Chapter Text
The air was innocent, for once. It had been so long since Jim knew what it felt like to be safe, to be normal. He knew that Draal or anyone else couldn’t be the Trollhunter. He didn’t want to be the Trollhunter again, lest he make the same mistakes. Toby. His best friend had risen to the occasion more than once; he would do well.
“Hey, Tobes.”
“Yeah, Jimbo?”
“Take the canal. Maybe you’ll find something interesting.”
“Yeah, right.” Toby let out a small chuckle. “Nothing interesting ever happens in Arcadia.”
Jim’s smile soured at the commotion behind him.
“Tell me again, dweeb-face. Tell me about the creatures, and maybe I’ll let you out.”
“Or you could let him out right now. You know? Be nice.” he intervened, with far more confidence than the first time.
“Nice, would be minding your own business.” his brows furrowed.
“Oh, hi Jim!”
“So, where were we? Um… Oh, yeah, okay. You were telling me about the monsters you saw this morning, with fangs and… What was it, again?” the boy asked.
“Stone for skin! In the canal!” Eli yelped, hoping he would be let out soon.
“Stone for skin? Man, Eli, you’ve got some imagination.” He mocked, looking ready for another series of insults.
“I’m serious, Steve. Let him out, now.” The young Trollhunter Time traveler? King? Hero? commanded.
“Or you’ll do what!?” his fist raised.
“Try me.” chin held high at his past/future friend’s threats.
Steve lunged for Jim. Jim stepped out of the way with ease, despite his body being untrained. Steve occasionally threw insults, gathering the attention of a crowd. Screams about a fight filled the air. There were a few more minutes of back and forth between the two before Coach Lawrence intervened.
“Palchuck! What’s going on here?!” the burly man screamed from nearby.
“Uh, nothing, sir…” the blonde boy stammered.
“Why aren’t you at practice?!”
“I was helping Eli, here.” he replied before opening the locker.
“Hey guys!”
“He was stuck.”
“On the double! Now!” The door slammed behind him.
Steve slammed the locker shut, turning towards Jim. “Friday, at noon. You and me. Tick-tock. Tick.” he wagged his finger in beat with his words, slowly walking towards the gym.
Jim looked at Steve, not with fear like last time, but with pity. He knew what he was going through and what he could be. He turned to free Eli from the locker, making sure to catch him.
“Thank you!” he chirped to his emancipator.
“Aren’t you also trying out for Romeo & Juliet?” Jim asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes! Are you?” Eli answered his… friend?
“Nice, and yes. I’m trying out for Romeo. How about you?”
“Aww, I was also gonna try out for Romeo. I probably won’t anymore. I think we both know who they’ll cast.” Clearly downcast.
“Don’t beat yourself down. How can we know if they cast you if you never try out? C’mon, let’s go.” Jim offered.
“Uh, okay. Thanks again for standing up for me.”
“Don’t mention it. That’s what friends are for, right?” Jim claimed, walking towards the location of the auditions.
Eli followed along, a smile slowly dawning on his face as he walked with his friend.
-----
Jim stepped up to the stage after Eli’s audition. He gazed upon the audience with a cardboard sword, provided by Eli.
“Destiny… Destiny is a gift. Some go their entire lives living an existence of quiet desperation. Never learning the truth.”
He felt a surge of warm energy. Somehow, he knew Toby was near the canal.
“That what feels as though a burden pushing down upon our shoulders is actually the sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights. Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor. That to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be a hero. Don’t think.”
Somehow, he knew that Toby had picked up the amulet.
“Become.”
-----
Jim went to the canals, looking for any sign that Toby had picked up the amulet. Gone. Not just the amulet, but a few pieces of Kanjigar. Jim hoped that his best friend hadn’t done anything to reveal Trollkind. Jim opened his phone.
No text from Toby.
The phone’s screen went black, retreating to its usual spot in Jim’s pocket. He biked back to his house, unsure if his friend was the Trollhunter. He unlocked his door, setting his bag at the newel post of the stairs. He thought of the chain of events that happened to him, and he wondered if Toby would experience the same things.
So Blinky and Aaarrrgghh reached out the day I got the amulet, I talked to Strickler, then the armor. I showed Tobes, then the armor happened at school, Bular, Trollmarket.
Jim started baking, unsure of what time he had started. By the time he had finished, his mom was already home.
“Jim?” Barbara checked her phone. “It’s 3 in the morning.”
“Oh, I guess I lost track of time.” Jim set the tray down. “I’ll just clean up before I go to sleep.”
“Jim… Is there something bothering you?” Jim’s breath hitched. “You can tell me anything. I’m your mom.”
“I can’t tell you.” She frowned at this, something that Jim noticed. “I don’t have proof right now. I’ll tell you once I do.” Jim couldn’t bear putting his mom through everything he had caused last time.
“Alright, kiddo. Go to sleep, I’ll clean up instead.”
Jim didn’t stop putting away dishes. “I’m practically done, Mom.”
“Alright. But you'd better be asleep by four, you have school tomorr- err later.” She was halfway up the stairs. “Love you, kiddo!”
“Love you too, Mom!”
-----
Jim’s eyes burned. He regretted sleeping so late. He dragged himself to the shower, his eyes refusing to open. When he craned his eyes open, he beheld the sight of small symbols on his chest.
“Shit!”
He tried rubbing off the symbols to no avail.
“Mom’s gonna freak out if she sees this!”
Jim realized that there was no erasing these symbols. He had resigned, going on with the rest of his day, deciding to deal with it later. He stepped out of the garage, sunlight harassing him.
“Woah, Jimbo! You look dead.” Toby already had the amulet in his hands.
“Didn’t you say you have a dentist appointment?” His head rocked back and forth, feeling as heavy as a cinderblock.
“I cancelled it, because of this.” The amulet’s glow made Jim recoil.
“Where’d you get it?” Jim rubbed his eyes.
“The canals! You were right, Jimbo!”
“Let’s go to your house. I don’t want people to see us.” Jim’s eyes were flicking around.
“Great idea. There might be evil spies or something.”
-----
“So what was it that you wanted me to see?” Jim was cross-legged on Toby’s bed.
“This.” Toby spoke the incantation, much to Jim’s surprise; he hadn’t summoned the armor this early. “How cool is this!”
“Whoa!” Jim never thought he would see his best friend in what used to be his armor. “Can I see the amulet?”
Toby banished the armor, handing the amulet to Jim. “Sure.”
The amulet glowed harshly in Jim’s hand; it had started spinning. Both boys look at the amulet, now floating in the air. A blue light flashed from the amulet, knocking both boys out.
-----
“Tobes! Where are you?!” Jim’s eyelids didn’t feel heavy anymore, neither did his head.
Jim was in his Magiktech armor, at the place he failed his best friend. Jim ran over to Toby, pieces of his armor fading into nothingness. Toby was in the amulet’s armor, Daylight was shattered a few feet away from him. Toby was stabbed with a knife, one from Angor Rot.
“You failed, Hunter.” The troll had the Skathe Hrun in his hand.
“We are back!” Another voice screamed from behind Jim, one that he knew as Gunmar’s. “Now, you don’t have your troll improvements or Merlin’s amulet!”
“Pathetic!” Two voices screamed, both belonging to one person. Jim was faced with Bellroc. “This is the being who killed me?”
Bellroc raised their staff, pausing the carnage around them. Jim tensed at this, unsure if Bellroc ever could stop time.
“Be nice, sibling.” Nari crawled to Jim, helping him up. The nightmare faded, revealing a blank space.
“What’s this?” Jim still had his hands up.
“Put your hands down, Human Hunter.” Skrael floated down to Jim, using his staff to force his hands down. “There is nothing any of us could do to harm anyone.”
Jim’s shoulders relaxed at this, yet his eyes were still flicking between the gods before him. “Why are you guys here?”
“To put it short, Hunter, all of our Magiks were transferred to you when you killed me.”
“Are you guys the reason for the symbols on my chest?!” Jim pointed at his chest.
“Yes, once you wake up, you will be able to use our Magiks.” Nari was twirling a green ladybug between her fingers.
“Your magic?” Jim’s eyes widened with realization.
“Yes, Trollhunter.”
Each member of the arcane order raised their left hand; the symbols on Jim’s chest started glowing, then spreading.
-----
“Jimbo? Jim!” Jim propped himself up, unsure where he was: his room.
“Jim! The amulet went all haywire and knocked you out!” Toby kept looking back and forth between Jim and the entrance to his room.
“Jim! What happened?!” His mom entered the room once she heard the commotion.
“I’m- I’m fine.” Jim contemplated telling his mom about everything; he had proof this time. Toby had the amulet, and he apparently had the Arcane Order’s magic.
“Mom, I think I have proof of what I need to say.” This piqued the interest of everyone in the room.
“Jim?” She looked worried, fearing anything her son might say.
Jim took off his shirt, revealing the symbols on his chest; it had spread. They started from right over to where his heart is. Nari’s Magiks stretched out as vines to his back through his lower-left ribs, forming a third of a rune. Skrael’s Magiks stretched out as icicles and winds, forming another third, taking the path through Jim’s left collarbone. Bellroc’s Magiks stretched out as magma, completing the rune, stretching through his lower-right ribs.
“Jim…” Barbara’s hand flew to her mouth, while Toby could only look in shock. “Are you in a gang?”
“Jimbo?”
“No! It’s that…” Jim let out a sigh, unsure if he was doing the right thing. “Toby, the amulet.”
“The what?” Barbara looked at the two children in front of her.
“Yeah, what? Amulet? What are you talking about?” Toby let out a chuckle.
“She needs to know, and so should your Nana.” Jim put on his shirt, deciding to practice magic in the forge.
“Know what? You boys are worrying me.” Barbara was dialing Toby’s grandmother.
“Maybe we should call your Nana first, tell them at the same time.”
“Are you sure, Jimbo? I didn’t tell you,” Toby leaned closer to Jim, whispering. “These two things entered my home, talking about some sacred obligation and keeping things secret.”
“I don’t know about these things, but we still need to tell my mom and your nana.”
“Jim! Toby! Come downstairs!” Barbara screamed from the floor.
“It’s gonna be easier if we tell them now.”
“I-I trust you.” Toby took out the amulet.
-----
“I heard my grandson was in trouble.” Nancy took a sip of her tea.
“It’ll be best if they explain.” Barbara sat next to Nancy, facing the children in front of them.
“Toby and I are in a world of magic and Trolls.” Jim stated, earning a look from everybody.
“Oh my…” Nancy set down her cup. “Are you on the drugs?”
“No, it’s better if Toby proves it.” Jim cued Toby to pull out the amulet.
“Fine…” Toby incanted, earning a puzzled look from both adults.
The armor clamped around Toby, and Daylight quickly followed suit.
“Tada??” He rested Daylight on his back, freeing his hands to wave around.
Barbara’s mouth opened and closed, while Nancy’s face was unreadable.
“I guess I owe you guys an explanation.” Toby sat down, taking a deep breath.
With such limited information, Toby could only explain for three minutes. By the end, Barbara was spiraling, and Nancy was worried.
“So, you’re telling me that both of you are the protectors of this crazy ancient world beneath our feet.”
“Technically, only me, but Jimbo can join.”
“Can’t you, like, give it away to someone else?” Barbara took off her glasses.
“Mom… I don’t know if he can. But, you heard him, it called for him. I think this is what we were meant to be. That we were given this destiny, to protect Trolls and any other kind of magical creature.
“But who’ll protect you?”
Jim didn’t have an answer for that; the last time they had this conversation, Angor attacked before he could think of one. “We have each other, and that’s why we're telling this to you guys. So we can all protect each other.” Jim could only hope that what he said was enough to convince his mother.
“Alright…” She looked as if she were deep in thought.
“I’m gonna cook all of us something to eat. We all need some rest.” Jim headed to the kitchen as Barbara walked to the living room, where everyone else was.
[Knock Knock]
Toby looked out of the front door. Nothing.
“Toby! I think they’re here for you!” Jim screamed from the kitchen.
Toby looked at the back door, and the trolls he was talking about were there. “Let them in for me!”
“Jim! Get away from them!” Barbara had her pepper spray out.
“Don’t worry, Dr. L! They’re good.” Toby gestured to the two trolls, who were now in the house.
“Plus, mom, do you think they’d have the courtesy to know before entering if they came to eat us?” Jim was searing a steak.
“I-I… I’m sorry, it’s just new to me.”
“I can assure you, we are not here to harm anyone.” Blinky stepped closer to Toby. “I must say, Master Tobias, I am disappointed that you tattled on us. Us trolls work hard to cover our tracks and hide our existence.”
“Don’t blame me! It was his idea.” Toby pointed to Jim.
“Wow. Way to throw me under the bus.” Jim feigned hurt, placing the back of his hand on his forehead.
“Who are you?” Blinky pointed at Jim.
“I’m James Lake Jr., you can call me Jim.”
“And you?” Blink turned his attention to Barbara.
“I’m Jim’s mom… Call me Barbara.” She was hesitant in answering, but seeing the trolls act friendly helped her out.
“I’m Nancy Domzalski, you can call me Nancy.” She held out a hand, which was met with one of stone.
“I am known as Blinky, and this is my friend.” Blink gesture to the Krubera.
“Aaarrrgghh. Three Rs.” The house shook when he tried standing.
“Why are you guys here anyway?” Toby took off his armor.
“We are here to take you to Trollmarket; it is time your training started,” Blink stated as if it were obvious.
“Hold on, you’re not taking our children anywhere without our consent.” Barbara spoke up.
“Plus, it’s a school night. We need sleep. Maybe you can take all four of us in a few days, when all of us are available.” Jim had set the table in the living room.
“It will cause enough discourse to bring in one human! But four!?” Blinky’s hands waved around.
“It’s either you have all of us, or none.” Jim stood his ground.
“Yeah, I stand with Jimbo!” Toby took a bite of the steak.
“Very well… I’ll talk to Vendel.” Blinky knew that he couldn’t risk scaring away the Trollhunter. “Our business here is done, I suppose. Aaarrrgghh, and I will take our leave.”
“Bye,” Aaarrrgghh waved before leaving.
“Nancy, I don’t know how to feel about this.” Barbara barely touched her food.
“I do, Barbara. It was only a matter of time before our kids did stupid things.” Both of them looked at Jim and Toby, who were talking to each other. “It may not have been what we expected, but at least they told us. We know how they are. They would do it, whether we help them or not. So what can we do other than help and trust them? I think we should feel relieved and glad that our children have people around to care for them. Whether it be us or, well, trolls.”
“Thank you, Nancy.”
-----
This time, he wouldn’t make mistakes. He wouldn’t ever have to watch any of his friends die. Jim told his mom early, hoping that it would help. The sweet embrace of sleep engulfed him.
Jim was met with three gods in front of him.
“Interesting…” Two voices spoke at once.
“What?” Jim looked around himself, as if the answer was on him.
“Of course!” Bellroc floated closer, poking Jim’s chest with their staff. “Our Magiks. It enhances your body.”
“What are you saying?”
“What my sibling is trying to say is that you will have enhanced physiology as time goes on. These enhancements will grow even stronger as you use more of our Magiks.”
“Enhanced physiology? Like super strength and stuff?” Jim hadn’t looked more confused.
“Among other things, Human Hunter.” Skrael joined the conversation. “You will be faster, stronger, have more stamina, and much more.”
“You will be immune to some phenomena. Such as fire and cold, each immunity comes from Bellroc’s Magiks and skraels. You will never face disease because of my Magiks.”
“Cool. Is this gonna affect how I sleep or anything? If so, can we limit how much we do this?”
“This will occur every time you fall into slumber, but worry not, this does not affect your rest whatsoever.”
“I have a question.” Jim looked guilty.
“Go on,” Bellroc said.
“Why are you guys helping me? Especially you,” Jim pointed at Bellroc. “I killed you.”
“It is complicated, Hunter, but we see greatness in you. You will restore lost balance.”
“Lost balance?”
“Lost balance between magic and man.”
“I’ll try my best. I won’t disappoint you guys.” Jim looked determined.
“We will see.” Jim swore he saw a faint smile on Bellroc’s face.
Darkness swallowed everything. Once it was all dark, Jim opened his eyes; now back in his room.
Jim readied for school. For his next life, unsure of what it would bring.