Hey guys! I GOT A NEW LAPTOP! It's fantastic! Anyways, I wanted this to be longer but had to pickup a co-worker's shift so instead of writing, I spent 6 hours cleaning and dealing with people who want their food. I also didn't want to write a 15 person dialog scene to discus Jim's whole plan, and the fact that you don't know what's going on, makes it better! (I still don't know what's going to happen and I have to finish it in less than 24 hours.)
Disclaimer, Enjoy, and as always...
Let The Chaos Ensue...
Chapter 39: Training
They were all freaked out and in awe at Claire's portals and the magic weapons. For the most part, the introduction to training went well. Jim gave a list of attributes and assigned those with specific skills to specific weapons type.
Actually teaching these high schoolers how to use them was another story.
Giving Amanda, Kyle and Alex lesson's was easy. Smaller numbers, one on one teaching, and the threat of never seeing daylight again on the line. They also were trying to not scare these kids off.
The cloud covered sky was getting dark, and Jim sat high viewing the group of some odd hundred students struggling to use the weapons provided. Maggie and Claire came to the base of the tree.
"Hey Jim… We need to talk," Claire said.
He'd been expecting this, waiting for it, actually. He jumped down next to the girls and nodded for them to begin.
"A lot of the kids are just messing around with the weapons," Maggie said. She sounded frustrated over the group she was trying to teach.
"Other kids are either too afraid, or just aren't paying attention," Claire sighed.
Jim kept his face neutral, nodding. "Is there anyone actually trying?"
"A few. Max, Paige, Ashley, Daunelle is surprisingly good at this. A few other random side characters. Liv is trying her best, really determined."
Jim nodded again, moving to stand where everyone could see him and grabbing their attention. He stared at them for several minutes, simply observing.
"Who here, thinks this is a game? Raise your hand."
About 15-20 students raised their hands.
"Who here, is too scared to even touch these weapons, or fight?"
About 30 students.
"And who here, thinks me being a troll is still some joke? Some illabrate show?
Much to the human trollhunter's shock, almost a hundred the students raised their hands. Jim, however, had realized this when their reactions in the auditorium.
He wasn't sure whether to scare the shit out of them, demonstrate his ability, bring out Blinkey, Arg, or NotEnrique, or just do nothing. He just didn't know.
Jim sighed, plopped down and looked at the group with dead eyes. "If you all think this is a joke then I don't know what to do," he sighed. "There's a couple million goblins a few miles away. And as soon as they finish repairing the damages I did to their armies, they're going to march on Corbin. And if it gets to that point, my team isn't going to walk away without casualties. Amanda got stabbed last week for Daya's sake!"
The students' heads shot in Amanda's direction. She gave them a slow nod and lifted her sweater to show the massive scar left by the goblin's. Eyes wide, they returned their attention to Jim.
"If you're not going to take this seriously, leave now. I'm not wasting my time on fleshbags who don't care." Jim stodd and turned around, letting those who wanted to, leave.
He sighed and listened to several groups of kids drop the weapons and leave. Then turned around a few minutes later.
Taking a breath, he pushed the amulet to his chest and started directing the student's.
"Pick that sword up! Hold that like this… There you go. Claire, show her how to use that. Maggie! Get those wimps running! Alex, Kyle, start these guys with the rocks! Amanda, help the group with the staffs. Max, Paige, Ashley, Daunelle, Liv, and Kassie, you all are with me!"
That was on the first day. By day three, there were only about 60 student's left, but those 60 were doing really well. And Jim's chosen were all natural weapon users, agile, smart, and were definitely going to kick goblin ass.
"Alright everyone, you're doing awesome!" Jim said from on top of a boulder. "Head home, get some sleep, and meet under the bridge near the sewer entrance as soon as it starts to get dark tomorrow. I've spoken to the teachers, no school. Anyone who is helping me out get's extra credit in every class."
Everyone cheered and turned to leave.
Ashley, Daunelle, Kassie, Liv, Max, and Paige, were stopped by Jim.
"You guys can go home if you would like, but seeing as you're the best of the bunch… I'm personally inviting you into New Trollmarket."
"What? Really?" Ashley gasped.
"Alright, cool."
"With the trolls!?" Kassie and Live squeaked.
"Dude," Max said.
"Yes." Paige finished.
Jim smiled and nodded, turning to Claire. "Would you portal us in my love?"
Claire pulled off her bracelet and drew a portal. "Portal to the trollhunter's cave, last call."
Maggie was the first in, diving head first. Followed by the other three. Cautiously, the other six followed. Jim hugged Claire to his side and licked her cheek. "Well, this should work out just fine."
"It's going better than I thought it would, that's for sure."
Jim rolled his eyes and they walked through the portal. The six new humans gawking at the cave and it's amenities.
"Meatloaf for dinner!" Jim called.
Everyone who had been there before cheered.
"Why is meatloaf so exciting?" Kassie asked.
"Jim's a fantastic chef," Maggie said as she made herself at home on the couch. Sitting upside down on the couch.
"Alright, so Maggie and the three stooges…"
"Come on!"
"You're still calling us that?"
"We didn't expect you to be not human!"
Jim laughed to himself. "You guys are going to be in charge while we're gone."
Maggie and the others nodded.
"Wait," Liv said. "Where are you going?"
"As soon as we kill all of the goblins, we're going back to Arcadia," Claire said.
"We haven't been home since May," Jim said as he was preparing the food. "My mom has flown out, but Claire's mom is a lot busier. We both really just miss home."
"Don't get us wrong," Claire said. "We're here, and here to stay…"
"But home is home," Maggie said.
"We get it," Amanda smiled.
"Everything here is so weird," Paige said.
"Did you see the giant crystal outside! Also we're like… a hundred stories up and I am so glad we didn't have to walk up those stairs," Max grinned.
"You've got a sweet house," Dawn said.
"Why is there actual furniture and plumbing?" Kassie asked.
"You could ask literally almost anything, and I would have one answer that covers it all," Jim laughed.
"And that would be?" Paige said.
"Magic."
They took the answer, in this situation there wasn't much else they could do. As soon as the meal was finished the other six were introduced to Arg, Blinkey, and NotEnrique as members of Jim's pack.
Kassie was somehow still skeptical of magic. Daunelle was way to chill. Max seemed to know a bit too much about trolls. Paige was… taking in every microscopic detail of everything. Ashley and Live were just happy to be there.
Finally, Jim went over his full plan for the next day. Including every step, precaution, contingency, and misstep.
"I will never doubt one of your half baked nonsense plans ever again," Claire said.
"Claire," Jim said with a tilted head and a smile. "As the only sane original Trollhunter, you should always doubt my plans."
"What makes you not sane?"
Jim blinked. Then screwed up his face. "Did you even think about that question? I'm not human anymore. What kind of sane human turns themselves into a troll?"
Claire laughed, so did a few others. "Sorry, I didn't think about it. But just remember Jim. If you weren't sane, we'd all be dead." She gave a soft smile that shouldn't be accompanied by any phrase kin to the one she'd just spoken.
Review please, the motivation really helps me write, and I'm going to need it tomorrow. (I've still got like... three chapters to write.)