Chapter 18

This is the final chapter of my story. Hope you like what I accomplished and what you think of the ending.

A sign on the highway is titled "Welcome to Arcadia Oaks, a magical place to live."

Nightfall was drawing near, the citizens were going about their daily lives but something important was happening underneath this small town.

Down in Trollmarket, Trolls were setting up for a feast following a ceremony for their newfound heartstone while residing in their beloved home for trolls.

Claire watched as the preparations were getting set up wonderfully. She noticed Eli and Steve teaching the younger trolls knight moves hoping for volunteers on joining the Knights of Arcadia squad. She shook her cautiously while smirking when she spotted Douxie and Archie sitting on the stone steps, staring at the Heartstone and took a seat between them.

"You guys okay? I know she meant a lot to you." Claire said.

Douxie sighed. "Wherever she is, I sure she's happy there. Now that I'm a mortal, it'll be hard to figure out what's next since the last 900 years have been mastering magic and hiding from the Arcane Order."

"You still have some magic to channel your guitar, maybe you could make a few key notes to that." She suggested.

Douxie thought about it and maybe there's still something special he could make a difference to his remaining magic.

Jim was sitting on the porch in his backyard. He was looking at a picture on his phone of him and Blinky finished establishing the Vespa Blinky gave Jim as his birthday gift. The picture was taken weeks following Bular's defeat.

Jim's life had changed completely over the past few years. He grew into a man of honor, courage and wisdom. It all started apart from finding the amulet when he thought he heard raccoons in his basement turned out to be two trolls which were assumed to be myths at first. One of them gave him the confidence he needed to realize his destiny.

Eight months have passed since the Fall of the Arcane Order, but Jim still felt saddened of the ones he lost. Particularly to one that never gave up hope on him.

"Jimbo?"

Jim turned seeing Toby walked in through the fence door.

"Strickler and your mom already left for the ceremony and asked me to check on you."

Jim rubbed his nose and faced his friend. "You seem to be walking much better now."

"Yeah still a little sore but nothing TP can't handle." Toby confirmed when sitting besides Jim. "How you holding up?"

Jim sighed. "We're entering a new era Tobes. All those battles we fought, how we brought all magical creatures together. But there will never be a bright side to where it got us with the friends we lost along the way. Vendel, Draal, Nomura. He paused for a moment for the one closest to him. "Blinky."

Toby placed his hand on Jim's shoulder. "Look Jim, I know we wished things would've turn out different for them. But I think we just need to accept everything that happened so that us and Arcadia could have a future. I mean trolls are much more safer now then they were before because of their Trollhunter."

"No." Jim spoke. "Thanks to all of us. You kept me going Tobes. Even when all seemed dark at times. You showed me that life is full of adventure and I couldn't have accomplished all that without my brother."

Toby smiled by his friend's statement, making him shed a tear. "Well that's coming from the guy who made a dorky kid see that he's show much more. I got your back Jimbo, always have been and I always will forever."

The two best friends leaned into a hug, feeling very fortunate they were able share their life with each other. They got on their bikes and made their way to Trollmarket.

Jim and Toby arrived at the doorway in the canals. Toby pulled out the Horngazel and drew a cycle, they reached the crystal staircase which turned bright green. When they reach the bottom of the glowing stairs, the boys were amazed at the sight of the newfound Trollmarket. The Heartstone was huge and green which pretty much represented the harmony of trolls and magic.

The festivities looked magnificent with new colorful crystals which showed the wonders of Trolls. Jim remained speechless with pride as he remembered the first time he step in the previous Trollmarkert. They already noticed Douxie, the Creepslayerz, the Tarrons and Varvatos were feasting the way trolls do. Barbara and Strickler were sitting at one table alone, having been happily wedded a couple months ago.

Jim and Toby spotted Claire and Argh sitting at one of the tables. Claire ran up and hugged both boys. Jim saw Argh looking at him sheepishly as they haven't spoke often since Blinky's loss.

"Jim." Argh awkwardly said not knowing the right words.

Without any hesitation, Jim embraced his lovable troll friend. "You meant a lot to him too." Argh sadly return knowing they both lost a loved one.

After eating some of Toby's burritos and sharing stories about Blinky's life, the four of them seated themselves on the stone steps admiring the Heartstone that made Trollmarket come back alive again.

"Quite a sight is it?" Claire said.

"Yeah, the one piece of rubble that's too majestic for my rock collection." Toby proclaimed.

"It's funny. Arcadia has gotten to feel more like home to us and for trolls when they stopped being a secret after centuries of hiding from Bular. Now that there's nothing to fear about the world ending, it's kinda hard to picture where we're heading." Jim questioned.

"We have time to figure that out. In the meantime we'll still do our part to keep Arcadia safe." Claire suggested.

Toby let out a chuckle. "You know, I think we all had inherited Blinky's wisdom. He would be corny at times but he'd be looking for us though."

"Like he always was." Argh said with a sad grin.

"He'd taught me everything about being the Trollhunter but whatever happened to the new amulet still remains unknown but maybe your destiny is what you make of it, without a magic amulet."

"Good thing we have to follow us in that path Trollhunter." Claire said to her boyfriend.

Jim smiled as he glanced at the Heartstone knowing he'll keep profiling his duty as the Trollhunter and that Arcadia was approaching a new path to what the magical land's true colors.

"Yup Arcadia's a weird place, I mean how much weirder could it get right?" Toby announced.

15 Years Later

Arcadia Oaks has been known for being an environment for Trolls, Aliens and Wizards, keeping it a secret from the world so no harm would come to them. Those supernatural beings have been part of everyday life since residing back into their once fallen home. The heroes of Arcadia have continued protecting their enchanting land for years from goblins and stalklings but nothing very apocalyptic.

Jim had become a role model for Trolls which led him to becoming the first human leader of Heartstone Trollmarket. He married Claire and had a daughter Morgan Draal Lake. Morgan was gifted with her mother's shadow magic with incredible wonders to heal small animals and gnomes. Claire became a teacher to any gifted wizard with her magic making her the most wisest sorceress in centuries.

Toby became a film producer who had done several movies based on the "Kleb or Alive" saga. He was just grateful that living in Arcadia sparred him the budget for special effects. He was happily married to his high school sweetheart Darci Scott.

Douxie and Krel formed a band together called Merlin's Hexes. They went on tour and made some hit songs thanks to Douxie's enhancing guitar solos from what little magic he has and Krel's DJ mixes.

Steve and Aja got married and became the king and queen to Ackridon 5. Steve became a grand ruler to his wife's subjects, he always assumed he'd be the king one of these days. Aja gave birth to triplets named Lance, Zadra and Eli Jr.

Eli remained the ambassador to House Tarron while training the Ackridons to be members of The Knights of Arcadia in case of the usual goblin invasion.

There was an annual celebration going on down in Heartstone Trollmarket. It was to celebrate the 15 year anniversary of the combing of the supernatural creatures of Trolls, Ackridons, Wizards and even Dragons. There was a room of murals chronicling everything that happened that got Arcadia to where it was this very day.

A man was standing at the beginning of the murals. He gave a heavy sigh.

A crowd of Trolls, followed by Wizards were gathered in the Hero's Forge. A human man with black hair and a beard stood in the middle of the Forge. He was carrying a hoister on his back with Excalibur inside. He was nervous about speaking but he saw the looks of support from his wife Claire and his 11 year old daughter Morgan. Alongside his best friends Toby and Argh giving him the thumbs up while the rest of the Guardians of Arcadia who had been able to attend this event.

"Thanks for coming everyone. My name is James Lake Jr. As you all know, that 15 years ago our home changed forever when The Battle of All took place for the future of our world. Sometimes even the unlikeliest of heroes can surprise you. There was a troll named Blinky Galadrigal. He was wise, courageous and kind. More importantly, he was my true father. He gave me the strength to become a hero and that strength has been passed down into the ones most closest to him." He said seeing Argh smiling. "His wisdom continues to live on as we made Arcadia much better for Trolls and Humans over the years. Which is way I've wanted to say something to all of you. Something that Blinky once said to me which inspired me to this day and hopefully it will give you the confidence to protect Arcadia from the occasional goblin mishaps."

Jim saw the encouragement from his friends and family. He took a deep breath and began his speech.

Somewhere in the woods elsewhere, a boy was riding his bike hoping to escape from some bullies who were targeting him. He took cover in some bushes when the older boys just missed him.

He took a sigh of relief when he suddenly heard a faint voice as if it were calling his name.

Destiny. Jim's voice could still be heard.

Destiny is a gift. The boy removed his bike helmet, shaking his dirty blonde hair.

Some go their entire lives living an existence of quiet desperation. There were something glowing blue in a stack of rocks, the boy approached it cautiously.

Never learning the truth that what feels as though a burden pushing upon our shoulders is actually the sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights.

The boy started picking through the rubble.

Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor. That to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be a hero.

The boy's eye widened upon his discovery. The amulet that was lost during The Good Of All.

Don't think.

"Jack Sturges." The amulet spoke.

Jack smiled as he witnessed the magic coming from the amulet.

Become.

The End

Thanks for reading my fanfic guys, hoped you liked it.

I wanted to say that Tales of Arcadia has taught me that animation's for everyone and it gave me a perspective of storytelling with remarkable characters, action sequences and storylines.

I could guess a lot of you fans may have mixed feelings about TOA after how the movie ended, but if you've grown on the series and you're a fan by heart, then it's best to ignore the movie, focus on the trilogy and come up with your own ending to TOA.

You see the reference I'd put their with the character Jack Sturges. He was actually Jim's uncle from the book by Guillermo del Toro, so thought I'd find a place for his character.

Anyway I would like to hear your thoughts about the story and the message I'd put there and hopefully you all remain fans of Tales of Arcadia.

This has been Awesomesauce!