Disclaimer: Don't own Trollhunters or any of its characters. I also don't own Kanjicar. That joke belongs to incognitoisminetocommand and pwipart.

Big thanks to JayBtheKBL for the hawaiian stuff and Ch4rl3Sm1th for rading and helping me write this. Thank you for all the reviews and favorites as well! I hope you enjoy the story. I've posted some fanart to this on my profile. Check out those artists. They're really good!


This was a mistake. A big mistake.

Jim huddled close to the two trolls, hoodie drawn as far as it could go.

The residential area of Arcadia Beach was one thing, but the city itself? Well, downtown was a much larger hurdle to cross. He had forgotten how loud midtown could be (or rather, his enhanced hearing made it more noticeable). Most of the buildings were single story, running along a large strip of road with two lanes, the smaller roads crisscrossing between it. There were a few tourist traps, but most of the town was made for the residents, primarily due to its far-off location from Hilo. Most travelers didn't come to see the city after all, but rather its neighboring town.

A camera flashed. Jim winced. A middle-aged man with a cheap disposable camera rolled the small dial. He took a few more pictures of them before disappearing back into the crowd. Sadly, he wasn't the only one. A few minutes later, a large woman with a smartphone did the same thing.

What were they, animals at a zoo? He felt exposed.

Jim pulled down the sleeves of his jacket then stuffed his hands into the pockets. Though it was hot as hell, he refused to show any more skin than was necessary.

Blinky must have noticed, his hand coming to rest on the teen's shoulder. "Master Jim, are you quite alright?"

"No," he muttered, eyes darting around. "How can you stand all this?"

"All of what?"

He motioned his head towards the crowds. "The people...they keep talking photos of us. Isn't that weird?"

"Oh! I wasn't even paying attention. You get used to it after a while."

Jim's eyes widened in dismay. "After a while? You mean this happens to you all the time?"

"Well, I am a well-known expert in my field." Blinky remarked.

Nope. He definitely should have stayed inside. Being a resident, it had never crossed his mind how people viewed trolls. When he first arrived in Arcadia they had been a bit of a curious find—most trolls lived deep underground, far away from human contact—but he never paid much attention otherwise. Now, as a half-breed, everything he had previously ignored (whether on purpose or otherwise) was suddenly apparent.

His gaze wandered. Other than Blinky and AAARRRGGHH! there were no other trolls around. That would change as they got closer to the beach front however.

Jim swallowed. Goosebumps rode up and down his arms. He could feel people's attention on him, even as the crowds began to disperse. He needed a distraction. Something to take his mind off being the center of attention.

He didn't have to wait long.

A human, a willowy woman with curly dark hair and blocky glasses, approached them. Jim narrowed his eyes; she looked familiar. "Excuse me," she asked. "Are you Mr. Galadrigal?"

Jim watched the change in Blinky's demeanor. The troll's eyes took on a sparkly sheen. He puffed out his chest, all four arms behind his back like some scholarly professor with tenure.

"Why yes," Blinky said in a confident voice. "How did you know?"

"Well, your book—"

"Ah ha! You've read one of my works. How studious of you," Blinky interjected.

"Oh, my, well thank you," The woman said, her cheeks red. "I absolutely loved 'Between the Dark and the Light'. It's my favorite romance novel. I've read it ten times over. The love between Diana and Ganmur was so vivid and beauitful."

"Oh," Blinky appeared to deflate. The sparkle in his eyes dulled. "Oh, I see…Well, my dear, I do believe we might have a bit of a miscommunication. You see, the writer of this book is not I, but my twin brother."

Jim cringed. This must be what second-hand embarrassment felt like.

The woman put both hands to her mouth. "Oh no, I'm so sorry, I thought—"

"No apologies, please. We are twins. It was an honest mistake," he added under his breath, "even though we are different colors…"

"Could you...could you maybe ask him if he could sign this for me?" She asked in a subdued voice.

Blinky tried to smile, but the twitching eye on the bottom left side of his face said something else. "Yes, yes, of course. Just write your address on the back and I'll drop it by his home sometime."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," the woman gushed. "I'm Lenora by the way. Lenora Janeth."

Oh crap, now he remembered. It was the math teacher at Arcadia High. Jim looked away, pretending to examine the grass. He hoped she didn't recognize him. Only Toby and his mom had seen him like this. He watched the rest of the exchange in the corner of his eye. Blinky pocketed the book, continuing to talk with the woman about her interests and what her profession was. Smooth, Jim thought.

Jim had to hand it to Blinky for his departing words though, taking her hand and shaking it warmly. "It's been a pleasure, Lady Lenora."

After she left, the next few minutes of walking were passed in silence. The sky grew darker, the orange fading with each passing second. Jim shared a look with AAARRRGGHH!.

"Blinky okay?" AAARRRGGHH! finally asked.

Blinky nodded, back ramrod straight. "Yes, yes. Just got a little dust in my eye, that's all."

"So," Jim said, hoping to change the subject. "How do you and AAARRRGGHH! know each other? Did you meet him in college too or…?"

"A few years after actually. I was participating in an archeological excavation in the Caucasian Mountains," Blinky explained, his dull look in his eyes fading.

"But I thought you were a psychologist?"

"Psychiatrist, actually," he corrected. "And I do have more than one degree."

AAARRRGGHH! put up six fingers and a thumb, adding, "Blinky have seven."

"Yes, though most of them I achieved during my post-doctorate. You can never have too much knowledge."

"Uh…huh." Jim said.

"But as I was saying earlier, I was on an archeological dig. As the head excavator of the site, it was my job to secure a translator. AAARRRGGHH! was the only willing native to assist us. You see, we were looking for our species' so-called 'Lucy'. Alas, we were unable to locate our ancestral connection at that point in time."

"But Blinky find something." AAARRRGGHH! said.

Blinky smiled fondly, reaching out to stroke the larger troll's arm. "Indeed I did."

Jim blinked. Oh. He hadn't—huh. Okay.

"So, you guys are…?" He shifted his head to the side, gesturing his index fingers together.

Blinky rubbed his chin, staring at his two digits. "I'm afraid I do not understand what that gesture means."

"You know," Jim said, his cheeks being to burn. Were they seriously going to make him say it?

"Jim! Jim! Hey Jimbo!"

He almost cried.

Jim turned around, relieved to see his best friend. "Tobes?"

The other boy crashed into him, arms wrapped around his torso. Jim almost reached out to hug the teen but found the angle too difficult. Instead, he ruffled the other's hair with one hand while the other gently squeezed his shoulder.

Toby's cheeks were nearly as pink as the shirt he was wearing. After catching his breath, Toby gave him a big smile, eyes alight with excitement.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. You're outside! I can't believe it. I stopped by your house on the way back from work but your mom said you weren't there."

"How did you find me?" Jim asked.

"Dude, you stick out like a sore thumb," Toby pointed out.

Jim looked down at his ensemble. Even with the nondescript hoodie and jeans, his height hindered any chance at being discreet. Great.

"Still, doesn't your shift end at nine? It's only half-past seven."

"Oh, I got fired." Toby said.

"What?" Jim grasped both his shoulders. "Why? I thought you loved working there."

"Yeah, but apparently you weren't supposed to eat the merchandise while selling the merchandise." Toby added in a low tone, "Baskin-Robbins always finds out."

Jim crossed his arms, head tilted to the side. "That sucks."

Toby shrugged. "It's alright. Gotta look on the positive side of things, ya know? Now we can hang out more."

He scratched his head. "Well, about that—"

Toby's eyes became wide as saucers.

"Holy crap, you're with trolls! That is so awesome sauce!" Toby exclaimed, looking around him at the other two. "They're like, nine feet tall or something."

Blinky coughed, rubbing his knuckles against his Hawaiian shirt. "Seven feet and ten inches, actually."

"That lie," AAARRRGGHH! said.

"Oh, alright, just seven feet and nine inches," Blinky admitted, rolling his eyes. "Are you happy now?"

Toby came closer to Blinky, pointing at his face. "He has like eight hundred eyes!"

Blinky was unamused. "Are all your little friends this bad at math, Master Jim?"

Covering his face with both hands, Jim tried to think of an answer. He had forgotten how curious Toby was of trolls (which was probably why the boy had no trouble with his best friend becoming half of one, now that he thought about it).

Jim finally answered, "Toby just gets overexcited sometimes."

"Where'd you meet these guys, Jimbo?" Toby inquired.

"My mom went to college with Mr. Blinky. AAARRRGGHH is…" Jim paused, then whispered, "Mr. Blinky's partner, I think."

"Oh…Oh!" Toby said as it dawned on him. "That's cool. Where you guys heading?"

"Trollmarket," Blinky supplied.

Toby gasped dramatically. He grasped Jim's sleeve. "Dude, take me with you."

"You want to go to Trollmarket? Seriously?"

"Come on. They won't let humans in without a troll to guide them," Toby's shoulders slumped. "And you have to be over eighteen to go on the official tours. Please? I've been wanting to go since I was a little kid!"

Having his friend would make things easier. His gaze switched over to the two trolls. Toby was his best friend. He'd stuck with Jim during these last three months, keeping him company through the worst of it. It couldn't hurt to ask.

"Hey, Mr. Blinky, is it alright if Toby can come with us?"

Blinky frowned, "Master Jim, this isn't a field trip. We are going to one of the most sacred cities in all of trollkind."

"Please? I promise I won't cause any trouble." Toby said, his hands clasped together.

"I would be a lot more comfortable if I had Toby with me." Jim added, "And it would be a great educational experience for both of us."

Blinky sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before saying, "Education is a virtue as they say. Oh, alright. He may come—"

Jim and Toby high-fived.

"—but only if both of you stay close to the group. No wandering off, no dilly-dallying, and definitely no rough-housing. This is for Master Jim's benefit. Both of you must be on your best behavior.

"Scout's honor, Mr. Blinky." Toby said, crossing his fingers.

"When were you ever in the scouts?" Jim asked.

"Shush! They don't know that!" Toby said.

Jim snickered. It had been so long since he and Toby got to hang outside of his house. Perhaps his first excursion wouldn't be so bad after all.


The entrance to Trollmarket sat across Arcadian Bridge, which crossed over a small river that led down to the ocean. As children, Jim and Toby had played along the rivers edge, pretending monsters were beneath the depths, ready to drag them under. Now, as the moonlight blanketed the area, Jim saw how close to right they were.

In the depths, rocks moved about, climbing up the shoreline to reveal gray troll bodies attached to them. As the sand turned to tall grass, little creatures with pointed hats and grass shirts darted to and fro.

Jim rested his hands on the raised concrete railing. Even though there were few lights in the vicinity, he could see everything around him as clear as day. At least he had a few perks to go with his new changes.

"How far away is Trollmarket from here?" Jim asked.

"You see that cove over there?" Blinky pointed slightly south, near the banks. "Trollmarket is unique in that it is both above and below ground. What was once a lava tunnel became one of the world's most famous troll bazaars in merely a century!"

Toby leaned over the railing, perhaps trying to see the market. Finally, he inquired, "Who discovered it?"

"Why, Deya the Deliverer of course! It is said she received a vision from the Void that told her to travel to the nine islands. When she and her followers arrived, they enacted a treaty with the main island's ruler; trolls would not attack humans and vice versa. It was one of the very first treaties between the two races."

"Wow," Toby said. "That's amazing."

"I'm glad you think so, Tim."

"It's Toby, or Tobias," he corrected Blinky. "Only Jim gets to call me Tobes though."

"Duly noted," Blinky said. "Hurry along now, boys. We're very nearly there."

Blinky was correct. A few minutes of walking led them to a paved road. As they drew nearer, small shops began popping up alongside the path. Mostly locals trying to sell junk, but occasionally there were trolls intermingled within the group.

Jim watched with avid interest as more and more trolls emerged from smaller off-shot roads. The main walkway soon became filled with traffic, the sounds of Trollspeak, English and other languages intermixed within the crowd. As a precaution, Jim put a hand on Toby's shoulder, not wanting to lose the shorter boy within the masses.

"Dude, this is crazy cool," Toby said.

"Agreed," Jim replied.

"Do you see the entrance yet?"

Jim straightened his back. Most of the trolls around him were taller than him—a pleasant change for once—but he was able to catch a glimpse of a large pair of doors at the end of the road.

"Well?"

"I think I see it."

"What's it look like?"

"I don't know, kind of gaudy. Looks like something out of Disneyland."

As they approached, the entrance became clearer to Jim. Two enormous doors made of carved crystalline material protected the front of the cove. Despite its beauty however, several brightly colored symbols decorated the walls.

"Are those doors made of olivine? Wow! Seriously, how did you find some in that size? They must have cost a ton!"

"They are indeed. That is rather astute observation, Tobias. Not many humans would have guessed that." Blinky remarked.

Toby beamed proudly.

"Hey Blinky," Jim began, gesturing toward the inscriptions. "What's with all the graffiti?"

"Graffiti? Oh, you mean the incantations. They are spells, to ward off evil, or in this case, Gumm-Gumms."

"Gumm-Gumms?" Toby asked.

"Bad people," AAARRRGGHH! said, shuddering. "Not like humans."

"Yes. Gumm-Gumms are troll purists. They believe humans and trolls should live separately. Trollmarket is unique within our society in that they allow humans to enter, with a troll escort of course," Blinky explained.

"What did they do to get banned from Trollmarket?"

"That, Master Jim," Blinky began. "Is a story for another day, for it seems my old friend is having a bit of trouble with one of those very purists."

Jim peered over Blinky's shoulder, spotting two trolls arguing near the entrance. Well, perhaps not arguing per say, since only one of them was yelling and the other looked bored.

Like most trolls, they were tall and wide-shouldered, but that was where their appearances diverged.

The taller of the two was a deep obsidian troll with an intricate tribal tattoo on one arm that stretched from his chest to his wrist. Like many of the trolls in the crowd, he too wore a dried grass skirt. Unlike the others however, a belt of skulls hung around his waist. Jim hoped those were fake.

The other was a pale blue-gray, almost Jim's skin color, but not quite. In comparison to the other troll, he stood out, his clothes modern and (in Jim's opinion) rather stylish. He was dressed in an intricately designed hoodie that resembled armor patterns, matched with a pair of black jammers that went down to his knees. What really made him pop was the amulet around his neck, its luminous glow mesmerizing.

"Yield, Kanjigar," the dark one said.

Huh. Jim's brows came together. That name sounded familiar. Really familiar.

Said troll in question gave the other a look Jim would describe as 'I'm-not-fucking-paid-enough-to-put-up-with-this-bullshit'. Kanjigar let out a deep sigh. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a thermos. He took a sip of it, then stated, "Go home, Bular."

"Give me the amulet."

"The Amulet of Daylight is not mine to give. It belongs to Trollmarket and to her protectors." Kanjigar said in a tired voice, "Do I need to call the police again?"

"The human police cannot hold me," Bular responded, though his facial expression said otherwise.

"You know the rules. No Gumm-Gumms are allowed in Trollmarket." Kanjigar stated. "That includes you."

"You cannot expect—"

Kanjigar pulled out a phone from the other pocket of his jacket. "I'm dialing the number right now."Bular growled, letting out a string of curses (at least Jim thought they were curses, he wasn't that adept at Trollspeak yet), before pushing his way back up the road. Jim hid his face as the taller troll stomped past him. If that guy was a purist, Jim's appearance wasn't going to do him any favors.

Blinky waved all four arms, yelling out, "Kanjigar, old fellow! It's so good to see you!"

Now where have I heard that name before, Jim thought. If only he could remember. It was on the tip of his tongue.

"Tobes, do you recognize that guy? He looks really familiar," Jim said.

His friend licked his bottom lip, bringing a hand to his chin. "Now that I think about it, yeah, he does."

Kanjigar looked around in the crowd before spotting their group. "Blinky? Is that you? I didn't expect you to get here so quickly...What in Deya's name are you wearing?"

"Trying to fit in with the locals," Blinky said, smoothing down the wrinkles of his flowery shirt.

"But you are a local," Kanjigar said.

"When I was a lad, yes. It's been quite a while since I visited the homeland."

"Did you miss it?"

Blinky smiled, eyes softening as he stared at the shoreline. "Goodness gracious, yes."

AAARRRGGHH! strode up to Kanjigar and gathered him in a big hug. Kanjigar's face froze up, but he took the action in stride, patting the other on the bath.

"Nice to meet you," AAARRRGGHH! said.

"Blinky wasn't kidding when he said you were affectionate." Kanjigar said breathlessly.

"Pacifist."

"That too," Kanjigar's eyes traveled to the Toby and Jim. "What are two hu—oh."

Jim tightened the strings of his hoodie.

"Oh my gosh, it's so cool to meet you," Toby gushed, stepping forward. "I've always wanted to visit Trollmarket but could never afford one of the tours. My name's Toby. Your jacket is awesome sauce, by the way."

"As long as you are here with a troll to guide you, Trollmarket welcomes you," Kanjigar said, though his eyes were still on Jim.

There was something in Kanjigar's stare that made Jim want to squirm. He looked to Blinky for help. Unfortunately, the troll did the exact opposite and pressed Jim forward with a hand at the middle of his back, until he and Kanjigar were mere feet away.

Jim bent inwards, arms stuffed into his pockets. What should he say? What should he do?

"Holy cheese, I remember now!" Toby exclaimed. "The commercial! He's from that commercial on the local news station!"

Kanjgar stiffened.

"Which one?" Jim asked.

"The one about the cars? You know, 'if your car needs fixin after a trip to the bar, call me now at Kanjicar's'," Toby sang.

Jim snapped his fingers. "I do remember!" He said as he turned to Kanjigar, his discomfort now gone. "You're the car commercial guy!"

"You were in a car commercial?" Blinky asked.

Kanjigar's shoulders tightened, his face even more stony than before. "It was a long time ago. In an effort to promote my mechanic business, I made a small video and sent it to the local station. It was nothing."

"Nothing? Dude, every kid in grade school knew that tune. Remember Jim?"

Jim nodded. "We used to sing it in class, at lunch, in the gym—wow, I can't believe you're Kanjicar."

"Kanjigar," the troll corrected. "And I don't believe I got your name, boy."

Blinky patted Jim on the shoulders, presenting the boy in front of him. "This is James Lake, Junior, though he prefers to call himself Jim. He's Barbara's son."

"Barbara's son?" Kanjigar threw a scrutinizing look at Jim. He visibly swallowed. "I see. I didn't know she had a son."

"You know my mom?" Jim spoke up. How many trolls did his mom know?

"We…run into each other in Arcadia sometimes."

"No need to be so secretive, old friend. Why, it was Kanjigar who introduced Barbara and I. We were quite the wild trio back in college."

Kanjigar narrowed his eyes. "Blinky, I don't think this is the best place to discuss this."

"Oh! Yes, that story might be a bit too much for the children," Blinky coughed. "You said earlier on the phone that there was an emergency that required my assistance."

"Indeed," he said. "Though I would suggest we have it inside my office, away from any prying ears."

"Oh, of course," Blinky nodded, adding, "as Trollguard I understand privacy is very important to you."

"Trollguard?" Jim asked. "but I thought you were a mechanic?"

"That, youngling, is my day-job as humans like to say. At night is when my real job starts," Kanjigar explained, leading the group through the entrance. "A Trollguard is one who supervises the safety and rescue of both trolls and humans from the perils of the ocean. It is a Trollguard's job to maintain peace amongst the two races within the area of Arcadia Beach and Trollmarket, as written in the decree our ancestors and the natives of this island signed."

"So, you're kinda like a Lifeguard then?" Toby speculated aloud.

Blinky shook his head. "Not at all, Tobias. The Trollguard is—"

"Yes," Kanjigar replied, taking a swig of his thermos. "With a few differences of course."

"Like what?" Jim said, curiosity riding his words. This was the first time he had ever heard of the occupation. "What are the—"

"Whoa, Jim! Do you see what I see?" Toby interjected, tugging at his jacket.

Jim switched his focus from the group to the world past the door. His mouth dropped. The cool air of the cove blew his bangs back. Without even thinking about it, his hands moved to untie his hood.

"Welcome to Heartstone Trollmarket," Blinky remarked. A hand on each of their shoulders, Blinky lead them further inside, a big grin on his face. "Trollmarket is home and hearth and sanctuary for all good trolls."

"Except Gumm-Gumms," Jim said.

"And Changelings too," Kanjigar added.

Blinky sighed, "Must you two ruin my moment?"

Jim and Kanjigar looked at each other and smiled. Though Kanjigar appeared to be a rather serious fellow, Jim found he enjoyed both his and the rest of the group's company.

And for the first time in three months, Jim didn't feel the empty pit in his stomach.