That night, the Trollhunters gathered beneath Arcadia Bridge: Jim, Claire, Toby, Barbara, Blinky, Aaarrrgghh, NotEnrique, Draal, and Vendel had joined them for the moment. Jim and Blinky agreed that it might be good for Aaarrrgghh to head out for a night to regain his mobility and see how Jim, Toby, and Claire had grown in his five year absence. Toby and Vendel had caught Aaarrrgghh up on what they knew about Jim's trip to the Darklands, Enrique's rescue, and the issue with the Triumbric Stones in the amulet, but decided they would explain their current predicament while on the move.
Claire and Barbara had both come to Trollmarket as quickly as possible when Jim had given them the news, and they reunited in the Heartstone along with a very emotional Blinky and triumphant Draal. Naturally, Claire had given the gentle giant a huge hug while she cried. Aaarrrgghh had been surprised to see Barbara so emotional as well; She had heard all about him and what he had done for her son and his friends, and it filled her with joy to finally meet him again. He had been thrilled as well that she had officially joined their team and that she got along with Blinky and Vendel so well.
"Aarghaumont," Vendel said as they prepared to depart. Claire had her Shadowstaff in hand and Toby his inactive Warhammer in case they ran into any unsavory types during their outing. "Take it easy tonight, my friend. You are the first troll we know of to recover from Creeper's Sun. Should you feel weak, come see me at once."
"Okay," Aaarrrgghh agreed. "Just need time."
"What are we waiting around for?" Toby demanded. "Let's get going! A good Trollhunting scouting just like the old days!" Jim and Claire laughed and they emerged from under the bridge with Blinky and Barbara joining them, leaving Draal, NotEnrique, and Vendel behind.
"Good luck, my friends!" Draal called after them. "Good hunting tonight!" Jim waved back to him and the group climbed up out of the canal, and Aaarrrgghh took a deep breath in and exhaled happily.
"Smells good," he rumbled. "Didn't know before."
"There's nothing like a brush with death to make you appreciate life, old friend," Blinky agreed. "Oh, it's good to have you back."
"So, what's our objective?" Claire asked as they started off toward Jim and Toby's old neighborhood. "Are we just looking out for Changelings or what?"
"Changelings?" Aaarrrgghh huffed.
"First thing's first, we catch Aaarrrgghh up on what's been happening," Jim said and looked up at the giant. "Changelings have invaded Arcadia. And it turns out my dad is one of them." Aaarrrgghh's bushy brow rose.
"Dad is Changeling?" he asked, and Jim nodded.
"Yeah. Small world, right?" He sighed. "So these Changelings have some sort of plan to use me to open Killahead Bridge somehow, but we still don't know how exactly they want to do that. I have zero intention of helping them." He frowned. "They haven't made any move as far as we know of since my dad showed up at our house looking for a horngazel."
"Let us be quite clear on something, Master Jim," Blinky said as they wandered the shadows of Arcadia. "Under no circumstances must you allow those loyal to Gunmar to access the bridge. Even if our lives are put in jeopardy, you cannot give in to their demands."
"I know," Jim replied. "I protect both our worlds, and I'll keep doing that. Gunmar will not escape as long as I have any say in it."
"But what should we be expecting, exactly?" Barbara wondered as she strode alongside her son. "Walter implied that there are tons of Changelings in Arcadia. I know they have to come to us if they want the amulet, but what are we going to do if an army shows up on our doorstep?"
"If they wanted to do that, they would have by now," Claire said. "Changelings move under the radar. We know there are a lot of them around the world, and they're probably starting to gather here in Arcadia. But they don't want to draw attention to themselves. If and when they do strike, they're going to do it quickly and quietly."
"Strikler hasn't been much help in telling us what they might be doing," Toby added. "Not since they cut him off."
"And want him dead, apparently," Jim agreed. "Maybe we should be keeping an eye on him… I kind of owe him after I tried to kill him before."
"Jim not bad guy," Aaarrrgghh said firmly. "Not your fault." Jim looked up at him with a weak smile.
"Thanks, Aaarrrgghh. But even if it wasn't my idea, I was still involved. That's why I've been training my mind to resist Gunmar." His gaze lost focus. "And I have a feeling I'll be meeting him again one way or another sometime soon."
"I mean, he can't bother us as long as he's in the Darklands, right?" Toby pointed out. "Yes, we've got Changelings and goblins and other freaky things hounding us, but they're nothing compared to Bular and Angor Rot."
"Perhaps not," Blinky piped up. "We do not know of all of Gunmar's allies in this world. Changelings are one thing, but this realm alone is vast."
"Pale Lady," Aaarrrgghh bristled.
"Pale Lady?" Barbara repeated.
"Our friend here refers to the witch Morgana," Blinky explained. "She was sealed away shortly after the Battle of Killahead Bridge back in the days of Deya the Deliverer. But though we are not clear on the details, we do know that she was somehow involved in the creation of Changelings. Legend has it that her magic rivaled Merlin's."
"And she might be allied with Gunmar?" Jim asked.
"Or at least they share a common enemy," Blinky replied. "Namely, you." A curious look from Jim prompted him to go on. "As you know, Merlin created the amulet you wield. In a roundabout way, you are a warrior chosen by the wizard himself. You are Gunmar's enemy because you stand on opposite sides of this war. You are Morgana's enemy because you are Merlin's champion."
"So a super powerful witch might be after me too?" Jim groaned. "Why was this never mentioned?"
"As I said, Morgana was sealed away centuries ago," Blinky said, his fingers pressed together. "Right now, our focus should be on Gunmar, just as it always has. But I suppose we cannot ignore the possibility that the witch has left some resource or other to further his cause. Until you, Trollhunters were largely defeated by Bular and Angor Rot. There was no need for anything else. But both have been slain by your blade, Master Jim. Gunmar and his underlings must rethink their tactics of fighting you." Jim massaged his forehead and Barbara rested her hand on his back.
"Guess I should expect the unexpected," he sighed. "But you're right. For now, we need to focus on Gunmar and the Changelings. We can't let ourselves get distracted by what-ifs and stuff like that. So anyway," he looked up at the giant troll in their midst. "How are you holding up, Aaarrrgghh?"
"Good," Aaarrrgghh replied. "Good to be out. Good to move." He snorted. "Got your back, Jim."
"Thanks, buddy," Jim smiled. "I've got yours too." The group fell silent and took up defensive stances around each other at the sound of rustling in the trees nearby, and Jim took hold of his amulet. Aaarrrgghh took a large sniff of the air.
"Not goblin," he reported. "Not human."
"Fascinating," Blinky mused. "Aaarrrgghh's sense of smell seems to have heightened."
"Cool, he's a bloodhound," Toby said flatly. "But what is that?!" The rustling came closer and Jim donned his armor and readied his sword.
"There you are, ya lugs!" A gruff voice called, and the next thing Jim new, he had his sword pointed at a small green troll. "Sheesh, put that thing away. I'll keep me head if ya don't mind."
"Sorry," Jim withdrew his sword and dismissed his armor. "What are you doing here?"
"Bad news," NotEnrique reported. "The old goat's Heartstone got ransacked. Came as fast as I could to tell ya." Jim exchanged an alarmed look with his companions.
"We gotta get back," he said quickly. Claire smiled and extended her Shadowstaff.
"I got it," she said with a nod and created a portal. "You coming?" she asked the tiny troll, who smirked and jumped up on Aaarrrgghh's back.
They emerged a heartbeat later in the Heartstone where they found Vendel and Draal trying to clean up. Jim looked around in horror at the broken instruments, the scattered tools, and the stones thrown about carelessly. Vendel's crestfallen face about broke Jim's heart as he approached the old troll.
"What happened?" He asked as he helped pick up the pieces of a stone sculpture that had been shattered.
"I wish I knew," Vendel replied. "In the short time I was gone, someone came in and…" He shut his eyes with one hand on his forehead. "Forgive me, Trollhunter. The Eye of Gunmar is gone." This news about gave Jim a heart attack.
"They stole the Eye?!" He demanded, and the amulet pulsed in his pocket. He quickly calmed himself. "Vendel, I'm so sorry. I should have had it with me."
"No, I have never doubted your decision to separate yourself from it," Vendel assured him with a pat on his back. "I have long since lost any concerns I had about your role as Trollhunter, and I swore I would aid you however I could. But this…" he shook his head. "Who could have done this?"
"You haven't seen anyone strange around?" Jim asked, looking from him to Draal and Blinky.
"Nothing strange," Draal reported. "Do not fear, Trollhunter. I will find whoever is responsible and make them pay."
"No, wait," Barbara spoke up as she joined her son, glancing around the Heartstone. "Whoever did this wants us to know the Eye is gone."
"What do you mean?" Jim wondered.
"The culprit didn't do anything to try to hide that they were here," she explained, gesturing to the broken stones and instruments. "But this isn't just sabotage either. They were looking for the Eye, but could have been a lot more careful while doing it."
"So they were being destructive on purpose," Claire chimed in, and Barbara nodded. "She's right. The thief wants us to know they took the Eye."
"Great…" Jim sighed, his head low. "But why? So that means I can't use Eclipse if I face Gunmar, but I didn't plan to right now anyway. Do they want to use it as a bargaining chip? Open the bridge in exchange for the Eye?"
"They can't be that dumb," Toby said. "Maybe they just want to cover their bases."
"Master Jim," Blinky beckoned, and Jim turned to him. "Tobias has a point. Our enemy is moving strategically and we do not know their plans. Be vigilant, my friend. Now, you and your friends should head home and rest up. Aaarrrgghh, Draal, and I will assist Vendel in cleaning up. And I will do everything in my power not to let the thief escape my six eyes. I will contact you if we find any evidence. You go get some sleep and clear your head." Jim nodded lightly.
"Okay. I'll look around Arcadia tomorrow. I promised Claire I would go with her to the theater in the morning, but after that, I'll keep an eye out and we'll be back tomorrow night."
"It's okay, Jim," Claire said as she came to his side and took his hand. "This is way more important than a kid's play."
"No, it is important," he replied as he took her other hand. "Besides, I haven't seen Enrique in a while and I want to say hi. I promised I'd give him some stones we've dug up. I hate to say it, but right now, we're moving on Changeling time."
"Master Jim is right," Blinky agreed. "Right now, the best thing you can do is live life as normally as you can. The show must go on!" Claire smiled and shook her head.
"Okay, okay. Do whatever you want, big, tough, Trollhunter guy." She gave Jim a light punch to the shoulder.
"Please be careful, all of you," Vendel bade. "And good luck."
"You too, Jim replied, then turned to his friends and family. "We should probably get out of their way. Let's get home." With that, a heavy heart, and a spinning head, Jim and the others left the Heartstone, bound for home.
