Hello my beautiful creatures! How are y'all today? I hope you are all doing wonderful! Sorry this took so long to update. I started classes once more which means less time for writing for my own pleasure and more time for writing for a teacher's pleasure and my mental anguish. Haha. Ha.
I wish I was kidding.
Anyway! I hope you guys enjoy this! Much love, my friends!
"Hello, Arcadia! Tonight is the performance of Romeo and Juliet from Arcadia Oaks High! If you're looking for something to do and want to support your local Arcadian teens, come and see the showcase at seven tonight. Now, back to the music."
I rubbed the crystal around my neck as I paced back and forth in the dressing room Claire and I was in. My other hand was tapping nervously against the shield gauntlet Blinky gave me. My nerves were on edge as Claire was listening to a voice message I received on my phone as the radio played lightly in the background. I knew what the voice message said. I knew it all too well. I've probably listened to it over a million times since I received it. I closed my eyes with a heavy sigh as I remembered when I first heard the news. Way before the voice message was even sent to me.
"What do you mean Blinky was taken?!" I felt anger filling my chest as I yelled at the changeling standing on the island in Blinky's library.
"Exactly what I mean, Skinny-Legs! Bular found him lurking around like a fool and decided to snatch him up. We're lucky that he's being used as a bargaining token instead of an addition to his body count." I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair.
"I told him to make sure everything went smoothly for you." I shook my head as I grabbed the crystal over my chest. It was burning in my hand as I felt a hand place itself on my right shoulder. "It's all my fault."
"We'll get him back, Jimbo. Right, Wingman?" I looked over to Toby as the large troll loomed over him over his shoulder.
"Right." I smiled at the two of them as I looked back to Not Enrique.
"Actually. I think I got a plan."
After the memory played in my mind, I turned my head towards Claire to see her eyebrows were knitted together in worry as she leaned against the vanity she was using before I entered. She looked up to me with a pure feeling of worry dancing in her eyes.
"Please tell me you're not planning on going alone." I gave her a soft smile as I came close to have my phone handed back to me.
"We've got a plan. Don't worry." I checked my home screen to see I had about twenty minutes to get my way over to the theater as Strickler said I needed to save Blinky. "But we're going to need your help." I gave Claire my attention once more to see a determined look take over her face.
"Of course. What do I need to do?"
"I need you to distract Miss Janeth. I know we only have an hour or two before call, but I don't know how long I'll be. I promise I'll be here before curtain though." I saw a small smirk appear on the slightly shorter girl's face.
"You better. I can't play Juliet without my Romeo." I smiled at her reply as I held up the crystal that was still in my hand.
"You won't need to. Not if I have anything to do about it." I checked my phone once more before looking up to her. "I've gotta go." I started my way out of the dressing room.
"Hey." I turned my head towards Claire as I held the door in my hand. She had a soft smile on her face as the worried look came back into her eyes. "Stay safe, okay?" I smiled at her words before giving her a nod.
"You've got my word." With that, I shut the door behind me and snuck out of the school with relative ease. Once I reached the bike rack, I placed my helmet on my head. After that though, I slipped my hand in my jeans pocket as the rain pelted lightly against my jacket and headgear. I grasped the small GunRobot keychain I kept stored away before pulling it out to look at it.
Let's hope the plan helps me keep it.
I slipped the keychain back into my jeans before hopping on my bike with my destination already in mind.
Don't worry, Blinky. We got this.
"So it seems you listened for once, Trollhunter." I rolled my eyes at Strickler as he came closer to me.
"It's Eclipse and sorry to disappoint that I would rather listen when you have someone I care about on the line instead of just Napoleon's history to offer me." I noted the annoyed look on Strickler's face as he snapped his fingers. A goblin came from the shadows and jumped up to my shoulders. It took the crystal off my neck and jumped down to Strickler's side.
"Come along, Young Atlas. We don't have time to waste." I nodded as I followed the changeling with ease. The rain was still pouring as we made our way towards the museum. He opened the main door for us once we arrived and led us towards the construction area of the building where I heard Blinky's voice echoing off the walls.
"Jim would never fall for such a foolish plan! Even if it means-!" His voice died out slowly as I entered the room. He was tied up with his upper arms above his head, his other two out to his sides as his feet dangled in the air. "Master Jim! Why are you here? I told you it was a trap!" I gave Blinky a large smile as I walked over to him slightly since I couldn't move too far away from Strickler.
"We have that Vespa to build together, remember?" Blinky's features softened at my response. Mine hardened in comparison though as I looked over to Strickler. "Cut him down." A growl made Bular known from where he was hiding in the back of the room. He took slow calculated steps before taking out one of his blades from his back hustlers and pointing it towards Blinky.
"Open the bridge and then your friend will be free." I took a deep breath before turning my attention towards the bridge. I lent my hand out to the goblin that took the crystal from me. It gave me back the necklace without hesitation. I tightened my grip around the crystal as I approached the bridge. I made my way on top of it as Blinky called out to me.
"Master Jim! Don't do this! There's gotta be another-!" Suddenly he stopped as the sound of a large thud came from the opposite side of the building. Nomura growled at this while reading her blades.
"You were to come alone, Trollhunter." I gave her a smirk as I placed the crystal around my neck.
"It's Trollhunters." With that, AAARRRGGHH dashed into the room with Toby on his back and Draal in tow. I instantly activated the crystal as they started to make their way towards Blinky. I grabbed my sword out of my scaffold and turned my attention to the now troll-formed Strickler.
"Why do you have to make everything so difficult, Young Atlas?" I felt my smirk deepened as I tightened my grip on my sword.
"I have a promise to keep." He then threw one of his collar knives at me but I reflected it with ease. This left me open though as he jumped forward and pushed me back with another one of his small blades. I put my sword up with ease to block his blows but it left my lower half open to a quick kick to my stomach that caused me to fall on my ass. I blocked another swipe of his blades as I quickly jumped back up to slash at the changeling. This caused him to leap back for a second before jumping sideways to take advantage of the situation. He put his knives into an 'x' and pushed them towards me. I lifted up my sword sideways and placed an armored hand on the opposite end to force back his actions as my back hit the siding of the bridge.
"Jim!" I looked over to my right to see Toby screaming out towards me as he was having a difficult time cutting Blinky loose. He only had the side ones done out of the four of them. I turned my attention back to the snarling man pushing his blades closer to my chest. I pushed with all my might back against him and kicked him in the stomach to force him even further away. I threw my blade towards some of Blinky's confinements to cut clearly through the top two before calling the sword back to me.
"Your weapon is an extension to yourself. Your weapon is your spirit. A piece of your soul. Once you realize that it's yours and you are one with the blade, you'll be able to call it in your honor." Draal threw my sword behind him as if it was a frisbee. He waited with a satisfied smile for it to land in the forest far behind him. "Now," He turned his attention back to me. "Call for it." I closed my eyes as I held my hand up. After a few moments, I started to get frustrated for a moment.
Come on, buddy. Let's be friends here.
There was still nothing as I groaned in annoyance.
OH COME ON! I know I didn't use you against the Basilisk but if this was a real situation I would have been-!
Suddenly my hand had extra weight to it as it dropped. I opened my eyes to see my sword within my grasp as Draal smiled widely at my small accomplishment.
"With a bit more practice, you'll be able to do so with ease." He placed his large hand on my shoulder. "Good work, Eclipse."
I felt myself smile at the memory as a loud thud let me know that Blinky and Toby were back down to earth as I brought my attention back to Strickler who was already gearing up to attack once more.
I've worked too hard to let this end here.
I smirked as I held my sword before me with both of my hands on its handle. The changeling swiped at the sword sideways as he made a small advancement towards me. I bought it up once more as I thought he was going for my face, yet suddenly he reached out and grasped the crystal on my chest as he twisted the sword out of my hands with the other. Metal clinked to the floor as he brought his face close to mine. He gave a sinister smile while his yellow eyes glowed slightly.
"I promise you, Trollhunter," His smile only grew on his off green skin as his grip tightened on the crystal before pulling it out of its confinements and throwing me aside to land on my right side. "I'll take care of Barbara during Gunmar's rule." I brought myself up as he slammed the crystal into the bridge. A bright red light shining at first before it suddenly changed to a cool blue tone.
"NO!" I scurried to my feet. I flicked my right wrist lightly, bringing the shield to its full form as I used it to slam against Stricker with all my might. This caused the changeling to tumble backward as I tried to grab the crystal back out from its confinements, but it was quite difficult with how it was causing a vacuum effect to the room. I was about to retrieve it when a sudden kick to my stomach stopped me. I coughed as I wrapped my left arm around my stomach. Even though I felt as if I was going to vomit from the action, I still tried to reach out for the crystal before I was grabbed by my arm and thrown to the ground by Strickler.
"You can't stop the inevitable, Jim." His eyes glowed as a snarl appeared on his face. "You and this world lost. Take it with grace."
"Don't worry, Eclipse! I've got it!" My eyes grew wide as I knew it was Draal's thundering footsteps that followed those words.
"Oh no, you don't-!" A loud scream could be heard as the bridge acted as if an earthquake had made it its victim. I took the opportunity to push Strickler off me with a wide smile.
"I might not have armor." I hopped back up as I brought the shield up to protect me as the bridge shook even more as it was obvious Draal was forcing the amulet out without its consent. "But I have a team." I smiled as I Strickler tried to lunge at me as I brought my leg up to kick him right where it would hurt the most. His eyes widened as he brought himself down to his knees. "Also, rule number three, asshole." With that, the shaking of the bridge stopped, but a loud crack made itself known as the stone under me gave away. I brought the shield over my head as we fell due to the bridge coming apart. It was so quick that it felt as if it only took seconds for it all to come tumbling down. But after I knew it was a solid minute or two, I was able to push the rubble off of me with ease with a large smile. I flicked my wrist to put the shield away as I dusted myself off with my hands. I looked over to the small carnage with pride before my eyes landed on Draal who was slumped up against the bridge's fallen pieces. Without a second thought, I ran over to the troll's side as I saw his arm was a sickly grey in comparison to his normal turquoise. When I reached his side, his arm fell to pieces as he gave a small smile to my obvious panic.
"Don't worry, Hunter. I'm fine." He reached into the rubble that was now his arm and pulled out the crystal. He held it out to me with a large smile. "There is still much to do. This battle isn't done yet." I took the necklace before activating the armor once more. Draal brought himself with relative ease despite the obvious missing limb. A large thud and a roar made me turn my attention toward the large black and grey Gum-Gum dashing toward us. Draal leaped forward as I dashed in the opposite direction. I grabbed my sword out of my scaffold to clash it against Bular's one blade he held backward behind him.
"Everyone!" I placed my sword back in its scaffold before I ducked and rolled out of Bular's grasp as he reached out toward me. "To the sewer opening!" Almost instantly, the thunder of several running footsteps made their way to the sewer hole we had used to our advantage to sneak Draal, AAARRRGGHH, and Toby into the museum. One after another, we all jumped in. I was the last as I glanced behind me to see a charging Bular after us. I took a deep breath as I jumped down and let the tide of the sewer take me along with the others. I broke the surface of the water before looking up to see Toby sitting on AAARRRGGHH's back as Blinky and Draal had a grasp on the large troll as well.
"Come on Jimbo! Join the Wingman Express!" I smiled at Toby's words as I tried to swim my way over to them. That was before a large hand wrapped itself around my leg as I slammed against the right side of the now separating sewer tunnel. "Jim!" I groaned before taking another deep breath and diving under the water. I swam as hard as I could. By the large splashes behind me, I could tell Bular was trying the same. Once I saw light at the end of the tunnel and I could place my feet on the ground once more, I dashed as fast as I could out and to the left of the tunnel. I pulled my sword out once more as Bular emerged from the same small tunnel. I ran towards the bridge I realized was the same as the one Bular and Kanjigar had fought on not so long ago. The same one I found the amulet on that day.
Huh. Ironic, isn't it?
I turned towards Bular with my sword ready as he slashed down at me with ease. I barely kept my blade up as Bular struck down at me once more. This caused me to drop my sword slightly so Bular reached out with his open hand and grabbed me around my chest.
"You've been a pain in my side for far too long, Trollhunter." He growled at me as I struggled against his grasp. He was reading his sword in his right hand as his grip tightened around me. "But in the end, humans are always the same." A large sickened smirk appeared on his face as he brought his blade back. "Always too easy to kill."
"Jim!" Toby's voice called out to me once more and it caused Bular to look over his right shoulder with a snarl. I smirk as I deactivated my armor before dropping from the Gum-Gum's grip.
"But I'm no normal human!" I activated the armor once more I pulled my sword out, stabbing into Bular's chest swiftly as the Gum-Gum yelled in pain. "I'm the Eclipse." I pulled my blade out of the Gum-Gum and I kicked him into his side, causing him to stumble over the bridge's siding. He fell swiftly into the water as I put my sword back into its scaffold. I silently praised the armor covering my body at the time since if it wasn't for its coverage, my foot would be aching like hell within that moment. I felt the crystal flop against my chest once more as a small glow let me know the armor slipped itself away from my skin once more.
"Dude!" I felt Toby rush into me as he wrapped his arms around my middle. "You had me terrified!" I chuckled at the smaller teen's reaction as I reciprocated the action.
"I scared myself, to be honest." I pulled back from him as Draal, AAARRRGGHH, and Blinky joined us. "Everyone okay?"
"Thanks to you, Master Jim, yes." I smiled toward Blinky as AAARRRGGHH placed a hand on his shoulder with a small nod. I looked over to Draal who had a wide smile on his face.
"Nothing a little help from Vendel won't fix." I smiled back towards the troll. I was worried that when I saw his skin transform that it would be the end of my friend, but it seemed that he cared less for the lost limb than anything. It was as if it was a scar to add to a collection I had no doubt the warrior counted.
"Not to ruin the moment for everyone, but Jim," I turned my attention back to Toby who started to speak. "The show is supposed to start in thirty minutes." My eyes widened at the realization.
The play! Damn it!
"Shit!" Instantly I started dashing off toward the school without a second thought.
Feet, don't fail me now!
"Go get thee hence, for I will not away. What's here? A cup closed in my true love's hand? 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." I knew I should feel nervous within this moment as Claire placed her hand on my bundle once as she had during rehearsal, but I think just the thought of being here alive at the moment overtook the anxiety I felt during the original practice of the final scene. I felt her breath on my lips for a second before her lips were on mine. Unlike the rehearsal, I allowed myself to melt into the feeling. Slightly kissing back as I felt Claire's hand tighten on mine.
With what I just went through, what's a little indulgence?
She brought herself up as I struggled to keep my eyes closed. I wanted so desperately to see her reaction to my sudden confidence as I couldn't help the half dopey smile that appeared on the left side of my face.
"Thy lips are warm." Soon after, Claire made the rest of her speech before fake stabbing herself and laid down on top of my chest. Her hand found its way on top of mine as the fake knife dropped beside us. I chuckled as I heard Toby whisper in shock in the deathly silent audience.
"Juliet dies in this?"
I heard Eli's footsteps as he gathered the play together in a nicely wrapped bow before the sound of the curtains closing followed his last set of words. I opened my eyes as I felt Claire bring herself off of me slowly. I slipped off the altar and faced where the audience will be as I felt a hand slip itself into mine. I smiled over to Claire who was smiling softly back to me as the curtains opened once more. We brought our hands up together before bowing to the audience while a roaring applause filled the gym with ease.
To be honest, I could get used to this kind of roaring any day.
I chuckled softly to myself as the curtains closed once more. After that, I fell to my knees with an exhausted sigh even though a happy smile was on my face. I leaned my head back as I breathed slowly to myself while my hands slid to my knees.
Bular is dead. The play is done. Everyone is safe and I got to kiss Claire again. A pretty good end to a brutal day, I suppose.
"Tired?" I looked over to Claire with a small chuckled before bringing myself up to my feet once more.
"More than you can ever know." She shook her head at me for a moment as a soft smirk appeared on her lips.
"Well, we're in this together now, aren't we? I guess I'll understand soon enough." I gave her a toothy grin before speaking again.
"I guess so." I put my hands on her biceps as I looked deep into her hazel eyes. "Claire, with everything that happened today, I want you to know this is dangerous what we're adventuring into. I'll do whatever I can to keep you safe, I can promise that, but I can't promise that nothing bad will happen. So if you want out-."
"If you're going to ask me if I want out of all of this and leave you alone with Toby in all of it, you're sadly mistaken. You must not know the girl you're talking to." I smiled at the smirk that deepened on her face. "You're stuck with me, Lake. For better or for worse. If you like it or not." I dropped my hands from her arms as I felt a small blush appear on my face. I could tell by the small hue change from the armor that the crystal caught on to it as well.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, actually." She gave me a wide smile. The right side of her lip pointed up slightly higher than the other.
"Good." She pulled me into a loose hug. Much like the one we shared in front of the school on my birthday. "I'm glad you're okay." I smiled at her words as I wrapped my arms around her back.
"Glad to be here."
"Now a toast!" A bunch of wooden cups was brought up to the sky as Blinky spoke. "To our Trollhunter, Jim the Bular Slayer!" A loud cheer came from the trolls of Troll Market as Blinky placed his empty upper right hand on my left shoulder. "May he protect us for years to come!" I smiled up at Blinky as Vendel joined his side.
"Troll Market is safe again at last." My smile widened at Vendel's words as I nodded my head towards the elder. Blinky caught my attention once more as he turned before placing his mug in one of his lower set of hands. He reached out and laced both of his upper ones on my shoulders.
"This does not mean your training is finished though, Master Jim. There is still much more to learn." I gave him an eager nod which caused the troll to smile widely. "But for now, we celebrate!" He lifted all four of his hands in the air. "May the fruits of your labor be flavorful to you!" I smiled as he went off into the wave full of trolls before turning my attention to Toby.
"Enjoying yourself, Jimbo?" I looked out over the crowd to see the masses being familiar faces celebrating with one another. Draal, who was accepted back into Troll Market due to his ties to our victory, now had a cybernetic arm as he cheered alongside some of his old drinking friends from the small pub in Troll Market. I saw the mass of large smiles and happy faces as I continued to scan the area. Blinky and Vendel were talking to each other with ease as AAARRRGGHH was looking between them like a rather large lost puppy.
"Yeah, a little bit." My smile deepened from prior as I looked back at him. "I couldn't have done it without you though, Tobes. I hope you know I'm gonna need your help more now than ever." Toby reached out and placed his hand on my left shoulder.
"I'm not going anywhere, so you have nothing to worry about, my friend." I nodded my head as I whispered out to him.
"Good, because you want to know what our next mission is?"
"And what's that?" I smiled as I glanced out towards the mass of trolls once more before bringing my attention back to Toby.
"We're going to save Claire's brother from the Darklands."