merendinoemiliano-Thank you so much!
Creepslayerz6511-Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! I know this final battle took a while to write, but I think you'll find it worth the wait :)
No one-Wow, I thought for sure everyone thought Nari was going to die. I'm glad I still managed to surprise you! And thank you! Emotional scenes aren't my forte, so I'm happy they turned out all right. I really liked Jim and Strickler's conversation too, any time Draal is mentioned it just gets so much more dramatic! And please, write down everything you think! Seriously, I love it when you and other readers tell me all your thoughts, no matter how many, I love reading them all. It's actually what encourages me to keep writing! I also really appreciate how understanding you are of the sparse updates...having a reader like you with so much patience is really nice. Feel free to leave as long a review as you like or reach out to me whenever! (I do have a Tumblr, it's nickelwick.) Your reviews really make my day—they are NEVER a bother.
It was dark, yet the night was ablaze with flames.
Millions of tons of rock slammed into the earth, shaking everything in a five-mile radius. The heat was so intense the very air shimmered, trees ignited in flames, and metal melted into puddles of boiling ooze. The figure atop the titan grinned, relishing in the destruction its flames had wrought…and because of one other thing.
She had almost arrived at her destination.
Less than ten miles away, the Trollhunter watched. Or rather, waited. The aliens, trolls, and wizards around him waited too. The buzz of anticipation crawled underneath everyone's skin, making the silence nearly unbearable.
Naturally, Toby was the first to break it. "We know what the titan looks like, soooo why are we just staring at it?"
"We've been over this, TP," Claire groaned. "When we do beat Bellroc, we can't have the fallen titan cause a forest fire. But we also can't have it destroying the town either. We have to get the timing just right."
"Right, right. I probably spaced out when we decided this. I'm not really the 'strategy guy,' ya know."
Something blipped on Krel's wrist. The Akiridion prince stiffened, before determination settled across his features. "Speaking of timing, it's…well, time. Come on, Varvatos. We have to—ack!"
Aja lifted her brother into a tight four-armed hug. "Be safe," she sniffed. "Don't do any tricks, keep a far distance, and mind the lag on the—"
"Aja, I'll be fine," he insisted. His tone softened as he hugged back. "Don't worry. You're not losing me."
She set Krel down and wiped her hand across her eyes. "Okay." She turned her watery gaze to Varvatos. "Keep an eye on him, Varvatos."
The bulky Akiridion smiled softly. "I will. We'll see you after the battle, my queen. I promise."
Krel and Varvatos left the balcony. Strickler's gaze followed them before snapping back to the titan looming ahead. And suddenly, Jim knew what he wanted to do.
"Hey Strickler, can I talk to you for a sec?" Jim asked. Before the changeling could respond, he turned to Aja. "I'll be right back."
She nodded, even though her attention was still on the other Akiridions' retreating forms. "Alright, but be quick. They'll be taking off soon."
"I know." Jim led a nonplussed Strickler a good distance away from the others, where he was sure they wouldn't be overheard.
"Jim, what is it? Is something troubling you?" Strickler said worriedly.
Jim steeled himself for his friend's inevitable poor reaction. "I want you to stay on the castle."
"What?!" he cried in utter disbelief. "Whatever for? I know I lost the last few of our sparring rounds just now, but I assure you, my skills are as sharp as ever—"
"No, no, it's not that!" Jim exclaimed, frantically waving his enormous paws. "I want you to stay for my mom's sake."
Any protest died in Strickler's throat. Jim took his silence as an opportunity, hurriedly explaining, "Please Strickler, I need you to be here, with her. She's scared enough as it is about me, much less about you. I don't want her to be all alone. Please, stay."
"But what about you, Jim?" Strickler said hoarsely. "Of course I want to be with Barbara, but I care for you as well. Knowing that I'll be with you makes me feel safe. I know you have your other friends, but I'm…I'm frightened for you, Jim. Let me go, so I can make sure I can protect you."
Jim's heart twisted painfully at the anguish on Strickler's face. A few years ago, he would've given anything to have him killed. Now, he was risking his life just so Jim could have a chance to live.
But for his mom's sake, he wouldn't allow that.
"I know," Jim said softly. "But I'm asking as your student, your friend, your best man…don't go. Because if I don't make it back, I need someone to be with her."
Understanding dawned on Strickler's face then, and Jim knew in that moment he was going to stay. His mom had been the one thing to unite them in the past, the one thing they both loved. Now, it was going to be the thing to save Strickler's life.
"Alright," Strickler whispered. "I will stay, but not just for her. For you."
He smiled. "Thank you, Strickler. Tell my mom I love her."
Jim gasped as he was enveloped by wings. Strickler hugged him briefly before stepping back, his yellow eyes glistening. "I won't, because I know you're going to tell her that yourself once this is done. Godspeed, young Atlas."
A flap of wings, and Strickler was gone.
Jim took a deep, shuddering breath. That wasn't going to be their goodbye, like his had been with Nomura. He was going to come back. He'd make sure of it.
He returned to the others just as two ships zipped from the lower levels of the castle. Douxie saw him first and said, "Ah, good, you're back. I was starting to think one of us was going to have to fetch you. Where's Strickler, by the way?"
"He's not going to be joining us," Jim replied. "I…asked him not to."
Douxie nodded. "I understand."
The sound of blasting lasers filled the air. Douxie and Jim's attention snapped back to the ships, which had finally reached the fire titan. The neon blue clashed with the orange flames, lighting up the night in explosions of colors. The titan swung at the ships, lava trailing from its fingertips. Aja gasped as the ships barely managed to dodge the strike.
"Let's not make them hold her off any longer than necessary," she declared. "Let's go!"
She vaulted off the balcony. The others soon joined her in the freefall. Jim lifted his foot onto the railing, but hesitated. He looked back at Blinky, who was doing his best to smile at him.
"I know you'll win this," Blinky said. "But…be careful, my son."
Jim's eyes burned, but he forced himself to swallow the emotions down. "I'll be back, Blinky. I promise."
Before he could lose his resolve, he jumped off the balcony. The stinging wind made his eyes water, though he couldn't tell if it was really the wind or his emotions. Because despite the strength of their team, Jim couldn't shake off the sickening feeling that one of them wasn't going to come back from this alive.
Shoving those unwelcome thoughts to the back of his mind, Jim adjusted his form until he caught up to the others. The ground grew closer and closer, but he wasn't worried, because at any second they were going to—
A blue aura flickered to life around Jim, and suddenly his fall turned into a flight. He shot forward, the buildings of Arcadia zooming below him. Toby, Steve, and Eli whooped in delight, while Claire and Argh smiled at their antics. Zoe just looked unimpressed, as if she did this every other day. Jim himself was still marveling at Douxie's power. He really was strong enough to make everyone fly. Well, almost everyone—Archie could already fly, and Aja was using her hoverboard.
It then struck Jim just how unusual this situation was. Here he was, surrounded by trolls, wizards, and—oh yeah, an alien—flying towards a fire demigod hellbent on destroying the earth. He wouldn't even have dreamed of this three years ago. Hell, even a year ago this would've seemed far-fetched.
He finally got that adventure he craved so long ago…but it came with a heavy price.
"We're almost there!" Douxie shouted, startling Jim out of his thoughts. "I'll try to land us behind her, but I can't guarantee it!"
They shot up the side of the titan, lava spitting from the molten cracks. Jim mentally thanked the amulet for protecting him from the brunt of the heat. At least it could do that right.
Finally, they reached the top. Bellroc stood alone on a bridge of stone, scorching lava bubbling on both sides. Rocky walls surrounded her back, limiting the range of the two ships' attacks. But Varvatos and Krel had proven themselves to be excellent pilots, as they managed to fire some shots even in the exposed airspace. She snarled, leaping back to avoid the blasts even as the titan itself unleashed torrents of fire at the ships.
Which meant she was too preoccupied to notice their presence.
Aja screamed as she whipped out her serrator and started firing. The laser hit Bellroc's back and she screeched. She whirled towards them, and rage unlike anything Jim had ever seen exploded across her face.
"You dare?!" she shrieked. "You dare attack me from behind? The cowardice!"
Aja grinned. "No. It's just being smart."
"When I get my hands on you girl, it will be—AHHH!"
Bellroc screamed in agony as the ships blasted a barrage of lasers. Dust billowed around Bellroc from the destroyed rock, hiding her from view. Still, the ships continued in their relentless attack. Better to be safe than sorry.
When the screams ceased, the ships finally stopped, hovering in the air cautiously. There was no movement within the cloud of dust. Jim was suddenly too afraid to breathe. Had they done it? Was it over that quickly?
Then the titan's hand struck the ships out of the air.
"NO!" Aja wailed.
The ships hurtled toward the ground, engines sparking. Twin plumes of smoke trailed behind them as they fell out of sight. Bellroc dispersed the cloud with a twirl of her staff. To Jim's dismay, aside from a few burns, she was mostly unharmed.
She smirked. "Did you really think that was going to be enough to defeat me?"
Oh no, Jim thought. "Aja don't—"
But it was too late. Aja cried out in anguish and charged towards Bellroc. Her gun morphed into a sword as she leapt from side to side to avoid fireballs. She flipped into the air and brought her serrator down on Bellroc's head. Bellroc lifted her staff, blocking the blow just in time. She pushed Aja off, forcing the Akiridion off balance. As she stumbled back, Bellroc's staff glowed red hot, and Jim knew he wasn't fast enough to prevent what was coming next.
A flood of fire roared from the staff, only to be stopped by a crackling pink shield. Aja glanced back at them. Zoe's hand was outstretched, her electric blue eyes glowing ever so slightly. She winked. "I got your back, your majesty."
Aja lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry I didn't follow the plan. But when I saw their ships go down, I just—"
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Jim reassured her has he jogged over. "You don't have to be sorry. They're gonna be alright, Aja."
"I have to believe that, or else I…" She shook her head. "It's fine. What do we do now?"
"Simple, isn't it?" Douxie crowed, summoning his guitar. "Improvisation!"
He soared into the air and unleashed a volley of flaming magic down on Bellroc. The demigod snarled, and with an extra burst of flames, dissipated Zoe's shield before turning her wrath onto Douxie. With the shield gone, the fire billowed towards Jim and Aja. He tucked her against his chest and rolled out of the way.
"Thanks," Aja panted as she struggled to her feet.
"Don't mention it," Jim grunted, rolling his shoulders. Draal made turning into a living bowling ball look so easy, he grumbled.
A startled yelp alerted him back to the battle. Steve and Eli were engaged in close combat with Bellroc, while Zoe, Douxie, and Claire directed flares of magic at her. But none of the magic directly hit her; instead, they fizzled out against a translucent barrier.
"She's got her own shield!" Claire shouted. "Seriously?!"
Flames flickered down Jim's arm before coalescing into his palm to form Daylight. He glanced over to Aja, who had her own sword at the ready. They nodded. "Close quarters it is, then."
They sprinted forward as Bellroc kicked Eli and Steve back. Jim snarled and sliced his sword at her arm. She parried it away with her staff while using a stream of flames to repel Aja's strike. She twirled her weapon and swiped it at the both of them. They jumped back, but the tip still scraped against his breastplate. He winced. That was too close.
"Argh, launch me!" Toby yelled.
Jim blinked, and the next thing he knew, his best was friend was flying through the air, war hammer in hand. He swung at her with a shout. The head of the hammer cracked against Bellroc's head. She stumbled back, the shield around her flickering.
"Now!" Douxie shouted, dropping out of the sky.
He brought his guitar down on her head, the impact unleashing a cacophony of rock chords. Jim whined and pawed at his ears. God, that music was insufferable in this form. Fortunately, he wasn't the only one affected by it. Bellroc dropped her staff to cover her ears, eyes screwed shut in pain.
Seizing the opportunity, Argh barreled forward and headbutted her. She flew backward, right into Archie's waiting arms. Archie, who had transformed into a bear, hurled her into the air. A shadowy purple whip snapped from Claire's hands and lashed around Bellroc.
Zoe grinned. "Allow me."
Lightning streamed from her fingertips and raced across the rope. It lit the demigod up like a fireworks display, pinks, reds, and purples clashing together in violent sparks. The screams that ripped from her throat was inhuman, yet Jim relished in it. He didn't know if that was the troll side of him talking, or his human side—but if he was being honest, he didn't really care.
Finally, Bellroc's spasms ceased. But Claire didn't release her. "Better make sure you're dead," she hissed, eyes flashing purple.
She flicked her hand, and Bellroc slammed into the ground. She soared back into the air, only to be smashed against the surrounding walls again and again.
"My word…" Douxie floated down next to Jim, staring at Claire in awe and fear. "Remind me to never piss her off."
Jim nodded numbly. "I don't think I could forget even if I wanted to."
"Alright, Jim!" Claire shouted. "This one's for you!"
He grinned ferociously as he twirled Daylight. "You better believe I'm ready!"
Claire grunted as she swung Bellroc around. Jim planted his feet firmly on the ground. This was it. One quick strike, and this would all be over. He took a deep breath as the fire wizard flew closer and closer towards him. One more blow.
Bellroc opened her eyes with a grin. "Boo."
Jim had a split second to think oh, no before the staff flew into her hands and pierced his gut. He roared in agony as the wound burned, a living flame blazing inside him. Bellroc wrenched her staff out, and he collapsed, the pain so overwhelming he could hardly think. He felt so, so hot, although he couldn't tell if it was from the fire crystal or the lava boiling around him. Honestly, he didn't have the strength to care.
He also didn't have the strength to keep his eyes from closing and slipping into darkness.
"JIM!" Claire screamed. "NO!"
Douxie could only watch in horror as Jim crumpled to the ground. He blinked, half expecting him to be back on his feet, as if nothing happened. How…how had Bellroc moved so fast? How had he not seen this coming? He had been too slow, and now Jim was—
Jim's massive chest lifted ever so slightly, and Douxie almost collapsed in relief. Still alive. Now all he had to do was make sure Jim stayed that way.
"I tire of your pathetic efforts," Bellroc sneered, dissolving Claire's magic with one fiery touch. "You have delayed me long enough. This ends now."
"You witch! I'll kill you!" Toby screamed, sprinting towards her with his hammer held high.
Bellroc scowled. "Enough."
She raised her hands. The lava, already bubbling violently, exploded into the air like a geyser. It formed into monstrous hands twice Argh's size. Lava dripped from the long fingers, sizzling into the ground. Douxie paled. He didn't know how he could fight against those.
Bellroc swiped her hands through the air. The lava copied her movements, one heading for each of them. Douxie outstretched his arm. His guitar leaped into his hand just as the lava bore down on him. He started shredding chords, the music churning out a beam of powerful blue magic. It kept the lava at bay—but just barely.
"Wingman!" Argh roared.
Douxie's gaze snapped to the others. Toby was sprinting away as fast as he could, but it wasn't enough. A molten finger brushed his shoulder, and he cried out in pain.
"No!" Argh bellowed as he barreled towards him. He wrapped his body protectively around him. The lava struck not a second later, knocking them clear off the titan and down to the ground below.
"Toby!" Claire shrieked. She warded off an incoming hand with a shield, only for it to instantly start cracking. "TOBY!"
"Claire!" Douxie grunted. "Go after them!"
"But what about Jim?!"
He slid back as the hand pushed harder than before, forcing him to play a particularly tricky riff to hold it off. "He's still breathing! But Argh and Toby won't be if you don't portal them down right now!"
Claire glanced over at Jim's still form, a pained expression on her face. Then she nodded. She called down her shield, jumped over the reaching hand, and launched herself off the titan.
"Ahhh!" Aja yelled, slashing her serrator through a lava hand. She dove under another's snatching fingers and swiped Bellroc's feet out from under her. She stabbed her sword down at the demigod's head. Bellroc rolled to the side and kicked her back. She flipped back onto her feet and unleashed a stream of flames so strong that it gusted Aja off the titan.
Douxie's heart jumped into his throat. "Archie! You've got to get Aja!"
His familiar protested, "I can't leave you—"
"Now!"
Archie shot off without another word. Douxie's fingers trembled as he continued to play. Sweat poured down his face, both from the effort of his magic and the heat pressing in from all sides. He couldn't…he couldn't last much longer.
He looked up at the others. There were so few left. Jim was still unconscious. Steve and Eli were deflecting a hand by spinning and slicing their swords—they couldn't keep that up forever. And Zoe was—
A scream pierced the air and Douxie's heart.
And Zoe was in Bellroc's grasp.
The demigod's hand gripped tightly around Zoe's throat. "The boy wizard cares for you, does he?"
She looked over at Douxie and smiled—a small, teasing one that made his blood run cold. "I've already taken away so many from him. What's one more?"
She reared back her staff, and Douxie's world slowed down. He didn't see the staff as it inched closer to Zoe's gut. He didn't see as the hand pushed back against him with a vengeance. He only saw her. He saw there was no fear in those bright blue eyes of hers, only resignation. Acceptance.
But not him. He refused to lose anyone else.
He struck a chord so powerful it exploded the lava hand into molten bits of goo. He shot forward, closing the gap between him and Bellroc in a matter of seconds. He grabbed Zoe as he flew by and tucked her close to his chest. Bellroc screeched in rage. Pillars of fire roared towards them, but he dodged them all, twirling and diving in some kind of crazed aerial dance. He zipped down the side of the titan, Bellroc's screams fading into the distance.
"Douxie?" Zoe said, her voice hoarse and weak. Hearing her like that, hearing her so defeated…it almost made him cry.
"Shh, it's okay," he whispered. "I've got you."
He landed on main street in downtown Arcadia, a good distance away from the titan. He gently set Zoe down on the asphalt before frantically checking her over for injuries. No major wounds, thank Merlin—just imagine what would've happened if he had been a second too slow—but she was still covered in second-degree burns, probably from overexposure to Bellroc's magic.
But her neck…that was the worst of all. Bellroc's hand had seared right through her flesh, exposing sensitive pink tissue. Blood leaked from the open skin. Douxie's hand trembled as he sent cooling healing magic into her throat. It was fine, she would be fine. He—he could fix this.
The wound started to close, the raw tissue smoothing over into new skin. Just a couple more minutes and she would be—
Zoe's hand grabbed his wrist, startling him out of his concentration. "Don't."
He stared down at her in shock. "But I can heal you."
Somehow, she still had the strength to glare at him. "You know how much healing magic takes a toll on its caster," she croaked out. "You need to save your strength."
"I don't care about that, you're what's important right now—"
Douxie's neck tingled, a sure sign of the presence of shadow magic. Claire! He whipped his head around, and sure enough, it was her, and she—
She looked awful.
Her skin was deathly pale, her eyes hollow. Dark bags that weren't there half an hour ago hung underneath her eyes. Her armor looked like it was weighing her down with each step. She wasn't alone either. Toby, Argh, Aja, even Krel and Varvatos—they were there too. She must've teleported them all here.
"Douxie!" Archie crashed into him, nearly knocking him over. "Thank goodness you're alright!"
Douxie stroked Archie, partly to comfort him but also to comfort himself. He just hoped his familiar didn't notice how his hands were shaking. "Glad to see you too, Arch."
His gaze flicked back up to the others, who looked like they were going to fall over at any second. "How's…how's everyone doing?"
"Not too hot, chief," Toby said with a wince. It was then that Douxie noticed he was leaning heavily against Argh. "Claire portaled us down safely the best she could, but…it wasn't exactly a perfect landing. We fell a weird way, and Argh may or may not have accidentally, ah…"
"Crushed leg," Argh rumbled miserably. "Hurt wingman. Argh feel bad."
"Nononono, don't feel bad, big guy!" Toby exclaimed in a panic. "Without you, those flames would've roasted me alive."
His gaze trailed over Argh's back. Douxie grimaced at the sight, which was charred black and flaking. Guilt flashed across Toby's face. "If anything, I should feel bad for you."
"Well, at least Krel and Varvatos are alright," Douxie said, desperately trying to bring up the positives of the situation.
"Barely," Krel said. Both he and Varvatos were covered in scrapes and burns. "It's a small miracle the ships didn't explode on impact. That being said, they did explode—but luckily, we were a safe distance away by that point."
Varvatos, who had two swollen eyes, coughed a weak, "T'was glorious."
Douxie pursed his lips. "I'm thrilled to see you here, but…how did you manage to find us? Your ships must've landed miles from the titan."
"I asked Claire to portal them to me."
He looked over at Aja and had to stifle a gasp. He hadn't realized it at first because of Varvatos' massive bulk, but he was carrying her like she was a little girl. Dark navy splotches covered her entire front, stretching from her neck to her upper legs. Tiny glowing pixels floated out of the patches. With horror, Douxie realized they were burns.
"I…I'm sorry I asked her to do it," Aja whispered. "But I had to know they were alright. It was selfish, I know, she shouldn't waste her strength but—"
"It's not selfish," Claire interrupted. "It's not selfish to want to see your loved ones. I would want the same."
"Claire…" Douxie said, unable to keep the worried tone out of his voice, "you already weren't in the best of conditions before the fight. How are you holding—"
"Badly," she said, her voice shaking. "I almost blacked out making the last portal. My body can't take it anymore, I'm…I'm spent."
Douxie's gaze roamed over the group. Less than an hour ago, they had been so full of energy and life, ready for anything that would come their way. Now…now they looked so exhausted and—as Claire put it—spent, both in body and spirit.
He knew what he had to do.
"I understand," Douxie said. "All of you have done so much. I'll take it from here."
"What?!" Zoe's voice cracked in protest. Douxie whirled around and tried to get her to lie back down, but one glare from her froze him mid-step. "You can't go back up there alone, Casperan. If she's too powerful for all of us combined, what…what makes you think you stand a chance?"
He racked his brain for some kind of dramatic answer, but he was too worn out to do so. Besides, he didn't want to lie to her. "I don't. But someone's got to go up there and help Jim, Steve, and Eli."
"Then let us help you!" Varvatos insisted. "You need our strength. Your sparkles alone won't stop that fire demon."
"But look at all of you. You can barely stand!" he exclaimed, gesturing at their injured bodies. The others winced but didn't protest. They knew he was right. "I hate to be so harsh, but you're no good to me up there. You're too badly hurt. It has to be me."
"Douxie, please," Archie begged. "I'm not hurt. Let me go with you."
Douxie smiled sadly at his familiar. "I know you want to Arch, but please…please stay with them. I've already lost Nari."
He stroked the top of his head and fought to keep the tears out of his eyes. "I can't lose you too."
Archie stared at him, and Douxie saw the desperation in them. He was terrified for him. Even though he knew he couldn't do much in terms of fighting, he would feel that much better if he was by his master's side. But Douxie didn't want that, and he knew Archie would listen to him.
Even if it hurt like hell.
Archie's eyes watered. "Oh, you stubborn fool."
He pressed his head against Douxie's. After a few seconds, he felt the others' presence as they too gathered around him. Claire hugged him and whispered, "You stay safe out there, Teach."
He chuckled softly. "Always."
"Casperan."
Douxie braced himself as he turned to face Zoe. He expected indignation, frustration, even anger. What he got was much worse—sorrow.
"Come back to me," she pleaded, tears freely falling down her ash-covered face. "Please. I don't know what I'd do without you. I—"
He silenced her with a quick, gentle kiss. He pulled back and brushed his finger over her cheek, smudging the ashes. "Don't worry," he said softly. "I'm going to come back. Bellroc won't take anymore from us."
He stepped back and looked at the group. Despite their ragged appearance, they gazed at him with hope. They were worried out of their minds for him, yes, but they believed in him.
He wasn't going to let them down.
Douxie swiped his hand across his bracelet. Sky-blue magic flowed from it and into his hand. His wizard's staff appeared in a flash, glowing with barely restrained power.
He stared at Zoe one last time. "I promise."
He blasted off into the night sky. He hurtled towards the titan, determination burning so fiercely inside him it rivaled those of Bellroc's rage. And as for Bellroc…
He was going to make sure her fires would be quelled forever.
.
.
.
"I. Hate. This. Stupid. Sword!"
"I don't think yelling at it is going to make it work, Steve!" Eli shouted as he hacked off a lava finger.
Steve huffed as he jumped over an outstretched hand. "Maybe not, but it makes me feel better."
He glanced down at Excalibur for the hundredth time that minute. Anddddd of course, it was still a normal sword. A really cool one held by the King Arthur, but a nonmagical one nonetheless.
He pursed his lips as he turned his focus back on the battle. It may have been naïve of him to think this but…ugh, he really thought Eli's pep talk was going to work! Ignite some sense of self-worth or whatever. He'd imagined charging into battle, Excalibur blazing in righteous fury.
But this wasn't some dumb kid's movie. This was a real fight with real stakes, and he was losing—
"Behind you!" Eli shrieked.
Steve yelped and ducked on instinct. Gushing lava missed him by inches. He thrust his sword upward, cleaving the hand in two. The lava dropped lifelessly to the ground, bubbling into the rock around him.
Eli whistled appreciatively. "Nice reflexes!"
Steve flashed a cocky smile as he tried to hide how his hands were shaking. That had been too close. "Had those since freshman year, Pepperjack."
They high-fived each other. "I wonder how the others are doing?" Eli asked.
"They all have superstrength or magic dude," he scoffed. "They probably finished off their lava grabbers ages ago."
"Then…why is it so quiet?"
"What do you mean—" Steve stopped and listened. Sure enough, there were no shouts, magic blasts, anything. Only the sound of gurgling lava. He turned around, and his heart didn't just skip a beat—it stopped functioning altogether.
They were utterly alone. Aja, Domzalski, even Douxie—they were all gone. Not dead, he didn't see any bodies, thankfully, but…it was just him and Eli.
And Bellroc, who readying to thrust her staff downward into a still unconscious Jim.
Eli was the first to react. "Jim!"
He dashed towards the two, serrator raised high. He dove in front of Jim, and the staff clashed against the glowing sword at the last second.
"What is this?" Bellroc snarled, pushing back against Eli. "Who are you to challenge me?!"
"A Creepslayer!" Eli answered proudly. "And you're not touching him."
"Such delusions poison your mind if you think a mere human can stop me." The fire wizard released one of her hands and smacked Eli to the side like he was a fly. He scrambled to get back on his feet, but she stamped down on his wrist, making him cry out in pain. She picked up his serrator and snapped it in two.
No. Steve tried to order his body to move, to do anything, but he was paralyzed with fear. Terror had seized his limbs in a rigid lock and refused to let go. He forced his mouth open and tried to shout his friend's name, but the only thing that came out was a pitiful choking sound. He was helpless.
Bellroc lifted her staff. "I will make sure these delusions plague you no longer."
The tip sunk into Eli's heart.
A scream so visceral it nearly tore Steve's vocal chords ripped from his throat. "ELI!"
Bellroc kicked Eli back, his body skidding against the rocks until he thumped against Steve's foot. He was hardly aware as he fell to his knees and cradled his best friend's head in his hands, even as incoherent sobs wracked his body.
He didn't know what to do, what could he even do? Should he apply pressure to the wound, that's what he had seen in movies, but oh God there was blood so much blood—
"Steve," Eli whispered, weakly tugging on his wrist, "you can…you can stop crying now, buddy."
"Eli," he gasped, "I—I'm sorry I couldn't stop her, I didn't even try to stop her and I'm so, so sorry."
His friend shook his head and coughed. Bloody spittle trickled down his chin. "What did we talk about?" Despite everything, Eli still had it in him to smile. "Don't blame yourself. Besides, I'm glad…that you didn't step in. She would've killed you too."
"Don't say that," Steve cried. "You're going to be okay, Pepperjack. You're not going anywhere."
"Stubborn to the end," Eli laughed softly before wincing in pain. "I'm going to miss that. I'm going to miss you, Steve. You were my first bully…I never thought you'd be my first friend. My best friend."
He gripped Steve's hand, and he forced himself to wrench his gaze away from the bleeding wound and into Eli's eyes. The life in them was fading, slipping away. It was the most horrible thing he had ever seen, but he made himself keep looking for his friend's sake.
"Thanks for everything, Steve," he said, his voice getting weaker and weaker by the second. "Creep…"
He raised his arm, his hand cupped in a C. Shaking, Steve lifted his as well. "Slayerz," he whispered.
Eli's hand dropped to the ground.
"No…" Steve shook his shoulder, as if he was merely sleeping and not… "No!"
His friend's eyes stared out into space, unseeing. Steve retracted his trembling hand. Eli…was gone. No more wild conspiracy theories, no more babbling on about nerd stuff. No more—no more Creepslaying. He would never experience any of that with him again, and it was all because of—
Bellroc's laughter filled the air. "Your armor is finally breaking, Trollhunter!"
Steve lifted his head slowly. Hatred so fierce and intense roared through him, blocking everything out except her. Flames streamed from her staff and smothered the unmoving Jim. A thin blue shield hovered around him, protecting him from the fire, but it was fading fast. At any second it would disappear and another life would be lost. Because. Of. HER.
He struggled to his feet, leaning on Excalibur for support. His muscles screamed in protest, but he forced them to obey, pushing himself up until he was standing upright again.
"Over here!" he shouted. But Bellroc ignored him and continued her assault on Jim.
Rage exploded inside him. He was so done of being treated like a joke.
He lifted his sword and pointed it at her. Fury surged through his limbs, filling him with such an intense blaze that it seemed to warm even Excalibur.
"DON'T IGNORE ME!" he yelled.
A beam of concentrated magic boomed from Excalibur's tip and blasted into Bellroc. She screeched in pain and surprise as she was sent flying back.
Steve gasped and looked down at Excalibur. A brilliant golden glow emanated from the sword. He could feel the hum of power buzzing in the metal, just waiting for him to use it. It pulsed gently, and he knew it was telling him it was finally ready for him, and him alone.
"You command Excalibur?" Bellroc squawked, drawing his attention away from Excalibur. She sneered as she regained her footing. "Who are you to wield it, boy?!"
He glared at her and got into the offensive position Jim had taught him. "Steve Palchuk. Quarterback, boyfriend of the queen of Akiridion-5, but most importantly, a Creepslayer. And you're going to pay for what you did to my friend."
.
.
.
Jim was in pain.
Not that that was anything new, really. At this point, it was more rare if his body was in perfect condition than not. But this time was different. It wasn't your typical run-of-the-mill stab wound; this was much, much more. It didn't just throb, oh no, it blazed. It was as if someone stuck a torch right in his gut, letting the flames continuously eat at him.
He shifted, and the fire inside became an inferno. He would've blacked out if not for someone screaming, "DON'T IGNORE ME!"
Jim forced his eyes open, a monumental task in of itself. Through his bleary vision, he saw Bellroc being thrown back by some kind of…golden ray? He was pretty sure none of the wizards on their team had golden magic…
He looked for the source of the beam and found a disbelieving Steve holding an aloft Excalibur. An Excalibur that, much to Jim's shock, was glowing.
A wave of pride surged in Jim. He always knew Steve was worthy of Excalibur—it had just taken him a while to realize it. Is this how Blinky felt when Jim first slayed Bular…?
As Bellroc flew towards Steve, Jim noticed something worrying. There was no one else on the titan. No Toby, no Douxie, no…no Claire. Had Bellroc—
Jim squeezed his eyes shut. No, he couldn't think like that. He had to believe they were safe somewhere off the titan. He had to.
He opened his eyes again and blinked. Oh, wow. This was…not what he was expecting to see.
Steve—his Steve, former bully of Arcadia Oaks High—was holding his own against Bellroc. He was a whirlwind of hacks and slashes, wielding Excalibur like he was born to do it. He deflected fireballs with ease and unleashed powerful beams of his own. Jim watched in awe as he flipped over Bellroc's head and swiped his sword through the air. An arc of magic flew from the blade and collided against her back, making her stumble.
But something was…off. Steve's fighting style was never this aggressive or brutal. What had changed?
Jim's gaze fell on something lying on the ground a few feet behind Steve. He stiffened, his mouth going dry.
It was Eli, and he wasn't moving. The savory scent of blood rolled across Jim's heightened sense of smell, and in that moment, he knew. He knew it wasn't just a minor wound—it had been a fatal one. Eli was dead.
Eli…it was because of him that Jim finally stood up to Steve back then. He was the first person he had felt the need to protect. And after all these years, Eli had finally fought for himself.
He wouldn't be fighting anymore.
Someone shouted in alarm, and Jim snapped his gaze back to the battle. Steve was clutching his arm, blood seeping between his fingers. He shook off the injury and leapt back into the fight, undeterred.
Jim had to get out there. He had to make sure no one else died…!
He tried to get up, only for the pain to spike so intensely spots danced in his eyes. He groaned in frustration. This wasn't going to work. He couldn't fight like this; he could hardly move! If only he had been a little quicker, then he wouldn't have ever gotten hurt—
An idea sprung in Jim's mind. He might not be able to go back in time…but he still had a time stone. And if it could shift him between all three forms, then could he use it to change just a little bit of himself? Could he make it so the wound wasn't even there?
He focused on the amulet and called on its power. It was different, using it to change time than summoning his sword. It required more effort—though he guessed time was more tricky than daylight.
Jim shuddered as the slippery magic (it was the best way to describe the odd sensation) flowed from the amulet and into his gut. As it coalesced, he imagined what he wanted the injury to be. He wanted it to be gone, for it to be like it was just an hour ago—
Just like that, the pain vanished. Jim would've collapsed in relief if he wasn't, well, already lying down. But just to make sure, he glanced down at his stomach. It really had worked—his body and armor was as good as new! No more burning!
He grinned and jumped to his feet, his body responding easily to his commands. Eager to get back into the fight, he turned towards the sound of clashing weapons.
All excitement vanished in an instant and was replaced with horror. Excalibur had been knocked out of Steve's grip. He was scrambling away from Bellroc desperately, but the sword was too far. She raised her staff, a malicious gleam in her eyes. She was going to kill him.
No! Jim barreled towards the two, but they were on the opposite side of the titan, and this form was too slow. He wasn't going make it. He wasn't fast enough; he needed to be faster—
And then he was body slamming Bellroc. She shrieked as she was sent crashing into the far wall of the titan. Jim stared at her crumpled form in shock. How…?
He looked down at his body and grinned. The time stone had sensed his desire for speed and had shifted him back into his half-troll form. A perfect blend of speed and strength.
I wonder…he thought, gazing down at the amulet. Maybe he wasn't constricted to just one form at a time. Maybe he could utilize all three…
Before he could dwell on the concept any longer, Steve croaked out, "Hey man, thanks for the save."
"Anytime," Jim said, biting his lip. He had to phrase his next words carefully. "I'm…I'm sorry about Eli. How're you holding up?"
Steve glanced at Eli's body before looking back at Jim. "He'd want me to keep fighting," he answered simply.
But Jim knew there was a raging inferno inside him; he could see it in his eyes. A part of him wanted to curl up in a ball and sob. The other part wanted to lash out at anyone who got near him. It was taking every ounce of Steve's strength to not give in to either.
No one understood that better than Jim.
An explosion rocketed the titan. Bellroc climbed out of the crater in the wall, her body smothered in flames. Her face was curled in an infuriated snarl.
"TROLLHUNTER!" she bellowed, glowing eyes flaring dangerously.
"Go get Excalibur!" Jim ordered as he called forth Daylight. "I'll keep her busy."
He didn't bother to check if Steve had listened because Bellroc was tearing towards him. Their weapons met in a clash of angry sparks, the sound ringing across the night. He parried her staff away and hooked her across the jaw. She hardly flinched from the blow. Before he could make another move, she placed a hand on his chest and sent him flying backwards with a fireball.
Jim clutched his singed chest, wheezing. Yeah, this wasn't working. He had to follow Nari's advice—he had to unite the three.
With hardly a thought, he shifted into his full troll form and commanded Daylight to morph into his shield. He flung it at Bellroc, his massive arms sending it whizzing through the air. She knocked it aside easily, but it had distracted her from Jim's fist ramming into her face.
Now that left an impact. She reeled back, clutching her cheek. Before she could recover, he struck first. He punched her again and again, relishing the sensation of skin and bone breaking under each blow. The scent of blood tainted the air, and with glee, Jim realized it was her blood. Except her fiery magic made it smell…spicier. He liked it.
Eager for more of the scent, he raked his claws down her front. Her thin armor did little to protect her, and molten blood poured from three long scratches.
"You wicked beast!" Bellroc screamed as she thrust her staff forward. A fiery rope whipped around Jim, suspending him in midair. Snarling, he thrashed against the restraints, but the magic only grew in intensity, threatening to crush his armor.
"I can't believe it," she wheezed, clutching her chest. Jim stopped struggling, eyeing her warily. "After all the chaos and hurt you caused in that form, you still used it…who would do such a thing?"
She looked up at him, a dark grin growing on her face. "What Trollhunter does that—"
"Yeah, no, that isn't going to work this time."
Bellroc blinked. "What?"
Jim rolled his eyes. "And I thought Skrael was the dumb one…your mind games, Bellroc. It worked in New York, but only because I thought I was still to blame for what happened last year. But I'm not—you are. And you know what else I learned?"
He flashed his tusks in a devilish grin. "That every form has its uses."
He slid into his human form. The rope, having nothing to hold onto except air, sputtered out in confusion. Jim dropped to the ground, summoned his glaives, and hurled them at Bellroc. They sliced through her legs, chipping off bits of grey flesh.
She shouted and dropped to her knees. Jim sprinted forward and aimed a kick at her chin. She caught his foot and tossed him away, his body smacking into the ground. Stars danced in front of his eyes and he quickly transformed into the beast. The devastating impacts suddenly became no more than mere jostles, and he dug his claws into the rock, slowing his uncontrollable roll to a stop.
He pounded towards Bellroc on all fours, a guttural growl building in his throat. She twirled her staff through the air, and a barrage of flaming missiles sped towards him. He jumped over the first wave, and as he landed, he seamlessly shifted into his half-troll form. His surroundings became a blur as he danced around the fireballs, his agility letting him avoid them with ease.
As the gap closed between him and Bellroc, Jim changed back into a full troll. The might of a two-ton beast cracked against her skull in the form of a headbutt. She stumbled back, dazed. Jim's hand snatched around her waist and he launched her into the air without a second thought. His glaives appeared in his hands in a swirl of blue flames. He flung them at her, angry flames reflecting against the cool steel.
Unfortunately, she regained her senses just as they were going to make impact. She deflected them with a decisive swipe and landed on her feet, panting.
Alright, Jim thought, shrinking as he morphed back into a half-troll. Let's try close quarters again.
He caught his glaives and connected them with a snap to form Daylight. He jumped into the air and brought his sword down on Bellroc's head. Metal grated against metal as the two struggled for dominance. Despite her numerous wounds, Bellroc still held enormous strength, and she pushed against him with a snarl. Unable to overpower her with brute force, Jim slipped into human form.
Bellroc stumbled forward as the resisting pressure dropped significantly. Jim spun around and kicked her in the back. She grunted and whipped her staff back, a torrent of flames whooshing towards him. He dropped to the ground and swept Bellroc's feet out from under her, even as the fire above singed his head. The fire wizard lost her balance and smacked into the ground.
Jim shot to his feet and tried to thrust Daylight downward, but he was too slow and Bellroc kicked him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. He transformed back into a half-troll, gasping for air, hoping his increased lung capacity would help.
"Oh no," Bellroc crooned, rising to her feet. "Is the Trollhunter tiring?"
He raised an eyebrow at her battered and bloody appearance. "You're not one to talk."
Her face collapsed in rage as she shot forward, and the deadly dance began all over again. Jim punched, stabbed, and slashed, sliding into each form as easily as breathing. But despite the power of the time stone, he still hadn't managed to land a fatal hit. And all this fighting was wearing him down. It would only be a matter of time before he slipped up, and he was stabbed…again.
He grunted as the tip of her staff grazed his cheek. He jumped back, only to call up his shield as angry orange flames gushed towards him. He gritted his teeth and shifted into beast form, but even with its strength, he still found himself sliding backwards.
Jim growled in frustration. This was so infuriating! No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't do this by himself. He needed his team. He needed Steve, so where the hell was he—
"EAT SWORD, CREEP!"
The flames died abruptly. Jim lowered his shield and blinked. Oh. There he was.
"Sorry I took so long!" Steve yelled as he slapped Bellroc's staff away. "I may have or may not have passed out for a second. Though, uh, from the looks of it, it was a lot longer than that."
"It's all good," Jim said as Bellroc pushed Steve back with a snarl. He held his shield out and flashed him a fanged grin. "Care for a lift?"
Steve grinned back. "Don't mind if I do."
He jumped onto the shield, and Jim catapulted him into the air. He flipped over Bellroc's head and thrust his sword at her side. She deflected the blow but failed to dodge Jim's fist. She staggered back but was still able to ward the both of them off with a wall of flames. Steve sliced Excalibur through the air, the sword's magic dispelling the fire. The briefest flicker of shock flashed across Bellroc's face before it was replaced once again with unbridled rage.
But before she could strike again, Steve shouted and raised Excalibur high. A beam of golden magic vwoomed from the blade, washing the titan's surface in its glow. Bellroc's staff appeared in front of her just as the energy reached her. The impact released a sound so deafening Jim had to revert to human form just so his eardrums wouldn't implode.
He peered through the blinding light and gasped. Bellroc actually looked like she was struggling! Her wounds were finally catching up to her, and with the full force of Excalibur directed at her…it was too much. Once she slipped up, he was going to swoop in and execute the final blow—
"AUGH!" The crystal atop Bellroc's staff flared, and a ring of fire exploded outward. The boys were knocked to the ground by its force. Jim groaned, regretting he hadn't been in a stronger form.
Bellroc sneered down at them, but Jim didn't miss how she leaned on her staff for support. "A good effort, mortals," she hissed. "I will not lie, you almost succeeded in killing me. But I have roamed this earth for millennia, and two children are not going to stop me."
A ray of electric blue magic shot down from the sky and blasted into Bellroc. The impact sent the demigod flying. She crashed into the ground and rolled several times before she thrust her staff into the ground. She looked into the night sky at the one responsible for the magic and scowled.
Douxie glared down at her, eyes blazing with determination and power. Blue magic poured from the stone atop his wizard's staff and surrounded him, keeping him suspended in the air.
"You want to fight someone with experience, eh Bellroc?" the wizard asked coldly. "Don't you worry; I've got nine hundred years of that."
His gaze flicked to Eli's body. Shock and sadness flickered across Douxie's face before he narrowed his glowing eyes. "I see you took another life." He thrust his staff forward. "You will be doing that no longer."
Flaming balls of magic appeared around Douxie and streamed down towards Bellroc. She raised her own staff to protect herself, but there was simply too many of them, an unforgiving shower of magical comets. She yelled in pain as one, two fireballs broke through her shield and hit their target. Evidently, the wizard of fire wasn't invulnerable to getting burned.
Douxie seized upon her moment of weakness instantly. He shot down, grabbed Bellroc by the throat, and zipped to the wall of the titan. He slammed her against the wall and sped around the chamber, dragging her body against the jagged rocks. After a groove had been dug across the wall, he hurled her at Jim's feet.
Her staff clattered out of her hands as she hit the ground. She scrambled towards it desperately. Just as her hand grasped the handle, Jim swung Daylight downward, slicing her arm off.
Bellroc screamed as lava-like blood gushed from the socket. Her severed arm twitched once before dissolving into a puddle of molten goo.
"That was for Nomura," Jim snarled.
Douxie soared down and picked up her staff. He crushed it in a blazing fist, unleashing a shockwave of magic from the broken weapon. Bellroc moaned in misery. "No!"
Rage sparked from the wizard's eyes as he picked up the crystal-tipped end. "This is for Nari."
He plunged the crystal into Bellroc's gut. Boiling blood burst from the wound like a miniature geyser. She wailed and crawled away from the two. For the first time, she looked truly afraid. Douxie and Jim couldn't deny it—it felt good seeing that expression on her face.
Bellroc bumped against Steve's leg. She gasped and tried to crawl the other way, only to slip in her own blood. She gazed pathetically up at him, but Steve found no satisfaction in it. Because…he should've been here.
He raised his sword. "And this is for Pepperjack."
Excalibur flashed, and Bellroc's head thudded to the ground.
The demigod's body keeled over before it transformed into a pool of lava. The ring of arcane symbols flickered before dying out entirely. The titan groaned and rumbled. The walls crumbled, boulders splashing down into the boiling pools as the titan started shaking itself apart.
"Well done mates, but it's time to go!" Douxie waved a hand, and the blue magic from the staff flowed around Steve and Jim.
"Wait!" Steve cried. "Don't—don't forget him."
Douxie's gaze saddened. "Don't worry." The magic surrounded Eli as well and lifted him into the air almost tenderly. "I've got him."
They flew into the smoky night sky. Jim looked back at the disintegrating titan. The behemoth lost all semblance of shape as the rocks collapsed in on itself. The lava that flowed through the cracks dimmed and died. It thudded to the ground, and even from all the way up here, he saw the buildings of downtown Arcadia tremble.
And then it was done. The titan of fire was reduced to no more than an enormous pile of rubble. Its owner was dead. The world was saved.
So why didn't it feel like a victory?
The boys landed in front of the museum. Gunmar's broken body flashed before Jim's eyes, the eclipsed sun blazing overhead. So strange to think the Gumm-Gumm King had been their most dangerous foe…once again, he was shocked by how much things had changed.
"Jim!" He suddenly found himself buried under the weight of his friends. Claire and Toby were sobbing, hugging him so tightly he thought his bones would pop. Two of Blinky's arms frantically checked him over for any injuries, while the other two brushed away his mentor's own tears. Argh nuzzled the top of his head with his large nose, purring in delight.
"Guys," he cried, not even trying to hold back his tears. "We did it. It's over. It's finally over."
His friends couldn't even blubber out a response. They just held him, and he was so happy they were there, that they were alive, that he almost melted. Nomura's death didn't sting as much when he was with them. They made him happy. They made him feel safe.
Jim was so overjoyed to be in their presence that he didn't notice as the amulet flared and dropped from his chest. It rolled on the ground before slowing to a stop away from the group. It glowed softly, waiting for its holder to call upon it again.
Douxie stumbled onto the pavement. His staff disappeared into his bracelet and he dropped to his knees, gasping for air. Mordrax's miracles, he was exhausted. Even his bones felt tired. He didn't think he had felt this worn down since…well, ever.
"Douxie!" Archie dove into his lap and butted him so hard he nearly toppled over. "You did it, you really did it! You came back! And—" His words devolved into loud purrs, and he rubbed against Douxie's chest.
He laughed softly and scratched his familiar's chin. "Of course I came back, Arch. After all," he lifted his gaze, "I made a promise."
Zoe stared down at him, trying her best to look pissed off but unable to keep the ridiculously large smile off her face. Much to Douxie's relief, she had healed most of the burn on her throat away. "No need to look so smug, Casperan."
He grinned. "What, don't I get a victory kiss?"
"Cheeky." She knelt on the pavement and took his face in her hands. "But I suppose you've earned one."
She kissed him, and he passionately responded in turn. He ran his fingers through her hair, soaking in her presence. If he was being honest, he had believed one of them wouldn't make it. But here they were—here she was. Nari had sacrificed herself so they could have this moment, and he wasn't going to take it for granted.
A small current of electricity sparked from Zoe's lips and into Douxie, making him feel tingly all over. He shivered. He loved it when that happened.
"Oh, would you two please not do this when I'm here?" Archie wailed.
Steve watched the reunions with a sad smile. He was glad everyone was back together again, that Jim and Douxie were happy, but sorrow still pressed down on his chest, making it hard to breathe. Eli…he should've been here to witness this. And even though Steve knew it wasn't his fault, it didn't make his death any less painful.
"Steve!" Aja cried, running over to him. She showered him in kisses while frantically checking him over to make sure he was unharmed. She gasped as she discovered the long cut on his arm. "That monster! If she wasn't already dead, I would've killed her myself!"
Steve laughed then, and oh, it felt so good. He could always count on Aja to cheer him up, even if she didn't know he needed it. He stopped her angry mutterings with a kiss and beamed. "I love you, Aja."
She blushed an even brighter blue. "I love you too."
"Eli!"
Oh no. Steve broke apart from Aja just in time to see a stricken Krel drop next to Eli's body. The Akiridion reached out a trembling hand before withdrawing and burying his face in his hands.
"Eli?" Aja whispered, as if not believing he was really gone.
Varvatos approached and gasped. "The earth boy…?"
He shook his head sadly. "Let me talk to Krel."
Aja nodded and turned to Varvatos for comfort. Steve knelt next to Krel, who was sobbing quietly. He didn't say a word as he let his friend cry. He knew he needed to release the grief, much like Steve did. He would talk when he was ready.
After a few minutes of silent crying, Krel sniffed. "I…can't believe he's gone, Steve. He was my best friend."
"Mine too," he answered softly. "I'm going to miss him so much. I already do."
Several tears escaped and slipped down his cheeks, but he didn't wipe them away. He gazed down at Eli's unmoving form. The books were right. It really did look like he was sleeping—which just made the reality that much harsher.
"How…" Krel's voice was small. "How did he die?"
"By saving Jim's life," Steve said. "And mine."
His face broke into a watery smile. "I bet…I bet you did something stupid, like falling on your face."
Steve laughed. A small, quiet laugh, but still, it was something. "At least you weren't there. One of your weird gadgets would've exploded if you tried to use it."
"My 'gadgets' are flawless! Eli said so himself."
"Well, Eli also said…"
The two boys continued talking into the night. Recovering from Eli's death was going to be a long process, but at least it was one they were undertaking together. That was what was going to get everyone through the losses of their friends, including Jim and Douxie. Each other. After all, it was what had saved the world.
Wow. That's the last 'official' chapter of this fic, guys. The next one is going to be a short (I think, I hope) epilogue-I think you can figure out what it's going to be! Don't worry, it's going to be very sweet! Unlike this chapter...
Speaking of which, this chapter was such a blast and nightmare to write. I loved loved LOVED writing Jim's action scenes. As soon as I wrote in the time stone, I knew I wanted a final fight where he shifts between all three forms in true badass Jim fashion. I wanted it to read as cool as it played out in my head, where it was like watching an animation. (Oh I'd love to see this animated...oh well. I can dream!) I also loved bringing the boys together in the finale of the fight. If you didn't notice, it was another 'unite the three,' in a way-human, troll, and wizard. And each of them had lost someone to Bellroc: Jim with Nomura, Douxie with Nari, and Steve with Eli. *chef's kiss* Poetry!
As for Eli, he actually wasn't supposed to die at the beginning of this fic. I knew I wanted to kill off someone else besides Nomura and Nari, but I couldn't figure out who. Zoe came *this* close to dying-you thought that one close call was gonna be it for her right hehe-but I decided not to. She's lucky I love her so much lol. Also, Douxie had already lost so many. I couldn't hurt him like that. But Steve...Steve hadn't been hurt yet. That's when I knew Eli's death would be the perfect catalyst for him to finally master Excalibur. Also I asked my sister if I should kill off Eli and she instantly said, "Yes. Make Steve suffer." So you can also blame her lol.
As fun as this chapter was though, it was a BEAST to write. Long chapters are just rough, man, but it's what the finale of this fic needed. Still, it was really hard building up to the fight, and then figuring out how to get the other characters out of commission (not stupidly, unlike the movie), and then having Douxie say farewell to everyone, then Eli's death which makes it emotional and emotional scenes are hard to write, and the ACTION. God, action scenes are the bane of my existence, and this chapter was one mega fight scene. But seriously, it was all worth it. I'm happy with the end result, happy that this is the finale. I'm proud of it! (which is rare for fanfic writers as you know lol)
I know this end note is super long already, but I want to explain just in case some people are wondering about this: the involvement of the Akiridions. I tried to get them more involved, really I did, but the fact is, I just don't care for them as much as the cast in Trollhunters/Wizards. Don't get me wrong, I like them and think they're good characters, but I don't love them as much as I do Jim, Douxie, even Archie. Also, aliens and magic/fantasy just don't mix? I know that was the point, to try something new and fresh, but it just looked and felt...weird. Off. That's why, despite the movie advertising "trolls, aliens, and wizards," I went for "humans, trolls, and wizards." It just feels right.
I really hope you guys like this chapter as much as I did. Or if you want to beat the living hell out of it for killing off Eli, that's fine; I want to do that too! Since there is still one more chapter, I'll save the 'official' goodbye note for then. One more update...I'll see you then 3