Jim and Toby spent their day watching the new and improved Vespa slowly circle in the window their reflections had bounced off. Raelle, on the other hand, leaned against the building reading 'Sense and Sensibility because she had no interest in the Vespa.
"Check that baby out," Toby said as they watched with smiles.
Jim let out an exhale before speaking, "Vespa 300 GTS Super. Single-cylinder catalyzed four-stroke Quasar engine. Hmm... Can you imagine me going down the road on that? Wind whipping through my hair, Claire holding tight to my back..."
"And me, cruising in the sidecar next to ya," Toby said, cutting in, trying to dream as Jim did.
Jim gave his friend a slight glare, but it didn't come out threatening. Instead, the glare was adorable and still gave off a meaning but was not harmful.
"Uh, Toby, I think Jim imagined it as him and Claire," Raelle said.
"Oh. Ha, sorry," Toby chuckled.
Jim moved away from the window, letting out a large sigh as Toby stepped between Jim and the window they no longer had their focus on.
"What are the chances of your mom getting you one for your birthday?" Toby asked as he pointed backward at the display.
"Only slightly worse than me winning the lottery and buying it myself," Jim said with a small smile.
"How much have you saved, Jim?" Raelle asked her brother.
"Only 328 bucks and 32 cents. By the time I have enough, these things will drive themselves," Jim responded.
Jim and Raelle spot the reflection of a familiar creature in the window. A goblin had jumped on the roof of a building. In the goblin's arms was a wrapped baby, who had cried after being swiped from his home.
"Do you see that?" Jim asked with a gasp and pointed to the window's reflection as the Goblin ran off.
The pointing and the sudden gasp startled Toby and caused him to turn in the direction Jim's finger pointed while Jim turned away. Toby had missed the evidence. Jim and Raelle watch as the leader of the Goblins runs across a power line after making sure no human notices him.
"Goblin!" Jim cried out before he and Raelle chased after the Goblin.
"What?"
Toby turned quickly as his friends disappeared. He watched as Jim and Raelle ran after the evil creature.
"It's a goblin with a baby!" Raelle said.
Toby chased after his friends, thinking that they had become delusional.
"Come on, guys! It's just a bird!" Toby told them.
Jim and Raelle turned down an alleyway, following the kidnapper. The goblin let out a victorious and utterly disgusting laugh. The two siblings stopped at the edge of the alley, finding no goblin because he was too quick for them. Jim and Raele searched the area, and Jim's eyes landed on a small stuffed animal lying helplessly on the concrete at his feet. His hand falls to retrieve the stuffed bunny gently. Toby had finally caught up to his friends.
"Chill out!" Toby said, "This trollhunting and witchering is making you hallucinate! I mean, what would a Goblin want with a baby?"
As Toby ranted, Jim took his time inspecting the stuffed child's toy. Toby caught sight of the stuffed animal in Jim's hands and peered over Jim's shoulder to see.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out," Jim said as he and Raelle looked up at where they last saw the Goblin.
Later that day, the three teens are in the Hero's Forge with Aaarrrgghh and Blinky. Since Raelle can change forms, Blinky has her taking part in training like Jim's, meaning almost no safety precautions. Raelle, in her gargoyle form, and Jim, with a rope tied around his waist, are climbing a not-so-smooth rock side. Toby, Blinky, and Aaarrrgghh watch the two from above. Aaarrrgghh holds the rope tied around Jim's waist to prevent him from falling to his death. As they trained, Jim and Raelle had told Blinky and Aaarrrgghh about the goblin leader carrying a baby.
"Let me get this straight," Jim said with a grunt.
Jim and Raelle's ears and eyes had caught the sound of gears turning within the walls, which only meant one thing. While Jim quickly released one hand and swung back, Raelle released her grip on the rock side and flew back as a stream of fire burst out from the wall where the two had previously been. The fire barely grazed Jim as he watched with fear. After the fire died out, Jim swung back into place, and Raelle sunk her claws into the rock wall before they continued to climb.
Jim continued what he was saying from before, "They steal babies... so they can replace them... with changelings?"
"Precisely, Master Jim," Blinky said.
"Uh, allegedly steal. I just saw a bird," Toby spoke.
"It wasn't a bird, Toby," Raelle told him.
"And, in order for a changeling to maintain its appearance in our world, no harm must come to the human child in theirs. I assure you, there is no safer place for a baby to be than the bowels of the Darklands nursery."
While Blinky spoke, Jim pressed his back against the wall, and Raelle had her chest pressed against the wall. Soon the two heard the familiar sound of gears turning within the walls. As fire again appeared from the walls, Jim stepped away, and Raelle flew since the fire was coming from where she had stood.
"Well, that's good to know!" Raelle stated as she patted out the small flame in her hair.
"Whoa! Hold on, there. Okay, suppose they did take the baby to the Darklands. Isn't that where Gunmar is trying to escape from?" Toby asked as he fed Aaarrrgghh VHS tapes from his backpack.
"The doorway to his realm is sealed for now, but it doesn't exonerate the cracks that inevitably form over time. Cracks that allow small things to pass," Blinky said as he brought his fingers up to his face. He pressed the fingers almost together in front of three of his six eyes.
"Small, like babies and goblins," Aaarrrgghh added.
"So, if we can find out whose baby was stolen, we'll find a changeling in its place, right?" Jim asked.
More gears turned, shooting out more streams of fire, and Jim was cornered. On both farthest sides of him, the fire appeared, and the ones closest to Jim had popped as well. Knowing the last one, where he stood, was about to fry him, Jim had jumped from the rock as the torch blew and clung onto the rock above him.
"And once we have the changeling, we'll have the proof to finally convince Vendel-" Jim's words were cut short as he lost his grip and let out a piercing scream, tumbling off the rock and into the lonely, dark trench.
And to make matters worse, the rope slipped from Aaarrrggh's hand.
"Jim!" Raelle yelled.
Raelle dived toward Jim and managed to catch the rope, causing the Trollhunter to bounce to a stop.
"Got him!" Raelle said.
Raelle flew up to the ledge where Toby, Blinky, and Aaarrrgghh stood watching. When she was above the ridge, Raelle set her brother down on the surface before landing next to him.
"I told you I'd fall," Jim said to Blinky.
"You fell because you knew you could," He stated, "What if you're endangered, and we aren't there? Next time, we'll climb sans the safety line."
"We'll?" Jim questioned as he folded his arms.
"The only lesson learned here today is that, with this many changelings, Arcadia is far more dangerous than previously thought, for the both of you. As Jim and Raelle have Draal now to protect their home, Tobias, you will now have Aaarrrgghh to protect yours," Blinky said.
"Really?" Toby smiled, "For real? We're gonna be roomies? Yeah!" Toby holds up his hand, "High-five, big guy!"
Aaarrrgghh puts his hand up, and the two high-five.
The next day at school, Jim dropped the stuffed bunny as he, Raelle, and Toby locked their bikes on the rack. The stuffed bunny that Jim found had let out a squeak when it hit the school floor.
"Ugh! You're still carrying that germ-infested thing around?" Toby asked.
"I am going to find out who it belongs to, and when I do..." Jim said as he kneeled on the floor, holding the stuffed bunny in his hand as Toby hung over the bike rack.
"Maybe you didn't see what you thought you saw. You guys have been spending so much time in Trollmarket. Maybe your mind is starting to play tricks on you," Toby said.
"We know what we saw, Toby," Raelle told him, "And there is no way we could ever confuse a goblin for a bird."
Jim looked down at the toy silently doubting himself, "Maybe you're right."
"You have Suzy Snooze?" Claire's voice suddenly chimed in, causing Jim to stand, "My brother's bunny! I've been looking all over for him."
"You've been looking for this?" Jim asked and handed the bunny to Claire, who took it.
"Yeah," She said, "He's been acting so weird without it. Where did you get it?"
"What do you mean, he hasn't been himself? Exactly how has he been acting?"
Raelle elbowed her brother, causing him to stop as Toby stepped around the bike rack and to his friend's side.
"Easy, Jim!" Toby chuckled and put his hand on Jim's shoulder. Toby looks at Clarie, "Always concerned about the children. But just for clarification, are we super sure this is his? I mean, you could probably pick this up at, like, any store."
"I think I'd know the stuffed bunny I grew up with," Clarie said.
Mary ran up to Claire, pushing herself into the conversation.
"Claire, I'm so sorry, but I can't babysit tonight," She told Claire, "I can't. I really can't!"
Turning her attention away from the three, Claire faced Mary with a mix of emotions on her face.
"You promised! My parents have a work thing, and the Papa Skull concert's tonight. Papa Skull! I, like, live in their shirt every day!" Claire points to the purple shirt with a skull she had on.
"Sorry, but Dean finally asked me to a movie, and then Hank invited me to ice cream!" Mary said as he created many poses of her love, "Tight jeans" Hank! Love can't choose, Claire!"
"Do you believe this?" Jim asked Toby and Raelle in a whisper.
"I know," Toby said, "Mary Wang's a player?"
"Definitely, but that's not what Jim meant, Toby," Raelle told him.
"She doesn't know her brother's gone because Claire's brother is a changeling," Jim said before throwing himself into the two girl's conversation, "Claire, I can babysit!"
"Tonight? Really? You would? Wait, have you ever babysat before?" She asked.
"Uh, yeah," He replied, "Yeah, no. They call me Jim the Baby-handed."
"Oh, my gosh! You are a lifesaver! I could kiss you!" Claire planted a kiss upon Jim's rosy cheeks, "Just come by my house at seven, no sooner. Thank you, Jim. Thank you."
Jim pressed his fingers against the spot Claire's tender lips had pressed against. The two girls walked off, and Toby turned to his friends.
"He's not a changeling," Toby said.
"Only one way to find out," Jim stated before leaving with his sister as a dumbfounded Toby stood still with his lips parted in confusion.
That night, Raelle was in her room reading 'Sense and Sensibility while lying on her bed. She had read the book a couple of times before. Suddenly, her phone on her nightstand rang, pulling her out of the book. Raelle placed her bookmark between the pages before closing and setting the book aside.
Raelle picked up her phone and saw Jim was calling her, "Hey, Jim. Is everything alright with Enrique?"
"Uh, no. Not really," Jim answered.
"Why? What happened?"
"I lost the horseshoe."
"Great," Raelle mumbled, "I'll call Toby and Aaarrrgghh. We'll head to Trollmarket and see if we can get another gaggletack from RotGut, then we'll head your way."
"Thanks, Rae."
"Your welcome, Jim."
The call ended, and Raelle then called Toby. A few seconds passed before Toby answered.
"Hey, Rae," Toby greeted, "What's up?"
"I got some bad news. Jim just called and said he lost the gaggletack," Raelle said.
"Oh, boy. That is bad."
"I want you and Aaarrrgghh to meet me in your backyard. We're going to head to Trollmarkt."
"Got it."
Raelle grabbed the horngazel before changing forms and flying out through her window. She flew across the street and landed in Toby's backyard, where he and Aaarrrgghh waited for her. Raelle landed in front of them, Toby, who was holding a bag, marveled at Raelle's new form.
"That will never not be cool," Toby spoke.
"Come on, let's get going," Raelle said.
Aaarrrgghh picked up Toby and placed him on his back before they left for Trollmarket.
Upon arriving in Trollmarket, Raelle told Blinky about what Jim had told her. Blinky, Aaarrrgghh, Raelle, and Toby walked up to the large door of RotGut's, and Blinky's small blue hand wrapped around the handle, knocking it against the metal door.
"Uh, excuse me, uh, Mr. RotGut. It is with great respect that we return to you to ask for another gaggletack," Blinky said.
"Go away. We're closed!" Gut yelled.
Blinky frowned and pointed an accusing finger.
"You haven't closed your apothecary since the wart outbreak of 1982!" Blinky shouted while pointing an accusing finger before saying with a pleading voice, "I urge you, if we do not acquire one at this very moment, we may be dealing with an exigency that could shut you down indefinitely."
A door opened, and Rot's eye appeared, "What's an exigency? Should I be scared?"
"Indeed."
A second door opened, and Gut's eye appeared, "It doesn't matter. We already gave them a gaggletack. I told you never to give out free merchandise."
"But you said you had a bag of -" Blinky began, but the doors were shut, and he finished his sentence, "...them."
"Stand back. I think I know how to deal with this," Toby said, pushing his way through before waving to Aaarrrgghh, who hummed and realized what Toby asked for.
Aaarrrgghh pulled a sack out before slightly sniffing the bag.
"How about a bag of sweaty, tasty, slightly moldy argyle socks?" Toby offered.
Two doors opened, and both Rot and Gut's eyes appeared.
"Argyle?" Gut asked.
"Argyle, Gut! That's argyle!" Rot said with excitement.
Within a matter of seconds, they got their hands on another gaggletack.
Not long after arriving at the backyard of the Nuñez house, the four saw Jim through an upstairs window. A small crack from Blinky stepping on a twig startled Jim, and his eyes darted to the window where Toby, Aaarrrgghh, Raelle, and Blinky stood with a wave. Jim rushed out of the house and to his awaiting friends and sister.
"I've brought the gaggletack. Now, where is the child?" Blinky asked, setting the artifact in Jim's hands.
"I sort of just lost him," Jim rubbed the back of his neck.
"Are you not babysitting?"
"Well, I'm not saying I'm good at it," Jim said.
"I don't understand how the baby could elude you if you were rightfully sitting on him," Blinky said.
Jim's face turned from embarrassment to confusion before explaining, "Babysitting doesn't literally mean you sit... Never mind. Just keep an eye out while Toby, Raelle, and I handle this."
The three head off back to the house, only to find they had been locked out. Jim's hand twisted on the golden handle before looking at it with confusion.
"What?" Jim grunted as he frantically pulled the doorknob before pressing his foot on the door, which was an utterly useless move in his hand. Jim quickly faced his friend and sister. "Do you see this? The little poop bag locked us out!"
Jim lets out a frustrated sigh, "He's been playing me all along, hook, line, and sinker."
"Jim, he's a baby, not a poop bag," Toby said, "Get a hold of yourself. He can't even reach the lock."
"I don't know, Toby. There's just something about this that doesn't sit right with me," Raelle voiced.
Jim's eyes twisted to the window before walking over to the glass pane and trying to pry it open.
"I'm telling you, Tobes, he's a changeling, and he knows about the bridge. We have to climb through Claire's window," Jim said as he gave up on the window before hopping off the side of the railing on the porch and glancing at Claire's awaiting window.
"Climb?" Toby questioned, "Sure, why not pole vault while we're at it? Get your head in the game, Jim!"
"I have an idea," Raelle said before walking back to Blinky and Aaarrrggh with her brother and friend behind her.
"What's the idea?" Toby asked.
"Well, I'm going to fly up to Clarie's window, and Aaarrrgghh is going to lift you and Jim up to the window."
Aaarrrgghh sets his hands on the ground for both Jim and Toby to step onto. As Raelle transformed and flew up to the window, Aaarrrgghh lifted the two boys to the roof. Raelle turned back into her human form.
"Pole vault," Aaarrrgghh mentioned as they stepped onto the roof. Toby suddenly lost his balance, but Aaarrrgghh's finger pushed him back safely.
"Thanks, wingman," Toby said as he and Aaarrrgghh shared a high-five.
As Jim and Toby shuffled toward the windows of Clarie's room, Raelle opened one and climbed in. Jim follows his sister and climbs through the window.
"Whoa!" Toby said as he stood outside, looking at Claire's room, "Dude... holy..."
Jim and Raelle stealthily walked around Clarie's room as Toby instantly fell in, letting out a pity squeal. Toby stood as Jim pulled out the gaggletack.
"Whoa..." Toby gasped.
"Hey, little guy, where are you?" Jim asked, creeping around.
Toby, however, forgot the mission just to poke Claire's bed. He positioned himself over the soft sheets.
"Ah! I'm in a real girl's bedroom. Oh, Eli totally owes me five dollars. Hmm... What?" He gasped as he picked up a pink lipstick from her nightstand and opened it.
"Dude, you do realize you've been in my room before, right?" Raelle questioned Toby. Reminding Toby of the times he had come into her room with Jim.
Jim inspected an item, before turning his head due to the sound of Enrique crying. Jim slowly turned to find his best friend with the lipstick and a large gash of pink wiped from the top of his lip to his chin. Raelle looked at Toby with a raised brow.
"Seriously?" Raelle questioned.
Toby chuckled in delight, Jim however, gasped as Toby licked where he marked his lip. Jim dropped his eyebrows before pointing to a spot on his mouth.
Toby cleaned it off before saying, "This is what a girl's lips taste like!"
Jim groaned before heading off to Enrique's room as the baby continued to cry. Toby and Raelle followed as they headed into t room, only to find him helplessly in his crib. Toby shoved his past Jim and Raelle to get to Enrique.
"Aw, there, there. Did the nasty Trollhunter-man scare you?" Toby said as he picked up Enrique and pressed the baby against him, "Oh, come here, come here, little baby boy. Don't worry. Don't cry. Shh. Come here. Yeah, yeah. Come here, come here."
Jim watched as the baby sucked on Toby's shoulder before lifting his head and spitting out to the Trollhunter. Enrique then turns his attention to Raelle and smiles as he reaches out to her. Jim held a frown on his face, not believing the act.
Jim quickly changed his expression from serious to happy, "Oh, hey, little guy!"
Jim rapidly held up the gaggletack and a loud swish occurred as he did it. Awkwardly, Enrique let out a deep grunt before sobbing. Toby turned around to face his friends.
"Hey, what are you doing? You're freaking him out," Toby said.
"He is freaking me out! He made me stick my arm in a diaper bin!" Jim holds his hand up to his friend, who curiously sniffed it before retching away.
"Ew! Ugh, gross. Why would you do that?" Raelle asked Toby. Completely grossed out by his action.
"Oh, no. Made you, Jim? Really? You're better than that," Toby turned his focus to the child and soothed him, "Who's a little baby boy? You're a little baby boy. You're such a little baby."
"That's it. We've got to do this. It won't hurt him," Jim said.
As he and Raelle advanced, Enrique began to cry once again trying to escape.
"Hey! Stop-! Slow! Hey, can you not-?" Toby gently shoved his friend back, who just kept going back, "Dudes, get away from him! You're scaring Enrique!"
Enrique had climbed onto Toby's head as Jim and Raelle jumped at him, the three flipping in the room. Jim had landed upside down in the chair and Raelle on the floor, but they quickly got up before Jim tossed the shoe in his hands.
"Alright, come to daddy, poop-ling!" Jim grunted out before diving for them, but Toby jumped out of the way. Toby whimpered as Enrique fussed in his hands, pulling to be free. Jim slowly walked towards them and held out the gaggletack.
Luckily, but unfortunately for Enrique and Toby, the baby had kicked Toby in the face before falling, but Toby had caught him, trapping him. Jim pressed the gaggletack against Enrique's head, and lightning shot from the combination of the gaggletack and the now-revealed changeling. Toby flinched away, dropping the changeling when the two made eye contact, and the monster let out a snarl.
"Oh, no, that is not Enrique!" Toby screamed as he ran behind his friends to shield himself.
The Trollhunter and Witcher stepped up to the crib as the blanket had managed to drape over the creature. As the two finally made it to the side of the crib, NotEnrique popped out from the covers with a small growl.
"Stupid flesh-thing!" NotEnrique snarled. As he jumped from the crib, Toby, Raelle, and Jim screamed. The changeling jumped onto the lamp before twisting around and knocking it over.
"Oh, no! That is not Enrique!" Toby once again pointed out. The three stood up to chase him.
In the hallway, NotEnrique sniffed the premises before laying his eyes on a sleeping cat.
"Whoa! Real food!" NotEnrique said.
Jim, Raelle, and Toby panted as they ran around the upstairs section before looking down at the steps.
"Where'd it go?" Toby asked.
Jim turned the corner and spotted the changeling.
"There!" Jim called out.
NotEnrique stood over the cat bed before turning around. Part of the tail and the head were sticking out from the changeling's large mouth.
"Put... the... kitten... down... now!" Raelle ordered as they advanced.
NotEnrique spits the kitten out, hitting Jim's face, who fell back with a yelp. Raelle stood back with her back pressed against the wall as NotEnrique jumped onto Toby, kicking him down as Jim managed to get the cat off. Nevertheless, Jim was still pounced on by NotEnrique. Jim groaned as NotEnrique's small hands pressed into his neck.
"You're a real killjoy," NotEnrique said.
"Get off of my brother!" Raelle told the changeling before preparing to kick him off. NotEnrique quickly evacuated the area as Jim pulled out his amulet.
"That is not Enrique!" Toby cried.
The three teens stood, leaving the hallway and chasing after the changeling. The cat hadn't been fazed and laid back in its original spot. NotEnrique slid off the staircase railing before knocking down many pictures, a mirror, and a few other items.
"For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command," Jim said, and his armor quickly appeared as they fell down the stairs.
The three got up and continued to chase after the creature who had managed to climb up on the arch before swinging off and kicking Toby and Jim to the floor, but not Raelle.
NotEnrique let out a long laugh as he climbed upside down on the ceiling, Jim and Toby already on his trail. As NotEnrique jumped down from the ceiling, the two friends dived for him. He managed to miss the oncoming collision.
Jim and Toby, however, knocked into one another, Toby crushing Jim to the floor. NotEnrique jumps off the coffee table he landed on and bounced off of Toby. The two picked themselves off the floor with the help of Raelle.
NotEnrique left after blowing a raspberry and jumped onto the office chair, stopping Jim, Raelle, and Toby in their spots as he twisted the chair, a bottle in one hand and an open magazine in the other.
"Do you realize how good you boys have it here? It's a party compared to those troll-turds in the Darklands," NotEnrique told the boys before winking at Raelle, "Not to mention the ladies."
Raelle gave the changeling a disgusted look in response. Toby screams as he runs up to NotEnrique and tips the chair over. Jim decided to appear as NotEnrique laughed before jumping over the room as Jim and Raelle followed.
Toby had finally stood as an open magazine was in his hands. A sexy girl had appeared on the cover, meaning the contents inside were probably not meant for children.
"No, hey! You're a very bad baby!" Toby scolded NotEnrique before looking back at the magazine and flipping the page, "My word!"
The two followed NotEnrique into the kitchen, and he began throwing things at them. Jim and Raelle dodged the many items thrown at them by the changeling.
"Whoa!" Jim yelped.
Raelle quickly grabbed a large circular pan over her and Jim's heads to act as a shield while random objects were thrown at them.
"Where's the real Enrique, you filthy rugrat?" Raelle questioned with a demanding voice.
Jim dived behind the island counter as NotEnrique stood in the fridge, chucking food at him.
"As if I'd ever tell you!" NotEnrique spat.
NotEnrique threw more hard objects as objects continued to break. As Jim, Raelle, and Toby took refuge behind the counter, a cake platter had fallen beside Toby, the slice of cake landing on the floor perfectly.
"Ooh, cake!" Toby cooed as he picked up the slice.
Jim peaked his head around the counter, his sword appearing through a cloud of blue smoke. His eyebrows dropped again as NotEnrique threw another item from the fridge, but Jim quickly sliced it with Daylight. Blue smoke emitted around him.
"Don't make me use this," Jim threatened.
"You can't touch me. I'm her baby brother. What do you suppose is gonna happen when they come home and see something's happened to their precious?" NotEnrique laughed, "I'm untouchable, baby."
NotEnrique continued to laugh, and Jim frowned at the statement, knowing he was at a loss. Suddenly, Toby appeared at Jim's side with a broom.
"Jim, catch!" Toby yelled, tossing the broom to his friend, whose sword evaporated and was replaced by the broom.
NotEnrique jumped on top of the fridge before hopping into the divide of the cupboards to avoid the broom. He then kicked the fridge door into Jim's back. Jim let out a cry of pain before smacking the area where NotEnrique stood last.
The changeling pulled himself into the cupboard with a laugh. Quickly, Jim's metal hand reached for the handle and pulled the small door open, only to find nothing except for cans and glass containers. Trying another cupboard, Jim opened it, finding his target buried under some more tin cans. Jim grunted as the cans fell, his arm protecting his head as he was knocked to the floor.
Luckily, Toby had been prepared with a large pan. He hid the Changeling under the steel trap. Sadly, his joyous occasion was over when large dimples from the inside were created by NotEnrique's fist, causing the outside to blister.
Toby screams as the pan bounced around the kitchen, carrying Toby with it. As it bounced, Jim and Raelle climbed out of the way, and the pan led Toby into the kitchen and right into Enrique's bouncing swing.
The swing acted like a slingshot, sending the two back with screams. They passed Jim and Raelle, who watched with shock as they crashed into the wall. Suddenly, Jim turned his head, hearing his phone going off. He felt the back of his armor, searching for his phone as Toby and Enrique fought in the background. Finally, he found his phone and answered it.
"Oh, hey, Claire!" Jim said, "How's the concert?"
"Jim, my parents just called. They're coming back early. I'm leaving now," Clarie informed him.
Jim listened to her panicked voice before his eyes grew wide in realization. He let his armor disintegrate back into his amulet with his mouth agape.
"Who's there? What's that music?" She asked.
NotEnrique, who had his hand on the volume button, "Tell her how you were elbow-deep in me dookie-bin."
NotEnrique turned up the music and started dancing.
"Are you having a party?"
Jim covered his ear and ducked from incoming books, "No! No, no party! Gotta go!"
Jim hung up the phone, and Raelle tossed him a wide pan. Jim caught it and used the wide pan again as silverware was thrown at him. NotEnrique jumped and tackled Jim to the floor.
Raelle rushed over and kicked the changeling off her brother. NotEnrique was sent flying back because of Raelle's powerful kick. He hit the wall and slid down before shaking his head and scurrying up on the counter. Toby grabbed a glass cake dome and joined his friends.
Outside, Blinky and Aaarrgghh watched as three teens shielded themselves from the items being thrown by NotEnrique.
"Enough's enough," Aaarrrgghh said, popping out from behind the bushes.
"Aaarrrgghh, what about our lesson?" Blinky asked.
"Need help," He simply said.
Blinky closes his eyes and states, "But we are helping them by not helping."
Blinky opened one eye to find Aaarrrgghh slowly moving away. Blinky scoffs before following after him and blocking the door Aaarrrgghh was about to punch down.
"Can't you see? By coddling a pupil, we're only stunting-" Blinky yelped and jumped as a knife prodded through the door, "Aaarrrgghh, remove this door immediately! But be careful. Human houses aren't built to withstand troll-"
Aaarrrgghh tapped his finger against the door, causing it to land between Jim, Raelle, and Toby. The three teens let out gasps and turned their attention to Aaarrrgghh.
"... strength," Blinky finished.
"Oops," Aaarrrggh said.
"Stupid, smelly trolls!" NotEnrique said, dropping the cans and backing up.
"Their door!" Jim groaned and pressed his hand to his forehead, "What did you guys do to their door?
Blinky popped in with a laugh, "We... Uh, we're here to…" He picks up the door, "Help."
The Changeling spoke, causing them to all look, "Well, I don't remember inviting these two to dinner!" NotEnrique hopped from the fridge to the freezer and grabbed a box," First course, frozen peas!"
NotEnrique grunted as he stepped onto the top of the fridge with the box of frozen peas.
"Don't make me climb up there, foul beast!" Blinky threatened.
Toby had taken a chicken leg and bit into the meat before throwing it at NotEnrique, who ate it in one gulp.
The Changeling grunted before jumping from his taller pedestal to the lamp and loading his mouth with peas before launching them like a machine gun at Blinky, who covered his eyes as he stumbled around.
"My eyes, my eyes! Green balls of madness! They hurt very badly!" Blinky cried from behind the counter.
The three human teens took cover from the peas. Jim used the pan, Toby used the glass cake dome, and Raelle quickly transformed to use her armored wings as a shield. NotEnrique laughed before loading more into his mouth and shooting more.
"Aaarrrgghh, it's just like our video game," Toby mentioned, "You with me?"
Aaarrrgghh came out from beneath the small plate that did no justice to protect him from the peas.
"Sushi," Aaarrrgghh said with a smile.
"Yeah!"
Toby and Aaarrrgghh shared a high five.
"Draw fire?" Aaarrrgghh asked, volunteering.
"No, it's my turn," He said, balling his fists and standing up with a proud smile. Toby ran as NotEnrique continuously blasted him with peas. "Oh, it's hailing peas, and I hate peas! Oh, ooh, ow!" Toby said as he fell over.
On top of the lamp, NotEnrique continued with the peas, aiming them at Toby. Suddenly, Aaarrrgghh's fist crushed the changeling into the ceiling.
When Aaarrrgghh removed his fist, NotEnrique lets out a wheeze as he fell off the lamp. His arms and legs were stiff as he fell onto Aaarrrgghh's plate.
"Way to go, wingman!" Toby laughed as he joined his large friend's side.
"Boom, boom!" Aaarrrgghh added when they fist-bumped.
"All right, enough! Where's the bridge?" Jim asked as he stepped up to the recovering Changeling, who sat on the plate with a grin.
"What bridge?" He asked, "London Bridge? I hear it's falling down."
Aaarrrgghh puts his other hand on the top of NotEnrique's head, attempting to crush him if he does not tell them what they want.
"Ow! Fleshbags... no sense of humor."
"Where is the bridge?" Jim questioned again. Aaarrrgghh continued to crush him, causing the small troll to groan.
"Give me a break! I don't know anything," NotEnrique said, "It's me first day."
"Squeeze him till he pops!" Blinky said, stepping beside Jim. Aaarrrgghh followed the order and pressed down, and NotEnrique's eyes began to bulge.
Raelle stepped in and removed Aaarrrgghh's hand from NotEnrique's head, stopping the giant troll from crushing the changeling.
"Stop! If we crush him, then we won't find out anything," Raelle reasoned.
"Thank you, Warrior Goddess. Thank you!" NotEnrique grabbed Raelle's hand and began leaving a trail of kisses up her arm. Raelle yanked her arm away in disgust, "Can't blame a guy for looking out for himself. But you can't tell anyone I told you. I got a pretty sweet deal going here. If the bossman hears I squealed, he'll feed me to Bular."
"Bular's working with someone else?" Blinky asked.
"Who? Who is Bular working with?" Jim demanded.
"Oh, er... " NotEnrique clears his throat and says, "Forget I said anything."
Suddenly, their eyes watched as headlights appeared on the wall and a car pulled into the driveway.
"Oh, no, someone's home!" Jim exclaimed.
"I suggest we make our egress," Blinky added.
"Egress?" Aaarrrgghh questioned the new word.
"It means to exit," He explained before grabbing NotEnrique.
"Whoa! I'm supposed to be babysitting it!" Jim said, pulling on the smaller changeling's legs, causing him to yelp.
Blinky pulled on NotEnrique's arm, "And I need the proof for Vendel!"
"And I need not to be split in two," NotEnrique said.
"Just leave him here, and we'll come back for him another time," Raelle said. She took the changeling away from the two and held him in her arms.
"Thanks for the help, Warrior Goddess," NotEnrique said, winking at Raelle.
Raelle let out a groan of disgust at NotEnrique before handing him to Jim as the front doorknob rattled.
"Okay, you have to go now," Jim muttered as NotEnrique continued to push out of Jim's grip, but the boy had a tight hold on him despite getting punched and kicked in the face.
"With haste," Blinky added.
They began leaving the house, but Aaarrrgghh had trouble putting on the door on its hinges. They left the house in time as Mr. and Mrs. Nuñez walked in through the front door.
