Happy New Year, and enjoy this chapter which was an absolute pain to write.

"Don't let dis be a represent of us Changelings. Cause I tell ya, dese scamps don't know howda clean," NotEnrique cursed, jumping onto Claire's back as the group worked their way down the hundreds of winding halls. Hours of searching and almost three run-ins with Changelings, and still no sign of Jim. After five hours or so, the duo lost hope and shadow portaled back to the Market where they rethought over their plan. Returning to the cavern that the Changelings called home, Toby and Claire brought NotEnrique along for his nose and Blinky along for his wits.

"Oh please, you are nowhere near clean," Blinky humphed, able to think up multiple occasions he'd caught the gremlin gorging on the food they'd hunted, not only taking his small share of it but leaving a trail of the dirt and animal blood.

"Well, it's better dan dis," the changeling stated, crossing his arms as he straightened up. As he stood his muddy feet dug into his sister's greasy hair, causing it to stiffen and fall from its bun as he continued to shift.

"If you're going to stand on me, try to not make me grosser than I already am," Claire asked, worriedly looking down at her phone. She was nearly out of battery and there was no service down there so if Darcy had texted her, she wouldn't have received it. The feeling of being away from both her girls was terrifying and she couldn't wait to be back in their small apartment, playing with magnets with her daughter, and snuggling with her other. But mainly, she couldn't wait to be able to hug her husband who she was missing more and more as the seconds ticked on.

NotEnrique rolled his creepy eyes that would occasionally scare Cassidy whenever Jim brought her down to the market(though those were rare days). The gremlin jumped to the uneven ground, walking beside her as a cat would."You humans can't take anythin," he muttered just loud enough both humans heard.

Toby used all sanity he had left to keep himself from pinning the changeling to the ground. Inhaling deeply, he held his arms out, tempted to hit the changing with his Warhammer that he held tiredly."Can we all just shut up for a moment?" he asked, rubbing his eyes with his free hand."My feet are killing me."

"Now you know how I felt when you got us lost on that walk," she said, referring to when Toby had shown her some old trails near the apartment complex. It was originally a short walk, shot since at the time she'd been 7 months pregnant, but of course, Toby had gotten up and their 25-minute walk turned into a three hour one. By the end, Cassidy was screaming, starving, Toby was hungry and exhausted, and Claire was stressed, tired, angry, and her feet were just about ready to fall off.

The chubby boy sighed at the memory, holding his hands out once more."I've already said, that wasn't my fault."

"And how so Tobias?" Blinky asked, holding his staff out in front of him, using it as a guide. He wasn't entirely blind, but he was still getting used to having only half the sight he was used to."When Lady Claire told me of this day, she said throughout your endeavor you were the one leading the way. And if that is true and it is unlike Claire to lie, then the blame would fall on you."

NotEnrique snickered, pausing his quick trots." You think bout dese things too much, Blinkers," he said snarkily.

"Ya, ya and it was Jim who suggested the trail so if you're going to blame anyone blame him," Toby stated with his arms crossed and head tilted up towards the roof of the cave.

Claire smiled, having slight enjoyment from watching him suffer." And why was Jim not with us?" she asked Toby falling silent at the question. The teenage mother smirked deviously."Exactly, he was helping clean up the troll shit you caused to get everywhere."

"TOBIAS!" Blinky bellowed, anger rising in his chest." Master Jim told me it was due to the extra commotion from above that the wall broke! Could I be told the truth now?!" he asked, his shouts echoing through the cave.

"Shh!" Claire cursed, quite used to shushing people after having two children, one of whom barely slept. The four fell silent and listened closely. Claire felt her heart race as the seconds slowly ticked back. She'd forgotten the feeling of fear. Of course, she constantly felt the worst form of fear which was fear for your child, but this fear was one she'd been so used to. To be apart from it for so long then suddenly dive right back in was strange and terrifying.

Silence filled the vacant halls and surprised them all. Earlier when their search had begun, there was a constant commotion from the distance and they'd had to hide quite a few times, and were nearly caught on multiple occasions.

"Why ain't there any noise?" NotEnrique questioned, climbing up onto his sister's head to get a better view.

"I hate to agree with the nuisance," he began, NotEnrique rolling his eyes again," but shouldn't the Changelings be searching or even moving about. You did say that there was constant motion, so why the sudden silence."

"Not sure Blink," Toby said stepping forward."Ugh not again!" he groaned stepping gin some maroon liquid."This is my third pair of shoes since moving here. I tell you, I didn't think this Trollhunting thing would e so expensive," he said, thinking about his lost chubby tracker which was quite pricy, multiple phones all of which had died, and of course his sneakers.

Drowning out the mumbles, much more focused on his grumbling stomach, NotEnrique froze suddenly, catching a strange scent. Sniffing the air again, he closed his eyes, blinding hopping forward. He landed beside Toby's foot, smelling at the liquid.

"Hear of personal space little dude?" Toby asked as the changeling walked around him.

NotEnrique didn't acknowledge him, eyes dilated when they opened."Impure," he said near silently.

"Impure, isn't that what some people call changelings?" Claire asked, wondering what could be up with her step-brother.

"Why yes. Impure is another well-known name for Changelings and is used more in the ba-"

"Will you shut yer damn mouth," NotEnrique hissed, sniffing the liquid once more."I didn't mean Impure as in changelings,"

"Then what did you mean?" Claire asked squatting down and shining the flashlight at the ground. It was obvious Toby had stepped in a blood of sort. It trailed down the hall and looked like it had been there for not very long.

NotEnrique glared at the blood, jumping over it to face the other's."Impure is a name for Changelings, but it's also a name for those with Seer tampered blood."

"Seer tampered?" Claire asked, worry rising as she heard of the ability her daughter was cursed with."But Cassidy's-"

"Ow didn't I fucken realize," he grumbled to himself, sighing as he turned up to his sister."A seer ain't something you can just get. It's in the blood, a blood you have to get from a parent. For a while, no one gave a shit about seers, but soon they started huntin and killin them when they all started tampering with their own blood, trying to get rid of it. This caused permanent damage and seer blood is hard to sniff out. I've never smelt pure seer blood so I ain't the best at sniffin it out, but I should've known Cass didn't get it from you."

"Wait, so are you saying that Cass didn't get her seer abilities from Claire?" Toby asked, staring confusedly down at the changeling.

"Now that is preposterous," Blinky stated, holding his chin as he thought over the gremlin's words." I have never heard of such a thing and I, my friend have spent more time on Earth than you have," he said as if he had some sort of power over the small troll.

"Ass," he muttered quiet enough the leader of the trolls didn't hear."The seers killins were normally done in secret. And they ain't in any of your books cause no seers wanted people to know they were. With no information on seer heritage and how it even all began, there was no reason to write it down. They were also killed cause selfish ass kings didn't want dere enemies learning bout the future, so they didn't have them scribes record any information so the word wouldn't et out."

"If this is true," Claire said, running her fingers through her messy hair."Are you saying Jim's a seer?"

"Seer blood love, seer blood. Good ol Jim has tampered blood so he can't see many visions and some ain't true, but since yer girl got some of yer magic, she can," he stated.

"And you didn't tell us this, because?" Toby asked, feeling his annoyance towards the creature build within him.

NotEnrique sighed, not much of the 'public speaking' type."If you were a listen, you would've heard me say I've never smelt pure seer blood so I can't track it well," he sniffed the ground again as extra assurance."But I can tell this is more than one seer's blood."

"More than one," Claire said, hurrying to the blood spot. Shining her light, she saw in continue down a jagged stairway. Motherly instincts hitting, she instantly pulled her phone out trying to text Darcy. She groaned."No service, Toby can I?" she asked, aware Toby had better service than her.

"Yes, but no dropping it, no letting a single person not name Claire, Jim, Toby, Dar-"

"Just give it to me," she stated, worriedly holding her hand out.

Toby looked at his phone as if it were his child."Fine but be careful with it. It was not cheap."

Finally having the phone in her hand, she rapidly dialed Darcy. She continued to look down the stairway as the phone rang, a worried feeling hitting her in the gut."Hey Babe what's-"

"Not TP, Darc," Claire interrupted hearing her friend's surprise from the other end.

"C-Claire?" she asked shakily, scared something could be wrong."Is Toby-"

"Toby's fine, just freaking out over his phone's safety." she said, Toby, sticking his tongue out at her."Darc, is Cassidy there?"

"Uh ya, of course," Darcy assured her, looking down at the one-year-old sat on the carpet."She's just looking at her magnets."

Relief washed over the mother."Okay, thanks Darc," she said, hanging up before her friend could question the reason for the urgent call.

"What's with the hang up on my girlfriend?" Toby asked, sighing in relief, just catching his phone before it hit the ground.

Claire ignored him initially, shining her light down the stairs." I had to make sure Cass was there," she said, cautiously stepping down.

"And why is that Fair Claire?" Blinky asked.

She once again ignored them, finding herself on a landing that was covered almost entirely by water. The stream rushed quite quickly, but in the alcove she stood in, something shiny caught her eye. Leaning over, she scooped up a necklace." A firefly?" she asked, looking over the cheap necklace. Shining her flashlight out, there was no sign of anyone; just a dark underwater river flowing upstream. Looking over the necklace, it was just so familiar, like she'd seen it. Nothing stood out, but she felt like the necklace being there meant nothing but trouble."Let's go," she stated coldly, continuing to look over the item of jewelry.

The four males before her appeared puzzled."Wh-"

"He's not here. Don't ask me why but he's not." she flexed her arm forward, the anger and frustration she felt instantly conjuring one.

"Damn big eyes," NotEnrique exclaimed."You're getting pretty good at dat."

"Ya, just go," she said, holding her breathe for a reason Toby questioned.

"Claire," he said, trying to ask if she was okay.

"Go," she said with anger, her face running pale and eyes glimmering a bright plum color.

Stricken in fear and shock, Toby backed up into the portal, appearing in the middle of a road somewhere he'd never seen." Where the heck-LOOK OUT!" he shouted, pushing Blinky and NotEnrique to the die as a car came tumbling towards them. It halted suddenly and the car heaved, just missing them.

"Toby?" a voice that filled him with relief called from the car." Claire!" it shouted.

Looking to his side, Claire began to step through the portal. Her hair was bright white, only black at the roots. Her purple eyes rolled back into her head and she fell forward."Wah there," he said, catching her before she fell."You good Claire?" Toby asked, hearing a car door open.

"Claire!" a voice shouted again.

"Jim," the unconscious teen said, her eyes fluttering open. Her hair returned to mainly black, but her eyes remained violet.

From the beat-up car that Everyn had been just managing to drive, Jim hobbled out, the pain in his right foot or stub still throbbing but at that point, he was relatively used to it."Jim," Claire said, again, forgetting about how exhausted she was, practically throwing herself at her husband.

"Hey there," Jim laughed, brushing her hair out of her face, staring into her purple eyes.

"Never fucken do that to me again," she stated before growing tired again.

Jim chuckled."I won't, well never on purpose."

Claire smiled weakly, capturing his lips lovingly. Hopping on her tiptoes, her weight pushed against him and Jim winced."I love you too but..."

"Oh my," she exclaimed, eyes widening at his foot."Jim your-what happened?!"

He laughed, Toby, rushing to his side."I'll explain everything, but we have one thing to deal with first."


After two and a half days at the hospital, he and Cassidy were both discharged. Having on foot would take some getting used to and walking on his prosthetic was nowhere near uncomfortable, but he was just happy to be alive. The most relieving part was returning home to his girls after so long. Getting to hug his Cassidy, though she wasn't a fan of hugs, and getting to cradle Estelle. Being home was just incredible, but he had something important to take care of.

"So once I get her back...?" he asked, holding a sleeping eight-year-old Cassidy in his arms.

"Well it isn't a science, but if we use your and Cass's blood as the changelings did, a portal should remain that you can simply step back through," Douxie explained loosely, unsure how Seer blood worked when mixed with magic.

"Are you sure?" Claire asked."You're still hurt, maybe I could-"

"We don't know if someone without seer blood can step through," Jim said, flashing an assuring smile."Don't worry, I'll bring her back and be back here before you can say crazy town banana pants five times fast."

"Crazy town bana-"

"It was a joke Tobes," Jim laughed though his wife was still left worried.

"Just be safe," she said, kissing him gently on the cheek."Oh," she chimed, rummaging through her purse." She'll be needing this," she said, latching the firefly necklace around her neck. The girl - hooked up to a portable oxygen tank - rolled over, nuzzling into his chest that was covered in a soft sweatshirt.

"Rowan will love that," he groaned, not wanting to think of the pain that boy would cause his little girl.

"What's that Jimbo?" Toby asked.

"Nothing," he said, turning to the young wizard." We're ready," he said, trying to fight his fear even if that was the first rule of his job. Douxie nodded, taking the mixture of his and Cassidy's blood that he'd combined with some of his own magic. Using his staff, he created a circle with the solution.

"And fingers crossed," he muttered, smile shedding when the circle glowed bright creating a portal.

Staring through, Jim inhaled deeply, holding Cassidy close to him as he stepped through. Able to tell he wasn't dead, he hesitantly opened his eyes, surprised to find himself in a forest. Turning around he saw the back of a blue-grey paneled house reaching two stories. The shutters were a white that matched the small back porch. The forest led into a small yard with a swing set and herb and vegetable garden that exploded with life. Overhead he could see the sun setting quickly, the sky turning a bright pastel color.

From behind, there was a brief rustling. Turning, Jim saw a 7-year-old girl with reddish-brown hair held in a braid. Her eyes were a worrying dark grey and he instantly grew worried about practically every aspect of his life.

"Lindsay come on, Mommy said Daddy's bringing pizza home," the girl said to the 4-year-old who stood beside her. Lindsay had long black hair held in ponytail white strands running throughout. Her brown eyes stared up at her big sister, then directly at him.

Lindsay gasped."Stell," she whispered, pulling on her sister's sleeve.

"What is it..." Estelle fell silent, the concern of her missing sister changing to fear when she saw him holding her sister's seemingly lifeless body. Of course, instead of asking him what was happening, the seven-year-old simply screamed. It was a blood-curdling scream that he swore his sister in heaven could hear.

"Girls!" some woman shouted. He heard the back door of the house slam shut and hear leaves crunching as someone sprinted across the yard.

"He has Cassie!" Lindsay yelled, pointing a finger directly at Jim.

Turning his head, Jim was face to face with his wife or a 25-year-old version of her. Her round face and freckles were identical. Her hair was longer, hanging over her shoulders. It was almost entirely white with the roots and back parts jet blacks. Her eyes stared intently at him, the violet color of them telling him not to worry.

"Sshh," she shushed quietly, "go inside girls," she said.

Estelle obliged, darting right to the house, but Lindsay stayed with a brave face." He has Cassie," she humphed, a frown of protection on her face.

Claire smiled, nodding."I know sweetie, your sister's safe. Can you go make sure Estelle's safe? I think a daddy bear and monster uncle are about to be home."

Lindsay smiled, nodding as if she were saluting to her mother." I'll protect you Stell!" she shouted, running into the house, tracking mud in.

"Perfect," Claire sighed, shaking her head." Those girls will never let the house just be clean," she said, turning back to him with a grin."Guess it's true what Toby says."

A deep maroon, Jim blinked, unsure why she was so calm."W-what did he say?"

"That we can't have boys," she said simply."Though Aron proved that theory wrong."

"Oh," he said, surprised how uncomfortable he was."Um, she's yours I think," he said, adjusting Cassidy in his arms.

Claire smiled, taking her daughter back from him."This one's going to be the death of me, I tell you that."

Jim laughed."I can picture that. Did you know I was coming?" he asked since she was so calm.

Claire nodded."Barbara kept asking why we were so calm with our poor baby missing. Of course you didn't tell me what they'd done to her, but she's alive and that's all that matters," she said. Worry filled him as he wondered what else would happen to their daughter in the next few years if coming back alive was something she could say so casually.

"Barely," he said, not wanting to think about how he'd been ready to die. Ready to leave them.

Claire frowned towards him."You should go back, I'm pretty sure my younger self has been wanting some personal time with you." she said with a wink.

Jim blushed like he was some teenager messing around with his girlfriend, not a married man with two kids."Oh uh..."

"Just remember a condom and you'll be fine," she assured him."Oh and try not to kill Rowan on Cass's first day of school. A kindergartener's blood on your hands doesn't look very good."

Jim laughed."I'll remember that."

"The murder or condom thing?" she asked, smirk on her face.

The blush deepened."Um..."

"Well taking none of the girls or Aron were planned, and that Rowan is still our daughter's best friend, I'd say I know which one you pick," she said, still smiling.

"None!?" he blurted out in shock."I would've thought we..."

"Nope, now why keep my younger self waiting?" she asked, rocking her eight year old who was small for her age like she was some baby.

Jim smiled."I won't, I guess I'll see you in a few years,"

Claire laughed."In a few years," she assured him, the silhouettes of his daughter, future house, and wife fading away. And soon enough, he was back to the present.


"Ymir," one of her accomplices asked, approaching the female changeling who stood before a fire."We've tracked the home of the Seer girl. Would you like us to retrieve her or-"

"No," Ymir stated, staring into the fire, watching as the wood burnt to ash.

The male appeared shocked."B-but to bring Protogonus back and restore order, we need assistance from the Kikimo-"

"Yes, and we will get that assistance. Haven't you heard the saying? Good things come to those who wait." she glanced down at a piece of text from an old book, tossing it into the fire. The ink bled and perished as the paper was burnt to a crisp."We will return order to the world, with help from the Kikimora. But at the moment, the girl is no use as a whelp. We must wait until she is grown slightly, then the plan can begin."

"Yes Ymir, but this girl. Are you sure she'll work?" he asked, concerned."I mean, you wanted to try that Lindsay girl, and then the troll hunter. The father was reported to barely smell of Seer blood so how can we have faith that she, a Lake, will work?"

Ymir grinned, sighing pleasantly."It's been foretold. Before the youngest member of the Arcane Order, Nari fell along with her brothers, she was infested with a magic of ours. The Arcane Order did tamper with it, but it worked similar to prophecies. Being of nature and life, when under the magics control she spoke of what that person was born with, and she confirmed our hopes. This Lake girl, she has a hand in both the light of magic and the dark. She was born with a burden, cursed from birth. It's actually quite funny. They've all heard the very prophecy but have no clue what they were hearing."

"Yes Ymir," he said again."But the girl, what will come of her."

"Oh, a sweet fate lies for her. One that in a few short years, she will learn of." Ymir swore."Just like Bular, Gunmar, Angor Rot, and our own brothers and sisters, she will fall to the TrollHunter."

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