#bagdwella

Flopping down into his desk, Jim raised his head to see Darci step up to the front of the room. Clearing her throat and starting her own Spanish presentation.

Jim was so out of it it took him a few seconds to realize the words coming out of Darci's mouth weren't spanish.

He froze in his seat, staring at Darci with his mouth hanging open as she continued her speech in a very guttural language that he'd only ever heard underground. Had to do something, clue her in--

Before he could do anything the entire room erupted in laughter.

Darci snapped her head up, eyes flicking down to her paper and back up again, cheeks flushing dark.

Señor Uhl narrowed his eyes, scribbling on his paper ominously "I don't know if you thought you would get bonus points for creativity but that is not the way I conduct my lessons. This is Spanish class, not Klingon-fantasy speak class,"

The laughter rose in pitch and volume, Darci's face somehow got even darker.

"Sorry-- I-- I mean lo siento, I-- I gotta go--" she darted towards the door and ran out of the room

"Wait Darci--" Jim jumped up and raced after her, ignoring Señor Uhl's shout and more laughter from behind him, shoving his way out the door and into the hall.

Glancing in either direction he couldn't see Darci. He didn't want to leave her alone right now, the spotlight was never her thing, but to mix up spanish and trollish in front of the whole class, and in front of Señor Uhl of all teachers. That was a whole new level of embarrassing, but which way did she--

His vision was swallowed up by blue and brown "Something the matter Mr. Lake?"

Oh no, talk about the last thing he needed right now.

Jim sheepishly lifted his gaze to see Mr. Strickler staring down at him with one eyebrow raised.

"Oh uh...Darci, had a little trouble with her oral presentation," he tried to keep his voice steady and not come out as an anxious crackle "I wanna make sure she's doing ok,"

Mr. Strickler let out a soft chuckle "How caring, you truly are a thoughtful young man,"

Despite everything Jim couldn't help but perk up a little at the praise.

"And forgive me for eavesdropping, but I'm almost certain it wasn't spanish Miss Scott was using in her presentation, do you happen to know what language she was using?"

Just like that whatever sense of relief he had plummeted "Oh-- uh... it's a fantasy language, completely made up, from-- from our LARPing!"

Not the world's greatest cover story, but Jim was pretty proud of himself for coming up with something semi-believable on the fly like that.

Mr. Strickler's eyebrow arced again "I didn't know the five of you were interested in live action role playing?"

Jim forced out a laugh that he hoped didn't sound as awkward as it felt "Yeah, it's kind of a new thing, some...friends got us into it,"

"That does sound interesting, I hope you will tell me more about this role playing of yours, and your new friends,"

Jim smiled and nodded but on the inside his stomach sank. Now on top of homework, the play, and underground troll training he had to come up with some kind of role playing campaign to tell Mr. Strickler about. Just great, one more thing to worry about.

"Well I won't keep you," Mr. Strickler turned and started walking away, only to pause and glance back over his shoulder "And I believe I saw Miss Scott heading for the library,"

His heart leapt, finally something working out in his favor. Jim jerked his head up and down in thanks before he started powerwalking down the hall towards the library.

"Got it, thanks Mr. Strickler!"

*

"You don't really need to be here for this mom,"

She just smiled back at him "Sorry kiddo, but there's no way I'm missing your first official Troll Fighter job,"

"Yeah so what if it's more of a pest control gig," Toby piped up "This is your first official mission!"

Jim buried his face in his hands with a groan "Don't remind me..."

"Hey don't worry," Darci patted his arm consolingly "No matter how painful and humiliating this turns out...Mary will document the whole thing on video,"

Mary gave a perky grin and waved her phone at him.

Jim looked up, completely stone faced "... you guys need to work on your bedside manner a bit,"

The other kids just smirked back at him shamelessly, a few of them even giggling.

"Oh relax," Barbara stepped forward and started drawing the arch with the crystal key Blinky had given them. There was a specific name for it, something that started with 'H' but she couldn't recall it at the moment "I'm sure you'll be able to catch this gnome easy peasey,"

The timing really wasn't ideal. She didn't work tonight but she had on call hours starting at 8pm, so she needed to rest when she could in case she was called in. Not to mention she still had to organize her bank papers and credit card statements.

Still, when Jim had told her about his first official mission Barbara knew there was no way she was sitting this out. Jim had tried to downplay it but she'd insisted. Come hell or high water, she would be there to support her son.

"Yeah," Claire hopped through the gateway and headed towards the stairs, a skip in her step and a grin flashed in Jim's direction "Provided gnomes don't have secret magic superpowers,"

"Ok seriously, you guys need to work on your peptalks," Jim followed them in, despite his grumpy tone Barbara could see a grin fighting it's way through on his face.

Barbara had to bite back a laugh as they headed down the stairs. Not for the first time she found herself immensely grateful that Jim wasn't going through this alone, that he had his friends to cheer him up and help him out.

"So if the gnome beats you, does that mean the gnome is the new Trollhunter?"

"Tobes I will push you down the rest of these steps,"

Finishing their descent, Barbara saw Blinky and AAARRRGGHH waiting for them at the base of the stairs.

"Greetings master Jim! Are you ready for your final showdown against the foul gnome!"

"As I'll ever be..." Jim mumbled.

"Excellent! And never fear, AAARRRGGHH and I have procured a secret weapon that will enure the tide of victory turns in your favor,"

"A secret weapon..." Barbara glanced up towards AAARRRGGHH, only to see his mouth twisted in a grimace.

"Bad idea..."

"Nonsense my lumbering companion, this is an ingenious bit of strategy," Blinky turned and started hurrying into the market, forcing the rest of them to follow him.

Barbara eyed the back of Blinky's head as he lead them through crowded streets. It was clear that Blinky meant well, and Jim had only good things to say about his training sessions with him, but AAARRRGGHH struck her as the more level headed of the two. And his hesitance put her on edge--

"Well well...if it isn't the mighty Trollhunter himself!"

A new troll stepped out in front of them, forcing them to stop and immediately putting Barbara on edge. This troll's tone had been anything but friendly, and based on his appearance, blue skin and spiked back, this had to be none other than Draal.

She narrowed her eyes at up the sneering troll, lips pressed into a hard line. When she'd heard about what Draal had done to Jim she'd immediately gone straight back down to confront Vendel about how if adults beating up children was part of troll culture then Jim would have no part of it.

To his credit Vendel was immediately contrite, and assured her that was most certainly not part of troll culture, and he would have a word with Draal and ensure that this wouldn't happen again.

However Vendel had also made clear that while Draal wouldn't attack Jim, his attitude was very likely to stay sour. After a brief explanation Barbara understood...to an extent. Draal was mourning and confused, dealing with questions he might never get good answers to. But if he thought his grief permitted him to use Jim as his punching bag Barbara was going to have something to say about that.

"Draal!" Blinky threw his arms out wide, stepping towards him with a forced smile stretched across his face "What brings you to this corner of the market?"

Draal's red and yellow gaze shifted over to Jim, giving a smile that was all teeth "Can't a troll be curious about our new hunter's progress...."

Barbara had heard enough, shouldering past Blinky standing face to face against Draal "Not when they've behaved the way you have. If you don't have any business here I suggest you leave."

Draal's grin was instantly replaced with a sneer "Pathetic that the Trollhunter needs a fleshbag to fight his battles--"

"I can fight my own battles just fine," Barbara felt Jim's hand on her shoulder gently tugging her back, she brushed him off and took another step forward "Right here right now if I have do,"

Draal snarled and loomed closer. Barbara's hand was already in her pocket flicking the safety off her pepper spray when AAARRRGGHH sided up to her.

"Leave," AAARRRGGHH growled "Not good for Trollhunter, not good for Draal,"

"I concur," Blinky stepped up to her side, both of them flanking Barbara now "AAARRRGGHH and I are more than happy to aid you in this tumultuous time, but right now our duty is to aide Master Jim with his first hunt,"

If Draal wasn't angry before he sure was now, lips pulled back to expose sharp teeth, fists tense at his sides. For a moment it seemed like he might charge them, fists swinging, but after a few seconds he snorted and relaxed his shoulders, turning and stomping off while muttering something in trollish. Trolls in the busy market surrounding them who'd been staring at the confrontation all quickly found something else to look at.

Barbara watched him leave through narrowed eyes.

She couldn't fight all of Jim's battles for him, nor did she want to. Troll hunting business aside she wanted Jim to be able to be independent and solve his issues himself without his mother's constant interference. However there was a big difference between letting her son learn how to problem solve and letting every troll with misguided anger issues pick a fight with him. And if any grown trolls down here thought they could get away with being violent towards her teenage son they'd find themselves on the business ends of her pepper spray and car keys.

And depending on how much notice she had, maybe even a shotgun.

Jim's hand was on her shoulder again, this time she allowed him to pull her back.

"Let's just get to Bagdwella's," Jim's voice was high and sharp, smile not fully reaching his eyes "I'm sure she's anxious to get that gnome out of her shop,"

Watching Draal vanish around a corner ahead of them, Barbara let out a soft exhale "Yes, let's go ahead,"

They made it the rest of the way to Bagdwella's shop without incident, finding Bagdwella herself standing outside. As soon as she saw Jim she rushed up to him and grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Oh thank Gorgus you're here Trollhunter!" she shook him back and forth "This rogue gnome is destroying my livelihood. You must exterminate it with haste, my future depends on it!"

Rattling in his armor, Jim still managed to bob his head up and down "Of-- of course, don't worry I'll take care of it,"

"Quickly!" Blinky hurried them inside "The key to your success lies just within,"

"Bad idea!" AAARRRGGHH said, more urgent this time.

Frowning, Barbara darted ahead of the others, catching up with Blinky and finding him standing in front of a tall metal box that had been set up against the shop's back wall. Light yellow lines etched into it giving the impression of a trollish face.

"How's a tricked up gym locker supposed to give Jim the edge?" Claire rapped the side with her knuckles, resulting in a hollow clanging sound.

"This is the fergolator!"

"Fer-ga-what now?" Toby raised an eyebrow.

"The fergolator," Blinky pulled the door open "An ancient piece of trollish machinery used to shrink components for mining,"

Darci did a double take "Hang on did you say 'shrink'?"

"Indeed," Blinky's grin widened "For if the gnome will not come out, you Master Jim must go in!" he pulled the door open and gestured inside "Come along, hop in now,"

Jim eyed the machine uneasily, slowly raising a foot and taking a hesitant step forward, only to have Barbara stride ahead and shut the door in his face.

"No." she said, leveling Blinky with a flat stare.

All of Blinky's eyes swiveled towards her, expression twisted with confusion "No?"

"No you are not putting Jim inside a machine designed for shrinking mining equipment,"

AAARRRGGHH nodded in agreement, moving through the cramped store to stand beside her "Bad idea,"

Blinky crossed two of his arms and planted the other two on his hips "I beg your pardon!? This is an ingenious move of strategy,"

Barbara felt her frown deepen "Setting aside the risks of sending Jim inside that gnome's nest, where none of us would be able to help him if something went wrong, putting him inside a machine designed to treat mining supplies is a terrible idea, and who knows if it would even work,"

Blinky made an affronted noise "Of course it will work! This fergolator is top of the line,"

Barbara allowed her stare to harden into a glare, Blinky starting to shift uncomfortably under her gaze.

"You misunderstand me. There are untold risks to putting a living organism inside a machine designed to process inorganic matter. What if in the process of shrinking him it crushes his spine, or his organs burst under the pressure?"

"Yeah I'm all for my organs not exploding," Jim cut in.

AAARRRGGHH nodded along "Bah-boo-rah right, fergolator bad idea."

Blinky glanced between the two of them with a sour look on his face, then without warning he threw the door of the fergolator open, yanked the level on the side, and hopped in. The door clanging shut behind him as the machine whirred to life.

There were a few seconds when none of them reacted, too stunned to fully process what had happened, then the machine started to rock rapidly and emit loud whirs and bangs.

Jim rushed up to it, yanking on the handle of the door, Barbara and AAARRRGGHH pulling along with him. Even if she disagreed with Blinky she couldn't let him get hurt in a misguided attempt to prove a point. But even with all three of them pulling the door refused to budge. After a few more seconds of bangs and rocking the machine went still and silent, the door popping open to reveal--

"Ah hah! Success!"

Watching Blinky strut confidently out of the machine Barbara adjusted her glasses, unable to believe what her eyes were telling her. Blinky now only standing at half a foot tall and looking pleased as punch.

Given everything that had happened over the last few weeks, and honestly the past decade, Barbara liked to consider herself pretty open minded to a lot of possibilities most people would consider outlandish. Things like magical amulets and secret underground troll cities took a little adjustment to get used to, but she felt like she'd handled the revelations with a decent amount of grace.

But something about seeing one of Jim's troll teachers, normally well over six feet now tottering around less than knee high, left her standing there with her mouth hanging open in stupefied shock.

"The shrinking process was a success," he grinned smugly up at Barbara "And my spine and organs are completely intact thank you very much,"

AAARRRGGHH glanced from side to side frantically, it took Barbara a few seconds to realize that between the size difference and Blinky standing directly below him AAARRRGGHH could hear him but he couldn't see him "Where Blinky?"

"Down here good fellow!"

AAARRRGGHH frantically glanced around, a sharp whine escaping his throat "WHERE BLINKY!?"

"Here I'm here! I--" Blinky darted over to Barbara and tugged on the leg of her scrubs "Could you give me some assistance my vertically gifted compatriot?"

She could hear the kids snickering behind her, but Barbara reached down and helped Blinky climb onto her shoulder. The sensation was...odd, stubby stone feet scrabbling against her skin, his weight was certainly noticeable but nothing that gave her trouble as she helped him find a stable perch on her shoulder. Lifting him up so that AAARRRGGHH could finally see him, eyes going wide as literal dinner plates.

"Blinky...tiny?"

"Indeed," Blinky folded both sets of arms and sat back on Barbara's shoulder "The fergolator accomplished its task, now Master Jim hop in and--"

"No."

Blinky looked up at her "But--"

"Yes the machine did what you thought it would this time," Barbara cut him off "But one incidence is not indicative of a trend,"

"But Master Jim has a gnome to vanquish! And if the gnome will not come out--"

Barbara shifted her head and fixed Blinky with a look usually reserved for only the most difficult patients "Blinky I will drive my car down here and monoxide that gnome myself before I let you put Jim in that machine!" she snapped, patience at an end.

"....you would bring your automobile here?"

This time it was both Barbara and AAARRRGGHH who fixed Blinky with unimpressed looks.

Blinky wilted on his perch "Right, perhaps we can discuss automobiles another day,"

Barbara sucked in a deep breath through her nose, and turned back towards the kids "How about instead of going in after the gnome we use bait instead,"

Darci glanced up at her "Bait?"

"You mean like grab some food that gnomes go bananas for?" Claire said slowly, a smile working its way across her face "Lure the gnome out of his hiding place with it!"

"Yeah!" Toby piped up, wide grin matching Claire's "Instead of Jim going to the gnome we make the gnome come to us!"

Jim was slowly nodding along with them "That...sounds good,"

"While it is indeed cunning I maintain that the use of the fergolator was a sound tactic," Blinky groused.

Barbara turned towards him "So what exactly do gnomes like to eat?"

*

"Oh my gosh these boiled swamp maggots are the best!" Toby said loudly.

Jim narrowed his eyes at him from where he was crouched outside the gnome's hole, mouthing something Barbara guessed was along the lines of 'don't overdo it'.

"Indeed!" Blinky shouted from his perch on Barbara's shoulder "I do believe these may just be the most ripe maggots I've ever tasted!"

"The ripest!" Mary practically shouted "And we have so many of them, I don't know how we're gonna eat them all,"

"Yeah...." Darci rolled her eyes from where she was fanning the steam from the bubbling pot towards the hole in the wall "Swamp maggots, gotta love them,"

Again Barbara found herself having to hold back an inappropriate giggle. The swamp maggots, generously provided by Bagdwella were....pungent, to put it kindly. Although she noticed Jim sniffing them earlier with a look of piqued interest on his face. Were swamp maggots...nutritious for trolls? She may have to ask Bagdwella if she could take these home when they were done--

A soft chitter came from inside the hole, Jim going stone still on his perch.

A hush fell over the other kids, all their eyes locked on the gnome hole. Blinky and Barbara were staring right along with them, her gaze flickering from Jim to the hole below him his own eyes were locked on.

More sounds, the scuffle of claws on stones, a curious sounding cheep, growing steadily louder.

With out the rest of his body moving so much as an inch, Jim slowly rotated his neck up to face them.

'Keep it up' he mouthed.

"Yeah I've eaten so many of these already," Claire called out, though the expression on her face said that was the absolute last thing she wanted to do.

"Don't eat too fast!" Barbara added "We only have so many,"

A more distressed sounding cheep came from the hole, the skittering sounds intensifying.

"I just ate five!" Toby cupped a hand around his mouth, projecting his voice to the point of near shouting "We might actually finish the pot!"

The scratching was louder than ever, the gnome must be right inside the hole. Jim held up a hand, the five of them instantly falling silent, staying perched in place eyes locked on the gnome hole.

A red hat hesitantly poked out of the hole with a soft chitter. Jim staying stone still in place above it.

A small face an a white beard followed the hat. The gnome taking a few hestant steps outside his hole. As soon as he spotted the bubbling cauldron he let out an ecstatic peep, racing away from the hole towards--

Nearly faster than Barbara's eyes could clock Jim sprang into action, leaping down and pouncing on the unsuspecting gnome.

The gnome whirled and let out a shriek, but it was too late. Jim snatched him up with both hands. The gnome yelped and scratched but Jim held him fast, the gnomes claws scrabbling uselessly against Jim's gauntlets.

"Got him! Get the--"

"On it!" Darci scrambled towards him, bag held at the ready. The others following right on her heels.

Jim snatched up the bag and tossed the gnome inside, cinching the drawstring tight.

Then just like that it was done, Jim holding the trapped gnome thrashing inside the canvas.

"Alright dude!" Toby elbowed him in the side "You completed your first official Trollhunter mission!"

Jim felt a smile creeping across his face "Yeah...I did didn't I,"

"You sure did," Barbara stepped up to him beaming "And I'm proud of you,"

"Indeed you were glorious!" Blinky cheered.

AAARRRGGHH rumbled "Good job,"

If he'd been in his human shape Barbara knew Jim would have been bright red "Well I mean...you guys helped a lot,"

Mary snorted "Heck yeah we did,"

"Oh splendid!" Bagdwella stepped towards them, a gigantic smile on her face "That irritating gnome is gone at last!" she bent down and swiftly snatched up the cauldron "But these swamp maggots have a buyer, so you'd better not have eaten any Blinkous,"

On her shoulder Blinky sputtered indignantly "This is the thanks I receive for preserving your livelihood!? Bah-boo-rah, approach so I may rain blows down upon this impertinent shopkeep!"

Barbara held up a hand to keep Blinky from falling "We're glad we could take care of this for you Bagdwella, thank you for all your help,"

Bagdwella harrumphed "At least one of you has a sense of common courtesy, now if you'll excuse me I have a customer waiting," with that she strode off, taking the swam maggots and their unique aroma with her.

Behind her Barbara heard Toby clear his throat "Hey Blinky how come you're still fun size? Shouldn't the shrinking have worn off by now?"

"Cease your worries Tobias," Blinky unfolded one set of arms to wave him off "The fergolator's effects should only last for an hour,"

Claire glanced down from Blinky to her phone "But you went inside the ferga-whatever over two hours ago,"

Blinky froze, each of his eyes blinking in turn "....I what?"

AAARRRGGHH's expression turned utterly heartbroken "Blinky small...forever?"

"No no no!" Blinky scrambled to the edge of Barbara's shoulder, all four arms held out in a placating gesture in AAARRRGGHH's direction "I am certain I shall return to my true size...eventually,"

"Maybe you should talk to Vendel," Darci piped up.

A deep wince etched itself on Blinky's face "Perhaps I should...Bah-boo-rah, if you would be so kind as to deposit me in my husband's hand,"

Reaching up, she shifted her free arm into a a bridge of sorts, allowing Blinky to scurry off her shoulder onto AAARRRGGHH's waiting palm, before turning back towards the kids "I'll let you kids finish up here, I'm glad I got to see Jim's first official troll mission, but I have some things to work on back at home,"

"Got it," Jim nodded at her "We'll take care of him--" he gestured to the very lively, very angry sack in his hand "And talk to Vendel about getting Blinky back to normal,"

They headed out of the shop, Barbara heading towards the exit while the kids, AAARRRGGHH, and Blinky headed towards Vendel's cave.

She'd just started ascending the stairs when a loud shout came from behind her.

"Blinkous just what sort of nonsense have you gotten mixed up in now!"

For the first time tonight Barbara allowed the laughter she'd been holding in to escape, heading up the stairs back to the waiting world above giggling all the while.