Jim didn't even realize his mom could drive like that. He didn't think he'd see his life flash before his eyes a second time.
They got to Claire's house in record time, and somehow in one piece, Claire being the first to book it to the door, NotEnrique on her shoulder.
Well… the doorway.
The door itself had been ripped off its hinges. Claire shielded NotEnrique with her arm, squinting at the massive dark vortex devouring her living room floors.
"Where's Enrique?! My Parents?!"
"Safe!" NotEnrique shouted over the roar of the portal, "They got the kid and scrammed when it started openin' up!"
Jim and Toby shouted for Claire, running over and holding on for physical support. Jim drew his sword, jamming it in the doorway so they wouldn't get sucked in…. for as long as the walls would hold.
"How do we stop it?!" Barbara shouted, staying protectively close to the kids despite the strong pull of the portal.
Jim tried to look for an answer, some sort of solution they were missing - then he heard it.
The familiar roar that still would creep its way into his haunting dreams when he'd least expect it. There was no mistaking that noise.
A Nyarlagroth.
After that, Jim didn't know what happened. He was suddenly smothered by memories of the Darklands, struggling to survive, fighting for his life each day, nearly starving-
His mind was fog. The noise of the portal was gone. The feeling of his loved ones near him, gone. All that surrounded him now was those cursed memories.
Those…
"Jim! Jim!"
Sunlight. He saw the sunlight.
He also saw his friends and mother, standing above him with worry all over their faces. They were above- wait, when did he get on the ground?
"The Dark…lands…" Jim's eyes went wide, and he jolted right up. "The Darklands! The portal! It-!"
"It's okay, Jim!" Barbara reassured him, pulling him into a careful hug, "It's okay… the portal disappeared on its own…"
He was shaking. He wanted to return the hug, but couldn't even lift his arms. "The Darklands, it… It led into the Darklands, not the Shadow Realm… Why…?"
"We got here as fast as we could!" Enter Blinky atop Aaarrrgghh, followed by the others, moving beneath the archways. "These things are not convenient for getting around in a rush- Is Master Jim okay?!"
"I think he's alright," Barbara said, brushing the bangs out of her son's face, "It looked like a panic attack…"
Blinky approached with care, a pair of arms helping to pick them up. "Come, come. Aaarrrgghh can carry him."
Jim felt the strong but gentle arms of Aaarrrgghh lift him up. "I'm-I'm okay, really…" He insisted, but nobody was convinced.
"I help." Aaarrrgghh insisted in turn.
Well… no point in arguing. Jim just sighed, closing his eyes as he was carried.
More portals they have to deal with… This is going to be far more complicated than they bargained for, isn't it…
Angor Rot wasn't familiar with the term "panic attack", but it… didn't sound that great. Something inside him made what almost felt like a glimmer of concern for the boy, but that was washed away quickly when he turned out to be fine not much later. What was really worrying to the group was this 'portal' business. But only so much can be done in a day.
Only so much can be done in general. Some things are out of their control. But they just can't accept that, can they.
Their determination did not falter as the days passed. It only seemed to grow stronger.
Though, due to recent developments, the Trollhunters would have to reinstate the 'stick Dictatious with Angor Rot' plan.
Rather abruptly.
It's too bad Dictatious wasn't passed on that information. As far as he knew, he was supposed to meet with the Domzalski child downstairs this morning, to go to Trollmarket and discuss and more research about the Darklands, something like that. So, naturally, the first thing he did when he got up that morning was look for Toby.
Metaphorically look, anyway. He mostly just ended up stumbling around until he found his way to the kitchen, where he could make out a blob that was probably a person. Was it a little taller than Toby sized? Maybe. Might be Jim. Who knows, a person's a person, this seemed like the only one in the house right now, so they probably knew what was supposed to happen anyways.
It was probably Jim. It sounded like he was grinding something metal against something else? Kind of strange, but whatever.
Naturally, Dictatious went right up to the person, and like he usually would, places a hand on their arm for guidance. "Alright then," He said like nothing was out of the ordinary, "Let's be off."
The figure went still. Dictatious looked at them in confusion as to why they weren't getting on their way. "… Well?"
"Why is your hand on my arm?"
By Gunmar's blade, that's not one of the kids–!
'Grace' wasn't a word that came to mind when Dictatious jolted away from the larger troll in his shock and smacking directly into the table, falling over. Angor stared, stone-faced, at the ordeal.
"You…" Dictatious muttered, picking himself back up, "… are not the Trollhunter…"
"You don't say." Angor's voice, flooded with sarcasm, replied. He returned his attention to the totem carving in his hand, picking away at it with his knife. "There has been a change of plan. The Trollhunter and his friends got word of more portal activity, both at the girl's house and in the woods."
They probably would've been fine with Angor coming with them, honestly, but if Angor wasn't lying, he had to admit that being around that last portal made him feel sick. Anything to do with Morgana right now made him feel sick… whether that was all just in his head or not, who knows, but admitting such things wasn't a necessity right now. He just wouldn't go around jumping at the opportunity to go poking around in those witch vortexes, is all… even if that did mean having to deal with this blind Galadrigal instead.
The smaller troll's ears twitched down a touch. "… Oh." He said, tone of voice strangely dampered upon hearing this development, but he quickly brushed it off. He shrugged and headed to the living room. "CSI marathon it is, then."
Angor raised an eyebrow at Dictatious. If he wasn't mistaken, the other had almost sounded disappointed for a second there.
It wouldn't be surprising. It's not like he can go outside on his own, what with the risk of accidentally walking into sunlight or getting hit by a car. From what Angor's heard and pieced together, he could guess Dictatious doesn't get many chances to get out of the house.
The assassin could imagine how so much of that would make someone restless over time.
"I don't have a Horngazel…" Angor spoke up after blowing some dust off his totem, catching Dictatious's attention, "… but there's still much of Arcadia that's been changed I'm curious to see."
Dictatious's ears perked up again, definitely interested, but he was…. skeptical of the 'company'.
Well, he did agree, however reluctantly, to keep an 'eye' on Angor Rot when the others couldn't. Why did he agree to that, again?
"Unless," Eye flicking to the irresolute Dictatious, he pocketed the carving, "you prefer staying here."
… You know what. Might as well take the opportunity while it's there. Dictatious could really use the change of scenery.
…. Pun not intended…..
.
Being out and about was a good idea. Turns out, this was a good way to get Angor Rot started on learning some things, too. Nice bonus.
Strickler may have brushed Angor up on some human basics (like electricity and school systems) the first time Angor was awakened here, but it was nowhere near enough to have much of an idea of what's going on when you're not solely focused on just trying to kill people. Who knew.
For someone who'd been spending most of his time here cooped up in a house, Dictatious actually knew a great deal about how human culture's evolved, among other things - he could chock that up to his curious mind, constantly asking Nana Domzalski questions about anything he wanted to understand better, and whatever she couldn't answer, Toby usually could, plus there were all sorts of interesting educational channels and news networks on the TV that he could learn from. He found it all quite interesting.
Of course, it wouldn't make sense to overload Angor's mind with unnecessary details, so he stuck to the basics. Explaining their simpler customs, beliefs, laws, things like that.
Mostly, Angor just listened quietly, asking short questions here and there, but mostly just focusing on trying to make sense of everything. Also, looking around at the changes to Arcadia.
With all these new archways, it would be easy for both trolls and people to wander the streets during daylight. Much of it was still under construction though – there was strange machinery everywhere, along with chunks of ripped out cement and things of a similar sort.
"It is surprising," Angor mused, "how quickly these humans have accepted coexisting with Trollkind."
Dictatious gave a short laugh at that. "Oh, believe me. There are many humans that are not happy about it." He made a vague gesture with one hand. "Arcadia has been most tolerable of our kind so far, if only because Trollmarket saved them from the Gumm-Gumms and Pale Lady at the Battle of Eternal Night, but even many of the people here don't exactly… 'like' us."
Now that Dictatious mentioned it, Angor was starting to notice some strange looks from a few of the passing humans. He hadn't been paying attention to that before with everything else he was trying to keep up with, but two teen boys in particular he could swear had been following them for a while… He took mental note of them, but ignored them for the time being.
"So, you are lucky to have participated, then."
"What do you mean?"
"In the Battle of the Eternal Night." Angor blinked, glancing down at Dictatious. "Because you were a Gumm-Gumm. You earned their trust through battle, yes?"
"What?" That got Angor a funny look from the smaller troll. "I didn't participate in that battle."
"…. What."
Is he kidding? "Look at me! I can't fight!" Dictatious was surprised he even had to explain that.
And Angor sounded surprised when he spoke again. "You cannot fight?" He repeated. "You hid from the battle?"
"…. Obviously?"
By Deya's name. If he was confused about the level of trust the Trollhunters dish out to ex-enemies before, then he was downright stunned by it now. He didn't even help those who saved him in battle? Scratch that, he can't even fight? What can they rely on him for?
"Are you still coming?" asked Dictatious, stopped to wait for him so he could to know where to go.
Silent he was for a good few seconds there, but Angor decided to let this topic rest.
For now.
They continued on their way.
"As I was saying… There's not much in the way of trust between our species outside of Arcadia. Many humans think of us as dangerous." Dictatious continued, "but they had - well, still have - too little information to be able to make any sort of concrete decision about it. Accepting that there's been whole other civilizations living just beneath their feet has been an ordeal in and of itself. But keeping our worlds separate is far out the window now."
"'Out the window'?"
"Ah. Human expression. It means there's no chance of that happening anymore." Explained the other. "The Battle of Eternal Night might have been limited to Arcadia, but it wasn't long at all before other humans knew of it. Can't exactly hide a massive unexplained eclipse from the rest of the world. Plus, many of Arcadia's residents recorded pieces of the battle and posted them online." He paused, almost feeling the confusion coming off Angor Rot, and elaborated, "It's like… The moving images on that television set you saw the other day, except of real events. The humans shared recordings of the battle with others of their species across the world using a thing called the 'Internet'." Now he could get back on track. "There was a large uproar about it. Humans didn't even realize we existed, then that happened - I'm sure you can understand why there might be some tribulation about all this."
"Hm…" Well, alright… Angor supposed that made sense… "And they haven't made attempts to attack yet?"
"Well…. against trolls? No. Most other colonies have been staying out of sight for now until things smooth over, and Trollmarket's residents have had some leeway due to their services against the Gumm-Gumms." But, well…. "It was Changelings that got the worst of mankind's shock. Their familiars were all removed from the Darklands at once, blowing their cover - most of them got away with no more than a few wounds, but there were still deaths among them."
That, Angor found somewhat surprising. "Trained Changelings, felled at the hands of small fleshbags?"
"Startle a small fleshbag with a gun badly enough," Dictatious said matter-of-factly, "and nobody's likely to get out of the situation unscathed."
Human architecture isn't the only thing that's advanced over the years. Their weaponry has, too. It would be wise to remember that.
"Fortunately for them, bonds they've formed and positions they've earned gave them some level of trust among certain humans. Many Changelings were stationed in important human positions, after all. But still, they too are very mistrusted." As was only fair. It's not like they kidnapped and replaced human children or anything. "Though, they are the best suited for handling human intervention, as they are most familiar with both troll and human culture. Despite how both our species treat them, Changelings have become significantly important in dealing with matters of diplomacy lately-"
"Heyy, there you two are!"
Speaking of Changelings…
They both turned at the voice of NotEnrique catching up to them. He chuckled, quickly pulling out his phone and commenting to himself, "Guess I better let those kids know I found ye, they're prob'ly freakin' right out…"
"What do you want, imp." Dictatious said flatly, following up with, "and what do you mean 'found us'? We weren't aware anyone was looking."
"Yeah, I gathered that." NotEnrique replied, sending a message in his group chat with the kids, "Them Trollhunters wanted me to check up on ye, what with all this weird magic stuff goin' on." His mischievous yellow eyes glanced up at them, "Jimmy boy had a lil' bit of a panic when I called 'em to say ya weren't at the house. Almost came lookin' for ya himself. But all's good now, eh?"
… Oops. It didn't occur to them that leaving a note or something might've been a good idea.
"Ahem…" Dictatious cleared his throat, brushing that little oversight under the rug, "Well if that's all-"
"Actually…" NotEnrique interrupted again, "Ol' Blink also wanted me to tell ye that he wants to talk to ye when y'both get the chance."
At that, Dictatious's ears flattened back in annoyance. His eyes may be borderline useless, but they were still good for rolling. "You can tell Blinkous," he snapped, "that the soonest I plan on talking to him again is in the afterlife."
"… Uhhhhh….. Okay. Not gonna ask." Not gonna touch that can of worms with a ten foot pole, to be exact…
… Anyway, since things are awkward now… that's NotEnrique's cue. "Welp! I'm off, then!"
Angor watched the little Changeling jump off, his mission having been done with, and then looked at Dictatious. "You are still on bad terms with your kin?"
Dictatious scoffed. "No kin of mine would be so idiotic as to burn so much precious research."
There it was, a small hum noise from Angor that made it sound like Dictatious's logic was in question. Dictatious gave him a cross stare, of which Angor knew he'd have to speak his thoughts to get through the other's thick head.
"Interesting that you should be the one holding a grudge," The assassin mused, "since the way I hear it, you were the one trying to take his life."
For a second time, Dictatious had scoffed. "He didn't have to take it out on my books. He's already left me like this, so… so useless!"
"You should consider yourself lucky. I know many trolls who would have done far worse to you at that kind of betrayal." With a darker tone of voice, he added, "If it had been me in your brother's place, you would have lost far more than your eyesight and some old books."
Well that's… unnerving.
Third scoff. "And why do you care about what happens between my brother and I?"
Angor shrugged. "I don't. I just find it interesting, is all. Rare to see a troll willing to take family back that would try to kill them."
… It…
It is rare, isn't it….
… Wait a second, is he actually taking this seriously? It doesn't matter. Blinky would never kill him anyways. He didn't have the gutsto do it himself. Isn't the fact that he let Dictatious back proof of that?
… On the other hand… if Blinky really wanted him dead… wouldn't he have just given him up to those goblins…?
Blinky did save him… he didn't have to do that, but he… did.
After realizing he'd been silent in his thought and Angor was probably giving him some sort of questionless look, Dictatious snorted. "Oh, what of it." He said bitterly. "There's no consequence in my choice not to talk."
"You never know. The soonest you ever speak to him again may be in the afterlife." He shrugged again. "With him working so closely to these portals the Pale Lady seems to be creating, who knows if he'll even survive the day."
That.
That very statement gave Dictatious a strong feeling he hadn't expected to feel for his brother any time soon past all the anger.
Apprehension. Fear. It hit him like a car out of nowhere, pulled at him so suddenly and so so powerfully.
Blinky could die today. The same troll that he had basically raised from a whelp, the same troll who spared his life, even saved it, the only actual family Dictatious has actually got, just… gone.
And what's the last conversation they'd have had? A stupid fight?
"Don't- Don't be ridiculous." Dictatious rigidly avoided eye contact. "Blinkous won't die."
"You don't know that." Angor Rot then added, "But I suppose you wouldn't be one to care, since you almost put him in the afterlife yourself."
"No, that-" Through gritted teeth, here Dictatious was, still trying to justify himself despite everything. "That… was circumstantial-"
"No, that…" Angor corrected, "was the act of a traitor."
… Denying it was pointless.
But admitting it was something Dictatious refused to do. So he stayed silent.
Didn't matter to Angor. He's not the one emotionally invested in this mess. He just knows he's got a point that this stubborn troll should hear.
"The sun is setting." Angor Rot pointed out. "We should return."
.
At Claire's house, a group of somewhat panicked trolls and teens were finally set at ease with a text from NotEnrique.
"He found them," Jim sighed in relief. "They're fine."
That would've been a mess, the two of them getting into trouble only the very second time they're left alone together.
"That's a relief…" Claire agreed, "but we're still no closer to figuring out what these portals mean!"
There had been a small one just moments earlier, enough to make someone nervous, but seemingly not dangerous. It disappeared as quickly as it had come. Just in case, Claire's family would be staying at the Lake household for the time being. They had lots of extra space now, what with the new wing they had built to house Changeling familiars until families were found for them.
"There has to be something we're missing, some sort of connection between Claire's house and the woods that we're not seeing…" Blinky rambled, writing furiously on the scribble-covered paper he had plastered all over the table, walls, and floors, "Think, Blinkous, think…"
"I hope we figure it out fast." Claire said. "It was bad enough the first time my house was infested with portals, I don't need that again."
On the side, Toby had been entertaining Aaarrrgghh, who had grown mentally tired from all this, with some magic. When Claire said that, however, Toby had a granddaddy of an epiphany.
I remembered that spot being where you guys were doing weird dark magic portal stuff with all those boxes.
It was bad enough the first time my house was infested with portals.
Portals. It's the portals from before!
Everyone looked Toby's way when he made the loudest gasp of realization. "Guuuuuuyyyyyys! I got it!" He jumped down from his spot, ecstatic. "Think about it! What does Claire's house, that specific part of the woods, and the Shadow Realm all have in common?"
It took them a second, but it finally dawned on Blinky and Claire.
"Of course!" Blinky exclaimed. "The answer was right in front of us!"
"How did we miss that?!" Claire added.
"Um. I'm still confused." Said Jim.
Toby turned to him with excitement of this revelation ready to share. "Dude!" He said, "That's the spot in the woods where we portalled all the Killahead Bridge pieces!"
Finally it dawned on Jim too, a third 'oh!' of realization sounding off when he thought of all the portals that had to be opened here when Morgana was possessing Claire. "So the connection is that they're both places where the Shadow Staff was used a bunch! What you're saying is, somehow She's… She's using the energy or something from those last portals to break through now?"
"Theoretically," Blinky started, sketching as he talked, "The power at which those last portals were generated was enough to tear a sort of rift between realms - ones that Morgana's using now to make these new ones."
"But why," Jim interrupted, "did that big one lead to the Darklands?"
The others all exchanged looks.
"Jim…" Claire said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder, "No one doubts that… that you thought you heard something, but-"
"I did! It was a Nyalgaroth, I know it!" Jim insisted. "I know what I heard!"
"I believe you," Toby said with a pat to his friend's shoulder. "We'll figure it out, okay Jimbo? We always do!"
"Yes… But first, we have to work with what we do know. Former portal locations are rift points that Morgana's trying to punch through. We should monitor them closely, and write up a list of other places the staff has been used often, Claire."
"I can also ask Angor about that." Said Jim.
"Gyre," Aaarrrgghh suggested, the mention of the place a source of nervousness for them all, especially Claire.
"Yes, we should especially check there." Agreed their four-armed friend. "Now then-"
"Uhh…. Blink?" Toby piped up, "NotEnrique passed on your message too, and… well…"
Rather than pass the message along, he felt it was better to just show Blinky, turning his phone to the troll.
What greeted him was a not-so-kindly worded message from his brother. NotEnrique was sure to send a follow-up text of 'His words, not mine!'
Blinky sighed deeply with annoyance and a trace of disappointment.
Jim had checked the chat as well, with a frown aimed Blinky's way. "Still haven't sorted things out with the guy, huh…?"
"Well, it'd be a lot easier if he weren't avoiding me like the bubonic plague!" The exasperated Blinky said. He shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose in his frustration. "If he's going to be stubborn, then fine. I'm more worried about the problems at hand right now. Can we just stay focused on that?"
"… Okay…"
Blinky would talk to him, whether Dictatious liked it or not. His brother can't ignore him forever.
But their first order of business was getting to that Gyre station.
.
It was almost nightfall by the time Dictatious and Angor Rot got back to Toby's house. Stars had started to peek out from behind the trees, the faint songs of crickets creeping their way through bushes and leaves- But, they did not go inside the house right away - Angor had other plans.
"Where exactly are you going?" Dictatious said, wondering why they were walking around the giant mass that he was pretty sure was the house. "Is that not the house just there?"
"We're not going inside yet." Angor said, leading him around to the backyard. "There is something that needs to be taken care of."
"And what, pray tell, might that be?" Dictatious asked flatly.
"To put it bluntly? You."
Dictatious squinted. "… Is… that a threat?"
The hint of worry in his question was almost amusing to Angor.
"You cannot fight." Angor said up-front. "That won't be acceptable. You must learn."
At that Dictatious laughed.
Angor didn't.
"… You're serious?" Shocked, Dictatious gestured to himself. "Have you seen me?! I can't fight!"
"Can't or won't?"
"Oh my apologies, perhaps I wasn't being clear..." Then Dictatious shouted. "I AM BLIND! What do you expect me to do, bump into people until they're dead?!"
Angor snorted, stepping forward. "You are using your disability as an excuse." He snapped coldly. "If I am to be stuck with you for the time being, then you are going to learn how to defend yourself. We are up against an unpredictable enemy, and there will not always be someone there for you to hide behind."
Scoffing, Dictatious snapped back, "Sure, sure, because I would definitely be able to fight off the Pale Lady myself. No flaws in that logic."
"She has a way of collecting followers in unlikely places." Angor said, beginning to circle Dictatious. "You can never be sure when danger will strike. Even with the threats of Her return aside, a troll should always know how to defend themselves. You did know how to defend yourself when you could see, did you not?" Narrowing his eye, he continued, "Or did you hide behind Gunmar and his servants like you hide now?"
"I was an adviser to him! I'm a thinker, not a fighter!"
"A thinker, you say? Well then…"
The sharp, threatening noise of a knife being drawn from its sheath grated against Dictatious's ears.
"Think fast."
"What are you-"
He made a startled yelp when he was suddenly knocked off his feet. Dic scrambled to get back up, panicked now. "What was that for?!"
Angor's voice rumbled from a distance away. Dictatious tried to follow its changing directions as he spoke. "Land a hit on me." He demanded, "Show me you're not completely helpless."
Oh, as you command, Great One, why don't we whip up some fairy dust and make Aaarrrgghh fly while we're at it–
Dictatious's bitter thought process was cut short by another sharp blow from Angor Rot, knocking him back. Again and again, the assassin shot by him like a bullet, landing non-lethal hits in an attempt to fire Dictatious up.
He did not even try to fight back. He was more active about trying to dodge, Angor would give him that, but he couldn't even do that right.
This is going to take a lot of work.
"Four arms, and you cannot even throw one punch?" Angor gibed, knife twirling in his hand.
Dictatious was already short of breath, though that was mostly out of panic than actual exhaustion. "You expect the impossible of me! Nothing fruitful will come of this, you're wasting your time-"
It didn't surprise Dictatious when he was again cut off by an attack. The smaller troll yelped as he just managed to duck out of the way of Angor's swinging blade, though not without the loss of a few hairs on his head.
"You think this is challenging?" AngorRot growled, prowling closer, "This is whelp's play. You should be handling this with ease."
"Well I'm sorry, Angor Rot, but I don't quite remember the last time I was asked to strike a mastered assassin while having no visual capabilities!"
"Excuses."
Angor moved in for another hit, but his voice had tipped Dictatious off well in time for him to avoid it. That aside, he still failed to strike back.
"And what business is it of yours anyways?!" Dictatious barked in his irritation. "What does it matter to you if I can fight or not?!"
"If I am to be keeping company with you, as the Trollhunter wishes…" Angor said, "… then you'd best know how to carry your own weight." He made another slash, which Dictatious managed to avoid. "I don't plan on fighting for two should we ever be caught in battle together."
Swing. Miss. Swing. Hit.
This pattern went on for ages. Angor may have had the patience for this sort of tedious process, but Dictatious had lost his. He had barely recovered from what felt like a hundredth blow, and when he heard Angor move in for another, he just snapped.
Making no more moves to fuel this foolish back-and-forth, Dictatious instead threw up his arms instinctively to protect himself. "STOP IT!"He finally shouted.
And Angor did stop. He stopped and stared down at the weak husk before him.
"I can't do it!" Dictatious snarled. He shook his head, voice falling with the weight of his frustration "I cannot do what you ask of me…"
Departing from Angor's chest was a low growl, dissatisfied with these results. His lone eye looked long upon the despondent troll with a kind of hollow pity one might give to a pathetic turtle turned on its back.
"… We will continue this tomorrow." Angor rumbled, the last words spoken between the two as he walked past Dictatious and to the house.
He may have been Gunmar's right hand, but he is a weak link. Far weaker than Angor could have imagined. Too weak, even, to admit foolish mistakes to his own kin. Whether or not that could be changed would remain to be seen.
Dictatious gritted his teeth in frustration as he heard Angor leave, similar thoughts going through his own head.
What hope was there for someone who seems so unwilling to change?
Where does change even start for him?
… Where did change start for his brother…?
.
"Blinky! Wait up!"
Jim caught up to Blinky as he started climbing the crystal stairway, blue light illuminating each of the cavern's features. Normally Blinky would welcome his company, but not right now.
"Master Jim, please. I'm in no mood to talk." Blinky said flatly. "Especially if it's about Dictatious."
"You sure?" Said Jim skeptically. "From my point of view, it really looks like you need to talk about Dictatious."
Maybe Jim was right, because it didn't take a lot of prompting to get him to start ranting.
"Can you believe him?!" Blinky exclaimed. "Tries to kill me, then goes around and gets mad that I defended myself! What kind of backwards nonsense is that?!" He went on. "Is he the one that spent centuries mourning, thinking the brother he loved and idolized was dead?! Is HE the one that had to deal with the utter betrayal thrown in his face like that?! NO!"
Jim nodded slowly as he listened, quiet for the most part. When Blinky broke from his ranting with a frustrated sigh, Jim took the opportunity to give his two cents. "Well, you are right…" Jim did agree, "… buuut… I can see why Dictatious is upset, too."
"What?!" Blinky said in disbelief. "How does he have any ground to be upset?!"
"C'mon, Blinky. Those books, they were like… his life, right? It's already got to sting that he'll never be able to write, or even read them anymore. Of course he'd want to preserve what he's already accomplished, he'll never be able to get it back once he loses it. And, I mean, it's not like those books have ever led us wrong. I can see why he'd think it's such a waste."
"But he-!" Blinky sighed again in frustration.
"Blink, you were right to defend yourself and Aaarrrgghh. No one can argue that." Jim said, a fact clear and true. "But just… try to see things from his perspective, too. It's got to be hard on both of you." With insight going strong for him, he added, "And besides, something tells me this is about more than just books."
It's true. Blinky used the flare as self-defense. But who would enjoy living with the fact that you permanently blinded your brother?
"I know you miss him. The relationship you had before, and… he should be the one to apologize first, but… somebody has to be the bigger person, and I don't think it's going to be him."
Another sigh. Blinky gave Jim a wistful smile. "Since when did you become the mature one between us?" He joked hollowly.
"I learned from the best." Jim smiled back, the both of them at least able to share a small laugh.
"Come on, let's head back." Jim offered. "You can talk to Dictatious when you're both ready."
.
The Gyre station showed no signs of anything out of the ordinary. It was devastated by the Eternal Night's battles and earthquakes, just like most the rest of Trollmarket, but aside from that, everything seemed to be in order. It was quiet there. Almost… ominously so.
Toby's suggestion was to leave some recording equipment there, to keep track of any strange activity that might show up, so that's exactly what they did. What else was there to do?
Now, with all said and done in regards to portals today… It was time to take other matters into Blinky's many hands…
.
It was the same door he and Aaarrrgghh had punched down at least twice before. Now, it seemed so daunting.
The children had already gone into the house, but Blinky kept pacing outside for the longest time. Dictatious would be inside too, because… well, where else would he be?
…. What would Blinky say to him? That's what he was trying so hard to formulate… Would he even be able to get his brother to listen to him?
Well… nothing ventured, nothing gained…
Blinky took a deep breath, and reached for the back door handle.
What he didn't expect was for it to open before his hand even touched it. Much less expected was for him to see that the person now standing in the doorway was… his brother.
"Ah, Dictatious…!" Blinky started, surprised. "I was just going to search for you."
"Likewise."
Surprised, Blinky's eyebrows shot up. "Wait… really?"
Blinky stepped back to give his brother room as he shuffled out the door. "I heard you wanted to talk." Dictatious said.
"Ah… well, yes…" Didn't expect him to actually comply so quickly… or, well, at all… "But where are you going?"
"Somewhere…" Dictatious's ear twitched as he heard the teens inside laughing about something, "… quieter."
The two of them walked in silence down the streets until they came across a park bench, of which Blinky suggested they take a seat at.
Now the hardest part would be saying what needs to be said… Blinky struggled to find the right words…
Dictatious, oddly enough, seemed preoccupied with squinting at the sky instead.
"Are there stars out tonight?" He said suddenly before Blinky could ask what he was doing. "Can't tell…"
"Ah…" Blinky looked up too. "Yes, a few. Not very bright, though."
"Hmm…."
That's right, his brother hadn't properly seen a night sky since before his banishment, hadn't he… Staring up at those tiny glimmering lights and his brother, Blinky was reminded of an old memory. He chuckled. "You know, I remember way back when we were young whelps, you used to tell me that the stars were pixies that played dead to trick everyone on the ground."
Dictatious snorted, a grin crossing his face at the memory. "You used to stare at the stars for hours every night, waiting for one to move. Went ballistic the first time you saw a shooting star." Both of them laughed. "You were always so gullible, weren't you? Didn't you also believe me when I said it was possible to make Kairosects out of Gaggletacks?"
"Ha! Vendel had to drag me away from Rot-Gut's more than once!" Blinky leaned back, more at ease now, still chuckling. "Ohh yes, you were always telling me falsities. How about that time you told me a bottle of Haggleroot Elixer was Glug?"
Now that got Dictatious bursting out with laughter. "I didn't- I didn't th-think you'd actually drink-" He broke down into a fit of giggles so bad he couldn't even finish the sentence.
"Oh suuuure, it was so funny." Blinky said in jest. "I had the voice of a Gnome for a month!"
At this point Dictatious was laughing so hard he started tearing up. "That's- That's what m-made it so f-funny!"
Blinky couldn't help but join in on the laughter again. Looking back, it was pretty funny.
So far, things were going well. Far better than Blinky ever expected they would.
When they both calmed down, things were quiet for a moment.
"… So…" Dictatious spoke up. "I assume you weren't seeking me out only to reminisce about old times."
Blinky sighed. "No… No, I didn't." He shook his head.
He didn't come here just to talk about their fight in the library either.
"… There's so much I want to say to you, Dictatious. So much I don't understand, about your choices, about our relationship, I just… What happened, Dictatious?" Blinky gave his brother an aching look. "I'd looked up to you my whole life, and when I thought I lost you, I…" He looked away. "… I just don't understand how you could've turned to the side of Gumm-Gumms, how it was so easy for you to just…" his voice was but a whisper with his last two words, "… leave me…"
"That's not true."
Again, Blinky looked to his brother, this time blank-faced.
Dictatious was quiet for a long while. Then, it was his turn to sigh. "It wasn't that easy, Blinkous. The first few years of banishment, I often found myself wondering how you were, if you were still even alive, and… happy." He fell quiet. "… Out of all the regrets I could've had back then about my decision, my only one was that I had left you alone."
"It was?" Blinky sounded more than just skeptical, he was in downright disbelief. "But in the Darklands, you-!"
"I know, I know." Dictatious cut him off, sighing again. "Those thoughts, they didn't stay with me long. Such personal connections held me down, kept me from dedicating my thoughts and energy to Gunmar's cause, it…" He paused, then chuckled weakly. "Ha… not that it matters now."
There's still so much Blinky doesn't understand about these choices. Did he really believe Gunmar was Trollkind's salvation. Does any part of him miss his place in the Underlord's ranks? What on earth was going through his head? He couldn't even bring himself to ask those questions, for fear of knowing the answer. Blinky looked away.
"… Gunmar was the only thing I had in the Darklands, Blinkous." Dictatious continued, his voice rigid, determined to keep a strong hold on all his twisted justifications of his actions. "To disrespect him by letting such menial concerns hold me down, it would have been an insult. I… I suppose, somewhere along the line, I started to think of you as an insult. To everything I stood for." He scoffed, but mostly at himself this time. "You were loyal to your cause, and I was loyal to mine. I suppose that's all it really boils down to."
"It's not…" Blinky stopped that thought in its tracked and sighed. It was that simple to him, wasn't it… "Why, Dictatious…? Why would you follow him…? The brother I knew wouldn't have-"
"Blinkous, can we just…" Dictatious interrupted, sighing one more time. "… drop the politics for tonight. Lest we spoil the calm…"
Despite his lingering questions, that was a suggestion Blinky could get behind for tonight. He gave his brother's shoulder a stiff pat.
Neither of them wanted to have to go through all this just to sully what had been an otherwise beneficial conversation with another fight.
Maybe Gunmar's a discussion for another time, then.
The two went back to looking out among the sky, silent, but they actually found themselves just simply enjoying each other's company for once.
"… I'm… sorry about your books, Dictatious." Blinky said. Dictatious looked at him, expression hard to discern, as he continued. "I looked up to you, to all the amazing work you'd done, but when I saw you working for him…" Blinky sighed. "… I couldn't see any of your work in the same way. Everything felt like such a… such a lie. I didn't want anything to do with you anymore. I know it was rash of me, that decision I made, I was just so… angry."
Dictatious's teeth clenched, then he shook his head and sighed. "It's… a justified reaction, I suppose…. like you said, it's not like I'm going to be reading them anymore…"
Blinky sighed too. One arm reached out to lightly pat the side of his brother's face, frowning at the sight of those damaged eyes. "I won't apologize for defending myself." Blinky said, straightforward and simple. "You would have killed me. I did what I had to. But… I do wish there could've been a better way to resolve this…"
Dictatious turned away after a few moments. "… I know…" He muttered.
They were greeted again by a stretch of silence, one they welcomed for a long time.
"… Well, I should be… getting back, to go over our findings from today before it gets too late…" Blinky said, getting up. "Coming?"
"Go ahead. I can find my own way back." Dictatious said, continuing to stare out into the sky, as if it were a thing he could see with the clearness of working eyes. He'd prefer to stay out here for a while. It's… surprisingly peaceful.
"Alright. I suppose I'll see you whenever I see you." Blinky said, turning away to head back and rambling as he left. "Busy days ahead. I think we're getting closer to figuring out these infernal portals!"
"Blinkous?" Dictatious called over suddenly.
Blinky stopped, looking back. "Yes?"
"Be…" Dictatious hesitated, voice lowering. "… Be careful."
That… came out of left field. Blinky raised an eyebrow, finding the sudden concern… odd… (he was furious just earlier today, now he's worried?) but reassured him still. "I will."
He went his own way.
Dictatious let out a breath, then looked back into the sky. For a second, he almost thought he could just barely see a star fall.
.
"Walt! Have you got the formulas ready?"
Feeding time was always hectic when you had 20+ babies to look after. Lucky for Walter and Barbara, many of the townspeople had offered to help out with the many infants that still hadn't found their original families, so it's still manageable… to some degree.
"More or less!" Strickler called back to Barbara from downstairs, a tray of bottles getting sorted by his practiced hands. He's basically gotten the hang of it now - formula warmed just above room temperature, all bottles labelled correctly, organic brand for Krax and Gladys, since they're allergic to the mainstream brand…
When he was sure he had everything in order, he carried the bottles upstairs to Barbara in one of the nursery rooms.
He opened the door to the sight of the radiant Dr. Lake, gently rocking a crying child back to calmness. She was an exquisite sight that Strickler loved more and more each time he saw her. When she heard him come in, she looked up and smiled.
"Why, thank you." Barbara grinned, pecking Strickler on the cheek as she took the tray from him. "You're getting quicker."
"But of course. A professional in history? Please! My true calling was mixing baby formula all along!" Strickler joked. Almost an instant later he started cooing and playing with one of the infants staring at him. Barbara smirked.
"And to think, you were worried you weren't cut out for this." She teased.
Strickler gave a small chuckle. "Well, when you're handed a rock full of a thousand babies to handle…"
Barbara had just started feeding one of the babies when there was a sudden thumping coming from the front door. "Oh-" She hoisted the baby up, starting to head for the stairs, but Strickler beat her to it.
"Worry not, I can get it." He offered, Barbara showing him a smile of gratitude as he headed downstairs.
Whoever was at the door seemed really impatient - the way they thumped on it almost sounded like they were ready to break it down.
"Stricklander!" The voice outside called frantically. "Would you open up?! This is urgent!"
Was that… Zelda Nomura? Wasn't she supposed to be catching a flight to New York for a conference? She is one of Arcadia's main representatives after all…
He opened the door with a confused look on his face. "Nomura? What seems to be the problem?"
The magenta-coloured Changeling looked frantic. "Where's my familiar?!" She demanded to know.
"Wh- Upstairs, obviously, it's not like she could go anywhere else- What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?!" Nomura shouted. "What's this?!"
Strickler's eyes went wide as he watched a familiar glow envelop his acquaintance, shifting her form from troll to human as naturally as a bird takes flight. His jaw dropped, unable to get any words out.
"I can't see her, Walter! I've performed Glimpse after Glimpse but no matter what mirror I spit on can't see her!" Nomura pushed past him into the house, repeating, "Where is she?!"
This can't be possible. With their familiars sharing the same realm as them now, this can't be possible…
Thoughts of those portals that had been appearing in Arcadia suddenly invaded his mind. Thoughts of Jim, saying he suspected some of them to lead to the Darklands-
Oh Deya, no.
Now both of them were in a panic. Strickler immediately rushed back upstairs, Nomura following close behind.
He made Barbara jump when he burst back into the nursery. "Nomy! Where's Nomy?!"
"Woah woah woah, where's the fire?!" Barbara questioned. "You'll freak out the kids!"
Strickler couldn't focus on that right now. He was hectically checking each crib for Nomura's familiar when Barbara stopped him.
"Hey." She said forcefully. "Nomy is right over there." She pointed at a crib near the window, which… indeed held the child.
Both Strickler and Nomura walked over to her, confused. She was just fine. Sleeping soundly, in fact.
"She's… fine." Strickler blankly observed. He looked at Nomura. "And you're…?"
"Uhm… Just fine…" She answered, equally confused.
"Anyone mind telling me what's going on?" Barbara asked, looking between the two of them with folded arms.
Strickler looked at Nomura, in her human flesh, no possible explanation coming to mind. Nomura struggled to find any sort of words.
"That's what I'd like to know…"
