#aaarrrggh

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Trollhunters x fem reader

Chapter 3

Word count: 3K

Synopsis: A rogue Gnome causes chaos in Trollmarket, capturing and killing it will be hard

(A/n): I'm about to go to a friend and have a Trollhunters marathon.

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“–We kept walking. Eventually, we came across a new Heartstone, and we realized we had found a new home under Arcadia” Blinky reads from the history of Killahead bridge and how they found the Heart stone under Arcadia. 

He lowers the book to find Toby, Aaarrrgghh and (Y/n) looking invested. While Jim was asleep against the latter, a Spanish book laying on his lap. 

(Y/n) glances at Jim, before turning her attention back to Blinky. ‘Eight hundred years of history I’ve missed. Would it be suspicious if I asked more about it?’ She thinks, fiddling with the locket she had received from Mr and Mrs Nuñez.

Blinky slams the book close in front of his face, scaring the boy awake.

“Lo Siento, Senor Draal! No me mates!” Jim yells out, seems like he was dreaming about being beat down to a pulp by Draal.

“The training of troll history might seem like a minor duty, Master Jim, but-” Blinky tries to scold him, only to be cut off by Jim.

“Sorry, I pulled an all-nighter studying for my Spanish Comprehension exam and my brain is muy gooey. I don't know. I guess I thought if I'm facing Draal in a week, my training would be a little more... active” He gets up on his feet, yawning.

Toby punches the air. “Yeah, like, when is he going to learn Troll-kwondo? Or Rock-itsu?” He asks, pulling Jim into a side hug.

“Before one fights, Toby D., one must understand why one fights. For these precious early steps will decide whether a young Trollhunter will become a Deya the Deliverer…” Blinky motions to the statue of the heroine troll.

“Or Unkar the Unfortunate” Aaarrrgghh finished his sentence, drawing attention to the scared looking statue.

Jim holds up his Spanish book. “Well, tomorrow, my Spanish exam is with Senor Uhl "the Unforgiving." My main concern is for my immediate future” He says, finding the teacher’s wrath worse than Blinky’s.

“A-ha! But, to learn what will happen in the future, one must only look to the past” Blinky drops the troll history book in Jim’s hand, the boy almost falling over because of how heavy it was. “I recommend A Brief Recapitulation of Troll Lore by the venerable Bedehilde. Volume one of 47”

“Okay, but if I don't pass the exam, I'm grounded and I can't be the Trollhunter. Sorry, Blinky, but the amulet chose me, and now I have two lives to keep up” Jim holds up two fingers, getting used to the weight of both books.

Toby turns to (Y/n) “You’re lucky with your learning accommodations. You don’t have to stay awake at night, fearing that you have a Spanish test”

(Y/n) shrugs. “Being hit by a car has its perks”

The conversation was interrupted as rapid footsteps were heard. Running in was a female troll, who was in distress. 

“Oh, no. Is it the Heartstone?” Blinky asks her, worried.

“No! No!” Bagdwella cries out loud.

“Stalkling?”

“Is Bular in Trollmarket?”

“Wild magic?”

“No! Gnome! Rogue gnome!" Bagdwella yells, throwing her arms in the air.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

They arrive at Bagdwella’s shop. Socks hang from clothing lines, along with crystal lanterns. She looks down at her workbench. “First, I couldn't find my monocle, then my collection of bed coils. Now, something disappears every minute!”

She was about to sit down on a stool. Only for a gnome to steal it from under her, making her fall onto her butt. The Gnome giggles, speeding around the shop.

“Ah, yes. Gnome” Blinky mutters, holding out his hand for Bagdwella to grab.

She slaps away his hand, getting up herself. “Oh, dirty little pests. Up to last week, the glue traps were working fine” She holds up a glue trap with a Gnome skeleton on it. The quick snatches that as well.

“Fix it, Trollhunter!” She begs to the human hero.

“Uh, yeah, I'm really sorry about that. See, you need a gnome-catcher, and I'm, well, the Trollhunter, so-” Jim tries to explain, hoping he could go back to studying.

Blinky interrupts him. “Oh, no, Master Jim. The Trollhunter cannot refuse the call. And what better a call for you to train with than a pint-sized quarry?”

The Gnome appears from a curtain of socks, holding a guitar made of a fork and string. It clears its throat, playing the instrument and saying, then laughing.

“He's trying to distract us! Hold tight to your valuables” Blinky warns the others with caution.

Walking up to the small creature, Toby claps at the performance. “Why? He can't be that bad” he asks. He regrets his words as the Gnome runs off and steals his belt. “Oh, no! My belt! At least he didn't take my Nougat Nummy” He pulls out a candy bar, only for that to get stolen as well. He gasps “We need to catch that gnome” He says in a deep Gnome.

(Y/n) feels a breeze past, feeling a weight lifted from her neck. She looks down to find her locket gone. “Hey!” She yelps, reaching for the critter but fails. 

They stand back to back, trying to get a view of the Gnome’s whereabouts. “Over there!” Toby points to one of the clothing lines.

“Oh! Over there!”

“No! Over here!”

“Right here” Aaarrrgghh points to the top of his head, where the Gnome was leaning against his horn. It waves, before jumping off. 

Jim tries to get a hold of it, but it avoids him. He gets up, the Gnome jumping past him. His eyes widen in realization when feels something is gone, “Oh, no. Where's the amulet?”

The Gnome proudly grins, holding the amulet in its tiny hands. It runs under a closet, Aaarrrgghh gently pushes it aside to show there was a home behind it in the wall. “Hole” He states.

“Yes, it appears the plot quite literally deepens” Blinky remarks, hearing the Gnome's giggles through the hole.

‘I don’t have my book. But maybe I can…’ (Y/n) holds out her hand, concentrating. She was hoping that she could build up enough magic to levitate the amulet back. She pouts, finding it was not working. She glances to the side to find Blinky looking at her with a confused gaze. “Got to stretch those fingers” She lies, smiling.

Jim reaches out his hands through the hole,trying to bring the amulet back. “Come back, come back. Shouldn't the amulet be coming back to me right about now?” He asks his mentor.

“Dolefully, that rule only applies if you've rejected it. When thieved, it's another story. If you had read A Brief Recapitulation, you would have known that” Blinky lectures him in response.

“Some Trollhunter you are. Jim the Baby-Handed!” Bagdwella scoffs, snatching a bag of food from Toby.

Blinky places his hand on Jim’s shoulder. “Master Jim, press on. This is not the moniker you want”

“What else can I do? I can't fit in that hole” Jim argues, motioning to the small sized hole.

“Hmm, currently” Blinky hums, getting an idea

“Bad idea” Aaarrrgghh comments, knowing what his companion was planning.

“No Trollhunter has ever lost his amulet. We'll need time to procure the Furgolator” Blinky proposes the idea.

“Uh, the Furgolator?” Jim repeats, no clue what they were talking about.

“Uh, don't you worry about anything, Master Jim. Tend to your studies. We'll watch over the hole. Tomorrow, you'll return refreshed to deal with this, uh…” Blinky awkwardly chuckles, “little problem”

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

“Remember when I told you all Trollhunters must start small?” Blinky removes a blanket to a machine that was even taller than him.

“Full disclosure, I'm a little worried how I let you talk me into this” Jim says, eyeing the iron closet looking thing.

Blinky presses a button on the machine. The gears on it turns, realising smoke before its doors opening. It was similar to an iron maiden, just without the spikes.

“Still bad idea” Aaarrrghh frowns.

Hesitantly, Jim climbs in. “Wait a minute. So, how does me going into this thing help me get a gnome out of a hole?” Jim asks as the doors slowly close.

“If a gnome won't come out, the Trollhunter must go in” Blinky answered, patting the machine. 

“Wait, what?”

Blinky chuckles. “Don't worry. We often use the Furgolator to compress minerals. And now for the anthracite!” He takes a stone Toby was holding and places it in the side of the machine.

“I’m not an expert on the human body. But I’m pretty sure Jim isn’t made of rock” (Y/n) remarks, having doubts about the machine.

The inside of the machine begins filling up with smoke, making it impossible to see the boy from the outside. 

“I can't see anything!” Jim coughs, “Why is there so much smoke?”

The machine began to shake, the amount of smoke releasing made it sound like fart noises.

Toby rushes over to the machine, trying to pry it open. “Come on, you guys gotta get him out of there!”

Then Blinky joins him, trying as well. “Don't just stand there, Aaarrrgghh!” He yells out.

The gentle giant grabs the doors and opens them. Smoke pouts out of it, the machine being almost empty, almost.

Jim coughs, waving the smoke away. “Looks like it didn't work. Hope you have a plan B” He looks up and yelps when he finds the others towering over him like titans.

“On the contrary” Blinky grins, proudly.

Kneeling down, (Y/n) holds out her cupped hands for Jim. He looks up at her before looking down at her hand. He carefully steps on, trying not to lose his balance. (Y/n) stands back up, “Hm, travel sized Jim” she hums, looking at his small form.

“He's like an action figure” Toby comments, smiling.

Walking over the hole, (Y/n) sets him down infront of it. He was given a button to use as a shield.

Jim sighs, turning back to the others. “Real subtle. We've got to start small. Deal with the little problem. This is a huge problem! I can't be shrunk! I have exams to take! I have sinks to reach!” He complains.

“You have a gnome to catch. Now, onward, Master Jim, and fetch your destiny!” Blinky exclaims.

Toby grabs a pencil he used for a trap and holds it out for Jim to grab. “Your sword, my liege”

Annoyed, Jim grabs it, before poking his best friend with it. He turns around, cautiously venturing into the hole.

“Oh, one last thing to know when dealing with a gnome, Master Jim, and this is of dire importance: Do not touch its hat” Blinky calls out to the small hero. 

“Of course. It's right there in A Brief Recapitulation”

“You remember!”

“Of course not! Nothing in this world makes sense!”

A few seconds later they could hear fighting and glass breaking. “That doesn't sound favorable” Blinky remarks, worried.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

“Why hasn't he come out?” Toby asks, backing away from the hole.

Walking out of the hole was the Gnome without its hat, looking sad. Behind him was Jim, wearing the hat and holding his sword against the back of the Gnome. In his other hand was (Y/n)’s locket.

“You summoned the armor and caught the gnome! Well played, Master Jim!” Blinky congratulates him, clapping with Aaarrrghh.

“Thank you, thank you. I don't want to forget the little people” Jim replies, tapping his sword against the Gnome to keep moving.

Toby quickly catches the Gnome in a bag, closing it tightly.

“And this belongs to you” Jim holds out the locket by the string with his small hand.

(Y/n) crouches down, taking it from him. She puts it back around her neck, securing it. She smiles at him, “Thanks”

Scratching the back of his neck, “It’s no problem” Jim responds, slightly flustered. “And what about this shrinking stuff? When does it wear off?” He asks Blinky. 

“Don’t worry, master Jim. Sleep it off. By morning, you'll be as good as new. And how you have earned it! Jim the Gnome Slayer!” The mentioned troll exclaims.

Toby strums the Gnome's small instrument while the creature moves around in the bag, trying to escape. 

Blinky places Jim onto a crate. “All that is left is for you to take care of it” He instructs him. 

“Wait, what? Take care of it?”

“Rule number two” Aaarrrghh clarifies.

“Always finish the fight” Blinky adds.

“And by finish…” Jim trails off.

“Deaden. End. Le coup de grace” Blinky answers, Aaarrrghh drags his index finger across his neck to prove the point.

Jim’s eyes widen when realises what he must do.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

The three teens were at Toby’s house, Toby sitting on his bed, (Y/n) leaning against it and tiny Jim was leaning against a pillow on it.

“Who are we kidding? I can't kill this thing. I nearly had dinner with it. None of us are killers” Jim says in defeat. Looking at the small bag laying on the bed where the Gnome was sleeping in.

“We’re humans, we can’t kill so easily with a clear conscience” (Y/n) chimes, shrugging her shoulders. She looks down at the Troll history book, coming through the pages.

“I am” Toby frowns.

“You are?” Jim raises an eyebrow, curious on what Toby meant. 

“Detective Snuggles. Nana warned me not to leave my chocolate lying around. But it was just after Easter, and I had pulled in a big haul. I never thought that the cat would find my stash. But he did. And by the time I found him, it was too late” Toby admits, wiping a tear from his eye.

“Death by chocolate. There are worse ways to go” Jim comments, trying to find a silver lining.

“That wasn't the worst of it. I never had the heart to tell Nana, so, to cover up the murder, I used to eat his cat food just to make it look like he was still around” Toby lets out a sob. “And I liked it”

(Y/n) pauses, looking up from the book. “Interesting, it still kinda proves my point. Well I have to go, I have been gone for too long, it’s getting late. Bye guys” She says, standing up. She gives them a wave, before leaving the room and walks down the stairs. 

“Oh, you’re going?” She hears Toby’s grandma say, finding her walking out of the kitchen with a lunchbox. “Take these for you and Claire to enjoy, they're homemade cookies” She holds out the lunchbox.

With a big smile, (Y/n) grabs them. “Thanks, Nana” She responds, feeling warm inside by the gesture.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

(Y/n) sits in class, reading the troll history book, which was hidden under her Spanish book. Toby and Jim had yet to show up, making her worried.

“Jim Lake? Jim Lake? Is Jim Lake here?” Senior Uhl calls out, looking at his watch. “How disappointing but not entirely unexpected. - Moving on”

Then Toby bursts into the classroom with a laptop. “No problemo! Jim's here, virtually” He exclaims, placing the laptop on a stool in front of the class.

He turns it on to show a video call of Jim. The boy was sitting on a couch that looked plastic and the two windows behind him looked fake as well. “¡Hola! Sorry, I couldn't be en escuela, Seanor Uhl, but I'm sick en casa. Which is fitting, since I'm doing my comprehension presentación on Ponce de Leon, who muerto-ed from a great illness”

(Y/n) eyebrows furrows before realising what was going on. ‘Isn’t that the dollhouse in Toby’s room? Does that mean Jim is still small?’ She thinks.

“Hey! "Muerto-ed" is not a word!” Steve calls out, who had a missing tooth from when he and Jim fought.

“Nope” Senior Uhl shuts down the blond. “I'm curious to see where this is going. Continue, Mr. Lake”

“Ponce de Leon, one of the most famoso Spanish conquistadores is best associated with the Fuente de la Juventud, the Fountain of Youth” Jim explains. It became harder to hear him as what it seems like a vacuum was on near him.

“What is that horrible noise?” Senior Uhl questions.

“Uh, construccion. Uh, remodeling. A minor intrusion. Un Minuto, Senor Uhl” Jim excuses. He looks to something off-screen, beginning to panic. “No, no no need to fight at home. Ponce de Leon joined Columbus in the New New– What in the world?”

Jim tries to continue, only to be attacked by the Gnome. He falls to the ground, making the phone fall over. Toby turns away the laptop, hiding what’s going on on screen.

Toby turns the laptop back around, his best friend back on screen. “And that'll be all for my presentacion”

Looking down at his clip board, Senior Uhl says “Actually, by my count, you are three words short, Mr. Lake. If you can't finish the exam, I'll have to fail you”

“Uh, in that case, there were Muchos problemas in the Nuevo Mundo, the New World!” Jim adds, before getting tackled by the Gnome. Toby puts his arm in front of the screen.

“Um... Like vermin who you can't seem to get rid of. Ratas. I've got you now, gnome!”

He finally comes back panting. “But, in the end, they were taken care of. And that is it for my presentacion. I hope this wasn't too much trouble, Senor Uhl. Hasta luego”

Eli jumps from his seat, clapping “Spectacular!”

“Very, very informative, Mr. Lake. C-plus” Senior Uhl.

Suddenly parts of Jim’s body begin to grow, seeming that the effect of the Furgolator was running out. “It’s happening!”

“What’s happening!?”

Toby slams the laptop. “Internet connections, am I right? Gotta go. Bye!” He rushes out of the classroom.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

“The Trollhunter had two humans with him. One reeked of magic, a kind I haven’t smelled for centuries” Bular says, pacing back and forth.

“It’s just Merlin’s amulet. Now enough of that rambling, we have more important things to attend” Strickler dismisses him, focused on sending someone a message on his phone.

“I’m not a fool,” Bular growled. “It’s not his magic I smelled, this kind is far more distinct. Magic like…Morgana’s”

Strickler tenses up at the name, before turning off his phone. Not only did he have a student that was the Trollhunter but also another being a student of Morgana or even the sorceress herself.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

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Claire: hey Angor, can you pass me my bag?

Angor: ...

Claire: Angor?

Angor: ...

Blinky: what's wrong with that troll now?

Claire: Angor!

Angor: ...

Darcy: is he okay?

*Aarrrggh pushed Angor by the arm, for a moment it looked like if Angor was about to fall*

Angor: what'swrong?!

Claire: were you sleeping?

Blinky: on his feet?

Mary: that is new

Angor: no

Aarrrggh: yes

Angor: no

Blinky: I never saw a troll sleep on its feet

Claire: well... there's a first time for everything, I guess

And those things of times made her remember one time exactly

Jim entered the dim-lit sewer, not for the first time. The ring in his hand did give him a sense of security, the only threat he didn’t know how to deal with now was under his control, or at least wouldn’t harm him. 

Flashback.

When he put the ring on at first, he had a flash, he could see where the assassin was hidden deep within the tunnels, holding the stone they were looking for, whilst sitting on a pile of rubble. The first instinct was to go get it, but, as he faltered and kept the ring on, he started seeing more. 

Memories that were not his own flooded his mind, mistreatment, not just from Strickler. But from others.

So.

Many.

Others. 

And many different orders, from changelings, other trolls, gum-gums, and even someone called “Pale Lady”, who, by the looks of it, was the first. There was a constant feeling of sadness through those memories, anger, regret, so many negative emotions. It was hard. When he realized time had gone back to normal around him, it had already passed five minutes. 

He got on his Vespa and rushed back to school, where he found his friends, all safe and sound. 

“Jim!!” Claire and Toby rushed to him, the girl giving him a long hug. “You used it!! Did it work?! Did you get it?!” 

The girl then looked at the boy’s hand, finding the ring inside one of them. 

“I did… And I saw something…” 

He explains all he’s seen with the ring in his finger as they walk home, all he felt when he put it on. “I… I think we should really talk about it.”

“Well… That… Does bring things into perspective…” Claire frowned, remembering how avidly she had been moments before about using the ring to control Angor Rot, feeling guilt.

“See! I told you guys! We need to give it back!” Toby insisted once again, pushing his bike along, almost tripping on the sidewalk. “And hey, imagine right? What if he becomes our friend?! ANOTHER ONE FOR THE TEEAAAAM!!”

“What if he doesn’t and wants to kill me anyway?” Jim sighs, thoughtful. 

He didn’t want to die, but also, it didn’t feel right controlling the other troll, he needed to make some arrangements. Something that would compromise and make everyone happy, and would guarantee that the deals went through.

“I think I had an idea.”

End of flashback.

And that leads back to where he was now, alone, safe for a bug he planted on his watch. Claire and Toby followed from above, while Blinkous and AAARH followed from the sewers next to him. “Are you sure this is a good idea, Master Jim?”

“It’s better than nothing, Blinky… I just need him to listen to me. Plus! He’s put a literal curse on me. The minimum I am doing is protecting myself, right?”

“Agreed.” Claire says, pulling a chair in the cafe right above where Jim was alongside Toby. “Scream if you need help.”

“I’ll specifically call out for it, not to be confused with: ‘He’s chasing me’ screams.” 

Everyone in the coms laughed, except Jim, who was now one step closer to where he saw Angor Rot the day prior. 

Except he wasn’t there, not at first glance. 

The young trollhunter hated the feeling of not knowing where the enemy was. So, he called out. “Um… Angor Rot? Are you there?!”

From the shadows, the assassin crawled out, rising to his feet and glaring at the boy with a cold stare, he wasn’t keen on words currently. It was clear, however, Angor Rot sensed a change in the boy, he was not wearing armor and was alone in the sewer. And how he was found, was the most perplexing part.

It was only when Jim revealed the ring on his finger any emotion crawled through, pure anger washed over the other’s expression as he hissed and tried to attack the boy. Being stopped by an unseen force, mere inches from hitting the brunette’s head in with a dagger. 

“Give it to me. NOW.”

“I will. But not yet.” He straightened himself, taking a few steps back and looking up at Angor. “I did what you wanted, now I need you to fill up your end of the deal.”

That agitated the other, who paced back and forth trying to find some angle to attack from, or to try to. “So was this your plan?! Get my ring just to control me?!”

“I am NOT going to control you… I just needed you to listen…” Jim took off the ring, placed it in a chain he produced from his pocket, and tied it to his neck. “I’ll keep the ring until your end of the bargain is done… But I won’t wear it. I’m not controlling you now, I just ask you to fulfill your end too.”

The assassin kept his eyes on his soul, not moving them, not distracted. “I could snap that ring off your neck…”

“You could… But the stories say you were once a great warrior and a kind troll…” Those words sank like an anchor on the deep sea, taking an expression of pain from the troll. “So… I’d like to think you’ll be honest. And uphold your end… And understand I don’t exactly trust a guy who has a murder on his record.”

With that, he turned around, walking out of the tunnel and into the street above, where sunlight made it safe, meeting the others at the cafe. “Well! It all went good I think?”

“You didn’t exactly wait for a reply-”

“And I was not planning to! He knows what job needs to be done, sooooooo-” A waitress brought three hot chocolates, leaving each of them in front of each of the kids. “Aww! You ordered me one!” 

“Chocolate has a calming effect to most, so I figured you’d need it.” Claire nodded her head, with Toby smiling with a familiar proud look on his face. 

As they all took their cups into their hands and started sipping, a fairly sized pebble fell onto their table, smashing the flower jar on it. There were words on it, written in trollish. 

“I will need the two together. I’ll gather what I need and come find you by night.”  Read Claire.

“Well. He agrees!” Jim nodded.

“Wait there’s something on the back-” Toby pointed the inscription, it read: “Thank you for reminding me who I fight for.”

“Okay… That’s nice I think.” Claire admitted after she finished reading. 

“I am sensing it! he's gonna be part of the team!”  Toby sipped his hot chocolate.

“Let’s see about that Tobes.” Jim rolled his eyes, pulling out his wallet to pay for the damaged vase.

—

When midnight came, Jim was still awake, waiting outside in Toby’s backyard with the other and Claire, waiting. He told his mother he was sleeping at Toby’s house, which was partially true. But really, they were just waiting to see if Strickler would show up. And, luckly or not, he did. Of course, Jim did mention they should do that, after all, he knew (from Drall’s retelling and his own observations) that they really liked each other. 

For much of the boy’s distaste.

“So… Strickler is here… With my mom…” Jim sighed heavely, starting to lose his patience. “I am not putting on the ring but I do wanna know where Angor is.”

“You needn’t wait, Hunter.” Angor Rot jumped the fence, entering the backyard with a bag in hand. “I brought my materials.”

“Hi- You are… Very much on time.” Jim stuttered, cleaning his throat. “Well, so… How do you start it?”

“First. My ring…”

A shiver went through all the kids’ backs, turning back to him, Jim clutched the box a bit tighter. Claire defended him, “He will give it to you when-” 

“I know.” Angor then cut. “I don’t need you to give it to me yet, but simply…” His voice was almost breaking, they could tell that as he cut his phrase. “Show it to me…”

They exchanged looks, but the trollhunter stepped forward, opening the box and showing the ring, safe and intact in it. And also with a bit of a new shine to it. “I was very careful when I cleaned it. I don’t know, thought it would be nice.”

He had no words, simply nodded, fixing the bag he had in his hand, lowering his head in a confused and unsure motion. “That… was unnecessary…”

“I read once all kindness was necessary.” Jim announced proudly, moving aside and closing the box carefully. “SO, the plan is: Dust some sleep powder on them, they fall unconscious, you unbind them and boom! All done.”

The assassin rolled his eyes, watching as the child was excited. “It won’t be as easy.”

That, again, made them stop in their tracks. “Why?”

“The moment you get your mother to sleep, do you think Strickler will not try to run?” 

“Oh! That’s why Blinky, Aargh and Drall, and if possible, YOU will be guarding all exits!” The blue-eyed boy points to the house across the street. “Drall is guarding the downstairs, Blinky’s got the back, Aaargh the side and you could block from the top!”

Angor strapped the bag to his back, walked to the other side of the backyard and disappeared into the shadows. After watching for a bit, he showed up on the rooftop by Jim’s window.

“He… Could have told us he agreed.” Jim frowned a little, passing the ring to Claire. “You keep this and make sure it’s safe okay?”

“And why am I not going with you?”

“‘Cause your shadow-staff abilities still need work!” Toby piped up, walking off, while Claire armed herself with a retort, he continued: “And Ms. Lake doesn’t know you’re here. So less suspicious!”

Now that made more sense, and Claire calmed down. “Okay, fair. I’ll keep watch.” 

With that, Jim and Toby crossed the street, sleeping powders in hand. They rang the doorbell, Barbara opened it and was shocked to see the two up at that hour. Her dress was formal and romantic, clearly a date outfit. 

“Oh! Boys! Is everything alright? What are you doing awake?” The mother asked, looking over the two but her doctor's eyes could find nothing wrong physically. 

“Hi mom! We just wanted to say goodnight!” Jim quickly blew the baby blue dust on his mother’s face. 

It felt horrible watching her cough and fall back, now asleep, or rather, in a very sleepy and disoriented state. Walter Strickler, from the dining room, heard the commotion and ran to the door, finding the boy and his friend eyeing him furiously as Jim took his mother to his arms.

“Principal Strickler! Soooo good to see you tonight.” The sarcasm was palpable in the red-haired’s voice. 

“Young Atlas, did you just put your mom to sleep with sleep powder?!” 

“It was better than to let her see trolls crowding her living room.” As Jim says that, Aaargh appears in the window, Blinkous erupts through the door and most threatening of all, Angor comes down the stairs. 

Instinctively, Strickler hides the hand where the ring was supposed to be. “Traitor! How dare you!!”

“There’s no use hiding, Changeling… You have no ring…” He grabbed the changeling by the neck, holding him in front of the trollhunters. “Put him to sleep.”

As Toby approached the changeling with the glowing powder in hand, the downed troll swiftly opened his wings, blowing the powder right back. Toby managed to hold his breath before he inhaled anything, Jim did as well. Strickler pushed Angor back with a slap to the face, climbing upstairs and dashing for a window. Summoning his armor, Jim gives chase alongside Angor, who both jump out the window and onto the roof. 

Angor throws a knife with the blunt end forward, it hits one of Strickler’s wings, it unstabilizes him a bit, but doesn’t make him fall, instead, he throws his own knives back. 

Claire had been watching the scene, taking the shadow staff in hand, she opened a portal just as Strickler turned around, catching him in it. However, ended up teleporting him exactly to where she was. “Oh no-” 

“CLAIRE!!!” Jim slid down a drainage pipe, dashing across the street. When the entire group arrived, Strickler had Claire at knifepoint with a hand over her mouth. The staff having been thrown aside, unable to be reached. “Let. Her. Go.”

“Oh, I’d rather not, Young Atlas. See, I am still BOUND to your mother, which means you cannot harm ME or you’ll harm her!” He reiterated, walking back towards the woods. “So, I will let Claire here live… And you won’t perturb me again.” 

Jim’s hands were shaky as he held Daylight, with no intent or way of using it. Claire struggled, trying to free herself. All trollhunters were in an impasse, there was no way of getting to Strickler without risking Barbara and no way of getting to him without harming Claire. When the rest of the trolls arrived at the scene, they were all angry, but couldn’t think of any way to help.

“You should be ashamed of yourself…” Blinky cursed, scrambling for an answer to protect the girl. 

“I do what I must to survive. A coward like you would understand.” Strickler hissed back, slowly walking back. 

While all of this was happening, Angor finally laid eyes on the staff, the many centuries of practice with it worked to his advantage as he called the staff to him with the tome. The staff flew to his hand and with a swift movement, another portal appeared, this time, bringing the changeling to Angor’s grasp stronger. With agile movements, Angor was able to grasp the hand with the knife, kicking Claire out of the way. The brunette boy caught the girl, meanwhile, the assassin used all his strength to contain the troll’s wings and keep him down. 

“NOW!! THE LUNAR POWDER!!” Blinky rushed to the scene, while Angor held his breath, he blew it on the changeling's face. 

Strickler fought, tried as he could to stay awake or rub the powder on the assassin, but eventually also fell to the powder’s sleep-inducing actives. Angor kept his breath held as he put the man down, if he inhaled even a particle, he could either do the spell wrong or risk losing the opportunity, though, he had no clue where to get water in that place so he could clear it off of him. He mimed his distress to the others, Claire got up, got the hose and sprayed the other’s face with it. 

Though she did overdid a bit. “ALRIGHT ENOUGH- THE POWDER IS OFF!!”

“Just making sure.” She scoffed, closing the register. “You’re the main part of this plan, after all.”

It was very unclear in her tone if she meant that as an insult, or as a compliment. He decided to simply ignore either option and proceed with the task. Picking up Strickler, they dragged him back to the Lake household, where they found Barbara, in a sleepy hazed state on the sofa, trying to make sense of what Toby was telling her. The fact she didn’t get knocked out like the changeling put a question mark to all. The sorcerer himself was shocked she had her eyes open.

“How is she still awake after a fist of the lunar powder?” Angor was impressed as he was setting up the instruments, occasionally moving the woman’s hands off of them. 

Jim looked over the kitchen, finding a packet of instant coffee and a mug in the sink. “Oh. She had espresso. Of course, she did…”

“Oh dear, that would explain it.” Blinky sighs, “I feel that is not smart at this hour?”

“It is not, if I even SMELL coffee before bed I become a buz!” Claire sympathizes with the woman and especially her son, she doesn’t blame her for taking coffee but is worried for the fact she may not sleep as often as it seems. 

The chatter of the house dulled in Angor’s ears as he set up each component, continually, and annoyingly, pushing Barbara from touching anything. His patience started to wear out, so he gave her something to fiddle with, an unfinished golem piece, it would do nothing even if she threw it or buried it. But apparently got her attention. “prettyyyyyy… This is great decoration!”

“I made that from my own flesh.”

“Your flesh is nicer than humans. So less messy… I can glue you back together… So not messy.”

He rolled his eyes, he wished it was as easy as that. But apparently it had gotten other people’s attention. “You made that- From your own skin?”

“Yes.” The silence, safe for items being arranged and placed around, was quite mournful. “If you knew I was a warrior, why does this surprise you?”

“The book didn’t say you did that-” Jim sputtered, now more and more concerned for the other. 

Once finally done setting up, Angor took the totem back and placed both bonded hands on the shiny stone in the middle. Jim, now more than ever, paced around, anxious for his mother. 

“She’s gonna be okay, right? That… That won’t hurt her?”

Angor looked back, watching as the boy got more and more worried. He sighed, truthfully unsure. “The spell was never done on humans, to my knowledge… Removing it might have some drawbacks, for example, she won’t remember anything from today… But I’ll do what I can to make it painless.”

Jim sat down anxiously, taking his mother’s hand, who was still in her hazed state. “Jiiim! Promise me, you’ll wear a helmet when fighting trolls! I’m your mama! I gotta protect you!”

He pats his mother’s hands. “It’s okay Mom, I will.” 

Angor started reciting the incantation to undo the spell, Walter started groaning and writhing on the floor, and Barbara also shifted in the comfiness of the sofa. 

—

Once the spell was removed, Jim took Barabara to the hospital, saying she fainted at home. Before heading off, Claire retrieved the box Jim put under her care, handing the ring to the troll. 

Meanwhile, Strickler woke up, to the smell of a dirty sock and all the trollhunters (and Angor) were glaring at him. He jumps, stumbling back into troll form. 

“Good morning! Mr. Strickler.”

“What have you done?!” 

“Severed your bond to my mom, making it so that whatever happens to you!” The young boy slapped the man across the face, leaving a red mark. “She’s safe!” 

The Changeling glared daggers at the trollhunter, he was about to pick up his feather knives when Angor interrupted.

 He attacks, punching Strickler in the face. “That. Is for taking my soul.” 

Before anyone could intervene, the green troll was kicked in the crotch by a very agreeable force. 

“That. Was for calling me a dog and treating me as one.” 

The man groaned, falling face-first onto the pavement. The troll then picked up one of his daggers, and everyone moved into defense positions, as he stared at the man. Clutching the dagger in his hand tighter and tighter, he walked closer to the downed foe. 

“I could kill you… Part of me does want to kill you…” He plunged the dagger onto the concrete in front of Strickler, who was ready to have his head roll. “But thanks to the trollhunter, I won’t. I’m not a soulless killer. And you’re not even worth dulling a knife for.” 

A collective sigh of relief was had by the trollhunters’ team, who instantly reverted to hating Strickler. The ex-assassin turned to the boy’s daggers, the memory of the stone he still had possession of coming to his mind. Now that no one was wearing the ring, there was no pull to keep it. So, he tossed it to the conundrum, who caught it all be it clumsily. 

“The trollhunter saved you today… You should be thankful.” 

The changeling eyed the group, shock written across his features as he gasped for air after his life passed through his eyes. After a few minutes of silence, watching as their enemy recomposed himself, Jim spoke once more. 

“I never planned to come after you, you know? You might have been the second biggest traitor of my life. But I still had no plan to just chase you or kill you.” He admitted, frowning, picking up the changeling and putting him on his feet. “I don’t like finishing fights like that. I only ever did when I needed to… I was really hoping the years before I was a trollhunter meant something like that.”

Blinkous tightened his glare, and all the others as well. Angor was a bit lost but figured it was well-deserved. Once the troll was back at his feet, he changed into his human disguise, watching the boy with attentive eyes. His shoulders detensed, his gaze softened and he let out a long sigh. 

“I will not be the last enemy you face.” He reaches into his pocket and Jim gets tense and clutches Daylight tighter, getting progressively angrier. 

Until Strickler produced a stone from his pocket, it was star-like and the colors reminded all of a blue shiny eye. Claire and Blinky gasped, all the others watched in amazement and confusion.  “Is that…?” 

“The eye of Gunmar? Indeed so.” The changeling put it on the trollhunter’s hand. “The challenges you’ll face are far bigger than any you’ve faced before… And sadly this one you won’t be able to reason with as well as you have.”

“Oh, trust me, the only talk for Gunmar is the words: Flip you and go to hell,” Jim stated, taking the stone. “Thank you. But it doesn’t make it any better what you did with my mother.”

Strickler found in himself to give a sighed chuckle, “I know. I didn’t expect that at all really.”

With that, he turned his back on the trollhunters, “Until we meet again… Young Atlas.”, with that, disappeared behind a turn in the sewers. 

—

Once they all reached the canal, the entire group was a lot more relieved. With the now, officially, not-murderous assassin out of the way and both missing stones acquired, the path to retrieving Claire’s brother was going to be a smoother one. As they all made way to Trollmarket, Angor was quiet, following way behind them, staring and examining his ring with much detail.

“Angor Rot?” His name brought him back, and turning up, he found the grubera beside him. “You okay?”

“I… I am. I am now.” He sighed, taking in the feeling of his soul again. The warm feelings, the memories, the pain and guilt, but most importantly, the hope. “I’m free… I just need to…” 

He froze, staring down at the ring once more, hands shaking and vision blurring. 

How is he supposed to put his soul back? 

What if he hurts his soul?

What if the soul breaks?

What if he loses it… forever…?

He hadn't felt this panicked in centuries, or better, he hadn’t felt panic in centuries. Now he remembered why it was so hated, the feeling hit like a hammer on a bothersome nail and made him choke. His freezing and AAARRRGH staying behind caught the attention of the other trollhunters, who turned around as well, shedding confused expressions at the two.

“You… don't know how to return your soul, do you?” Jim cautioned, letting the armour fade away. 

Angor did not have an answer, but it was in the negatives either way. “I…” 

No words would leave, the tightness in his chest kept getting tighter and tighter. After a second, and digging his claws discretely onto his hand, Angor recomposed himself. 

“I will be alright, trollhunter. I will find a way… It is my own fault for not thinking ahead.” He sighs, dusting off his hands to try to not bother the marks he left. “I am in debt to you, young trollhunter. You have my eternal gratitude, for returning what belongs to me.”

“Yeah. No worries! I gotta answer the call, right? Even if it does come from a guy who’s tried to kill me… And put a magic tattoo on my face.” 

“Oh. Yes. To revert the mark, you must wash with silver water under the moonlight.” The sorcerer explains, handing them a bottle of what it was supposed to be. 

As Claire examined it, she instantly recognized the material. “This is mercury.”

“I suppose that’s what humans call it.” He failed to understand why they looked so skeptical and fearful.

“Mercury is very toxic to humans- And anything that isn’t a troll really-” She laid flat, taking the bottle gently and passing it right back, as he now realized the mistake. 

“Ah… I see. It was the only solution I knew.” 

Blinkous was somber, massaging his temples to try to think which books on the library could contain any possible information on the matter. But then, Claire spoke up again. “Okay, does the mark actually affect Jim’s health?”

“No. All it means is that I’ll know where he is at all times, as well as can have access to the sword.” 

“Okay! Then! You. Just don’t do any of that. And we shouldn’t need to get it off. It doesn’t even show anyways.” She had a very good point, now with Angor as a good person, it wasn’t as much an issue. The troll agreed and the girl took Jim’s hand, pulling him away. “Well. Thank you for the help with the triumbric stones as well.”

“Yeah! If you need anything! You… Well. You know where to find us!” 

And with that, Jim was dragged inside trollmarket to carve the two stones he’d acquired. Leaving Angor Rot outside, looking up at the world he didn't fully know, which he hadn't been part of for centuries. Now in solitude, he felt the ringing or anxiety on his back get heavier, the ring in his hand was warm with his energy… The energy he wasn’t sure how to bring back into his body. 

Either way, he had to figure it out alone. As he was known as a soulless assassin, it was obvious they wouldn’t allow him inside. Not after centuries of killing trollkind’s protectors. 

Still, he kept the boy’s offer in mind, and his common sense made it seem a bit too good to be true.

…

Okay sooo I made too many of these and I can't stop

Aargh has one of the most tragic backstories! He comes from a deep-living race of trolls that usually can’t stay near the surface long, but the villains abducted him and others to be child soldiers and forced them to adapt to living in the wrong environment. He was actually one of Gunmar’s generals! He ate humans! His name is based on the screams of terror that happened when he showed up to fight!

And you wouldn’t know any of that from his introduction. Aargh is quiet, apologetic, and a pacifist. He’s obviously different from the background trolls, with his size, knuckle-walking, and simple speech. He and Blinky both come across as being different races than the main community and it makes sense that they’d band together.

But when we see the other Krubera trolls, they’re as upright and fluent as any other in Trollmarket. They’re bioluminescent. And they want to take Aargh home, because he’s been poisoned and is slowly turning to stone. That same poison has been shown to turn everything from trees to other trolls to stone within seconds, yet Aargh has been hiding it for days if not weeks! Krubera are tough, which is why Aargh and others were kidnapped.

Aargh is so sensitive to rejection. He had a violent past, so he took a vow of pascifism until he saved Toby from Gular. He needs reassurance that he’s seen as a friend and not just a big clumsy pet. He hid his injury from everyone but Vendel. He never went back to “his people” because he at least had some acceptance at Trollmarket with Blinky.

Aaarrrgghh icons

Trollhunters