#rivermarielake

Working on different POVs. This was honestly hard to write because I find episode 10 EXTREMELY cringy, and I have a lot of second-hand embarrassment for Jim in this episode.

Episode 1

Episode 9

Jim’s POV

I stumbled back as my footing gave out, River swinging Midnight down towards my head as Draal observed my stance. I brought Daylight up just in time to keep her from cleaving my skull open.

Draal gave out a huff, motioning for River to swap with him as he grabbed a short double-bladed mace, quickly lunging after me before I could recover. I slipped under his arm and swung Daylight towards him. Draal was able to catch my blade with his mace, knocking my balance off. I went spinning with the momentum he had used to rip the mace away. Daylight disappeared in a cloud of bright blue light as I fell onto my back. Draal smirked, lunging the mace towards my throat though he kept it from making contact with my neck.

I groaned, staring up at the weapon in Draal’s hand, River snickering beside us as she watched, “Uh, I think I just broke my butt.”

Draal rolled his eyes, “Were this an actual battle, Trollhunter,” he lifted the mace before swinging it down again using the handle to whack me, causing me to scoot back with a grunt, “you would have just been deprived of your right leg,” he whacked my knee, “three fingers,” he poked my left hand. He pulled the mace back and jabbed it towards my crotch, I pulled Daylight out to block before the painful contact could be made as Draal smirked, “and your gronk-nuks.” He finally finished.

I sighed standing up holding Daylight out, “Sorry, I guess I’m just a little distracted tonight.” I yelled as Draal swung the mace again, stepping to the right and using Daylight to block my left shoulder, before diving under Draal’s arm, kneeling behind him as he turned to swing again.

“Bular will use your distraction as an opportunity to cleave your head from your shoulders.” He lectured, swiping my legs from under me, my back slamming into the grass.

I blinked up at him wide-eyed, trying to sit up, “Oh.” Was all I could muster at the thought of being decapitated.

Draal sighed, extending a hand out to me, “What has you distracted this night?”

I shook my head taking his hand, “You wouldn’t understand.” I could see River shake her head out of the corner of my eye as I said this.

Draal snarled out a roar throwing me over him and pinning me on my stomach with the mace against the back of my neck. “I am the son of the former Trollhunter, Trollhunter.” He ground out, irritated.

“I’m a little preoccupied about kissing Claire.” I finally yelled out against the grass.

Draal blinked for a moment as his face fell into a look of pure confusion. “I don’t understand.”

River dropped Midnight hearing what I yelled. She snorted a laugh, though I’m not sure if it was at my expense or Draal’s. “I think I’ll start warming dinner up, it’s about time we had a break.” She smirked at me before heading inside, giving Draal and I space to talk.

I sighed as Draal released me from the ground, rolling over to sit up I began to explain, “The school play, Romeo and Juliet. We’re rehearsing the kissing scene and I have to kiss her tomorrow.” I groaned flopping onto my back again as I drug my hands down my face at the thought of rehearsal.

“Kissing?” Draal asked as he picked me up from the grass and sat me on a rock, taking a seat next to me. “What is this kissing?” He huffed, unsure of why I was distressed.

“Haven’t you and River kissed?” I asked confused, glancing at the back door of the house, wondering if that’s why River was so quick to leave.

Draal stared at me blankly, waiting for an explanation.

I sighed and shook my head at the situation I was now in, having to explain the concept of kissing to a troll twice my size that happened to be courting my sister, this could not get any weirder. “Alright, when two people like each other, they put their mouths together.” I brought my hands up to demonstrate the action, making two duckbills and tapping them together. “And depending on how much you like them, the longer the kiss. Sometimes for hours.” I explained, hoping he understood.

Draal’s nose scrunched at the explanation, he grunted looking to the side, “Disgusting. Killing sounds easier.”

“Then you’ve never kissed River?” I asked, not sure if I was more relieved or shocked at the thought.

“River’s done something similar but never on my mouth.” He tilted his head in thought, recalling when she would kiss his cheek after scenting, an action she seemed fond of.

“Oh, well it doesn’t necessarily have to be on the mouth, it can be on the hand which is an old gentleman greeting, or on the cheek, which is done by family and sometimes friends, but kissing on the mouth is for couples, or in my case rehearsing a play about a couple…” I sighed, letting the armor deactivate as I catch the amulet, “Draal, I really like Claire. If I blow our first kiss, I might not get a second or a third.”

“You’re afraid.” Draal pointed out.

“I know, I know.” I groaned, “The first rule, ‘always be afraid.’ But that’s with Trolls, not girls.” I explained, trying to think of how to get the point across, “Girls are… well they’re like the opposite of Trolls.”

Draal was smirking as I turned to face him, he hummed in thought rubbing his chin, “Now that I understand… I know of something that may help. If these ‘girls’ require you not to be afraid then you need a Grit-Shaka.” He grinned.

“Is that a protein shake?” I asked having no clue what he was going on about.

“A Grit-Shaka is a totem used by the Gumm-Gumms. If you wear it, it banishes all cowardice, makes you fierce and ready for battle.” Draal explained, making the Grit-Shaka sound like a good option.

I hummed in thought for a moment, “You wouldn’t happen to have one of these, would you?” I asked, ready to accept any help for tomorrows rehearsal.

Draal smirked, getting up and heading into the house, waving me to follow him. I waved to River as we passed her, heading down to the basement, I looked around, shocked at all the changes, “You two really made this space livable.”

Draal chuckled, going to a shelf holding different Troll artifacts and some weapons River had retrieved from Trollmarket at Draal’s request. “You haven’t been down here since we finished everything have you? Ah! Here it is!” He picked up a necklace with a glowing green stone placed in a set of sharp teeth. “This is a Grit-Shaka, wear it when you need to be fearless.”

I took the totem, turning it over before grinning up at Draal, “Thank you!”

River opened the door at the top of the stairs, peering down at us, “Are you ready to eat? Dinner’s going to get cold again if you don’t hurry up!”

Draal and I quickly returned upstairs to have dinner, I might have a totem that makes me fearless, but I’m not stupid enough to try it out on a cooking River.

River’s POV

The boys and I were heading to Strickler’s class, I groaned realizing I still needed to tell Jim that Eemeli had met Draal. “Hey, um Jim,” I grabbed his arm to pull him away from the classroom door before he could head in.

Jim looked at me confused, seeing my nervous expression, “River? You okay? Is this about training last night?” He asked, quickly thinking back to his kissing conversation with Draal, not wanting a repeat of the conversation.

“Well, I’m fine, and no it’s not about practice.” I sighed, as Toby and Jim crowded close, a worried expression on both of their faces, I decided to get it out as fast as I could, you know, like ripping a bandaid off. “EemelimetDraalandhenowknowsabouttrolls!”

Jim and Toby exchanged a confused looked. “River, that didn’t make sense,” Jim said, frowning, the only thing he could really make out was Draal’s name.

Yeah, ripping off bandaids is total crap. “I said… ‘Eemeli met Draal and he now knows about trolls.’” I winced slightly, waiting for Jim’s reaction mostly as Toby’s mouth just hung open, wide-eyed.

“He what?!” Jim almost yelled, glancing around before looking back at me, “How did that happen? Draal knew he was coming over, and that he was supposed to stay hidden!”

I chuckled, “Well, that’s kind of my fault, Eemeli wanted to spar, and I didn’t mention that might happen to Draal, so he thought Eemeli was attacking me and came running out trying to protect me.” I glanced seeing Eemeli walk into the class, giving me a small wave.

Jim turned to eye Eemeli before turning back to me, “Well, he isn’t freaked out… and he’s breathing so that’s a plus…” He sighed, “Does he know anything else?”

“Just that trolls exist and I’m not human. Nothing about Trollmarket or Trollhunting.” I explained, knowing if anyone should tell Eemeli about that, it was Jim.

Jim nods, “Alright, let's go before the bell rings.” We all headed in, taking our usual seats. I gave Eemeli a thumbs up once he nodded towards Jim with a questioning expression. Jim turned to whisper to Eemeli when Coach Lawrence started up Gun Robot 3. “So, trolls…” He tried to start, not sure what to say.

Eemeli chuckled, shugging his shoulder a bit, “Kind of cool, freaky when one twice your size is charging at you, but I kind of caused that.” He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

Jim smiled slightly, relieved that Eemeli is taking the news calmly. “Well, I guess this means you’ll be able to come around more often since you know now.”

Toby grinned at this, turning to face us, “Awesome sauce! Trollparty is gaining members fast!” He whisper-cheered, throwing his hands up a bit.

“Trollparty?” Eemeli asked, glancing at me.

I shrugged, “It’s the first I’m hearing about it.”

Mary stood up abruptly from her seat next to Claire, gaining our attention as she marched over to our group, stopping next to Jim with a smirk. “Coach Lawrence! Jim took my seat!”

Without looking up from the newspaper he was reading over Coach sighed, “Lake, give her seat back.”

Jim looked at Mary confused as he got up, tripping over his feet as he made his way to Mary’s old seat next to Claire. I narrowed my eyes as she sat next to Toby, “What are you playing at Wang?” I asked, not really trusting her, even if she had apologized for her teasing remarks in the locker room.

Mary turned back to me with a mischievous grin, “Just a little chemistry lesson,” she emphasized with a wink.

I peered over to where Jim and Claire kept exchanging glances, “Interesting, I knew she liked him, but for you to do this…”

Mary shrugged, eyeing Eemeli next to me, “What can I say, I’m a natural matchmaker. I already my next pair in mind too.”

Eemeli chuckled as I looked back at Mary confused, “You going to set Toby up with someone?” I asked.

“Tch, sorry, he’s not close to the top of my list.” She admitted with a glance to Darci, “But I think our new exchanged student could use a date or two.” She grinned.

I nodded to Mary as a green glow caught my eye. I watched Jim pull something from his bag. Eemeli, stiffened next to me, eyeing the object when I turned to check on him. “You okay?”

He nodded, glancing at the object again before smiling at me, “That just doesn’t look good. From the American movies I’ve seen, green is always a bad color. Well in your Dis-Knee movies.” He spoke.

I snorted a laugh, trying to keep quiet, I nod in agreement before turning back to keep an eye on Jim, tuning Mary out as she spoke to Eemeli.

Once Jim placed the glowing necklce around his neck his entire posture shifted. He cracked his neck seeming to shake off whatever nerves that had previously plagued him as he began to talk to Claire, cracking a few jokes it seemed from the way they began to laugh. I smiled slightly, happy to see Jim was finally able to talk with Claire easily.

After Strickler’s class we all headed to the lockers, Toby was struggling to open his locker as Jim came up and hit his own locker three times, causing it to open up. “Woah,” Toby watched, amazed as he continued to struggle with his own locker. “You opened it on the first try.”

“It’s all the Grit-Shaka Tobes,” Jim grinned, gesturing to the necklace.

“A Grit-what?” I asked, staring at the obvious troll totem, “Where’d you even get it?”

Toby looked at it in awe, “That thing has a name?” He asked confused.

“Grit-Shaka, it’s a courage totem. Draal gave it to me for the kissing scene today.” He grinned, “Man, you should’ve heard me in class with her, I was killing it!”

Toby shook his head, brow furrowed, “Wait, wait, wait. Time out.” He made a ‘T’ with his hands tapping them as eyed the totem wearily, “Draal, our Draal, River’s Draal, is helping you with chicks?” He gave Jim a disbelieving look as he gestured to you then out towards the crowd of students around the lockers.

“Why wouldn’t Draal be able to help him?” I asked confused, though I wasn’t entirely sure of the totem.

“No offense River, but you’re still not like human girls. You turned down ‘Tight Jeans’ Hank and started dating a Troll, how many other girls here would do that?” Toby asked with a deadpan stare.

Eemeli chuckled next to me, “He has a point, besides, Draal isn’t technically dating a human either,” he added quickly, causing me to puff my cheeks out slightly in irritation.

“Don’t worry River, all the Grit-Shaka does is make you brave. Man am I feeling good!” Jim exclaimed with a face splitting grin, “I feel like I can do anything.” Jim hit Toby’s locker as he began to struggle with it again, opening it instantly.

Toby’s jaw dropped, looking up at Jim, “Wow. It made you cool.”

I rolled my eyes at this, “A totem can’t make someone cool unless it had freezing capabilities.” Eemeli chuckled, though once he saw that I was being serious it turned to a cough.

“Maybe this is good for him, he seemed really nervous about rehearsal today, this might be what he needs to get through it, then he can put the totem away. No harm done?” He reasoned.

Jim smirked down at the amulet, turning to us again, “I’m just cool, I’m crispy.” He pointed finger guns at us then turned to greet Darci and Mary as he walked off towards the cafeteria.

My eye twitched in annoyance, “This is not going to end well.” I spat threw clenched teeth.

Eemeli gave me a sympathetic smile, “Maybe it works differently on trolls? I don’t think Draal would give it to him if he knew this would happen.”

Toby shrugged as we followed Jim, “Actually, this is how Draal used to act when he still hated Jim. Not the ‘crispy’ part, but the overconfident and cocky part.” He winced, watching as Jim asked for the chicken surprise, gasping in horror, “No one order that. It’s like a death sentence!”

Jim laughed, leaning against the counter, “Bring on the surprise!” He took his tray to a table where he began to scarf his food down. Toby ordered the same, still in shock.

Eemeli nudged me toward the counter, “Are you going to order?”

“I’ve lost my appetite. Draal did not act like this.” I glared at the table Jim and Toby were sitting.

Eemeli smiled, “Why don’t I walk you to class then? You don’t seem too pleased about hanging around this.”

I sighed with a nod, giving him a grateful smile. “I’d appreciate that.” We headed off to Ms. Janice’s class since I had math with her next and Eemeli’s class wasn’t too far.

“So what was he like?” Eemeli asked, giving me a curious look.

“What was who like?” I gave a confused look before my eyes lit with recognition, “Oh! You mean Draal, before Draal.” I laughed tilting my head in thought, “Well, it’s not so much that he was cocky, he was just… angry?” I frowned trying to think of how to explain it.

“So you like angry guys?” Eemeli smirked, knowing I wasn’t finished.

I huffed, giving him a crooked smile, “Not really, no. The situation is a little hard to explain to a human.” I sighed leaning against the lockers by Ms. Janice’s door. “He lost his father a day before we showed up in his… home town, so to speak. The reason we were even there was that Jim ended up being the one to receive his old job. Now the trolls didn’t take too kindly to us, well the boys, being there, since humans had never stepped foot in their home before.” I paused to see if Eemeli was keeping up. He smiled, nodding for me to continue, “Well, this job, Draal had spent his entire life training in order to be worthy of it, and a day after he lost his father, some human comes into his home and two trolls are claiming that it now belongs to him. I think you can imagine how upset he was. He lost his only family and his life’s purpose in one go.”

Eemeli’s eyes widen as he took in everything I said, “That’s… I can understand why Toby said he hated Jim then…”

I shook my head, “He didn’t actually hate him at first. Yeah, he was upset, but when I got to know him I realized the way he was acting was his form of teasing, trying to see how Jim worked.” I huffed, “Blinky’s actually the reason he almost killed Jim, he inadvertently insulted him for Jim, and well, when a Troll is challenged and their honor questioned, it ends up in a fight to the death. The reason he lives with Jim and I now was because Jim won the fight and refused to kill him, so he was cast out of his home…” I frowned at the memory.

Eemeli clasped my shoulder, giving me a small smile, “He’s lucky he had you and Jim, I’m surprised though. You’re dating someone that tried to kill your brother. How did he even ask after that?”

I laughed, shrugging slightly, “I actually asked him on accident before the fight.”

Eemeli stared at me with a confused face, “How do you date someone on accident?”

“Well… You know how he didn’t let you hug me the night you two met? Trolls court by scenting, something you seem to be able to do, which is what he was irritated by after things calmed down. I accidentally scented him one night, and after he explained what I did, it kind of grew from there.”

Eemeli laughed, waving off my disgruntled reaction to his laugh, “It is sweet, that something like that was an accident but grew.”

I smiled as the bell rang, “Alright, I’ll see you after classes.” I shook my head, still smiling at Eemeli’s reaction. I walked into class, taking my seat by Claire.

She smiled having seen me and Eemeli talking by the classroom during lunch. “He seems nice.” She began, as we waited for the final bell.

“Eemeli?” I asked, trying to gauge what she was talking about.

She nodded quickly, “You two seem close, didn’t he just transfer here?”

I nod, shrugging it off slightly, “Yeah, from Finnland. I’ve been helping him out with school and we’ve been hanging out quite a bit.” I paused to grab my textbook as Ms. Janice walked in.

While Ms. Janice began writing an equation on the whiteboard Jim came strolling into the class, took the marker from her and began writing all over the board.

Claire’s mouth dropped as she leaned over to me confused, “What is he doing here?”

I grit my teeth seeing the glow of the Grit-Shaka reflect off of the whiteboard. “I don’t know, but Draal better have a good explanation later.”

“Draal?” Claire asked, shaking her head as Jim flops in Ms. Janice’s chair.

“And that is how you solve for ‘X’!” Jim announced, setting the marker in Ms. Janice’s hand, smirking back at Claire and me.

I rolled my eyes, leaning over to Claire, “I’ll explain after class.”

Ms. Janice cleared her throat to get Jim’s attention, “Well, I admire your gusto, Mr. Lake but that is not remotely correct.” She adjusted her glasses, pointing out the door of the classroom. “And this isn’t your class.”

Jim shrugged and ran off out the door, not before pausing to give Claire and I finger guns.

I groaned, setting my head on the desk till the end of class. Claire nudged my shoulder after the bell rang. “So, what does a ‘Draal’ have to do to with Jim acting weird?” She asked me, packing her notes away.

I sighed, remembering my slip earlier, “Jim asked my boyfriend, Draal, for advice last night. Apparently, he’s taking it to heart.” I shoved my textbook in my bag before standing.

“Oh… Wait, boyfriend? What advice? Why?” Claire asked confused, not sure what to ask about first as different parts of my explanation caught her off guard.

I shrugged, “Jim’s nervous about practice today, the kissing scene specifically, and when Draal overheard he decided to give Jim some advice, not sure what he told him exactly but he’s been getting worse all day.” I ground out, as the loudspeaker blares and Jim’s voice sounds over the intercom, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“He’s really making a spectacle of himself.” Claire rolled her eyes.

“Just a quick reminder for everybody to keep it crispy. Also, I taught myself bass guitar in the band room-“ Jim began announced, the thrum of a bass guitar shaking the lockers as Claire and I both covered our ears, trying to block out the horrible sound of Jim’s off-key singing.

We heard Jim yelp as the loudspeaker was cut off, “Oh thank Deya” I spoke, rubbing my ears. “Remind me to cut his tongue out if he tries out for a musical.”

Claire laughed, “It was pretty bad. What kind of advice would make him do that?” she asked, putting her bag away in the locker, getting ready for rehearsal.

I sighed leaning against the lockers, waiting for Toby, “I’m going to find out, and I might just whack Draal with my Trig textbook depending on how terrible it was.”

Claire smiled as she shut her locker, “I don’t know, it’s sweet he even offered to give him advice in the first place. Not a lot of guys around here would take it seriously if a friend of their’s told them they were nervous about kissing someone.”

I nod, smiling, “Yeah, those two idiots are more like brothers honestly.”

Toby was running straight for Claire and I, “River! It’s getting worse!” He all but screamed as he faltered to a stop next to me. “He won’t stop saying crispy!”

“Sorry, Claire looks like you’ll be dealing with that mess in rehearsal.” I sighed, giving her an apologetic smile.

She waved me off with a smile, “Don’t worry about it, I hope you figure out what’s gotten into him.” She took off for the theater quickly, not wanting to be late.

“Alright Tobes,” I grabbed him by the arm, almost dragging him as we left the school grounds. “You’re going to Blinky and Aaarrrgghh, ask them how to get a Grit-Shaka off of Jim.”

“What about you?” Toby asked, running to keep up with my pace.

“I’m going to talk to Draal, if he’s the one who gave Jim the item, then he might know the best was to get it off of him.” I sighed, as we approached the canals. “I’ll call you if I get anything.” I took off for home before Toby could reply, worried at how far Jim’s ‘bravery’ would take him. I paused at the front door long enough to unlock it before ripping through the house and down into the basement. “Draal?” I called, almost tripping down the steps as I ran.

“River?” Draal’s arm came out to balance me before I could fall, “Why are you distressed?” He asked worried, checking me over for any visible wounds.

“That thing you gave Jim, the Grit-Shaka. What is it supposed to do?” I asked quickly.

“The Grit-Shaka? It’s supposed to erase fear. Make one brave and ready for battle. Why?” He asked confusion etched over his face.

“It’s made Jim into an impulsive wreak that won’t stop saying ‘crispy’!” I huffed, pulling at my hair in irritation, “He’s trying to flirt with all the girls at school, he went to every class but his own, he mocked the teachers, broke into the teachers’ lounge, stole Ms. Janice's marker and butchered a simple trig equation, and then he took over the intercom system and sang, off-key, while strangling a bass guitar.” I began to pace during my recount of the day, “I don’t understand how any of that has to do with Jim no longer having fear.”

“Well, he is a human, maybe he’s reacting to it differently. It’s also a Gumm-Gumm totem…” He suggested, rubbing his chin in thought. “From what Jim told me, ‘girls’ are the opposite of trolls and they require you to be unafraid. So I thought a totem that banishes cowardice would be the best option.” Draal explained as he watched me pace around the basement.

I sighed as I walked up to him, completely leaning against his chest with my head tucked under his chin, “Thank you for trying to help him Draal. Do you know how I can get it off of him?” I asked looking up at his face.

Draal ran his hand over the back of my head and he hummed in thought, “ He would have to take it off willingly, or one would have to break the totem.” He sighed, “With how you described his actions, breaking the Grit-Shaka sounds like the best course of action.”

I nodded and kissed his cheek, “Thank you Draal, I’m going to call Toby and let him know. Jim’s supposed to head over to Trollmarket for training after his rehearsal.”

Draal smiled, releasing me so I could lean back. I quickly pulled my phone out and dialed Toby, waiting for him to pick up.

“River! I’m so glad to hear from you! Have you seen Jim?” Toby asked as soon as he answered the call, sounding out of breath.

“He’s supposed to be in Trollmarekt for training. Draal said Jim has to take it off or we have to break it.” I answered quickly, glancing at the time on my phone. “He should be there already Tobes.”

“He was, then he got upset when we asked him to take the Grit-Shaka off and he took off. Blinky and Aaarrrgghh are running through the sewers looking for him and I’m on the surface. He said something about Bular.” Toby relayed quickly, yelling for Jim as he paused.

“I’m on my way. Where are you?” I asked, the hair on the back of my neck standing as I grew anxious and terrified for Jim in the state he’s in.

“By Alex’s game shop.” Toby paused, catching his breath, “I hear him!” The call cut out.

“I have to get town now, Jim’s running after Bular in the sewers.” I grabbed Midnight as I turned to Draal.

Draal nodded, “You go on the surface, I’ll try to intercept him from underground.” He took off through the door to the sewers, rolling as fast as possible to find Jim.

I took off up the stairs and out the front door, running as fast as I could to Alex’s game shop. I prayed to Deya that Jim wouldn’t be able to find Bular in the sewers, at least not until we could get to him. As I ran passed the game shop I spot Toby struggling to pul up a manhole cover. I reached him as he finally pried the cover from the ground. “Toby!” I slid next to him, my eyes widened in fear as I saw Bular circling a confused Jim. “Jim!” I yelled, gaining both of their attention.

Toby leaned into the manhole, I grabbed his belt to keep him steady. “Jim, grab my hand!” He yelled, trying to reach him.

Jim tried to jump, the armor weighing him down so much that he could only manage to get a couple feet off the ground. “I can’t reach! The armor! It’s too heavy” He yelled up at us before dodging Bular’s sword as he swiped for his feet.

Bular chuckled, a sickening grin splitting his face. “Pathetic that you meet your end in a sewer, Young Atlas.” He drew out the name as Jim stared up at him in shock.

I nearly dropped Toby into the sewer as I heard the name, “No…”

“Master Jim! You must get out of there!” I could hear Blinky yelling from further down the sewer tunnel, snapping me out of my shock.

Toby yelled as I tightened my grip again, keeping him steady again. “Jim! Grab my hand! NOW!” Toby screamed into the sewers.

Bular swung his blade vertically, hoping to cleave Jim in half only to have his blade lodge into the concrete floor of the sewer. He snarled trying to pry it out.

Jim deactivated the armor, coming back to his senses. “I lost the Grit-Shaka. But I can still be brave.” He glared at Bular, stepping onto his blade as Bular finally wrenched it free from the ground causing Jim to catapult up into the air, high enough to grab Toby’s arm.

Toby and I quickly pulled Jim out of the manhole as Bular tried to grab his ankle. Once I could let go of Toby’s belt I grabbed the manhole cover and slammed it over the opening, hitting Bular’s hand in the process.

Jim sat up, gasping for breath. “Strickler’s a changeling!” He yelled, eyes wide, still in a panic over the news.

I could hear a deep chuckle from the cover. I peered into the small hole to see Bular lock eyes with me, a satisfied sneer splitting his face as he turned to leave.

Toby groaned, sitting up next to Jim. “I never trusted him.” He glared, whacking Jim on the shoulder, “You’ve been a real turd today.”

Jim scoffed, pulling at his blue jacket, “And I smell like one, too.” He wrinkled his nose before looking over at Toby and me. “Thanks for saving my neck. I owe you one.”

“Yeah, great.” Toby huffed out, flopping onto his back as the adrenaline wears off.

“Don’t you ever say ‘crispy’ again.” I snarled out before giving him a smile.

He chuckled sheepishly, standing up as the cars began to honk. “Deal.”

Eemeli’s POV

The Changelings were called back to the museum in order to speak with Bular and Gunmar again. I shook off my human form, finally able to stretch as Not-Enrique and I entered the museum, heading for the bridge.

“Woah,” Not-Enrique smirked seeing me. “Didn’t think they’d be calling you in. What’re you here for anyway?” He asked as he climbed up onto my shoulder.

I smirked letting him perch for now. “Witch-hunting.” I answered, “Well, tracking is more like it. Strickler wants her alive.”

“Draal’s mate, huh?” He tilted his head in thought. “Doesn’t know much for being Merlin’s blood. Though she seems to be developing a soft spot for us Changelings. Doesn’t like that the Trolls look down on us. Tried to tell Mr. Trollmarket off.” He snickered.

“That could be useful,” I smirked at the very idea, a sorceress that actually cares? She was raised with humans for far too long.

We entered the room as Bular made a snide remark about calling Jim ‘Young Atlas’.

“But I call him that. Me, alone!” Strickler yelled at Bular.

Bular chuckled, sneering down at Strickler, “You should have seen their faces. His and the little witch.”

“They’ll know I’m working with you. They’ll know I’m a Changeling. Of all the idiotic things you’ve done, you imbecile!” Strickler began to rant, eyes glowing yellow.

“I gave the order.” A deep voice called out, Gunmar’s silhouette towering over bother Strickler and Bular. His single glowing eye trained on Strickler.

“Call it… a test.” Bular grinned, turning so he was next to his father.

Stricker immediately cowered, eyes no longer glowing. “A test?” He asked timidly.

“So that when the time comes, you will kill the boy and free me with his Amulet,” Gunmar growled out, eye shifting to me as he noticed Not-Enrique and me finally. “What are you doing here impure?”

Bular glanced to me, turning to face his father, “I had Stricklander bring him here. We found Merlin’s blood.”

Gunmar’s eye widens, shifting his focus back to Bular. “That doesn’t explain the impure presence.”

“The heir is female, and currently courting Kanjigar’s son, Draal. We brought Eemeli in to disrupt the courting and to keep the witch distracted.” He explained, taking credit for Strickler’s plan easily. I kept my mouth shut as I glanced at Strickler, seeing his glare focused on Bular’s back.

Gunmar was silent in thought at this new information. “How do you believe this will affect our plans?” He turned his eye on me, wanting my answer this time.

I cleared my throat, “From what I’ve seen she’s almost completely untrained, though she could handle her own against myself or someone of Draal’s skill in a fight. She’s able to channel her magic into a lance, as Nomura was unlucky to experience, and she can enhance her own strength doing this as well. Though I believe we Changelings will have an easier time manipulating her. She seems to have a soft-spot, so to speak, for our kind. She’s even gone so far as to talk back to Vendel when speaking ill of Changelings.” I explained, giving most of my information on River to Gunmar.

Gunmar’s eye narrowed as I spoke of her soft-spot for Changelings, snarling at the mention of Vendel. “You’ve been found?” He roared.

“No sire,” I quickly state. “The group still believes I’m human, though I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting Draal. He was willing to expose Troll kind in order to protect the witch from someone he thought was attacking her. I was assessing her ability in a fight and he came barreling out of their home. However, she now seems to trust me enough that she’s told me about their adventures and her studies.” I covered quickly, refusing to tell him about Not-Enrique, who had gone stiff thinking he’d be eaten by Bular tonight.

“The group?” Gunmar asked, thinking over everything.

“She’s related to the human Trollhunter.” Bular explained.

Gunmar went rigid, growling in thought. “If we can sway her to our side, we would have a tactical advantage over the Trollhunter. Eemeli, keep close to the heir. If you can’t convince her by the night the bridge opens, you will kill her.” Gunmar ordered, fading into the blue glow under the bridge.

Strickler had gone stiff at the mention of killing River, and I had as well. This was an easy job. Not the first time I’ve had to get rid of someone. So why do I feel sick?

I turned, leaving the museum quickly. Not-Enrique sighed, hanging on my shoulder as I shifted into my human form. “This sucks.” He growled out, glancing back at the museum. “Think you can convince her to join the Gumm-gumms?” He asked, keeping an eye out for the others as we spoke.

“Not really,” I sighed, feeling the pit in my stomach coil again. “Think you can play up the ‘woe is me’ role?” I asked, glancing at him, seeing an expression I couldn’t place take over his face.

“I sure hope so… she’s too bright though.” He sighed, hopping off my shoulder as we passed the Nunez household. “You feel it too? In your gut?” He asked, looking at me over his shoulder.

I nod silently, not sure how to respond.

“Yeah, this isn’t going to be easy.” He climbed up to the nursery window, disappearing inside.

Episode 1

Episode 8

Episode 10

A loud crash sounded from the kitchen jolting me awake. I groaned sitting up realizing that it was mom, making her special birthday pancakes. “This is going to be a long day…”

“Why is that?” Draal asked, sitting up, a bit groggy from his rest.

I sighed, glancing at the stairs. “It’s Jim’s birthday, and he hates his birthday.”

Draal’s brow furrowed, thinking for a moment, “I thought birthdays were highly celebrated in human culture.”

“Normally they are, but not in Jim’s case. They just remind him of when his dad left.” I explained, wincing at the memory.

“When will he be back?” Draal asked, never hearing Jim or me mention his father before.

“He won’t be,” I sneered at the thought, “and if he tries coming back, he’s likely to get Daylight or Midnight through the gut.” I gripped my lance tight at the thought.

“Ah, so it wasn’t leaving on good terms,” Draal nodded in understanding, having similar feeling from when Kanjigar would push him away over his Trollhunter duties.

I shook my head, frowning, “Jim’s 5th birthday, he got him this really cool bike kit. I remember Jim being so excited to work on it with his dad… and the next day he was just gone, left in the middle of the night. Last we’ve heard he lives in Vermont now.”

Draal nods, wincing at a louder crash than what woke us up, “Why is your mother attacking the kitchen?”

I snort a laugh, “She does this every birthday, she’ll get up before Jim or I and make birthday pancakes. They’re terrible but it’s still something Jim looks forward to. I’m going to make sure she doesn’t set the house on fire.” I chuckled, resting my brow against Draal’s before getting up to check on the kitchen. I paused seeing the counters and stove covered in flour, “Uh mom… are you alright?”

Mom was plating three stacks of pancakes, a candle sticking out of one, “Yes, the flour didn’t want to cooperate.” She lit the candle, “I’ll be back down, time to wake Jim up!” She grinned heading up to his room.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my plate and taking it down to the basement. “Well, considering what I’ve seen Trolls eat, you might like these,” I teased, sitting in the nest with Draal handing him a pancake to try.

Draal sniffed it wearily, seeing that I wasn’t trying to eat it. He huffed, plopping it in his mouth, “Hm… It’s not bad… the burritos are better but these are good too.” He comments sniffing at the rest of the stack.

I laughed, handing him the plate. “Go ahead, mom’s cooking isn’t really acceptable for humans to eat.”

Draal smirked, nudging my cheek with his nose, “Not a human.”

I puffed out my cheeks indignantly, crossing my arms, “yes, but I do have the appetite of one.” My phone began to blare Toby’s gun robot ringtone, I grinned picking it up, “Ready to go?” I asked him.

Toby laughed on the other side of the line, “I’m about to run over in a panic!” He hung up as he began yelling.

“Go?” Draal asked, eating the plate with the last pancake.

I nodded, getting up again, “Toby set something up with Blinky and Aaarrrgghh for Jim’s birthday. He needs me to help act like there’s something wrong in Trollmarket to surprise Jim.”

Draal nods, tilting his head in thought, “What do human’s do for a birthing day?”

I hummed, counting off my fingers as I list off possible actions, “well there’s cooking and having a big meal with everyone, there’s getting them gifts, things they like… experiences are good too, taking them somewhere different that they’d enjoy.”

Draal frowns, not being able to go to Trollmarket severely limited his options on gifts, taking Jim somewhere different on the gyre was an option, though anywhere he thought of might be a bit too dangerous for the Trollhunter in training, and forget about cooking, Draal didn’t know the first thing about human food. He sighed, unsure of how to participate in Jim’s birthday.

I smiled softly seeing the cogs turning in Draal’s mind, I placed my hand on his cheek. “I usually order in food and raid the scrap yard for things he likes, that’s how we finally got him a bike. Maybe once the sun sets, we can go look there?” I offered.

Draal smiled, nuzzling under my chin, “That sounds good… Thank you, River.”

We glanced up hearing footsteps running towards the basement as Jim throws the door open running down, “River! Something’s wrong in Trollmarket!”

I nod, turning to grab my lance, winking to Draal before running off after Jim.

As we ran towards the Forge Blinky came to meet us, “It’s too late Master Jim! Aaarrrgghh has lost his mind!” Aaarrrgghh threw a troll across the Forge, arcing over Blinky, “Save yourself!”

Jim turned to Toby, armor ready, “I thought Aaarrrgghh was at your house!”

Aaarrrgghh started barreling towards us, Blinky, Toby and I dodged quickly as Jim stood there, eyes widening as he realized he was going to get tackled by the large Troll.

He backed up quickly, trapped between Aaarrrgghh and the forge blades, “Oh, my gosh. Was it the kitty litter?” he asked as Aaarrrgghh grabbed him, roaring in his face. Once Aaarrrgghh had a hold on Jim, the troll that was tossed earlier pulled a lever and the main arena platform began to lift behind them, covered in balloons as colorful sparks illuminated the platform. “What the?!” Jim yelled, wiping off some of the slobber from Aaarrrgghh’s yell.

Blinky and Toby pulled two ropes and a banner that read ‘Happy Birthday Jim,’ in Trollish unfurled. Everyone yelled surprised as confetti was shot out from the banner, Blinky clapped excitedly, laughing, “Happy birthing day, Master Jim!” He called.

“What?” Jim asked confused, yelping as Aaarrrgghh sat him upon his shoulder.

Aaarrrgghh chuckled at the yelp, “Good actor,” he explained as Blinky came around to face him and Jim.

Blinky grinned, “Tobias informed us of your human surprise birthday customs. Are you not surprised?” He practically yelled, excited about partaking in a human tradition for Jim.

Jim tried to chuckle, seeing how excited Blinky was to do this, “Uh… that would be one word for it.”

“I was convincing,” Aaarrrgghh smiled, setting Jim next to me.

I clasped Jim’s shoulder, knowing how hard he was trying to not be upset.

“Sixteen years! A propitious milestone.” Blinky grinned as Jim and I head over to him, Toby handing Jim a balloon to hold. “Sixteen is when young trolls master command of their bowels.” He explained earning a confused look from Jim, a disgusted grunt from Toby, and a snicker from me at their reactions.

“The Hero’s Forge!” Vendel’s voice rang throughout the area, all trolls and fleshbags turning to face him as he walked towards us. “Sacred proving grounds for Trollhunters past, present, and future reduced to mockery.” He levels Jim with a hard stare, using his staff to pop the balloon he was holding. Aaarrrgghh began to eat the balloons as Vendel lectured us about cleaning up the grounds and getting back to training. “River, I’d like you to train with the Trollhunter today,” He commented, noticing Jim’s distressed behavior at everything going on.

I nod before helping the boys clean up the birthday mess. As Jim and I began to spar, Aaarrrgghh turned the forge on so we weren’t able to run back and forth on flat ground. Having to dodge the blades was new for me, but I was keeping up with Jim, exchanging blows, separating when a blade swung too close or the ground shifted, meeting again, while I was knocking Jim over, each time we met. I sighed, knowing he was distracted. I glanced at Blinky seeing him frown at something Toby had told him, he probably Told Blinky about Jim’s dad. Once it was time for Jim and Toby to head out for Toby’s next surprise, Blinky stopped me, “Could I have a moment of your time Lady River?” He asked, a weary expression covering his face.

I smiled softly, hanging back with Blinky, waving the boys off. “Toby told you why Jim hates his birthday?” I asked walking with Blinky to his library.

Blinky nodded, “I feel terrible, not knowing, and this surprise… Did we make it worse?” he asked, concerned.

“No, it’s been good for him. I can tell he really appreciates what you were trying to do for him, he just… it’s just hard for him.” I explained, knowing Jim only held back with the Trolls trying so hard.

Blinky nodded, relieved that the surprise party wasn’t a terrible idea, “Is there anything Master Jim would like for his birthing day?”

I laughed, “Well… you don’t happen to have a Vespa lying around do you?”

Blinky grinned running to a back room of his library, returning after a few minutes with minor crashing noises, holding a handlebar headlamp unit of a vintage Vespa, “Is this what you’re referring to?” He asked excitedly, hoping he had exactly what Jim was wanting.

I stared at if before breaking into a grin, “That’s definitely part of one! Blinky you should come with Draal and me tonight, we’re going to the scrap yard, maybe we’ll find more items for the Vespa!”

Blinky set the headlamp unit on a stone table, making sure to keep it out of sight. He paused in thought, “parts… like the bike kit his father got him?”

I winced at the connection, “Sort of…” I tilted my head in thought, “Though, coming from you, there’s no way he wouldn’t like it.” I spoke, trying to ease the worry on Blinky’s face.

Blinky grinned, nodding to me as Aaarrrgghh came into the library holding a bag that was thrashing, “Ready.” He said to Blinky.

“Ah, yes! Let’s find Vendel!” He grinned, ushering us out of the library.

“Is that who I think it is?” I asked, eyeing the bag.

A little green arm stuck out from the bag, waving towards my voice, “Well if it isn’t the witch! Fry any trolls lately?” Not-Enrique cackled from the bag.

I glared at the bag, fist clenching, “We better find Vendel quickly.”

“Agreed,” Blinky glared at the bag, it took a while to finally find Vendel, running after him before we lost him in the crowd. “Ah, Vendel! Just the Troll we’ve been looking for.” Blinky called out to him.

Vendel tilted his head slightly towards us, still walking. “Don’t stop looking on my account.”

As we caught up to him, Blinky gestured to the bag containing Not-Enrique. “But it is imperative that you look upon this.”

Once Vendel turned around, eyeing us, Aaarrrgghh reached into the bag and pulled a grumpy Not-Enrique out in a tight grip. “Easy on the scruff!” He yelled at Aaarrrgghh, flipping back onto his hand and climbing up to his shoulder. He sneered at Vendel. “And what are you staring at grandpa? Have you never seen a changelin’ before?” Aaarrrgghh grabbed him, stuffing him back into the bag.

Vendel’s jaw dropped, stepping back slightly, “a changeling?!”

Blinky grinned, “You called me crazy, but who’s the mad troll now, huh? Behold! I have proof!” He gestured violently to Not-Enrique.

“Put that thing away!” Vendel scolded, grabbing Aaarrrgghh and pulling him away from the other trolls as Blinky and I followed. “What are you trying to do? Incite a panic?”

“Is it really that bad that he’s here?” I asked confused, unsure why everyone seems to dislike changelings. They were still trolls, right?

“Ooh, the baby witch doesn’t know much” Not-Enrique snarked from the bag before popping his head out “’Ey!” Not-Enrique yelled, trying to get in Blinky’s face. “I only came here ‘cause you promised me socks to eat.”

“And you’ll get them.” Blinky glared at Not-Enrique, irritated at the interruption.

“They better be argyle!” He yelled, waving his tiny green fist at Blinky as Aaarrrgghh shoves him back into the bag. “And smelly!” He finishes, popping his hand out to point at Blinky.

Aaarrrgghh and I noticed a hole in the bag as Not-Enrique slipped out, we began trying to catch him as Vendel and Blinky argued. Blinky was standing up for Jim as we heard frantic yelling closing in.

Jim was running straight for Blinky, pale and scared out of his mind. He fell right before he could tackle Blinky. He stood quickly, still in a panic, “Blinky! Blinky, you have to save me. A huge troll bird, like a jetliner with claws, just tried to kill me!” He yelled.

Blinky was looking between Vendel and Jim as he cut Jim off by covering his mouth with two of his four hands, giving Vendel a nervous grin.

Vendel shook his head, crossing his arms at the display. “How could I not be put at ease by such gallant bravery?”

“Stalkling,” Aaarrrgghh spoke up as he was turning in circles so I could catch Not-Enrique. “Very nasty.”

I grabbed a curled up Not-Enrique off of his shoulder, holding him on my hip like a baby as he stuck his tongue out at me.

“Stalkling?” Jim asked, Blinky.

Blinky gasped, covering his mouth in horror, “Stalkling?”

Jim snapped, “It was flying in daylight! How could it fly in daylight?”

Vendel stepped interrupted Jim’s rant, “Stalklings are one of the only species of Troll immune to the effects of sunlight.” He opened the book he had been carrying and showed Jim a picture.

Jim looked over the picture, shaking his head. “That looks not nearly as scary as what attacked me.”

“That’s because those unlucky few who are caught alone with it,” Vendel slammed the book closed in front of Jim’s face for emphasis, “never live long enough to depict it. I’m curious. How is it that you’re not disemboweled?”

Jim shrugged, trying to recall, “I don’t know. I hit him with my sword, I think.”

Blinky’s eyes lit up, “You struck a blow against a stalkling? What gallant bravery!” He began trying to talk Jim up again to Vendel. Blinky explained to Jim that as long as he’s around another person, he’ll be safe.

I sigh, handing Not-Enrique back to Aaarrrgghh, “Come on Jim, you have practice soon and I’m meeting Eemeli at the school, I’ll walk you to practice.”

Jim nodded, following me out of trollmarket irritated that he couldn’t be alone now because of a homicidal bird troll.

Once we reached the school, Jim headed into practice with Claire and I met up with Eemeli. “Ready to plan the project?” I asked, leading him back to my house.

Eemeli nodded, grinning, “Yes, maybe after we can spar? I still have to make sure your words are true.” He smirked.

I rolled my eyes, smiling, “I’m warning you now that if you break something, no complaining. You’re literally asking for it.” I let him in the house, knowing Draal was in the basement, we headed to the dining room. “So, we’re blending metal sculpting and spray painting…”

Eemeli nodded, pulling out a couple sketches, “I was thinking a dragon breathing fire,” He showed me the different rough drafts he had been working on, “but I think we should do something more with the spray paint than just painting the sculpture. I’m just not sure what.” He explained looking over the drafts.

I grinned, shifting through all the drafts, pausing at one breathing fire, “What if we rigged a red and orange can inside that would shoot out the spray paint like fire?” I asked, pointing to a dragon sketch that was breathing fire.

Eemeli nodded quickly, flipping to a new sheet, sketching the opened mouth of the dragon sculpture. “We can rest them in the throat and rig it so when the mouth drops open something presses the cans enough to spray.” He turned the sketch to show me, a rough design for how the system would work, a weight would be placed in the lower jaw of the dragon and a little platform that the cans were resting on would be attached to the jaw, shoving the cans up into the roof of the mouth when the jaw dropped.

“Oh! Maybe we can hide the switch behind the horns so it isn’t obvious? That way, the clasps holding the lower jaw up will release on command” I pointed to a small area close enough to the upper jaw that would fit a small switch.

Eemeli nodded, adding it to the drawing, “This is going to be great.” He grinned setting the sketch down, “I think we have enough metal at the school to work on this.” His grin turned into a smirk, “Well since we’re as far along with planning as we can currently get, how about that sparring session?”

I huffed, standing from the table. “Alright, alright. But we have to do that in the backyard. Come on.” I lead him out to the back, taking to the further end of the backyard, watching as Eemeli squared up a bit. I waited for a few minutes, realizing he wasn’t going to move first I rushed him, sliding low to hook his leg, hoping to knock him over.

Eemeli smirked, stepping out of the way the last second, snagging my arm and throwing me back to a standing position a few feet away.

I stumbled a bit, shocked he countered. “Not bad,” I smirked, wanting to wait him out this time.

Eemeli rushed forward, sliding past me quickly, I tried turning in time but was tackled before I could face him.

A roar from the house caught our attention, Draal ripped through the backdoor, having seen Eemeli tackle me, running full speed for him.

Eemeli yelped, pulling back quickly, trying to shove me behind him. “River, get back!”

Rolling my eyes, I shoved past him to stand between him and Draal, just in time for Draal to stop dead in his tracks, snarling at Eemeli. “Draal, it’s okay, we were just sparring.”

“Draal?” Eemeli asked, his jaw dropped as I was trying to keep Draal from killing him.

“He threw you onto the ground.” Draal snarled, standing at his full height.

I nodded, “Yes, and you’ve thrown me into a wall. Neither instance was I hurt.”

Draal’s jaw tightened at the mention of our own sparring, “If you were human, he could’ve hurt you.”

“Human? Draal?” Eemeli asked again, looking between Draal and I.

I sighed, knowing Draal had a point, I turned to Eemeli, “Right, um… Eemeli, Draal. Draal, Eemeli. How do I explain this?” I trailed off thinking.

“How about the not human part first?” Eemeli asked, nodding to Draal as they were quickly introduced.

I nodded, “Well, I’m technically a sorceress, which is different than a human. I’m stronger and have a longer lifespan… oh, there’s the magic part too.” I floundered a bit, trying to keep the explanation simple.

“Okay,” He nodded slightly, looking back to Draal, “And Draal?”

Draal huffed from his nose, eyeing Eemeli, “I’m a Troll and River’s mate.”

Eemeli blinked, processing the words, I cut in quickly, “the human equivalent would be fiancé.” I explained, watching for any adverse reaction.

Eemeli nods slowly, reaching back to scratch his neck with a sheepish smile, “Well, that explains why he was set on killing me. Sorry about that, I assumed since you said you were training and after hauling all that metal it wouldn’t be an issue.”

Draal seemed to calm a bit more at the apology, knowing he forgets that I’m not as strong as a troll sometimes.

I shake my head, smiling, “Don’t worry about, it’s not the first-time sparring has gone overboard. Besides, there was no damage.”

Eemeli nodded, “Right… wait, if you’re not human, what about your brother?”

Draal answered, thinking it was obvious, “Jim is still a human.”

I shrugged, “Jim’s actually my cousin, but we grew up together.”

“Great Gronka Mora! Another one?!” Blinky had climbed over the backyard fence and spotted Eemeli with Draal and me.

Eemeli tensed, turning to Blinky and taking a step back towards me. “Another troll?”

“You let him see you?” Blinky asked Draal, “You told him?” He turned to ask me, “You know we are supposed to keep humans from learning about us lest there be panic!” Blinky was beginning to go into a rant.

“Blinky it’s okay, Eemeli’s a friend. We were sparring, Draal thought he was attacking me so he came out and well… Everything’s been explained and the only one panicking is you.” I sighed, trying to calm him down.

Blinky opened his mouth, pointing up with his two right hands, pausing seeing that all three of us were calm. “I see. Well then,” He grabbed Eemeli’s hand, shaking it. “I am Blinkous, you may call me Blinky. It’s nice to meet a friend of Lady River’s.”

Eemeli relaxed at the handshake, “It’s nice to meet you too Blinky.”

Draal huffed, watching as the sun completely set, “It’s time to go.”

I looked at the sky before nodding, “Alright. Sorry Eemeli but we have some business to take care of. I’ll see you at school, oh and don’t tell Jim you know yet, I need to let him know what happened first.” I sighed softly, relieved that the situation calmed down.

Eemeli nodded, smiling. “Of course.” He tried to hug me goodbye but Draal’s hand stopped him along with his glare. “I’ll uh… see you at school then.” He quickly left, fidgeting under Draal’s gaze.

I huffed looking up at Draal, “It’s a normal human custom for friends to hug each other.” I spoke up, slightly irritated with Draal’s behavior since he never had an issue with Jim or Toby hugging me.

Draal was sniffing, brow furrowed, “He can scent, whether or not he knows it.”

Blinky looked between us, nose twitching, “That was him?” He asked Draal.

Draal nodded, setting me up on his shoulder. “He’s a strange human.”

Blinky nods, following after Draal as we head to the scrap yard. “Seems nice enough, besides, humans have different customs and abilities depending on where they live, maybe that’s something his species can do?”

I smiled, shaking my head slightly, “Well, he’s from Finland, but I don’t think he’s an entirely different species Blink.” I point to the scrap yard, grinning, “That’s where we’re looking for parts!”

Draal began shifting through the metal, “Parts for what?”

Blinky grinned, tearing through piles of metal, “Lady River suggested getting Vespa parts for Jim so we can build one together. That is apparently all he wants for his birthing day. I spent all day looking into what we need to get, hopefully- YES!” Blinky yelled, pulling up a classic long saddle. “Found one!”

Draal nods, picking up different items for me to check, “That!” I yelled, pointing to a large metal body. Draal lifted a 150 G.S. body, stripped of wheels, a gearbox, a headlamp unit, and a seat. “That’s perfect!”

Draal grinned at the find, “How many more items are we looking for?” He asked Blinky.

Blinky began counting on his finger, going over a mental list, “Let’s see, we have the body of the Vespa, a seat, and the headlamp unit… Oh! Two, technically three, items left. A gearbox and two wheels.”

We scoured through the entire scrap yard and finally came across the last pieces we need. “This is going to be awesome! Oh! How about I order food and we all meet at the house?” I asked, pulling up Stuart’s mobile ordering.

Blinky nodded, carrying the smaller items, “Excellent idea Lady River, we can all present Jim with his gift that way!” He grinned, not wanting Draal to be left out if they go to Trollmarket, especially after they all found pieces of the Vespa together.

Draal smiled slightly, carrying the body of the Vespa while I sat on his shoulder. My phone started playing the gun robot ringtone, seeing it was Toby I quickly answered, “Hey Tobes! I was gonna call, we’re all meeting at the house, Stuart’s dropping food off!”

“That’s awesome, but um… well, we had to catch Jim, but the Stalkling isn’t an issue anymore. Aaarrrgghh and I are bringing him home.” Toby was excited about getting together, and as per the request of Jim, he was trying to not make a big deal about what just happened with the Stalkling.

I narrowed my eyes, hearing his hesitation, “He did something stupid and reckless didn’t he?”

Toby stuttered, “Well um… We’ll see you there!” He hung up quickly.

I glared at the phone, “Something happened to Jim, apparently, he’s okay enough to play it off as nothing.”

Blinky frowned, him and Draal picking up their pace arriving at the backyard before Toby, Jim, and Aaarrrgghh, hiding all the Vespa pieces. “Let’s check on master Jim first.” Blinky suggested, worried.

Aaarrrgghh climbed over the fence, holding a slightly twitchy Jim. I stared him down, hands on my hips. “What in Daya’s name, did you do?” I asked firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Jim sighed, standing up from Aaarrrgghh’s hold once the twitching subsided. “Well, I killed the Stalkling.”

Toby piped in quickly, “And that’s all that matters! Now let’s have… fun?” He trailed off as I leveled my glare on him.

Jim sighed, “It snatched me off my bike and flew into the sky so I used the environment as a weapon,” He paused, gauging my reaction, “I used Daylight and the armor as a lightning rod… while wearing it.”

I sighed, relieved that he at least told me, “That explains the twitching… Are you injured?” He shook his head no quickly. “Alright then. Blinky grab and blind him.”

Jim looked horrified for a moment before Blinky simply covered his eyes with his hands.

“I’ll grab it,” Draal offered, getting all the Vespa pieces out and setting them in front of Jim.

Jim flinched hearing a loud thud, “This better not be another surprise because I really don’t think I can handle anymore.” He sighed, exhausted from everything that happened today, especially the Stalkling.

Blinky shook his head, “No, no. If my calculations are correct, there are only a few more minutes left to your birthing day.”

Draal smirked, stepping back from the pieces, “Time for your final present, though it might not look like much.”

Blinky uncovered Jim’s eyes, waiting for a reaction. Jim flinched at first before staring down at the pieces, “Wait. That’s a 150 G.S, four-speed gearbox, classic long saddle… Original handlebar headlamp unit!” He grinned turning to Blinky, Draal and I, “These are the pieces of a 1955 Vespa!”

Blinky smiled, a bit bashful seeing Jim’s reaction, “Well, Lady River informed us that this was the one thing you really wanted, I had the headlamp unit, so Draal, Lady River and I procured the final pieces. Perhaps one day, we could build it together.”

Draal nods, smirking at Jim, “After training, you can’t slack off.”

Jim tackled me in a hug quickly! “Thank you.” He jumped to Draal, “Thank you!” Finally hugging Blinky tight, “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten!”

Blinky was at a loss for a moment before hugging Jim, smiling softly.

With the arrival of food, thanks to Stuart’s taco truck, we hung around the backyard into the early hours of the morning. Jim kept going on and on about the Vespa and what he, Blinky, and Draal could do with it, of course, I would be painting it.

Adventures in Trollsitting! Special thanks to @insanity6666 for the lovely idea of making the newest OC addition to the story a changeling! I will be posting drawings of Eemeli as a human and Troll after finals! Thank you to everyone who reads these, I have a lot of fun writing them!

Episode 1

Episode 7

Episode 9

     I awoke to the sound of a foghorn, my alarm. I groaned trying to roll over but I was pinned down by something heavy sitting on my waist. My bed began to shift under me. I was confused until I decided to finally open my eyes, coming face to face with blue stone. My brow furrowed before I recalled the events and shock of last night. Draal was subbing in for my bed so he could keep an eye on me last night. I nuzzle under his chin as he sat up, seeing that the heavy object I was pinned under happened to be his arm.

     Draal chucked at the gesture, handing me my blaring phone. “Good morning, does it always make that awful noise?” He huffed through his nose, rattling the ring in a disgruntled manner at the alarm.

     I smiled turning the alarm off, yawning as I snuggled up to him more, still tired. “Only when I need to be awake at a certain time. Jim, Toby and I are supposed to head to Trollmarket this morning. I need to speak with Vendel about armor designs.” I paused thinking over last night, “Sorry for… worrying you.”

     Draal nodded as I spoke of going to Trollmarket with Toby and Jim, peering down at me in confusion when I apologized. “You are my mate; it is now my duty to worry for you and take care of you.” He smiled, nuzzling my jaw with his nose. “It is not something you need to apologize for. The news last night was a ‘shock’ as Jim put it.”

     I smiled softly, hugging around his neck. “Thank you for watching over me then.” I pulled back, stretching before getting up. “For a being of living stone, you’re pretty comfortable as a bed.” I teased, heading upstairs with Draal, going up to the second floor to my room.

     Draal followed close, stepping into my room for the first time since he threw Nomura out of my window his first night here. He sniffed over the desk with a canvas about 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide leaning against it, with various spray paint canisters laying around. “What is this?” He asked, nudging the canvas with the beginnings of a dark figure in bright green and blue swirls.

     I was digging through my closet for a change of clothes, peeking out to see what he was asking about, I grinned. “That’s a piece I’m working on for an art show, it’s later on in the year but I’ve been working on it since the beginning of the school year. I’m hoping to be the first spray painter accepted into the show!” I pulled on black leggings covered in the same green and blue paint on the canvas and a black long sleeve with a silver spaceship on it. “Do you think I have a chance?”

     Draal chuckled, looking over the picture closely. “Human’s are… moronic, usually, but they’d be blind to turn this away, who is in the painting?” He traced the swirls of blue paint.

     “I’m not sure actually, it’s a scene I’ve dreamt about a lot growing up. He shows up a lot in them so I don’t know if it’s a tv character or someone I’ve met a long time ago and forgotten about. Usually, there’s a person wearing blue too, but I haven’t figured how to draw them yet.” I explained, standing next to Draal, staring at the painting.

     Draal hummed, tilted his head hearing a thud from Jim’s room. “Our Trollhunter has been bested by his bed it seems.” He smirked, waiting by the door as I grabbed my school stuff before heading out with him.

     I checked mom’s room to make sure she left for the day before going to Jim’s door, knocking. “Jim? You okay in there?”

     Jim groaned from behind the door. Loud shuffling could be head before he opened the door, yawning. “Morning River, morning Draal.” He greeted, trudging past us. “Remind me to never let Blinky talk us into visiting before school.”

     “We both know that’s not going to happen,” I smirked, following Jim downstairs, Draal right behind us.

     Jim nodded, grabbing his bag off of the banister, “Yeah, he can talk anyone into anything.”

     Draal laughed, shaking his head. “He’s not used to a Trollhunter that needs to sleep either. You’ll get used to it.”

Jim smiled up at Draal, “I hope so. You gonna be good on your own?” He asked, glancing between Draal and me.

     “I will be looking for Killahead Bridge while you attend your training and learning dungeon,” Draal smirked, content with his job for now. “I will return by the time your mother returns to guard her and the house.”

     Jim nodded, pausing to tilt his head in confusion, “Learning dungeon?”

     I laughed, “School, he means school.” I explained, realization crossing Jim’s face as he laughed.

     Draal nudged my cheek with his brow, “You don’t want to keep Vendel, or the fleshbag Tobias,” he nods to the window where we see Toby yawning, tapping his foot impatiently as he waits for us.

     I chuckle, pressing my brow to Draal’s before heading out with Jim, “Bye, Draal! We’ll see you later!”

     Toby waved to Draal as we left, snickering at me, “You’ve gotten comfy having Draal live with you.” He remarks, trying to tease.

     Jim shakes his head, chuckling, “Why wouldn’t she be comfortable with Draal there? They act like a married couple already!” He snickered as we headed into town for breakfast at Stuart’s Taco Truck, before going to Trollmarket.

     I smirked at both of them, rolling my eyes at the obvious teasing, “Seeing as he’s the equivalent of my fiancé, yeah, of course, I’m comfortable with him living with us. I’m surprised you’re not uncomfortable.” I remarked to Jim, elbowing him.

     Jim shrugged, “Draal’s like a brother already, he fits right in with us. Besides, like I told you, as long as you’re happy, I won’t have a reason to use Daylight,” he snarked back to me, joking about using Daylight. He would never use the sword on Draal.

     Stuart opened the Taco Truck window as we approached, “Morning my best customers! How was your date River?” He asked, starting on the breakfast burritos, knowing our usual orders.

     “Date?” Jim and Toby asked in unison, turning to me.

     I laughed, shrugging a bit, “I picked up tacos and burritos for Draal and me, Stuart put two and two together. It was great, he actually enjoyed raiding the scrap yard with me!” I grinned leaning against the window to converse with Stuart as he cooked.

     He laughed, wrapping the burritos, “Now that sounds like a keeper to me! Find anything good?” He asked, handing the bag to Toby as Jim paid. He still owed Toby from the fight with Draal.

     I nodded, “Yup, I found some old tech I’ll bring to the shop next time it’s open.”

     “Thanks! River, Boys have a good day,” Stuarts waved us off with a grin.

     Jim shook his head, “You make some really weird friends. Not that they’re weird, it’s just who you end up making friends with isn’t the usual for a high schooler,” He corrected quickly as I gave him the side-eye of disapproval.

     “You’re telling the non-human dating a troll, that who she makes friends with isn’t typical?” I asked, smirking to Jim as Toby handed out the breakfast burritos. I tore into mine quickly, waiting for an answer.

     Jim floundered for a response as Toby snickered, unwrapping his burrito, “You walked right into that one Jimbo.” He teased, biting into his burrito.

     Jim huffed, eating his food while sulking a bit. I paused outside of the Vespa shop, “Hey, Jim. Aren’t these the Vespa’s you’ve been drooling over?” I asked, finishing off my food.

     Jim whistled, stopping next to me, fighting the urge to drool over it. “Vespa 300 GTS Super. Single-cylinder. Catalyzed four-stroke Quasar engine,” he sighed. “Can you imagine me going down the road on that? Wind whipping through my hair, Claire holding tight to my back,” he trailed off, lost in his head.

     I rolled my eyes as Toby sighed, “Me, cruising in the sidecar next to you,” he spoke, interrupting Jim’s fantasy.

     I shook my head, snickering at Jim’s disgruntled look directed at Toby. “Tobes, that’s for a motorcycle,” I remarked.

     Toby pouts towards me before seeing Jim’s look, “Oh. You imagined you and Claire alone, didn’t you?” He asked Jim with a sheepish smile.

     “We both know the odds of mom getting you a Vespa for your 16th birthday.” I sighed, knowing Jim was hoping for one.

     “Only slightly worse than me winning the lottery and buying it myself, but still slightly better than you getting a motorcycle for your 18th birthday.” He snickered, teasing me back. I grinned ruffling his hair at the remark. Jim whacked my hand away glancing at the window, frowning. “Did you see that?” He asked, turning to quickly to see a goblin on a powerline holding a bundle.

     I turned, following his eyes, barring my teeth slightly, “Goblin!” I yelled as Jim and I took off after it.

     “What?!” Toby yelled, having looked at the window instead of the power line, groaning as he sees Jim and I running, “It’s just a bird!” He yelled after us, trying to catch up.

     “It’s a goblin, with a baby!” Jim yelled back to Toby, seeing little baby arms poking out of the bundle the goblin was holding, gripping a rabbit plushie.

     Jim and I followed the goblin to the alley behind Alex’s game shop, “Dead end.” I growled, heading to the back looking for a way up to the roof.

     Jim knelt behind me, picking up the rabbit plushie the baby had been holding. Toby finally caught up to us, trying to catch his breath. “Come on guys, it’s just a bird!” He groaned, not having seen the goblin at all. “Chill out guys, this Trollhunting is making you hallucinate,” He tried to reason, clasping Jim’s shoulder.

     “Two people don’t hallucinate the same thing at the same time,” I quipped back, frowning as I couldn’t find a way up, losing the goblin and baby. Sighing as I turned back to the boys. “The baby was holding that.” I nod to the bunny in Jim’s hands.

     “What would a goblin want with a baby?” Toby asked, shaking his head. Though his tone was filled with disbelief, he was obviously worried in the case it was an actual baby.

     Jim frowned, examining the rabbit plushie, “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” He headed out of the alley, Toby and I following close. “Blinky should have an idea why, let’s get to Trollmarket,” he spoke, leading us to the canals quickly.

     I took out the horngazel, opening the entrance quickly, heading down to Blinky’s library with the boys. “I have to go see Vendel. I have my alarm set so I’ll come get you for school.” I waved to the boys before running to Vendel’s study. Steeling myself as I walked in, not having seen Vendel since I left Trollmarket with Draal. “Morning Master Ven-” I cut my greeting seeing Vendel.

     Vendel was facing the entrance of his study, gemstone staff pointed at me, “You’ve missed three days of training, run off with a disgraced troll after courting him in front of every troll in Trollmarket, and all you have to say is ‘Good morning?’” He scolded me, sounding like a disappointed parent.

     I winced, bowing my head slightly, feeling like a small child, “I wasn’t sure if I’d be welcomed back after everyone’s reaction to that…” I admitted, rubbing my arm. Not used to being scolded.

     Vendel sighed, lowering the staff, “You are my charge, of course, you’re still welcomed here… though I’ll be surprised if no one says anything about the display after the fight.” He shook his head, sitting at a stone table, gesturing me to the seat next to him.

     I sat quickly, snarling a bit, “If they want to speak ill of Draal they can fight me.”

     Vendel laughed, in a better mood after getting the scolding out of the way, “I shouldn’t be surprised considering your lineage.” He pats the top of my head with his large hand, as one would a child.

     I pout at the patting before I furrow my brow, registering his words, “Did you… You knew I was related to Merlin?” I asked, looking up at him from under his hand.

     Vendel hummed, realizing I hadn’t known from the confusion on my face. “I forget there is much you don’t know yet,” he sighed, pulling over a volume of ‘A Brief Recapitulation of Troll Lore’ opening to a page with an illustration of a woman clad in armor, holding an ax. She was surrounded in swirls of blue and white, similar to the painting I was working on. “This is Lady Ganieda, Merlin’s sister,” Vendel pushed the book closer to me, “Your mother I presume, from your magic.”

     I studied the picture closely, smiling softly, “She could wield daylight?” I asked, looking to Vendel as he hummed in answer. “Then, you knew I could too?”

     Vendel nodded, “I could tell from the burns on your hands when we met. That is why I am so insistent on training you. If you befriended trolls, as you have, and remained untrained…” he trailed off, shaking his head sadly.

     “The Forge wall I shattered could’ve been a friend,” I concluded, looking back to the picture. “I’m glad I finally have a picture to relate to her, I’ve never seen her before.” I smiled, running my fingers over the armor in the picture, pausing on the shoulder plates. “I want to design something similar, and since my arms and shoulders get hit the most, maybe I should make those pieces a priority.”

     Vendel smiled softly, nodding. “Take the book, uses it as a reference for your armor.” He spoke, placing his hand on my shoulder, “I’ll see if we have any more pictures of Lady Ganieda, you should have them after all.”

     I smiled hugging Vendel, “Thank you Master Vendel, I really appreciate this.”

     Vendel smiled softly, hugging me, “Of course,” he jolted as my phone alarm began to sound, looking at me confused, poking at my frame trying to find the source of the noise.

     I laugh pulling my phone out to turn it off. “Sorry, it’s time for me to get the boys and head to school. I’ll see you soon with plans for the armor.” I grinned, hugging him again before taking the book and running off to get Toby and Jim from the Forge.

     As we walked to school, Jim explained what Blinky told them about changelings being replaced with babies and growing up in the human world. We paused at the lockers, still hugging the book to my chest as I open my locker to put it away for now. “So, we have to find out which baby is missing?” I asked, tucking the book away, and grabbing my paint for art class, closing the locker.

     Jim nodded pulling the rabbit out, sighing. “I am going to find out who it belongs to and when I do-”

     Toby interrupted Jim, grabbing his shoulder, “Maybe you didn’t see what you thought you saw. You’ve been spending so much time in Trollmarket, maybe your minds are playing tricks on you.” He suggested, looking between Jim and me.

     Jim frowned, looking at the rabbit, leaning back against his locker, “Maybe you’re right,” he conceded to Toby making me groan, refusing to believe we hallucinated a goblin kidnapping a baby.

     “You have Suzy Snooze?” Claire’s voice startled the three of us as she approached, gesturing to the stuffed rabbit. “My brother’s bunny, I’ve been looking all over for him.”

     Jim handed her the bunny, “You’ve been looking for this?” He asked her, worry etched over his face.

     “Yeah,” she smiled, taking the bunny. “He’s been acting weird without it. Where did you find it?” She asked us, confused that we had it.

     “We found it in the alley behind Alex’s Game Shop,” I spoke up, worried for her baby brother.

     “What do you mean, he hasn’t been himself? Exactly how has he been acting?” Jim asked quickly, mind racing to changelings.

     “Easy, Jim.” Toby grabbed his shoulder, holding him back a bit. Turning to Claire, trying to play it off. “Always concerned about the children, but just for clarification, are we super sure this is his? I mean you could probably pick this up at, like, any store,” He asked, hopefully.

     Claire smile shaking her head, “I think I know the stuffed bunny I grew up with,” she answered to Toby. Mary ran up to Claire, yelling her name. She paused to catch her breath and began to explain that she wasn’t available to babysit Enrique for her tonight.

     Jim began to freak out as they talked, whispering to Toby and me, “She doesn’t know her brother is missing because he’s been switched with a changeling!” He waved to Claire, quickly interrupting the girls’ argument, “I can babysit for you,” he offered.

     “Tonight?” Claire asked, grinning. “Really? You would? Wait,” she paused, eyeing Jim, “have you ever babysat before?”

     “Uh, yeah,” Jim answered quickly, “Yeah, no. They call me ‘Jim the Baby-Handed,’” he remarked, using Bagdwella’s insult from when Chomsky stole his amulet.

     I snickered, turning to stand next to Claire, patting her shoulder, “He’s great with kids, a real ‘mother hen’,” I joked, earning a laugh from Claire and Mary.

     “Oh, my gosh, you’re a life-saver. I could kiss you.” She grinned, leaning up to kiss Jim on his cheek, “Come by my house at seven, no sooner. Thank you, Jim. Thank you,” She waved to us, heading off with Mary as the bell rang.

     “Time to go, I’ll see you two later. Try to behave.” I smirked, running right into someone. The impact strong enough to knock me on my rear, paint rolling out of my bag. I groaned shaking my head.

     “I’m so sorry,” a thick accent spoke in front of me. I look up to see a hand extended towards me, connected to a blonde male with dark blue eyes.

     I blink, staring at the hand for a moment before taking it, “No, I’m sorry for running into you,” I apologized as he helped me up, “I should’ve been watching where I was going. I’m River, I don’t think I’ve seen you before?” I asked.

     “Eemeli,” He introduced, picking up the paint that rolled from my bag, handing it to me. “I saw you had paint and figured you must be in an art class, I just transferred here and I’m a bit lost.” He admitted, scratching the back of his neck.

     Jim and Toby exchanged looks before waving to me, running to class. I nodded, “Sure, which class are you looking for, Eemeli?” I asked, waving for him to follow me as I headed to the art classes.

     “Ms. Harper?” Eemeli asked, reading off the schedule in his hands.

     I grinned, “Oh, you’ll be in my class then!” Quickly guiding the way, we walked into Ms. Harper’s class with only three other students.

     “Where are the rest?” Eemeli asked, gesturing to the mostly empty room, confused.

     “Ms. Harper tends to scare students off wither her… eccentricities. She’s amazing once you get used to her though, this will be the fourth year I’ve had her.” I explained grinning as Ms. Harper walked in, wearing a dress covered in paint and a neon yellow sweater.

     “Good morning class!” She greeted enthusiastically, pausing when she sees Eemeli, she grabs his shoulders, grinning, “You must be my new student. Oh, I’m so glad you’ll be joining us,” She turned to face me, “Ah, I see you’ve met River, care now, she bites.” She teased, letting Eemeli go. “What medium do you use?” She asked Eemeli.

     Eemeli looked like a deer caught in headlights, looking from Ms. Harper to me. I smiled softly, “She wants to know what kind of art you do.”

     He nodded, recovering his composure. “I, uh… I work with metal. Sculpting.” He spoke quickly.

     Ms. Harper hummed, hands on her hips as she tilted her head in thought. “River, are you still storing metal here from last year’s project?” She turned to me, a hopeful glint in her eye.

     “Of course! It’s in with the theater equipment.” I confirmed, “How about you and I go get it so you start working on something?” I asked, turning to Eemeli.

     “Wonderful idea River, just grab the hall pass,” She waved to a paint pallet hanging by the door.

     Eemeli grabbed the pallet as we walked out of the class, waiting till we were a good distance from the class before speaking, “I see what you mean, she’s very… excitable?” He tilted his head.

     I laughed nodding, “Yup, she’s also very involved in projects, so just to warn, she will hover,” I shook my head, heading into the theater storage room, “The metal should be back here.” I called, moving props out of the way.

     Eemeli helped me dig till we reached the metal, “I’ll grab a-” he began as I lifted a large portion of the metal onto my shoulder, “cart… or not.” He chuckled, picking up the rest of the metal, “You are stronger than you look.” He comments.

     I pause, looking at the amount of metal, chuckling nervously, “I, uh… train a lot?” I tried to state but it came off as a question.

     “I can tell.” He smirked, heading out of the storage. “What do you train for? Sports? Fighting?”

     “Well, it’s fighting I guess, but it’s for fun,” I explained quickly, following after him before taking the lead back to class.

     “We should spar,” He grinned, looking over the metal to me.

     “Spar?” I asked, worried about doing actual damage to him since I was used to sparring with Draal. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

     He chuckled, “Oh? Scared you won’t get a hit in?” Eemeli asked, his smirk growing.

     I huffed, leveling him with a stubborn stare, “No, you might be leaving with a few breaks if we spar is all.” I snarked, bantering with him as we entered the class, setting the metal down.

     “Now I really want to spar, I need to know if you can make good on that,” he grinned getting to work on sorting the metal.

     I smirked back, grabbing my paint as I head to my canvas near him. “I can, and will. You’re on Eemeli.”

     We continued teasing and goading each other about the spar till the bell rang.

     Ms. Harper approached us grinning, “I’m so glad you’re making friends. River, why don’t you work with Eemeli on the group projects this year? I know you prefer to work alone since most students don’t fit with your medium...” She trailed off.

     I look to the structure Eemeli began shaping during class. “Well, that would depend on if he wanted to work with me. I don’t mind.” I answered, putting my paint away.

     “Splendid, Eemeli,” She called to him, waving him over.

     Eemeli set the metal pieces he was working with down, approaching Ms. Harper cautiously, “Yes ma’am?” He asked, a bit nervous about Ms. Harper.

     “Each year my students collaborate in groups on a piece, I was hoping that maybe you and River would collaborate this year?” She asked hopefully, leaning in as she awaited his answer.

     “Of course,” Eemeli grinned, “with metal sculpting and spray paint we could make an amazing piece this year.” He turned to me, excited about the project.

     “Awesome,” I returned his grin, excited to have a partner that didn’t sneer at spray painting. “Why don’t you come over after classes today and we can start planning it?” I asked, walking out of the class with him.

     He nodded quickly, “Sounds like a plan,” he paused, looking over his schedule, “Do we have anything else together?” He asked, handing me the schedule.

     I looked it over quickly, “Looks like your last class with Strickler,” I smiled, “You’ll like him, nowhere near as excitable as Ms. Harper, but he’s really nice. Do you need help finding your other classes?” I asked, handing the schedule to him.

     “No, I saw my next class on the way here this morning, I’ll see you in Strickler’s class,” he grinned, heading off to his next class with a wave.

     I returned the wave before running to Spanish with Senor Uhl, trying to will the day to go by faster.

     Once the last class rolled around, Eemeli was introduced. Stickler sat him behind Jim, next to me.

     “Hello partner,” He greeted, whispering as Strickler began teaching.

     I chuckle, nodding to the front for him to pay attention, “Hello to you too, don’t get too distracted, I’ve already got one boy drooling off over here.” I remarked, nodding to Jim, hand still on his cheek where Claire kissed him.

     “Has he been that way all day?” Eemeli asked, having seen the exchange at the lockers.

     Toby looked back to Eemeli and me before looking at Jim, “This is actually an improvement…” he sighed, shaking his head slightly. “I’m Toby by the way. Drooly here is Jim, River’s brother.” He introduced himself and Jim.

     “Eemeli,” He nodded, to Toby.

     “Cool accent, where did you transfer from?” Toby asked, trying to keep the conversation quiet as Strickler was either unaware or ignoring us so Eemeli could become acquainted with the students.

     “I’m from Finland, moved here to live with my uncle,” He offered, tuning back into class.

     We stayed focused on the class until the final bell rang. I stretched, shaking my wrist out from the amount of writing. “Ready to head out?” I asked Eemeli as I packed up.

     Jim snapped out of his day, turning to me, “Head out?” He asked confused, jumping slightly as he noticed Eemeli sitting behind him, “Oh, uh… Hi, I’m Jim,” he held his hand out to Eemeli, smiling.

     Eemeli grinned, shaking his hand, “Eemeli,” he offered, amused that Jim completely missed everything. Toby shook his head at Jim.

     Jim looked to me, confused again, “Where are we going?”

     “Eemeli and I were partnered for the group art project so I was asking him if he was ready to come over to start planning it,” I explained, smirking at Jim.

     “Oh,” Jim laughed, “Don’t you usually do that on your own?” He asked, shoving his notebook in his bag as we left to the lockers.

     I nodded, switching the paint out for the troll lore book, hugging it again, “Yup, but Eemeli here is a metal sculptor and agreed to work with me on something.”

     Eemeli grinned, interjecting, “I’m actually looking forward to this project, I’ve never painted my works before this, so I can’t wait to see what we make together.” His grin turning into a smirk as he emphasized making something together.

     Toby and Jim exchanged glances, Jim speaking up, “So, uh, isn’t your boyfriend visiting today?” He asked quickly, glancing at Eemeli.

     I looked at Jim confused, unsure why he was bringing Draal up, “Oh…” My eyes widen realizing I couldn’t bring Eemeli in without letting Draal know someone else would be in the house. “I’m so sorry, Eemeli, I got really excited to plan this project, it slipped my mind.”

     Eemeli smiled shaking his head, “It’s not a problem, we can start planning it in class tomorrow. I’ll see you later.” He hugged me, side-eyeing Jim as he walked by, throwing him a smirk.

     Jim shook his head slightly, hoping he was just seeing things. “That could have been dangerous.” He remarked as we headed home.

     I groaned, nodding “I know, what if Draal thought Eemeli was someone sneaking in or trespassing. Not to mention that could drag Eemeli into this craziness,” I sighed.

     Toby looked at me confused, “Are you serious?” He asked me, pausing near the house, “I’m more worried about finding out if Draal’s the jealous type, he could snap Eemeli in two.”

     I furrowed my brow, looking between Toby and Jim, “Jealous type? Am I missing something here?”

     “Okay, I know we joke about you being dense, but you honestly can’t tell me you didn’t notice that?” Jim exclaimed, gesturing in the general direction of the school.

     “Notice what?” I asked exasperated at the situation.

     Toby sighed, grabbing Jim’s shoulder, “Maybe we should leave it be, it’s not like anything’s going to happen.” He spoke.

     Jim sighed, “Yeah, it’s probably nothing River, sorry. I think I’m just on edge from this morning.”

     I smiled, nodding, “It’s okay, I don’t know what’s okay, but it is.” I shook my head, going inside. “Have fun at Claire’s tonight!” I called, heading straight for the basement.

     Walking down I grin seeing Draal stuffing some pillows, I set my bag next to the stairs. As I approached, Draal’s nose twitches, sniffing the air as he looks at me confused.

     I frowned, “Draal? What’s wrong?”

     He got up, sniffing close to me, “New scent.” He growled softly, picking me up.

     I looked up at him confused, not sure what he was doing. “Uh, Draal? What’s going on?”

     He sat down where he was, nuzzling his nose against my neck. “You have a new scent on you, it’s unsettling.” He huffed, smelling Eemeli.

     “Oh, that!” I laughed, “There’s a new guy in school, my art teacher paired us up to work on a project. I needed to talk to you about that. He might be coming over to plan it here,” I explained, petting Draal’s horns as he continued to scent me.

     Draal growled, “Why did he scent you?” He asked, purring at the petting.

     “Uh Draal, he’s a human, he doesn’t know what scenting is. All he did was hug me as he left. No courting gestures.” I smiled softly at the purring. Hopefully calming his irritation.

     Draal hummed, considering my explanation, “Does he have to come here?” he asked after a moment, uncomfortable with the idea of an unknown male hanging around, human or not.

     I chuckled, “Well, I figure it’s better than working somewhere else, at least I have control over this space.” Draal tilted his head in confusion at my statement, making me grin, “I can kick him out of the house whenever I want or need to. Though it should only be once or twice, we’ll be working on the actual project in class. This is just for planning.” I explained.

     Draal hummed, nodding. “Then I am okay with this. Though, human or not, it’s unsettling that he was able to scent you, you hug the Toby fleshbag and this never happens.”

     I tilt my head thinking, “Maybe it’s cologne or body spray? Something that would affect someone’s scent and cling to other people they come in contact with?”

     Draal considered this, sniffing again, satisfied with his removal of the scent. “I suppose it’s possible,” he conceded. He looked up at the ceiling of the basement, realizing it was silent beside us. “Are Jim and Toby out?”

     I nod, snuggling in his hold now that he was finished scenting, “Toby is introducing Aaarrrgghh to his new home since he’ll be protecting Toby’s home with the rise in changeling activity, and Jim is heading to Claire’s house to babysit her baby brother, who we believe has been switched with a changeling.” I explained, tracing the markings on Draal’s arms as I spoke.

     Draal frowned at the mention of a new changeling. “We should go keep an eye out, in case this baby is an impure now.” He stood, letting me sit on his arm. I nod in agreement, making sure my lance was hooked to my belt. Draal left through the basement exit, as I directed him, using my phone’s GPS to find Claire’s house.

     “Alright, we need to exit here, the sunset so we should be good.” I pointed to an exit, “We’re almost there,” I cut off getting a call from Jim. I answered it as Draal exited the sewers. “Jim, are you okay?”

     Jim groaned, “You put it in the diaper bin, didn’t you?” He asked, someone on the other line, “Hey River, Toby is getting another gaggletack, apparently ‘Enrique’ decided to hide the one I brought with me.”

     “I’ll be there soon, Draal and I are close by I’ll help you look for it.” I chuckle, pointing to the Nunez house.

     “Thanks, River, the back door is open.” He hung up, losing sight of ‘Enrique.’

     Draal climbed the fence into the Nunez backyard, entering the house before setting me down.

     I nuzzle under his jaw before heading upstairs to find ‘Enrique’ at the top of the stairs babbling, “Hey there cutie, why don’t you come with me while Jim rifles through your diaper bin?” I cooed, picking him up. “Jim, I’ve got the baby, I’ll be downstairs,” I called out as Jim ran to the bathroom to wash his hands. I head down to Draal, holding the possible changeling out to him, “Look, I found a squish,” I grinned, joking as I cradled him, being careful in case he wasn’t a changeling.

     Draal huffed before sniffing Enrique. “I forget how tiny fleshbags are at first,” he chuckled as Enrique blew raspberries at him.

     I smile, snuggling him, “Are trolls ever tiny?” I asked, sitting on the kitchen counter.

     Draal nodded, poking at Enrique’s stomach, trying to tickle him, “Yes, I was only slightly bigger than this as a whelp.”

     My eyes widen, holding Enrique up, grinning, “I’m trying to picture you all tiny, it’s not working.” I laughed as Toby came running in with the gaggletack.

     “Oh, hey River, Draal.” He greets, “Awe, is this Enrique? Has Jim been a big bad trollhunting-man?” He asked, setting the gaggletack on the counter near my leg.

     Draal snarled, flicking the gaggletack away from me to the end of the counter, leveling Toby with a hard glare.

     Toby wince, realizing what could’ve happened, “Oh, right. Sorry River, I forget those could hurt you too.”

     I waved him off as Jim ran down the stairs, “There you are,” He grabbed Toby’s shoulders, “did you bring it?” He asked as Toby rolled his eyes, pointing to the gaggletack down the counter.

     “Word of warning, don’t get close to River with it, Draal is guarding.” He joked, stepping out of the way of Enrique.

     Jim grabbed the gaggletack, “Can you get him though, it won’t hurt him. I just want to make sure.” He asked Toby.

     Toby nodded as I began to hand Enrique over. When he looked up and saw Toby was taking him, he began to cry, clinging to my arm. “I don’t think that’s happening.” I sighed, pulling Enrique back to me, bouncing him to calm him down. “Just do it while I’m holding him, it’ll just be a small burn if it touches me. I shrugged, Draal growling at the suggestion. “Draal, I can heal myself if I get burned.” I nuzzle his cheek before nodding to Jim.

     “Alright, here we go.” Jim got close and Enrique began to cry harder. I winced as he started climbing up my shoulder. Jim was trying to be careful not to touch me but with Enrique climbing, it was getting difficult.

     “Don’t worry about me and just do it!” I finally yelled, pulling Enrique down in front of me with a firm grip. Jim lunged, hitting Enrique and my hand. I yelped at the burn, trying to keep my hold on Enrique.

     A snarl came from ‘Enrique’, I turned him around, seeing a tiny troll in my hand, “This… is much cuter than Enrique.” I grin, hugging him close.

     “Stupid flesh-thing!” He yelled, swiping at the burn, forcing me to drop him with a yelp.

     I held my burnt and now scratched hand close, glaring down at the tiny green changeling, “You may be cuter, but your attitude sucks.” I growled out, baring my teeth.

     Draal snarled, slamming his fist down as Jim and Toby try to catch ‘Not-Enrique,’ as Toby keeps shouting. Growling still, Draal picks me up, pulling me away from the chase as the house gets destroyed.

     Jim’s phone rang and he answered, finding out that Claire and her parents were on their way home early. “Oh no,” was all he got out as Not-Enrique began to blast music. Utensils were thrown into the back door, we heard Blinky yell to Aaarrrgghh before they broke the door down, chasing after Not-Enrique.

     As Not-Enrique shot peas out of his mouth, Toby drew the fire away from us and Aaarrrgghh punched up into the ceiling, squishing Not-Enrique and catching him on a plate with a smug little grin. He brought Not-Enrique down so he was level with us, Jim approaching him first. “All right, enough! Where’s the bridge?” Jim asked, irritated.

     Not-Enrique sat up on the plate smirking at Jim, “What bridge? London Bridge? I hear it’s falling down.” Aaarrrgghh began to squeeze him, Not-Enrique tried pushing his hand off, “Ow! Fleshbags… no sense of humor,” he sneered.

     “Where is the bridge?” Jim asked again, getting in his face.

     Not-Enrique began to wheeze as Aaarrrgghh squeezed slightly harder. “Give me a break! I don’t know anything. It’s me first day,” he tried to reason.

     Blinky came to stand next to Jim, glaring at Not-Enrique, “Squeeze him till he pops!” He directed to Aaarrrgghh.

     Aaarrrgghh began to squeezes harder, and Not-Enrique finally snapped, shoving his hand away, “Okay, okay, okay!” He yelled, relieved that the pressure was gone. “Can’t blame a guy for looking out for himself.” His ears drooped and he crossed his arms over his chest, “But you can’t tell anyone I told you. I got a pretty sweet deal going here. If the bossman hears I squealed, he’ll feed me to Bular.” Not-Enrique tried to negotiate quickly.

     “Bular’s working with someone else?” Blinky asked confused, only knowing of Nomura until now.

     “Who?” Jim asked, looking to Not-Enrique, “Who is Bular working with?”

     Not-Enrique cleared his throat, stammering, “Oh, er- forget I said anything.”

     A car pulled up out front and we all looked at the windows, “Draal, we gotta go.” I nod to him. He took off out the broken door, carrying me as the others argued over Not-Enrique before leaving him with Jim for now in Enrique form.

     I sighed, seeing Jim get in trouble with the Nunez family. “This complicates things, we can’t do anything with Not-Enrique or the Nunez family will freak out that their baby is missing.”

     “He is missing though.” Draal interrupted, holding the hand I wasn’t sitting on palm up, wanting my injured hand.

     I sighed, placing my hand in his so he could look it over before I healed it, “I know he is, but they don’t…” I began the healing incantation, the wound glowing a soft blue before healing over.

     Draal hummed, checking over my hand again once it was healed. “No more changeling hunting, you keep getting burned,” he frowned, not okay with how tonight was handled.

     “Hey, it was my choice, I told Jim to get it over with because I can heal myself,” I pouted slightly, knowing he was just being protective.

     He paused his steps, nuzzling my cheek, “One day, it won’t be a small burn. What am I to do with you then?”

     “Hmm… let me heal myself because I’m stubborn and never back down from a fight or challenge, which is part of the reason you knew you wanted me as your mate.” I smirked up at him.

     He chuckled, continuing home, “You’re damn stubborn,” he snarked back, grinning.

     “I have an excellent teacher.” I giggled, snuggling in his hold as we make it home. “Can I stay with you again?” I asked, yawning softly.

     Draal chuckled, taking me upstairs, “Change, then we can go sleep.” He yawned, finally to the point that he needs to rest.

     I smile hopping off his arm and running into my room to change into pajama shorts and a tank top. I grab the pillows and blankets off my bed heading out of my room to Draal. “Ready,” I smiled up to him.

     Draal chuckled, scooping me up and heading down to the basement where the finished nest was set up. “I returned early and finished the nest, just in time for resting.” He got in the nest/bed we built, laying back into the pillows.

     I smiled, laying along his chest, keeping my pillows close in case I needed them. “Do you like it?”

     Draal hummed, wrapping my blanket around me, resting his arm over my waist as I curled up. “It’s an excellent nest,” he smiled, nuzzling the top of my head.

     “Good…” I began to nod off, nuzzling his chest as I give in to sleep. “Night Draal, love you.” I smiled, passing out quickly.

I decided to break this piece into multiple parts since it turned out twice as long as the first two episodes. There is a lot more of River in this Episode, also Draal is finally here!

Episode 1

Episode 2

River BIO

Episode 2]

“This is Heartstone Troll Market!” Blink exclaimed.

[Episode 3 pt. 1]

“This is...” Jim trailed off as he was taking in Trollmarket.

“Whoa,” Toby nodded slightly, agreeing with Jim’s unvoiced amazement.

I nod, standing next to Jim, “Pretty much,” We continued down rocky steps heading into the market. I kept turning in circles trying to take in as much as possible, I look to Blinky and Aaarrrgghh as I turned around for the thirteenth time, “This is your home?” I asked.

Blinky chuckled once I continued to turn as we walked, getting closer to the trolls that inhabited Trollmarket. “Trollmarket is home and hearth and sanctuary for all good trolls.” He moved to walk in front of us, guiding our way through the market. “This way, my friends. There is much to see.”

Toby and Jim high-fived, following Blinky excitedly. “Dang,” Toby teased, “and here I thought the only thing underneath our town was dirt and plumbing.” He pulled his phone out quickly and began taking pictures of anything and everything that caught his eye.

I looked up as we walked under a purple and rose-colored archway leading into a surreal bazaar brimming with trolls.

“Stay close,” Blinky ordered as we continued through the market. Aaarrrgghh pushing me closer to the group as I paused to watch a troll getting what looked like a tattoo done. “Human feet have never graced the ground of Trollmarket before,” Blinky explained to us.

After Blinky mentioned this I began to notice that the trolls around us kept stopping to stare in as we passed by. Many began to murmur about humans, going so far as to question Aaarrrgghh and Blinky, to which Aaarrrgghh simply replied “Friends,” motioning to Toby, Jim, and I, growling slightly at the questioning trolls.

“This is crazy!” Jim exclaimed, looking into each stall we passed. “Are you getting this, Tobes?”

“Oh, yeah,” Toby answered while taking pictures of the different stalls and trolls we passed. “On it.”

As we walked by another tattoo stall, I stopped and waved at the trolls who had done a double take seeing the three of us. I continued after the group quickly seeing the trolls’ disgruntled expressions aimed at me.

“Check it out!” Toby began to point to different stones. “Peridot, Topaz, Cassiterite!” He gasped, grasping a large boulder, “Kornerupine!” the boulder began to mover as Toby touched it, glancing up he quickly realized he was grabbing a troll and began to stammer an apology.

I shook my head pulling him along quickly before the troll decided to toss him off a ledge.

“Your knowledge of minerals is almost troll-like, Tobias” Blinky complimented as we caught up to him, Aaarrrgghh, and Jim.

“So, your kind, you all live here?” Jim asks, slowing his pace.

“Trolls travel from afar to our market to find comfort and remedies,” Blinky explained, gesturing to different stalls. “You’ll find most anything you need and sometimes you’ll find what you never knew you needed.”

I glanced into a dark cave seeing dark blue crystal spikes. Pausing when the spikes began to move, I realized they were part of another troll, with sapphire stone skin and bright golden red eyes, similar in color to the crystalline fire in the center of Trollmarket. We locked eyes for a moment before the troll huffed, looking towards Aaarrrgghh and Blinky as they kept walking. I shook my head and quickly followed after the group, not paying attention to the troll now following me.

As I caught up with the others, I had to push my way through a crowd of trolls that had circled them, questioning Blinky about the humans.

“What is this?” a deep voice brimming with irritation roared from behind me. Looking back, I notice it was the troll I had seen in the dark cave. He was pushing the crowd away as he walked up to us, stopping in front of me. He stood to his full height glaring down over me, growling.

I had to crane my neck back slightly with how close he was standing. A deadpan expression never leaving my face as he yelled.

“I was just getting to that, Draal.” Blinky replied, trying to pull me back from the angry troll I now knew as Draal.

Draal walked forward and I matched his steps walking back till I was between Jim and Blinky. “Human feet have never sullied the ground of Trollmarket before.” He claimed, now circling Jim. “Who are these fleshbags?” he questioned with a slight growl, getting in Jim’s face causing him to step back quickly, hands up in defense.

Seeing how anxious Jim was at having Draal in his space I quickly stepped between them, glaring at Draal and refusing to back down as he got in my face instead.

“Believe it or not, he is, um,” Blinky began to fidget as he tried to explain, “How do I put this? Our new Trollhunter.”

Most trolls in attendance gasped in disbelief, some jaws dropped, and all were stunned at Blinky’s answer.

Draal glared over me to Jim, growling. “He can’t be the Trollhunter.” He stated, “He’s not a troll!” He pushed me to the side, then slammed his fists into the ground, breaking the stone and causing Jim to jump back, falling against Aaarrrgghh.

I growled at being pushed, hands heating up as I stepped in front of Draal, blocking him from Jim. “And yet the talking amulet called his name.” I spoke, irritated with Draal.

Aaarrrgghh helped Jim up quickly, glaring at Draal. “Amulet chose.”

Blinky tried to diffuse the situation as Toby spoke up. “Show him, Jimbo.”

Jim glanced up to Aaarrrgghh trying to gauge if summoning the armor was a good idea. Once Aaarrrgghh nodded, I stepped aside so everyone, including Draal, could see Jim. Jim read off the incantation as the amulet began to glow, and in a flash of light, he was now fully suited in armor. “Pretty cool, right?” He asked the trolls.

“A human, protecting us?” a female troll asked from the crowd, hands on her hips as she eyed Jim wearily. A second female troll next to her fainting.

“Bushigal!” Draal yelled, stalking towards Jim. “I am Draal,” he began, hitting a fist over his chest, “son of Kanjigar and the amulet’s rightful heir!” He exclaimed.

“Uh, you’re his son?” Jim asked, distress evident, “He’s his son?” he turned to Blinky for an answer.

Blinky winced, wringing his four hands together and nodding slightly.

“Yeah,” I spoke up, looking to Draal, “I can see how this is a problem.” Toby nodded in agreement.

Draal stood at his full height over Jim, chin raised in the air as he glared down at him. “When my father fell, the honor should have passed on to me.” He grabbed the amulet, trying to rip it out of the armor. A bright blue light enveloped Jim and pushed him and Draal apart.

Aaarrrgghh quickly caught Jim, holding him out slightly to Draal as if proving a point. “Amulet chose.” He stated again.

Draal was staring at the amulet, shocked it had rejected him. Blinky ushered us by Draal quickly, heading to our next destination in Trollmarket. Draal eyed us, standing up again. “We’ll see what Vendel has to say about this,” he growled out.

“Feel free to fetch him.” Blinky turned towards Draal, still leading us away. “In the meanwhile, lots of Trollhunter business to be done. Draal, wonderful to see you as always.”

I paused as I passed Draal, bowing my head slightly in empathy for his father’s death. Draal growled at me, huffing as he saw my palms, still red and burnt from our run-in with Bular earlier. He hummed and quickly turned heading off to find Vendel.

We reached a cavern entrance that had a glowing yellow sign in the outline of the sword of Daylight. As we walked into the cavern, Jim’s armor disappeared. “Um, what just happened?” He asked Blinky, catching the amulet as it fell from his chest.

“The amulet responded to your unconscious command, Master Jim.” Blinky explained, “You are at ease, are you not?” he asked, hands pressed together in thought.

“I am, actually,” Jim replied, holding the amulet up with a small smile as he looked it over.

“It senses that. You are beginning to master it. “Blinky complimented as he continued to guide us through the cavern. We soon came to a large opening, a natural stone bridge leading to a large, stage-like area surrounded by statues of trolls on high pedestals.

“Is this a palace?” Jim asked in awe.

“This is ‘The Hero’s Forge.’” Blinky exclaims as we cross the bridge. Toby taking pictures of every square inch, mumbling about different minerals.

Jim took notice of the statues and Blinky was quick to explain that they are the remains of his predecessors, including an empty pedestal for Kanjigar’s remains.

I was walking around the perimeter of the Forge, hand ghosting over the markings and runes carved into the stone walls. “This is amazing,” I came to a stop next to Blinky as he was finishing his explanation of the Trollhunters.

“A line of heroism that reaches back to the age of Merlin, he exclaimed, walking to a lever in one of the walls.

“Merlin?” I asked, following him. “As in the wizard in the tales of King Arthur and Camelot?”

Blinky nods, “The very same Lady River, I’m glad you’re familiar with your history. Especially after witnessing your own magic tonight.” Blinky grinned.

I furrowed my brow in confusion. “My history?” I stared up at him. “Wait, what magic tonight?”

“I assumed you knew, after all the spell you used to attack Bular takes years of training to control.” Blinky paused in thought.

“I didn’t use a spell; I was just scared Jim was going to die.” I looked at my palms, still inflamed and burning from the light that had encased them during our altercation with Bular.

“About all this,” Toby broke our conversation, “there’s just one thing I’m not getting.” He was looking between Aaarrrgghh and Blinky, “You guys are trolls. So, ‘Trollhunter’ sounds a little like you hunt yourselves, you know?” he asked, confused.

Aaarrrgghh grasped Jim’s shoulder as he answered, “Hunt bad trolls. GummGumms.”

“Not exactly a terrifying name,” Jim stated, recovering from Aaarrrgghh’s grip.

“In Trollspeak,” Blinky began, “‘GummGumm’ means ‘bringer of horrible, slow, painful, and thoroughly-calculated death.’” Jim gulped at Blinky’s answer. “But do not be too concerned, Master Jim. The GummGumms were exiled to the Darklands centuries ago. Only one roams free.”

“And that one wants to kill Jim,” I spoke up quickly, shaking my head at the thought.

“His father and the rest of their number remain exiled to the Darklands, but they have been trying to escape for centuries. I sense ill times are upon us. Hence the need for us to begin Master Jim’s training now.” Blinky stated as he raised a hand to the lever. “Step back please.” He motioned to the boys as I stood next to him. “A little further, Tobias.” He waved slightly. Toby took another step back and Blinky shrugged. “oh, very well.” He pulled the lever and the entire forge came to life.

Pendulums, spikes, blades of all kinds were erupting from the floor. I watched as Jim and Toby quickly ran to the walls, Toby screaming his lungs out.

“Blinkous Galadrigal!” an aged voice yelled over the instruments of death. Blinky quickly shut the forge down, obviously nervous about this voice. The blades retracted to reveal a goat-like troll walking towards us from the stone bridge. “Blinkous Galadrigal.” He repeated, walking up to us quickly. When he was close enough I could see his eyes were grey though they sparkled as if they held a galaxy within.

“That’s your name?” Jim asked, turning to Blinky.

Blinky gave a short nod, “Horrible, I know.”

The elder troll walked to Blinky before turning to Toby. “I wish to meet the fleshbag supposedly chosen by the amulet.” He began to prod at Toby. “I am Vendel, son of Rundle, son of Kilfred.”

Toby stammered slightly, “Uh… Toby, son of Ralph. I live with my Nana.”

Vendel picked Toby up by his arm and began poking him in the stomach. “Produce the amulet, Trollhunter,” he demanded, dropping Toby again.

I chuckled at the obvious confusion, glancing at Jim as he pulled out the amulet.

“I think I’m the fleshbag that you’re looking for.” Jim chuckled, holding the amulet up to Vendel.

Aaarrrgghh stood next to Jim, pointing to him, “Amulet chose.” He stated in a less aggressive manner than he did with Draal.

Vendel hums as he walks over to Jim, “So Draal tells me. Ridiculous!” He states. “However,” he continued, leaning down so his face was level with Jim’s, “the amulet had been known to make ill-fated choices, as you know better than most.” He turned to stare down Blinky.

I frowned looking up at Blinky, “What does he mean?”

Aaarrrgghh answered for Blinky as Vendel moved to the center of the forge. “Blinky trained Trollhunter before.” He points up to a statue of a troll covering his face in fear. “Unkar ‘the Unfortunate.’” He states.

“Why is he unfortunate?” Jim asked, worried.

“First night out, torn.” Aaarrrgghh answered, a pained look on his face.

“Like conflicted?” Jim asked.

Aaarrrgghh raised his hands making a ripping gesture. “No. Limb from limb.” As Aaarrrgghh said this, Unkar’s arm fell to the floor between Toby and me, startling us.

“If the amulet chose true,” Vendel began, gesturing to the floor in the center, “the Soothscryer will reveal it.”

“Please,” Blinky pleaded, “Master Jim hasn’t had but an hours training.”

Vendel only glared and hummed harshly as he pointed to the floor again, commanding Jim to move.

Jim looked down at the footprints carved in the floor then to Vendel. Once Vendel nodded he placed his feet on the corresponding carvings. The amulet began to glow and the carvings in the floor of the forge did the same, a mechanism kicked in causing the floor to move and a large troll-like statue erupted from the carvings. The mouth of the statue opened.

“Behold, the Soothscryer!” Vendel began, “It will judge your true spirit. Insert your right hand Trollhunter,” he directed Jim, nodding to the open mouth of the Soothscryer.

“Um,” Jim stammered, “I’m going to get it back, right?” He asked Vendel.

“That is part of the test.” Vendel stated.

“You can’t be serious.” I stared at the Soothscryer, my brow furrowed in disbelief.

“I assure you, young sorceress, I am serious.” Vendel stated turning slightly to face me.

Jim waved Toby over to give him a boost, he sighed looking in the mouth of the Soothscryer before slowly inserting his right arm. The Soothscryer clamped down on his arm and Jim shrieked, he began pulling and kicking, trying to rip his arm free.

“Jim!” I ran over and tried to pull him free, yelping as my burnt palms flared at the touch, letting him go quickly.

The Soothscryer released Jim’s arm and he fell back onto Toby holding his arm. “I’m okay!” He yelled.

Toby groaned underneath Jim in response, “Ooh, everything hurts.”

I sighed in relief seeing that Jim’s arm was still intact and that he didn’t seem hurt. Vendel approached the Soothscryer, next to me, analyzing it. “What is it?” I ask concerned.

Vendel hummed before looking down to us, “Inconclusive,” he simply states.

“What does ‘inconclusive’ mean?” Jim asks as Vendel turned to leave.

Vendel paused his steps, “It means, Trollhunter, that there’s never been a human to bear the mantle before.” He turned slightly to look at Jim, “The Soothscryer needs more time to render its judgment. Let us all hope you live long enough to see it.” He turned back to the stone bridge, “Young sorceress, you will come with me, your wounds need to be treated properly.”

I sigh looking at my hands, not sure if I trusted Vendel enough to follow. Blinky nudged me towards him, smiling assuredly. I give him a small smile as I run after Vendel, keeping quiet as we walked.

We ended up in a cave that was made up of different sections of the Heartstone. I wanted to look over everything, there were hundreds of bottles on different tables made of stone; scrolls and books covering others.

Vendel gestured to an empty table, “Sit here.” I did as I was told, once I was settled on the table, he took my hands and began to examine them, “Seems Draal was correct when he said Blinky brought two humans and a sorceress to Trollmarket.”

I frowned, “I don’t understand, I’m not a sorceress, I don’t know any spells or incantations.” I watched Vendel pull out a jar with mossy green salve inside. He began to spread the salve over my palms. I let out a sigh of relief as it cooled the burning sensation.

“If you’re not a sorceress, how do explain using a powerful spell in the midst of a fight?” Vendel question, wrapping the salve in banana leaves before covering everything in gauze from the tips of my fingers to the middle of my forearm.

“I don’t know.” I frowned, recalling the fight. “I remember thinking that Bular was going to kill Jim, then my hands felt hot,” I look over my bandaged hands. “then there was a glow, it got brighter. As I saw Bular was about to strike Jim, I just,” I sighed, trying to wrap my head around everything, “I threw my hands out and the light left my hands and hit Bular.” I explained, slowly clenching my hands.

Vendel hummed, processing what I told him, “Magic runs through you, strongly it seems.” He paused, then nodded, “If the human Trollhunter is to train in the forge, then you are to train here in the Heartstone.”

“Train?” I asked, looking up to him.

“Come, we will get tomes from Blinkous’ library.” He stood, turning to the entrance. “It would be beneficial to start with the basics. If left untrained you could pose a danger to yourself, and those close to you.”

My eyes widen, I nod and get up quickly to follow him. He led me past the forge and back into the market. As we walked Draal fell into step with Vendel.

“The fleshbag is still in the forge?” He asked Vendel, confused as to why Jim was still here, with the amulet no less.

Vendel nods, “The Soothscryer was inconclusive, we cannot act until it makes a judgment. However, I must thank you for informing me of the young sorceress, she will be studying here from now on. Lady River, correct?” Vendel paused to turn, addressing me.

“Um, just River,” I said, arms stuffed into the pockets of my jacket, uncomfortable.

Draal snorts, “Quick to abandon a title, a witch is more like it.”

Vendel shook his head at Draal, “She has no proper training, and like our Trollhunter, was unaware of this world until the amulet showed up.”

“Powerful yet ignorant, that’s a dangerous mix, fleshbag,” Draal spoke to me.

I leveled a glare at him, “Well excuse me for being an oblivious human, it’s not like I grew up around magic and trolls.”

Draal barks a laugh, “It thinks it’s a human fleshbag!”

I turn to Vendel confused, realizing that he, Draal, Blinky and Aaarrrgghh never addressed me as a human.

Vendel sighed seeing my confusion, “While you have the appearance of a human your essence is that of magic, as all sorcerers are. Take Merlin for example.” He explained, walking into the library and gesturing for me to follow. He began collecting books from different sections of the library.

Draal huffed taking a seat at a nearby table, “How do expect her to learn from tomes in Trollish, can she even read Trollish?” He asked Vendel in a condescending tone.

Vendel sighs and sits one of the smaller books he grabbed next to Draal, “Sit and read that,” he ordered.

I sighed sitting down by Draal and picking up the book. Looking over the cover at the runes, I snorted a laugh reading the title. “‘How to keep King Arthur in line,’ Let me guess, Merlin wrote this?” I asked.

Draal’s jaw dropped, looking over the runes himself, then to Vendel.

Vendel smirks slightly at the stunned troll next to me, “She may be untrained, but the blood of Merlin runs deep.” He packed a few books into a black satchel, including the book he had me read. “You will return tomorrow; I expect you to have finished these by then.”

“Not gonna happen.” I shook my head. “I can come after school, but I won’t have time to read all of these and do the necessary homework for my human classes as well. Can you give me a couple days to go over these? I want to read over them carefully.” I frown slightly, looking at my bandaged hands. “I don’t want to be a danger to anyone, so I can’t half-ass this.” I look up to Vendel.

Vendel tilts his head in consideration, “I did not realize humans had learning institutions they attended, though it has been decades since I have left Trollmarket. It can’t be helped.” He nodded, “Study these at your pace then, we will still train after your school.” He looks to Draal, “see if the humans are still here, it is getting late.”

Draal grumbled but left to check the forge.

I took the satchel from Vendel, trying to process everything. “So, I’m a sorceress, and that’s different than a witch?” I asked, remembering Draal’s remark when I asked Vendel to just call me by name.

Vendel sits at the table with me, nodding. “Blinkous explained the difference between GummGumms and other trolls correct? It is similar for sorcerers and witches if they are evil and practice dark magic they are referred to as witches and warlocks. If they are morally sound and do not practice dark magic, they are sorcerers,” Vendel explained.

“What about wizards?” I asked, noting that Vendel didn’t use the term.

Vendel smirks, “You are quite perceptive for someone so young.” He nods slowly, “Wizards tend to be morally sound, though they practice all types of magic, dark magic included, and therefore they are powerful but flawed.”

“Since you refer to Merlin as a wizard, then he was morally sound, but he practiced dark magic. Powerful but flawed.” I stated, tilting my head. “The spell I supposedly used, wasn’t dark magic then since you have been calling me a sorceress. Why would calling me ‘River’ opposed to ‘Lady River’ mean I’m a witch?”

Vendel remained quiet for a moment, collecting his thoughts, “Refusing a title is a show of discord in one’s self, however, humans are deeply flawed creatures, and you have been raised as one. It is reasonable that you would be uncomfortable with such notions of perfection.”

I nod and sigh, “Master Vendel, I don’t want to be perfect, I’m flawed, and I like my flaws. I don’t know if I’d feel the same if I wasn’t raised as a human, but I was always taught that my flaws are what make me… well, me. I don’t want to give that up for a title.”

Vendel hummed, a small smile gracing his face. “Your scent is similar to the amulet; I should have expected this.” He nods, “If you wish to embrace your flaws then do so, perfection is not for everyone, and it could end up holding you back, or destroying you, as it has others.”

A huff at the entrance of the library catches our attention. Draal stood at the entrance, Blinky and Aaarrrgghh behind him, “They sent the fleshbags home already.”

Vendel nods, standing. “Draal, please escort our young sorceress home. It would prove dangerous if the GummGumms were to take her.”

Draal growled but gives an indignant nod, “Hurry up witch.” He turned, walking out of the library, shoving pass Blinky and Aaarrrgghh.

I wince at the thought of having to deal with an irritated Draal all the way home. I grab the satchel and start heading out, nodding to Blinky and Aaarrrgghh, pausing in the doorway, “I’ll see you tomorrow for training Master Vendel!” I then took off running to catch up with Draal.

This is part of my self-indulgent OC insert for Trollhunters. River Lake is back with her cousin Jim Lake Jr. in Episode 2 of the Trollhunters series. This strictly follows Episode 2, however as the story progresses River is the main focus and if she isn’t present in the scene, it won’t be written since it’s not from her POV. Thank you to everyone who reads this!

[Episode 1 End]

Once Jim finally frees the sword and holds it up, I’ve finally calmed down enough to ask him “So, is that a yes?”

[Episode 2]

The morning after Jim activated the Amulet of Daylight, we headed to Toby’s dentist to fill him in on everything that happened. Locking up our bikes we head into the office, as Jim goes back into the examination room where Toby is getting worked on, I stay out in the waiting area with the receptionist.

“Don’t go in there, he’s in with a patient.” She quickly states before shaking her head as Jim ignores her, she looks over to me questioningly as I shrug.

“Sorry, it’s kind of an emergency or he would actually listen,” I explained to her, taking a seat and wincing as I hear a drill turn on. I can hear Jim quickly talking to Toby as the drill continues, Toby’s gargled replies translated by the dentist.

Jim walks back out to sit with me, sighing. “We might be here a little while; Toby and the dentist aren’t sure when he’ll be done.”

I nod, leaning back in the chair. “We should treat him to Diablo Maximus as payment for you trying to hijack his appointment.

Eight hours of waiting later, and I am pulling at my hair as sanity leaves me.

“Nope!” I yelled as Toby finally walks out and we head to our bikes. “No Diablo Maximus for you Toby!”

“We were getting Diablo Maximus?” He asks excitedly, then pouts realizing I said we weren’t going to. “Why not?”

“Considering River said ‘our treat’ eight hours ago? She is not happy about being here all day.” Jim explained, sore from waiting around.

“The dentist is the one who kept saying he was almost done, not me!” Toby complained as we took off to Jim’s and my house.

Once there I grabbed a box of frozen pizza handing it to Toby. “Put that on your face, you’re swollen.”

“Eight hours!” Jim finally cracked once we got home, “I can’t believe it takes eight hours!” he exclaimed while pacing around the kitchen.

“Two molars, plus insertions, and some cleanup.” Toby lists off what happened during the appointment.

I shake my head, “Okay Tobes, we really need to tell you what happened last night!”

“You are never going to believe this,” Jim ran to his bag grabbing the amulet as Toby pressed the frozen pizza box to his face. “Check this out.” He held the amulet up towards Toby, concentrating on the amulet.

“Do you have any aspirin?” Toby asks me, seeing Jim distracted by the amulet. I nod and quickly grab the bottle from the medicine cabinet mom keeps stocked, handing him two pills quickly.

“Tobes, pay attention.” Jim said glancing up at Toby and me before concentrating on the amulet again. He began reading the runes etched into the amulet, “For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to-” the microwave dinging cuts Jim off.

Toby is pulling out the pizza I had handed him to use as an ice pack from the microwave. “Go on,” he said after looking to Jim, realizing the microwave cut him off. I chuckled and shook my head.

“It worked last night,” Jim frowned at the amulet, scratching the back of his head.

“Are you punking me right now?” Toby asked.

“Maybe if you finish the incantation Jim, there was more to it last night.” I suggested, taking a slice of pizza from the ones Toby heated up.

Jim nods looking at the amulet. Taking a deep breath, he recites the incantation again. The amulet glows and Jim floats in the air as the light orbs flow from the amulet to his body.

Toby’s mouth dropped as he watched Jim floating. “Holy champignon!” He exclaimed as his pizza floated out of his hand.

The light around Jim faded as he landed, fully armored. Toby’s pizza landed in his hand, his mouth still hanging open. “Oh-ho-ho-ho! How cool is that?” Jim asked Toby excitedly.

“What?” Toby asked breathless, trying to wrap his head around what he just saw. “Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! So cool, so cool, so cool!” Toby was rambling as he pulled and prodded at the armor, inspecting it as he walked around Jim quickly. “Dude, you know what this means, right? You have a sacred responsibility here.” Toby started pacing as he rambled.

I chuckled at Toby’s reaction. “That’s what they said last night Tobes!” I remarked quickly, though Toby was still fanboying over the armor and it’s supposed responsibilities.

“Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh!” Toby kept repeating as he jumped in circles, he stopped to face Jim, took a bite of his pizza then held a determined look on his face. “You have to use these new powers for the benefit of all mankind.” Taking another bite of his pizza his expression turned to one of slightly petty vengeance, “You have to use this to kick Steve’s butt!”

I dropped my head onto the counter at Toby’s statement. “Seriously?” I asked, only Toby would think kicking Steve’s butt was a benefit for all mankind.

“Really?” Jim asked, a disbelieving look on his face, he gestures to the sword and armor, “I show you a glowing sword and a suit of armor that can only be magic, and that’s how you respond?” He incredulously remarked to Toby.

“Seriously! It’s butt-kicking time.” Toby exclaimed, not seeing any errors in his logic as he mimics fighting moves and ends in a slight lunging position. “These pants are so elastic.” I rolled my eyes hearing Toby getting distracted, he looks up to me as he recalls what I had said. “Wait. River, who’s ‘they’?”

Jim answers, “That’s the part I’ve been freaking out over!”

A sudden knocking on the back-door cuts Jim off as he, Toby, and I all turn to look at the door. Blinky pops his head over to look inside the window, he grins seeing Jim in the armor and waves quickly through the window.

“What, what, what the heck is that?” Toby asked freaking out. I got up to open the door for Blinky. “River! Don’t open the door!” He quickly called out, panicking.

Blinky ends up opening the door and walking in before I could reach it, laughing as he enters. “Master Jim!”

“I’m calling 911.” Toby states quickly hiding behind Jim as Blinky steps closer.

I turn to Aaarrrgghh as he gets stuck in the doorway, I shake my head before helping him get through. “Sorry Aaarrrgghh, these doors weren’t made for trolls.”

Aaarrrgghh just smiles and nods to me as Toby screams and dives behind the counter pulling out his phone. “No, Animal Control!” He peeks over the counter shoving an entire slice of pizza into his mouth as he stresses, “Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. They talk.”

Too focused on Jim to notice Toby’s panic, Blinky continues, “I knew it was but a matter of time before the amulet called to us.”

“‘Called’ to you?” Jim asked confused, taking a step back from Blinky.

“Actually, no.” Blinky answered, “We’ve been spying on you,” he stated as he leaned towards Jim, covering his mouth with one of his hands, as if he was trying to be secretive about the exchange.

“Spy on you.” Aaarrrgghh stated, using two stony fingers to point at his eyes, then to Jim and I, as he laughed, settling down next to me.

I gave Blinky a look clearly showing that I wasn’t okay with being spied on. “Well, keeping a close watch.” Blinky quickly corrected himself and Aaarrrgghh after seeing my expression.

A robotic voice cut through the conversation from behind the counter. “Animal control.”

“Monsters, at my best friend’s house! I need you to send a squad!” Toby had in fact, called animal control, and he was still panicking.

“Is this a joke kid?” We could hear the receptionist on the line ask Toby, clearing not taking him seriously.

Toby peeks over the counter at Aaarrrgghh and I. I sighed at his reaction to Blinky and Aaarrrgghh, but I could empathize with his frightened state. “Make that the National Guard!” He yells into the phone, hiding again when Aaarrrgghh steps closer to get a look at him. A dial tone rings out as Animal Control hangs up on Toby. He looks at his phone incredulously, “Animal Control hung up on me.”

Blinky finally takes notice of Toby and turns to Jim, worried, “You told your stout little friend about us?”

“Um, is that a problem?” Jim asks, glancing from Toby to Blinky.

“Master Jim, we trolls have gone to great lengths to keep our existence secret from your kind, lest there be panic.” Blinky quickly explained as Aaarrrgghh reached over the counter and picked Toby up, setting him on the counter. I quickly pat Aaarrrgghh’s arm when he lifts Toby, reminding him that humans aren’t fond of being carried by people and trolls they don’t’ know. “Like that.” Blink gestures to Toby as he holds a ladle up defensively against Blinky and Aaarrrgghh.

Jim quickly goes to Toby to calm him. “It’s alright Tobes.” Jim turns to Blinky and Aaarrrgghh, gesturing up to Toby as he introduces him. “This is my best friend, Toby D.”

“They’re like, nine feet tall. He has like, 800 eyes. We’re all gonna die.” Toby rambles as he points the ladle back and forth between Blinky and Aaarrrgghh.

“Hardly,” Blinky states stepping forward to Toby, as he gestures to Jim. “Your friend is the Trollhunter. His noble obligation is protective.” He explains, trying to reassure Toby.

“Like protecting?” Toby asks, realization dawning on his face. “You mean like a superhero? Oh! Can I be his sidekick? Are you his sidekick River?” Toby begins asking Blinky and me.

I laugh shaking my head. “Not a sidekick Tobes, have at it though.”

“Oh, with a cool superhero name like Deathblade or Snipersnake?” Toby begins firing questions to Blinky, relaxed as he sits on the counter.

“Who is Jim protecting exactly?” I ask Blinky, realizing we don’t have all the details.

Jim turns to Blinky expectantly, relieved Toby has calmed down. “Us,” Aaarrrgghh answers for Blinky.

“And mankind,” Blinky interjects quickly. “From bad trolls! As well as goblins, gruesomes, and the occasional rogue gnome.” Blinky explains while Toby begins to whack his shoulder with the ladle, realizing that Blinky and Aaarrrgghh seem to be made of stone. Toby whacks Blinky in the face near his eyes and Blinky quickly turns on him, “Do you mind?” He asks Toby, annoyed. Toby quickly drops the ladle in response as Blinky returns to explaining. “The mantle of Trollhunter is a sacred responsibility, one which has never been passed to a human before. This is a momentous occasion.” He states, getting in Jim’s face before smiling.

Jim leaning back, looks like he’s about to panic right before a car horn sounds from the driveway.

“Shit!” I yelled, recognizing the horn. “Mom’s home!”

“Upstairs quick!” Jim yells pushing Aaarrrgghh and Blinky out of the kitchen and to the stairs.

“Mom?” Aaarrrgghh asks as he and Blinky run upstairs with us. All five of us running into the bathroom and slamming the door as mom walks in.

“She’s not supposed to be home till midnight!” Jim looks to you, the panic clearly written all over his face. I shrug, just as confused as he is, turning back to Toby and the trolls to see Aaarrrgghh sniffing Toby.

Aaarrrgghh hums at the scent. “You smell like cat.”

“My nana has a Siamese.” Toby tells him, confused at being sniffed.

“Tasty” Aaarrrgghh replies as his mouth waters at the thought.

Toby, Jim, and I wince at the realization that Aaarrrgghh, and Blinky most likely, eat cats, and Toby smells like dinner.

“Jim?” Mom calls from the stairs, “I forgot my phone. Are you okay in there? Where’s River?”

“River’s at Toby’s, she’s tutoring!” Jim quickly covers for you, pausing to think, “um, I’m fine. I mean, my stomach’s a little, uh” Jim trails off as Toby starts making fart noises with the toilet brush. I facepalm and shake my head and Jim makes a cutting motion with his hands getting Toby to stop. “Uh, you know, I might have a food poisoning situation.”

“Honey, I’ll get you some medicine, okay?” Mom says form the other side of the bathroom door, worried as she walks downstairs to find something.

Jim sighs and turns to Blinky. “Okay, what’s going on here?” he gestures to the amulet.

“The amulet reacts to your emotional state. You appear to be in some distress.” Blinky explains.

“You think?” I asked sarcastically, trying to help Jim remove the amulet from the armor.

“I have another question.” Toby states as Aaarrrgghh reaches over his head to play with the light switch.

“Speak, Theodore.” Blinky looks to Toby, waiting.

“It’s Toby, actually. Or Tobias.” He states before gesturing to Jim. “If Jim’s the first human Tollhunter, like you said,” he begins, whacking Aaarrrgghh’s arm away from the light switch, “then who or what was the Trollhunter before him?”

I turn the light back on as Jim looks up to Blinky, “The glorious mantle has been passed from troll to troll for hundreds of years.” he explains to us.

“So, the previous Trollhunter, what, retired?” Jim asked, confused.

Aaarrrgghh looked down to us, his expression falling from curiosity at the light to one of sadness as he spoke softly “Was felled.” I clasped my hand over my mouth, bowing my head slightly, knowing what this meant.

“Felled?” Jim asked, seeing my reaction.

“Means killed.” Aaarrrgghh stated.

“Turned to stone and smashed,” Blinky explained as he clasped my shoulder. “Kanjigar the Courageous was his name. Brutally slain by a ruthless troll named Bular.”

“Don’t worry dude,” Toby grabbed Jim’s shoulder, trying to keep him from panicking. “this Bular guy probably just got lucky.”

Blinky shakes his head at Toby’s statement. “The evidence does not suggest that. Bular is a formidable opponent.”

“Then the other guy, he was just off his game or something, right?” Jim asked hopefully.

“Doubtful. Kanjigar was perhaps the most alert and able of all Trollhunters.” Blinky quickly states. “He was the very best.”

Jim pales and looks between Toby and I. Toby waves a hand up to stop Blinky. “Uh, what I think my friend here is a little worried about is, if this Bular could defeat Kanjigar, then what’s going to happen to Jim?”

Jim slides down to the floor against the bathroom door, holding his head. I knelt next to him, my hand on his shoulder, looking up to Blinky, worried.

“Of course, we would never expect Master Jim to engage in battle without the proper training. Not at all.” Blinky reassures us quickly.

I sigh in relief, helping Jim up to his feet. “How long does the training take?” I asked looking to Blinky and Aaarrrgghh again.

“Oh, um,” Blinky begins counting on all four hands, “decades.” he finally answers.

Jim winces, “How long do I have?” he asks slowly.

“A day or two.” Blinky answers as Aaarrrgghh waves his hand in a so-so motion behind him.

Mom knocks on the door having returned from getting the medicine for Jim. “Jim, I have medicine and ginger ale. Come on out.”

“I’m fine. Really mom.” Jim answers quickly trying to get her to leave.

“Jim, I’m a doctor, I can treat my own son. I’m coming in.” She states reaching for the handle.

I quickly grab Toby and push Blinky and Aaarrrgghh into the tub, stepping in with them I pull the curtain close as light flashes from Jim’s armor.

Jim opens the door for mom, now in his normal jacket and jeans, waving his hand, “See? All good.”

I sigh hearing them walk off. I feel air pulling at my hair and realize Aaarrrgghh is now sniffing me. “I don’t have any cats Aaarrrgghh,” I whisper quickly.

He shakes his head, “smell different, like amulet.” He states.

Blinky looks to Aaarrrgghh before sniffing at me as well. “Fascinating!”

I get out of the tub quickly, and head downstairs when I hear mom’s car pull away.

Aaarrrgghh is looking around the front room and accidentally knocks into things. “Your cave, too small.” He frowns as he recedes into the doorway, trying to stay out of the way.

I smile picking the books he knocked off the coffee table. “Don’t worry about it big guy.”

Toby starts putting tapes away, he trips over a tape throwing one into the air and Aaarrrgghh eats it. I start laughing and sort through terrible show tapings and join Toby in tossing the tapes up for Aaarrrgghh to snack on as Blinky talks to Jim more about his Trollhunter duties. I look back to Jim as he hands the amulet to Blinky. “Maybe you should take this back.” He suggests, a crestfallen look on his face.

Blinky quickly pushes the amulet back to Jim. “The amulet called to you, Master Jim. It is your-”

Jim cuts him off pleading “Please, don’t say destiny.”

“Sacred obligation.” Blinky finishes. “You cannot refuse it. You cannot give it back. It is yours until you die,” he explains solemnly.

Jim shoves the amulet into one of Blinky’s four hands. “And I would like to get a little further past puberty before that happens.”

I sigh tuning them out again, my mind racing at the fact that Jim is now stuck with the amulet whether he wants it or not. Worrying over the dangers he now faces because of it. I sat on the couch as Toby convinced Blinky and Aaarrrgghh to return tomorrow to start Jim’s Trollhunter training. Waving to the trolls as they begin to leave. Jim sits next to me, staring at the amulet.

Blinky turns and sees our faces, he approaches us slowly as Toby is trying to help Aaarrrgghh get out the back door. He kneels in front of us, looking between us. “Master Jim, Lady River. If I may,” he trails off, thinking through his words carefully. “Destiny is a gift. Some go their entire lives living, existences of quiet desperation, never learning the truth that what feels as though a burden pushing down upon our shoulders is actually a sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights.” His upper two arms raise in dramatization as his lower two hands clasp mine and Jim’s. “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, Master Jim. Become.” He grasps Jim’s shoulder before turning to me. “I know you were not bestowed the mantle of Trollhunter, Lady River. But I know, you too, will become a great hero.” He states, clasping my shoulder.

Jim and I both smile up at Blinky. I nod as Jim looks down, frowning again. “Will you at least consider?” He asks Jim, seeing his face fall pulling his four hands back. Jim looks up in thought before he smiles and hits his fist against each of Blinky’s. Blinky looks to his hands then smiles up at Jim nodding in understanding.

Jim, Toby, and I wave Blinky and Aaarrrgghh off as they climb over the backyard fence. Toby begins to bicker with Jim about getting him an extra night before training and that Jim always wanted more adventure in his lift. I sigh but nod in agreement with Toby. “Who knows Jim, this could be a wish come true,” I state, heading back into the house after Toby.

The next day after classes, the silence was finally broken over what transpired in our kitchen last night.

I was walking with Jim and Toby towards our lockers. “So, what did you decide?” I asked turning to Jim before we parted ways. I had decided to give him space concerning the amulet and becoming the Trollhunter after everything we were told last night, knowing he needed time and space to think things through.

“That if anyone finds out what happened in our kitchen last night, we will all be committed.” Jim sighed as he looked over to me.

“What about kicking Steve’s butt?” Toby asked, mimicking karate chops with his hands.

Jim sighed, shaking his head at Toby, “Give up the dream, Tobes.”

The amulet began to glow from Jim’s bag, Toby opened the pocket to examine it. “Does this thing run on batteries? What’s it doing?” he asks Jim.

Jim quickly covers the pocket as several students walk by, whispering to Toby, “How should I know? It didn’t come with a manual.”

“Does it feel like you’re going to change?” Toby asked while glancing around, looking for a place to hide.

Jim groaned, looking around quickly. I shoved him and Toby towards the locker room. “Hurry up!” I hissed to them. Once they were inside the locker room I turned and came face to face with Mr. Strickler. “Mr. Strickler! Sir, how are you?”

He chuckles then looks at the door. “I’m well River, is Jim alright? He looked quite distressed.” He moved to go around me, into the locker room to check on Jim.

Quickly blocking his path again, I glanced around. “Sorry Mr. Strickler, Jim’s just um,” I spot Claire, Mary, and Darcy heading to the theater. “Nervous!” I yelled, wincing at my own volume. “You know, auditions are today after all.”

“I should remind him that auditions end in 10 minutes then.” He replied, believing my outburst. Quickly he walked past me into the locker room. I groaned hoping that Jim had the armor under control. A few minutes later Strickler walked out and paused next to me smiling. “I can see why he is nervous; he must have spent a long time on his costume after all.”

“Costume?” I asked as Jim and Toby walked out, hurrying towards the theater. Jim was still in the armor and I realized that the must have made the excuse that it was a costume for Romeo and Juliet. “Oh right! Yeah, he really hopes it wasn’t a waste of time. After all, it wasn’t easy to piece together, I’ve still got hot glue gun burns!” I laugh slightly trying to play it off.

Strickler nods, “Better follow quickly if you want to catch his audition then.”

I nod to him and smile as I run after Toby and Jim, waving to Strickler as I go. “Thanks for checking on him Mr. Strickler!” I quickly enter the theater and rush down to the seats as Jim walks out onto the stage. I ended up sitting behind Claire, giving him a thumbs up.

Jim stammers for a moment on stage before taking a deep breath. “Destiny” he pauses, glancing at me. “Destiny is a gift. Some go their entire lives living, existences of quiet desperation, never learning the truth that what feels as though a burden pushing down upon our shoulders,” he pulls Daylight off his back, pointing it out towards the crowd. “is actually a 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.” He raises Daylight to point at the ceiling, amulet glowing as he speaks “Don’t think,” slashing Daylight down, swinging it with precision before resting it on his back again, looking determinedly to the crowd, eyes locking with mine for a moment, “Become.”

Ms. Janet has her legs pulled up onto her chair, hiding behind her clipboard at the end of Jim’s speech as everyone applauds. I chuckle and nod to Jim, realizing this was his answer to my question early, and to Blinky’s.

Mary looks back hearing me, still clapping as she turns to speak to me, “Okay, I have to admit, he’s not bad. Sorry about what I said in the locker room, River.”

I smile slightly and shrug, “Don’t worry about it, after all, Jim’s full of surprises.”

Jim bows slightly, happy and embarrassed at the applause, thanking everyone. Eli jumped up, pouting slightly as he threw his sword down, obviously, he had also auditioned for the part of Romeo, but it didn’t appear he would be getting that role now. I smiled watching Claire approach the stage to speak with Jim.

I turned to leave and notice Strickler watching the stage, a glare on his before leaving. This confused me greatly, Strickler had seemed all for Jim auditioning earlier. I recall our conversation earlier this week about Jim and I both needing rest, and that Jim covered his troll story with chess trainers. He must be concerned, believing that Jim was taking on too many responsibilities after our talk. I left the theater to wait by the bikes for Jim and Toby.

Jim, Toby, and I were riding our bikes home through the town after the auditions. Toby was still amazed by Jim’s audition, “Dude! That was amazing! You were amazing! I’m amazed at how amazing you were!” He clasped Jim’s shoulder as we came to a stop at a red light, waiting for traffic to change.

Jim laughed as we took off, “I can’t believe that just happened.”

I smirked pulling up next to him, “Oh, and I bet you can’t believe the way Claire was staring at you during the auditions either?” I teased.

“Yeah Jimbo, your armor totally did you a favor!” Toby stated, riding his bike with his arms crossed over his chest until he hits a wooden plank and almost falls.

“I’m still getting the hang of it Tobes.” Jim chuckles as Toby quickly grabs his handlebars to keep from falling.

“Blinky said that the amulet is tied to your emotional state, especially when you’re distressed,” I recalled from our conversation locked in the bathroom with Aaarrrgghh and Blinky.

Jim shakes his head as we turn the corner, “But I wasn’t in distress back at school.”

I look up, my bike screeching to a halt in front of Toby and Jim. A large, mostly black troll with glowing yellow and red eyes was standing down the street in the shadows, pacing back and forth, once he saw Jim, he roared slamming his fists down into the ground. I realized this was the troll who killed Kanjigar, this was Bular.

Jim and Toby stopped short behind me, “But I am now!” he quickly states after Bular’s roar.

Bular stands at his full height, fists clenching and unclenching as he speaks. “Trollhunter. Merlin’s Creation. Gunmar’s bane.” He lowers himself to all fours roaring again as he paces along the lines of the shadow.

I glance down to his fists, watching them stay in the shadows, tilting my head back slightly toward the boys. “He’s afraid of the sun.”

Jim looks back at the setting sun, eyes widening, “He won’t be for long!”

“The amulet!” Bular continued to yell at Jim, “Surrender it and I will give you a speedy death!”

“Sorry, but that’s a terrible compromise!” I quickly turn my bike around, “Come on!” I yelled at the boys, heading back the way we had come. Jim and Toby right on my heels. We pulled behind a large truck as Jim tried to use the amulet, incanting over and over as it wouldn’t listen to him. “Why isn’t it working?” I look to the amulet in Jim’s hand.

“I don’t know!” Jim exclaims softly, aware that Bular was near. Suddenly I felt the truck we were hiding behind slowly lift up. Toby, Jim, and I looked back to see Bular holding it over his head, a malicious grin etched on his face.

“Centuries of Trollhunters, and I will have killed two in almost as many days.” He growls, throwing the truck at us and we take off on our bikes quickly.

“He’s good at math!” Toby yells, keeping up with Jim and I. We turned the corner as the truck hit the pavement. Bular trailing close. Jim took the lead and I pulled behind Toby, watching his back. Bular landed near us and swiped at Jim and Toby, they were able to swerve out of the way and I slid under Bular’s swipe.

“Head down Delancey!” Jim yells quickly, guiding us to the road. “Behind Stuart Electronics!” He yells, darting into an alley too small for Bular.

“You know I can’t fit there!” Toby yelled panicking.

I rammed Toby into the alleyway, “You can fit Tobes! You’ve been on a diet!” I glanced back seeing Bular almost in reach and I ram into Toby again, sending him forward as I ride into the alley. Bular’s claws gripping onto my jacket and tearing it as my momentum kept going. I growled at the slight feeling of being pulled back then ripping free, looking back at Bular once I was out of reach, waiting for Toby to get through, glaring into his glowing eyes, lips pulled back in a snarl.

“I’m fitting! I can fit!” Toby exclaimed as he finally gets through the alley and I exit close behind, taking off after him and Jim into the neighborhood and away from Bular.

As we reached the street our houses were on, we slowed to a stop, adrenaline wearing down. I looked back over my jacket seeing four large gashes where Bular’s claws had torn through it. Hearing the distinct laugh of Blinky I glare at him, “I was almost Bular’s dinner!” I yelled at him, pissed and frightened over the events of the last hour.

“Master Jim! Lady River!” Blinky greets us, frowning slightly at my yelling.

“Bular’s trying to kill us! He chased us all over town!” Jim yelled pointing back to the way we came from.

Blinky cheers, “and you’re still alive! I knew you had potential, Master Jim! Lady River, I knew you were a fighter!”

Toby points to Blinky, glaring, “You have a sweet voice, but you bring death with you!” he exclaimed.

“Can you guys fight him?” I asked, worried about spending too much time talking and letting Bular catch up with us.

Blinky and Aaarrrgghh laugh at my question. “I could not hope to possess the skill to defeat Bular.” Blinky states.

“What about him?” Jim gestures to Aaarrrgghh, “He’s big.”

Aaarrrgghh shakes his head, “Pacifist.” I groan at his response, turning to look down the street. I couldn’t help but feel as if we were being stalked.

“Man,” Toby says, whacking Aaarrrgghh’s arm, “such a waste of a hulking brute. Aaarrrgghh only thanked Toby for this remark.

“This is why there is a Trollhunter, Master Jim” Blinky explains, “Aaarrrgghh renounced the violent path ages ago.

Watching the street, I spot Bular as he slides to a halt, growling as he sees us. “Guys!” I yell quickly.

Blinky turns, “Follow me!” he yells, “We’ll be safe in Heartstone Trollmarket!” He ran, guiding us to the canals where we found the amulet.

As Bular gave chase he ripped the electrical poles down, trying to stop us. Toby yelled as his front wheel hit a fallen pole and went flying. Aaarrrgghh quickly grabbed Toby, setting him on his back. As he came up next to me, he pulled me off my bike and set me next to Toby. Blinky jumped into the canal and Aaarrrgghh quickly followed, sliding down instead, so Toby and I wouldn’t go flying.

“Jim!” I yell after him, seeing that he stayed at the top of the canal holding the amulet. He quickly recited the incantation repeatedly, hoping for it to work. I yell as Bular comes up, towering over Jim striking.

Bular’s fist connects with armor, and in a flash of white, he was thrown back towards the trail as Jim was pushed into the canal, landing on a fist and knee, sword in hand. Bular was quick to recover, roaring from the top of the canal. Jim looked up at him then took off running for the bridge Aaarrrgghh and Blinky brought us to. Bular followed him, intercepting him before he could reach the bridge. I tuned out the yelling, worried for Jim’s safety, my hands started to heat up.

Aaarrrgghh sniffed and glanced up at me before pulling me off his back. My hands were glowing an ethereal blue, the cause of the heat I felt. Blinky glanced overseeing the light. “Aaarrrgghh open the portal!” He pulled a glowing orange rock from a pouch on his belt and tossed it to Aaarrrgghh, stepping in front of me, keeping me out of Bular’s sight even as he fought Jim. I was caught between staring at the glow and yelling at Blinky since I could no longer see Jim. Aaarrrgghh pulled me from behind once the portal was open and I could see Bular about to strike Jim with one of his twin blades. The heat in my hands became too much as my fear for Jim grew exponentially in that moment, I threw my hands out trying to reach for Jim, yelling his name, and the heat left my palms. I watch as the light from my hands shot out in orblike projectiles, hitting Bular and knocking him back away from Jim as Aaarrrgghh pulled me through the portal.

“Master Jim! Hurry!” Blinky yells as Jim runs for the portal while Bular was stunned. The portal began to close quickly and I watched in horror as Jim barely missed the opening, stuck on the other side. “Aaarrrgghh quickly!” Blinky yelled as Aaarrrgghh drew a smaller outline where Jim was. Blinky reached through and pulled Jim in as Bular’s blade came down on him, hitting the cement where his body had been.

Jim was gasping, no longer in the armor. Trying to calm himself as he and Toby exchanged frightened looks. I launched at him hugging him tight before checking him over for injuries. “Are you hurt? Did he hit you? Are you okay? Breathe Jim!” I started shooting off questions and directions as I assessed him.

“Me?!” Jim yelled incredulously, “You’re the one who shot light from your hands! Are you okay?” He grabbed my hands looking them over quickly, my palms were red as if they had been soaked in hot water.

“I, well, I don’t know!” I said, still freaking out.

Jim turned to Blinky, “He almost killed us!” he yells.

“‘Almost’! A very important word, Master Jim.” Blinky states as he began to walk further into the cave. “A life of ‘almost’ is a life of never.”

“Why’d the armor suddenly shut off?” Jim asked, following Blink, still holding onto one of my wrists lightly, not wanting to hurt my burnt palms.

“Master Jim, you are the first human to possess an amulet crafted for trolls. It’s to be expected that its behavior will be, well, unexpected!” Blinky exclaimed, waving us over to a rocky ledge.

As we followed Blinky he began to walk off the ledge, as his he did, large blue glowing stones began to appear under his feet, creating a stairway. “This is amazing,” I spoke glancing over to Toby, seeing him become excited, recognizing the different types of stone as they appeared.

Blinky gestured down the path as he looked back to us. “This way, Masters, This way.” He smiled seeing the amazement clearly written on our faces as we followed him down, Aaarrrgghh right behind us so we wouldn’t stray.

“Are you sure we’re safe in here?” Toby asked Blinky as he took careful steps over the glowing stones.

“Indeed,” Blinky answered then waves one of his four arms toward the bottom of the stone stairway, as he continued to explain, “The incantation forbids entry to Heartstone Trollmarket by GummGumms such as Bular, for they are the most fearsome of trolls.”

“GummGumms?” I asked, looking back to Aaarrrgghh as we brought up the rear. I slipped on a smaller stone, not paying attention to my footing as I had looked back.

“Scary ones,” Aaarrrgghh answered, steadying me so I wouldn’t slide down the stairway.

“Okay, wait, wait.” Jim began, siding up to Blinky, “So, Bular, can’t get in here, right?” he asked hopefully, “Into Heartstone Trollmarket?”

“No, Master Jim,” Blinky answered, he turned Jim around as we made it to the bottom of the stone stairway.

Toby, Jim, and I paused, seeing the glowing crystalline market, filled with life. Our jaws dropped as we stared in amazement. “Whoa,” was all Jim could force out as he stared.

“This is beautiful,” I remarked, quickly recovering from my stupor.

“This is the world you are bound to protect.” Blinky announced, letting us walk ahead.

The dark stone of the cavern that Trollmarket inhabited was a great contrast to all the glowing gemstones that seemed to fill it with warmth and life. Looking over Trollmarket we could see hundreds of trolls, all unique yet slightly similar. Statues seemed to guard the market holding large rose-colored gems in their hands, giving the illusion of a giant troll holding a heart. In the center of Trollmarket, was the largest crystal structure I have ever seen, it was gold and red, the light seemed to flicker inside of the crystal as if fire itself took on a crystalline form.

“This is Heartstone Troll Market!” Blink exclaimed.

Thank you for reading! If you have any suggestions please comment or message me! I love getting feedback. This is the second chapter of the first fanfiction I’ve written.

I also use Grammarly to fix any errors so it is easier to read.

Episode 1

Episode 3

River BIO

This is purely self-indulgent for an OC inserted into the story of Trollhunters. This will be a DraalxOC fic eventually. I DO NOT own anything concerning Trollhunters other than my adorable Blinky Pop figure (will post a photo later). River Lake (unintended name pun when I first created her) is an original character I designed for Trollhunters, specifically with Draal in mind as a significant other. This is my first fanfic, ever. I watch the episodes as I write to make sure everything is as accurate as possible.

I sat on the living room couch, coffee in hand waiting for my cousin, Jim Lake Jr., to wake up for school. My dark blue colored hair was pulled up into a ponytail which contrasted nicely with my orange ‘aliens believe in us’ shirt. My paint covered varsity jacket was resting on my lap under my laptop as I read over the submission guidelines for an upcoming art show.

I heard the blare of an alarm accompanied by a thud from upstairs. I set my coffee down, having Jim’s bag and mine ready to go, I get up to help him with his morning chores.

“You know, you are the only high schooler I can think of that gets up at an ungodly hour to do chores.” I teased him while putting our books away.

“I don’t know, my cousin wakes up earlier than I do to do her chores.” Jim paused from wiping the table to tease back, knowing I didn’t sleep much in general.

“Ah, now she must be insane!” I smirked, “What’s on the menu for today chef?”

Jim chuckled, heading into the kitchen, “Meatloaf, can you get the recipe while I make breakfast for mom and us?”

“Got it, Chef!” I gave a mock salute and grabbed my laptop from the coffee table pulling up a recipe from Jim’s favorite cooking website, printing it out I head into the kitchen. “Mom left a note on her door she’s sleeping in today before work.” I start grabbing the pans for Jim as he preps the food, working easily around each other until both our breakfast and lunches were ready.

“I’ll take her food up. River, can you pack four lunches?” He asked while putting a tray together for mom, quickly heading up the stairs.

I chuckle as he leaves before I can answer, packing the lunches quickly, setting one in the fridge where we always leave mom’s food for work. I grabbed Jim’s and my school bags, packed lunch into each bag and head into the garage. Jim runs in strapping his helmet on before taking his bag and the extra lunch from me, grabbing his bike. I open the garage door and wave to Toby seeing him waiting for us. Jim groans next to me as he walks out, “Raccoons!” He quickly rushes seeing the trash cans had been torn into overnight, cleaning up quickly. I shook my head following him and helping him clean up.

“Morning Toby,” I grin looking up to Toby putting his helmet on as we finish cleaning up.

“Morning River, you’re late for school Jimbo!” he teases as he finally gets his helmet strapped before grabbing his bike.

“Sorry, Tobes. Busy with the lunches,” Jim says as he throws the last piece of trash away heading towards Toby, “one for me, one for River, one for mom, and…” He trails off handing the bag to Toby.

“Ah!” Toby takes the bag grinning, inhaling the scent of the food, “Balsamic mushrooms, meatloaf, chunky, sun-dried tomatoes” he pauses peeking into the bag.

“And cardamom,” Jim notes walking by with his bike.

I chuckle watching the interaction, hopping on my bike. Toby loved Jim’s cooking and was always excited to try out new recipes for him.

“Ooh! Taking a chance there, Chef Jim. What do you think River?” He asks before sniffing the bag again.

I shrugged, laughing, “I don’t know Tobes, it's good to be adventurous!”

“Exactly, and what’s life without a little adventure?” Jim asked while getting on his bike. We were both waiting on Toby now and his inevitable rejection of the lunch.

He quickly holds the lunch back out to Jim, “I can’t eat this. I’m on a diet.”

Jim pushes the lunch back to Toby, “You’ve been on a diet for the past 14 years, Tobes.” Shaking his head, he pulls back from Toby and the lunch.

“I know,” Toby responds, giving Jim a deadpan look.

I laughed shaking my head “Toby you’re fifteen. Also, we have this argument at least once a week, you know you aren’t going to win.”

“They’re long-term goals River. My body’s still changing.” Toby quickly replied as he finally got on his bike and we all took off down the street to head for Arcadia Oaks High. “I-I’m right behind!”

I groan glancing at my phone, “It’s already 8:00, we gotta move!” I picked up speed as we turned a corner.

“We’re going to get suspended, on account of meatloaf!” Toby yells exasperatedly behind Jim and me.

Jim glances back as he speeds up, “Take the canal River, it’ll save us 5 minutes Tobes!” I quickly follow Jim’s suggestion and turn towards a dirt path heading for the canals.

“N-n-n-not the” Toby was trying to protest as he followed us, “canal!” I laughed hitting a jump and landing quickly taking off again, listening to Jim and Toby bickering.

“Oh, live a little!” Jim responds to Toby as he hits the jump after me, picking up speed again.

Toby avoided the jump, trying to keep up with us. “It’s living that I’m worried about!”

“Come on Tobes. Don’t you ever want a little more excitement?” Jim asked looking back at Toby, no longer paying attention to the trail.

Toby chuckles dryly, glaring at Jim “No.”

“Look alive, boys!” I yell as I reach the edge of the trail, jumping into the canal, swerving to the side as I land, slowing down near a pile of rocks. I pause to look at the rocks before watching Jim jump into the canal, landing near me.

“Come on Tobes!” He yells as we wait for Toby to catch up.

“James… Lake” An ethereal voice calls out. Being closer to the pile of rocks I yelled dropping off my bike.

“What the hell is that?!” I look between the rocks and Jim. Having heard his name, Jim looks over to the rocks confused, before glancing at me. I glance over at Toby as he finally makes it to the canal and screams on his way down. Jim was slowly approaching the rocks when I looked back to him. “Jim?”

Toby laughs as he face-plants behind Jim, breaking our fixation on the pile of rocks to look at him. “How awesome are we?” he asked as Jim went back to approaching the rocks. “Awesome!” he replies to himself when we failed to respond, slowly getting up.

Jim and I approached the rocks cautiously, “Hey! Hey, Tobes. Did you hear that voice?” Jim asks him as he inspects the rocks closely.

“What voice?” Toby asked, looking to me. I point to the rocks, nudging one with my foot to test it.

“James Lake.” The voice called out again. I quickly pulled my foot back as Toby screamed, he and Jim falling back at the sound.

“That!” Jim yelled scrambling to the rocks again. “That pile of rocks knows my name!”

“It’s a pile of K-Spar, minerals don’t talk Jim!” Toby quickly followed Jim looking over the rocks.

“Yet we all heard a voice coming from the rocks Tobes,” I said quickly going to them, helping Jim shift through the rocks. “What’s that?” I asked pointing to a blue glow near Jim’s hand. Jim pulled a couple rocks away, and the glowing object turned out to be an amulet. Jim picked it up looking it over. “An amulet?” I asked as Toby started yelling around the canal.

“Who’s doing this? Come out now!” He looked around as Jim held the amulet to his ear.

“Hello, I’m listening.” He spoke waiting for a moment, I kneeled next to him with my ear on the other side of the amulet, waiting for a response with him. Toby, Jim, and I yelled as a bell sounded near the canal. “Final bell!” Jim yelled as we all scrambled to our bikes, rushing to school.

“We’re so late, our kids are gonna have detention!” Toby yelled after us.

“Come on Tobes!” Jim yelled he headed up the canals.

My bag got caught on the rocks as I tried to follow the boys. “I’ll be right there!” I was pulling at my bag when I heard another voice, causing me to go stiff.

“It chose a human?” The voice called out.

I looked around for the source of the voice before shaking my head seeing no one there, pulling my bag free I reached the boys quickly and we all barely made it to school.

[Time Skip to History Class]

During the day I zoned out quite a bit replaying what happened in the morning, especially the second voice. I wonder what it meant by choosing a human? What else would something choose? A dog? What was choosing a human anyway? The amulet we found? My mind was racing, though I appeared to be focused, I could hear Toby and Jim mumbling back and forth as Mr. Strickler was speaking. Sitting behind Claire I noticed her glancing back and Jim, distracting me enough from my thoughts to look up the Archimedean war Strickler was talking about. I jolted hearing Strickler call Jim’s name.

“Jim, would you agree?” Strickler asked, standing behind Jim, a knowing look on his face.

Jim jumped in his seat, quickly turning to face Strickler “Sir?”

Strickler refrained from chuckling at the action, but he was clearly amused having caught both Jim and you reeling back to reality “With Herodotus’ opinion on his tactics of war, as I’ve described.” He asked, playing with the pen he always carried.

Jim looked back to you, “Oh… uh…” You shrugged, looking back to the laptop in front of you. “Yes! Absolutely!” He finally replied looking back up to Strickler.

“Excellent. Which tactics, specifically?” Strickler asked, catching Jim off guard again.

“The, uh… winning ones?” Jim asked, the class laughing at his answer.

“River, how about you?” Strickler asked right before the bell rang. “All right, All right.” Strickler said to the class as they started to leave “Don’t forget, Michaelson, chapters 4 and 5.” He gestures to you and Jim, “Jim, River, may I have a word?”

Jim knocked his bag over when Strickler asked to speak with us, quickly kneeling to put his stuff away. Stickler sighed, kneeling to help. “You’ve both been distracted. Jim, you fell asleep between the invasion of Attica and the Peace of Nicias, and your attention wandered for the rest of the class. River, you seem to have developed a talent for sleeping with your eyes open during class.”

I slouched slightly against the desk I was leaning on, “I didn’t think anyone caught on.”

“Sorry. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” Jim replied taking his last book from Strickler and putting it away before standing again.

“I know it’s just you two and your mother, and that you both want to help her.” Stickler stated standing with Jim, knowing that you address your aunt as your mom.

“She’s just really tired, Mr. Strickler,” I say, standing next to Jim.

“She’s been working double shifts at the clinic,” Jim explains as Strickler pulls out a notepad writing something.

“I believe I’m overdue for a conversation with her. Have her call me, please.” He begins to hand the note to Jim before deciding to hand it to me with an understanding smile. “And feel free to drop by my office if either of you ever needs to talk.”

“We will Mr. Strickler, thank you,” I respond as I take the note, looking at the number. Nodding, Jim thanks Strickler as we head out of the class quickly. I stuff the note into my bag, silently communicating with Jim that wouldn’t give the note to mom, not wanting to worry her.

“Oh, and Jim!” Strickler calls out quickly, “If you fancy miss Nunez, I submit that talking to will be much more effective than staring at.” He remarks quietly so only Jim and I can hear.

[Time Skip to Gym Class]

During gym Toby and I were on the ropes, I hung on at Toby’s level for a moment as he struggled before sighing and continuing on to the top of the rope to hit the bell. “Come on Tobes!” I yelled down watching him.

“You got this!” I saw Jim cheering Toby on off to the side of the mat right before Toby’s ankle got wound in the rope and he fell back hanging upside down.

“What is that on my rope?” Coach Lawrence came up to Toby’s rope yelling. Pulling out a clipboard and his red pen as Toby dangled.

I groaned realizing Toby was about to get another long lecture about not being good at gym class. Sliding down halfway before jumping off the rope and onto Toby’s mat, I looked up at Coach Lawrence. “Coach, he just got tangled, at least he’s trying,” I spoke up, helping Toby with the rope.

“Every student here should be able to climb this rope and ring that bell,” Coach yelled, now towards me, since I had stepped in. “I want all of you to be made of iron. Iron!”

I rolled my eyes while facing Toby. “In that case, no one would be able to climb the rope since the rope wouldn’t be able to hold the weight of a person made of iron if you account for the same proportions instead of weight.” I hated it when Coach talked down to the students, even if he meant well. “Can all the teacher’s climb the rope and hit the bell?” I ask before I could think it through. Toby stared, dumbfounded by my question as his leg came free.

“Do you want detention again Lake?” Coach asked.

I paused realizing what I had said, “Er… I just meant it in general curiosity Coach, like Strickler for example. I don’t think you could pay him to climb this rope.” I quickly help Toby up, scanning the room for Jim, huffing when I see him fumbling to talk to Clair before she and her friends walk away.

Coach started laughing at my response distracting me from Jim. “Well, I guess you’re right on that one Lake. Alright, everyone! Hit the showers!”

I quickly follow Clair and her friends to the locker room, heading straight for my locker. Mary spots me and smirks. “Hey River!” She yells for me before pulling Claire with her. “Your cousin tried talking to Claire in Spanish. You should have seen his face!”

I glance at Claire, watching her embarrassment on behalf of her friend. “Mary, leave Jim alone, he was being friendly,” she defended quickly.

I look to Mary, eyes narrowing slightly. “I wouldn’t try making fun of Jim in front of me Mary, at least he has the basic understandings of Spanish,” I remarked, referring to her horrendous Spanish quiz I had to grade toady in Senor Uhl’s class, as his teaching assistant.

Mary’s mouth dropped at the insinuation before smirking again. “Now I understand why you only hang around Jim and Domzalski. For a role model senior, you can be a bitch.”

Darcy stood next to Mary, “How is standing up for her cousin being a bitch Mar? Sorry about her River, we'll leave you alone now,” she stated trying to pull Mary away.

I looked between Darcy and Claire before shrugging, “I don’t care if she wants to call me a bitch, though it’s a lazy insult, even for you Mary.” Turning to Claire, I pause remembering the flier she handed Jim during class. “You asked about the play, right? I’ll try to get him to the auditions.” I smiled slightly before turning back to my locker, changing out of my gym clothes and grabbing my bag. “Can’t make any promises though!” I yelled as I left the locker room, heading out to wait for Jim and Toby by our bikes.

Claire smiled and waved before grabbing her things, heading out. “Thanks, River! Come on Mar, leave her be.” Darcy and Claire were finally able to get Mary to leave me alone as they left for home.

As Toby and Jim finally arrived at the bike rack, I smirked unlocking the bikes. “So, I told Claire I’d get you to that audition.” I walked off quickly with my bike.

Jim spluttering behind me. “Why would you do that?”

I shrugged, smirking back as we walked by Eli’s locker. “She seemed really interested in you. Talked about you in the lockers” I paused my teasing to glare at Steve and his group of friends, seeing Eli slammed in his locker. I moved to go after them but an arm stopped my tracks.

“You want Steve to kill us?” It was Toby’s arm along with his question. “If he’s busy with Eli, he won’t have time to mess with us.”

I went to remark, irritated that Toby was willing to let someone get bullied, Jim’s reply cutting mine off. “We can’t just let him do that!” He headed to Steve’s group quickly. I was right behind him as Toby groaned but followed after us.

Steve was ridiculing Eli for something he said he had seen earlier that day. “Tell me about the creatures, and maybe I’ll let you out.”

Jim stopped right behind Steve. “Or you could let him out now. I mean, you know, it would be nice.”

“Nice would be you minding your own business.” Steve turned on Jim quickly, his two lackeys trying to square him up.

I came up next to Jim, staring down the two boys on either side of Steve, daring them to try something. Eli called out saying hi to Jim, as Steve went back to making fun of Eli and hitting the locker, he asked questions about what Eli saw. I growled slightly, irritated as I spoke, “Seriously Steve? Just let him out.”

“Or you’ll do what?” Steve grabbed Jim, pulling his fist back, getting ready to hit him. I quickly grabbed Steve’s arm, tightening my grip as hard as I could.

Jim seeing this spoke quickly, “Okay, do it. Punch me!” I looked at him confused, still holding onto Steve’s arm. A distressed noise escaping Toby as he watched.

“You… you’re asking for a beating?” Steve was just as confused as I at Jim’s remark.

Jim glanced at me then back to Steve. “Yeah, just go crazy. But in 20 years, you’re gonna be fat and bald and you’ll be working in a muffler shop,” he stood up straight causing Steve to stumble back into the lockers, “and Eli will have a career in software and he’ll be a billionaire.” Eli from inside the locker agreed with Jim about him liking computers. Toby yelled at Steve to let Eli out.

“Let. Him. Out.” I said, my death grip still on the arm that was poised to punch Jim. The crowd that had gathered around us started to chant.

Coach Lawrence slammed open the gym doors hearing the commotion from inside, walked out seeing me holding Steve’s arm and Steve holding onto Jim’s jacket. “Palchuk, what’s going on out here?!”

Steve quickly dropped Jim, and I released his arm, still glaring at him. “Uh, nothing sir.”

“Why aren’t you at practice?” Coach barked back.

“I was helping Eli, here,” Steve replied quickly opening the locker he had stuffed Eli in. “He was stuck.” Eli waved before Steve slammed the door close again.

Coach Lawrence had his back turned, heading back into the gym already. “On the double, now!”

Steve glared at Jim, getting in his face “Friday at noon. You and me.” He began walking with his back to the gym, waving his finger in the air “Tick-tock. Tick.”

I rolled my eyes and opened the door to the locker Eli was stuck in, jumping back as he fell out. “You alright Eli?”

Eli stood up, waving it off “Thank you!”

[Time Skip to Bike Ride Home]

“Did you see that chant I started?” Toby asked for about the tenth time on our way home, repeating the chant “Let him out! Let him out!”

I laughed shaking my head. “We sure did Toby.” I looked up hearing a car honk near our house. Slowing to a stop next to the car, smiling.

“Good thing your mom’s a doctor.” Toby teased, referring to the fight Steve set up after the altercation at the lockers.

Mom stopped the car next to us, window already down. “Hey boys, River.” She greeted while adjusting her glasses.

“Hey, mom!” Jim and I greeted simultaneously.

“Looking sharp, Dr. Lake.” Toby greeted as he accidentally rode past the window, backing up slowly to see mom.

“Thank you, Toby. So are you.” She smiled seeing how tired he is.

“Oh! Does it show?” He asked, looking over himself, smiling.

“You going to be out all night?” Jim asked as Toby flexed his arms.

Mom sighed looking between us. “Dr. Gilberg is out with bursitis, and Dr. Lenz has a wedding out of town this weekend.”

“Okay, well don’t forget to bring your-” Jim started.

“Dinner.” She pulled out her packed lunch I had set in the fridge earlier. “Thank you. Both of you.”

“Right,” I said smiling, “Try to find an oven to reheat it in instead of nuking, it takes all the flavor and nutrients away.” I teased, knowing Jim’s constant lecture about reheating food.

Mom laughed looking between us. “There must be a million things you two would rather be doing than looking after me.”

“Can’t think of one,” Jim replied smiling.

“Nope, not a single thing.” I laughed.

“Love you both!” mom replied before rolling the window up and taking off for work, waving back to us.

“Bye, mom!” Jim and I yelled after her before heading for the houses with Toby.

“You two mother your mother a lot.” Toby teased us.

Jim and I laughed. “See you tomorrow Tobes!” Jim said heading into the garage with me right behind, waving to Toby.

“Hey, and by the way, don’t use mayo on the sandwich. It’s the wrong note.” Toby quickly called to Jim, regarding the lunches we had planned for tomorrow.

[Time Skip to Homework]

Finishing up our homework for the night, Jim sat back up on the couch taking the amulet out of his bag.

“I almost forgot about that. Did the other voice come from it too?” I asked about the voice I had heard remarking about something choosing a human in the canal.

“Other voice?” Jim looked puzzled. “All I heard was it say my name twice.” The amulet started to glow as Jim was looking it over. “Um… hi. How you doing? I’m Jim. But then you knew that because you spoke my name, which is… weird.”

“And you talking to it isn’t weird?” I asked while putting my homework away.

Getting frustrated, Jim pointed at the amulet. “Come on! Talk again, or you are going up on eBay.”

A loud crash from the basement startled Jim and I. We looked towards the door then to each other before we got up and cautiously approached the basement door. Jim opened the door and something scurried across the floor. “Raccoons!” Jim announced grabbing a broom and heading down the stairs. I followed quickly behind him, turning on the hanging light as Jim looked around, broom at the ready.

Jim yelled causing me to jump and turn to him quickly, seeing the mirror I huffed at him. “Really? Your reflection scared you?” I came to stand next to him but before he could respond the light behind us broke. The only light source came from the door upstairs and the small furnace in front of us. Jim sighed in relief as he looked back, not seeing anything, he bent down to inspect some rocks near the furnace.

Hearing something clacking behind us I turned and was greeted with a six-eyed creature, blue stone-like skin and dark hair, horns, four arms, and what appeared to be tusks or really large teeth. The creature looked as if he was about to pounce on Jim. I stepped between him and Jim quickly, trying and failing to get Jim’s attention as I blindly waved my arm towards him.

The creature then threw his four arms up, yelling his greeting “Master Jim! Lady River!”

Jim yelled falling back and quickly scooting until his head hit a pipe. I stepped out of the creature’s way. “You’re… the voice from earlier.” I spoke more to myself as the creature was still following Jim.

“Master Jim!” He exclaimed again, popping up in front of Jim, this is when I took notice of a second figure behind Jim. Jim yells, backing up into the second figure. “We have found you!” The first creature exclaims, still following a yelling Jim. “I am known as Blinky.” He finally says with a slight bow as Jim looks up at the second figure, another creature, at least twice the size of Blinky, he is broader with grey stone-like skin and green hair, similar to Blinky he has horns and tusk-like teeth. Jim yells and stands quickly, caught between the two.

The second creature waves to Jim. “Hi.” He greets in a low voice. Jim yet again is yelling while I’m standing off to the side watching the exchange, trying to gauge the appropriate reaction. “It’s Aaarrrgghh. Three Rs.” Aaarrrgghh tells Jim, mistaking his yell for him trying to say his name. Jim ducks between the two, covering his head. Blinky and Aaarrrgghh stand over him, confused by his reaction. “He says ahhhh a lot” Aaarrrgghh remarks, mimicking Jim’s yell.

“It’s more of a yelp, I believe. A greeting perhaps.” Blinky infers to Aaarrrgghh. I snort a laugh as Blinky and Aaarrrgghh mimic Jim’s yell again, trying to greet him. Jim tries to get up and run towards me at this point but Aaarrrgghh grabs him by the legs and lifts him upside down.

“Master Jim, you have been chosen,” Blinky states to a hanging Jim who is now covering his face.

Aaarrrgghh hums, lifting Jim up to look him over. “Blinky, he looks scared.”

I finally step in, seeing a shaking Jim, “Please put him down, the yell isn’t a greeting, it’s a fear response.” I try explaining calmly.

“Fear rest pawn?” Aaarrrgghh asks setting Jim down.

“Fear response,” Blinky repeats, “the first reaction a person has when they are surprised or startled. Now, where was I?” Aaarrrgghh repeats what Blinky was saying while keeping Jim from running away. “Ah yes!” Blinky exclaims, “Master Jim, you have been chosen! The Amulet of Daylight challenges you to ascend to the most sacred of offices.”

“Orifices? What orifices?” Aaarrrgghh asks, mishearing Blinky.

“Offices.” Blink repeats, one hand pointing up while explaining to Aaarrrgghh, “It means responsibility.” He quickly looks between Jim and me as he begins to explain again. “Unbeknownst to your kind, there is a secret world, a vast civilization of trolls lurking beneath your very feet, hidden from view.”

“Trolls?” I ask looking between Blinky and Aaarrrgghh.

“Trolls. Yes, Trolls. And it is now your charge to protect them. For you, Master Jim, are the Trollhunter.” Blinky states happily as Jim chokes hearing this.

Aaarrrgghh gestures down towards Jim, smiling “Trollhunter.”

“This honor is yours to accept. So, what say you?” Blinky asks, his four hands grasped in excitement.

Jim chokes again before going limp. I rushed to him quickly checking him over before sighing in relief. “He’s um… well, he passed out…” I look up to Blinky and Aaarrrgghh, unsure of what to do. “I’ll be taking him upstairs.” Aaarrrgghh picks Jim up and settles him on my back so I didn’t have to pick him up.

Blinky studies me for a moment, “I know you don’t have the overwhelmingly joyous discovery of becoming the Trollhunter like Master Jim, but if this is his reaction, how have you not ‘passed out’?”

“If Jim wasn’t here, I probably would have passed out on sight, but someone has to look out for him… Look he’s going to be out for the night, maybe you two should come back for your answer later?” I was hoping that being polite would get the trolls out of the house quicker, if Jim wakes up and sees they’re still here there’s no telling how freaked he would be.

“Excellent idea Lady River!” Blinky clapped my shoulder that Jim wasn’t resting on. “We will be back for Master Jim’s answer soon. Come Aaarrgghh, we must prepare for Master Jim’s training!” Blinky escorted Aaarrrgghh out of the house quickly.

I sighed taking Jim up to the couch, easing him onto it before grabbing a blanket. I went through the house locking all the doors and windows before checking on Jim and falling onto the second couch. “The things I put up with for you.” I drifted off on the couch, mind racing from the events of the day.

After I woke up to Jim yelling at his phone, most likely to Toby, I realized just how freaked out he was about Blinky and Aaarrrgghh last night. 

During school, Jim had been anxious and jumpy. Once we sat down at lunch I gave him my ‘you messed up’ look.

Jim sighed seeing the look, “What?”

“Maybe you should talk to someone who doesn’t have a drill in their mouth. Someone that said to stop by his office if we ever needed to talk?” I suggested before taking a bite of my sandwich. “Toby was right about not using mayo.”

“What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey, Mr. Strickler? Guess who came over last night offering me a job? Trolls!’ Do you want me committed?” Jim asked. I only shrugged in response. He groaned getting up, “Fine, I’ll think of a way to tell him that won’t get me committed. See you there soon if it doesn’t work.” He waved back to me as he headed for Strickler’s office. I shook my head and continued with lunch; the day seemed to drag on after the events of last night.

Once we made it home, I sat outside in the backyard with Jim as he looked over the amulet. “So, thinking about their offer?” I asked. Jim shrugged, reading the etched writing that glowed on the Amulet.

Jim slowly read the words out loud “For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command.” After he spoke the wind picked up around us. Looking around I noticed that gravity seemed to break as heavy rocks began to float, our bags sitting next to me began to float, and Jim hovered in the air holding the Amulet. I  watch as glowing orbs exit the Amulet, flying around the yard before adsorbing into Jim’s body. A bright flash blinds me for a moment and I heard Jim land with a heavy thud. As the light fades I burst into laughter seeing Jim in a suit of armor that is way too big for him. After a moment the armor began to shift until it fit Jim perfectly. A second flash of light and a sword appears in his right hand. He swings the sword testing it out a before it gets stuck in a rock. This caused me to burst out laughing again. As he frees the sword from the rock he tilts back slightly too far and the sword tips back out of his hand and gets stuck in a second rock. Now I was laying back in the grass, laughing so hard that I began to tear up.

Once Jim finally frees the sword and holds it up, I calmed down enough to ask him “So, is that a yes?”

Thank you for reading! I know this was long, I had been planning on separating the fics by episode. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them! I will be adding Infor about the OC River Lake later.

Episode 2