Three hours later
Jim rolled out his sleeping bag inside the Heartstone hollow and zipped himself in. He'd borrowed a blanket from Blinky's to use as a pillow.
Above and around him, the Heartstone's light dimmed and faded to shades of blue and deep green, as if it knew he was attempting to sleep.
Attempting being the key word.
After the past two days, nothing would be the same.
But this time, he never wanted it to change.
Aja, Krel, and the Akiridion fleet would help rebuild Arcadia Oaks. Mary would go back to being an internet curiosity, and the world-at-large would forget the astounding news stories of giant monsters marching across the globe. Oh, a few would remember, and even fewer believe, but magic's secret was safe, and he and his friends would continue to make sure it stayed that way.
Images of the past two days flickered around Jim, showing the good and bad, leaving him in tears all over again, but this time, they were tears of joy.
"Room in here for two more?" Claire dragged in a purple sleeping bag and plopped it next to him.
Toby wrestled an oversized bag in too and flopped down on Jim's other side. "Didn't wanna stay at Blinky's?"
"Dictatious talks in his sleep," Jim said. "And AAARRRGGHH! snores like a freight train."
"They're asleep early," said Claire as she tucked into her bag and curled up next to Jim.
"All the excitement, I guess. By the time everyone left, it was after four. Sun's gonna be up soon." Jim tucked an arm around her.
"Group hug!" Toby threw a meaty arm over Jim.
"Sure, Tobes." Jim chuckled.
Footsteps at the hollow entrance preceded Douxie and Nari.
Jim, Claire, and Toby sat up.
"Guardians of Arcadia," said Douxie, "we bid you farewell."
"You're leaving?" said Claire. "But—but—"
"It's only temporary," Douxie said. "We must retrieve Skrael's and Bellroc's hearts before anyone else finds them. Like Nari, they too can be revived, but only under a unique set of circumstances. When we have the hearts sealed away, we'll be back."
Nari hugged Jim and Claire and gave Toby a fond smile and pat. "Since I woke, I have wanted to go on another adventure with my friend, and now, I will."
Douxie hugged Claire, shook Jim's hand, and gave Toby a fist-bump. "Don't worry about us too much." He took Nari's hand and turned to go, but before they reached the entrance, Nomura caught them.
She towered over Douxie and Nari, and before either could ask what was going on, she gathered both in a hug and whispered, "Thank you for all you've done. Don't be strangers."
"We will not." Nari sat in the crook of Nomura's arm and circled the troll's neck.
"Bye, Nomura. For now, at least," said Douxie.
When the goodbye ended, Nomura watched the pair leave before coming further in to see Jim, Claire, and Toby. She kneeled in front of the line of sleeping bags, hands folded in a position reminiscent of her Japanese upbringing. "Claire Nunez, to you I owe the life of my son. If you should ever ask my help, I will give it, gladly. And should any of your future offspring be in danger, I will come to their aid."
"Nomura, that's not necess—"
"Don't begrudge a troll her honor."
"Then thanks."
"Jim Lake, Trollhunter, to you I owe my life. Til death again claims me, if you ask anything of me, I will do it." She bowed her face to the ground, palms to the stone floor.
Jim left his sleeping bag and took Nomura's hands.
She raised her head enough to look into his eyes. Her long, black hair pooled on the floor, and glowing green eyes softened.
"Live, Nomura. And give that youngling of yours a mom he'll never forget."
Nomura had smiled before, but never like this. It was as if every inner turmoil she'd battled throughout her entire life cleared, letting in sunlight for the first time. "I will, Trollhunter."
Jim went back to his sleeping bag.
"Tobias Domzalski, I still don't like you," she said with a toothy grin as she grabbed him in a stifling hug. "But I suppose I can tolerate you."
As Nomura left, the Heartstone flushed magenta and displayed snippets of memories involving the changeling and her role throughout the last three years of Jim's life.
When the three were alone again, Toby said, "I know what I wanna ask this Heartstone—Chronosphere—thing."
"Kronisphere," corrected Jim and Claire.
"Are you sure, Tobes? You won't get another question," Jim said.
"Yup. I'm sure. Hey, Kronisphere, are the three of us always going to be friends?" Though he hadn't said it loudly, Toby's question filled the hollow, and every crevice brightened until the entire chamber glowed with hues of umber, orange, gold, and red, like a sunrise.
Jim didn't catch every image presented, because there were far too many, but each one contained all three of them in various stages of life. In some, they were college-age, others middle-aged, and still more showed them with graying—or thinning—hair, wrinkles, and age spots. But never were the three parted.
When the brilliant hues faded, Toby sighed. "Best answer I've ever gotten."