Chapter 1

Jim Lake Jr slowly opened his eyes and stared right through the dark night sky. His blue eyes couldn't see clearly, his brows connected in irate. "Where am...I?"

He muttered softly, his voice croaked as he felt a burning pain on his throat. We were chasing a titan. His mind slowly worked as memories of the day came back to him and then he remembered what they were doing. "We were trying to defeat Bellroc and her Titan-ah!"

The pain on his stomach crawled around his body making him gasp, sharply. His senses slowly came back as his eyes finally adjusted to his whole surroundings. He was lying on a pile of rubble of concrete and bricks. He slowly turned his head to his right and saw rows of familiar buildings, all broken down and burning.

Jim finally recognized where he was. He was in Arcadia Oaks, and he was stopping the rampaging fire Titan of Bellroc and they defeated it. He remembered it now, how he activated the Trifurcate Radiation Blaster which rendered the sorceress completely powerless. And then Toby, while wielding the Excalibur and wearing the newly upgraded Trollhunter armor, delivers the final blow on the last Arcane Order member.

"Toby!" Jim grunted as he slowly turn to his left and then he found him.

Toby Domzawlski, the Trollhunter and his best friend for life, was laying on a mountain pile of broken concrete, all bloodied and lifeless.

Jim's blue eyes went wild as the gruesome scene lay before him becoming more clearer. "No, Toby, no!" This shouldn't have happened! This is wrong, where did I go wrong!? He screamed in terror as he tried to stand up only for him to feel another pang of searing ache on his right limb. He glanced to his right and saw his right hand, buried and crushed underneath a slab of stone.

"Tobes, Toby!" he called and let out an anguished howled as he forced himself to stand up, cutting himself from his crushed hand. A sickening sound of bones breaking echoed, loudly and he took off towards his downed friend.

"Tobes, buddy, please!" Jim carrassed the bloodied cheeks of his best friend, he softly shook him with his remaining left hand, attempting to wake him up. However there was no response. A doom realization hit him hard, tears formed and trailed on the boy's face. His best friend was dead.

"No, no, no! Where did I go wrong? I changed everything, I averted almost all of the disaster!" Jim laid his head on his friend's chest. Even though Toby was wearing his armor, he could feel his heartbeat but right now, he heard nothing. Just an empty hollowed sound.

"I'm so sorry, Tobes." Jim cried in sorrow. "I'm so sorry-"

"It's your fault Jim." a familiar voice bluntly said. Jim looked up and his blue eyes looked straight at his friend's face. Toby's eyes were red and an angry frown etched on his face.

"You shouldn't have given me this cursed destiny!" Toby's face roared and blood poured out of his mouth. Jim, in horror, let out a terrified scream.

"Ah!" Jim gasped and breathed hard as he woke up from his nightmare. The boy took several breaths as he looked around. He was inside his room and he was no longer on the streets. The scene slowly faded on his mind as he calmed his beating heart.

"Not again...not another nightmare." he whispered with his aching tone. He sat straight up and glanced at the clock on his bedside table. Six 'o' clock, I only slept for two hours. The boy groaned heavily as he stood up and opened the window of his room.

A calm breeze of wind blew passed and cooled his face. He calmly breathed in, filling his lungs with fresh air. "Another day...without him." he whispered in a somber voice to no one. Another day without Toby. he closed his blue eyes as another would pass without his best friend by his side.

Arcadia Town Square

The Town of Arcadia was slowly being rebuilt. A year had passed ever since the Fire Titan attacked the town, the townspeople began to repair the damages so that life would go back to normal. Buildings were raised again by bricks, stores opened and began to offer services to everyone and traces of skirmishes of the Arcane Order slowly disappeared.

But not to Jim. The boy was walking along the streets with both of his hands inside his hoodie. He could still remember it as if the battle had taken place yesterday. He let out a tired sigh. "At least the town is safe and at peace, for now."

He said softly to himself and watched a couple of men walking along the opposite sidewalk, carrying long beams on their shoulders.

"Jim, good morning." he stopped on his tracks and glanced in front of him. A familiar pair of brown eyes looked back at him. Claire, his friend and his lover stood in front of him. Her fair hair black-brown with streaks brushed across her face as a cold wind swept past the two.

"Hey Claire, good morning." Jim smiled at her, hiding his dark frown and somber mood.

"You look...downcast, is everything ok?" Claire moved closer and observed the man but Jim quickly grinned and looked away. "I'm fine, Claire. I just pulled an all nighter from finishing Senior Uhl's homework." he said while avoiding the gaze of the girl.

Claire stared at him and then she formed a tired smile. "Well, I did too and it was long and hard." her smile brightened more. "I was on my way to the cafe to grab some breakfast. Do you want to come?"

"Sure, Claire." Jim wanted to come with her. Her presence would be enough to lighten his day and not only that, he wanted a company to bury the loneliness that was rising inside of him.

Le Graile Cafe

Despite the town being in a busy mood, the cafe that Claire and Jim had entered was empty. The walls were decorated with brown wallpaper and pictures of every different type of coffee beans. Tables and chairs lined up in the middle and on the window side. The cafe was newly built, the scent of new paint still lingers in the air.

Claire and Jim settled down by the window, giving them a clear view of the town's park. The girl had ordered a breakfast pasta with a mochachino while the boy had ordered a single cup of white tea. Jim was silent for a moment, observing the rising smoke from his hot tea, before his blue eyes shifted to the Television, hanging on the wall.

The news was flashing a headline and he read it.

'INVINCIBLE HERO, STILL MISSING FOR ONE YEAR, AFTER VILTRUMITE WAR'

Invincible? Oh humanity's strongest hero. Toby was a big fan of him. Jim remembered his best friend, smiling and howling in joy whenever Invincible was being displayed on TV. Toby loved him and since the famed superhero was missing he couldn't imagine what his friend's face would look like.

"Boy, sure thing we avoided that Viltrumite war."

"Indeed, thanks to Queen Aja and her Akiridion fleet, she'd protected Earth against the invasion." Jim said to Claire, whose brown eyes became observant as she noticed the sudden change of mood on her boyfriend's face.

You're not ok. Claire took a deep breath and put her fork down. "Jim, I know you lied to me. You're not fine." she smiled in a sympathetic way and took his right hand with her left. "You've dead tired eyes, Jim. Is the nightmare still occurring?"

The boy looked at her. He wanted to deny what she said, Claire had been through a lot of pain just like him, and he didn't want to cause more burden to her. However, his lies had run out, he could no longer hide it.

A downcast frown formed on his face. "Yes. It was my fault, Claire." he paused and took a sip of his tea, the heat soothed his throat and it made him sigh. "Did I make a mistake on turning back time? I only wish for Toby to live...and now he's in a coma."

Jim felt his chest tightened, sadness filled his insides as the memory of the battle returned and replay in his mind.

He fired the beam on the back of a truck and incapacitated Bellroc, the titan falls and almost crushed him. He stood up from the ruined truck and saw his friend. Toby was waving excitedly, shouting at him that he had ended the sorceress's life but he was wrong. The Sorceress appeared behind him and in a split second, before anyone could react, she buried a knife on his back.

He remembered how Toby gasped loudly that time, his last strength to call for help, but in a dashing speed, he recovered and swung the Excalibur and decapitated Bellroc. Jim watched as his best friend fell to the ground and that's where his memory was cut.

"Jim, your hand is shaking." Claire softly whispered as to not cause commotion. Jim snapped back to reality as he felt Claire's hand again. A tired sigh escaped his lips, he had done it again, his hands shaking uncontrollably. It had started ever since he witnessed that event with him.

"I'm sorry Claire, I just couldn't believe that it happened." he glanced down at his opened bag and caught a shiny glimpse of the Trollhunter's amulet, wedged between his books. "And I just couldn't believe that the amulet had chosen me again." And it chose me after Toby had fallen. Jim thought in grimace but then he heard Claire calling him.

"Jim, let's visit Toby again. He needs our presence."

Claire smiled with hope and it ebbed the heavy feeling inside the boy's heart. "Of course, we three are the Trollhunters, right?"

Arcadia General Hospital

The large and almost empty hallway of the hospital loomed in front of Jim. The white lights above and together the strong scent of disinfectant chemicals that filled his nose made him feel sick in his guts. However, that was just one of the reasons why he didn't like to come here.

He silently followed Claire, the girl was walking calmly, the two of them passed by a nurse station with a single nurse sitting behind the desk. The nurse smiled at the two and went back to her chart. Jim lowered his head.

"We're here." Claire said to him as they both stopped in front of a room. The girl reached for the handle and opened the door.

The room was small and Jim immediately saw the hospital bed and the sofa chair beside it. On the chair a man was sitting with an opened notebook in his hand. The man possessed a black hair with indigo streaks of blue, he was clothed in a black shirt and black pants and his hazel eyes shifted at them before he made a smirk.

"Claire, Jim, glad you two are here."

"Douxie!" Claire and Jim smiled as the teenager stood up. Even though it may not look like it, the teenager was actually nine hundred and twenty one years old. The man was an immortal one and a Master Wizard. The familiar sight made Jim relaxed. At least more of his friends are present today.

"My, my, the room is now lively isn't it?" emerging from Douxie's bag was a black cat. The cat was Douxie's familiar and long time friend.

"Oh hey Archie," Jim greeted as the cat purred and climbed on to the wizard's left arm. The boy then glanced to his right, his blue eyes finally landed on the other occupant of the room.

Toby was on the bed. He was wearing a normal hospital gown. His skin was all white and his chest was rising and falling in a peaceful manner. The boy was fat and had chubby cheeks and auburn hair, that was before his untimely defeat. Now Toby Domzawlski's tummy was still large however his chubby cheeks were gone and a bit sunken, his auburn hair was now pale. His terrible state made Jim gulp in horror.

He had always visited his friend and everytime he did, his state worsened more. This was the other reason why he didn't want to come here. He doesn't want to see his friend's life ebbing away, day by day.

Jim blinked as he snapped back to reality. He felt Douxie's hand on his left shoulder making him glanced at him. "He is fine, I always check him everyday. I've been casting many healing spells too. He will recover soon."

Douxie said with hope in his voice, his hazel eyes were serious and determined. Ever since the fall of Toby, the Master Wizard was always busy looking for a cure. He had never stopped and Jim knew it because he could see signs of fatigue on his face. Just like him. "Bellroc's blade may be poisoned and cursed, but I can certainly find a way to eradicate it. I can fix this, Jim. I can."

"I believe you Douxie. I believe you."

Douxie looked at the sleeping Toby, a worried look formed on his face before he let out a short sigh. "I'm going back to my workshop and continue my research." he said in a hopeful tone as his familiar went inside his backpack.

The Master Wizard pulled his bag and paused by the door. "It's really nice seeing you two guys." He smiled at the two before he walked outside.

As the door closes, Claire glanced by the window and saw the sky slowly turning deep red. "Oh no, I promised my Mother that I would help her make dinner." the girl frantically glanced at her watch. "Jim, sorry but I have to go."

"It's ok Claire. Tell your parents that I say Hi."

"Got it," Claire walked to the door but before she opened it she quickly walked back towards Jim and kissed him by his lips. The boy was rooted on the spot as the girl retreated back. "I love you,"

"Oh I love you too, Claire."

Claire opened the door and exited the room. The room was now all silent and Jim found himself all alone. The boy glanced back at his sleeping friend. "Hey Tobes, I'm right here." Jim walked over and sat down on the sofa chair. "I'm going to tell you what I did today-"

A loud knock reverberated and it stopped him from sitting down. Who could that be? "Did Claire forget something?" Jim was about to walk towards the door but the door opened. The boy froze on the spot. There was a man standing by the door. He was tall and had loose hair, his eyes were grey and his face was stern and expressionless. His dark red coat rustled softly as he entered the room. "Hello there, I'm sorry if I'm intruding."

Jim eyed the man. His clothes were all black, except for his coat, but it was stylish. His face was very stern as if he was a teacher from a delinquent school. You're already intruding. "Can I help you?" The boy stood on the spot as he watched the man's thin lips curled up into a soft smile.

"Looks like I arrived just in time." The man then tapped his right black shoe and the door behind him closed on its own. Jim saw it and a foreboding feeling filled his chest. This man had just cast magic, therefore he wasn't a normal one.

"Who are you?" the boy said in a dangerous tone as he slowly took a step back, towards his bag where his amulet was.

The man smiled again in a calm fashion. "My name is Lord El-Melloi II, I'm a Magus from Magus Association." Lord El-Melloi II introduced himself and bowed slightly. "You must be one of the allies of The Trollhunter."

How did he know that? Jim's radar for danger went off the charts. This man was dangerous and came from an unknown organization. No strangers should know about their secret identities, unless they were either their allies...or their enemy. This Lord El-Melloi II definitely looked like an enemy.

"Please, no need to be so cautious. I'm not here to fight." Lord El-Melloi II glanced at his friend. "It's so sad what happened to the mighty Trollhunter. Imagine, killing an omnipotent being like the fire titan, defeating the unbeatable Arcane Orde, only to end up being stabbed in the back, literally." The magi's voice was rough and mocking-like, it made Jim growled.

"What do you want?"

"Your friend will die in six months and no magic would ever cure him from Belroc's curse." The tone of the man was simple and yet it startled the boy. Jim's blue eyes went wide from terror.

No, Toby would live! He should live. "You're lying!" Jim shouted but the man's stern face didn't change.

"No I am not. And I have no reason why I should lie to you." Lord El-Melloi II moved his right hand and took something out from the depths of his coat pocket. "I'm here to offer you help, little boy. There's a chance for your friend to wake up once again."

A help? Jim's eyes lit up in interest. "Why would you want to help me?"

"And why shouldn't I? We're both people, involved in magic. We might as well help each other." The man had put a small black cube on the table. Jim watched with half-startled and half-cautious eyes as the magi tapped the box. The box grew into a medium sized one, showing more of its plain surface.

"May I know your name?"

Jim hesitated at first. The man was ominous to him however he couldn't find any lie in his voice and his words. He wanted to help, which means he might have a solution to his friend's predicament. The man might've a cure for his friend.

"James Lake Jr. but you can call me Jim."

Lord El-Melloi II made a pleasant smile, he rested his back by the wall and took out a pack of cigarettes and a box of matches. "Well then Jim. Do you know the Holy Grail War?"

The sun had finally set and nighttime came, the room's only light was the lamp on the bedside table beside the Magi. Lord El-Melloi II had just finished a lengthy explanation about the Holy Grail war and was now silently observing the boy, with a soft anticipating grin.

Jim was sitting on the sofa chair, his head was down and his chin was placed on his hands. His blue eyes were wide and contemplative. The information that he had received was very overwhelming for him.

Fuzzbuckets...what the hell! Jim gulped down in nervousness. The Holy Grail War was a war between seven Magus in a battle royale style. The Magus summons seven heroic spirits that came from the past, present, or even future. These seven Heroic spirits then will fight to the death until there's only one remaining. The remaining Heroic spirit and together with the Magi who summoned him or her, would be rewarded with a very powerful magical object called The Holy Grail.

The Holy Grail, an omnipotent and all powerful object, could grant any wish. So if I wish for Toby to be cured and wake up from his coma...then it would happen. The man's intentions were right. This was great news for Jim however he still felt something was off.

"You said that this is a war and there are seven of us. Who are the others?"

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't answer that. Confidentiality, you see." Lord El-Melloi II shrugged his shoulders and Jim frowned at him.

"But all I could say to you, is that the Holy Grail can and will certainly cure your friend." Lord El-Melloi II moved to the table and tapped the box. "So what's gonna be, Jim?"

Should I join this secret war...or not? Jim glanced at his friend. He could feel it, Toby's life weakening by minute. A terrified look formed on his face as doom realization dawned on him, his friend will die and he must do something to prevent that.

"I...I will think about it." the boy said and the magi let out a disappointed sigh.

"If you agree to join, you just need to open the box and follow the instructions inside. If not, then throw the box away. The choice is yours, little Jim."

Jim turned to him but before he could answer the man opened the door and walked outside, leaving him all alone again.

The Holy Grail War, Toby's recovery, The words of the Magi still hung on Jim's head as he steered his Vespa on to his house's garage. He got down from his motorcycle and walked inside.

The house was cozy and warm as Jim closed the door behind him. The smell of baked meatloaf lingered in the air and it made the boy walk further towards the Kitchen.

"Oh hey, Jim, you're home." The cheery voice and happy smile of his mother greeted him. She was carrying a hot plate of baked meatloaf which she put down on the kitchen counter. "Oh, the young Atlas is finally home." The other occupant of the room was a tall, green skin, troll.

Jim smiled at the two. "I'm home, Mom and Strickler."

"Just in time, kiddo. We're about to eat dinner. I baked the meatloaf while Strickler was brewing a delicious soup."

"Indeed, Young Atlas would finally have the chance to taste my famous onion soup." Strickler proudly said and it made Jim chuckle. The light mood between the two had lightened his heart.

"I'll be going upstairs to change." the boy said as he walked away and climbed the stairs but before he could reach the landing. He heard his mother call him again.

"Jim, there's something that I need to tell you."

The boy turned around and saw his mother standing below the stairs, a worried look was displayed on her face. "What is it Mom?"

His mother made a side-glance at first but she built up the courage to say it. "The doctors at Arcadia Hospital had told me that they are ready to issue a Do Not Resuscitate order on your friend."

And just as fast as it disappeared, the dark and heavy feeling had returned and began to make home on his chest.

"Don't worry, I'll tell them not to. I believe your friend could still recover." a hopeful smile appeared on his Mother's face but it didn't have any effect on him. Jim forced himself to smile so he wouldn't worry his mother more.

"Thanks, Mom. You're the best." Jim said weakly as he walked away.

Jim silently opened his room and closed the door behind him. Silence filled his ears and it was eerie for him, too eerie. He didn't like this silence just as he didn't like what his mother said to him.

"Toby isn't dead. He's alive." Your friend will die in six months. Once again, the word of the Magi rang resoundingly inside his head. It made him gulp in nervousness as horror settled inside of him. Time was running out and even though he wanted to deny it, the reality was still there. His friend will die.

Jim moved towards his desk and opened his bag. The amulet fell first before it was followed by the mysterious wooden box. The box made a loud thud and his blue eyes stared at it with dark intention.

"Then there's only one choice isn't." There was no other choice, even though he believed in Douxie or his friends that Toby would wake up again, he knew that they were too late. He doesn't want to betray his friends but he doesn't want his best friend to die because of his mistake.

It was all clear for him. There was only one choice.

Jim took the box and then opened it, a foreboding creaking sound echoed throughout his room.

After dinner and helping Strickler from cleaning up the table, Jim silently retreated back to his room. He said to them that he wanted to sleep early however the truth is, he just wanted to be alone.

His room was dark and he was sitting on his chair in front of his desk. His blue eyes were filled with sadness as he stared at the opened lid of the mysterious box.

It's my fault that he had suffered. I should've been there, I should've stopped it myself. I was wrong. Jim cursed himself to his predicament. He won't let his best friend die. He couldn't live with the guilt because of it. He has to do something to prevent it.

Your friend will die in six months. The words echoed painfully in his heart. "I'm so sorry Douxie. But I have to bite on this one." he took the box and closed it again. "I'm going to join the Holy Grail War."

Somewhere in the outskirts of Detroit City

On the outskirts of Detroit, standing among the housing in the ghettos, was a beautiful church. The Church might have been magnificent during its heyday but as of now, it was completely run down. Inside, the pews were all broken up, the glass windows were stained with dust, dirt and soot.

The church was large and long but it was completely empty, the altar didn't have any saints displayed, only a large metallic cross that was bolted on the wall.

*Pat* Pat*Pat

The silence was broken with a pair of soft footsteps reverberating along the walls. Lord El-Melloi II slowly walked along the aisle and stood right in front of the altar. A cigarette was on his mouth, smoke trailed upwards towards the ceiling. The Magi blew the smoke out of his mouth before he made a smile.

"I'm here. You can come out now." he said while staring at the ceiling above. And then a figure slowly emerged from the darkness. The figure was a man clothed in a dirty brown robe. He slowly descended from above and landed beneath the large cross.

"Lord El-Melon II. I see that you're here." the man said in a deep tone.

"It's Melloi, in any case I assume that you've reached a conclusion to my offer."

The man stood silent for a moment and then he removed his dirty brown robe, revealing his true attire. The man was wearing a tight suit with colors of black, light blue and yellow. A pair of large silvery eyes which served as part of his mask, looked straight at the magi.

Anyone could recognize his costume. The man was the famous Invincible, one of mankind's strongest superheroes.

"Yes." Invincible said and the Magi's smile grew more. Lord El-Melloi II took out the small black cube, enlarged it into a medium one, and put it on the table. Invincible took the box and stared at it, feeling the weightness in his gloved hands and just as he did, the Magi silently stared at him with an inquiring look.

"Why are you hiding, Mr. Invincible?"

"You can call me Mark Grayson." Invincible answered as he opened the box and started inspecting the contents. "And I assumed you already knew the answer for you and your cohorts from the Magus Association had discovered my hideout."

The Magi glanced around the ruined church. The disarrayed house of prayer was actually the current hero's hideout. The place was a complete out of place to the hero's famed status and it fueled his interest more.

"Well, Mr. Mark Grayson. It's just that...it completely puzzles me." Lord El-Melloi II started walking along the altar as he spoke. "You're one of mankind's strongest superheroes and yet here you are, hiding in a decrepit church. Not to mention, you're also joining this Holy Grail War."

"So?" Mark asked as he took out a small object. It was a small piece of stone but it was all blackened and dusty. He could see that the piece might've been a part of a larger slab of stone. "What's your point?" he added with cautiousness in his voice.

"Men were jealous of you for you possess god-like powers, women loved you and wanted to bear your children and children worshiped you like you're God of this world. You've a life that everyone could ever dreamed of, and yet here you are," he paused as he turned around and faced him again. "What is your wish and why do you need the grail to fulfill it?"

Mark stared at him for a moment and then he put the box down at the table and removed his mask. The hero revealed his face to the world and to the Magi, his half-asian face drew a solemn yet depressing frown. His black eyes continue to observe him.

"You don't know me, Lord El-Melloi II." he began with a warning tone. "My wish is none of your concern but since you're so eager to know about it then I'll tell you one thing." he stopped and towers over the Magi, his black eyes became serious, completely devoid of happiness and life. "My wish is a selfless one and everyone will benefit from it."

Lord El-Melloi II stood on his ground but then he snorted and took a step back.

"I apologize for prying too much, Mr. Mark Grayson." Mark shifted his eyes and gazed back at the box.

"You said there are seven Masters and Servants participating in this war."

"Yes."

The Invincible Hero moved back to his box and picked it up with his right hand. "My wish has to be fulfilled. I will absolutely do everything I can to win this war." he said with determination, his eyes hardened into a fiery one as he turned around and faced the Magi once again.

"I will do it...even if I have to kill the Masters."

Lord El-Melloi II had received his answer and it excited him. A dark smile formed on his face as he raised both of his hands to the air.

"Rejoice, Mark Grayson, the Invincible Hero for I welcome you personally...to the Sixth Holy Grail War!"

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Trollhunters, Tales of Arcadia, Fate Stay Night and the cartoon Invincible.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY NEW FANFIC! I JUST RECENTLY JOINED THE TOA FANDOM AND BOY I MISS A LOT. TALES OF ARCADIA IS MY NEW FANDOM AND I'M GLAD THAT I DISCOVER IT!

In any case how do you like the first chapter. I would like to apologize by the way if the chapter has a lot of grammar mistakes. I'm still looking for a beta-reader so if there's a kind soul who would like to help me, I would welcome them.

IN ANYCASE HOW'S MY FIRST CHAPTER? DO YOU LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING? WHAT SERVANT DO YOU THINK JIM MIGHT SUMMON? AND WHY IS MARK INTERESTED IN JOININ THIS WAR?! STAY TUNE FOR MORE! THINKER OUT!