"Hey, have you guys notice something strange about Strickler lately?" Asks Toby as he and his two friends Jim and Claire were sitting on a bench in Acadia Park catching some waves of sunlight. "Like how he had a beer belly for five months and suddenly turned skinny a couple of days later?" Jim points out. "Or that we haven't seen Angor Rot that much anymore?" Claire points another. "Do you guys think his planning something bigger? Something bigger than Gunmar?" Toby look at them with concern.
Jim laughed. "The only thing that's got bigger was his gut Tobes. But, I am kinda wondering what causes it to shrink after five months. And why Angor haven't tried to kill us as much anymore." He wondered. "Want to asks Vendel?"Claire suggests to the guys.
"Sure, I like to visit old bolt horns." Toby shrugged his shoulders. So the three went to Arcadian bridge and made the door to troll market. They looked everywhere until they spotted Vendel in the library reading.
"Hey Vendel can we ask you something?" The older troll took his eyes away from the book he's reading and looked at the three teens near the entrance with an arch eye. "What is it?" He said with annoyance. "Do trolls get fat for five months and turned back to normal after a couple of days?" Toby asks. That question was too easy for Vendel to gross the teens out and made them gag.
But, he explained it anyway to get a quick laugh. "Well, only if he or she is pregnant yes." All three teens looked at Vendel in a funny and confused look. "Uh, did you just say'he'?" Jim looked at him with confusion. "Well, we trolls don't have many females. So to keep our races from facing extinction males and only males have both reproductive organs to keep our population high." He explained.
All three teens were grossed out from that new knowledge like the elder troll thought it would. And they probably wouldn't look at Blinky or Aaarrrggh or any other troll the same way again. "Well, that's disturbing and just plain wrong." Toby shivered. "Is there anything else you want to know or tell me?" He questioned.
"Well, there this one other thing we need to talk about." Jim rubbed the back of his head. "And that is?" Vendel arch his brow once more. "We noticed that Strickler have been getting bigger in the last five months and suddenly went all anorexic a couple days later. And also we haven't seen Angor that much either." He told him. Vendel rubbed his beard with curiously.
"Hmm, interesting." He stood up from his seat and walked towards them. "Follow me young ones. There is something I wanted to show you to confirmed my suspicion. Just pray to Deya I'm wrong." The elder troll leads the team to their destination.
"You guys don't think Mr.Strickler was pregnant do you? The guy could have been through a mid troll crisis and was eating a lot." Toby whisper to Jim. "And gets super skinny? No way. Whatever Vendel has will answer that question." They finally reach their destination. It was trove filled with magical relics they have never seen before. It had books,statues,jewelery,and, more.
"What is this place?" Jim looked at the place with amazement. "It's called the Trove of Wonders. Filled with ancient relics from the past. Brought down from centuries of witches and wizard folk alike." Vendel explained. "Oh, man I hope we can use some of these other cool stuff!" Toby squealed.
"Someday pudgebag. Someday. We only need one mystic relic to answer your question." Vendel walked towards a particular area and took out a mirror from the corner. The mirror had a crystal rim shimmering with orange and red.
"Oh, it's so beautiful. What is it?" Claire looked at the mirror mesmerize. "It's called the Looking Glass. A magical mirror that allows the user to see where their enemies lie. But, the sad part is we can only use it once. So I hope we made the right choice." The elder troll then chants the mystic words making the crystals glow. The Looking Glass revealed a cave that looked familiar to them. "The Arcadian Caves? Why would the mirror show us there?" Jim looked at the mirror confused.
Then the mirror showed them something else. Something that Vendel feared. They saw an baby troll sleeping in a homemade crib sucking its thumb while holding a stuffed troll doll. They can tell that's a girl with the little purple rag dress she's wearing. Toby awed at the little baby. "Aww! How can Strickler make something so cute?" He squealed.
"The real question here is who help Strickler made her? It takes two to tango." Claire placed her hand on her chin. They looked at the mirror closely and saw two figures coming towards the trolling's crib. One of them they recognized as Strickler. But, they other will shock them to the core. "Angor Rot?!" They say in unison. "Wait, I thought those two hate each others guts or whatever trolls have." Toby scratched his head with confusion.
"We all did. I guess they prove us wrong. But, at least Strickler isn't hitting on my mom anymore." Jim said with relief. "Yeah, but Angor? He must be like thousands of years old!" His friend said with disgust. "Both of you be quiet! They're about to speak." Vendel hushed.
The two trolls started talking. "Are you sure you want to do this? Why can't we bring her to Ireland with us?" Angor asks. "You know how the Janus Order feels about changelings breeding. If they found out I was pregnant with Rosethorn they would take her away from us. And kill you and me. And I'm not gonna risk putting our child through that." Strickler said as he picked up his daughter from her crib so he can have one last hug before he leaves for the meeting.
But, the little trolling didn't like her sleep being disturbed and started to whimper. The changeling immediately rubbed back of his daughters silky black hair trying to calm her down. "Hush darling mama's here. No need to cry." He whispered. The baby whimpering ceased and look up at her mother with her curious gold eyes of hers.
When Angor looked at his daughter and the thought of her been taken away from him only made the new father not wanting to leave her even more. Even though he and Strickler aren't really mates. Or in love in that matter. And Rosethorn was just a produce of a one night stand. He was still glad that she was born. She was the only thing that made him feel the feeling of love. A emotion he thought it was lost like his soul. And this time he would protect what is his. No matter what.
The taller troll walked towards Strickler and his young. "May I please hold her before we leave master?" He asks. The very words sickens him. Strickler was still wearing the Inferna Copula to control him. Until Angor kills the Trollhunter he remains his servant.
Thinking its only fair for the father of his child to hold her before they leave. So, the changeling ever so gently placed the little bundle into the taller trolls arms. Angor looked at her with pride in his eyes. He can't believe after what he's done. After all the chaos he's cause. He made something as prescious as her. "My baby girl. My little Rose." He gently kissed her on top of her little green head. Making her gurgle in response. Rosethorn placed her tiny hand on one of his chin piercings. "Papa's gonna miss you when his gone."
Something started to cross his mind. "What about the Trollhunter?" He looked at Strickler with concern in his eyes. "That fool and his friends don't know where we are. Trust me. I made sure of that." Strickler than turned back to his human form.
"Luckily Otto willing to babysit for us for a couple of days when we're gone. And if someone did tried to come near her. We got your golems guarding the entrance."But, Angor's fatherly instincts still lingers. Still having a bad feeling of leaving his first born daughter more then a couple of hours. He hugged her little bit tighter. Not wanting to let go.Strickler noticed and placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Nothing will happen. I promise."
The mirror suddenly dims down its glowing light and the image disappeared. Jim,Toby, and, Claire, where still shocked about what they saw. Vendel on the other hand, sighed in grief. He was hoping that it wasn't true. That the changeling wasn't impregnated. He than turn back and looked at the teens with a seriousness.
"You three must save her." He commanded. "Save?" Jim questioned. "Yes, save. You know where she is. You know how long her parents are going to be out of town. And you Trollhunter can easily destroy that changeling of his and Angor's golems. It is your only chance to save the trolling from her horrible fate." Jim looked him with suspicion in his eye. "Vendel why do you want to save her so much?" He asks. Vendel only look away with guilt. The team notice an sad a aura coming from the elder troll.The team walked towards him. Letting him know that they care.
"Vendel is everything alright?" Claire asks with concern. The old troll sighed in guilt. "Long ago, my only daughter was taken from me when Gunmar and his Gum-Gums army ravage my village. They took her. Raised her and turned her into a bloodthirsty warrior. And when we meet again, I-"
Vendel clenches his hand, trying not to cry. "I had no other choice but, to kill my baby girl." The troll can't help but, shed a single tear. "I just don't want to see another innocent trolling turned into a bloodthirsty monster like them." He clench his staff."Vendel we are so sorry." Claire apologized.
"Yeah, we didn't know that you had a daughter." Toby looked at him with apology. Jim looked at Vendel with promise. "If this means that much to you we will do it. Plus, we don't want to see her grow up to become another psychopath either." He smiled.
"Thank you Trollhunter. But, you three need to promise not to tell Blinkous or Aaarrrgghh about this. Especially Blinkous. If he has known about what you three are about to do. He'll definitely not agree with the plan and would put the stop to this immediately." He said."But, why can't we bring Aaarrrgghh?" Toby asks. "Because Blinkous would get suspicious and would asks. Now off with you three. You have a trolling to save."