[This chapter contains scenes from Episode 1: Becoming, Part 1 from Trollhunters]
Sitting in class, Jim struggled to concentrate as he couldn't stop thinking about the amulet in his bag. More accurately, he couldn't stop thinking about what was in the amulet in his bag. He knew he wasn't crazy and he knew the first time he picked up Merlin's amulet there were no additional stones in the back. He didn't even know about the function until Blinky showed him, and never truly used it until they began looking for the Triumbric Stones.
Yet somehow, someway, the Time Stone was there.
But that wasn't the half of it. As soon as he touched the stone, hoping to examine it closer, his mind was flooded with information. It was like looking into the past and future all at the same time, like watching a hundred televisions at once. The main thing he grasped though, was that the Time Stone had one use left. Not to the level of returning Jim to the past again should he fail his mission, but that it could be used once more to restore the future Jim left behind.
Jim could use Merlin's amulet to activate the Time Stone and restore someone's memories of the future he'd lived through.
Again, he'd been tempted to act immediately and use it on Tobes, bringing back all the good times they'd had together, all their adventures when they'd been Trollhunters together. But he caught himself. That would also mean Tobes reliving his own death.
His mind then turned to Claire.
"Whatever happens, don't give up on me. Don't stop trying, until I love you."
He could restore her memories. They could be together. Jim could face all the challenges ahead of them with the girl he loved. The amazing, strong, indomitable girl he was head-over-heels for. Who had been with him, and seen who he really was even as a half-troll, even as a monster. She was with him.
But there were more things to consider. So many more things. Jim couldn't afford to mess up. He couldn't afford to change too much either. He needed to make sure he did everything right, or it would all be for nothing.
Jim's gaze fell on Claire, sitting just a few rows away, across the classroom. Her dark hair tied back, a streak of navy in her bangs. Her punk-rock style and colorful pins standing out amongst her belongings. The longing he felt for her was tearing him apart.
Jim was so happy to be back, for Tobes to be alive, but now there was so much more he had to do. It felt like the weight of not only this world, but the previous one, was on his shoulders.
"Jim, would you agree?"
Snapping out of his stupor, Jim glanced over as Strickler stood over him, habitually uncapping and recapping his pen as he so often did. The man's long, angular features and slightly graying hair hid so much about him. The Changeling. An agent of Gunmar working to free him from the Darklands. A mentor. A friend. A father.
"Strickler."
Jim spoke without realizing, the guilt and pain of watching the man whom his mother was going to marry carry his burden of taking down the Ice Titan only for their plan to fail completely dug a knife into his chest. But, at the same time, he was overwhelmingly happy to see him again. Even if, at that moment, Jim knew the Changeling would do almost anything to take Merlin's amulet from him. The same amulet that was sitting mere inches away from his feet.
"I believe that's Mr. Strickler, Jim. Don't forget, we're in school." His teacher and one-time nemesis corrected him succinctly before returning to the lesson. "But, as I was asking, do you agree with Herodotus' opinion on his tactics of war, as I've described?"
Jim was still a little dumbfounded, glancing back around the room as he remembered how everything played out the first time. But his mind was elsewhere once again, for the next few seconds until the bell rang and class ended. Strickler's homework instructions barely reached his ears as everyone else was already getting up and ready to head to their next class.
"Jim, may I have a word?" Strickler asked, interrupting his thoughts once more.
"Yeah… yeah, sure." Jim nodded, standing up and grabbing his bag, ever more conscious of the amulet inside.
"Jim, you're distracted. Your attention wandered for all of class." Strickler brows turned upwards with worry, a genuine worry. Until Jim learned he was a Changeling, he looked up to Strickler and trusted him. He liked talking to him.
"I've just been… thinking about the future." Jim admitted, having to bite his tongue to not confide in the man who he had been so close to before returning.
"I know it's just you and your mother, and you want to help her."
"I do. Her, and the people most important to me." Jim couldn't help but think back to all his friend's expectant gazes from what felt like mere hours earlier, but the Time Stone sort of threw that concept for a loop.
"I believe I'm overdue for a conversation with her." Strickler nodded as he uncapped his pen and pulled out a small stack of yellow sticky notes from his pocket, quickly scribbling his number out on one before handing it to Jim. "Have her call me, please. And feel free to drop by my office if you ever need to talk."
"Yeah. I'll do that." Jim forced a smile to his face, truly wishing he could tell Strickler everything and talk to him about the deep, dark worries plaguing his mind. But that wasn't an option.
"Oh, and Jim. If you fancy Miss Nunez, I submit that 'talking to' will be much more effective than 'staring at'." Strickler gave his usual, wily smile as he tapped Jim on the head.
Keeping up his brave face, Jim smiled back at him before lifting his back up onto his shoulder and heading out for his next class.
Tobes struggled with the rope climb while Jim stood close by, cheering his friend on as best he could, but his head was still plagued by concerns. He tried to focus on the class, doing whatever he could to take his mind off his worries. However, something he hadn't expected was how easily he accomplished the rope climb himself. Coach Lawrence was even impressed and it made Jim all the more conscious of the fact all the training he'd undergone as the Trollhunter was still with him and it wasn't a dream.
Grunting and practically screaming, Tobes was managing a little better than Jim remembered, but still not the best. His rotund friend was never the most physically fit, though that didn't stop him from being an amazing Trollhunter and partner.
As Coach Lawrence started chewing Tobes out, Jim's attention drifted over to the bleachers where he saw Claire sitting with Mary and Darci. The three girls were leaning in close, giggling at something on Claire's phone.
Jim couldn't help but think back to his first interaction with the girls. It almost made him want to crawl into the locker rooms and hide from embarrassment. However, he knew he couldn't do that.
Walking over to the bleachers, Jim leaned in and waved, speaking up and grabbing the girl's attention. "Buenos dias."
"You… speak Spanish?" Claire asked, tilting her head expectantly.
Jim couldn't help but lose himself at the sound of her voice and get drawn into her large, dark eyes. He felt almost as giddy and nervous as the first time. Though he was able to notice Darci's nonplussed expression and Mary's giggle.
"Hablo un poco Espanol." Jim shrugged and chuckled, only barely remembering the Spanish classes he took what felt like a lifetime ago. "I heard you like Shakespear."
Claire giggled while Darci rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, actually. We're having a school play." Claire grabbed a simple flier for Romeo & Juliet and handed it down to Jim, brushing her lock of indigo hair back as she did. "We're having trouble getting boys to audition."
"Maybe I could try out?" Jim offered, feeling himself relax a little just by having such a simple conversation with Claire.
"Come on, Claire. Let's go." Darci urged her friend off the bleachers and Claire waved as she went along with her.
Jim waved back, sighing to himself as he could still hear Coach Lawrence lecturing Tobes back on the gym floor. It was getting harder and harder to decide. Spending time and seeing some of the most important people to him was tearing Jim in so many directions.
How was he supposed to keep them safe? And whose memories should he bring back? He didn't know what to do.