Chapter Text
Jim woke with a start, barely processing the air rushing into his lungs. He had felt like he had nearly drowned. An unknown force expelled a potent energy from his body, leaving him momentarily paralysed before feeling registered to his nerves seconds later. Removing the fabric covering his torso, Jim tried to focus his vision as his body instinctively pressed further and further away from what was ever pulling at his mind.
Jim could feel his heart pulsating in his ears, his vision turned blurry. Not the kind you would usually associate with waking up. The room he was in was pitch black yet the edges of his vision full of colour. Abstracting him from pinpointing exactly where he was.
Jim was beginning to panic, ‘what’s happening!? why can’t I see! Where the hell am i?!’ were the first thoughts rushing to the front of his mind as he scrambled for any sign of reality. And not the cage of his own mind he had been pulled from. scraping at the walls for signs of familiarity’s, hopeing with every part of him that nothing screamed that he was trapped in the Shadow realm, or the Darklands, or that void. . .
Jim’s head suddenly started to oscillate, a pain that had him doubling over, clutching at his head. His eyes tightened desperately trying to elevate the affliction of every one of his senses suddenly flaring. Eating him from every cell in his body as memories started flooding back to him.
His team facing the Order.Two Excaliburs clasped in in one five and four fingers hand.A battle in the city. A flaming tornado ripping open the sky.The subway.The death of a child.Failure!Nari killing her siblings.That wave of power.Destruction.End.A flower.A green gemstone.one chance! . . .
Jim suddenly took in a sudden gasp of fresh air, eyes flying open, flaring a brilliant teal. It was clear, he knew that they had to do.
_
To say he was surprised would have been an understatement, but not entirely uncalled for. Toby was fast asleep in his bed, recovering after a lengthy planning session and earlier training with the configuration the previous night.
They had all decided to rest so they could be stronger tomorrow facing off Bellroc and Skrel. hopefully for the last time. Well, peaceful until he was roused suddenly by a siren from his phone. It had taken at least several hours to get his thoughts in order before he finally found solace, and soon after fatigue. but guess that’s out the window now!
It had been rough, for all of them.
The words ‘the Order aren’t resting, they will never stop until this world and all creatures on it are erased!’ Filtered into his thoughts constantly berating into him fear for the last few weeks. And usually, he would be good at silencing them, but this! this is more then just the end of the world. so yes, it wasn’t exactly the easiest thing to find sleep over already.
Because this was it! there final moment, the very moment they have all been working towards for two whole years since his best friend reset time to save. . . his life. Along with everyone els who fell in the wake of Jim’s ascension to the roll of Trollhunter.
Now it was Tobys turn, but this wasn’t his fight.
It was all of them, together, as ‘Trollhunters.’
‘The Ninth configuration!’
…
So why did Toby feel so guilty all of a sudden?
Toby had to admit he’s been fairly lucky in his journey of becoming the Trollhunter. More so than most others, especially one. Though they are all ‘Trollhunters,’ he is still the only one officially carrying this time’s amulet. The one who has been training in the void with the past trollhunters, carried the sword of daylight, wore the armour he’s seen his best friend persistently battle in so many times before. Faced trials and tribulations all the same, just this time he was the main focus.
But was he? Because it never felt like it.
Honestly, Toby didn’t feel like he had truly reached his full potential as ‘The Trollhunter’. or whatever that’s supposed to look like.
Toby had a pretty clear image in his head, and he wasn’t it.
He figured it was up to the singular point of the hardest parts of this gig, already being overcome for him. By what he new it was.
One phrase came to mind Toby could not shake. The very things that separated him from that image, that he wasn’t like the rest. It was of a time in the Void talking with Kanjigar, when Toby wondering what being a Trollhunter for them was all about.
Lots of things came to mind, and they were fine. Some challenged but one louder then all the others.
“To be a Trollhunter, is to make sacrifices.” That’s what he said. And God forbid was it true. So, Toby wondered, what sacrifices had he made?
That’s the question, isn’t it?
Because last time he checked, he didn’t have to balance the weight of two worlds on his shoulders. Didn’t have to make the hard decision to rescue one life at the risk of others, didn’t have to survive weeks alone in an unfamiliar realm with no certainty of whether you were even going to make it home. Battle fear and death in the face of dark powers known only to corrupt, just to get people safe. Didn’t have to banish an ancient sorcerer out his body.
Didn’t have to give up his old life to save the world. Didn’t have to leave home with an uncertain future, risk his own life to power a weapon to stop a god! Get flung into the past and battle getting home whilst maintaining times stability. Have to accept corruption and a fate worse then death! just to give your friends a chance. Choose to trade a world ending weapon in exchange for his friends lives. Loose his powers and face an existential crisis whilst still be expected to save the world. Have to reset time with the uncertainty of having no one remember, and having to do it all over again, alone! Only with the knowledge of how it all went wrong?
Have to lead an entire team, with the singular promise that things could be better.
And face every single one of the enemy’s that wronged you, defeat them, and change the world.
Toby had done non of that, and he was the Trollhunter?
I mean you could count killing the Stalkling, but he wasn’t even the first one to do that, didn’t really have a choice. And what’s a small lightning scar to top everything els that’s happened to his friends.
Yea, he managed killing Blular, and Gunmar, but not without help. . . A lot of help! More like gave the finishing blow in his opinion. Only a slight scaring on his leaft arm, yea, what a sacrifice.
But the one thing Toby really hated, despised in any context was the fact for most of that, he wasn’t even there.
Toby didn’t know what unknown force was pulling the strings, but at every time when his friend’s needed him. His best friend really needed him. He could only count the few times when he actually helped.
And it got him killed.
. . .
But he wasn’t going to be left behind this time.
He is the Trollhunter, this world cannot let him sit out this time.
Because if there was any time his best friend needed him, it was now. From beginning to the end, he wasn’t going to let them down.
Even if that meant facing the one being who took him away.
Was Toby afraid of death? Well, he’s faced it before, and honesty It wasn’t as scary as he thought.
But he knew what he was more scared of.
If they failed, if Toby fell once more, or anyone of there team for that matter. He new who would be the one tormenting themselves to fix it.
Who would shoulder that burden again and again, regardless of what any of them could say.
And that thought terrified him.
He cannot sit this out, but he can’t risk dying either.
It was now, or never.
_
Toby grabbed his phone from his side table, looking at the message popping up in his inbox and dismissing the loud noise krel programmed for team emergencies or meetings blaring from the tiny speaker.
And this was both.
Quickly getting out of bed, Toby dashed to get changed and hurried to there meeting place. school can wait, this was far more important.
Toby ignored the tiredness sweeping across his eye lids as he arrived at the Tarrons house hold. By the time he got there most of the configuration, save for a few members which Claire was helping gather had arrived.
“Ok butsnacks!” Steve shouted, getting off his Vespa along side Eli as Toby parked his bike. “What was so important you had to wake me this early? I was having a considerably lovely dream!”
“Please tell me this wasn’t that fish lady again?” Krel stated dryly, coming out of the house in greeting to the teens along side his sister.
“What no! wait how do you know about that Krel?” Steve inquired pointing fingers accusingly at the Akiridion after hugging his girlfriend.
“Ive read your mind, it was a personal experiment of mine to see what my sister sees in you, I greatly regret it.” krel admitted, Aja gave him a distasteful look.
“Krel, there is a human term I find fitting for this scenario, it’s called private business! You can’t just go round reading peoples minds for Seklos sake.” Aja said defending her Palchuck.
“Wait who can read minds?” Eli questioned, though the comment went unnoticed.
“Actually, I can, because its my devise! and I can do whatever I want with it.” Krel finished crossing his arms in human form and wearing a proud smirk. “Saying that, we should probably go join the others, this is a bit more important than our private lives.”
Toby walked in with the others, giving silent greetings to his friends as the muffles of voices became louder from inside the main living space of the Tarron house hold.
“Well, what are we expected to do? Thousands of innocent souls are at risk if we don’t do something now!” Douxies voice sounded from the Tarron’s kitchen. He along with Claire, Zadra, Varvatos, Nomura, Strickler, Nari, Archie and Merlin were huddled over a holographic planning board they had accumulated over the last month. They all looked troubled, sleep deprived and at wits end, especially Douxie.
“Oh jiminy, that ain’t swell.” Ricky commented, the advanced cyborg wearing an over pronounced frown overhearing the conversation being had from across the other side of the room.
“I know what al kickstart the old frowns upside down. let me get the old cooker going, looks like this gang of worrywarts need some of momma Lucy’s famous flapjacks!”
“Not now, Lucy. Unfortunately this is not something that can be solved with cakes alone, but greatly appreciate it.” Aja declined, gaining the acknowledgment of the others in the room.
“Anything for you, honey cakes.” Lucy said, stepping next to her cyborg husband.
“It isn’t much of a plan if we just rush into the city. As cool as flying in on the back of a dragon is, you know how tough it was last time with so many people around. Surely people will notice, pitting our responsibility to magic at risk, not to mention people will be in harms way if we just rush in. that’s not what we’ve been planing.” Claire elaborated, gently guiding her teacher's attention from staring holes into the holographic screen.
“Our plans haven’t exactly been the same! it's nothing like last time. At least then we new they were only going after us! This is different, this has changed!” Douxie countered, slamming his palms into the marble surface of the kitchen counter.
“We didn’t exactly anticipate them arriving this early either.” Nomura added in her usual grating tone. “I’m certain everything about last time, is out of this century by this point.”
“She’s got a point; this is much earlier then what’s scheduled last timeline, and they are Demi gods. We should have expected the, well, unexpected.” Claire continued.
“But so is Nari” Merlin reminded.
“Way to state the obvious Wizard” Nomura said dryly.
“No, Merlin’s right,” Douxie replied, some in the room cringing at the notion. “What I mean is we have Nari and the Genesis seals! which means we should have the advantage. Whatever this is, It seems, to desperate. Meaning it could be a vulnerability.
“Vulnerability? That they’re going to genocide much slower?”
“What are we on about?” Steve interrupted, looking at the complicated set of plans in front of the configuration, everyone the turned to him.
“A most troublesome time,” Varvatos declared, standing beside Zadra and Nomura.
“Nari has told us she can sense her siblings again. And … there going after civilians.” Claire explained.
Both Steve, Eli, the Tarrons and Toby’s eyes widened by the new revelation.
“There trying to draw us out. They believe even without the titans they can reset the earth,” Merlin added. Clasping at his staff tightly whilst stroking his beard in concern.
“Of course we aren’t giving it to them, I made that mistake once…” Douxie paused, Claire placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, as Archie gave him a soft nuzzle. he quietly thanked them. “We are now trying to figure out a plan to counter that, but we are limited on both options and time.” Douxie finished.
“So, you were the one who announced this emergency meeting?” Eli figured.
“It is certainly urgent, but that wasn’t me.” Douxie explained.
“We are running out of time the Order!”
“It won’t work.”
Everyone in the room silenced, turning abruptly to face the unwavering presence entering from the back door of the house. Jim stood tall, his face shadowed by what little light reaching that part of the room. He entered ahead of the two other trolls of there team, clad in armour gleaming a most prominent teal. His expression hardened, more so than Toby had seen in months.
“Jim, what do you mean?” Douxie questioned, acknowledging the troll as he walked to the front of the group.
“Our plan, Nari was talking to you about how she sensed the Order right? There about to infiltrate Metro city, destroy its population one piece at a time. Use their negative emotions, there’s fear’s and fallen souls to power there magic up stronger, strong enough they can force the seals from us and bring about the titans. Perhaps even without Nari.” Jim finished, looking over the plan he helped make, written evidence of each one of there his Mistakes.
“How do you know this?” Aja quetioned.
“Because I, ah!” Jim groaned, clutching his head to elevate a rush of pain claiming his mind. The markings on his armour pulsated in tangent with the ones on his face and neck. faster and in more intense successions. Blinky gently held the boy by the shoulders in fear as the half-troll tried to regain himself. Everyone in the room wore horrified expressions, several hands out in gesture to help the young king. “Because I saw it, all of it. How it would end if we went along with this plan, and what would happen in others. It won’t work, non of it will work!”
“What is happening?” Steve announced, asking the question most people were wanting to know. looking at the way Jims amulet pulsated energy throughout his entire armour, and most certainly Jim’s body, it looked painful. This had to be the time stone. Only furthered when Toby noticed the slight glow of teal reaching in place of his best friend's natural blue eyes. The only time it did that was when Jim was focusing on giving someone memories. This however, felt different.
“The time stone!” Douxie announced, everyone turned to look at the master wizard, but Toby kept his eyes on Jim.
“He had a vision,” Merlin added, informing the rest of the configuration as he walked up to the half-troll and examining the amulet on his chest. Jim looked considerable uncomfortable with the action.
“Future vision! Wait why now?” Douxie said rather alarmed.
“Future vision?” Steve repeated, before it dawned on him. “Wait Lake can see into the future?!”
“That’s new, and unexpected.” Archie commented.
“Why now, why ever! That helps us. Thank you, time stone, better late then never!” Toby praised, looking up as though he were talking to some higher being in control of fate.
“What do you mean it won’t work?” Claire questioned, moving back to the main point. And putting herself between her boyfriend and Merlin.
“No matter what we try, they have the upper hand. I don’t mean to be down cast, but there’s nothing stoping them from hurting everyone around us. They want nothing more then to see our worlds end, they don’t care who gets in there way, we will always be fighting them on there terms.” Jim explained, sadness in his words as he addressed a crushing reality.
“Jim is right,” Nari spoke, perched on the table next to the plans. “Even without me or the seals they have been regenerating their power for millennia; no mortal force can stand against them in bringing chaos to innocent souls.”
“So, we can do nothing?” Claire inquired harshly.
“Wait, wait, wait! but that’s not true.” Krel interrupted, “we’ve defeated them before, Nari took out Skrael and we know Excalibur can-
“Excalibur is a divine weapon; it can take out a god.” Nari explained, creating an illusion with her magic to show the team what exactly would transpire. “But not before taking out every living thing within the earths crust down with it.”
“But that’s not what happened before, the titans caused all that destruction, not them on there own?” Toby quetioned, confused as to what’s changed.
“The titans act as a vessel, a way for there power to manifest physical form.” Merlin explained, standing beside Nari and adding to her illusion. “In doing so they had already focused that magic, in some deviant way it was balanced, and countered when the titans fall on their own.”
Merlin took pause.
“I am quite alarmed you had to face such forces.”
“We had no choice master.” Douxie explained, Merlin put a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder, only slightly settling Douxie’s guilt.
“Without the titans, or our souls themselves, our magic has no vessel, and chaos will awaken.” Nari added.
“What are you saying?”
“Every natural disaster triggered by there magic will be roused, the world will not end, but many more will perish. Especially those closest to where they fall.” Douxie summarised, looking to Nari for confirmation.
“Yes” Nari affirmed.
“So, even if we do mange to, we fail anyways?” Toby stated, looking down at the amulet that he had exposed from his back pocket, looking at it longingly.
“I saw many outcomes, ones where we do go on our set path, and many will die. If Nari faces them alone, more will perish, ether way we fail.” Toby was taken aback, the way Jim said this was through thick skin, hardened words devoid of emotion, that would otherwise be laced with despair. But this? this Toby couldn’t read. It was orderly, factual, like reading off a script as through something els was speaking in place of Jim.
“So that’s it then?”
“Unless we let them wake these titans.” Zadra suggested, the room filled with different variations of shock and disbelief at the absurd suggestion, but Zadra wouldn’t know.
“No not an option! the titans were impossible to control last time. Not to mention the surface will know, we can’t take the risk of that happening again, we’ve worked too hard for all of it to be undone.” Douxie countered, venom woven with each word.
“I agree, either way we cannot let the titans rise.” Blinky spoke, Aaarrrgghh following with a gentle grunt in agreement.
“But we can’t just let them reap havoc either, so what can we do?” Claire questioned.
The configuration paused to take a moment to organise their thoughts, Toby looked around at the several faces contemplating this impossible task. Neither of them had an answer, Nari looked hopeless, Douxie looked stressed, Claire looked angry, so did Aja.
Toby then looked to his best friend, and Jim hadn’t faltered. He just stared at the room of faces, expression neutral and feelings hidden. Toby had noticed that Jim had stoped rubbing his temple and his eyes had settled in a prominent glowing shade of teal. His marking rippling that same magic, it was slightly unsettling.
It went on like this for a few moments before his eyes widened and Jim turned to Nari.
“Nari, you said that you are tied to the fate of your element, as are they.” Jim stated, Nari looked up to him, nodding to his recollection.
“We are as ancient as this world’s forces themselves, given souls and form. We cannot be untied less it undo everything the balance of this world stands up on.” Nari summarised.
“But this isn’t our only world.” Jim added.
“Jim?” Douxie inquired, looking up to his friend with a furrowed brow.
“Think about it, everything we do we are constantly fighting by there rules. They have there elements giving them the advantage no matter where we go.” Jim explained, strong resolve in his tone of voice as he spoke.
“We are strong as a collective, but we are still mortal.”
The crowd stared out in confusion until Steve butted in.
“So what? You saying one of us becomes a God, not it by the way. Through it would be cool.” Steve suggested, throwing up his hands. krel face palmed, many in the room looked at him questionably, Jim wasn’t actually suggesting-
“No, I’m saying we fight them where we are equal, where there magic cannot hurt anyone.”
“An arena, of our own making.”
The rest of the team were speechless; Toby was taking time to consider what his friend was saying until Douxie spoke up.
“I understand, you're saying we create our own battlefield. A realm, disconnected from the mortal plane, where their magic is limited and can’t replenish itself, a place where they are not Gods.”
“Oh, that makes more sense actually,” Steve commented.
“Um, ok, and how exactly are we planning on doing that.” Aja questioned, not fully convinced by the logistics of that plan.
“and is it even possible?” Krel added, on the same page as his sister.
“We create a pocket dimension.” Douxie finished.
“And that’s easy?” Eli asked nervously.
“Hisirdoux, you know as well as I do-
“I know Merlin, it isn’t that simple, but we’ve done the impossible before. Heck we’ve tricked the Order before, and this! This is something they could never see coming!”
“You, tricked the Order?” Merlin questioned, taken aback.
“Last timeline, mine and Krels, Hisirdoux Eternal Time Trap. Yea it wasn’t exactly eternal, but it worked for a time. We could do it again, But this time stronger! We join them, make them fight on our turf, take them down and trap there magic, before it could return and hurt anyone here!” Douxie summarised words full of hope, looking to his king for reassurance, Jim nodded.
“Like krels Anti Magic Ray, but all around us?” Claire inquired.
“Exactly. And bonus, the worlds balance will be preserved along with magics secrets, meaning little clean up after. If it goes well, it will be like non of this even happened, we will be free, finally.” Douxie finished, turning once more to his master.
“And no more time relapse.” Douxie commented, finding Jims eyes.
Jim looked to Douxie, but that hope came unreciprocated. that’s not right?
“Caution.” Archie spoke
“Im with Archie, wouldn’t that hinder our own magic?” Claire questioned.
“Not if we do this right.”
“Its crazy, but a better plan then any we’ve had before.” Krel commented.
“Varvatos is liking this plan, it sounds most glorious!!”
“Any battle you're in is ‘most glorious’ Varvatos.” Aja commented in air quotes, Varvatos gave her large grin.
“And how exactly, are we to create our own realm. Surly the laws of magic won't allow such a thing.” Blinky noted, crossing both pars of arms.
“Not if we are within the laws of magic to do so.” Douxie countered.
“Meaning?” Nomura spoke.
“We craft what we need off the building blocks of already existing dimensions.”
”That’s possible?”
“That would resolve in something incredibly unstable, if any of you were to be trapped in this realm, there is no hope of return, you would surely perish.”
“And they will disappear.” Douxie confirmed, “Merlin, you always said it was worth the risk in our own lived. The lives of the many that need us, even if we somehow make it out alive, our world will not survive if the balance is undone.”
“And we are the only ones with a chance of saving it.” Claire finished.
The room came to silence once more. Toby contemplated what had been said. It was risky but there no strangers to risk, and it would mean fighting side by side with his friends, performing his duty as Trollhunter, like it was meant to be. Toby’s amulet hummed in his hand, feeling his emotions, it understood. Toby felt pride and confidence. They could do this. Together.
“I’m in if you are!” Toby announced, being the first of the room to speak up.
“As are we, despite worse responded circumstances, we have proven capable, this is no different.” announced the trolls.
Nomura and Strickler agreed.
“Aja?” Krel questioned.
“This is our home too, you will have the support of the Akiridions. We will fight proudly by your side, for whatever you need for this plan to be a success.” Aja responded, varvatos pounded his fists.
“Like there was any doubt.” krel finished.
“You know I’m in,” Steve said, head locking Eli as the smaller teen smiled.
“Merlin?” Douxie directed to the ancient wizard.
Merlin took time to respond, his mood shifting to one of sternness, then to a soft smile coming to his features, “I am impressed. You have grown.”
Douxie beamed, turning to the group as his staff manifested, clamping it to the floor the same way Merlin had. Reinforcing his master wizard status.
“Time for once, touch wood and any other ridiculous superstition, is literally in our favour.” Douxie cheated, then turned to their leader.
“Jim? you have the final verdict.”
Everyone’s attention was onto the Trollhunter, expecting his answer. Jim looked at them, then unsheathed one Excalibur from his back, looking at the blue gem in its hilt. Taking a breath Jim spoke, voice strong and determined.
“This is our stand, these gods have no right to decide who lives, and who dies. If they do not see reason, we will show them a reason to see. With courage and valour, we will end the threat posed by Belroc and skel, once and for all of time!”
_
As the configuration dispersed into groups, Toby took note of the silence that became of each party, mulling over the logistics of each of there positions after finalising the holes in their plan.
Now it was up to the Wizards, and Krel, to finish up the tricky bit. Creating a portal/pocket dimension stable enough they can fight the order in, and make it back without bringing any of there magic’s back with them. Plus distracting and tricking The Order in the first place. He wasn’t even in the group creating such a thing and already his mind was failing him. Toby needed a distraction if he was going to be ready come there final fight.
Toby was about to turn to the one person he found he just couldn’t get out of his mind, but his thoughts were quickly interrupted.
“Toby, everything ok?”
“Hm?” Toby startled, turning to Claire who had wondered to his side without him realising.
Shrugging off the weird feeling, Toby brought a smile to his face. But before he could think to answer, a thought occurred to him.
Why was she asking him?
“Yea, yea all cool Shadow viper, why’d you ask?”
Claire looked at him knowingly, turning to the rest of the party briefly befor confronting him. “Well you haven’t said a word since the ‘inspirational speech”, wondered if you were worried about anything?”
What is there not to worry about.
“Or. . . Anyone.”
Toby took that with surprise, oh she’s good. “You know your getting freakishly good at the whole reading people thing Claire, this isn’t some new magic, is it?”
Claire stifled a laugh. “No, I just know you and Jim that well, which is why I’m asking.”
As the tone shifted Toby took a moment to find his answer, turning to where Blinky and Aaarrrgghh were tending to Jim’s magic migraine. Yea, there was certainly someone to worry about.
“Like I said, I’m fine,” Toby answered. “I mean I am scared but who isn’t right now! Were about to face the guys who basically beet us before. me and many others falling in the process and being the whole reason behind this whole, time reset thing.” Toby took a few beets, then sighed. “But what is fear if not the precursor to valour right?”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean we should shrug of the implications of that fear, and how it impacts us before our final fight. You want to talk about it?” Claire suggested, gesturing to the amulet still held tight in his grip.
“Which part?”
“You know which part.” She replied, a stern expression on her face. “If not me you know Jims going to come to ask the same question. And I’m way better at smoothing these things out so we can prevent a full-scale overprotective Jim episode.”
“But this isn’t about Jim, I want to know how your feeling Toby.”
Dang she’s good.
Toby looked stunned, paralysed in place as though Claire had frozen him with her magic. Which, can she do that? if so, that would be really cool! Toby brought up his amulet to meet his face, examining the intricately detailed clockwork hands as they ticked in time with his own heartbeat, a heartbeat that stoped ticking moments after the very battle they were about to face.
Toby sighed. “I’m worried about this plan, I know we’ve faced things like this befor, but you know how rushing this all goes. As soon as were in a good place something goes wrong. It happened with the amulet, then the titans, hec before that they got Merlin! The one person with any idea of the full scale of what we were facing. I know I’m usualy the one to be optimistic here but, I don’t want this to fail this time. Because if we fail, you know as well as I what is going to happen.”
Claire knowingly looked to the floor, both of them side glancing the amulet resting in the breastplate off there closest friend.
“Then how many times do you think it will take?”
“Its different this time,” Claire stated, staring him down. “Back then, we didn’t know the potential of our opponent and found ourselves unmatched. The Order, when they started this fight, they took away our ability to choose. Our fare chances too winning the upper hand. We have the advantage this time. We’ve played our cards better then they could expect. We have Nari, we have the seals, we have two amulets! We’ve spent the last two years preparing for this fight, possessing a thing The Order cannot predict.”
“We will not fail, and we won't be losing anyone else, we can't afford that.”
Toby gave her an innocent smile, knowing full well it didn’t dispel every one of his worries. But he new she already new that, just not the part about being left behind. That part was entirely up to him, and he won’t fail.
“Your right Nuniez,” Toby started as Claire opened up for a hug, he quickly reciprocated. Hoping with every part of him this won't be there last. “Did I ever tell you how amazing! of a partner you are? I feel like that’s not expressed in enough clarity.”
Claire laughed, genuinely laughed despite the circumstances. “Never change Toby.”
_
“Many a burden I wish I could take from you.” Blinky informed, words full of worry, as any father would. He thought he’d be used to it by now considering how much trouble his son gets into on the regular basis. But Barbra told him its a hard wired thing for a parent to worry, no matter the current situation in life. And this certainly was a time for it.
Blinky has stayed by his son’s side since they had finished inducting each position for every member, in the success of there inter dimensional dilemma. Blinky would be accompanying his friends into the void in facing these foes in The Order, he did so with every battle and this would be no different. But that was not currently at the forefront of his mind, as Jim’s condition had still yet to subside, causing even more concern in light of such an unknown magic. And what effect it was having on his youngling.
“It’s alright Blinky, i’ll be ok.” Jim reassured, but didn’t do much of anything to sway off Blinky’s thoughts on the matter. Especially when Jim’s head then decided to start spiralling again. New magic cycling through his thoughts when he spotted his friends walking over. “I think I just need a minute.”
“Blinky?”
The six eyed troll reluctantly turned to face the new voices announcing themselves, just as Jim departed their conversation towards another room to breath. His expression shifting from that of concern to interest, evidently neglecting the flooding emotions that came with caring for another soul. “Ah Tobias! Claire, how may I assist you in light of our current position?”
Both Toby and Claire looked to one another, noting the tension that had been settling in and out of the surrounding house. “We were just about to head off, get our stuff, say our goodbyes you know, the standard pre end of the world stuff.” Toby noted, fiddling with the amulet still in his hands. “Not that it’s going to end this time or anything! I mean that would be bad, and we don’t want bad, i-
“Toby?” Claire inquired, Toby only just realising he was rambling, and got back to the point they had discussed.
“Right. Before that, we were just wondering. I know he’s handling it and knowing him doesn’t want anyone to fuss over him. And I know probably Merlin, and preferably Douxie is likely on it, but what exactly is happening?” Toby inquired, Claire sharing the same level of concern as the two kids urged a further explanation to their friend's state.
“It was only a few hours ago Jim was caning himself with training last night, and now this? You were their Blink, do you think he’s up for this fight?”
Blinky took no time in answering, already mulling over that very concern since he found his son this way, he expected they would be equal to himself. “That is the quandary, and it seems I am not the only one reaching these inquiries. Unfortunately, I cannot cater you any fulfilment. Only fact. After a fairly successful attempt at getting the boy to rest unfortunately that came shot lived.”
“Me and Aaarrrgghh had only left for a few minutes before this all started.”
“What exactly?”
“That I don’t entirely know, it all came on so suddenly.” Blinky explained, crossing one pare of arms. “I come in after feeling a shock of familiar energy cascade through the cavern, only to find quite alarming calls coming from Master Jim. When I entered his dwelling, he had already dawned his armour, the same forward attitude he had borne us with up to these moments. Informing us that we all meet to these discussions, only now do I realise why. I’m not familiar with this magic, but I do know this, whatever this energy is giving master Jim it refuses to subside.
“And that’s a good thing, right?” Toby questioned hesitantly.
“That is a question out of my hands regrettably, just as with the corruption.” Blinky’s gaze turned more downcast and intensified. “But as Jim’s guardian I can say this. The strain from the initial ignition, was worrisome. whatever Jim saw in these visions, I’m sure this won't be the last we will hear of them. An effect like this, is unpredictable. But as of yet it is in our aid, as such that is a problem for another day.”
“But wether he can fight, that’s what worry’s me.” Blinky continued. “As you know too well Claire magic if fuelled by the energy of its user, Jim hasn’t had nearly enough time to rest, I question the consequence, if many.”
“And knowing him he won’t back out of this. Did he tell you anything? About what he saw?” Claire questioned, growing her concerns. There had to be a solution to all this, there has for everything els.
“I did inquire, Jim only told me its truth, a truth he has told all of us.”
“That we will fail, if we don’t go down this path.” Claire summed.
“Precisely.”
“Surly there’s got to be more then one likely future where we win, right? … Right?” Toby questioned, finding it in himself to try and stay positive, even if these things were usually bleak.
“We did tempt fate, maybe one chance is all were granted, since we changed time.” Claire proposed, fiddling with her hands profoundly.
Toby noticed and gave her an accusatory look. “I thought you were going to be optimistic with me here!”
“I never agreed to that.” Claire shot back, but slightly smiled at the overdramatic scowl Toby was giving her. And caut on.
“As wonderful as it is that you are inquisitive to the matter, it is waisted energy. We have quite the fight ahead of us, any rest we can grant ourselves, especially on the mind, should be advised.” Blinky suggested, a hand on one of each of there shoulders, a somber tone to his features and voice.
“Your right Blink, I’m just gonna, wait!” Claire paused, halting herself from progressing towards her love. Turning back to the group. “I might have something. I need to talk to Douxie! then I’m going to need your help Blink.”
“Um, yes, on what exactly?” Blinky inquired, looking quite perturbed.
“Time. I’ll explain if I’m right.” Claire turned to find the wizards, not before Toby’s voice called out to her.
“Wait a sec Nuniez!”
“Toby what is it-
Toby had embraced her if a full-fledged hug just as Claire was finishing her sentence. “Can’t let you leave without this, I regret not having done so more in the past.”
Claire gently rested her arms around her friends back, returning the hug with fondness, looking over to the two Trolls in the room who where quick to reciprocate.
This lasted a few good moments before Claire spoke up. “Don’t forget to save one of these for Jim.”
Toby smiled. “Don’t worry, plenty more where this comes from, I’m not planing on going anywhere anytime soon.”
“Hm,” Claire hummed, before squeezing that little bit tighter. “Neither am I”
“Mm, family,” Aaarrrgghh rumbled in content as the OG Trollhunters released, bidding each other far well before going about their separate tasks.
_
Jim watched from the next room as his team; his closest bonds hugged before departing on their own pre-mission. He could barely see them among the wash of memories, flickers of other timelines weaving and intertwining with his vision, pieces of the past and presents meeting he gathered. But they were so static, so vague he could barely make out any of it. Just spots of light and shape resembling his friends and surroundings dancing around his irises so much he could almost feel sick. He’d find sleep more pleasant If not for the constant reminder of the physical implications of this magic beating into him since he woke up. His amulet tightly fixing itself to his chest, pulsating heavily rhythmic sensations through his bones. And refusing to let up, but he assumed so. Not all that comfortable.
And it had only gotten worse since he arrived at the Tarrons. The way it toyed with him, it was as though he wasn’t even there. A ghost in someone else’s story, yet that story refrained from writing him out. Who knew magic could be so cruel, it's his luck. Though at this point he wondered if he finally deserved it.
But hey, it could be worse, surely beets a shard of dark magic to the heart any day. Not that there’s all that much that can beet that level of agony, so glad that wasn’t a reoccurring pathway in the timeline.
Jim had to turn away as a new wave of pain from the memories became too overwhelming. And he had to hold back a deep whine escaping his throat as a tear wondered its way down his cheek regardless of his protest.
They didn’t know.
“Jim?”
“Douxie!” Jim replied with a start, quickly rubbing any remnants of tears before he faced the master wizard. So lucky his blue eyes didn’t puff up the same way it would human. Not expecting the wizards presence, though with all that’s going through his head, he shouldn’t be surprised. Jim took a breath.
“Sorry mate, I tried calling your name, but you didn’t answer.” Douxie apologised, coming too the side of the taller teen.
“Yea, just got a lot on my mind.”
“I can imagine” Douxie said in an upbeat tone. Yea, he would know. “On the subject, I wanted to ask, how did you know?”
“know what?” Jim replied, trying with all his will power to fight against seeing the other Douxies shouting in his brain. It was like fighting sleep when your practically exhausted. With little adrenaline to keep you going. But he managed.
”The idea, for the arena were creating. how did you, mange that I guess.”
“I don’t think I could say. I was just so sick of seeing so many fall among fire and ice I wondered if we could turn it on them, make the space our own, I was just in the moment I guess.” Lies, Jim could see this his most obscure, but among every death and rebirth he witnessed, this seemed to raise the least tolls. He had to believe it was something. If only he could see it in more clarity, but it was hard to see clear of anything at the moment.
“Right.” Douxie replied, holding back what was clearly disquiet for his freind. “I wanted to inform you the full sides of this magical dilemma.”
“Creating a pocket dimension no one has created before, I’m sure you can do it Douxie. this isn’t that outside of what’s been possible before.” Jim reassured, making sure the wizard knew he had full confidence in his abilities, more so then his own. But Douxie wasn’t asking for consolation.
“Yea, but I want you know this is my responsibility, we all agree the only thing you need worry about is getting your self ready mate.” Jim took that with apprehension, this was not the time for everyone to be concerned over him. But he could understand why they would, he wasn’t exactly subtle. But that’s not what’s important, Douxie of all people knows this, what was this really about?
“I know you want to go after Bellrog.” Douxie continued in solemn. “Believe me I do too. they made it personal for both of us the day they struck your amulet and took Merlin. And Excalibur is crucial if our mission is to be a success.”
“I feel like there’s an ask.”
Douxie paused, taking a moment to steel himself. “Krel has located The Order based on our statistics. They will be in Metro city within the next two hours. But me and Krel have a plan to stall them, giving us, and I mean you, time to reconfigure this new power and stabilise it.”
“Stabilise?” Jim questioned, not onto what Douxie was considering.
“I’m no time expert believe me, but I do know magic.” Douxie started. “New magic like this, especially from this power, cannot be put aside, especially since you're not trained in sorcery. I can't imagine whats going through your head right now.”
“I can barely hear you for one.” Jim joked, trying to put off the serious undertone.
“This needs time, its ironic I know, but Merlin’s been dealing with this for centuries. you, no more then two years.” Douxie summarised, words etched with urgency.
“And I’m guessing sorcerer’s take a lot longer?” Jim gathered, just barely catching his words among the voices of time. “Tell me why mister ‘Time Wizard’ is not here confronting me himself on this?”
“Merlins still working out the logistics of our plan.” Douxie explained, turning to the other room. “And well, he’s Merlin, what more can you expect.”
“Glad were on the same page there,” Jim sighed. “No offence Douxie.”
“Non taken mate, but Claire and I were talking, and she brought up a pretty solid idea in mind. We can't speed up time on this, but we think we can stop it.”
“What are you saying?” Jim questioned.
“You need rest.” Douxie stated plainly. “It doesn’t take a master's in psychology to figure that as fact. And we have a way we can grant it.”
“We don’t have time.” Jim argued, looking to move, but Douxie retorted.
“Jim! I need you to trust me here!” Jim paused, hearing out the wizard. “As your Master wizard I am advising you on a subject I’ve studied my entire life. If you don’t stabilise the consequences will consume you, and you will not be able to fight. You have to trust me that I know best in this case, please see, this is for the better of all of us. If you hope to fight this battle effectively and come out of this alive you have to hear this. That’s not just coming form me.”
Jim looked staggered, peering beyond the wizard to see his love talking over something with Blinky. She looked as unquiet as Douxie. Jim sighed. “What do you have me do?”
Douxie returned hopeful. “You still have the kirosect right?”
“Yes, it's in Trollmarket, we only used it once, when Claire-
“Yes, and sorry for interrupting but we have little time.” Douxie continued.
“Look, Merlin has a way to infuse the kairosect with some of Avalon’s magic, increasing the time stoping effect for a whole 24 hours, maybe more if were lucky.”
“And thats for?”
“You.”
“What!?” Jim questioned, his surprise causing his head to oscillate even more, not in any way comfortable or helping his resolve.
Douxie noticed, moving to help as a crutch. “See, this is evidence you need time, and we might be able to give you it, if this works you will be focused and most importantly ready. Which right now you evidently are not.”
“The number of times I’ve been told that.” Jim commented, trying to rebalance himself as he held his head.
“You will have control of when you unpin the time stoping effect with your sword, but only when you feel your ready.”
“Douxie?” Jim questioned, slowly moving out of his pain reflex as his markings gently dimmed, and the world became somewhat clear again.
“I know its not much, but out of all of us-
“Your right.”
“I, sorry what?” Douxie paused, moving form under the half-troll to face his brother's acknowledgement.
“I saw, in one of these futures, I underperform, I didn’t rest and it cost us.” Jim explained, his vision down cast. “If this, will be it then I am willing to try, I trust you Douxie.”
Douxie took a step back, taking in what was being said. “I honesty thought that would take more convincing, your quite stubborn you know.”
Jim lightly chuckled to himself. “I’m aware. It's a hard habit too change.”
“I can say the same.” Douxie smiled. Before a thought came to his mind, of something he noticed earlier during the meeting.
“Jim?”
“Yea?”
“In your visions, did you?” Douxie paused, contemplating what he was going to say.
“What?” Jim asked expectantly.
“I,” Douxie then sighed, shrugging off his shoulders. “Never mind, its not important.”
“Ok,” Jim replied hesitantly. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine,” Douxie eased, “it's not something for dealing with now.”
Jim wasn’t so sure by that but put it off regardless. “Alright, when did you plan on starting this?”
“Well, now actually.” Douxie replied in a fairly cheerful demeanour, much to Jim’s displeasure.
“Now?”
“Claires already on her way for the kairosect and Merlin’s already got his staff; all you need to do if find somewhere comfy.” Douxie explained, crossing his arms in contentment to his efforts.
“What’s that? I’ve got too many you’s across my vision I couldn’t quite hear you telling me to relax at the end of the word.” Jim teased, fiddling with his twitching ears in an attempt at banter towards his friend.
“Oh, you heard me, quite clearly.” Douxie retorted with a smirk.
Jim returned him one of his won, befor his attention found something els. “And what about the pocket demotion?”
“Like I said that’s for me to worry about, all you need to concern yourself with is that their time stone and controlling this new magic.” Douxie explained, pointing to the amulet. “Besides, it’ll be like you never even left.”
Jim considered it for a moment, then offered his hand out to the master wizard, who shook it firmly. “Alright then, one place hu? I think I’ve got an idea.”