Chaos here, This is something I started back on March 24th, 2019. It's not done yet and this is just a test to see if you guys like it. Please leave me any and all feedback so I can improve it. Thanks to my patient beta, they helped me make this a bit more realistic.

WARNING: I thought I would warn you, I'm going to destroy the Jlaire OTP.

Disclaimer, Enjoy, and...

Let The Chaos Ensue...

Chapter 1: Pilot

May 23rd 9:30 pm, Arcadia CA.

One week after the Eternal Night

Jim had probably slept for a whole week. After the battle under the eternal night, and having taken on enough magic to kill two humans and two trolls and surviving, he deserved the sleep.

Jim woke up in his bedroom. When he looked around he noticed the window heavily boarded up with a piece of sheet-rock, his bedroom had been neatly put back together. His first the night after he'd been trolled and couldn't get the amulet off. But sitting to his left sat the shining piece of ancient magic.

He looked himself over and found he'd been dressed in a pair of large black sweats, and no shirt.

Jim swung his legs over the side of the bed, normally his feet just barely reached the floor, now he found his bed was much smaller than he previously thought. The wall behind his pillows had several long and oddly drawn scratches where his horns had knocked the wall.

His body felt out of place when not in the armor, something was different. And he was sitting on something uncomfortable… Jim stood and looked behind him. When he did he found a long, long tail that matched his new skin tone. Along the spine of the tail ran dark blue, almost black, scuff. The thin line of fur ran all the way to the tip where a small tuft of the hair like stuff twitched.

He spun around a few times trying to look at the new appendage which poked out of a hole in the sweats he was wearing. It moved on its own accord, and Jim had to grab it to get a look at it. As soon as he grabbed it, he immediately let go when the shock of nerves ran to his brain. The odd feeling of having something there that wasn't there before, and having grabbed it. It felt so weird.

He grabbed for it again and was able to keep his hold, but the feeling was strange and unreal. He tried to move it on its own, but was only able to control the base where the tail met his spine, just at the base of the lumbar section of the spine. The scruff that ran along his tail ran up his back too and met with the scruff on his neck and head, creating a diamond pattern on his shoulders.

Jim felt strange, along with the new tail he was feeling new things. Not like the night on the roof of the school, things like standing with his feet flat on the floor felt unnatural and keeping his legs straight was just as weird. He walked around his room and naturally moved to the balls and toes on his feet. That felt better.

He just felt better, more confident and powerful. As if his head was clear for the first time, the feeling gave him a sense of peace and strength.

He found he could smell everything, he could smell food in the kitchen. He could smell the dirt and sweat on his sheets. And he could smell people in his house. Jim lifted his nose to the scents and his nose scrunched as he did. Suddenly a new sensation hit the side of his head softly, he lifted his hand to the point of the flick. His hand reached his pointy and apparently twitchy ears.

Jim focused on his hearing and all of a sudden the sounds of everything within a one-mile radius was heard by Jim. He clutched his ears and forced the sounds away, and came away with a growl. That was new. He quietly tested out the new range of his vocal cords. Quiet grumblings, growls, roars, snarls, purrs, and whines. All filled the room.

Out of nowhere, Jim shook himself like a dog, his tail whipped out behind him and hit some stuff off of his nightstand. He tensed for a moment, then chuckled quietly as he left his room.

Jim walked down the stairs to a house full of people. Steeve, Eli, Darcy, Mary, Strickler, Nana, Claire's parents, Enrique, his mom, Toby, and… And Claire.

He ran forward without a thought. He jumped over the banister and into the living room on the table in one bound. A chorus of shrieks and screams went through, his ears moved to cover themselves by pressing themselves against his head.

"Jimbo!" Toby exclaimed, "You're up!"

"Did you sleep well, Kiddo?" His mom said but didn't look at him.

Other words were thrown at him but he was only listening for one. Claire

She smiled and yelled, "Jim."

He didn't respond, he only crawled off the table and made a small leap towards Claire, landing in a low crouch on the floor next to her. As he stood he rubbed his horns and face up her arm and cheek, as he did she stepped back looking puzzled.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

Jim looked around, gaining odd looks from every direction. "I'm just… I don't know, giving you a hug. Sort of." He shrugged.

Claire rolled her eyes, "That's not a hug, Jim. You must have hit your head harder than we thought."

"I know it's not a hug, I said a sort of hug," he laughed.

"Well, we're glad you're up. You've been out for almost a week." His mom said, he saw her fusing with something in the kitchen through the divider.

"Well, I feel super rested! More than I've felt all year…" Jim's tail moved in big open swishing movements behind him, brushing the couch and the people in his house left a large gap for it to move freely. Moving closer together to avoid the limb. "What's everyone doing here?"

Everyone tensed.

"It doesn't matter, Jimbo." Toby smiled, "What matters is that everyone is alive and we survived the Eternal Night!" He threw his arms in the air with a metallic smile.

"Anyway's we should be going." Mrs. Nuñez said, shoving her husband toward the door along with all the other guests. Outside the door, it was just dusk.

There were mumblings from everyone that Jim didn't pay attention too. He was too happy to be with Claire, Toby, Barbara, and even Mr. Strickler.

Something was off though, he could sense it. In fact, he could smell it. Something coming from everyone but Strickler, it was an odd scent, cortisol.

And somehow he knew the smell as fear.

"Guys, what's going on?" He stepped forward. His tail slowed and for some reason wrapped itself around Jim's leg and the odd sensation of touch was there again, he glanced down at it and tried to move it off but couldn't. The last foot or so and the tuft at the tip twitched slowly and brushed the floor.

"Jim," Strickler started. "I want you to know…"

"That we're glad you're awake." His mother cut him off, "I was beginning to get worried."

Strickler glared at his mother, something he had never seen.

He grunted, "Young Atlas, I'll be here if you need me. I'm willing and will welcome you. For now, I'm not ok with how things may play out. So I'll be heading home." He pulled down on the lapels of his suit coat and walked out the door.

"What was that about?" Jim asked. Tense with the thickness of how the air smelled. His tail tightened around his leg, almost painfully.

"Oh, nothing sweetheart." His mom smiled and adjusted her glasses.

There was an odd pause in the room, it was awkward.

"Hey, I'm hungry. So I'm going to find something to eat."

Barbara said nothing, she only rolled her eyes.

Jim glanced around cautiously, but entered the kitchen. The divider closed by some hand he hadn't seen.

He decided to let his nose take the lead on what he wanted to eat, he dug into the silverware drawer, but found all the utensils had been taken out. That's weird, he opened the fridge to see if there were any tacos, trolls seemed to be able to eat those. But his nose found something different. A package of fresh T-bone steaks.

Somewhat confused, Jim pulled out the package and lifted it to his nose, he had expected it to smell like a normal package of steak. But instead, the scent of fresh cartilage, muscle, and blood filled his nostrils. It was a surprisingly delicious smell that left him with a yearning hunger.

He sat down cross-legged and pinched his tail slightly, making him snarl. He straightened his leg and physically unwound the seemingly uncontrollable appendage. In all his tail had to be 5-6 feet long and no bigger than a quarter at the thickest.

With the package in hand he didn't hesitate to rip it open and with his bare hands picked up the meat and took large bites out of the food, the muscle fibers ripping and tearing against his powerful jaw, the sensation of shredding the raw meat was rather enjoyable.

After he had eaten the two steaks only the bones were left, he looked over one of the T shaped bones and tried a bite of it. The bone gave a satisfying crunch against his teeth, and the grainy powder and sharp chunks went down his esophagus without a problem. He finished the bones and rinsed off his hands in the sink. He was about to wash off his face when his tongue, as if on its own, came out and licked the meat juices and bits of bone from his lips and face. His tongue was much longer too, as well as thinner, much like a dog.

He moved his tongue across his teeth and wiped his lips one more time before heading into the living room. However the open window that let in a cool breeze that drew Jim to the door, the sun was all the way down and the waxing moon was bright and clear.

He stepped outside, his bare feet against the cool cement and the summer breeze kissed his bare chest. He took in a deep breath and could smell all manors of scents. The car exhaust, the wet dirt, the animals in the forest. A smile was brought to his lips and his tail whipped behind him,

He jumped off the porch and ran toward the forest, clearing the fence and jumping into the trees. His tail made for excellent balance, though he still couldn't figure out how to move it on his own. The tree branches and leaves licked at his skin as he passed, he ran on the ground as fast as he could, jumped off of trees and boulders and grasped and swung from the branches. The trees that blocked the light of the moon could be seen with his enhanced vision. The trees and other objects were outlined with light blue colors, and every shape could be seen with extreme precision.

He found a specific part of the woods where the canopy let no light in. Jim could see just fine, but realized he was almost completely invisible in the shadows. His dark coloration allowing him to move within the shadows. He laughed at himself and kept going.

The cool night air filled his lungs and what couldn't be sweat but felt like it pricked at his dry brow. Jim came to a stop in the top branches of one of the trees. His tail wrapped itself around the branch he was sitting on as if for extra security. He ran his hands through his hair, -No, scruff- he thought, and up his horns.

Not being in the dire situation he was in last week and being out of his armor helped him get a better grip on himself. He closed his eyes and took another breath of the forest. Then one of his ears twitched again. He carefully listened to something he didn't know what it was. Only that it was making his ears twitch.

The sound was unusual, and pulsed in time with his heart… -Wait, that is my heart- Jim felt his pulse on his wrist and listened along with it. Bum, bum, bum, bum. He giggled like a giddy child, thinking it was so cool.

He'd been gone for hours and his mom and Claire and Toby would be wondering where he was if he didn't get back soon, so he stood on the branch, and waited for his tail to let go of the tree and Jumped down, he bolted back to his house and the still open back door. Reaching his destination from miles away in minutes.

Before he reached the kitchen door to the living room, Arrrggg squoze through the small frame.

"Arrrggg," Jim smiled and hugged the Krubera after he got through.

Arrggg smiled, but gave a sad grumble, "Jim awake. Sleep good?"

Jim's smile fell, "Yeah, I slept great. What's the matter?"

Arrrggg grumbled again, "Humans talk before you awake, talk about treating Jim like human."

"What?"

Arrrggg nodded, "Want treat you like human, not troll."

"Why would they do that? I thought they were fine with me being a troll."

"Want things normal, like before." He said.

A small growl started in Jim's chest. "Wait for me out back, will you Arrrggg?"

The troll nodded and headed for the back door.

Jim marched back toward the open kitchen door and huffed into the living room, calming himself before the others noticed. "So, what's been going on?" He said through gritted teeth, his tail swung around and knocked a plastic vase over on the table against the stairs. He ignored it.

"Oh, we've been cleaning up the town. You know, because after the battle everything was a mess." Toby said while texting on his phone.

"Also, the whole town knows about trolls now. So there's that too." Claire said looking at the table in front of while sitting on the couch next to Toby.

Jim was getting restless, "So, you would not believe how good raw meat tastes." Jim said trying to drag them out of whatever mindset they'd put themselves in because he was now and for the rest of his life a troll and not a human. The small memory of the delicious meat chased away his irritability for the whole of a few seconds.

"Eating raw meat is unhealthy and not safe Jim." His mom said, finding his old cookbooks on the shelf very interesting.

"Yeah Jimbo, we don't want you getting salmonella or something," Toby said, still looking at his phone.

His growl grew and he lost it, he let loose a deafening roar. His shoulders and neck stretched forward and his fists balled at his sides. They all froze, tense, and stared at their feet.

"Would you look at me?" He yelled through a growl. They all still stared at the ground. He roared again, "LOOK AT ME!" They all flinched. -Good- he thought. "Do I look human? Do I look like someone who could get salmonella? I'm a troll!" his tail whipped behind him knocking into the wall and banister behind him.

His mother was the first to actually look at him, the first time she had that night. "I know honey, and I'm sorry…"

"Why would you be sorry?" Jim snarled quietly, but harshly.

Claire spoke up, "Because you're not human anymore…" She dared to look at him.

"And?"

"You're half troll now, doesn't that make you upset?" Toby stood up off the couch.

"Ha, no." Jim almost laughed in anger and his tail whipped again. "Why would I be upset. I have no reason to be. I like being a troll. I'm faster and stronger and I have senses that you could never imagine, I can feel things that you can't feel and I'll be able to protect everyone like this. I feel great, I don't know what this shit about treating me like a human's about."

"Jim, watch your language!" Barbara spit. "You're half human so you can still act like one."

"I will not! I will act just how I feel I should act! If that means I don't act like a human, all the better." He snarled.

"What's that supposed to mean Jim?" Claire stood and folded her arms.

"It means, I'm not going to pretend just because something isn't my way."

"Jim, you're taking this a bit too far don't you think?" Toby squared.

Jim shook his head, "No Toby, I don't. You all wish I was human again, and don't say that you don't."

"Of course we wish you were human again, Jim. We want you to be able to live your life with us." Claire sighed.

"And Jim, honey, do you really want to look like that the rest of your life?" His mom asked.

Jim snarled at that remark, "What's wrong with how I look?"

"Uh, Jimbo. You look like a troll." Toby remarked.

"Yeah, because I am. And I like it, better than being a human." Jim spat. "Because I can tell exactly how people are feeling, and you all smell like pity." He growled and pointed at them. "Well let me tell you, I don't want your pity. I don't need it. I feel better about myself then I did when I was a human. And I'm glad I'm not human anymore because at least trolls will actually tell you what they feel, and what they want, and how it is."

"Oh Jim, com'on. Don't be like that…" Claire started.

"No, I'm a troll now. You have to accept that." His tail's wide quick movements slowed, "So, if you need me. I'll be out, being a troll. I'll be back before the sun is up and then I'm going to sleep through the day. If you would like to discuss this tomorrow night, I'll be here. If not, then find a way to get over yourselves."

Jim marched for the back door when a hand grabbed his tail, the firm sensation shocked his nerves. On its own, his tail pulled away quickly and left Claire face planted on the floor.

He sighed and released his growl. Slowly he moved down to his knees and helped her up, using the tip of his tail to tilt her head up, looking directly into her shocked eyes.

"What?" He said calmly. "You didn't expect me to leave you on the floor did you?"

"I'm sorry Jim," Claire said, but averted her eyes, pushing his tail away.

"I… it's not fine. But I can't help how you feel. And for future reference, please don't grab my tail." He walked out the back door and met Arrrggg there.

"Jim okay?" Arrrggg asked, with a concerned hum.

Jim grinned and gave a turnt snarl, "I'm better than ok. If they don't like me as a troll…" He gave a thoughtful sigh as he and Arrrggg began walking through the forest. "Well, I'd like it better if they accepted me as a troll, but if they don't there's nothing I can do about it." he shook his head. His tail swung and hit the trees.

"Hey, Arrrggg? How do I control this?" Jim spun around to look at it, and the tail danced around him as he went.

"Don't know." He replied, "Mine is short. Don't know troll with long tail like that."

Jim continued to walk with Arrrggg through the woods, "Uh, where are we going?" He asked.

Arrrggg shrugged, "just walking."

"Hmm, I'm going to try something. Just keep going without me, alright?"

The larger troll nodded and kept walking.

Jim looked up ahead at a large study tree with thick branches all over. He jumped into the nearest tree and got ahead of Arrrggg and perched himself on a low hanging, thick branch. His tail did as he expected it to and wrapped itself around the branch, Jim let himself fall backward and he dangled from the tree by his tail, laughing like a crazed maniac.

"Arrrggg, isn't this awesome?" He yelled, and in the dark Jim could see Arrrggg's face light up. Jim swung back and forth, once he gained enough momentum he got his tail to let go and he did a flip and landed it perfectly. Posing like a trained gymnast.

He looked at his tail behind him and focused on it, he brought it in front of him and gained control. He moved it left, right, up and down. Swinging it in wide swishing motions, he laughed with a big toothy grin. He returned it behind him and let it out of his consciousness so it moved naturally behind him.

"Jim good troll." Arrrggg rumbled with a smile.

Jim patted his shoulder, "Thanks. Any ideas on what we should do till the sun comes up?"

Arrrggg shook his head.

"Oh, where's Blinky?" Jim smiled.

Arrrggg grumbled and a frown grew on his face. "Blinkey, other trolls leave, go to New Jersey. Find new heartstone. I stay with wingman."

Jim's eyes found the ground, his smile gone. A grumble in his throat, "well, I'm glad you're here Arrrggg."

"Me too, miss other trolls. Glad you're here." Arrrggg said, "Sorry others not like troll Jim."

"Yeah…" Jim said and thought about what had happened. Then he remembered Mr. Strickler, and what he had said. At the time it didn't make sense, but now it did. "Hey, do you know where Strickler lives?"

Arrrggg shook his head, "Don't know, but you can smell."

"What?"

"You can smell good?"

"Yeah, really well." Jim laughed.

"Find by smell."

Jim thought about it, he lifted his chin slightly and sniffed the air, his nose scrunched slightly. He sifted through the scents, not sure to make heads or tails of the smells. He focused on Strickler, trying to think about what he smelled like. He couldn't figure out what scent he was supposed to find.

"What am I looking for?"

Arrrggg gave a thoughtful hum, "Smell different, human and troll. Kinda like you."

He returned to smelling the air, he sorted through the smells and found something similar to what he smelled like. Then started taking quick steps while following the scent. Arrrggg followed behind him. He sped up as he found it easier to follow the smell, and moved to a running crawl, the long tail flowed naturally straight behind him. He followed his nose to the back of a cul de sac where the forest met the backyards of the houses.

He stood and lifted his head again, his tail flicked and swirled behind him. In the window of one of the houses, he spotted him. Drinking from a steaming mug in his kitchen.

Jim jumped the fence, Arrrggg just catching up. He walked to the back door, glancing around for anyone else. Even if he hadn't smelled anyone close.

He knocked on the door and listened to careful footsteps, the door swung open and he was met with a defensive glare. The look quickly relaxed, "Young Atlas, I take it you're here to talk about your mother's and your friends' choice to continue to treat you as a human?" Strickler said in a cool yet annoyed tone.

"More like pretend I'm human." Jim scoffed.

"Yes, I tried to convince them otherwise, but your mother was quite adamant that everyone treats you as they did before. No different. And I'm not sure on how you feel about it, but neglecting the fact that you are now indeed part troll, is not in your best interest." He sighed and noticed Jim's tail slow. "Why don't you come inside and we can talk."

Jim stepped inside with a glance back at Arrrggg, who nodded and turned around to leave. He shut the door behind him and pulled his tail close so he didn't knock anything over, then followed Strickler into his living room.

It was eggshell white with a brown couch and a coffee table, troll artifacts were everywhere and bookshelves lined the far wall. Strickler gestured for him to sit.

"So, how do you feel about being a troll." He asked cautiously.

"It's amazing!" Jim said without hesitation. "I love it. It's better than being human, that's for sure."

Strickler looked surprised, "Why would you say that, aren't you going to miss being in the sun and eating human foods?"

Jim's tail flicked and thumped against the couch behind him. "Sure I guess, but what's so bad about being a troll? I can eat just about anything, hear and smell things I couldn't before, run and climb faster and better than probably anyone. And let me tell you, raw meat, is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, and bones taste good too." Jim leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and grinned.

"Glad you got my gift."

"You put those there?"

"Yes, after your mother hid all the silverware, I figured you would need something to eat. I figured I'd get you something real."

Jim smiled, "Thank you so much for introducing me to the greatest thing ever! Troll tongues may be weird, but man does it have its perks." he laughed.

"Well, I'm glad you're not upset about being like this for the rest of your life." Strickler chuckled.

"Upset about this," Jim sat up and gestured to himself, he shook his head. "No, I'm not upset about this at all."

"But you are upset," he said.

Jim leaned forward again, his tail moved faster and more agitatedly. A low growl settled in the back of his throat, and his eyes found the coffee table very interesting. "I'm trying not to be, there's nothing I can do about them," he ground out.

"There's not, and it's wise of you to know that. But…" He paused.

"But, I want them to like me. Troll me," Jim brought his hand down his face. Then reached up for his horn, pulling on it anxiously. He growled and held his stomach, his tail wrapped around his torso and arms of its own accord. Giving Jim a sort of self-hug.

"Jim, I'm proud of you for understanding when things are out of your control, but I don't want you to give up on them. I'm sure that if we keep at it, we'll be able to get them to see reason." Strickler said, leaning forward, his hands pressed together.

Jim looked up at him, still wrapped up in his tail. "You think?"

Strickler gave a firm nod, "I do. And I figure that if you just be yourself -your trollish self- they'll have to acknowledge you sooner or later." he grinned.

Jim gave a shallow laugh and his tail began unwinding from around him. "I guess you're right."

"Really?" he asked sarcastically. "I would have never guessed."

Jim snorted.

"Now, the sun will be up within the hour, you'd better be getting back home. Whether she wants to treat you as a human or not, your mother will worry about the sun." Strickler stood and Jim followed suit.

Jim rolled his eyes, "Yeah, but hey. Do you know what that thing I did to Claire is called?" he tilted his head.

"Yes, it's an affectionate gesture. It could be called multiple things, but I believe the most appropriate name would be, nuzzling." Strickler walked over to the front door and opened it. "Also, the cats out of the bag and everyone in Arcadia knows about you and the trolls. So you can knock on my front door," he smiled.

"That's good, I guess."

"Take care, young Atlas. And just like I told you months ago, you can always come and talk to me. If you need it."

Jim looked at his bare feet and smiled, "Thanks, I like talking to you." He laughed and looked up at him. He stepped past and brushed his horn against Strickler's shoulder. "And thanks for being on my side."

Strickler nodded and waited for the rest of his tail to leave the doorway before he shut it.

Jim walked down the sidewalk back to his house, no one was out yet. But apparently, everyone already knew about him so he didn't need to worry about being seen. He got to his house and entered through the front door. He walked up to his bedroom and collapsed face down on the bed, he felt his horns add another pair of gashes to the wall.

He gave a growl and scooted his pillow down before falling to sleep.

As you might have noticed, this will focus very heavily on the animalistic nature of Jim as a half troll.

Please leave any feedback you have, I appreciate it.

-Chaos