Chapter 6; Win, Rider or Draal

At the hospital, Jim was the last to wake up. But he was still scared, so Noah got up to him and said. "Jim relaxes. We are in the hospital."

"What happened after we escaped?"

"We had a long day and a hard fought battle. We fell unconscious after we got out of the building. The police brought us here shortly after that."

"Oh, no. Do they think we made a hole in the museum?"

"No. The museum security cameras were turned off before we had our battle. And we had nothing that would obviously cause a big explosion to make that hole. And to ward off further suspicion. We told the cop's that a man looking like Soul attacked us."

"So everything's fine."

"No. It's not." Seth said as took a closer look at Toby's picture on his bat phono. Toby then said to everyone. "Yeah, there's a shapeshifting toll witch! And if there's one then there could be many."

"Yes, there are new elements in our future battles, but I don't think Seth is talking about that?" Noah said as Seth got closer to Jim and said, showing the picture to Jim. "That bridge in the museum had troll markings on it."

"Wait, I know this bridge. It's the same bridge Blinky was talking about." Jim said, taking the phono. Toby then said to them. "What? The Killa-thingy Bridge? That's like ancient history, right?

"Remember what Blinky said. They couldn't fully destroy the bridge, so they had to hide the piece around the world. So if Bular, or whatever allies are, have found the pieces?" Noah said before Jim said. "Then they could be trying to free Gunmar. This is bad, guys. Like, "Goodbye Arcadia" bad. As soon as we get home, we're going to Blinky." They then heard the door open and saw Barbara talking with Strickler. Noah said, stopping their conversation. "Mr. Strickler? What are you doing here?"

"Well Young Kratos. I heard about what happened to you all, I had to come by and see how you all are doing."

"We're fine, thanks for checking on us." Jim said with a smile. Barbara then said to Strickler. "Mr. Strickler. I thank you for coming, it's nice to know Jim as a teacher like you."

"Please, "Walter." And it's no trouble at all. But I am sorry we had to meet under this unfortunate circumstance."

"Then how about we talk again under less circumstances? Coffee? Dinner? Appendix removal?"

"I… Coffee would be a delight. And a rain check on the appendectomy."

"Looking forward to it, Walter." Barbara said before Strickler checked out his watch. "Oh, look at the time. I'm sorry, but I have to go meet up with some friends from work. See you in class tomorrow, Young Atlas." Strickler said, looking at Jim before leaving them. Barbara then said to everyone. "Come on, I'll take you all home."

"Did she just ask out my teacher on a date?" Jim said as Barbara was already out of the room. "Yes. Now let's get going. The sooner we get home, the sooner we can go to Trollmarket." Noah said, pushing Jim out of the room. After they got home, they all sneaked out and went to Trollmarket. There they found Blinky and Aaarrrgghh in the watering hole, and showed them the picture. Looking at the picture, Blinky said. "Are you certain? Are you unquestionably, unequivocally–"

"I'm certain." Jim said before Aaarrrgghh said. "Could be anything."

"I concur. Tobias' photographic skills are less than exemplary." Blinky said before Toby said. "Okay, it's a little blurry! You try taking a picture when someone grabs you and jumps out of the roof!"

"Look, we know this is the bridge you told us about, Blinky. But what about the museum curator and that Phantom thing? How can she be human one second and the next she's a troll. And why did the Soul Jewel turn into that monster?" Seth said before Blinky said. "Master Seth, Master Noah, do either of you know where Soul Jewel's come from?" Seth then said to Blinky. "No. Efreet, Gnome, Sylph, Fighter, Guardian, Archer and the last two were given to us by someone. And you gave us Bat after I asked for it. Why do you ask?"

"This is why. You see a Soul Jewel is the remains of a powerful soul that has left this mortal realm. And they may harden deep in the earth, they are very fragile. So until you came along Master Seth, that whenever someone tried to carve one, it broke it in a matter of seconds. But if you cover it in blood, it turns into a Phantom. And a Phantom is a monster that has no mind and only follows instants of the soul inside, and the one whose blood was used to summon it. They are dangerous opponents."

"Ok, now about the woman?" Jim said before Blinky and Aaarrrgghh talked to one another in a troll language. Seth then said to them. "Repeat that in English please."

"Changeling." Aaarrrgghh said as Blinky took a drink. Blinky spit out his drink and the other troll's looked at them. Blinky laughed and said to Aaarrrgghh. "Not helping."

"Sorry." Aaarrrgghh said before Noah said to Blinky. "Ok, why did everyone gasp and look at us when Aaarrrgghh said that C word."

"Changeling haven't been talked about in quite some time. In the Old World, Gumm-Gumms stole our young and did something unnatural to change them. Their sole purpose: to spy on the world above."

"Ok, that is creepy." Jim said as they all got up from the table. Blinky then said to the guys as they walked to the door. "These are the very reasons I doubt your certainty. I don't question you saw a bridge, but Killahead? It would take years to collect all of the stones. Decades, even. You would need an army of changelings."

"Still, the bridge we saw could be Killahead and if it is. Then we need to stop Bular and his allies. We have to tell Vendel." Noah said before Blinky said. "These are serious accusations, Master Noah. With proof, absolute bedlam will ensue."

"Well, if it isn't the piece of flesh I'll pound into pancakes tomorrow. I look forward to your pain and I'll drink to your death." Draal said as he and his friends entered that area and looked at Jim. Jim turned to Blinky and said. "Death? What is he talking about? I thought this was only a rematch."

"To challenge a troll's honor can only end in ruin. It's all right there in chapter three of A Brief Recap– You still haven't read the book." Blinky said before Noah said. "How can we read the book, if the book is in a language we don't know?"

"Now, hold on. This fight, I don't know, maybe we can, um… postpone it?" Jim said, causing Draal to laugh and say. "Postpone, you say? What a trainer! Does everyone in your company forget how to fight or are they naturally weak?" That made Aaarrrgghh and Noah mad. Jim then said to Draal. "There are things that have been brought to our attention. Things that have serious implications."

"No, no, no, Master Jim! Shh!" Blinky said and he tried to silence Jim, but it was too late. "By Kanjigar's honor, I would have made your death swift and painless, but, for that act of cowardice, I will show you no mercy when I take back what's rightfully mine. Bid farewell to your loved ones, Jim "the Dead Meat."

"Jim, as a friend let me say this. Stop making people want to kill you very painfully." Noah said and Jim didn't care. He thought he was going to die tomorrow. So Jim went home and wrote letters for Noah, Seth, Toby, his Mom, and Claire before the match against Draal. Once he was done, he couldn't fall asleep. So to get his mind off the fight, Jim shines the light from the amulet onto things in his room. But when Jim shined the light onto the word of the posters in his room, the words went from English to Trollist. That made Jim have an idea. Jim pulled out the book Blinky gave him and with the amulet's light. Jim was able to read it. Jim then started to read that book quickly, hoping something inside would help him in his battle against Draal.

Back at the museum, Nomura had returned from the hospital, after getting patched up and questioned by the police. When she went through the door, she saw Strickler. Strickler looked at her and said. "I see you had a little run in with the Trollhunter and the Kamen Rider?"

"They got lucky. Next time, I'll kill them both before they even know it." Nomura said as she entered the area with the bridge. "There won't be a next time." Strickler said and she quickly turned around to face him. But she stopped when she heard the sound of someone sharpening blades. She turned around again, and saw Bular sharpening his blades with his stone arms. Nomura turned to Strickler and Strickler said. "I'm sorry. You've been compromised." Bular then pointed his sword at Nomura and Nomura said. "Please, Bular, spare me."

"Groveling, Impure?"

"You need me. If you dispose of me, who will replace me? Those kids already know I'm a changeling. How long do you think it will take for them to find out Strickler is one too?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there… without you." Strickler said as Bular raised his sword. Nomura dodge it and ran to the ring she was looking at before Jim and the others showed up. She picked up the ring and said before Bular attacked again. "Wait! I've acquired the Fetch!"

"The Fetch? More changelings?" Bular said as he stopped attacking Nomura. Strickler then walked over to them and said. "But we are nearly finished. What good would it be to bring another—"

"Be quiet, Impue." Bular said as he pointed his sword at Strickler. "Go on." Bular said to Nomura and Nomura said to Bular. "Think how proud your father will be to see his legion grow."

"Prepare the exchange. In case we have to involve the Pig Protocol, very soon." Bular said as he put his sword away. The following day, Jim, Noah, and Seth went downstairs and found Barbara making breakfast. "What's this?" Jim asked Barbara and Barbara said. "Well after what happened last night. I thought you all deserve a nice breakfast."

"Let me help mom." Jim said as he walked into the kitchen. There he put his letter for his mom inside of a cookbook. Barbara didn't see that, but Noah and Seth did. After breakfast, Noah and Seth were going to ask Jim about that letter, but he had already left and went to the school. Today was Saturday, but the play was having a rehearsal. There Steve and Claire were practicing lines, but Steve tried to steal the spotlight. Claire saw Jim and Jim said Steve's lines. "Beauty too rich for use. For earth too dear, so shows a snowy dove trooping with crows. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight. For I never saw true beauty till this night."

"My bounty is as boundless as the sea. My love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite." Claire said, as she hated doing lines with Steve, but liked doing them with Jim. Jim smiled and Eli said as he ran past Jim. "She's good, isn't she?"

"Yeah, she's great. Goodbye Claire." Jim said as he placed the letter inside Claire's bag. Jim then left before Claire could talk to him. In Trollmarket, all of Jim's friends were waiting for him in front of Hero's Forge. Blinky turned to Noah and said. "Are you sure you don't know where Master Jim is, Master Noah?"

"Actually, I do have an idea." Noah said before Blinky said. "You do? Where?"

"Behind you." Noah said, pointing to Jim, who just arrived. Blinky then said to Jim. "Master Jim, you made it. Quickly, we must enter so Vendel can start." Blinky then pushed Jim into Hero's Forge. There as Vendel did the intro for the match, Jim said to Noah, Seth and Toby. "Hey, I… I want you guys to have this."

"What is this?" Toby said as Jim gave them each a letter. Noah looked at Jim and said. "These are goodbye letters?"

"Yes. They have everything I want to say." Jim said before Toby said to Jim. "You praised me tacos."

"Now is not the time for lunch, Tobes."

"Last week, we went for tacos. I paid. You said, "Next time on me." You're going to get this letter back unopened after the fight, and when you get back, we'll get tacos."

"Tacos sound good." Jim said as Draal entered the arena. As Draal got the crowd pumped up, Blinky said to Jim. "It's time to put everything I've ever said to you to practice. With a little luck, he'll trip and fall. Now, tell me: rule one?"

"Always be afraid."

"Rule two?"

"Always finish a fight."

"Rule three?"

"About that. I was reading, when the Venerable Bedehilde fought the Hydrabeast, there were no grounk-nuts, but there was a weakness under its scales."

"He read the book!" Blinky said before Noah said. "How did you read the book?"

"The light from the amulet translated it, now does Draal have any weakness?" Jim said and Blinky was too happy with Jim reading the book, to tell Jim all, if any weakness that Draal had. But before Noah stopped him, Vendel had called Jim to the arena. As Jim stepped into the arena, the crowd was booing him. Blinky then said to Jim, before he was out of hearing range. "Fight from your heart, Master Jim. It's stronger, stronger than any rock." The door then closed on them and Blinky said quietly. "And certainly, stronger than mine."

"Prepare for battle." Vendel said as Jim equipped his armor and Draal got into a fighting position. As Jim psyched himself up, Vendel said. "Begin!"

The crowd cheered and the arena activated. It made a tower and some of the floor we're going down a little and made into a platform. Draal attacked Jim and Jim jumped to another platform. Draal didn't let up and kept attacking Jim. So Jim kept running away. But Draal was able to grab Jim and throw him into a wall. That caused Jim to almost fall into the gear. As Jim gathered himself, Draal jumped down and started using rolling attacks on Jim. Jim countered it by throwing his sword at Draal. The impact from the sword stopped Draal and even did a little damage to Draal. As the crowd exclaimed, Blinky said to Noah. "I never taught him that. Did you?"

"Nope." Noah said before Toby said. "He's a natural!"

"Or his just luck." Seth said and he was right. Jim recalled his sword and tried that sword move again, but this time Draal countered it and Jim's sword disappeared. "And there goes that move." Jim said as Draal attacked him again. Blinky then said to everyone. "Ten whole seconds! He's not dead! That's a fortuitous sigh."

"I think you just jinxed him, Blinky." Noah said as they saw Jim run by screaming. Draal used a rolling attack to make his punch more powerful. So when it hit Jim, it caused a lot of damage. "Jim!" Toby said before Blinky said. "Look away! We will not remember him like this." Draal then grabbed him and threw him to a platform. Draal then jumped up and when he did, the platforms all joined together again, but the platform turned sideways and Jim was holding onto the edge. Draal walked over to Jim and slammed his right foot onto Jim's hands. Jim let go before Draal crushed his fingers, but that caused him to fall to the ground. Toby then said to Noah. "He's getting killed! Save him Noah!"

"On it." Noah said as he pulled out the Driver, but Blinky took it and said. "I'm sorry Master Noah, but this is Jim's fight."

"But he is dying out there!" Seth said as the arena changed again. The tower was gone and the pillars were using their pendulum blades. As for Draal, he was laughing at Jim as he made his way over to Jim, who was still on the ground. "Rule number three." Jim said as he kicked Draal in the gronk-nuks. The crowd groaned and Draal closed his eyes. When Draal opened his eyes, he noticed Jim had disappeared. Jim didn't really disappear. He hid behind Draal and because of Draal's big size, it was a blind spot. Jim's friends cheered, while Jim came up with a plan. He then got an idea after seeing the pendulum blades. Jim walked over to a pillar that just had its pendulum blade returned into the pillar. Draal then yelled hoping it would reveal where Jim was. "You cannot be the Trollhunter! You're a boy! I am the son of Kanjigar!"

"And I am Jim, son of Barbara. And the amulet chose me!" Jim said and Draal looked and roared at him. Before Draal could attack Jim again, the blade came down. Jim heard it and got out of the way of the blade. Draal on the other hand, was hit hard and sent flying. The crowd and Vendel gasped as Draal went over the edge. The hit had done a great amount of damage, so he didn't have the strength to pull himself up. As Jim walked over to Draal, Toby said. "Yes! He did it!"

"It's not over yet. He has to finish the fight." Blinky said as Jim reached the edge and summoned his sword. The crowd cheered for Jim to finish the fight. As Jim raised his sword and saw the fear in Draal eyes. Jim yelled and Draal closed his eyes as Jim brought down his sword, but the final attack never came. Draal opened his eyes and saw that Jim had slammed his sword into the ground and moved closer to him. Draal looked at Jim and said. "The fight is to the death."

"House rules, not mine. Come on, man. Don't make it weird." Jim said, extending his left arm to him. Draal took it and Jim helped him up. The crowd was booing, and Draal said to him. "You should have killed me." Jim didn't answer Draal, he just walked away from the edge and said to the crowd. "Look, I may not have followed your rules, but neither did the amulet when it chose me. Right now, over our heads, changelings are in Arcadia."

"What is he talking about?" Vendel said as Blinky and the others went over to Jim, who was still talking. "You'll need a Trollhunter who doesn't have to live in the shadows. This is a time to work together. They are building…"

"Be quiet!" Noah said as he slammed into Jim and knocked them both down. Noah covered Jim's mouth and said. "Jim, as a friend let me say this. Don't say anything that will cause a mass panic."

"Very wise Master Noah. Now, we must leave this instant!" Blinky said as Noah got up and Aaarrrgghh grabbed Jim. "They have a right to know." Jim said as they moved towards the main door. Aaarrrgghh put Jim down and Blinky said to him. "And you have a right to listen! Ours is an ancient race. It will take time to win hearts and minds."

"Uh, Blinky? What are they doing?" Seth said, pointing at Draal, who was getting hit with small stones. Blinky looked at them and said. "Master Jim may have spared his life, but destroyed his honor. He will never be able to show his face in Trollmarket again."

"That's not fair." Jim said before Blinky said. "Fair or not, this is how things are down here, Master Jim." As they were leaving Vendel knew he needed to have a talk with Blinky and Aaarrrgghh. Outside the Hero's Forge, Toby said to Jim. "Oh, praise! You're alive!" Toby gave Jim a hug and Jim said. "And sore. Ease up."

"Just one more minute." Toby said before Vendel said. "Aaarrrgghh, Blinky… a word."

"Good fight." Aaarrrgghh said before he walked to Vendel. Blinky was also going and said. "Yes! Very good fight, Master Jim. I'll handle Vendel. Master Noah, Master Seth, make sure Master Jim gets home and gets some rest. And sometime in the near future, we shall join you for these… What do you call them? Ah, yes, "tacos."

"You got it." Noah said as Vendel, Blinky and Aaarrrgghh went somewhere else. Toby was still hugging Jim and Jim had an idea. "You opened the letter." Jim said before Toby said. "I did, not Noah and Seth. P.S. When I read I was your best friend, it took our relationship to just a whole new level."

"And we don't want to read what you have on here. We want to hear you saying it." Noah said as he gave Jim his and Seth's letter. A few minutes later they all had returned home. Jim told his mom that they were home and going to their rooms, but she said to them. "In here. Guess who brought tea?"

"Oh, not Strickler again." Jim said as they walked to the dinner table. There they saw not Strickler, but Nomura. That surprised them and Barbara said to them as she drank the tea. "Ms. Nomura learned about how you were involved with the incident at the museum."

"Yes. I hope you're not troubled by the experience?" Nomura said and everyone, but Barbara knew what she was talking about. Seth went somewhere to hide, Jim got closer to his mom, and Noah said to Nomura. "We are fine, and the next time something like the incident happens. We'll be more ready then you could even dream."

"What do… you… mean… Noah?" Barbara said before she lost conscience. They all turned to Nomura and she said to them. "Let's test that shall we?"

"Jim, get your mom out of here." Noah said as he put off the Twin-Soul Driver. Seth, in his hiding spot, quickly figured out Nomura was on the attack when the Driver appeared on his waist. Seth put Sylph into the Driver and Noah put Fighter in the Driver. Noah then said as he overlapped the Jewels. "Henshin!"

"Sylph Fighter!" The Driver said as Noah turned into Soul, Jim took his mom and his bag upstairs. "Nomura, get ready for the…" Soul said before Nomura kicked him into the kitchen. Seth then said to his brother as Soul was getting up. "I told you the catchphrase would hurt us."

"Oh, be quiet." Noah said as he noticed the kitchen knives were gone. "Looking for these?" Nomura said as she transformed into her changeling form and threw all of the kitchen knives at Soul. But thanks to Soul's current form, Soul was able to dodge the knives, but they still cut Soul a little on the arms and legs. Soul then tried to punch Nomura in the face, but she dodged him. But before she attacked Soul again, Jim appeared, in his armor, and kicked her away from Soul. Nomura slammed against the back door, causing it to open and someone saw her. Noah said to Jim as Soul walked up to him. "Is your mom ok?"

"Yeah, now let's take out the trash." Jim said, making a battle joke. Soul laughed, and Nomura got up and pulled out her blades. "The only trash getting taken out is you both…" Nomura said as someone pulled her out of the house. After Nomura landed in the backyard, they all saw that it was Draal that threw Nomura out of the house. Nomura looked at Draal and said. "What are you doing here?"

"Delivering you pain again, Nomura. Do not touch the Trollhunter, or the Kamen Rider."

"Suddenly you're honorable? Sorry to hear about daddy. Bular always liked the way he screamed." Nomura said as Draal attacked Nomura. Nomura may have been faster, but Draal was ten times stronger than her. He grabbed her and started to slam her into the ground. "Seth! I need Efreet!" Noah said as he took out Fighter and Efreet. Seth placed Efreet and Noah placed Archer. "Efreet Archer!" The Driver said as Soul changed modes. "Draal, in the air!" Noah said as he put the disk into the bow. The Driver then said as Soul pulled back his bow. "Efreet Archer! Final Attack!" As Soul made a big fire arrow, Draal got the idea and threw Nomura into the air. "Final Attack! Combustion Arrow!" Soul said as he fired the arrow at Nomura. Before the arrow hit Nomura, she threw one of her blades at the arrow. When the arrow and the blade connected, the arrow exploded. It did scented Nomura flying and created a big boom, but it was so quick, no one noticed. After Nomura was out of sight and Soul turned into Sylph Fighter, Draal said to Jim and Soul. "You were right."

"So, you're not here to kill us?" Jim said to Draal and Draal said to them. "Not kill. Protect." The sense of calm causes the amulet to unequip the armor, and the amulet falls and rolls over to Draal. Draal picked it up and said to Jim. "Take it. Don't make it weird." Jim took it and said. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I am." Draal said as he entered the house and looked around. Draal then said to them, as Noah undid the transformation. "But, are you both? Your battles won't always be waged in arenas. You two won't have time to prepare, to study your opponent for weaknesses as you did me. You both are the guardians of these worlds. It is time to start being afraid."

"Ok, but what about you?" Seth said as he came out of hiding and joined them. Draal sighed and said. "Since I cannot go back to Trollmarket, I will guard your home."

"I… I don't think my mother would be down with that." Jim said as Draal made his way to the basement. There Draal looked around and said. "This is nice. Here I shall protect you all and the fleshbag mother, Bar-bu-tah."

"Mmm… close enough." Jim said before Noah said. "Now that this is settled, we need to clean up. Draal, do you want to help?"

"I protect. I do not clean." Draal said and they all were going up stairs. Jim was the last one up, and Draal said to him. "Fleshbag… Maybe you'll make a good Trollhunter, after all. When that time comes, I will be proud to fight by your side."

"Thanks Draal." Jim said happy to have Draal as an ally and as a friend.