes amongst the other five tribes. From that day forth, no longer would music be inclusive, but seclusive. As for Mount Rageous, their desire for hunger was not snuffed out. And it would only be a matter of time until they return to finish what they started."
The scrapbook closed, and the room was filled with a silence weighted by the sense of fear.
"D-does that mean...we're all going to die?" One child asked.
"Of course not. If the Mount Rageons wanted to attack again, they would have done so by now." The teacher said, calmly.
A pink hand shot up in the air. "I think the Mount Rageons need to see how they can be happy themselves! If it worked for the Bergens, then it can work for them!"
A cyan hand shot up in the sky also. "I think Poppy's too optimistic miss!"
"Am not Branch and no take-backsies!"
"Poppy, Branch, settle down now." The teacher sighed. "Children, I'm sure that you are all anxious after this history lesson of ours, but I may just have the thing to lift your spirits."
The children gathered around, their ears perking as their teacher smiled.
"There is a long-standing fable that tells of the strings reuniting to put an end to the threat of Mount Rageous. These strings, separated to their respective tribes, had been accompanied by five brothers, the youngest believed to be four at the time of the isolation period. And it is said that one day, when our world is troubled again, these brothers will reunite and perform the 'Perfect Harmony' restoring the lost Kingdom and bringing back true harmony to the world as we know it."
The fabled return of these strings were all the children talked about as they left to do whatever it was they pleased.