#rmvwrites

Darci bit her lip, glancing up and down the street for what was probably the twelfth time in five minutes. They were standing in the road right outside Eli's house. The sun had gone down less than an hour ago, but darkness fell fast. Even the glow of street and porch lights only seemed to highlight the shadows. Her stomach kept twisting up despite her attempts to smooth it. Sure it wasn't really that late, and no one in Arcadia really went out after dark, so chances of being spotted or running into trouble were pretty low. But being out in the open with all the trolls felt so...exposed.

And based on the way Jim wouldn't stop looking around in every direction every five seconds, he felt the same way.

"Goblin?" Claire looked up from where she'd been poking at the mess with a stick of her own "What are those?"

"Goblins are among the most deadly of vermin known to trollkind," Blinky stepped up to flank AAARRRGGHH, face grave "Ruthless tricksters, petty street vandals who leave a wake of destruction wherever they go," he planted all four of his hands on his hips, glaring down at the road-killed goblin "This is not good!"

Darci fought to keep her breathing even. She knew this, she knew this already. Trolls were real, magic was real, all sorts of creepy crawlies probably lurked around after dark. But there was a difference between 'knowing' and standing in front of a creepy crawly's smashed corpse.

"Well hey, it's dead," Mary said with a shrug "Can't do anything any more, so let's get out of here and down to the library where we can--"

"On the contrary Master Mary, for every goblin you see, there two score you do not,"

Darci swallowed hard. Great, just great, more of these goblin things running around their town.

As if she didn't worry enough when dad went out on his shifts

"And as for the unfortunate soul who ran over this fellow...may Skaargen's swift blade have mercy," Blinky spat on two palms, rubbed both sets of hands together, and placed a fist over his chest, expression mournful.

"What do you mean?" Jim stepped up to him.

"Naturally, goblin vengeance is ten-fold," Blinky held up ten finger with all four hands.

Claire rolled her eyes "Of course, obviously,"

"Wait..." Jim's eyes widened "Are you saying whoever ran this goblin over is in serious trouble!?"

"Guys look!" Toby ran up to them from the sidewalk, Darci hadn't even noticed him wandering off "A delivery driver left a sticky note on Eli's house, their truck must have been what squashed the goblin!"

"Hey let me see that," Toby held out the note, allowing Jim to snatch it up, scanning over the narrow strip of pink paper "The driver's returning at at eight tonight," Jim looked up at them, a firm set to his jaw and every trace of anxiety gone "Which means we need to be here to, I'm not going to let some poor guy become goblin chow on my watch."

"Master Jim!" Blinky threw his arms out wide, fanged mouth spreading into a wide grin "Answering the call!"

"Stakeout!" Toby cheered.

Claire place a hand on her hip with a smirk "I could go for a little goblin hunt,"

"Meh," Mary shrugged "Why not, beats studying algebra,"

"Y-- yeah," Darci forced a grin "Let's get these goblins,"

Jim was right, they couldn't let an innocent person get hurt, and she wasn't going to let her friends face goblins alone, but that didn't mean wouldn't rather be anywhere but here.

Two backs of chips, six sticks of beef jerky, and and hour and a half of hunkering down in the bushes later there were still no goblins in sight.

"Oh man I'm so thirsty," Claire groaned from behind her "Why did you bring all those salty snacks and nothing to drink?"

"So our bladders are full right when the action starts going down?" Toby's voice now "Rookie mistake,"

Darci held back a snicker without turning her head, keeping watch through a gap in the fence posts. Her dad had told her more than a couple of times that stakeouts were one of the most boring parts of his job, second only to paperwork. Watching street corners and alleys from his car for upwards of six hours just waiting for something that may or may not happen.

To be fair her dad did mention a solution to the bathroom problem that involved empty water bottles, but in the interest of preserving the innocence of her eyes, she wasn't going to bring it up.

"Snacks good," AAARRRGGHH's voice, followed by the crunching of him munching on the plastic.

Darci shifted her gaze from the street to the cluster of bushes on the other side of it, where the other half of their group was keeping watch. Even in the dark across the street she could see Mary poking her head out, the silver glint of Jim's armor through the leaves.

From behind her the walkie talkie crackled to life "Hey guys, all clear on this end. How's it going over there?"

"All good in the hood, Trollhunter, except once we finish here we're in dire need of refreshment, too many salty snacks and not enough hydration. Other than that nothing unusual. WarHammer out,"

"Wait?" Claire now "When did we decide on code names?"

"I just came up with mine an hour into our stakeout, I think it fits,"

"Well if you're Warhammer, I'll be Queen Death Viper 5000,"

Darci bit her cheek to keep from laughing, about to tell Claire that her code name definitely needed some work, when she spotted a flicker of light down the road.

She reached back and snagged the walkie talkie, raising it to her face "The truck's here!"

In an instant everyone went silent, all holding their breath as the large vehicle lumbered to a stop in front of Eli's house. The driver, a youngish looking guy jamming along to whatever music was playing in his headphones, hopping out and heading around back to grab the package.

From behind her Darci could feel Toby tense, no doubt ready to jump out any second "Ok guys, we need to get the driver out of here before the goblins show up, so as soon as Jim gives the signal, we--"

A shadow moved over her, Darci tore her gaze away from the fence to see AAARRRGGHH's resting on Toby's back, keeping him in place.

Glancing up, Darci saw that AAARRRGGHH's face was grim, other arm raised to point at a street light at the end of the block.

Less than a second later that same light went dark, the sound of shattering glass echoing from across the street.

Darci's blood ran cold.

In sequence, all the lights across the street were extinguished. On the one directly across from them Darci caught a glimpse of spindly arms swiping down towards the bulb just before it was extinguished.

Lifting his hand from Toby, AAARRRGGHH reached around all three of them, pulling them close as the night came alive with chitters and whispers.

Mouth dry, Darci found herself almost involuntarily pulled back to peering through the crack in the fence.

Dozens of red eyes glowed in the shadows, more and more and more with every second. With the lights out she couldn't see everything clearly but she could see enough. Round little bodies skittering around on thin limbs. Creeping out from bushes and alleys towards the glow of Eli's porch light.

Goblins, they had to be. Not smashed up and pulverized, but very alive and very fast, moving with single minded purpose towards their prey. The delivery driver was surrounded and he didn't even know it, still rocking along to his music as he headed up the sidewalk to Eli's house.

Darci jumped when the walkie crackled with Blinky's voice.

"Great trouble! There appears to be far more than I had anticipated. Stay down and don't make a sound! In their frenzied state they'll attack any in their path!"

She swallowed hard, hands trembling against the wood of the fence.

AAARRRGGHH pulled them closer.

Meanwhile the driver was ringing Eli's doorbell, the glowing bulb on Eli's porch of the only remaining sources of light on the street. The door opened to reveal Eli inside. The two of them spoke for a moment, she could hear that they were talking but was too far away to understand the exact words, especially over her own heartbeat booming in her ears. The driver passed Eli the box in his arms before stepping inside, Eli shutting the door behind him.

The last street light, the one directly above the truck, went dark. The chitters and whispers became louder, full on growls and howls. Goblins, dozens of them, poured out of the dark and scurried up the street, heading straight for Eli's house

Even if AAARRRGGHH hadn't been holding her back Darci couldn't move, frozen in place peering through the fence, blood turned to ice and heart pounding wildly.

What to do, there was no way they could handle that many of them, even with Blinky and AAARRRGGHH, the goblins would swarm them in seconds. But if they stayed put Eli and the driver were done for. Couldn't just sit back and do nothing, but going out there and facing the goblins themselves--

"Wait!" the walkie sounded again, this time with Mary's voice "The goblins aren't going after Eli or the driver,"

After a few seconds of watching with held breath Darci realized that Mary was right. The goblins were converging in the street, half the crowd already crawling over the truck, completely ignoring the house and the people inside.

"Yeah it doesn't look like the the goblins are after either of them," Claire said slowly "The goblins are going after the truck,"

It was true, the goblins were swarming the truck now, burying it in writhing green bodies, swaying back and forth under their combined weight, goblins all snarling and hissing aggressively as they tore at the truck with their claws. They were even saying actual words now, the occasional 'Waka chaka wa' coming up above the sound of tearing metal.

"Unexpected," Blinky on the walkie now "It appears their dispute isn't with the driver at all, but rather the transportation that had flattened their kinsman,"

"Kinda dumb but it works in our favor," she felt more than saw Toby siding up to her, peering at the goblin covered truck through his own fence gap "The driver's probably gonna have to Uber home though,"

A heavy breath left her, ice vanishing and warmth rushing back in all at once, sinking down on her knees limp and boneless. Eli and the driver weren't in danger, that meant there was no reason to put themselves in danger. They just had to hang back until the goblins left and they would be home free. They didn't have to do anything and no one would get hurt. Still...

She glanced back up through the fence. The entire truck was covered now, every speck of metal and rubber hidden, covered by writhing goblin bodies. Metal popping and whining as they tore it apart piece by piece. It reminded her of how piranhas could strip a cow to the bone in less than a minute. Seeing that go down ten feet in front of her, a swarm of goblins tearing apart a truck with their bare hands, with the thought that they'd nearly had to put themselves in the middle of that....

A full body shudder swept over her.

"All will be well as long as none of us become frightened," Blinky's voice crackled again "Goblins can smell fear, indeed they crave the pheromone of terror,"

Darci's heart shot right back up into her throat.

"I thought the first rule of Trollhunting was to always be afraid!?" Jim hissed from the walkie.

"Trolls, not goblins," AAARRRGGHH rumbled.

"You're only telling us this now!?" Claire whispered frantically.

"They can smell fear!? This is too much!" Toby raised an arm and took a deep sniff of himself "Oh no I can smell it to!"

"Then stop or they will eat you!"

Darci couldn't get enough air, breaths coming hard and fast, she knew she had to quiet down but her body wouldn't obey. Heart in her throat, blood rushing in her ears and trembling all over. Could the goblins smell her now? How long until they caught a whiff and came after them?

If she tried to say anything she was only going to end up screaming, but Jim ended up putting it into words better than she could.

"Blinky we can't just turn fear off! If we could don't you think--"

"Too late!" Claire darted back with a yelp.

Involuntary, Darci found her gaze shifted back to the truck, or more accurately, what was left of it.

Ahead of them goblins milled about a pile of loose metal scraps in the road. Most goblins were still tearing at truck parts with their teeth, but several had turned away, perking up and staring at the fence.

Staring straight at them.

Darci's heart stopped, arms and legs turning to lead, mind going white. She could feel Toby scrambling back.

"Run dudes!"

Half of the hoard of goblins surged towards them, Darci still couldn't make her legs work but felt someone yank her to her feet. All of them racing away in a scramble of panicked shouts.

They took off down the street, goblins chasing after them, Darci recognized the person pulling her along as Claire. Jim, Blinky, and AAARRRGGHH were running just a few feet ahead of them, but Toby and Mary were behind them with the gap rapidly growing.

And the goblins were gaining on them.

Jim turned back, opening his mouth to shout something, but before he could get a single word out AAARRRGGHH ducked back, scooped them up with one massive arm and dropped them on his shoulders. A second later he snatched up Claire and Darci to, dumping them on his back and bounding ahead without even breaking his stride.

She dug her fingers into the mossy fur of AAARRRGGHH's back, Claire was shouting something beside her and goblins howling behind them, hanging on for dear life.

With only three of them running now they were able to go much faster, but not fast enough to shake the goblins. Claws scratching at the pavement. Their hisses and howls and 'waka chaka's always just behind them.

"We need to find a refuge!" Blinky shouted "Trollmarket is too far!"

"Let's head to my house!" Toby hollered back "It's the closest and the smell of cats should cover us!"

"Right! Blink! AAARRRGGHH! This way!"

Jim made a sharp right, running down a side street, Blinky and AAARRRGGHH charging after him. The sound of goblin feet pattering on the asphalt behind them didn't fade, but didn't get louder.

Darci tightened her grip, trying to get her breathing under control.

It was ok, they were ok. AAARRRGGHH had them, he would protect them, they would outrun the goblins and get to Toby's house were it was sa--

Angry snarls came from directly above her, Darci glanced up just in time to see a group of goblins jump down from a tree onto AAARRRGGHH. And them. Grimy claws digging into her hair and shirt and a mouth full of sharp teeth just inches away from her neck.

A scream ripped out of her as she writhed and bucked, desperate to get the goblin off. The others were shouting and hollering to, frantically fighting them off while AAARRRGGHH batted more falling goblins away. Mary grabbed one and threw it to the ground, Claire kicked another and knocked away the one on Darci's back. Toby yanked at one that was gripping AAARRRGGHH's horn, tearing it free with both hands and throwing it to the ground.

AAARRRGGHH pivoted around another turn, shifting his center of gravity and sending Toby off balance.

Her heartbeat stuttered, Darci knew what was about to happen but couldn't make herself move to stop it.

Toby toppled backwards with a wail, Claire and Mary whipping around and each grabbing one of his ankles, keeping gripping AAARRRGGHH's mane in a death grip with their other hands while Toby screamed from beneath them, desperately trying to bat away the two pursuing goblins on the street.

"Get it off get it off get it off!"

Do something, their your friends, don't just sit there. Do something.

Darci managed to pry one hand free, reaching out to grasp Claire's arm. With the three of them pulling they were able to haul Toby up onto the relative safety of AAARRRGGHH's shoulders and out of the immediate reach of the goblins.

Mary was saying something but she couldn't hear over the pounding of her own heart.

It's ok, you're ok, you're all ok--

From out of nowhere Darci found herself being lifted and dropped to the ground alongside the others. In two blinks she recognized their surroundings as Toby's backyard, with AAARRRGGHH having dropped them over the fence. Jim and Blinky scrambling over on their own while AAARRRGGHH just jumped, landing with a tooth rattling thud.

There was a flash as the burglar lights came on. The growls of approaching goblins turned to enraged hisses, but didn't disappear. Darci glanced over to see Toby and Claire standing at the door, Toby fiddling with his keys. In a second another problem hit her.

"Guy's AAARRRGGHH is too big! We need to find another way--"

Toby finally managed to open the door and AAARRRGGHH strode ahead without hesitation. As he came up to the door, one of his arms slid down with a bony pop.

Darci could only watch, hang-jawed, an expression she could see shared by Toby, Claire, Jim, and Mary as AAARRRGGHH's shoulders and elbows jerked free of their joints, bending and contorting unnaturally, allowing him to just fit his body through the door, everything snapping back into place once he was inside.

"Come!" Blinky hurried over to the open door, he actually fit without having to dislocate anything "We must take cover!"

Darci couldn't move, still staring open mouthed, shock at seeing AAARRRGGHH casually dislocate his entire body warring with terror of the approaching goblins.

Blinky waved again, more exasperated now "Quickly now!"

That finally spurred Jim at least into motion, pulling her up by the shoulders and rushing them all into the house, Toby slamming the door behind them.

"Upstairs guys!" Toby shouted "Don't worry about Nana hearing, she's going bingo hall hopping tonight with Phil and Jerry,"

Adrenaline still pumping, they all clamored up the stairs. It was a tight fit into Toby's room, AAARRRGGHH popping his joints out again to fit through the door, Claire ducking under his noodle limp arm to run over and shut the blinds.

Then they were there, inside a house that didn't make her feel nearly as safe as it should, squished together with the trolls in a tiny room, goblin growls replaced with their own panting breaths.

Darci could feel herself shaking, so sure that any second goblins were going to break down the door and swarm them. Any second they would bust in and they were done for. The others looked almost as on edge as she felt, Toby and Mary pacing all over, checking the window and door over and over, Claire's chest was heaving with the force of her breaths. Jim was stone still, but based on the way his hair was prickled up and his eyes kept darting all around he was tense to.

But as the seconds crawled by no goblin attack came. No hissing or clicking of claws on wood. Their frantic panting dying down until the only sound was strained silence.

"I...I don't hear them anymore," Jim said at last "I think we're in the clear,"

Toby flopped back on his bed with a gusty sigh. Mary sinking down beside him while Claire slumped against the wall.

Darci could still hear her heartbeat booming, all her limbs were jello. She was barely able to make it to desk chair before her legs gave out beneath her.

That...that was terrifying. If they hadn't gotten away...

Claws in her hair and fangs inches from her throat

Her vision pulled in and out, gripping her knees to remind herself that she was in fact here and alive.

She never wanted to do anything like that ever again.

In front of her Blinky was pacing back and forth, he couldn't get very far thanks to how small and crowded the room was "I'm sorry to say Master Jim, but your town is infested with goblins!" he grabbed Jim with his upper two arms and shook him.

"Ok," Jim sucked in a deep breath and pushed away from Blinky "Ok ok ok, trolls I can deal with because at least they stay underground and in the dark-- wait does the sun burn goblins to?"

AAARRRGGHH shook his head "Goblins prefer shadows, but not hurt by sun,"

Jim grabbed both horns with a groan that stretched out into a growl "Of course they aren't!" he snapped his head in Blinky's direction "All this troll stuff was bad enough, but I don't even have the bandwidth to-- there's just so many-- urhgghgh! What do you even want me to do here!?"

"Must find den," AAARRRGGHH spoke up.

"Yes, and eradicate them at once before they seek their revenge!" Blinky balled all four hands into fists.

"What!?" Darci squeaked out "The goblins are going to come after us now!?"

"Yes, now that they have your scent, and know the location of Tobias' hut, it is only a matter of time until they pursue you as well. Goblins are no great intellectuals, but are single minded and ruthless in pursuit of their prey. Your only hope is to destroy their nest and scatter the horde, making the surviving goblins forgo their hunt in favor of their own survival,"

Darci made a sound halfway between a shriek and a whimper.

"Hey hey let's just chill here," Mary pushed herself to her feet "So we find the den, get rid of it, and our goblin problem goes bye bye. Easy. So where do goblins like to hunker down?"

"Haven't the foggiest," Blinky tapped his chin with one arm and folded the other three "Goblins are hardy vermin, able to endure the harshest of environments, and....endure..."

Blinky paused, stepping over to the dollhouse, AAARRRGGHH following shortly behind him.

Through the window Darci could see Chopmsky presenting Sally-Go-Back with a doll plate full of crumbs surrounding a burning birthday candle, overall weird but pretty normal for Chopmsky according to what Toby had told her, looking up and giving a furious cheep towards Blinky that probably meant something along the lines of 'Mind your own business!'.

"Great Gronka Mora! What is the gnome doing in this dollhouse!?"

Jim forced out a laugh "You told me to take care of the gnome, so...we're taking care of it,"

Blinky scowled, both of his right fists against his hip and top left one pointing an accusing finger at Jim "This is in direct violation of rule number two! Whatever happened to finishing the fight!?"

"And rule number one is to always be afraid-- except if you're around goblins 'cause they smell fear apparently, and rule number three is hit them in the gnards, which I'm pretty sure goblins don't have!" Jim snapped "Your rules make less sense than algebra, which, oh yeah, I have in a few hours, unless we all get eaten by goblins!"

Blinky bristled, four out of six eyes twitching, he raised a hand and opened his mouth, but before he could say a word AAARRRGGHH put a hand on his shoulder.

AAARRRGGHH gave Blinky a long look before turning towards Jim.

"Rules good, but learning in forge different from real battles, need to learn rules along with real fights, Jim also busy with human things,"

Blinky deflated, sighing and patting AAARRRGGHH's hand with two of his own "My husband is correct, the three rules are crucial for a Trollhunter's training...but there can be difficulty translating academic lessons to practical experience. AAARRRGGHH and I will take a more...practical approach to your training going forward, along with accommodation towards your human life. We will seek out this den, wherever it may be, you just focus on your training and your studies,"

"Th-- thanks Blinky," Jim said with a sigh.

Blinky smiled back, before abruptly shifting back to a scowl "But a gnome in a dollhouse!?"

"Ok forget the gnome for a second, I have to ask," Toby stepped forward "What was that contortionist routine AARRRGGHH pulled back there?"

"Yeah I was wondering about that to," Claire added.

"I wasn't gonna say anything, but I'm also pretty curious," Mary stepped up to Toby's side.

Three out of six eyes blinked in surprise "Ah, yes, I suppose you wouldn't know, being raised on the surface, but many trolls can dislocate and relocate their joints at will,"

"Help big trolls fit in small spaces," AAARRRGGHH nodded along.

".....can Jim do that?"

"Tobes!"

"What? I want to know about all your troll superpowers!"

Blinky tapped his chin thoughtfully "There is an direct correlation between how large a troll is and how mobile their joints are. For smaller trolls dislocation and relocation are far more difficult, but in theory I suppose it could be possible for you,"

"Wha do ya say Jim?" Toby nudged him with an elbow "Want to give it a shot?"

"Dude no!"

"If it would help, AAARRRGGHH or myself could initiate the dislocation process for you,"

"Hang on," Mary fished through her pockets "Let me get my camera ready--"

"Ok time out," Jim made a 'T' with his hands "There will be no dislocating any more joints tonight!"

"Actually," Claire cut in "I can pop one of my pinkies in and out at will,"

"Perfect!" Blinky grinned "A human control! Now we have a comparison to--"

There were more words said but Darci tuned them out, voices turning into static in her ears. Nails digging into her knees so hard they were nearly breaking the skin, anything to keep from screaming.

We could have died tonight and you guys are talking about AAARRRGGHH popping his arm in and out!?

She could still see the gnashing teeth, hear the growls, goblins snapping right on their heels.

Tonight had been the second time they were in real, actual danger. The others didn't seem to be bothered by it, but Darci was done. She wanted to go back to video games and poker nights, popping into Trollmarket after school for trollish lessons and getting back home before dark without anything trying to kill or eat them.

But deep down she knew that wasn't going to happen, and felt awful for even wanting it.

The others clearly didn't want to quit this Trollhunting stuff, and Jim didn't get to. The five of them were a team, and she couldn't just dip out and let them face life or death danger all alone. Which meant that as much as the thought terrified her, she was going to be in the thick of the danger right along with them.

Mary said something, Jim scowled and the others all laughed.

But the others weren't freaking out like she was, so maybe the problem was her, maybe she was just a coward who needed to toughen up and be a team player

Her fingers gripped the doll in question, a lumpy, misshapen thing Ben had tied together himself from discarded scraps and rags. Head too big, one leg half as long as the other. Straw stuffing poking out of the seams.

"He only has such so much land because the natives didn't want it, I even saw them snickering after they signed the agreement!"

With her too tight bonnet blocking her view she had difficulty seeing Ben's face, but she could feel him tense on the bench beside her, heard his sharp intake of breath.

"We've got to be grateful for what we have Esther," a gentle hand on her shoulder "Look I can see the house now! It's so grand!"

He pulled her around be the shoulder, excitedly pointing down the road "Three floors and a cellar and an attic! And glass windows besides! I'll bet from up there you can see all the way back to town! I'm sure if we ask Judge Wilkins will let us look,"

Esther bit her lip, certain that she and Ben would be able to look from the attic window, if only when they were sent up to fetch something.

Staring up at the looming house she took advantage of the rare opportunity to scowl openly. The manor house was just as grand as Ben proclaimed, standing tall and proud at the end of the road, perched on the side of a lake surrounded by the stumps of freshly cut trees. A futile attempt to tame the wild forest surrounding them.

Judge Wilkins was the wealthiest man in the district, wealthy enough to build a large manor house on a massive plot of land purchased from the natives at a steal, his property stretching all the way back to town. Esther could already imagine the hunting parties he'd host here, her and Ben sweeping tobacco ashes spilled from countless pipes. He was wealthy enough eat all his meals off silver plates, to purchase leather shoes for all his children. Wealthy enough to have Ben and Esther living in his house doing whatever chores he and his wife considered beneath them.

Ben jabbed and elbow into her side, Esther quickly schooled her expression as the cart came up to the front of the house, Judge Wilkins and Mistress Wilkins standing at the front door.

It took everything she had not to keep from scowling. The judge looked ridiculous in the long black cloak he always insisted on wearing, he'd never set foot in any kind of battlefield in his life yet he constantly carried a saber at his hip.

She'd once remarked that Judge Wilkins was quite foppish and vain, Ben had hushed her and told her to never say such things. But he hadn't disagreed.

The driver pulled the cart to a stop "Tis all here sir, all your possessions, not a thing lost or broken, check for yourself,"

Judge Wilkins let out a booming laugh "Excellent work, you have my thanks. You must be tired, please, come inside for a drink,"

"I would be honored sir,"

The judge glanced back towards where Esther and Ben were peeking over the back of the cart, jovial expression dropping in an instant "You two, start unloading,"

Ben bobbed his head up and down "Yes sir, right away sir," scrambling to his feet and grabbing the first box he could. Esther didn't say anything but rose to help him.

Judge Wilkins exchanged a few more words with the driver after he stepped off the cart, the two moving into the house with Mistress Wilkins trailing after. The second they were gone Ben nudged her with his elbow.

"I can finish here, Betsy and her friends are playing in the garden, why don't you go join them?"

"I don't want to play with Betsy, she's mean!"

"Come now Esther, you have your own doll now, you can play with the other girls and make friends,"

"No!" Esther stamped her foot "I refuse!"

Ben winced, face crumpling into something deeply pained "I know getting along with Betsy is...hard--"

"She's a nasty, two-faced snipe who cries if so much as a brush her with a feather--"

"She's also Judge Wilkins' daughter," Ben's voice was low but firm "And there's nothing to be gained by fighting with her. So can you please...try to get along? Even if you can't make friends with Betsy, maybe one of the other girls,"

"They're just as bad!"

"Esther..."

"I don't want to play with them and you can't make me!" she crossed her arms and turned away from him, glaring down at the hard packed dirt beneath her.

Ben was quiet for the longest time.

"Please just...try," his voice cracked, he sounded close to tears "You have nothing to lose by just trying,"

Esther would rather shovel dung than spend more time than she absolutely had to in Betsy's presence. But the one thing worse than enduring Betsy's presence was seeing her brother cry.

"Fine..." she picked up her doll, slowly trudging in the direction of the garden.

"There you go!" the cheer in Ben's voice stung "Take the whole afternoon, I'll manage the unpacking myself,"

Esther spared a single nod of acknowledgment before he vanished around the side of the house. Moving with deliberate slowness.

The sooner she finished the sooner she could go back to Ben and assure him that she'd tried to make nice, then spend the rest of the afternoon doing chores in relative peace. But she couldn't force herself to move any quicker, lead weight in her stomach and a sour taste on her tongue.

All too soon she reached the garden. It was a timid, budding thing. Just as new as the house, all freshly turned dirt and tiny green shoots. At the edge of the garden there was a cluster of dresses and bonnets, pale blue dress and stiffly starched bonnet belonging to none other than Betsy Wilkins herself.

She fought the urge to head back the way she came and approached. As she got closer the other girls gradually noticed her presence, ducking their heads and whispering among themselves. Esther slowed to a stop a few feet away from the crowd, swallowing back the lump in her throat.

"Can I play?"

The girls shuffled back even further, all except Betsy. Stomping to the front of the crowd, face twisted into an ugly sneer, glaring at Esther as if she was a particularly distasteful stain on her fine skirt.

"You can't play with us! You don't have a doll!"

"Do to!" Esther thrust out her doll, waving it before Betsy's face.

Betsy recoiled "Get that ugly thing away! It's bad luck just like you!"

"Am not!" Esther fired back.

"Are to! It's in your hair! Red hair is bad luck, my mother told me so and she's always right!"

Betsy's words emboldened the other girls. Shuffling forward to cluck at her sides like the empty headed hens they were.

"Yeah!"

"We don't want you here!"

"Take your bad luck away!"

"Go away!"

Esther didn't care what stupid Betsy and her stupid friends thought. They were all soft and spoiled, what did they know about how the world worked.

But despite all that Esther felt her face growing hot "I don't want to play with you and your dirty dolls anyway!"

She spun around and stomped off, away from the manor house and into the woods.

Betsy was sure to go crying to her mother, who would complain to her husband, who was sure to deny her and Ben supper as punishment. Then Ben would lecture her on how she should try to get along with Betsy.

The house was far behind her, towering trees loomed all around her. Noonday sun fading into shadow. Esther knew she should turn back. She was too far from the house, venturing too far into the wild wood and too far from safety. But that fear was tiny compared to the raging fury burning inside her.

Why did Esther have to try to be nice to Betsy!? Betsy was never nice to her. Stupid Betsy with her golden curls and big doe eyes. Always sniping about how unlucky it was to have Esther around. Esther wasn't bad luck, it wasn't her fault that her parents had been indentured, dying and leaving her and Ben with their debt. Polishing silver and sweeping the floors day and night, all while dealing with Mistress Wilkins and Betsy's sharp comments about how unsightly and unlucky they were.

Esther's chest was tight, burning surging up behind her eyes.

All of Esther's bad luck was wrapped in a baby blue dress and a starched white bonnet.

Fury inside her reaching a pitch, Esther let out a shriek and kicked out at a large stone with all her might.

She nearly toppled over when the stone moved beneath her foot. Stumbling forward and staggering to a stop, slowly turning her head to look back at the rock, now clearly shifted from its original position.

How was that possible? Surely the stone was too large for her to move on her own. So how did...

She dropped to her knees to examine the stone, rage from second ago nearly forgotten in her eagerness to solve the mystery. Quick enough she saw that the stone was much flatter than she expected, more slab than stone, covering a empty space in the ground, sides too neat and stone too precisely placed to be a naturally occurring space.

Esther gripped the edge of the slab and pulled with all her might, slab shifting enough to reveal the full hollow beneath it, heart leaping in delight when she saw a leather wrapped parcel tucked into the ground. Snatching it up and tearing into it, hungry for what secrets might be lurking inside.

The outermost coverings were old and moldering, crumbling apart at her touch. Whatever this thing was it must have been buried for quite some time. But further in the wrappings were in better shape, allowing Esther to pull out her prize completely intact.

A book. Supple vellum bound in thick leather covers. But who would go to such trouble to conceal a book of all things? Sitting back on the ground and setting her doll to the side, Esther settled the book on her lap and began thumbing through the pages.

She was expecting the Latin scrawl of bible verses, but instead saw rows of runes, pictures of serpents and horned beasts. Hand drawn and not printed on a press. Strange symbols composed of jagged lines and sharp curves. Esther understood less than half of what she saw, but one sentence leapt out at her, clear and true.

As sure as a lamb knows it's mother and a bee knows true flowers, one witch knows another

For a long moment Esther could only sit there, the only sound the breeze rustling through the leaves of the forest as a hot giddiness bubbled up inside her stomach. Spreading to her chest and up to her head dizzyingly light, a wide grin slowly but surely stretching across her face.

"To be an effective Trollhunter, you must always be afraid!" Blinky called out from behind him, projecting his voice to be heard over the various projectiles being shot in his direction "Fear heightens your senses! Fear keeps you alive! Arrogance gets you killed."

Jim jumped out of the way seconds before another training dummy could blast him with arrows, riddling a dummy behind him in a series of dull thunks "I..." he gasped for breath, blood rushing in his ears "I think that's one thing I've got handled, but what I don't get is how all this--" he replaced the sword on his back, gesturing to the training dummies surrounding him "Is going to help me against Bular,"

Blinky grinned and clapped his shoulder "To be an effective Trollhunter, you must be well versed in all forms of combat. One never knows what manner of battlefield they might find themselves in,"

"I don't think Bular's going to come at me with a flamethrower,"

"While I admit that possibility is...unlikely, Bular is a skilled, cunning foe," Blinky gestured to the dummy shish kebabbed by arrows "He has centuries of experience, and is known for being highly adaptive, able to utilize almost any environment to his advantage,"

Jim tried to swallow the lump that suddenly sprouted in his throat.

"To best him you will need to be adaptive as well," Blinky continued "Constantly aware of your surroundings and able to react, not only defensively, but offensively as well. And furthermore while you fear Bular, Bular does not fear you. He will be unafraid while you will be wetting your armor, that will be his weakness!"

Ok there at least five different things wrong with that idea. Jim opened his mouth to point out the many glaring flaws in Blinky's logic but before he could get a word out a soft click registered in his ear.

His body responded before his brain, darting two steps to the side, ripping the sword off his back and throwing it.

A silver flash and a dull clang of metal on metal. Jim blinked to see the blade had landed squarely in the dummy's chest, mechanisms inside it wheezing and shuddering before ultimately going silent, grinding to a stop before they could fire.

Something moved to his side, Jim looked up to see Blinky beaming down at him.

Despite how crazy this all was, trolls and magic and running around dodging knives at ungodly hours of the morning, something in his chest swelled bright and hot at the look of pride in Blinky's face.

"I do believe it's time for the next phase of your training,"

"And what would that be?" Jim said slowly, walking over to pull his sword out of the dummy's chest.

He really hoped it wasn't something completely insane like 'trial by lava', he'd been eyeing that river of lava running underneath the forge ever since day one. Wait, was it lava or magma since it was technically still undergr--

"You are now ready to practice swordsmanship techniques, and engage in one on one sparring, AAARRRGGHH if you would be so kind,"

Humming in the affirmative, AAARRRGGHH stood from the side of the arena and lumbered towards them in all of his hulking, stony glory.

"Wait I have to fight AAARRRGGHH!? He's like twenty weight classes above me!"

"Not to worry," Blinky gave another smile that wasn't nearly as reassuring as he probably intended it to be "AAARRRGGHH is skilled enough to match you at your level without permanent dismemberment,"

AAARRRGGHH nodded "Jim keep limbs,"

Were...were they joking or was that actually a thing with trolls? He wracked his brain to try and think of an excuse to not go toe to toe with a guy who could bench press a truck when something chimed beneath his armor.

Jim practically wilted with relief. Saved by the bell.

"Sorry gonna have to skip sparring today guys," he swung the sword onto his back, the magical magnets or whatever it was locking it into place, and started jogging towards the exit.

"Go? You can't go!" Blinky shouted after him "You're still behind on your training!"

"Sorry Blink!" Jim was already halfway across the causeway "School's starting, can't miss my studies,"

Blinky sighed "I suppose not,"

Jim jogged the rest of the way out of Trollmarket and raced up the stairs. Shedding the armor and tucking the amulet into his pocket the second he reached the top. He grabbed his bike from the corner where he'd stashed it, Blinky wasn't a fan of him bringing it inside, convinced that it might clue other trolls in to his 'dual nature', but Jim put his foot down. If he left it outside and street sweepers or wandering punks stole it he'd be without a ride and down a good chunk of cash. So the bike came in. Tracing an arch in the stone and heading outside, stepping out of the crystal lit cave for the early morning glow of the sun on the concrete, shivering as he shrank back down to human.

After a quick glance to make sure the coast was clear, he did not need to be flashing early morning commuters, Jim changed from his now baggy troll size clothes into his normal ones. Stuffing the spares in his bag, he hopped on his bike and started peddling towards school, with one important stop first.

Claire raised an eyebrow "Is that coffee?"

"Three sugar packets and four creamers," Jim said deadpan before taking a sip. Despite all the sugar and the cream it was still incredibly bitter, he didn't get why anyone would drink this unless they had to. Like he did.

There were packed on the sidewalk along with half the sophomore class, the other half would have their turn tomorrow. Mr. Strickler stood a ways ahead of them, waiting for the bus to come around.

"Dude do not let your mom know you're drinking coffee," Toby gripped his arm and looked him square in the eye "She doesn't even like it when you drink sugar free soda, if she learns you're partaking of the devil's bean juice she might actually hit the roof,"

Jim had to bite back a groan, of course, if mom learned he was drinking coffee she would totally flip. He had to make sure he never drank it around her and get rid of all the evidence before he came home. Just great, one more thing to worry about.

Mary scoffed "Don't worry about your mom, worry about the teachers,"

"Yeah you might get in trouble," Darci said.

"I was more thinking they might want some,"

"Are you sure three hours of sleep is enough?" Claire fixed him with a piercing look.

Jim's stomach gave a twist. No he wasn't. He'd known for a long time that he could get by on less sleep than most people, but lately he was stretching the limits of what 'less' meant. But Blinky had been pushing him to get more physical training in, and with Bular still skulking around town Jim didn't quite disagree.

What if Bular cornered him on his way home from school? What if he went after his mom or his friends? Jim had to be ready.

But between school and homework and troll language lessons after the only way he could get more time in the forge was getting up early and training in Trollmarket for a few hours before school. To pull off all of that something had to go, and that something was sleep.

"....yes," Jim said just a bit too slowly.

Toby folded his arms and raised an eyebrow "The giant coffee you're guzzling begs to differ,"

Jim opened his mouth but was saved from having to reply by the bus pulling around the corner, the crowd on the sidewalk surging towards it and pulling them along. He chugged the remains of the drink, lukewarm now, managing to toss the empty cup in the trash can before being packed on the bus, which was too crowded and noisy for further interrogation.

Ten minutes later they all unloaded in front of the museum, Mr. Strickler shepherding them to the front entrance where a dark haired woman with a badge reading 'Curator' pinned to collar of her magenta dress stood waiting for them, mouth stretched wide in a chipper grin.

"Welcome future scholars! Now I know contemporary media might lead you to believe European history is full of swords, sorcery, and scandal," she beamed at them, green eyes sparkling "I assure you the truth is far more interesting, and there's no better place to start than Renaissance era pottery--"

Jim could feel his eyelids growing heavy. One coffee might not be enough.

"Since we have limited time Ms. Nomura," Mr. Strickler cut her off "Perhaps it's best if we let them explore the museum on their own, don't you think?"

Mr. Stricker had barely gotten the words out before everyone scattered. The class quickly dispersed through the museum, everyone settling into their own groups. Jim allowing Toby to pull him off to the side where the girls were already waiting. Claire peeked over at the staircase "Medieval history is upstairs, maybe we should--"

"Actually can we check out the hall of gems and minerals first?" Toby piped up.

Claire frowned "The history section is the best place to get ideas for the set and costumes for the play, and we need to get those figured out by the end of the month,"

"Yeah," Darci added "Plus you know Mr. Strickler's going to give us a quiz about this later, we need to hit up history first,"

"Sorry Tobes," Jim patted his shoulder consolingly "Play ideas and test prep take priority here, we can check out the geology exhibit later,"

"Actually I want to see the mineral exhibit first,"

For a second no one moved; Jim, Claire, and Darci all slowly turning to stare at Mary.

She frowned at them "What? Didn't you hear me? Gemstones people!"

"Hang on are you guys actually..." Claire's gaze flicked back and forth between Mary and Toby "Agreeing with each other?"

"About rocks?" Jim said slowly, not quite believing what his eyes and ears were telling him.

"What?" Mary perched her hands on her hips "Minerals and gems means diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, what could be more interesting than that?"

"Thank you," Toby said "See guys, Mare here understands the important things in life, like crystals worth more than houses,"

Ok Toby and Mary agreeing like this was weird. Not trolls and magic weird, but 'weird' weird. More than that this field trip was supposed to be fun, a break from trolls and magic and weirdness and the insanity his life had become. The last thing Jim wanted was to get sucked up in bickering over what they should look at first. Time to take action.

"Compromise time," Jim stepped in the middle of them, making a 'T' with his hands "It's ten right now, lunch is at noon and we get back on the bus at two thirty. We spend an hour in the history section, take pictures for the play and everything, then another hour in the mineral exhibit. After lunch we can go back and check out anything we missed, sound good?"

Mary and Toby briefly shared a look before nodding in agreement.

"Sounds good,"

"Works for me,"

"Alright then," Claire moved towards the stairs, glancing over her shoulder to make sure they were following "Let's go,"

They headed upstairs, turning down the hall past the Egypt exhibit and the Dinosaur room into the medieval history section. As soon as they stepped in Claire made a beeline for a clear display case holding half a dozen brightly colored dresses.

"This embroidery's amazing..." she came right up to the display, nose inches away from the glass "I can't believe the museum was able to keep the original gowns in such good shape," she got out her phone and started snapping pictures.

Darci sided up to her, reading from the display card "Early 17th century England. That's the right time period, you could rock something like this as Juliet,"

Claire glanced from her phone to the dress and sighed "I can dream, with our budget I'll probably end up performing in a bathrobe,"

"Oh I wouldn't be so sure," Toby said breezily.

Jim glanced at him "What does that mean?"

"You know," Mary waved him off "All sorts of expected things can happen between now and the play's premier, maybe an unexpected donation to the budget..."

Darci stopped in her tracks and pivoted around, gaze swiveling back and forth between Mary and Toby "Ok, seriously, what's going on? You guys are up to something and I want to know what it is,"

Toby blanched "Oh-- well I, um...hey look at these!" he ran over to a series of paintings on the wall "These are new!"

Part of Jim was tempted to call Toby out on the fact that he and Mary were obviously hiding something. But if Toby and Mary were in cahoots with something maybe it was better if he didn't know, that way he could pass a lie detector test, and something about the painting Toby was waving at did snag his attention...

It was a medievaly looking portrait of a red headed woman in a long dress holding a bundle, a second glance revealed that the bundle contained some kind of tiny creature with green skin, claws, and fangs.

He stepped closer, glancing down at the description card "The Pale Lady's gift?"

"Approximately late fifteenth century," Darci read the rest of the card "Part one of a series painted by an unknown artist, all featuring this 'Pale Lady',"

Glancing down the row of paintings Jim saw she was right, a row of medievally looking paintings all with the same red haired woman. Some were of her standing in the woods with more monsters, another showed her in white standing in front of a stone arch with the sun rising, or maybe setting, behind it, another standing in front of a castle next to a big guy wearing armor and a crown, either a knight or a king or both.

"I've never heard of this 'Pale Lady'," Claire said "Do you guys have any idea who she might be?"

"Nope,"

"Nada,"

"If you don't know I sure as heck don't,"

Jim gripped the velvet rope separating him from the painting, staring into the swirls of paint.

They were just paintings, old timey art. Nothing about them was super different from other paintings Jim had seen of dragons and princesses and unicorns. But something about these images stuck in Jim's head, some little detail he couldn't put his finger on poking at the back of his brain...

"I'm going to see if I can find Ms. Nomura, she might know more about these, be right back,"

"Ok,"

"Ask her if the museum has other gowns,"

"And ask her how many diamonds the museum has!"

With a quick nod Jim hurried off, jogging down the stairs and heading in the direction of the entrance. Maneuvering past the giant stegosaurus skeleton and weaving through the crowd milling in and out of the gift shop. He'd last seen Ms. Nomura near the front so that was the best place to start looking for her.

He had to find her, had to ask her about those pai--

"Long time no see Lake,"

Jim felt his stomach drop, immediately halting in his tracks and turning towards the source of the painfully familiar voice "What do you want Steve?"

Steve Palchuk smirked at him, pushing away from the column he was leaning against and swaggering towards him, looking smug as ever "I just wanted to let you know that Nuñez and I are doing a lot of practice for the play after you leave each day, pretty soon we'll be ready for the big smooch, on the lips," he said the last word with a pop.

"Yeah of course you are, because stage kisses aren't a thing," Jim grumbled.

Steve's grin dropped into a scowl "Get this straight Lake, I'm going to be the star of the show here, and on opening night, when I take my big bow after Claire gives me a big ol smooch," he leaned down, growling right in Jim's face "Everyone's going to realize what a little crybaby dweeb you are,"

Intestines in knots, Jim pivoted on his heel and headed back the way he came, chest feeling heavier with each step "Good for you Steve, let me know how that turns out,"

He'd just tell the others that he couldn't find Ms. Nomura or she was busy or something. He'd rather live with the mystery of the paintings than be within ten feet of Steve Palchuk for another second.

It wasn't the way Steve grated on his nerves, or the way he boasted about being involved in the play in a way Jim never could. The thing Jim couldn't stand was the guilt.

Sure he still didn't like Steve, probably never would, but he wasn't the problem he'd been before. He couldn't shove him around or trip him in the hallways anymore, not unless he wanted to get suspended again. Even if he was still the biggest dick in school. But despite how Steve Steve was the worst part was Jim knew he was the one who screwed up worse, and he still owed Steve an apology.

His stomach tightened even further. No, apologies were for stepping on someone's shoelaces or accidentally spilling their soda, what Jim had done was supremely fucked up.

The things he'd said to Steve last year...they crossed a line, those weren't ok things to say to anybody. And Jim knew that he needed to look Steve in the eye and tell him that nothing he said about Steve and his dad was true, and Jim had only said what he knew would hurt the most. But every time he came close, every time he came up to Steve, words perched on the tip of his tongue. Steve said or did something that reminded Jim of how much a jackass he was and Jim ended up swallowing it back.

So here he was, six months later still stewing in guilt. And it looked like that wasn't going to change any time soon.

Besides it's not like Steve had ever apologized for breaking his j--

"Jim! Hey Jim! Wait up!"

Jim turned to see Eli rushing up to him waving his phone.

"You gotta check this out! I know you'll believe me,"

Oh great, more evidence of the Illuminati working out of the tea shop on main. Better just let Eli show him and nod along politely other wise he'll bug him about it for the rest of the d--

Jim froze, staring at the picture on the phone, blood running cold. It was a selfie of Eli with some thing on the ground behind him. The quality was pretty good, even if the subject of the photo was pretty messed up. Whatever it was it was clearly smashed. The majority of it's body had been pulverized into greenish goop onto the asphalt, but there were still a few identifying features. A spindly leg here, a pointy ear there.

His mouth went dry.

It had been well over a year ago, but there was no mistaking that creature, the same kind he'd stumbled across in the depths of the forest.

"So uhhh....what am I looking at here?" Jim had to fight to keep his voice even.

"It's a creeper!" Eli waved the phone in his face "They've been hanging around my house for months! And now I finally have proof!"

Ice filled his chest.

Creeper, hanging around Eli's house for months

Had to tell Blinky, Jim still didn't know exactly what those things were, but they weren't just running around the forest any more. There were here, in town. And he didn't know what they were, but he knew they were dangerous.

"Actually I'm pretty sure that's just a raccoon that got turned into roadkill, sorry, gotta go,"

After grabbing them Jim had booked it to Trollmarket, making it all the way to Blinky's library before setting them down. In about two seconds they realized that Blinky and AAARRRGGHH weren't there. Jim had wanted to run off right away to find them, but at the rest of them insisting, more specifically Mary screaming, they'd all taken a few minutes to catch their breaths before heading out. After a bit of searching they found Blinky and AAARRRGGHH having drinks at some kind of troll pub, once all the panicked 'what are you doing here's were out of the way they gave them a rundown of everything that had happened at the museum.

Which brought them here, waiting in tense silence for Blinky and AAARRRGGHH to say something.

"So!?" Toby threw his arms out "What's up with the weird shapeshifting troll lady at the goblin nest!?"

AAARRRGGHH snapped his head down with a sharp glance at Blinky, muttering something in trollish, too low and rapid for Claire to pick up.

Blinky slammed his mug down on the table, firing back a stream of trollish at AAARRRGGHH. They were using some weird dialect but Claire was able to catch the words 'danger', 'unclean', and 'youthful', but in this context it might mean 'too young'--

"Come on guys!" Mary whined "You know we don't know enough trollish to keep up when you get all--"

"Changeling." AAARRRGGHH said solemnly.

The second the word left his lips all sound in the pub stopped. No clinking glasses or muttered conversations, every head and eyeball in the room turning in their direction, a cold prickle running up Claire's spine at the sudden scrutiny.

Blinky choked out an awkward laugh before grabbing AAARRRGGHH by the beard and yanking him down to eye level "Some discretion if you would," he glanced around at all the trolls in pub staring at them "Carry on good fellows, nothing to see here, just...education on tragic events of the distant past,"

The heavy silence persisted for a few more seconds before the six armed bartender turned and started refilling the mugs in their hands, sound slowly creeping back into the room as everyone went back to what they were doing before AAARRRGGHH spoke. Claire forced her muscles to relax, easing into her seat, but kept her ears trained on any and all stray bits off noise.

Most trolls didn't know that they were all learning trollish, and people tended to say lots of things around you when they thought you couldn't understand the language.

"Uhhh..." Jim was sitting up ramrod straight, hackles raised and clearly uncomfortable "What's a changeli--"

"Lower your voice!" Blinky hissed. Flicking his top four eyes all around, he waved them in with his top two arms.

Claire scooted up as much as she could on the stone bench, the others moving in alongside her, all of them clustering in tight.

"Changelings haven't been talked about openly in quite some time and..."

Abruptly Blinky glanced over his shoulder, a red troll with wide curling horns standing just behind him.

"Do. You. Mind!?"

The stranger snorted and turned to walk away "Whatever,"

"In the old world, Gumm Gumms stole young trolls from their tribes and--" Blinky cut himself off again, glaring across the table, the red troll having just moved to AAARRRGGHH's other side.

Ten seconds of Blinky staring daggers into them was all the stranger could take "Fine." he-- not he they, gendered pronouns were only for trolls you've been introduced to, stomped away. Heading out of the pub with all of Blinky's eyes watching them. Only when they'd stepped out did Blinky continue.

"These stolen whelps were then...changed," his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper "Warped by obscene magics gifted to the Gumm Gumms by the Eldritch queen herself. Their sole purpose, to spy on the world above,"

"What exactly did they do to them?" Claire whispered, leaning forward practically hanging halfway across the table "And who's this Eldritch Queen?"

Blinky's expression tightened, AAARRRGGHH shooting him a sharp look.

"These young trolls were...altered," Blinky said haltingly "Given the ability to withstand the sun and adopt a human form, trained to be ruthless spies and assassins. As for the author of these foul magics...that...that will be discussed later in your education,"

"Wait so these changelings can turn back and forth between human and troll!?" Jim's voice jumped up an octave.

"Yes and such things are rarely discussed openly, so please--"

"Does that mean that I--" Jim swayed in his seat, hands shaking with the force they were gripping the table with "With me-- and how I-- I-- oh god, what if I--"

The grind of stone on stone and a flash of motion was all the warning Claire had before Blinky practically leapt across the table and slapped two hands over Jim's mouth "Silence yourself at once!"

For a few seconds none of them moved, Blinky's gaze darting around in every direction. A few trolls in the pub were looking a them but in more of a 'why are humans so weird' way instead of 'deeply taboo subjects being shared with outsiders' way. Eventually Blinky pried his hands off of Jim's face and settled back next to AAARRRGGHH "We will discuss this at length in the future in private," he kept his voice low, even from just across the table Claire could barely hear him "Just know that as certain as I am that the sun will rise, you are not of that breed. Now not another word on the matter whilst we're in public."

Jim sagged, a gusty exhale leaving him, clearly massively relieved, but Claire was still keyed up.

"Ok then, so what's a changeling troll lady doing running a museum?"

"I...I think I might know why,"

She turned to see Mary set her phone on the table, sliding it to the center.

"I spotted this right before the goblins attacked us, I thought I recognized it from the illustration in ABR so I took a picture,"

All of them leaned in to peer down and Mary's phone and the photo pulled up on it, Claire included.

Despite being taken in a dark room it was a pretty good picture, Mary had used three months worth of allowance to upgrade her phone to one with a top of the line camera. A partially assembled stone sculpture set up in one of the museum's side halls, surrounded by large crates, some of them open and empty, probably where the parts of the sculpture had come from, but some still sealed up. No doubt containing more stone blocks. And even half finished the overall shape of the sculpture was weird, curved, a half moon maybe?. It almost looked like a--

Two wires clicked in her brain and Claire actually felt her heart stop, mouth going dry and skin on the back of her neck prickling up.

It wasn't a sculpture, it was a bridge. And not just any bridge.

The bridge with a whole chapter of ABR dedicated to it, including a highly detailed illustration spread across two pages.

The only thing keeping all the big bad human eating trolls locked away.

Kilahead bridge.

"Gorgus preserve us..." Blinky whispered. Above his shoulder AAARRRGGHH's face went gaunt.

"Oh man oh man this is bad," Jim gripped his horns "Like goodbye Arcadia bad!"

"Nomura must be rebuilding Kilahead," Claire pushed herself up against the table "That's why she's set up in the museum! She's passing it off as an exhibit!"

"Rebuilding, gathering all the pieces of the bridge would take decades, centuries even!" Blinky picked up Mary's phone, gripping it tight holding it close to his three left eyes, oblivious to the look of horror on Mary's face "But changelings are nothing if not resourceful, and their ambition knows no bounds. Their presence in Arcadia, working in collusion with Bular and goblins, the reconstruction of Kilahead...this is troubling indeed."

"So what's our game plan here?" Toby jumped up on the bench, eye level with Claire "If they're reassembling Kilahead that means they want to let the rest of the Gumm Gumms out, we've got to stop them!"

"Kilahead won't work if all the stones aren't there, right?" Claire looked up at AAARRRGGHH, who gave a single nod back at her.

A wide grin broke through the panic on Toby's face "Then all we have to do is bust back into the museum and steal one of the bridge stones, and their plan is over. World saved!"

"That...might be tough," Jim plucked the phone from Blinky's hands and dropped it back into Mary's waiting ones "Goblins aside, Nomura might beef up security at the museum, if we try to sneak in again the cops will be all over us, we barely got away from them tonight,"

"Then we go in during the day," Claire lowered herself back down to sit on the bench "No trolls or magic, just some normal teens learning about history,"

"We'll need a distraction," Toby dropped back into his seat "Just leave that to me,"

Mary raised an eyebrow "You thinking Operation: Silent Night?"

"I think Operation: Hopper might be the best way to go,"

"But where are we going to get that many crickets on short notice?"

"Ok no crickets here!" Jim held up both hands "And since when are you guys making all these secret plans?"

"Hey we have lives outside of Trollhunting," Mary said with a flick of her hair.

"Yeah but since when do you leave the rest of us out of them?" Claire shot back at her "Are you guys dating?"

Both Mary and Toby visibly recoiled.

"What?! No way!"

"While I am offended on how quickly you answered that, I can confirm we are not going out,"

Claire crossed her arms with a scowl "Fine. Don't tell us."

Mary winced "Claire..."

"Can we please get back on the topic of Kilahead bridge being rebuilt and the evil trolls possibly escaping it!?" Jim pushed himself between Toby and Mary, glancing around pleadingly "Even if we get in during the day, depending on how big the stones are we might not be able to--"

A loud sob cut him off, startlingly loud even in the crowded tavern. Claire whipped around to see Darci crumpled on the table, face buried in her arms, doing very little to muffle her cries. Across the table Mary's and Toby's eyes went wide, Jim's jaw was hanging open in stupefied shock and both Blinky and AAARRRGGHH looked equal parts concerned and uncomfortable.

Seeing her best friend so distressed made Claire's heart clench. She scooted closer across the bench "Darc what--"

In a flash Darci snapped upright, sending Claire whipping back, her face blotchy, eyes red with tears streaming down "We could have died!"

"Darc--"

"The goblins could have killed us! The troll lady could have killed us! Bular could have killed us!"

Recovering from her shock, Mary reached over to her "Hey it's ok, we're safe here now--"

Darci shoved her off "It's just too much! Bular and all those goblins-- an-- an-- and that changeling troll lady! I just-- I can't do this any more guys!"

"Whoa whoa whoa," Toby scooted closer to her "No need to freak out, Jimbo wouldn't let anything--"

"We had to fend off the goblins on our own!" Darci shrieked, Toby jerking back "He was too busy fighting with the crazy changeling lady, they could have bitten us to death, we could have died!"

Jim's face was stricken "I-- I'm sorry I-- I was trying to look out for you and I just--"

Just like that Darci slumped onto the table, sagging like a puppet with its strings cut, face buried in her arms sobbing away.

By now every troll in the pub was openly staring at them, even the bartender, unbothered by the glares from AAARRRGGHH and Blinky's attempts to wave them off.

But that didn't matter, what mattered was one of Claire's best friends in the world was having a complete breakdown.

Keeping her motions slow and deliberate, Claire slid closer, gingerly wrapping an arm around Darci's shoulders. On her other side Mary did the same, the two of them encircling her.

Claire squeezed Darci as hard as she dared, wanting to let her know that her best friends were here for her but not quite sure she was in the mood for a bear hug right now.

This...wasn't just a tonight thing, this had been brewing in Darci for a long time, now it was just coming to the surface. As her sobbing continued, if Mary and Claire were making her feel better it wasn't showing, Claire felt her throat tighten. How...how had she not noticed? How upset Darci was getting, how scared. Sure things got a little crazy but they handled it just fine. Sure there were a lot of goblins tonight, but they did ok fending them off--

But what if you didn't

Sure they'd had AAARRRGGHH's help getting away the last time, and with Bular they'd had Jim running interference. But if they'd had to deal with it alone Claire was sure they could have handled it. There were five of them, seven with AAARRRGGHH and Blinky, they could handle anythi--

The clearing of a throat grabbed her attention. Looking up across the table to meet Blinky's pained gaze "Perhaps is might be better if the...human component of our group took on a more supportive role,"

Claire's actually felt her breathing stop for a few seconds.

The four of them sidelined, forced to step back as the bigger stronger boy took center stage. No. They couldn't. She wouldn't just let herself be shoved to the side like a--

"Wha-- but you can't just bench us!" Toby sputtered "We're a team! Come on Jim tell them!"

Jim didn't say anything, head hanging low, all she could see were the curves of his horns on top of indigo hair.

"Go on Jim, tell them we're just as much a part of team Trollhunter as you!"

A deep rumble from AAARRRGGHH pulled her attention; all three of them looking up at him.

"Many ways to help against Gumm Gumms," AAARRRGGHH rumbled "Learn strategy, keep watch on surface. No need for ones who can't fight to go to battle,"

A hot flush shot through Claire from head to toe. She wanted to fire back with a composed, rational retort as to why this was completely unfair, but if she opened her mouth the only thing that would come out was an indignant shriek.

Those who can't fight

"This is bogus!" Mary snapped.

"Yeah we can hold our own just fine!" Toby stood up on the bench, whipping his glare back and forth between Blinky and AAARRRGGHH "Sure we're not as badass as Jim, but if we just trained a little we could--"

"Maybe they're right."

In an instant they all went silent, the only sound at the table Darci's sniffles as they all slowly turned to look at Jim.

He had finally raised his head, fanged mouth twisted in a grimace, the look on his face sad and deeply guilty.

Claire's stomach dropped to the floor, Darci didn't react just kept on crying, on her other side Mary stiffened. Across the table she could see Toby working his jaw open and shut in shock.

"B-- but we're a team!" he stammered "We're in this Trollhunting thing just as much as you, you can't just..."

Somehow the look of guilt on Jim's face got ten times heavier "Guys...when we go out and face goblins or monsters, I'm not worried about getting hurt, I'm worried about you guys getting hurt. I can get slammed around and walk if off, if one of you guys gets hit--"

His voice cracked "I...I try to do my best to take point and make sure you don't get hurt, but I'm...I'm terrified that one day I'm not going to be fast enough or strong enough and one of you gets..."

He tailed off, tense silence filling the air. None of them having the guts to say what Jim hadn't. Until AAARRRGGHH did it for them.

"Jim gets hit gets back up," he rumbled "Humans get hit and get hurt bad. Not something can be changed with training or studying."

In an instant the white hot indignance burning in Claire's chest snuffed out.

No one was saying that the rest of them weren't as smart or as capable as Jim. The fact of the matter was Jim was more durable than them.

She swallowed back the ashes of her protests and continued to pat Darci's shoulder "Ok, we'll take a step back, stick to research and daytime recon,"

Mary was still stiff on Darci's other side but she nodded along "Yeah, what Claire said. No more goblins or fighting,"

Toby sat silently for the longest time, but eventually he nodded to.

Still looking sick to his stomach, Jim reached over and patted Darci's hand "And don't worry about the bridge and the museum," he said gently "The four of us can handle that,"

"N-- no I--"

Darci scrambled upright, pushing off Claire and Mary's hands, sniffling and rubbing her face with the side of her arm "I can handle museum stuff during the day, just...just not all the dangerous stuff,"

"We can discuss the specific roles you will assume at a later time," Blinky pushed himself away from the table and stood "But before any battle plans can be made Vendel must be informed. And you five must rest, not only did you escape certain death tonight, you are well overdue for some sleep, come."

They all stood followed and Blinky out of the tavern and down the street, AAARRRGGHH bringing up the rear.

But instead of heading to the stairs, Claire realized they were heading back to the library.

"Hey Blinky the exit's that way," she pointed a thumb over her shoulder "If we want to get home and get some Z's we should turn around,"

Blinky looked back with a smile "That is where the surprise I've had planned for you for comes into play, and I can think of no better time,"

Toby recoiled "Please not another saga recitation!"

"My ears are still ringing from the last one!" Mary wailed.

Blinky sputtered with indignance "I'll have you know you should be so privileged to hear the entirety of the Battle of Bone Canyon in its native dialect! But no the surprise is something else," he gestured to the library's open door with all four arms "Right this way!"

Curious now, Claire darted into the library a few steps ahead of everyone else. Only to find the library exactly as they left it. Blinky came in with the others, stepping ahead of her into one of the smaller study rooms. Claire followed after him to see--

"Hey am I crazy or was that door not there the last time we were here?"

"Indeed it was not. I made arrangements with the neighbors and gained use of this space," Blinky stepped over and pushed the door open, smile wide and eager, gesturing for them to go inside.

Jim headed in first, Claire right on his heels, she could hear the others right behind her. When they were all inside and Claire could finally move past Jim she stepped ahead to get a good look.

The new room was smaller than the library proper but bigger than any of the side rooms. AAARRRGGHH could definitely fit but he'd have to do his dislocation thing to get through the door. But unlike the library the room dwarfed the books instead of the other way around, only one bookshelf with a single crystal lantern on top against the wall near the entrance. The space was roughly triangle shaped, narrowest at the doorway and widening up in front of them. On the far side of the room against the widest wall there were five shallow depressions in the floor. All of them were lined with...stuff. That was the best way to describe it. A random assortment of dish towels, bath towels, blankets, curtains-- wait was that fur in there!?

Moving closer, to the second depression from the left, Claire inspected the patch of orange poking out between a stripped bed sheet and a flower print curtain.

Yep that was a fox pelt alright, if the shape didn't confirm it the white tip sure did. As she looked she saw more furs of various shades; sandy brown, thick black, occasional flash of white--

"We've prepared this space in case any or all of you need a place to rest from your training...or a sanctuary to remain in Trollmarket for an extended period of time,"

Claire turned back around. There was a nervous edge to Blinky's smile now, wringing both sets of hands standing in the doorway.

"Wait a second is this a room for....all of us?" Mary said slowly.

From over Blinky's shoulder AAARRRGGHH smiled and nodded "Yes, place for humans to be safe,"

"Indeed it is, a safe, private space that you may all rest from studies and training, with a nest for each of you to sleep in. I know humans require a great deal of sleep. If you wish to rest here tonight before heading home, you are welcome,"

Jim looked from Blinky back to the fur and fabric lined hollows "....how do you guys feel about crashing here for tonight?"

"I'm down, it's past midnight and I'm wiped, so I could go for a few Z's before heading home,"

Toby strode past her towards the hollow in the middle, turning around and flopping backwards onto the pile.

He shifted this way and that on the pile of furs and towels, expression turning contemplative, then satisfied "Yeah this kind of rules, though I'm not a fan of the tarp,"

"Heck I'll take it,"

Jim strode forward, reaching down as Toby lifted the tarp up, blue martial crinkling. Off to the side Mary and Darci were inspecting the hollow on the far right.

"...this could work," Mary said slowly

"Hang on are we actually considering sleeping here tonight?" Darci's voice was even, red rimmed eyes the only trace of her earlier tears.

"Why not? We could use a nap, and a place to hunker down safe from goblins until sunrise," Mary shrugged "Give Jim all the tarps and hand towels, hang up some of the curtains for changing areas, and we've got the perfect club house!"

Claire let their chatter fade to background noise, kneeling down and slowly running her hands over the fox fur. It was soft, thick and warm, the thought of napping on a pile of these sounded heavenly.

The idea of sleeping over in Trollmarket hadn't crossed her mind before, but Claire wasn't opposed. And the idea of having their own hang out space down here was growing on her more and more.

A club house; somewhere in Trollmarket they could hang out without worrying about being stepped on or stumbling into a fire hazard. A library full of trollish books full of magic and ancient myths just a few feet away, no fussy babies or parents to nag about chores and studying....

She spun around, practically bursting with giddy energy "Blinky this is great!"

"You...like it?"

"Like it? We love it!" Toby pulled himself up from his hollow, passing a curtain to Mary "This place is totally awesomesauce!"

"Yeah!" Jim flashed a fanged grin "It'll be nice to have a place to crash down here,"

Mary lifted the curtain this way and that, sectioning off one of the hollows from the others "Some modesty curtains here and there, some Christmas lights, and this place will be perfect!"

"We could get a spider plant and a lamp for it..." Darci said, an excited grin slowly but surely spreading across her face "Maybe even a peace lily!"

"AAARRRGGHH and Blinky help," AAARRRGGHH said with a slow nod.

Beside him Blinky was positively radiant "I'm so glad you enjoy it! We worked very hard to make this space habitable for human striplings,"

Tarps and blackout curtains weren't exactly comfy, and it would be fine for a night or to, but sleeping in a round depression in the ground long term would be murder on their backs. But there was no reason to rain on Blinky's parade, besides, they could sort out the sleeping materials and bring a few cots down here later.

"Thanks Blinky," she smiled at him "We really appreciate it,"

Somehow Blinky's grin widened even further.

*

"Thanks again for checking in,"

"No problem," the police officer tipped his hat with a smile "You just watch out and don't trip over any more silent alarms,"

Nomura forced out a bubbly laugh "Will do, you have a good night,"

"Thanks, you to," the officer gave perky wave, that Nomura forced herself to return as the officer headed back to his car where his partner was waiting, easing the museum side door closed behind him.

The second it latched shut she dropped her hand and her grin.

That was fucking stupid.

Nomura was no coward, but no changeling started a fight that they didn't stand a good chance of winning, and she certainly wasn't an exception. The new Trollhunter, just as young and inexperienced as their intel promised, stumbling into her lap with a gaggle of human cronies. While it had been more than a little shocking to see the Trollhunter working with human kids it wasn't like a bunch of pubescent fleshbags actually mattered. It should have been easy to beat the little junior hunter bloody and drag them to Bular. It was easy, the brat barely knew how to swing his sword and the goblins had been keeping the humans busy. She'd had the hunter on the ropes without even breaking a sweat.

Her molars ground together painfully, heels snapping against the marble floor.

Only for the hunter to pull a fast one and sick the goblins on her, and even worse, trip an alarm on the way out. Nomura was barely able to pull herself free from the goblins and shift back to human in time greet the arriving police officers. Doing her best to laugh off the situation as being clumsy and accidentally setting off the alarm by tripping over a box.

Thankfully they'd bought it and left without a fuss. If this had been treated like a full on break in word would have made it back to the precinct and Thatcher, the sadistic prick that he was, would have thrown her under the bus.

Or more specifically, at Bular's mouth.

Thankfully Nomura had been able to avoid that outcome, now she only had to deal with pissy goblins, a massive mess in the bridge exhibit, and her own wounded pride on letting an uppity whelp and their human sidekicks get the better of her.

Reaching said mess at the Kilahead exhibit, shattered crates and smashed goblin remains smeared over torn down tarps scattered on and around the half finished stone arch. It almost looked like an explosion went off. And of course, she couldn't exactly delegate cleaning this to the human custodians.

An upturned crate blocked her path. Resisting the urge to kick it across the room, she squatted down and lifted it up, moving to set it alongside the wall.

A full deep cleaning would take days, but hopefully she could get this under control enough to get out of here before midni--

"Trouble with burglars?"

In an instant her already sour mood turned rancid.

Whipping around she threw the crate with all the force she could muster.

A raised eyebrow, half a step to left, wood shattering harmlessly against a marble column and green eyes staring at her with cool amusement.

"Temper temper dear,"

Nomura growled.

Perfect, just fucking perfect. Talk about the absolute last thing she needed tonight.

"Why are you here!?" she spat.

"Can't I be worried my fellow changeling's well being?" he strode towards her, running a finger along the edge of a crate, voice dripping with faux concern.

Nomura had to bite back a harsh bark of laughter. Worried? Not fucking likely.

"Well no need to lose sleep," she bent down to pick up another crate "Trollhunter was here, he got away, bridge is fine," she strode to the side of the room and set it against the wall "You can go now,"

She moved to go grab another crate only to jerk back when she saw Stricklander only inches away, expression flat but glowing eyes piercing through her.

"I find it difficult to believe that one of the order's top fighters could lose to a stripling with only months of training,"

Forcing back the urge to flash the glow in her own eyes, Nomura sidestepped him, making a beeline for an upturned crate "He got lucky, sicked the goblins on me,"

"And you lack your own luck?"

She tore down a stained tarp "Fuck you,"

Stricklander didn't even flinch "If you're incapable of safeguarding the bridge there are plenty of capable agents who would be happy to take your place. And we always need more boots on the ground scouting,"

Those words stopped Nomura dead in her tracks, frozen bent halfway down reaching for the crate, blood reaching a boil. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to throttle the smug, arrogant bastard, even though she knew he'd cut her carotid before she got close.

How dare he. How dare he. Switching her back to crawling through the sewers all night so chumps like Gladys and Thatcher could take her place!? Not on her fucking life! Nomura wasn't going to stand by and let herself get screwed over, and she hadn't risen high in the order just by cutting off heads and kicking teeth in.

Any changeling worth their salt knew that the right bit of intel was more deadly than any blade.

Snapping back up and pivoting on her heel, Nomura stared Stricklander dead in the eye "The Trollhunter didn't get away on their own, they had help,"

A single eyebrow arced "Oh? Did their trainers accompany them?"

"No. Human help."

Stricklander didn't react, face a neutral mask.

Nomura wished she'd gotten a better look at the teenagers earlier, or even counted the number of them. The only thing she knew for sure was it was a mixed gender group of three to five. She'd been more focused on the Trollhunter. Not focused enough as it was, but Stricklander didn't need to know any of that.

"A group of them, young, probably around the Trollhunter's age, I could be persuaded to tell you more if I...."

She trailed off. Stricklander didn't move, standing still as a statue, watching her with calm passivity.

Her heart sank "You knew."

A mild grin broke through his veneer of composure "Don't be too hard on yourself, I've known about our Trollhunter's companions for quite some time now,"

This time she wasn't able to stop the glow flashing in her sclera, the lapse in control infuriating her even more. Hands balled into trembling fists, whole body simmering with rage.

She was such an idiot! Stricklander didn't come here to berate her, he came here to confirm what she'd seen. What he already knew.

Just like that her intel was worthless. She only knew that a small group of human teens was helping the Trollhunter. Which meant that Stricklander already knew their full names, home addresses, and social security numbers.

"Still moving me to scouting duty?" she growled through gritted teeth.

Stricklander, the insufferable prick who actually was as smart as he thought he was, had the nerve to chuckle "No not just yet. I believe as long as you're...discreet about tonight's incident I can be persuaded to keep you where you are,"

Translation. Don't spread what you learned around and I won't cause problems for you.

"Well consider my lips sealed," she narrowed her eyes at him "So what are you actually planning on doing about the hunter's human lackeys?"

"Oh don't worry your head about it," he oh so casually wiped dust off the edge of an unpacked bridge stone "Though I suppose tonight's incident has moved up my plans a bit, it's nothing to concern yourself with,"

Translation. I have a scheme in progress but I'm not telling you shit.

"Fine, whatever, do what you want," she bent down and picked up another crate "I'll just stay here unpacking boxes and guarding rocks,"

"Excellent," Stricklander chuckled again "See that you do, but I think you should stash the bridge away for the time being, in case our young hunter and their merry band recognized something they shouldn't have tonight,"

Nomura actually staggered, nearly droppeding the crate in her arms. No-- they couldn't have...could they? The hunter hadn't gotten close but she hadn't kept track of the humans. Even if they didn't recognize it one of them might have snapped a photo to show the hunter later. It had never even occurred to her that the hunter or the teens might have recognized Kilahead for what it--

"But I did."

She whipped her head around, startled enough to actually stare at him in open mouthed shock for a few seconds. Stricklander smirking back at her. He couldn't read minds, she knew he couldn't, but times like this, when he could read people so well and respond to what they were thinking without them even saying a word, was why the rumor that he could still persisted.

"I'll leave the task in your capable hands," Stricklander turned and started striding away "And see that you keep better control of the goblins this time,"

His footsteps trailed into silence, leaving Nomura alone with the stones and the boxes.

With a shriek she hurled the crate in her arms to the ground, wood shattering against marble.

The corners of Mistress Wilkins' mouth turned downwards into a tiny frown "Mother?"

Martha's heavy footsteps plodded towards the room, Esther took advantage of the sound to dart backwards, until she was pressing her shoulders to the wall, hand held underneath the cup to catch any stray dribbles. Praying that they wouldn't hear her stomach grumbling.

"Yes?" Martha poked her head into the room.

"How much honey was in this jar when you first purchased it?"

"Twas nearly full,"

Esther didn't dare move so much as an inch, but her eyes darted back and forth between the two older women.

Mistress Wilkins stepped towards the table, eyes on the jar and frown deepening "Does it seem...less full now?"

Martha looked down at the jar herself "Not particularly,"

"I could have sworn we had more..."

"Likely just your eyes playing tricks on you," Martha stepped past her and started gathering the cups from the counter "Best not to dwell on it,"

Mistress Wilkins lingered by the jar for a few moments longer before moving to help gather the cups "I suppose you're right,"

Esther had to bite her cheek to stifle back a triumphant giggle.

As soon as Martha was moving again Esther darted out of the kitchen, socked feet soundless on the wooden floor, night dress moving with barely a rustle. Few guests lingered in the hall, but Esther wove through them, no one giving her so much as a glance. Strolling past the open door to the dining room, Judge Wilkins' laughter booming out.

The smell of roasted meat made her linger, peering in. Judge Wilkins sat at the head of the table, guests hovering near his chair, a feast laid out before him. Succulent looking roasted pig sitting on the table, apple in its mouth, surrounded by golden white biscuits, stewed beets, carrots and mushrooms, slices of potato glistening with butter.

Esther lingered in the doorway for a few moments longer before forcing herself to look away, stomach churning around her own supper of stale bread and thin broth as she headed down the hall.

Couldn't risk it, the dining room was too crowded, she'd be caught before she managed to pinch a single biscuit. One day, with more time and practice and a plan in place, but not tonight.

Finally after several more twists and turns she reached the narrow door at the end of the hall, letting herself in and swiftly shutting it behind her.

The space inside was small, made crowded by the straw pallet, barely more than a large closet. Shoved into the corner was a shabby wooden trunk, holding the few garments that could be considered 'theirs'. Next to trunk was a crude wooden shelf holding Esther's doll, shiny rocks and interesting forms of wood, Ben's own tin cup. By far the most luxurious item in the room was the round glass window set high in the wall, filling the space with cool moonlight. Esther recalled hearing Mistress Wilkins talk of one day turning the space into a prayer room.

At the sound of the door opening and shutting Ben shot up from the pallet, throwing off the blanket and glancing around frantically "Wha-- who-- who's there!?"

Esther giggled "Calm down tis only me," she raised an arm and rubbed the ointment off her forehead with the back of her hand, breaking the invisibility charm.

Ben's eyes landed on her, relief filling them briefly, before flopping back on the pallet with a groan "Esther you know I don't like you playing with things from that book--"

"How else am I to snatch this?" she waved her cup, brimming with sticky, sweet smelling honey, below his nose.

Ben's eyes went huge in the dim light, scrambling back up "Stealing honey!? Esther this is--"

"We were the ones scrubbing the floors and peeling potatoes for hours for this stupid party!" Esther snapped back "We deserve to eat well to, now will you continue to wail or will you help me get rid of the evidence?"

Ben shut his mouth, staring down at her cup, mouth pressed into a thin line. His supper had been no better than hers, so Esther knew it was only a matter of time before his stomach won out against his conscience.

After a long moment Ben slumped forward with a sigh, reaching over to dip his fingers in the cup.

Grinning in triumph, Esther dipped a finger in, scooping out a glob of honey, and popped it into her mouth, sweetness melting across her tongue.

The two of them slurped down their treat sitting on their straw pallet in the dim little room, the only sound sucking the sticky sap off their fingers. Soon Esther's cup was scoured clean.

She replaced her cup on the shelf and flopped back on the pallet with a contented sigh "One day we'll have honey with every meal,"

Beside her she heard Ben shifting around "Esther I...appreciate you getting honey for us, but messing with sorcery will bring nothing but trouble--"

"Will not! Once I master these spells there will be nothing I can't do," she pulled her grimoire out from under the pallet, thumbing through the pages "I'll buy us a big house, kitchen full of sweets, a whole library of books you can read-- we'll be the masters then! They'll be no one to order us around!"

Ben pulled the blanket back up with a snap "You'd be better off securing your future through more worldly means, like finding a good husband,"

Esther scowled "I don't need a husband, this book has everything I need,"

"Esther you're ten now--"

"Nearly eleven--"

"You're too old to be indulging these fantasies," he sat up, arms folded, fixing her with a stern look "The little charms and spells in that book might be useful, but they're no substitute for--"

"This book has far more than just charms, listen," Esther flipped several pages "'For there is a balance of power between the spheres, for as beasts of the pit have dominion over mortal beings, mortal beings have dominion over disquieted spirits, and thus disquieted spirits have dominion over beasts of the pit,'"

Ben groaned "I don't care how interesting it is, it's dangerous!"

She let out a sharp laugh "You think that's dangerous!?" Esther flipped to the back of the book "I told you how the end of the book is nothing but blackened pages,"

"Yes?"

"They aren't pure black at all," Ester pried two pages of blackened vellum apart, creaking under her grip, revealing runes and sigils inscribed on the pages between. Glancing up and flashing him a grin "There are more spells back here, spells about controlling demons--"

Ben slapped a hand on the cover, slamming the grimoire shut and nearly catching her hand.

"Esther no!"

"I wasn't going to--"

"Making potions and ointments is one thing," Ben hissed in a low voice "But meddling with demons!? I won't allow it!"

"I--"

"Seriously Esther," there was none of Ben's usual meekness in the iron look he gave her "No demons,"

She groaned, stuffing the grimoire under the straw pallet "Fine, be a worrywort,"

"If ensuring your immortal soul doesn't burn in hellfire makes me a worrywort, then I'm a worrywort," he tucked the edges of the blanket around both of them "Now get some sleep, we've a long day tomorrow,"

Biting back a grumble, Esther settled into the pallet, blanket coarse and straw crackling beneath her "One day my magic is going to solve all our problems, we're going to sleep on feather beds with full stomachs every night,"

"Go to sleep Esther," Ben groaned.

Normally gym class was a game of 'How can we survive whatever cruel and unusual punishment Coach Lawrence decides to put us through today', and while the argument could be made that dodge ball certainly fell into that category, few things in Toby's life up until this point had been as profoundly satisfying as seeing Steve trying and failing to hit Jim with a dodge ball over and over again. Getting progressively redder and redder until by the time Jim had finally hit him out with a fast ball his face was the color of a beet.

Toby wished he'd been able to take a picture to immortalize the historic moment.

Jim huffed a laugh while pulling on his jacket "Forge training, when you're used to dodging flames and spears rubber balls are nothing."

"Makes sense..." Toby said slowly.

That sounded...hazardous. Coach Lawrence might be a hardass, but even he'd never bust out the medieval weaponry, if only because it wasn't in the school's budget, plus he'd probably get sued. But still, couldn't argue with results.

"Think you could talk Blinky into letting me go a few rounds in the forge?"

Jim frozen midway through tying one of his shoes, slowly raising his head to stare at him "Uuuuuuuh, why would you want that?"

"To turn into a fitness god that's why!" Toby plunked down on the bench, stretching his arms out wide painting a picture of the future "Can you imagine, me, scaling the rope in record time. Doing sit up after sit up while the whole school watches in awe!"

Jim was getting fit and tough for his Trollhunting gig, which was great, Toby was happy for him, but he could be happy for his best buddy and want a piece of that fitness mojo himself.

And if being able to juggle dumbbells and kill it at dodge ball made Steve cry, that was just an added bonus.

Jim laughed again, dropping his fully laced foot to the ground and pulling up his other one "Ok, I'll talk to Blinky, but don't say I didn't warn you,"

"Much obliged," Toby reached to pull on his own shoes, only to pause when he felt the buzz in his pocket, getting his phone out and frowning at the notification "I have to compensate somehow since those goblins stole my chubby tracker. And because the location hasn't changed the company doesn't believe it was stolen and refuses to send me a replacement!"

"Wait," Jim slid over to him, looking over Toby's shoulder at his phone "The battery on your tracker is still going?"

"Yep, charged it just before we left for our stakeout,"

"And the location's still on!?"

"Yeah wh--"

Out if nowhere Jim grabbed his shoulders shook him "Toby if the battery's still going and you have their location, that means--"

A lightbulb flashed on in Toby's head.

"We can track down the nest,"

*

"I want it on record that I think this is a bad idea,"

Claire rolled her eyes "We know Mare, you've said it like six times already,"

"Quiet guys," Jim whispered, pulling his hood down low "We're supposed to be keeping a low profile, remember?"

Toby glanced back, wincing at how clearly on edge Jim was. The five of them going to Trollmarket at night was one thing, walking around town was something else entirely. Thanks to the extra-extra big and tall section at Walmart, Jim had jeans and sneakers that actually fit him and a hoodie that went over his horns. Anyone looking out their window or watching security cameras would only see a really big guy, not a troll or anything that necessitated calling animal control.

That was also why they were doing this after dark, on foot, sticking to shadows and side streets. Currently walking single file through a narrow alley instead of the main road which was faster and much more direct. But when a member of your party was a troll stealth took priority, giant hoodies aside.

But still, the way Jim kept fidgeting and glancing around, completely different from the easy confidence he'd had while dominating dodge ball this morning, he was clearly out of his element.

Toby turned back to his phone, making sure they stayed on course of the tracking app. All this just meant it was important that they finished their mission pronto. Get in, get the intel, get out.

Darci rubbed her arms, glancing from side to side "Are we getting close?"

"Almost there," he lifted his head and risked a peek out of the alley, it opened up to a park so he had to make triple sure the coast was clear "Only three hundred yards away,"

He darted out of the alley to the first large tree at the edge of the park, waving the others forward.

One by one they all hurried out to join him, Jim racing across the six feet of open space and diving into the bushes in a blur. From there Toby followed his phone app through the park, sticking to the cover of trees and bushes and zig zagging across open areas. Making slow but steady progress towards the blinking red dot.

"Remember the plan guys," Jim said, voice low "This is just a recon mission, we find where the goblin nest is, then report back to Blinky and AAARRRGGHH,"

"Got it," Darci gave a curt nod.

"Alright," Toby glancing back and forth between his phone and the shadows ahead "The goblin nest should be right...here!"

He shove aside the bush ahead of him, revealing the wretched hive of scum and villainy lurking in their town.

"Huh," Mary said, tilting her head "Not where I expected a goblin nest to be,"

"Yeah Toby are you sure your tracker is right?" Claire glanced between his phone and the building ahead.

"Positive. I calibrate it every week using Meow Meow PI, this thing's accurate within ten feet,"

Jim raised his hood slightly "The museum? How could a goblin nest be here? I think someone would have noticed goblins hanging around the neanderthal exhibit,"

"Maybe they're in the basement or something?" Claire added "Hiding from people in the archives?"

Jim let out a shaky breath "Whatever, it doesn't matter, we found the nest so let's get back and--"

"Oh no!" Mary shoved past them, pointing frantically towards the main entrance "Look!"

They all whipped their heads over to see the same thing Toby did, the perky curator he remembered from their field trip--

"Class be sure to thank Ms. Nomura for taking the time to guide us today, she's a close personal friend who's dedicated her career to caring for these artifacts,"

Striding up the front steps into the museum, none the wiser to the goblin filled death trap she was walking into.

Toby shoved his phone into his pocket with shaking hands "She's gonna be goblin chow! Or worse, get eggs laid in her ears!"

"Maybe it's like Claire said, the goblins are just hanging out in the basement," Mary said slowly "She probably comes and goes from the museum all the time, she hasn't been attacked by goblins yet so it probably won't happen tonight...right?"

"Yeah," Darci piped up, voice a full octave higher than normal "Plus since goblins smell fear and she doesn't even know they're there she won't be afraid so they'll leave her alone!"

All very rational points Toby wholeheartedly agreed with, Ms. Nomura was fine, she probably wouldn't get mauled or have eggs laid in her ears. He turned to Jim to tell him that they should book it back to Blinky and AAARRRGGHH so they could come back with goblin repellent spray, only for his heart to instantly drop into his stomach when he saw the look on his face.

He recognized that look.

"If there's a chance goblins might hurt her I can't risk it, you guys just hang tight, I'll go in and--"

"I'm coming with you," Toby stepped up to his side "If you're going into a goblin nest you'll need someone to watch your back, and your ears,"

"Make that two someones," Claire added "Even though I'm pretty sure goblins don't reproduce that way,"

"Actually three," Mary stepped up to Jim's other side "And don't bother trying to argue, you've never won a debate with me and you're not going to right now,"

"And the heck I'm staying out here alone," Darci mumbled.

"Then it's settled," Jim rose to his full height, pulling his hood down low "We have to go in and check it out for ourselves, if Ms. Nomura isn't in any danger we retreat and tell Blinky and AAARRRGGHH about the nest, if she is we get her out of here,"

They dart over to the side of the museum, sticking to the shadows. Jim reached up and forced open a window, Toby couldn't help but wince at the sound of the latch breaking, boosting them up one by one before leaping in himself, landing in a crouch.

Less than a second after he touched down the amulet flew out of his pocket, hitting him in the chest and armor materializing in a silver flash.

For a moment all was quiet.

Toby glanced around uneasily, they'd only been in the museum a couple days ago, but it looked completely different. All tall shadows and dark silhouettes, making the building seem much bigger than it actually was. Toby couldn't see clearly more than five feet ahead of them. Which meant that goblins or museum burglars could be lurking six feet away and he'd never know until it was too late. The silence was the worst part, instead of footsteps on marble and the buzz of chatter it felt like the whole building was holding its breath. Something crouched and waiting to pounce deep in the dark hallways, biding its time until they were in too deep to get away.

Toby was in it till the end, but man he wished the museum was a lot less creepy after dark.

Claire was the first one to take a cautious step forward "So where should we start?"

Mary moved up to join her "First off, no splitting up, ever. Second we should keep following the tracker and find the nest itself. If it's in the basement or the archives or something we can dip out without telling Ms. Nomura or getting busted for breaking and entering...a third time,"

"Hey at least it's not my house," Jim grumbled "But that sounds good, let's go,"

Slowly but steadily they crept deeper into the museum, footsteps quiet as possible and always on the lookout. Toby kept alternating between scoping their very dark and spooky surroundings and keeping an eye on the tracker on his phone.

Out of nowhere Jim rushed ahead and blocked their path "Ms. Nomura's just up ahead," he pointed at a lit room at the end of the hall.

And risk of being caught aside it was nice to see a lit room with another person inside it, a reminder that they weren't completely alone here.

"We can't let her know we're here unless we absolutely have to, otherwise the goblins could smell her fear,"

Claire stepped up to Toby's side, alternating between glancing at Nomura and peeking at his phone "Toby how close are we?"

"Really close guys," Toby whispered "According to my phone we're practically on top of it, it might be in the basement, we should try to find some stairs and--"

Something green and goopy appeared on his screen, burying the red tracking icon behind a haze. Toby blinked, another glop appeared right next to the first.

Stomach sinking with the feeling he was about the be that guy in a horror movie, Toby slowly raised his head.

When he was little he'd watched a nature documentary about frogs. How they started as tadpoles living in a pond before growing legs and moving to dry land, returning to the water to lay their eggs in one big gigantic gelatinous mass at the bottom of the pond.

What he was looking at right now reminded him a lot of that. Only instead of the bottom of the pond it was on the ceiling of the museum, and instead of frogs suspended ten feet above his head, slimy and bug-eyed but overall harmless unless you licked them, it was a large mass of very not harmless goblins of varying sizes embedded in a mass of green slime.

"Uh guys...I think I found the nest,"

He raised a finger and they all looked up. He could pinpoint the exact second they each spotted the nest when they all recoiled in disgust and horror.

"Oh ick," Darci gagged.

"How has no one noticed this..." Claire muttered.

"Ok that is not in the basement," Jim kept his eyes locked above them "I'll create a distraction to keep the goblins busy, you guys get Ms. Nomura out of here,"

"How are we supposed to do that without sounding crazy!?" Mary hissed.

"I don't know, maybe pull a fire alarm or something..."

Ahead Toby caught a glimpse of magenta through the open doorway, Ms. Nomura pulling something from a crate and carrying it to the side of the room out of immediate sight, but the bright light still cast a her shadow on the wall where he could see it. He opened his mouth to shout, either a warning to her or an alert to the others, but before he could get a word out he saw something that caused his voice to wither and die.

The shadow on the wall twisted.

For a second he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, that the dark spooky museum was messing with his head, but as he continued to watch, stomach shrinking further and further in on itself, it became clear that they weren't. Her shadow's limbs stretched out into something angular and sharp, the sound of joints crackling echoing through the hall. Her shape shifting and bending in ways no human body was supposed to move. Morphing into something both inhuman and terrifyingly familiar.

In a sight that made his blood run cold, the figure that stepped back out into the light of the doorway was a lean, vicious looking troll. Poison green eyes, gleaming magenta stone skin, and Ms. Nomura's same dark hair.

Toby was so stunned he forgot how to move, nearly leaping out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder "Toby," Claire's voice whispered in his ear "I...I saw that to, what is--"

Something yanked them both to the side and pulled them down to the floor, Toby was about to scream when he saw Jim motioning for him to be quiet, Darci and Mary huddling down in the corner with them, a pair of goblins scampering down the hall where they just were a few seconds ago.

"The-- the-- museum lady," he managed to stammer out "She-- she's a troll!"

"What!?"

"What the Hell!?"

"What!?"

Mary scowled "I don't know what you think you saw--"

"I saw it to!" Claire hissed "She...shapeshifted somehow, one second she's human the next--"

"Aren't you the clever ones,"

The five of them whipped their heads around en masse, Toby's heart shooting up into his throat when he saw Ms. Nomura towering over them, even taller than Jim, eyes glowing over a wide, nasty looking grin.

They all screamed and dashed away in the one direction Nomura wasn't blocking, ducking past hanging curtains into the next room. Jim hung back, planting himself between them and Nomura, who followed at a leisurely pace. Drawing his sword and pointing it straight at her "K-- keep back, I'm warning you!"

Nomura just cackled "So the Trollhunter is working with fleshbag brats? That's something I haven't seen before, cute..."

Jim charged her, swinging his sword down only for Nomura to effortlessly catch the blade between her palms, smirking at him.

"Wha-- what are you?" Jim stammered.

Her grin widened, exposing a mouthful of needle sharp teeth "You don't know? You really are a child,"

Without warning she flipped the sword, and Jim, over her shoulder, slamming him into the ground.

In that second Toby forgot all about the goblins, the shapeshifting killer troll museum curator, all of it. All he knew was his best buddy was in trouble.

He charged forward with a yell, Nomura whipped around and caught him in the stomach with a strong kick. Sending him crashing through a stack of boxes and knocking the air from his lungs.

Stars flashed in his eyes, his chest ached, Toby could barely tell up from left but he still tried to scramble back upright, this was no time to be laying around. His vision cleared enough to see Claire running at Nomura with a wooden plank, only for Nomura to knock her away with an effortless backhand.

Jim rushed back in, sword raised and a snarl on his face. Nomura just laughed, ducking and dodging past his swings effortlessly, vicious smile not so much as twitching

And Jim never got a single blow in.

Someone, Darci, pulled him free from the pile of boxes and yanked him to his feet "What do we do? Jim's getting creamed out there!"

"We gotta give him back up," Toby squared his shoulders, eyes locked on Jim and Nomura's clash "On three we rush in, one--"

A group of goblins skittered out in front of them, hissing aggressively and cutting them off from Jim.

Darci shrieked and kicked one away.

Toby lunged forward with a yell, tossing aside goblins left and right. But now matter how many he tossed away it always seemed like two more appeared, leaping down from the ceiling and from behind the crates, hissing and snarling. There never seemed to be an end to them, though he did manage to yank his Chubby Tracker of one of their necks.

Suddenly the goblin in front of him vanished with a yelp and flash of wood. He looked over to see Claire holding a wooden plank like a baseball bat.

Claire kicked a shard of wood, a piece of a broken crate, in Darci's direction, who picked it up and used it to knock away another lunging goblin "We need to get out of here! There's too many goblins, and Jim's outmatched!"

The clang of metal on metal had Toby glancing over, heart dropping into the pit of his gut.

Nomura, now wielding a set of curved, glowing red blades, was slashing relentlessly at Jim. Jim was on the backfoot, only defending and no attacking. Nomura growled, speed picking up until her blades were moving faster than Toby's eyes could track, but every now and again he heard the shriek of sword skating across metal.

Where Jim had failed to block and the armor had taken the blow.

Out of nowhere her swords snagged his and yanked, sending Jim staggering off balance, leaving him wide open for a powerful kick, knocking him into the wall.

Toby's heartbeat tripled, booming in his ears. Claire was right, Jim was way out of his element, and more and more goblins kept pouring out. They needed to do a tactical retreat now before--

His blood went cold, a chill shooting up his spine.

But they were outnumbered and surrounded, how could they even get away!?

Leaping onto crates and offsets in the wall, Nomura pounced, gravity giving her downward swing extra power, Jim barely managed to raise his sword in time to block. Clang of metal on metal echoing through the room as she crashed into him, sending Jim slamming back against the wall.

Darci was yelling something, but Toby was already racing towards them.

Jim was on his back now, no space to retreat, it was all he could do to block Nomura's blades with his own.

All rational thought consumed by adrenaline fueled fury, Toby grabbed Nomura's hair and yanked.

It had the desired effect of making Nomura ease off, glancing over her shoulder with a snarl, giving her torso a powerful twist, sending Toby crashing into a display podium. Pain exploding in his chest and air slammed from his lungs, forcing him to loosen his grip.

Trying to power through the throbbing ache, oh yeah he definitely had a broken rib or three, Toby forced himself back upright to see Darci and Claire right behind him, still running interference with the never ending swarm of goblins.

One dug its teeth into the shard of wood in Darci's hands and hung on tight, digging in harder the more she swung, forcing her to toss it away with a shriek "Where the hell is Mary!?"

Toby grabbed whatever it was on the podium, which looked like some kind of viking helmet, and tossed it at a charging goblin, knocking it back "I don't know! She couldn't have gone far--"

"Get it off me get it off me get it off me!" Mary sprinted towards them, screaming and thrashing under two goblins clinging to her back and arm.

Toby ran forward, managing to yank off the goblin on her arm and toss it away.

"Mare duck now!"

Mary ducked down, exposing the goblin on her back and allowing Claire to knock it off with a wide hit from her plank, sending the goblin skidding across the ground landing just behind Nomura who--

Toby's heart stopped.

Jim was huddled on the ground, breathing hard, half tangled in a fallen tapestry. Nomura towered above him, cackling.

"This was fun..."

Jim raised his sword only for Nomura to knock it away, sliding across the stone floor.

"All that fancy armor and you're just a frightened whelp,"

She raised her blades high.

Toby knew he should shout, help, do something to help. But it was too far and too many goblins between them, leaving him to helplessly watch as his best friend was--

Jim's expression shifted, so subtle Toby almost missed it. Anxiety evaporating away and a calculating gaze in his eyes.

Instead of rising to meet her blow Jim reached down and yanked on the tapestry, sending Nomura staggering off balance, crashing onto the goblin behind her with a splat.

In an instant the entire museum went silent, the goblins around them all froze, no hissing or clicking of claws on marble.

Nomura pushed herself upright with a groan, smashed goblin remains smeared all over he shoulders and back.

The goblin closest to her narrowed its eyes and growled, picking up a stray marker from the ground and rising to stand on two feet, the other goblins surrounding it mirroring its actions.

That's when Toby remembered, goblin's always got payback when one of their own was killed. And didn't always connect the dots about who the real culprit was.

"No!" Nomura scrambled back on all fours, eyes wide and frightened.

The lead goblin hissed, uncapping the marker and swiping it across its face "Waka chaka!"

Suddenly the room was alive with dozens of goblins echoing the cry of 'waka chaka'.

"No! It-- it wasn't me--" Nomura tried to retreat further but she was penned in by the crates at her back and the goblins at her front "No-- no!"

The goblins surged, completely ignoring Toby, Jim, and the girls and heading straight for Nomura. Swarming her in an instant, bright magenta vanishing beneath a writhing mass of pale green. Nomura screeched in terror, thrashing and squirming in a desperate attempt to free herself, but the goblins were piled on too thick.

Abruptly a hand on his arm yanked him away from the sight.

"Come on we gotta go now!" Darci shouted "There's no telling how long they'll be distracted!"

That snapped Toby out of it. Booking it back down the hall the way they came with the others. Nomura's screams and the goblins' howls echoing after them. Jim darted ahead and practically ripped the window open, waving them through.

Toby's sneakers hit the grass with a grunt, barely able to remember to dart out of the way so Mary could land where he just was. Frantically glancing around.

Which way should they go? He'd gotten all turned around and had no clue which roads were where or what the best escape route would be. The goblins were going after Nomura now, but for how long? And was that all the goblins or were there some stragglers lurking around. What if there were more of them not caught up in a revenge frenzy? Or worse more of those weird shapeshifting tro--

Something grabbed him and Mary around the waists, smushing them against each other squeezing them tight, and took off lightning fast. Toby nearly screamed before he realized that it was Jim that had grabbed them, Claire and Darci under his other arm. Sprinting away from the museum.

Toby didn't come to the grocery store anymore, and Jim didn't ask him to. As hard as it was for him he knew it was even harder for Toby. Mom still came, still pointed out new ingredients and eagerly pitched ideas of what he could do with them. And Jim did everything he could to smile and nod along with her.

Knowing he couldn't taste any of them.

Now the buzz of the fluorescent lights was drilling into his head and the smell of the oranges was turning his stomach. Combined with all the other sounds and smells of food and people and carts and boxes created a non stop attack on his senses that made him want to bolt out the door and run for somewhere quiet and peaceful.

Instead of doing that he tossed three oranges into his basket and hurried off to go meet his mom in the cereal isle. The sooner they finished up here the sooner he could lea--

Jim set one foot in the cereal isle and stopped dead. The crowd and the noise of the grocery store falling away as the sight in front of him swallowed all of his focus.

His mom was there alright, but someone else was to. Halfway down, just in front of a clearance display of pumpkin spice cheerios, was none other than his history teacher Mr. Strickler.

Running into a teacher in public was weird, but teachers needed to shop and go to the gym to. It wasn't a big deal seeing Mr. Strickler buying food. But he wasn't just here picking up prunes and oatmeal, him and Barbara were standing close, facing each other, chatting like old friends.

If Toby or Shannon or Claire was here they'd tell him it was only natural that Mr. Strickler and his mom were talking, they were probably discussing Jim's grades or the next school fundraiser.

But some deep, smoldering thing in Jim's gut told him that wasn't the case.

And when Mr. Strickler reached a hand up, tucking a strand of hair behind his mom's ear, her cheeks flushing pink and bashful smile melting across her face, Jim knew it wasn't.

"What's going on?" he said, louder than he intended, stomping towards them.

Both of them instantly jumped back, Barbara's face going from pink to red. Jim only got a glance at Mr. Strickler's expression, wide eyed and uncomfortable, before he quickly went back to the chill, suave self teacher Jim was used to. Normally Mr. Strickler's ability to stay composed no matter what kind of chaos was happening around him was something Jim admired, but right now it pissed him the hell off.

"Apologies, I'll leave you two to your shopping. See you later Barbara," he turned with a wave before striding away down the isle.

Barbara returned his wave with a quick one of her own, tiny little smile still in place on her face.

"Mom..." Jim said slowly "What was that?"

She sighed and dropped her arm, turning to face him fully "I've been wanting to tell you for a while...but yes Walt and I have been...seeing each other..."

She was still talking but Jim couldn't hear past the roaring in his ears. If he hadn't been wearing his mask his hackles would have raised.

Not Mr. Strickler, not 'your history teacher', Walt.

He knew his mom was an adult. He knew he didn't get to tell her who she could and couldn't date. And realistically she could probably do a lot worse than Mr. Strickler.

But even though he knew that he still wanted to scream and roar and tear the whole stinking isle apart but he couldn't do that cause he was in the store and he was wearing his mask--

"...so we're taking things slow, we both have a lot going on in our lives and don't want to rush into anything crazy," Barbara continued on, shifting her gaze down to look him in the eye and give a warm smile "But no matter what happens between me and Walt you and I will always be a team, right?"

No because your real son died weeks ago I'm just a zombie wearing a mask so I can pretend I'm him

Stomach churning with half a dozen emotions he couldn't identify besides 'not good', Jim swallowed back bitterness and the urge to tear the whole store apart, managing a smile that hopefully didn't look as uncomfortable as it felt.

He ate his meal with one hand, burger and fries with small soda, the other locked on the steering wheel as he drove out of town, keeping a careful watch in his mirrors as he pulled off the highway onto the narrow gravel road. Driving for a few more minutes before he reached his destination, pulling off to the side in a spot where the bushes were thick and heavy.

Someone dedicated could certainly fin his car, but no casual commuters on the highway would spot it, which for tonight was all the he needed.

Strickler silenced the engine with a sharp turn of the keys. Stepping out without bothering to lock it, there wasn't a car lock in the world that would stop a determined goblin, if experience was anything to go by it would only serve to tempt them. Sucking the salt from his fingers as he strode into the looming warehouse.

Bular had claimed the Vespa factory as his own nearly immediately after it was abandoned, and for the better part of four decades it remained the most reliable place to track him down. He'd even decorated to reflect his....Gumm Gumm sensibilities.

Strickler eyed the murals as he headed in, humans and changelings falling into various poses of subjugation and worship before their Gumm Gumm overlords, keeping the disgust off his face with years of practiced composure.

He understood, truly he did. Bular was the last of his tribe, abandoned on the surface cut off from his culture and his kin.

Changelings certainly didn't count

It made sense that he wanted to decorate his space to reflect the culture and the values he was striving to preserve. But for goodness sake if he was too much of a purist to use acrylic paint he could at least have one of the countless handlers Strickler assigned to him brew up some traditional war paint. Bular's insistence upon using his kills to decorate the warehouse resulted in the biggest health hazard this side of Los Angels. But honestly Strickler could have forgiven all of that if it weren't for the simple fact that human blood made an awful art medium. Terrible adhesion, practically no pigment, not to mention the stench.

Strickler fought the urge to wrinkle his nose as he passed a mural that was far more mold than mural, already imagining all the spores settling into his sweater, only to quickly school his face into a mask of calm passivity when he heard raised voices coming from deeper within the building.

They'd already gotten started without him, good. Keeping his pace at a leisurely walk, Strickler strolled past discarded machinery and heaps of scrap metal, loafers nearly soundless against the concrete floor. Unbothered by the shouts and roars ahead of him getting steadily louder as he approached.

Strickler would be the first to tout the virtues of punctuality, but when it came to Bular any sense of etiquette came second to self preservation. Showing up late to a meeting ran the risk of making Bular impatient, and when Bular was impatient he became violent. On the other hand arriving first when Bular was already in a mood was a quick way to become an outlet for his fury.

As the raised voices ahead of him became clear enough to perceive what was being said, Strickler was pleased to find that he'd judged the Bular's mood accurately and timed his arrival perfectly. After Bular had already vented his frustrations on someone else.

He stepped out of the hall, trading narrow corridors for the vast manufacturing floor. Any equipment that remained was nearly unrecognizable, thanks to the ravages of time or Bular's own frustrations. Twisted into rusted, misshapen husks illuminated by whatever spotty moonlight managed to get through the grime covered windows. One of these husks had been battered into the shape of a crude throne placed against the back wall surrounded by more murals, these ones showing Gunmar in detail as he lead his hordes across the surface.

Before the image of the father stood the son in the living stone. Lips pulled in a snarl and hackles raised but jaw blades sheathed.

For now

"P-- please, our scouts are doing the best that they can," Gladys Groe stammered out "All of our agents are--"

"You're too slow!" the word was punctuated by Bular slamming both fists into the ground, rattling the ruined equipment and intensifying Gladys' trembling.

"While you impures waste time my father is rotting away in the Darklands," Bular barked "Every second you delay gives the Trollhunter more chances to ruin our plans!"

"Where are we in our search for the new Trollhunter?" Strickler asked as he strode in, no greeting, no introduction, straight to business at hand.

Multiple sets of eyes flashed angrily at him from across the room. Ms. Nomura. Officer Thatcher. Even Agent McCarthy taking some valuable leave from her position in the FBI to come here.

All the most significant movers of the order in the western United States.

Officer Thatcher leaned back against what must have once been an engine matching station "I've been using the goblins to arrange minor incidents to gain access to security cameras across town," his voice was steady, movements casual, relaxed, betraying none of the frustration Strickler knew was bubbling just below the surface "But without intel on the Trollhunter's movements were operating blind,"

Strickler flicked his gaze across the room "Nomura, Gladys, what do you have to say about that?"

Gladys flinched and Nomura shot him a murderous look.

"We're working on it," she growled, one of her hands twitched. No doubt wishing for her scimitars, or imagining wringing his neck.

Knowing that she'd never dare to make such a fantasy come true, Strickler looked her dead in the eye and allowed a small smile to creep onto his face "Are you monitoring the entrances to Trollmarket at all hours?" he kept his tone light, almost teasing.

Nomura seethed but was wise enough to stay silent, while predictably Gladys took the bait.

"We can't do nothing but watch an empty bridge all day--"

"Excuses!" Bular slammed a fist into the wall, making the whole building rattle. Gladys, Nomura, and Thatcher all jumped at that while McCarthy just flicked her eyes lazily towards the ceiling, seemingly bored with this whole affair, but Strickler tracked the way her gaze never once left Bular, seething and roaring and working himself up into a tantrum.

"All you offer is excuses! Playing at your schemes while the Trollhunter traipses about--"

"We patrol the entrances every night!" Nomura shot back "But either the Trollhunter is using entrances we don't know about or he's getting in and out during the day,"

McCarthy threw back her head and let out a sharp bark of laughter, emoting for the first time since Strickler had entered the room "Moving during the day, how? With an umbrella?"

Bular's gaze flicked to McCarthy, expression wavering as he seemed to struggled to decide if he should be offended by her comment or not, before he could make up his mind Thatcher let out a scoff.

"A troll with an umbrella, because that's not going to stick out on security camera at all. I'm telling you Trollmarket's established a new entrance in the sewers. And if their little junior hunter is coming and going through there we need to have agents scouting the tunnels until we find it,"

"You expect me to wade through rivers of shit every night to try and find an entrance that may or may not be there!?" Nomura snarled, eyes flashing yellow.

Thatcher just shrugged "Pretty much yeah,"

Sensing violence was imminent, not that he cared if his subordinates spent all night beating each other bloody, but he did have a stack of tests in dire need of grading, Strickler stepped between them "Enough of the squabbling, let's go over what we know for certain about the Trollhunter,"

Nomura and Thatcher both scowled while Gladys cleared her throat.

"They're young, more than two centuries but less than three. Their combat skills are lacking, even for a youngster, but they're quick and so far have evaded direct surveillance,"

"Even if your average rock head doesn't know about security cameras this guy sure seems to," Thatcher added "We haven't caught so much as a glimpse of an elbow,"

"A troll that young being that cautious?" McCarthy strode forward, arms crossed "No way, he has help, older and wiser help. I think the traitor general finally decided to get off his ass,"

Strickler said nothing, keeping his face impassive as he listened to his associates passing ideas back and forth. But deep within his chest he felt a small flutter of satisfaction.

So no one else knew yet. Good.

"I'll crush that traitor's skull and use his bones to bludgeon that impudent whelp!"

"I'm sure you will," Strickler glanced over to Bular, noting the slight widening of his eyes and the slack of his jaw, speaking up again just in time to cut off the angry tirade he knew he was building to "There is no doubt in my mind that you will defeat the new Trollhunter when the time comes, so our efforts would best be served by gathering the means of your father's return,"

He snapped his head over to Nomura "As of right now you're off scout duty. Begin assembling the bridge, immediately. Coordinate with McCarthy to arrange transport of all bridge pieces to the museum. Currently the only piece outside our control is the eyestone, which Otto is in the process of extracting,"

He looked up towards Bular "We need you to move into the museum full time. During the bridge's construction it will be most vulnerable,"

Bular growled, eyes narrowing, but his shoulders lowered "As long as the bridge is under my guard no one will impede my father's return,"

Stricker nodded once then turned to Thatcher "Arrange for Bular's transportation and accommodation, as well as...clean up," he made a show of glancing around the dilapidated factory floor.

The beginnings of a protest died on Thatcher's lips, quickly smoothing out his expression and giving a brisk nod of his head, but not quick enough to hide the gleam of excitement in his eyes.

Moving Nomura from scouting to bridge assembly should cool her temper. Gladys would rankle at being forced to shoulder the entirety of scouting duties but lacked the spine to do anything about it. McCarthy was no doubt polishing a dagger destined for his back, but Strickler felt reasonably confident she wouldn't attempt to plant it until after Gunmar's return. Throw the promise of some arson his way to keep Thatcher pacified as well as ensuring Bular's art projects wouldn't be splattered all over social media by some stray urban explorer. Strickler wasn't so naive to believe the next few months would be without headaches, but the worst of the troublemakers should be successfully corralled.

"Victory is close at hand but we can't afford to become sloppy. Stick to your assigned duties and keep your heads down. I'll keep an ear to the ground and see if I can't learn something about this young hunter myself,"

The meeting adjourned with mutters and grunts of assent, the group swiftly heading out of the factory and towards their respective vehicles. Bular crawling into the back of Thatcher's armored van.

Despite himself Strickler couldn't help but be impressed by human craftsmanship as the the van barely lurched under the weight of a full grown Gumm Gumm warrior. Driving smoothly away with barely a rustle of gravel.

Getting back into his own car, shooing the goblins into the back seat, Strickler allowed himself a mental pat on the back as he turned the keys in the ignition.

The Trollhunter did indeed have allies on the surface. And their existence and identities were known only to Strickler himself.

Granted there were still far too many unknown variables to make a move. He didn't know the exact nature of the relationship between the young hunter and his students. There was no evidence thus far, but Strickler was almost certain it was the aid of five teenagers that allowed the Trollhunter to move through Arcadia undetected. What his students got out of such an arrangement was a mystery. Knowledge? Magic? Altruistic satisfaction for doing a kindness towards a lesser creature...

Something uncomfortable shifted in his gut, Strickler smothered it before it could fully form. Shifting into gear and pulling back out onto the road.

He supposed it was youthful naivete on both parties part. The Trollhunter too young and bold to know to be properly cautious of humans, his students too drunk on modern fantasy media to realize the danger.

It was unfortunate, and Strickler was sympathetic towards them, he truly was, and he fully intended to attempt to shield his students from the worst of the consequences of their actions.

But he'd spent centuries struggling to get where he was, fighting tooth and nail for every scrap of power he had. He'd sacrificed centuries of his life, the lives of countless allies, hours of work, and the ability to move his right shoulder without pain. Stricklander had given everything he had to earn the order and his people a place of respect and he wouldn't give that up for anything, not even for his students.