Author's Notes: Hello everybody! I saw that I haven't updated this in a while so I went "Well fuck" so here you guys go! I hope you enjoy it!
Okay just so you all know, I had to go through all 17 chapters to find out the color wheel I had for each emotion and everything just to update this thing and I realized the grammatical hell I put you all through and I'm sorry but you better enjoy this because of the two HOURS this took for the colors alone. Buuuttt, I did get a Beta Reader! His name is PrimaryIan210. I work with him on his story, Forgotten Deity, so he offered to do the same for me. So from now on, updates should be more coherent. Doesn't mean my 2 AM post-exam college brain won't fuck up my words though.
Also, he never watched Trollhunters and he told me throughout the whole process that he hated each name. Specifically Blinky's. *insert Pac-man joke here*
From Ian himself: I only made fun of how generic 'Jim' was and criticized Netflix as such. Also a Discord message has suddenly appeared telling me EVERY generic name I'll see…
I kept my eyes closed shut as I released my breath slowly while I kept my hands before me. I was on one foot on top of a seven-foot pole as the sound of silence was deafening around me.
Gotta stay focused, Jim. Keep yourself still. Focus.
"Wonderful work, Master Jim!" I almost had my eyes shoot wide open at the sound of Blinky's voice, but I was more worried about the idea of falling seven feet to probably my face instead from the instant imbalance that I was thrown off into. I shot my arms out to steady myself which ended rather gladfully with me staying evenly on the pole. I heard a small bit of laughter from Blinky as I heard him step closer. "Great! You were able to keep your balance with my interruption. Now, do you remember what this exercise is about?"
"It's about teaching me to have control and focus?"
"Yes, but to also understand your body's limits. Your one leg is getting rather tired, yes?" I swallowed hard as I just noticed the dull ache that was starting in the thigh of my right leg. The weight of my body was finally taking a toll. "Remember, keep yourself on that leg until the session is done. Physical exhaustion is one thing that will forever be constant as The Eclipse." I felt myself sigh as the dull ache was slowly becoming something much more.
"How much longer do I have to keep this up?"
"Just one more minute. You can handle it." I felt myself scream on the inside as he said that.
My leg feels like it's on fire! How in God's green Earth can I keep this up for another minute?
I took a shaky breath as I bent my knee slightly to try to relieve some of the pain within my right leg.
"Just thirty more seconds."
I felt myself start to shake slightly as I brought myself back up to the normal stance. I released the breath I didn't know I had held as another voice joined the conversation.
"Come on Jimbo! You got this!" I smiled slightly at Toby's voice as I was shaking lightly while trying to keep my balance.
"Alright! Come on down!" I opened my eyes instantly and jumped down from the seven feet difference and landed on my feet on the ground below it. I went to stand straight up, but my right leg almost instantly gave out. I shifted my weight instantly so that my left leg was holding me up more than the rather tired muscles in my right.
"Holy shit my muscles are screaming at me as if I forced them to run a marathon." Blinky just chuckled at me as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You're doing well, Master Lake. For a human, you're developing rather quickly." I smiled up at the large stone troll as I placed a hand on top of his.
"Thank you, Blinky. To be honest, I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not." Blinky's hearty laugh filled the room rather quickly.
"Sorry to ruin the moment, but Jim, we gotta roll before we're late for school." My eyes shot wide as I brought myself up instantly.
"Shit! You're right!" I ran over to Toby who had our bags before I screwed my eyes shut. "Damn it! My leg is gonna kill me."
"You'll be fine! Now come on! We don't want another detention with Señor Uhl! Especially with you having a rehearsal." I nodded my head as a sense of determination filled my chest and the crystal on my chest burned lightly on my skin.
"You're right. Gotta brush it off. We'll see you later Blinky! You too AAARRRGGHH!" I waved to both of them as Toby and I started to rush our way out of the Hero's Forge.
"Break a leg, as your kind would say!" I felt a smile deepened on my face as I heard Blinky yell after us as AAARRRGGHH yelled his goodbye as well.
I drifted throughout the day as if it was nothing. My right leg was rather numb from the events prior to the beginning of the day, but it started to die down as I walked slowly through the school.
"I'm guessing you're tired with that look on your face, man." I smiled at Toby as we walked together toward our last hour.
"Only a little." He chuckled at me as he slugged me lightly into my shoulder.
"Well. You got a little bit further to go. Just be thankful Mr. B let us do our training with him this morning."
He's actually getting a grasp at the whole "Don't make shit obvious" idea.
"Yeah. Thankfully. I can actually get some sleep for once after rehearsal."
"Or practice your Spanish Oral exam?" I sighed as I dropped my head. "Forgot about that, huh?" I nodded my head slowly as I ran my free hand through my hair.
"All of this is going to be the end of me, huh?" We walked into the PE locker room with Toby laughing at my misery. I changed into my gym clothes with ease before waiting for Tobes with a smile as he was trying rather hard to put on his shoes without help.
"But hey think of it this way, you're practicing the kiss scene today, right?" I felt myself blush slightly at the idea as I leaned up against the lockers. I looked back and forth to see if any of the other guys within the locker room were listening or caring about our conversation only to see that no one was near us.
"Yeah. I'm nervous as well." I whispered that over to Toby the best as I could. He only gave me a giant smirk as he pointed down to the crystal hanging around my neck.
"It's good that you've realized that you can't hide your emotions anymore. That crystal is a blessing in disguise." I grabbed the crystal and saw that it was a bright misty blue. I sighed heavily as I placed my hand on the glowing object. "But you'll be fine." He gave me a proud smile as he finally managed to place his last shoe on his left foot. "Just gotta be cool, ya know? Be calm about it all. If you get yourself too overwhelmed, you'll screw it up."
"Easy for you to say."
"Bro, seriously, you get yourself too worked up and think too much about it then you'll screw it up. Just be yourself. She seems to enjoy you based on how you two talk and everything. Also," He leaned over to me once he got up to his feet. "You've dealt with worse. You've fought Draal. Kissing Claire will be a breeze in comparison." I rolled my eyes and whispered in reply.
"Fighting trolls is nothing like kissing Claire."
"Exactly!" He stood straight up with a smile.
"You're not helping."
"I'm supposed to?" He gave me a cheeky smile that I replied with a small one of my own.
"I hate you sometimes."
"Love you too, Jimbo."
Once we made it out to the gym, a voice came up to my right side.
"Hey!" I looked over instantly and felt a smile place itself on my face.
"Hey there, Claire." She was smiling widely as she walked up to us. I felt the crystal burn lightly through my shirt as the color must have changed dramatically. I looked down at it to see it was a light pink with a bit of red starting to show. I smiled sheepishly towards her and I placed the crystal under my shirt quickly. She gave me a small laugh in return.
"You don't have to worry about me toying with you on it, remember?" She gave me a small smile as Coach Lawerance blew his whistle. "Well, I guess I gotta dash. See you at practice, alright? Or at least, you better be there. If I end up having to kiss Steve, I might actually die." I chuckled at her as she started backing away slowly.
"Don't worry. I'll be there."
"You better be!" She shouted towards me before running off completely towards her friends. I smiled as she ran off while a hand placed itself on my shoulder.
"I told you, you have nothing to worry about." I smiled over to Toby as we started walking towards Coach Lawerance together.
"Yeah, you might be right."
"Alright, everybody! We're practicing the major ending scene! So Romeo, Juliet, take a moment and make sure you know your lines. We don't have long till the showcase now so you better be off the script by next week!" I swallowed hard as I felt the crystal burn against my skin as if I placed lit charcoal there.
Sometimes I hate this fucking thing.
I rubbed my chest as if to try to move the crystal off of the delicate skin but I knew there was nowhere else the little object could go. I held my script in my hand as I sat with a heavy sigh against the wall.
A grave? O no, a lantern, slaught'red youth;
For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes
This vault a feasting presence full of light.
Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd
I felt my head roll back and felt it bump gently against the wall behind it. I closed my eyes and kept myself there for a moment as my head overran with thoughts.
How in the world am I going to remember this whole 47 line long ending monologue?
"Doing alright there?" I opened my eyes with a soft smile to see that Claire was standing before me with her hand on her hips while a small smirk danced on her lips.
"Just dying inside over this monologue. The usual." She gave me a small giggle, a smile playing on her lips..
"Good luck for you, I just talked her into letting us use the scripts for monologues for a couple more days. Since you know, it's a five-act long play with multiple scenes. As long as we can carry out the small paragraphs, we'll be fine. Also, we're starting from where Friar Lawrence finds Romeo. So no need to worry about that part." I felt my shoulders place themselves lower as a breath seemed to release itself in a sign of relief.
"So I just have to play dead for a little bit. I'm okay with that, to be honest." She shook her head at me as she held out her hand to me.
"Yeah, you've got the easy job today." I reached out and grabbed her hand as I brought myself up beside her. The pain that was in my leg before during the beginning of the day had faded throughout the day, but I felt as if it returned, more specifically to my knees, as she smiled up to me. The small height difference between us wasn't major, but it was enough to have her tilt her head slightly to look me in the eyes dead-on. Her smile was small and easy but it was enough to cause my mouth to dry slightly with the small amount of distance between us. I was glad for the fact that I had the necklace not just covered by my thin white shirt, but also the blue sweatshirt above it, or my emotions would be clear on display at the moment.
"Alright! Is everybody ready? The scene is set thanks to our lovely crew so we can begin!" I felt myself smile towards Claire as I tilted my head towards the stage.
"Ready?"
"As ready as I can be." Her smile widened as she placed a hand on my shoulder before pulling it away to start her way on stage. She looked over to me randomly before I could start to follow her. "Also, Jim?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm happy you're here."
"So you don't have to kiss Steve?" I felt a smirk place itself on my face as I watched her roll her eyes at me before a grin returned to her face.
"Not just that. I'm happy you're here. In general." I felt a blush creep up on my face as she turned back to that stage and faded from my view. I stood there for a second as I felt as if I was glued to the soles of my shoes until I shook my head lightly and jogged up to the stage.
"Wonderful!" Miss. Janeth smiled at all of us on the stage while looking over to see if everyone is here. "Every role had their actor or actress! Now, Mr. Lake, for the ending you will be laying on that altar with your hands over your chest. Alright?" I nodded my head as I gave a smile her way before heading over to it. "Beautiful! Now, all you have to do for the ending is lay there and don't move a muscle. Also, don't fall asleep. I know, it'll be difficult having your eyes closed for that long, but please, keep yourself alert." I brought myself up onto the wooden alter the tech crew made with a nod.
Oh, that won't be an issue. I'll be scared shitless enough for that not to be a problem.
"Lay down really quick to see if the tech crew got the dimensions right." I brought myself to lay down then placed my hands over my chest. "Perfect! Now stay there." I chuckled lightly at Miss. Janeth as she started to direct everyone else around the stage.
Miss. Janeth is one hell of a director. She's passionate about it to the point of exhaustion. As well as to the point to make it obvious that "Hey, my play is important you fuck!" with ten pages of extra homework when I started skipping rehearsals due to Eclipse things.
But hey, I had Claire to help me out and Toby to make sure I wasn't physically killing myself with everything. If it weren't for them, I would be a mess right now.
"Alright. Then Ms. Nuñez over to the front. Just lay there until you hear that our Friar had finished his line. After that, you bring yourself up slowly and dazed before the rest of the scene can commence. Everyone in their places? Perfect! Now, whenever you want to begin!"
Here we go, I guess.
"Romeo!" I heard rushed footsteps find their way toward me in the center of the stage. "Alack, alack, what blood is this, which stains the stony entrance of this sepulcher? What mean these masterless and gory swords to lie discolor'd by this place of peace?" There was a sudden silence afterward as a couple more steps led over to behind me. "Romeo, O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too? And steep'd in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour is guilty of this lamentable chance! The lady stirs." A small little bit of stirring noises led me to know that Claire was bringing herself up before me.
"O, comfortable friar! Where is my lord? I do remember well where I should be, and there I am. Where is my Romeo?" I swallowed hard as the rest of the lines were a blur to me.
Okay, Jim. Stay calm. Slow and steady breaths. It's just an acting kiss. With the girl you've had a crush on for over a year. And it's your first one. Nothing to be worried about.
The crystal burned against my skin like it has many times before as if mocking my internal monologue.
Shut up you stupid crystal. I don't need you mocking me right now.
Slow steps found their way around me as I felt a hand brush itself against my shoulder.
"Go get thee hence, for I will not away. What's here? A cup clos'd in my true love's hand?" She grazed my hands with her own on my chest. "Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end. O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after? I will kiss thy lips, haply some poison yet doth hang on them, to make me die with a restorative." She kept her hand on my bundled ones as I felt her lean down as I tried with all my might to keep my eyes shut. I felt her breath on my lips for a moment before hers quickly but delicately placed hers on mine. My eyes almost shot wide instantly if it wasn't for the fact that I suppressed the instant reaction. I almost melted into the touch as my mind went haywire. The crystal was as if it was trying to bury itself into my chest by how warm and inviting the feeling from it came. The kiss was quick by how she raised herself quickly after, but the feeling of it danced there as her hand placed itself on my right cheek as my mind was still fuzzy from the feeling.
"Thy lips are warm."
I felt a small lopsided grin find its way to the left side of my face as her presence found itself away from me. Claire went on to do her poison speech but had to redo the scene multiple times because Miss. Janeth wasn't sure where she would collapse until she settled on her falling onto my chest for the end of it. In the end, she gathered our attention.
"Beautiful work everyone! Now, I want to run another scene a couple of times since you all seemed to gather an understanding of that so quickly! So this time-" Miss. Janeth's voice slowly faded from my hearing as I looked over to Claire who gave me a quick smile as she tucked a strand of hair that was battling to go in front of her ear to behind it with ease. I gave her a smile in return as I looked back over to Miss. Janeth so she wouldn't yell at the two of us. Yet, I felt as if at that moment nothing could go wrong. As a smile deepened on my face, I realized that everyone was setting up for another scene. I looked over to Claire with a confused look as she just giggled at me before giving me an answer.
"Act 3 Scene 1." She patted my cheek on the right side of my face as she walked by me. "Keep your head out of the clouds." I felt a blush rush to my face as she walked off with a giant grin across her face as she flicked her head over to me one last time. I gave a grin of my own though as I walked towards the opposite side.
"So everything went well?"
"Yep!" I swung my sword at the rock made decoys that AAARRRGGHH was throwing my way on Blinky's command. I slashed through it with ease before jumping to miss being hit by an opposite one. I slid to my left as another was flung towards my right.
"I told you everything will be fine!" I laughed wholeheartedly as I ducked under a giant boulder being hurled in my direction. AAARRRGGHH then decided to roll one towards me, but I was able to leap up just in time to miss it completely.
"Your head on instant reactions are working well! Now, we must work in other directions. AAARRRGGHH, my friend, you know what to do." Blinky used one of his many hands to pat AAARRRGGHH on the back while pushing Toby over to the side a little. "This might get a little cluttered. Might want to be out of possible harm's way." AAARRRGGHH looked at me with a smile before he bundled a couple of the rocks into his left arm.
"Jim, ready?" I put my sword before me with a smile.
"Come at me big guy." His smile widened as he started to circle around me in a quick dash. I kept myself steady as I heard multiple rocks being thrown in my direction. I was able to dodge quite a few with only a few close encounters. It wasn't until AAARRRGGHH started rolling them, as well as his normal throwing that I started to get tripped up. I was able to keep it up for a good few minutes until one of the rolling decoys got me by the ankles and flipped me over completely before landing on my back. I groaned loudly as Blinky walked up to me.
"You were doing well. Until you were unable to anticipate his movements." He lent out his upper left hand towards me which I took instantly before he helped me up. "Quickness is useful, that is for certain, but it falters when movements are unknown. You must never rely on anticipation alone. You must know and understand your surroundings. Know what you're up against. Only then will you get that much better within a battle." I nodded my head as Blinky placed both of his upper hands onto my shoulders. "Don't let any of this deter you though. You are doing well. Just keep at it. Once we continue with your physical strength, the mental strength will follow in time." I gave Blinky a smile as one seemed to chisel itself into his stone cheeks.
"Thank you, Blinky."
"Of course. Now, it must be getting late. I understand that your kind is rather dependent on sleep so we will call this to an end." As he spoke, the armor disappeared back into the necklace after he pulled his hands off of my shoulders. "Tomorrow, we will do a training gauntlet. You'll experience the full course of which the Hero's Forge can withhold." I gave him a determined grin.
"I'm ready!" He gave me a hearty laugh as he slapped me on the shoulder.
"Atta boy! That's the spirit! Now go, both of you! Rest awaits you and so does The Forge!" AAARRRGGHH nodded beside him as both of them gave us large smiles as Toby and I made our way out of the Hero's Forge.
"Goodnight. Hunters."
"See you tomorrow big guy!" Toby was the one waving off to AAARRRGGHH as we made our way out towards Troll Market. It wasn't long after getting into Troll Market that we had made our way to the surface.
"Dude! This stuff is getting cooler and cooler the more we're there!" I smiled towards Toby as we got on our respective bikes. We started our way towards home easily like we have multiple times by now. With the moon high above us, it was difficult to see the terrain before us, but with how many times we have gone down the beaten path of the canal and the forest not too far from our houses that led to it, we've gotten a blind knowledge of the area with time.
"I'm getting better. That's what I'm worried about."
"Awe come on man! We haven't dealt with anything we can't handle yet!"
"Yet is the important word there." He only laughed at me as we made our way through the forest. A delicate silence carrying over both of us. Out of nowhere though, I heard something snap to my left. I skidded my bike to a stop instantly and looked out into the forest. The light from the moon being my only helping hand in the situation.
"You alright, Jimbo?"
"I thought I heard something."
Toby looked out where I was for a couple of moments before looking back towards me.
"I don't know man. I don't see anything." I stared out at it for a little longer before shaking my head a little.
"I guess I might just be seeing things." We continued on our way till we entered our little cul-de-sac that our two houses shared. Toby waved me goodbye as I reciprocated it as we went our separate ways for the night. I placed my bike where it was against the house like always before finding my way up the side of the house from one of the gutter lines and back into my room from my window that I left slightly open for my convenience. After I changed out of my clothes, I laid down in my bed where sleep took me almost instantly.
Both Toby and I were unaware of the shadow that had followed us there.