Trollex continued to lay there in kelp.

But, as he did, he was being watched.

By a gang of Black Dragonfish.

They looked at Trollex and saw him as a good meal.

They got down there and surrounded him.

They were just about to chow down when...

*Snap*

He was pulled out of the way by a kelp lasso.

And the owner of that lasso was...

Laguna!

And Beat Drop was with her!

But, it wasn't enough.

The Dragonfish came at them.

Laguna went in front of Trollex and took out a book and threw it at them.

They just looked at them with confusion.

Beat Drop shouted out, "That was your plan?!"

Beat Drop was right; It still wasn't enough.

They came at the Trolls and button again.

Laguna then took her lasso and started whipping them with it.

"Hya! Hya! Hya! Get back!"

They all fearfully backed away...into the mouth of a giant gulper eel.

It looked at Laguna after it ate the Dragonfish.

Lucky for her, it already had enough to eat and went to sleep.

Laguna sighed with relief...but then looked behind her.

"Huh? Oh, no."

Beat Drop looked at his unconscious friend, "Trollex!"

Laguna came to him and listened for a heartbeat.

"Hang on!"

Laguna took out a sharp piece of coral and grabbed two nearby jellyfish.

She used the coral to cut Trollex free from the kelp.

She then rubbed the jellyfish together to build up a charge.

"Clear!"

She zapped him with the jellyfish.

Only one second after...

"LET'S GO!"

Trollex woke up.

Beat Drop was relieved and went into his friend's arms.

Trollex was confused, "Beat Drop? I thought I told you to stay with the others."

Beat Drop responded, "You did. I simply didn't listen."

Trollex was a bit upset, but was happy to see his friend.

He then saw Laguna, "Laguna! My gal! I didn't expect Beat Drop, but you are right on time."

Laguna responded, "Oh, right, like you knew I was coming."

"Yes. I figured after two hours in that rave, getting eaten by a Sharkanian wouldn't seem so bad."

"And we figured there was no way you could this by yourself. Guess we were all right."

Trollex just sighed, then said, "Alright! Let's do this! The sooner we get to Shark City, the sooner we can rescue everyone and make it home safely."

Laguna asked, "Wait, wait, what's your plan?"

Trollex responded, "I just told you; To rescue everyone and make it home safely."

"Ok. That's not a plan; That's a wish list. A proper plan needs to involve strategy and careful thinking until you have a way of doing things that has less than 0% chance of a snafu."

"Oh, and I suppose you have a plan?"

Laguna cleared her throat.

"First, we get to the edge of the city without being spotted. Then, we get inside by going through the old escape tunnel, which will then lead us to the Techno Conch...right before we get caught and suffer a miserable death at the hands of a horrible, bloodthirsty Sharkanian!"

Laguna then looked at Trollex, "Hold on a second. Are you even listening?"

Trollex was looking away, "Huh? Sorry, you lost me at 'we get caught'."

They decided to just continue on.

Trollex and Beat Drop started making some music to pass the time.

Laguna stopped them, "Do you have to do that?"

Beat Drop answered, "What? We always make music when we're in a good mood."

Laguna then said, "I don't see a reason as to why you would be in a good mood."

Trollex replied, "Well, maybe because by this time tomorrow, we'll be with all our friends. Ooh, I wonder what they're doing right now."

Laguna said, "Probably going halfway down an esophagus."

"They're alive, Laguna. I know it."

"You are thoroughly oblivious to things like this. And frankly, I am less than patient to optically discern your countenance when you realize you can't solve everything with a positive posture. Lamentable things transpire and half the time, there's nothing you can do about it."

Trollex looked at her, "What? I don't speak science."

Laguna replied, "To put it bluntly, you don't know anything about things like this. And I can't wait to see the look on your face when you realize you can't solve everything with a positive attitude. Bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it."

Trollex glared at her, "Hey, I know not everything can be solved with a positive attitude, but I'd rather face everything with a positive attitude instead of being like you. You don't sing, you don't dance, you hardly think of anything besides research. Hardly any fun. What happened to you-"

Laguna shushed him.

Trollex asked,  "A Sharkanian?"

"Maybe."

Trollex stayed quiet for a minute.

Then realized, "There's no Sharkanian, is there? You just said that so I'd stop talking."

Laguna answered, "Maybe."

Laguna continued on while Trollex and Beat Drop looked at each other.

***

That night, the trio got in their sleeping bags for the night.

Trollex said to Beat Drop, "Good night, buddy."

Beat Drop responded, "Good night, Trollex."

Trollex took out some photos of their friends.

"Good night, Synth. Good night, Bliss. Good night, Shimmer. Good night, Glimmer. Good night, Squirt. Good night, Snappy. Good night, Flash. *Sigh* Good night, Brooke."

He winked at Brooke's picture.

Laguna then said, "And good night, Trollex."

Trollex had a bit of trouble sleeping.

He looked up at the night sky.

🎵Another night

Another dream-

Laguna stopped him, "Really? Seriously? More singing?"

Trollex responded, "Yes, seriously. Singing helps me relax. Maybe you ought to try it."

"I don't sing and I don't relax. This is the way I am and I like it. I also like a little silence!"

Trollex looked at her for a moment.

Laguna heard Techno music.

Trollex was playing Beat Drop.

🎵Yeah, I'd rather be a lover than a fighter (fighter)

'Cause all my life, I've been fighting

Never felt a feeling of comfort, oh

And all this time, I've been hiding

And I never had someone to call my own, oh nah

I'm so used to sharing

Love only left me alone

But I'm at one with the silence

I found peace in your violence

Can't tell me there's no point in trying

I'm at one, and I've been quiet for too long

I found peace in your violence

Can't tell me there's no point in trying

I'm at one, and I've been silent for too long 🎵

***

Laguna asked him, "May I?"

Trollex handed her Beat Drop...then she shoved him into his sleeping bag and zipped it over his mouth.

She then went to bed.

Trollex just looked at her.