Four hours later, Jim's phone rang.
"Cell service is back up," said Krel from the other end of the line. "And it's much better than it used to be. Internet too. I told Aja to have Steve, and everyone else at Trollmarket just before sunset. Eli is helping them corral the kids, and Stuart's been cooking since eight. This is going to be the liveliest party in the history of Arcadia Oaks!"
"Thanks," said Jim. "Have you been able to arrange the… other thing?"
"Not to worry. Varvatos will handle it. He's been visiting Toby's Nana every day since the funeral."
"Good. Just make sure he's on time."
"Got it. See you at sunset."
Blinky walked in. "Master Jim, you're supposed to be resting. Are Dictatious and I keeping you awake? Usually, it takes trolls weeks to prepare for a day like today."
"It's all right, Blink. I can't sleep, anyway."
"I suppose that's reasonable, all things considered. When must you depart for the surface?"
Jim checked his watch. "Six hours."
"Oh, brother," Dictatious called from the other room. "It's raining again. The steps outside are getting slippery."
"Confound it all. Must I do everything myself?" Blinky muttered. To Jim he said, "Do try to get some rest. You'll need it."
"Don't I know it," Jim said under his breath after Blinky was gone. I can't mess this up. He took the amulet out and ran a finger over the inscription until the shape of every letter imprinted on his memory.
Excalibur lay next to him on the floor. Its remaining emerald glittered in the amulet's glow. If Merlin were here, he might have some guidance for what was coming.
Why had he heard the old wizard's voice via the sword? And why at such random times? No one else seemed to know Merlin had spoken. Then again, he'd heard the wizard's voice before, back when he'd wished he wasn't the Trollhunter and got to experience that reality for a day.
But Merlin was dead.
Not that death had stopped him from sending Newberry to help them resurrect Nari last night.
There was no point pondering it now. He had bigger problems.
Why did Jim have to be the one to fix the Heartstone? Why not Douxie? Or Claire? They would be better at this than him. But his biggest task wasn't the one he was most worried about. What came after he repaired the Heartstone—that was what kept him awake now.
He lay on his back, rolled-up blanket under his head, a second blanket spread out under him.
But he had to focus on fixing the Heartstone first. Everything else would come later.
Late that afternoon, Jim stood atop a downed building that provided a vantage of the scattered Heartstone.
Nari stood beside him, small hand tucked in his, Kronisphere cradled in one arm. "You are not alone, Trollhunter."
"I know." He squeezed her hand and raised his amulet. "For Tobes. For Mom. For the good of all, Daylight is mine to command." Jim's armor snapped into place, and Excalibur flashed into his hand. "Let's do this."
Nari placed Kronisphere in front of Jim. "Are you ready?" she said to the sphere.
Kronisphere shook but didn't roll away.
"It is eager to begin," Nari said.
Jim raised Excalibur over his head, took careful aim, and brought the sword down with a battle yell that would have turned the fiercest warrior's blood to ice.
Excalibur cleaved Kronisphere in two. The golden casing scattered in pieces, and the cleaved emerald shot into the sky, exploding in a sea of colors. Not just shades of green, but blue, gold, red, purple, every hue imaginable—and some Jim had never thought of.
Each piece broke into a hundred thousand fragments, and they rained over the broken Heartstone. Everywhere the sparks landed, the Heartstone revived, and life spread through the dead remains. Instead of its former rich amber, the Heartstone turned blue, then green, then golden, then orange. Each color remained a moment before effortlessly changing to the next.
When every piece was revived, each shard rose from the street and coalesced into a whole.
"Hurry," Nari said, "we must guide it back to Trollmarket." She ran ahead of Jim as he scrambled from the toppled building. "Excalibur will be its beacon."
As he'd done in his vision, he held the sword aloft as he ran down the street. A magical link tied the sword to the Heartstone like an invisible leash.
Nari moved fallen trees and rocks with her magic to clear the way for Jim.
In his vision earlier, the streets had been empty of onlookers. He'd expected at least a small audience, but his only companion was Nari.
When they reached the giant hole in the ground where Bellroc had ripped out the Heartstone, AAARRRGGHH! met them and helped them into Trollmarket through its ruined ceiling. The rescued youngling again slumbered in the sling that looped over AAARRRGGHH!'s shoulder and under the opposite arm.
Jim held Excalibur overhead and stood in the exact center of the Heartstone's pedestal. Just like Nari had told him, he slowly lowered the sword, signaling the Heartstone to begin its descent.
The gigantic crystal floated into the cavern and settled over Jim, recreating the hollow once used to treat sick trolls with the Heartstone's life-giving presence.
The ground shook with the impact of the stone, but a great weight lifted from Jim's shoulders. Now, trolls from all over the world could again come to Trollmarket, and Blinky and AAARRRGGHH! wouldn't have to leave someday.
Overhead, an opaque energy barrier resealed the cavern against sunlight and rain. In the coming days, Aja's fleet would help rebuild the cavern's roof.
Jim remained inside the Heartstone until Nari came looking for him. She sat beside him, leaned back on her elbows, and admired the changing colors and reflections. "You did very well. Merlin would be proud."
Jim removed his amulet, and the armor of Daylight vanished in a flash of blue, but Excalibur remained at his side. "He spoke to me a few times over the past couple days."
"Kronisphere told me. Though he is gone, Merlin may deliver messages to us occasionally, though I'm told his new existence agrees with him, and he is often occupied with things that hold his interest much more than what goes on here."
"I'm happy for him." Jim concentrated on taking long, slow breaths.
"It is all right to be distressed, Trollhunter." Nari sat up. "There is much yet to do." She took his hand. "But do not be afraid. Even now, your friends are on their way, and they will stand with you through all that is yet to come this day—and through every day that is to be."