Chapter Text
Love ended the world long before the Great Calamity did. Adolescence is a time for learning, love, and growth for a young knuckle. Jacob #2 understood this well; he was terrified, nonetheless, because he was young, foolish, and hopelessly in love. Faced with the love of his life, Jacob #1, he felt he had no right to think otherwise.
Love manifests in many ways, and in knuckle society, one of the most prominent examples of love was Da Queen of the Knuckles. She knew da way but had been lost long ago after the Great Calamity. As a result, the knuckles wandered the lands in search of her, yearning for the chance to reunite with their Queen, who had left just as quickly as she had loved. For the moment, however, Jacob #2's mind was occupied with someone else—specifically, one special person.
Jacob #2 was a vibrant young knuckle, full of life and energy, epitomizing the knuckle species. He adored his coconuts, but above all, he cherished Jacob #1, a graceful kind of knuckle—a rarity among their kind. Jacob #1's beauty was comparable to that of Da Queen, with his lush blue eyes, crimson hair, stylish white gloves, red-and-yellow striped shoes, and a wonderfully pompous nose that shone in the summer swelter.
In comparison, Jacob #2 was enamored yet felt ordinary. His fur was the color of the deep sea, spotted with browns that resembled the depths of a forest. He wore black-and-red striped shoes, and his eyes were like the sky on a clear day. Both knuckles had unique appearances, which made it only natural for them to have eyes for each other. Still, neither knew the other's true feelings, creating a tension between them that felt as though it would burst and crackle at any moment.
After the Great Calamity, the knuckle species found themselves on Da Island, having ventured into the lands of Boomshakalaka in search of Da Queen. After much searching to no end, the knuckles sailed through the Oceans of Mononoke, adventured throughout the Forbidden Forest, passed through the Valley of the Wind, and crossed the Great Caverns of Godrick the Golden. They found this bright, vibrant island by chance, having just faced a heinous storm that crackled and burned with energy, shook the very souls of those who dared to face it, and left them battered and bruised. After surviving such challenges, they decided to settle, and Da Island was the perfect place: it had lush greenery, fresh water, and, most importantly, coconuts—the most delectable, delicious food that the knuckles had tasted since the Great Calamity. Da Island was perfect, and that’s how it would always be—or so the knuckles thought.
Jacob #2 loved Da Island and couldn’t imagine his life outside it. His life was perfect, and his eyes were set only on the future of his family and the apple of his eye, Jacob #1. As the son of the Sargent Diddler—a highly respected role within the knuckle community, known for protecting the livelihood of the knuckles—Jacob #2 was set to take his place and be sent out on an expedition to find Da Queen, unbeknownst to him. Still, for now, he lived carefree, ogling his precious Jacob #1.
“How dashing—he’s soooooo dreamy!” Jacob #2 exclaimed as he peeked out from behind a palm tree while Jacob #1 seductively read the Hamilton script, nonchalantly positioned on a rock, basking in the sun. His red fur glistened in the pleasant summer heat. The smell of coconut wafted toward Jacob #2, sending him into a spiral.
“Oh wowwwwwww, he smells just as good as he looks.” Now drooling, Jacob #2 heard someone calling out from over the ridge.
“Jacob #2! Jacob #1! Where are you guys?!” The voice grew louder as both Jacobs leaped into action, bolting toward the call. The Jacobs skidded to a stop.
“Kermy, what’s wrong?” The majestic green frog hunkered over to catch his breath, his lush locks blowing in the wind as he gained his footing. The frog croaked, “The Great Calamity has come again.”