Chapter Text
While Marshall had been learning from June on unlocking his chakras for his basic training, Team Trollhunters have been able to retrieve the Birthstone from the belly of Gatto’s Keep. It turned out that Gatto was a giant Mountain Troll with a glutton persona that eats anything and anyone. It was fortunate enough that they were able to make it out alive, thanks to Toby’s tacos.
But during Blinky and Toby’s time inside of Gatto, using whatever means necessary to escape somehow turned Blinky into a human man. It brought the wrong idea to all the trolls in Trollmarket and no one recognized him. Draal ran straight into the Hero’s Forge to tell Jim Lake Jr. right away.
In the Void, Jim, Talia, and her lion spirit, Dawn, were discussing with the spirit Trollhunters about the Triumbric Stones. A window showed them one of his exploits and success of retrieving the Birthstone.
“ He found the Birthstone — He thinks he can kill Gunmar .” The spirits said.
“Well, he’s made it this far, hasn’t he?” Talia shouted, supporting her friend.
“Silence!” Kanjigar said, stepping out of the blue fog before his successor and the Silver Lion.
“What I said was right! There is a way and we have proof!”
“I don’t know whether you’re either a lousy council or a worse liar.” Jim said.
“We needed to deter you from making a grave mistake. You were lucky to have obtained the Birthstone, but the journey will only grow more treacherous from here onward.” Kanjigar said.
“With all due respect, you said a Trollhunter should only work alone, but if it weren’t for my friends, I wouldn’t even have the first stone.”
“ The boy won’t listen — He mocks us — What’s the point in council? ” The spirits hissed.
“If you insist on risking the lives of everyone you care about, I advise you to listen to reason!” Kanjigar said.
“ Trollhunter! Trollhunter! ” Draal’s voice echoed, catching Jim and Talia’s attention.
Kanjigar gasped in alarm. “My son! He seeks you! There is trouble in Trollmarket. An intruder! Go!”
“Wait, what?!” Talia said.
“An intruder?! How did he get in?!” Jim asked.
“Go!” Kanjigar demanded.
Jim returned to Trollmarket while Talia returned to the Darklands.
Talia woke up back lying on the ground inside the cave where Jinx and Chompsky had taken refuge. She steadily lifted herself up and shook her head.
“So… how did it go?” Jinx asked with his paws on her back.
“Well, the good news is that Jim has the first Triumbric Stone,” Talia said. “But the bad news is the deceased Trollhunters still have their doubts in him and somehow there’s an intruder in Trollmarket.”
“Huh?” Chompsky said, concerned.
“Don’t worry. Whatever it is, Jim can handle it.” Talia got back on her feet. “We should probably head to Skarlagk’s fortress. If we stay any longer, the other Gumm-Gumms will find us.”
Back in Heartstone Trollmarket, the trolls have trapped the human intruder in a sack hanging above the ground.
“Intruder! — We should we him! — We don’t eat humans! — What if he’s a changeling? — Changeling intruder!” They argued in a brewing hysteria.
“Hey, stop!” Jim said as he stepped into the commotion. “Let him go!” The troll holding the trap only secured the rope, refusing to allow it. “I’m the Trollhunter, I’ll deal with it. Let him go.”
Aaarrrgghh came up to support Jim, giving the troll a serious glare. The troll huffed as he released his hold, allowing the rope to slide and release the trap. Jim cut open the bag with the Sword of Daylight, setting free the mysterious intruder.
The intruder popped his head out from the bag, revealing himself to be a middle-aged man. “Oh, thank you, Jim.” He said.
Jim jumped in surprise before he raised his sword. “How did you get past Trollmarket’s barrier and how do you know my name?” He interrogated the man.
“Master Jim, it’s me, Blinky!”
“No. He lies.” Aaarrrgghh said.
“Strike the fleshbag down. He’s seen too much.” Draal suggested.
“I can prove it,” Blinky said. “Your mother is Barbara Lake. Your best friends are Tobias Domzalski and Talia Sturges. Your father disappeared when you were five.”
Draal growled. “The changeling spy has studied you.”
Jim raised his sword to Blinky’s neck, still not convinced. “And… we just replaced the ignition on your Vespa last week.”
“Did Strickler put you up to this? You’re working for him, aren’t you?” Jim continued to interrogate. “How did you get in here? I won’t ask again.”
Blinky pushed his sword aside. “I do not appreciate your tone of voice, Master Jim. Is this the way you address an errant stranger in need? I expected more from you.”
With his voice of reason and persona, they were finally convinced that it was their friend. “Blinky?” Jim examined his changed mentor. “You look terrible.”
Blinky sighed in relief as Aaarrrgghh poked his stomach. “Haha, squishy.” He chuckled, amused by his new soft texture.
“Among other things, my considerable companion.” Blinky said while his giant friend continued to poke him and Jim grabbed his wrist.
Draal walked up and sniffed him. “What sorcery is at work here?” He asked.
“Haven’t the foggiest, but there is one troll in Trollmarket who would know.”
Talia jumped from rock to rock with Jinx and Chompsky on her back, reaching for the resistance’s home base.
“Are you sure about this?” Jinx asked. “How will I know they won’t try and eat me?”
“Don’t worry. As long as you guys stick to me, they won’t lay a finger on you. We’ll discuss finding a way of getting you guys home, since you two are clearly small enough to fit in through the portal.”
Unbeknownst to them, the dark creature with bloodthirsty eyes lurked in the shadows, following the young girl in disguise, along with her little companions. Amos recognized the scent, knowing that this child was indeed the offspring of his once hated brother. He licked his lips with the sudden urge to finish off what he had started. He jumped out of the shadows… but then a familiar pain struck his body. A pair of three-toed claws landed right in front of him.
He looked up and saw a stalkling with mirror glass eyes. “You're just not going to make this easy enough for me, aren’t you?” Amos asked, knowing of what magic possessed this creature.
“You really believed I’d be foolish enough to let you go without my eyes.” It spoke in Gunmar’s voice. “I know what you think, cat, and I cannot allow you to let your vengeance risk putting my life on the line. Remember…”
Amos got back on his feet. “I know. You need her alive.” He moved past the possessed vulture troll and continued his hunt.
In the library of Heartstone Trollmarket, Vendel examined Blinky’s strange condition with his magnifying glass. June and Marshall were there at the scene right after they received a text from Jim about Blinky’s situation.
“I am at a complete and utter loss.” Vendel said. “I can turn wolftoads into willowbait, and willowbait into wolftoads, but this? ” He poked Blinky’s human face and grabbed his head, ignoring his discomfort. “What nonsense have you stumbled into now, Blinkous?”
June grabbed a hold of his face, looked into his eye, and checked his mouth. “Hmm… you wouldn’t happen to have exposed your body to some magic gas or something, would you?” She asked.
Blinky freed himself from her hold. “Oh, no. Never have I…” He tried to explain.
“Eaten by Gatto.” Aaarrrgghh interjected.
Vendel grabbed Blinky’s head, turning him towards his face as he grabbed his arms. “You went into Gatto’s Keep?!” He said with a furious voice before he inhaled deeply. “Just what kind of insanity possessed you?”
“It was my decision.” Jim said.
“Jim?” June asked.
“We went for the Birthstone.”
“And I had the unfortunate experience of being swallowed by that slubberdegullion,” Blinky explained as a disgusted Vendel took his hands off and wiped them. “And drenched by innumerous potions and–” He suddenly gasped in realization. “Oh, my Gorgus! That must be the explanation for my transformation!”
“And why would you venture–?” Vendel asked.
“To complete the Triumbric Stones.” Jim answered, stepping in.
“You’re planning to kill Gunmar?” June asked.
“To save Talia and Claire’s brother.” Vendel grew more furious upon hearing this.
“Vendel mad?” Aaarrrgghh asked.
“Mad would be a significant improvement!” He yelled before he slammed his big stone fist on the table, causing Jim and June to step back. “The Trollhunter is to protect the Trollmarket, not risk his life chasing stones from fairy tales.” Jim pulled out the purple stone from his pocket and presented it to him, shifting Vendel’s mood. “Oh!” Intrigued, he grabbed his magnifying glass and examined the stone. “Oh, my… Gunmar’s Birthstone. The legends are true.” He picked it up with a pair of tweezers and stuffed it into his back pouch. “This stays here, safe from your bumbling hands.”
“Speaking of hands, uh, when am I going to get my other two back?” Blinky wondered.
June walked up to him and said, “I don’t know, Blinky. Without the knowledge of how much potions – let alone the kinds – you were exposed to, neither I nor Vendel can reverse this. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until the spell subsides on its own.”
“And that could be days, weeks. It’s impossible to know when an enchantment of this severity could wear off.” Vendel pitched in, poking his stomach.
“Well then, what shall I do until then?” Blinky asked them.
“It’s your choice: Stay here for me to poke and prod, or enjoy your day in the sun… for as long as it lasts.” Vendel left, leaving them conflicted.
Talia continued jumping from rock to rock with her friends on her back.
“So, what else has this rebel leader been teaching you?” Jinx asked.
“Well, I’ve found a new level of my feral state, learned how to use powered gemstones to turn myself invisible, harness two elements of nature…” Talia said.
“Two elements?! But lions are only supposed to possess one.”
“That’s what I thought, but somehow I’ve been able to possess fire and wind.” Jinx scratched his chin curiously, thinking about how this was even possible. All of a sudden, a black fog emerged out of nowhere, surrounding and surprising the trio. “What the?” Talia looked around, finding herself in nothing but a black empty void.
“Hey, who turned out the lights?”
Talia sniffed the air, trying to trace the path to Skarlagk’s fortress… but to no avail. “I can’t find any trace of Skarlagk’s fortress.”
She searched her surroundings, but then she spotted something that caught her eye. Red glowing eyes hidden from the shadows stepped out to reveal himself. A giant black anthropomorphic lion appeared, towering over the young girl. Talia’s eyes widened and felt a chill run down her spine, recognizing the beast from her dream.
“Blood of Leo…” He said. “I am Amos, the Dark Lion.”
Talia was now in complete and utter shock when she heard that this demonic beast knew who she was under the mask. “You… you know who I am?” She asked shakily.
“I recognize my own brother’s putrid stench anywhere. I’m surprised that even he would plan everything ahead. It may have saved his offspring, but it wasn’t enough to save our clan.”
Talia erased all of her fear and found the courage to speak. “Well, it was good enough for me. Because I’m the only one standing and carrying his name.”
Amos roared in fury at her mentioning him. “Do not speak of my brother’s name!” he crawled creepily towards her in a threatening way. “As much as I love to finish what he had left behind, unfortunately that brute needs me to bring you alive.”
“Brute? Wait, Gunmar knows I’m here?!”
Instead of giving her his answer, Amos pounced. Talia activated her feral state and quickly moved out of the way. She shot off some fireballs right at him. Amos felt the burning pain upon his fur and shook it off to extinguish the flames. “So, it appears you’ve learned how to maintain one of the elements.”
Talia was in her fighting stance. “Not one. Two!” She blew a powerful gust of wind, knocking him off his feet.
The possessed stalkling watched over the dark fog, hardly able to see what was going on inside. This made Gunmar very displeased, who sat upon his throne with his only eye closed and saw through the eyes of the stalkling.
“Amos, you filthy impudent feline.” He growled in anger, clutching his claws on the throne to draw energy from the Heartstone. “What do you think you are doing?”
Back in Arcadia Oaks in Strickler’s office, Otto Scaarbach arrived with news regarding the Janus Order. Although, he was clearly terrified of the troll assassin’s presence in the room. Strickler carelessly sat in his chair with his feet on his desk and a goblin, Fragwa, massaging his shoulders.
“The Janus Order has sent me,” Otto quivered. “They are starting to question your leadership.” Strickler immediately grew irritated, not pleased to hear those words. He took his feet off the desk and threw Fragwa off his shoulders right at Otto, but he dodged. “They are worried…” He cringed when he heard the intimidating sound of Angor Rot’s knife carving one of his totems. “...you don’t have everything in control.”
“As long as his ring is on my finger, I can control him.” Strickler assured him, showing the Inferna Copula on his finger.
“But how long will that finger be on your hand?” Angor asked as he continued carving. The assassin’s dark words began to make Otto and Fragwa even more afraid.
Strickler cleared his throat as he pulled out his fountain pen. “We have information to suggest the Trollhunter possesses the Birthstone.”
“They weren’t supposed to know about that. I thought you burnt the books.” Otto complained.
“I did, but now I know the path he seeks and can use this information to our tactical advantage.”
“But what about the bigger picture?”
Strickler went up to his bookcase, removed the cap of his favorite pen to reveal the changeling key, inserted and twisted the lock between the books. The bookcase glowed purple and sank down to the floor, revealing his secret bunker.
“Eliminating the Trollhunter is but the first part of my machinations.” Strickler explained, showing Otto the map of the world where all of their changeling brethren were positioned. “A new police chief in Bordeaux, a state senator in Boise, a news editor in Shanghai. All in the last month, the Janus Order is growing, infiltrating. Together, we who were called ‘impure’ will one day control the world, and the world won’t even know it. Without Gunmar, there is a vacant throne for the taking.”
“And who will fill it, mein freund ?” Otto asked.
Strickler stabbed the world map with his pencil and did not answer, but it was obvious that he was seeking control and power. Angor Rot pulled a piece of stone from his skin, making Otto more concerned and really disturbed.
“Uh, did you just… rip off a piece of your body?” Otto asked.
“Would you rather I rip off a piece of yours?” Angor threatened, making the fearful changeling back off.
“And what are those for?”
“His friends. Time I met with the Hunter alone.” The warrior assassin licked his knife and added the finishing touches to his totem.
Throughout the day, Blinky had been observing, learning, and enjoying every bit of what it was like to be human with Jim’s help.
At Jim’s house, Draal, Marshall, NotEnrique, and Jim watched Blinky search through the fridge and took a liking to human food. Jim, Marshall, and Draal stared at him weirdly as he took the whole stack from the fridge and placed them on the kitchen counter. NotEnrique, however, was just not amused.
“There’s so much I want to do, so much I haven’t seen. I’ve never cared much for human food, but…” Blinky said as he devoured a box of cereal. “The flavor! The texture! If only I had two more hands to eat faster.” He turned to Jim. “What do you call this cuisine?”
“Leftovers?” Jim said, holding a bowl of cereal for a snack.
“I can’t even look at you.” NotEnrique said, watching from the sink and holding out a wooden spoon. “Your whole body is like an old sausage left on the grill too long.”
Blinky ate a bowl of popcorn like a dog and looked up, annoyed. “Very amusing. Who invited him?” He asked the others, pointing at the changeling.
“It’s boring sitting around a crib all day. When I heard you changed, I didn’t know it was into a fat, balding hot fudge sundae.” NotEnrique laughed as Blinky sprayed whipped cream into his mouth.
Marshall stepped in and snatched the can from his hand. “Blinky, stop! You can’t eat all this stuff like that all at once. You might get sick.” He told the troll-turned-human.
NotEnrique made a knowing look. “He’s not wrong.”
“But I want to know more!” Blinky said as he tried to reach for the can.
“I didn’t have time to tell you.” Draal said to Jim. “While you were seeking the stone, changeling Stricklander dropped your mother off outside.”
“Yeah, I know.” Jim said, not liking the sound of his former teacher’s name. “I sorta caught him on the way out.”
“But maybe you did not see, he…” Jim looked up and saw Draal with a bad expression as he awkwardly tapped his mismatched fingers. “...smushed faces with the Ba-bu-rah.”
“He what?! ”
“What is the word you use? Uh… kissed?” Jim angrily slammed his bowl on the counter in disapproval while Draal slammed his fist. “I should have struck him down!”
“Yeah, you should’ve!” Jim’s snap made Draal feel ashamed of himself. “I mean, no. Ugh, no! He has a spell. If anyone hurts him, it hurts my mom. Gah! He’s all over my mom. I can’t lay a finger on him!”
“He’s trying to get under your skin, Trollhunter.” Draal placed a hand on his shoulder. “Do not let him.”
Marshall heard Jim say something about a spell while he tried to keep Blinky from eating more food. He released his hold on Blinky and walked up to them. “Whoa, whoa, wait.” He said, catching their attention. “You said Strickler put a spell on your mom? And whatever happens to him happens to her?”
“Yeah.” Jim answered. Marshall took out his phone and dialed a number. “Who are you calling?”
“Talia’s aunt. I think she may help us find a solution.”
Jim slapped his head for not thinking of that earlier. “June! Of course! Duh! She’s a witch.”
Blinky examined his reflection on a ladle as he played with his face. “It’s filled with glop, yet the exterior is so soft and squishy. How do they keep it all in?” He asked himself, until his stomach grumbled. “I think my stomach is trying to communicate with me.”
NotEnrique went up to him, grabbed a cup, and listened to the grumbling of his stomach. “That ain’t your stomach, pal. Like the kid tried to tell you, after eating a buffet like that, that that fleshy inner tube of a body is about to spring a leak.”
Blinky’s stomach garbled more, making the others stare at him weirdly. Marshall, however, was unamused and muttered, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Oh, dear!” Blinky screamed as he ran past Jim and Draal and rushed for the stairs. He ended up crashing into the wall. “This is absurd! How can you function with only two eyes?” He ran up the stairs and into the bathroom.
“You didn’t happen to overhear who Strickler brought back with him, did you?” Jim asked Draal. “Some troll with big horns and a weird staff maybe?”
“Sorry, I do not know.” Draal said.
“Yeah, well neither do we.”
Marshall groaned and glared down at his phone, frustrated. “June’s not answering.” He said.
“Maybe she’s just busy.” They heard a car door open and close outside, followed by it being locked. Jim’s eyes widened, knowing who it was. “Ugh! My mom’s home! Everyone, hide!”
Draal quickly went into the basement while Marshall grabbed NotEnrique, unsure of where to hide him. They heard the toilet being flushed upstairs and they forgot about Blinky. Marshall spotted the fridge and, with little choice, decided to stuff him there.
“What the? No! Not with the leftovers!” NotEnrqiue pleaded while he and Jim tried to shove him in.
Barbara entered the house, just as Blinky walked down the stairs. “I have to say, indoor plumbing is the most remarkable–” He said, until he noticed Barbara.
She turned around and he smiled at her, but she gasped as she backed into the door in a startle. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but if you’re not out of my house in five seconds, I have an orange belt in Krav Maga and I will not hesitate to use it.” Barbara said, taking a fighting stance.
“I can explain, if you just allow me to–”
“Soft target!” Barbara kicked Blinky in the face, headbutted his stomach, and poked him in his eyes.
“Ah! My eyes! My two, vulnerable eyes!” Blinky fell onto the floor and rubbed his assaulted eyes. Marshall and Jim managed to stuff the little changeling into the fridge and rushed to the other room. “No more, please! No more, you violent woman!”
“Mom! Wait, wait, he’s with me!” Jim exclaimed as he rushed up to his mentor, followed by Marshall.
“It’s alright, he’s good!” Marshall said.
“Jim! He’s– OH! Wait, wait, what? I’m sorry. Who are you?” Barbara asked as she tried to help the man up.
“He’s, uh…” Jim said.
“I’m, uh…”
“He’s Mr. Blinky.” Marshall said.
Barbara suddenly released Blinky as the boys fell back onto the floor. “Okay, what has Jim done now?” She asked, now annoyed.
“No, no, no. Jim isn’t in any trouble.” Blinky explained. “I’m here to… uh, assist.”
“Yeah, he’s my, uh… uh, guidance counselor from my school.” Jim said.
“Since when do guidance counselors make house calls?” Barbara asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m new.” Blinky said.
“Principal Strickler just brought him in.” Marshall added before they all smiled at her.
Barbara finally noticed Marshall and crossed her arms. “And you are…?” She asked.
“Oh!” Marshall cleared his throat and held out his hand. “I’m Marshall Cadden, I’m new, too.”
Barbara smiled a little and shook his hand. “Barbara.”
Blinky then cleared his throat. “Do you mind if we speak alone?” He asked Barbara before they walked away from the boys. “When I was first introduced to your son, I’d never met anyone like him. He was scared, vulnerable, filled with questions. He was acting out.” He saw Jim give him a thumbs up before he proceeded, “Having a father walk out on one’s life is a traumatic experience… enough.” He looked back at Jim, who tried to motion him to stop, but his mentor couldn’t get the message. “But at his tender age–”
Barbara looked back at Jim, who quickly stood straight and nodded. “Sweetie, if you need to talk to someone.”
“Well, you’re kind of always working.” Jim said, deciding to play along.
“That’s what this is about? The trouble you’ve been getting into and the late nights and the strange behavior?”
“The letter. I wasn’t sure how to tell you, and I had to tell someone, and Mr. Blinky’s helped me through a lot of stuff.”
“Mr. Blinky?” Barbara turned to the human-looking Blinky.
“Bulgarian. It’s pronounced ‘Blink-heh’.” Blinky added before the Lakes shared a hug.
Barbara smiled at her son before she turned back to Blinky. “I really appreciate that, Mr. Blinky.”
“Blink- heh .”
“And sorry I kicked you earlier.”
“The pain is tolerable.”
“Well, if there's any help that I can be... You know what? I'm gonna write down my number.” Barbara said as she walked into the kitchen. “Please, just call me anytime.”
Jim frowned at his mentor and whispered, “You know I don’t care about my father.”
“You do now.” Blinky said before Barbara returned with a post-it note.
“If this helps Jim work out, you know, what he's... well, what we're going through, I just want to be supportive.” Barbara said as she handed Blinky her phone number. “Just let me know if there's anything I can do.”
“Since you’re a doctor… There has been this issue with my stomach.” Blinky said, placing his hands on his gut. Jim elbowed him as his stomach growled again. “There it goes again.
“Well–” Barbara got cut short when she and the others heard the backdoor open.
“Is it true?” Everyone found Claire and Toby running into the house. “Is it really true?”
“We came as soon as we–” Toby said, until he noticed everyone present. “Oh, hi, Dr. L.”
“So it is true… Um, you really can get to here from school in under ten minutes.” Claire fibbed.
Toby, on the other hand, stared at Blinky’s human form with a wide grin as he approached him and touched the former troll’s face while saying breathlessly, “Awesome sauce!”
Claire heard something from Jim’s fridge as NotEnrique fell out, freezing, causing her to gasp and help him out.
Jim gently shoved Toby away. “I was just introducing my mother to our new friend, Marshall, and Mr. Blinky, our guidance counselor.”
Toby laughed, “Nice to meet you–”
“Good to see you again!” Claire interjected, nudging Toby for not following up on the act, and gave Jim a wink. NotEnrique, in his human baby form, shivered madly from the intense cold. Barbara noticed the baby and looked confused. “Do you mind if we borrow your son, Marshall, and Mr. Blinky?”
“We’re burning sunlight, Dr. L. If you know what I mean.” Toby said.
“Oh, yes, of course. Go.” Barbara said before everyone stepped out of the house and she stopped her son. “Honey, did Claire come in with that baby?”
“No, he just walked in here on his own and he asked for a ride. Come on, Mom.” Jim said before he gave her a kiss on the cheek and joined his friends.
A white dove watched from the rocks and saw Claire ordering NotEnrique to return home as Toby said, “So, what now, Blink? It’s your big day!”
“There’s only so much time and so much to do. I can brunch, I can picnic in the park, sunbathe at the beach, and dare I say, boogie board… And, oh, my Gorgus!” Blinky listed off as he leaned against Barbara’s car and then grabbed Jim by his shoulders. “I can get behind the wheel of an automobile!”
“Actually, we call them cars now.” Marshall corrected.
“Well the day is almost over,” Claire said. “But I know just the place.”
Team Trollhunters walked into the woods, hiked up the steep hill to the bluff.
Toby wheezed, trying to catch his breath, “Who voted… for hiking? I thought we were supposed to be doing cool outdoor activities.”
As the group made it to the top, they found glass bottles littered on the grass. “Guess someone had a party up here.” Marshall pointed out.
Blinky picked up a bottle and sniffed it. “It’s… charming?”
“No, she means this .” Jim said, turning his mentor to the breathtaking view of the sunset over Arcadia Oaks.
“It’s breathtaking.” Blinky said, still walking without even paying attention to where he was going. “Words cannot describe.” Jim rushed up and pulled him back from falling to his death on the cliffside.
“Yeah, well, imagine if you had six eyes.”
“So, your first day as a human is almost to a close.” Toby gasped from the long hike up the hill. “Anything else you want to do?”
“No. Just this.” Blinky said, not taking his eyes off the sunset. “If only Aaarrrgghh could be here, too. I’m so anxious to tell him all of our adventures. Thank you, Master Jim. Today was a day I will never forget.” Jim placed a hand on his shoulder, grateful that he could be of some help. “But if I am to be honest, I have to wonder how many days this will last. And this skin… I am still uncomfortable with it.”
“Welcome to being a teenager.” Toby said.
“Don’t worry, Blinky. Maybe now I can be the one who helps train you.” Jim said.
Everyone walked up, taking a view of the sunset. Unbeknownst to them in the shadow, Angor Rot placed a totem in a nearby garbage can with piles of glass bottles inside and looked at them with a sinister smile.
Jim took a seat next to Claire on the bench. “This view is amazing. How did you hear about this place?” He asked.
“Logan brought me up here to ask me out to the Spring Fling.” Claire answered.
Jim became astonished. “Oh, he did?”
“I told him I was waiting for someone else to ask me.” There was an awkward situation coming in. They were both so quiet, until Claire finally spoke. “Would you look at this! I hate it when people litter. Maybe I should…” She walked away to throw away the glass bottle she’d just picked up.
Jim facepalmed himself, feeling like such a failure. Toby, Blinky, and Marshall came up to him.
“Jim! What the heck was that?!” Marshall asked.
“You blew it, man! Claire Nuñez wanted you to ask her out to the dance, and you stood there and did nothing!” Toby said.
“Even I think you… how would you say it? Ah, yes, blew it.” Blinky finished.
“What was I supposed to say?” Jim asked.
Claire suddenly screamed in terror, catching their attention. A giant golem made of sharp glass climbed out of the dumpster.
“Another golem!” Blinky said.
“I thought you said it was made of mud?” Toby asked Jim.
“Not glass!” Claire finished.
“Well, there’s five of us and only one of him.” Jim said, activating the amulet and donning his armor. “Flank him!” They cornered the golem, but another appeared around the corner. “Get down!” Jim stepped in front of them and swung his sword as shards of glass scattered like hail.
A third came up from behind, poking Toby. “Ow! Our flank was outflanked!” He said, rubbing his butt.
Now, the golems had them trapped.
“Jim, what do we do?” Claire asked.
“I don’t know. Last time, there was a weird stone doll in it.” Jim explained.
“An animus totem! We must rip them out of the beasts’ hearts and destroy them!” Blinky said.
“You mean I gotta put my hand in that thing?!” Toby asked, shrieking.
“Stand back, friends. They are no match for these rocky fists of justice!”
Marshall stopped him. “Blinky, no! You can’t touch them! Your skin is flesh, not stone, remember?!” He reminded him.
Blinky heeded his warning and stepped back from the golem. “Oh, dear.”
Marshall pulled out his spellbook that June had given him from his messenger bag, quickly flipped through the pages, and found a spell. He raised his right hand in the air, giving off an amber yellow glow. “ Nulla gravitatis! ” The golem’s feet were off the surface and floating high in the air, immobilizing their movements.
“Say whaaaat?!” Toby said, completely dumbstruck.
Marshall began to sweat and strain, feeling the weight and pressure of the golems on the palm of his hand. “Hurry up and find the dolls! I can’t hold them for long!”
The team struck them with everything they could find, like rocks, sticks, or garbage, but the broken shards kept coming back. Marshall did his best to hold on as he could, but… the spell wore off, dropping the golems and Marshall lost some of his strength. The golems got back on their feet, he looked up and found one of them that was about to stomp him, but Jim pushed him out of the way in time before it could do so.
“You okay?” Jim asked.
Marshall slowly stood up. “I’m alright, thanks.”
The golem threw a punch at them, but the boys moved out of the way. Jim suddenly saw the mysterious troll with a strange staff walking away into the shadows.
“He’s getting away!” Jim alerted everybody, but they were all too busy fighting off the golems, so Jim pursed him.
Marshall saw Jim running away. “Jim, wait!” He called after him as he followed.
Jim rushed into the woods, searching through his surroundings to find the troll. He spotted him, took out his sword, and chased after him. However, he was suddenly stopped by rays of lights that shot up from the ground like an electric cage, immobilizing him.
Marshall saw this and tried to reach for his imprisoned friend. “Jim!” He called, until someone suddenly shot a magenta energy blast at his head, knocking him out cold.
The mysterious troll casted a shadow over Jim with his staff and faced him. Jim struggled to break free, but to no avail.
“You’ve wandered into my web, human Hunter.” He said to the immobilized boy. “I am Angor Rot, and I will be the last you see before you die.”
The dove that had been observing the boys came down, flying into the woods where Jim and Marshall were. It passed through the trees and made haste towards them.
The assassin began to perform his magic on the Trollhunter. “It’s useless to speak.” Angor said, marking Jim’s face with yellow lighting. “I’ve killed many Hunters in the past, but never a human one. Such curious game. I will not give this sweet release of death. Not yet. I will relish this hunt.” Jim tried so hard to speak, trying to call out for help. “Relax, your friends won’t help you now.” His hands glowed with a yellow flare.
The dove rushed past the trees before it transformed, revealing itself to be none other than June Sturges herself. She quickly ran desperately to reach the boys, and her hands glowed with purple aura.
Angor took out his staff, hovered it over Jim’s face and began his ritual. “ Boorah Nazurah Char Sha .” He chanted, and his spell was finally complete. “Next time our paths cross, Hunter, Daylight will be mine to command.”
Before Angor Rot could take his leave through the portal, June summoned a powerful gust of wind, pushing him against one of the trees, dropping his staff. The wind also released Jim from his stasis trap as it sent him tumbling away from the stones.
Jim looked up and saw June standing before him, facing Angor Rot with a fierce look. “Ms. Sturges!” He said.
June turned to Jim, noticing the cursed mark on his face, and found her apprentice lying on the ground, unconscious. “Take Marshall and go help your friends. I’ll take care of this.” She told Jim.
The assassin jumped back on his feet as June turned towards him with a serious face and her hands still glowing with purple aura. “A human Trollhunter, a young sorcerer, and a witch? Very interesting.” Angor said.
Jim ran over to Marshall, put his arm around his neck, grabbed his waist to pick him up, and carried him away. June summoned a scythe in the palm of her hands while Angor stood there with a malicious grin and a knife in his hand, for not only was he intrigued about discovering that there was a human Trollhunter, but wizards in Arcadia as well.
“This hunt becomes more fascinating by the minute.” Angor said sadistically as he and the witch paced, circling each other with their weapons ready.
“I know who you are, assassin. You’ve written it all over that boy’s face. And I do not approve of your magics, especially when using it upon innocents and one of my niece’s friends.” June said, staring at him with disdain.
“Your niece?” Angor quickly realized who she was talking about. “The Silver Lion? Hahaha, a witch raising an orphaned cub? Not a very good caretaker, aren’t you? Especially with one who has failed to keep her from the Darklands.”
June tightened her grip on her scythe, angered by his words. “I’m going to make you eat those words.”
Angor attacked, but June dodged and swung her scythe towards the troll, but he evaded the blade before she could land a hit on him. June spun, along with her scythe, creating a vortex of wind at the assassin. Angor jumped out of the way and tried to reach for his staff, but June turned her weapon from scythe into a purple whip and caught him by his ankle.
“You’re not going anywhere!” June exclaimed.
She pulled her whip and swung him away, making him crash onto the ground. She charged right at him and, as soon as Angor got back on his feet, struck between his legs with her left knee. His face turned into complete pain and agony, and he fell on his back, traumatized. June backed up and looked at the state he was in, and she believed that this fool wasn’t going anywhere.
The slayer of Trollhunters, the Pale Lady’s champion? What a joke , she thought to herself.
June turned back around and saw the staff still lying on the ground. She went over to pick it up, but Angor made a resilient comeback and threw his knife at her. She noticed it in time and moved out of the way, but she was caught off guard when the assassin punched her right in the face. She was sent crashing into the tree. Angor came upon the witch with the staff in his hand, crouched down to get a good look at the woman, and lifted her chin up to face him.
“Hmm… you’re not as strong as my queen, but you certainly have skill.” He said while June gritted her teeth angrily at the cold-hearted assassin. “Tell me, sorceress, what does a witch like you have any hopes of rescuing a couple children? When you know that you have no power?”
June did not speak; she just glared at him with silence. But he already knew the answer right away. He used his staff to open the portal and left her there in the woods alone.
Talia still struggled to fight Amos in his shadow arena, feeling exhausted. Jinx and Chompsky were doing the best they could to find a way out without getting caught.
“Still think you can keep up, young lioness?” Amos chuckled, taunting her.
Talia growled irritatedly, removed her mask, took off her hood to reveal her face, and transformed. Her body grew big with a muscular tone, her skin became fur, she grew out a tail, along with claws, fangs, pointy ears, and her eyes turned from human to beast. Jinx and Chompsky stared at her, amazed by what she had achieved so far from surviving in the Darklands.
Talia let out a massive roar, ready for round two.
Talia and Amos were now neck to neck, fighting on who will be the one standing and making it out alive, light or darkness.
Amos pinned Talia to the ground, strangling her neck, but Talia thought quickly and wrapped her legs around his waist. She grabbed the back of his head with her right arm and pushed his face with her left. His grip loosened, and Talia took this moment to break his hands off of her and kicked him away. White fire lit up in her hands, then she charged right at him, clawing across his chest with her right arm and his face with her left, then fished it with a rear front kick. Amos got back on his four paws, angered from being beaten by his own personal game and licked the blood dripping from his face.
“Now look who’s the one out of breath.” Talia sassed.
Amos roared, a black and crimson aura illuminated and emerged from his body, and he came right at her with a heart filled with nothing but rage.
Jinx and Chompsky continued watching the two lions taking it out on each other.
“I may be a cat and seen so many cat fights, but none of them compared to this.” Jinx said with his eyes bugging out.
“Nimp.” Chompsky agreed before he pointed at them. “Chit-tat-tat-tat?”
Jinx looked at the lions, seeing how Talia was handling her opponent in a ruthless, savage way. “Nah, I think she’s got it handled, but we need to find a way to get out of here.”
Amos punched Talia in the abdomen, knocking the air out of her and knocked her a distance. He crouched down on all fours, slowly breathed in, his mane turned sharp and pointy like a porcupine, and black needles shot out from his mane. Talia saw this and noticed that Jinx and Chompsky were wide open.
She rushed, dodging the spikes. “Guys! Look out!”
The cat familiar and Gnome ran around like crazy chickens, dodging the spikes. Talia reached her friends, picked them up, and burst out a mighty roar, blowing them away but missed on.
“AAAHH!” She yelled, clutching the burning pain of her left arm. She looked at the wound and saw nothing but a scratch, but when she smelt something on her arm, she realized that her wound wasn’t healing.
“Now do you see how I easily wiped out our clan?” Amos asked. “Despite their power of healing and enhancement, and all other wondrous magics they possess. I, on the other hand, have the power of darkness. Each wound I lay upon them, all die.”
“Well, then I’ll just have to endure it long enough until I beat you!”
Gunmar watched through the eyes of his possessed stalkling, sitting impatiently upon his throne and seeing nothing but a big black dome. He picked up the charm and clutched it in his hand, concentrating with his mind.
While Amos and Talia were still fighting, the Dark Lion heard the voice of his puppet master in his head.
“ Amos! What is taking so long to capture a simple child?! ” Gunmar yelled.
Talia caught him in her tornado and lifted him high in the air. “I’m doing the best I can! But it would seem my time trapped in that vessel has drained me.” Amos said.
“ I don’t want to hear any excuses, cat! Either you fulfill your purpose or I end your life! ”
Amos clutched his head, feeling the pain of the pigrain. After Gunmar had left his mind, he shook off the pain. “Ugh, I hate that brute.”
Talia hit his face with a roundhouse kick.
Skarlagk watched the horizon from the fortress, concerning Talia’s whereabouts.
“Is everything well, Skarlagk?” Her lieutenant asked.
“She’s been gone for quite a while… and feel as if there may be something wrong.” The warrior queen replied.
“Shall I send a search party?”
She turned and nodded for her response. The lieutenant saluted his superior and went to do as he was ordered.
Talia stood her ground, enduring the damage of this spiteful monster. Blood was leaking from the wounds he had inflicted upon her. Amos, too, had gained wounds from Talia’s attacks, but they were nothing compared to the pain Gunmar gave him.
Jinx and Chompsky watched helplessly, terrified of what was happening. “Chit-tat-tat-tat-tat?!” Chompsky said to Jinx.
“His dark powers allow him to penetrate her healing abilities and who knows what he has in store.” Jinx explained. “Gah, even my ability is useless in this barrier.”
Amos came at her fast with another claw attack, Talia was growing tired from all of the fighting, so she thought of letting it out.
“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”
Her might roar blasted him away… and click ! The barrier cracked, showing a little glimmer of light through the walls. This grabbed the cat and gnome’s attention.
“Nimp?” Chompsky said.
Jinx gasped in realization. “Tally, your roar! Do it again! But make it ten times louder!” He shouted.
Talia looked at him confused, until she noticed the cracks on the wall and realized what he meant. She breathed in and… Amos punched her below the rib cage.
Chompsky grew furious at the cruel vicious beast for striking his friend. “Chompsky! NO!” But his gnome friend rushed into action, climbed on his tail, his back, his head, jumped onto his face, and jabbed one of his eyes.
“Aahh!” Amos grabbed the little gnome in his giant hand. “You little pest!”
“NO!” Jinx jumped onto his head, used his magic to make dagger-sized claws, and stabbed his scalp.
“Raaah!” Amos yelled in pain.
Talia looked in anguish, finding her friends clinging onto Amos and trying to keep him from reaching her. “Guys…” She said painfully, trying to get up.
She looked up at the cracks on the barrier, thinking that breaking the prison was her only option of getting them out of here. Talia tried to find the will to get back on her feet, but the pressure of the pain was too much.
Amos caught Gnome Chompsky and jinx as he threw them on the ground like rag dolls, ready to finish them off. Talia watched helplessly as she tried to reach for them. She had been in this horrible place for a long time, training, fighting alongside a resistance with bad intentions, and now she was about to lose the only friends she had left in this wretched realm.
Tears began to shed from her eyes. No… It can’t end like this . A light began to shine from her body. I can’t lose my friends… I-I need them . Her wounds started to heal. I ca-- I won’t let it!
Talia shined bright as a star and let out a louder, thunderous roar than she had ever done before. Amos shielded his eyes from the blinding light and his barrier began to break.
Gunmar watched through the eyes of his stalkling outside of the barrier. Light was breaking through, the earth began to shake, and the dome prison broke as the light burst out, shining throughout the Darklands. The stalkling was blown away by the blast and it crashed against one of the rocks nearby. Once the light died down, it flew up in the air, seeing his slave and the one whom he had been seeking standing.
Gunmar smiled maliciously, thrilled and knew what it was. “Yes… she’s unleashed it. The Power of Enhancement!” He said.
Chompsky and Jinx were standing by Talia’s side, watching out for Amos’s next move.
“I don’t know how you were able to break my barrier and recover from my attacks, but I still won’t leave without you.” Amos said.
Suddenly, three Nyarlagroths showed up with Gumm-Gumm rebels riding on top of their heads, pointing arrows with explosive gems attached to them, and one of them was their leader herself.
“Get away from my champion, demon!” Skarlagk said. “Run to your master and tell him that his reign over these lands will end!”
Amos looked up at the female Gumm-Gumm aggravated, but he knew he was not strong enough to take on these giant worms yet. So, he finally retreated into the shadows.
Talia reverted to her human form with battered armor and fell onto her knees, relieved.
“You okay?” Jinx asked in concern.
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Talia chuckled. Chompsky climbed on her shoulder and hugged her cheek. “I know, Chompsky. I’m glad you’re still alive, too.”
Skarlagk dismounted her Nyarlagroth and walked up to Talia. “You had me worried, Dagger Heart.” She said to the girl. “Not only that, but now we know the Dark Lion is here among us as well. And we need to be ready more than ever.”
Amos returned to Gunmar’s Crucible pit empty handed, and now he was suffering at his hands.
“You let yourself be overpowered by a child and ran because you were outnumbered by Skarlagk and her soldiers?!” The Skullcrusher yelled.
“As- I- told- you!” Amos choked, trying to speak. “My- strength- has- not- returned- yet. I need- time to regain myself- if I- am ever- to succeed.”
Gunmar released his grip on the charm, relieving the Dark Lion of the pain. “You better, and fast! The cub has finally unlocked her true power and is now at the hands of Skarlagk the Scorned. The last thing I need is another problem.”