21

21

Sc

[Ar]4s²3d¹

Scandium

Ty swung his baseball bat and hit the ball to his brother. The baseball flew through the air with a high arch. It would’ve been a homerun if they were in a ballpark. But instead, they were in Scandinavia, Norway to be precise.

Ron caught the ball with his glove. “Great hit, Ty. Dad would be proud,” he hollered.

Ty swung the bat over his shoulder and walked towards his brother. “It’s all in the bat.” Ty nodded to his bat, made of a scandium-aluminum alloy.

“You’re being modest. You have an amazing swing. And a great eye for the fastball and curve.”

“Thanks, Bro. It’s beautiful out here. We should come up here more often.” Ty gazed at his surroundings. They were in a clearing in the woods with a beautiful view of the fjord below.

“Remember when we used to hike here with mom and dad when we were kids?” Ron asked.

“How could I forget? Great memories of this place.” Ty picked up his backpack and resumed their hike through the woods.”

“You always carry your baseball bat with you?” Ron asked.

“Of course, I never leave home without it. Besides, I may need it for protection.”

“Protection from what?”

“You know, the legends.” Ty’s expression grew fearful.

“You don’t believe those stories, do you?” Ron asked.

Ty shrugged. “Dad believed them. That’s why he never let us watch the Northern Lights from up here.”

“I think those stories were made up just to scare us. But we’re here now. We’ll have a great view of the Aurora Borealis tonight. It’s already getting dark.” Ron nodded towards the darkening sky.

They walked through the woods and arrived at the highest cliff overlooking the northernmost fjord. Sitting on a rock, they stared at the ocean where it met the mouth of the fjord.

“Look, there it is.” Ron pointed towards the beautiful lights flittering throughout the sky. The gorgeous colors of the Aurora Borealis danced in the sky.

“Ah, it’s beautiful,” Ty said.

“See, we’re perfectly safe up here. There’s no monsters in these woods,” Ron said.

A loud noise rustled in the woods and a thunderous noise hit the ground, repeatedly.

“What the hell is that?” Fear flowed through Ty.

Turning towards the woods, they saw tree branches move. Something was coming. But what?

“What the hell?”

“I knew it was true. Dad didn’t make up those stories after all.”

A large troll walked out of the woods, heading straight for Ron and Ty.

“Run! It’s a troll!” Ron screamed.

“Holy shit! There’s nowhere to run.” Ty grabbed his bat and stared at the thirty-foot beast.

The troll walked towards them, and they were trapped between the high cliffs of the fjord and the troll blocking the way into the woods.

“I’ve got an idea.” Ty held his bat over his shoulder like he was ready to hit a homerun.

The troll walked closer, and Ron and Ty backed up to the edge of the cliff.

The troll extended his hand down to pick up Ron.

Ty swung his baseball bat with all of his might and hit the troll’s hand.

The troll bellowed with pain and withdrew his hand away from Ron.

Ty ran up to the troll and hit him again, this time on the chin.

Bellowing again in pain, the troll dropped to his knees.

Ty and Ron ran around the troll and disappeared safely into the woods.