Chapter 8; The Adventures in Kamensitting

In the middle of the night, a goblin and something very small had made its way into a family's home. That home was Claire's home. Claire and her parents were asleep, and the monsters were in Enrique's room. A few hours later, in the city. Noah and Seth were just standing around as Jim and Toby were looking at some fancy scooters. Noah turned to Jim and said. "Are you two done window shopping? We are going to be late for training."

"Check that baby out." Toby said before Jim. said. "Vespa 300 GTS Super. Single-cylinder catalyzed four-stroke Quasar engine. Hmm… Can you imagine me going down the road on that? Wind whipping through my hair, Claire holding tight to my back…"

"Me, cruising in the sidecar next to ya." Toby said and everyone looked at him. Toby then got the idea and to Jim. "Oh. You imagined you and Claire alone, didn't you?"

"Jim, do you not see the price on this thing?" Seth said, walking up to them and looking at the price. Toby looked at it too and said to Jim. "What are the chances of your mom getting you one for your birthday?"

"Only slightly worse than me winning the lottery and buying it myself." Jim said before Noah said. "So, not that… bad?" Noah noticed a goblin holding something. "Where are you going?" Seth said as Noah ran after the goblin. They all followed Noah, but Noah lost sight of the goblin when he ran into a dead-end. But he did find a toy bunny that way too clean to have been thrown away. He picked it up and his friends met up with him. Toby then said to Noah as he was catching his breath. "Chill out, man! This superhero business is making you hallucinate!"

"You know, if you are going to help us? Then work on your running skills." Seth said as Noah took a closer look at the toy. "I'm sure Blinky might have some answers." Jim said as they all went to Trollmarket. In Heroes Forge, as Jim and Soul, who was in Gnome Fighter mode, were doing some climbing exercises with Soul Golems holding their ropes. As this was going on they talked about what had happened earlier and Blinky told them this. "I believe the changelings have replaced the changelings that Master Noah killed the other day."

"So what did that goblin have?" Noah said before Blinky said. "A human baby."

"WHAT!?" Jim and Soul said together, before a fire trapped turned on and burned them. Jim then said as they started to climb up. "Let me get this straight. They steal babies… so they can be replaced… with changelings?"

"Precisely, Master Jim." Blinky said before Seth said. "That is just evil. Oh and let me guess? They eat the babies after they finish the swap?"

"No, Master Seth. In order for a changeling to maintain its appearance in our world, no harm must come to the human child in theirs. I assure you all, there is no safer place for a baby to be the bowels of the Darklands nursery."

"Well, that's good to know!" Jim said as the fire traps activated again. They dodged the traps and Toby, who was watching the whole time, said to Blinky. "Whoa! Hold on, there. Okay, suppose they did take the baby to the Darklands. Isn't that where Gunmar is trying to escape from?"

"Cool you jets Toby. If Gunmar could escape without the bridge, Bular would have done it by now." Noah said before Blinky said. "Correct, Master Noah. The doorway to his realm is sealed for now, but it doesn't exonerate the cracks that inevitably form over time. Cracks that allow small things to pass."

"Small, like babies and goblins." Aaarrrgghh said as he gestured to the size of goblins and babies small sized. Seth then said to Blinky as they almost reached the top. "There's still one thing I don't get? Why only switch out babies? Wouldn't people in power be better than babies who have no power?"

"If they were looking for the bridge pieces, they would require stealth more than power, Master Seth. And it is easier to maintain that cover if the person doesn't have a past." Blinky said before Jim said. "But now we have an idea to find a changeling."

"How?" Toby said to Jim and Jim said to him. "If a baby was just swabbed. We just need to find that baby and we'll have the proof we need to show Vendel."

"And how are we going to do that? Find every baby in Arcadia and touch them with the gaggletack?" Seth said as they were done with the climbing exercise. Noah pulled out the bunny and said. "This could be the baby's favorite toy? If we figure out who's toy this is, we might be able to find the changeling that replaced the baby."

"That is a great idea Noah." Jim said before Blinky said. "Still, with this many changelings, Arcadia is far more dangerous than previously thought, for all of you. As Jim, Noah and Seth have Draal now to protect his home, Tobias, you will now have Aaarrrgghh to protect yours."

"Really? For real? We're gonna be roomies? Yeah! High-five, big guy!" Toby said and Aaarrrgghh gave Toby the high-five. But because of that, Aaarrrgghh knocked the toy out of Soul's hands and it fell. Luckily they caught it before it fell into the deepest of Heroes Forge. The next day at school, Noah was still looking at the toy and Toby said to Noah. "How long are you going to check that thing out?"

"Until I can find a clue to the owner, and in turn find the changeling."

"Maybe you didn't see what you thought you saw. You've been spending so much time in Trollmarket. And how unstable you are right now. Maybe your mind is starting to play tricks on you."

"First of all, my mental state is better after talking about it with Blinky, Jim and Seth about it. And secondly…"

"You have Suzy Snooze?" Claire said as she ran up to Noah and took the bunny out of Noah's hands. Seth looked at Claire and said. "You know the owner of this toy?"

"Of course. It was once my bunny toy when I was a little kid, and now it's my baby brother's bunny. I've been looking all over for this."

"Why?" Jim as they all looked at Claire, who said as she was checking out the toy. "My brothers were acting so weird without it. Where did you get it?" Claire looked at Noah and Noah made a quick lie. "I saw a bird drop it, while we were window shopping yesterday." Claire didn't really buy that lie, but she knew Noah wasn't going to tell her the truth. But what she just told them made Jim, Noah and Seth put the piece together. Toby didn't and then a female classmate, Mary Wang, came up to Claire and said. "Claire, I'm sorry, but I can't babysit tonight. I can't! I really can't!"

"You promised! My parents have a work thing and the Papa Skull concerts tonight. Papa Skull! I, like, live in their shirts every day!"

"Sorry, but Dean finally asked me to a movie, and then Hank invited me to ice cream! "Tight jeans" Hank! Love can't choose, Claire!" Mary said before she left Claire. As Claire sighed and tried to convince Mary to babysit, Jim whispered to his friends. "Do you believe this?"

"I know. Mary's a player?" Toby whispered before Seth whispered. "I think she is more of a cheater than a player. Also work on your brain skills too."

"Seth right, Toby. Because of what Blinky told us and what Claire told us, it means her baby brother has been switched out with a changeling." Noah whispered before Jim said to Claire. "Claire, I can babysit!"

"Tonight? Really? You would?" Claire said happy to hear that she would be able to go to the concert. But she then realized that she didn't know if Jim could babysit. So she said to Jim. "Wait, have you ever babysit before?"

"Uh, yeah. They call me "Jim the Baby-handed." Jim said, laughing a little. Claire thought about leaving her brother with Jim and going to the concert, or not. After a few seconds, Claire said to Jim. "You are a life-saver! I could kiss you!" And she did kiss him on the check. "Just come by my house at seven, no sooner. Thank you, Jim. Thank you." Claire said as she went to class. Jim had a big smile on his face and Toby said. "Guys, there is no way Claire's brother has been swapped with a changeling."

"Only one way to find out." Jim said as they started the school day. After school, when the sun was down, Toby was showing Aaarrrgghh his home. Aaarrrgghh was worried that Toby's grandma was going to see them. Toby saw Aaarrrgghh worrying and said as he opened the back door. "Nana, I'm home! It's your Toby-Pie!" His grandma didn't say anything. "I have a giant troll with me!" Toby yelled and his grandma still didn't say anything. Toby then said to Aaarrrgghh as they both entered the house. "All right, bug guy. Coast is clear. Let's go."

"Nana?" Aaarrrgghh said as Toby grabbed them food from the refrigerator. Once Toby was done, he closed the refrigerator and said to Aaarrrgghh. "Don't worry, big guy. You'll love her. As long as she never sees you, which she won't. She's legally blind." Toby then said to Aaarrrgghh as they went to his room. "Also, Nana's not really big on stairs. She maybe comes up once a month to clean. The entire upper floor is pretty much ours." As Aaarrrgghh was making his way up the stairs, Toby said out loud. "Blinky was totally right. I totally need a troll bodyguard. A troll-guard!" They then entered Toby's room and said. "And this is my, excuse me, our room. We got everything. Rock collection, video games, movies." Aaarrrgghh then noticed Chompsky dancing with his girlfriend. Toby then pulled out a magic set and said to Aaarrrgghh. "And this is where the magic happens. I got the vanishing coin, classic rope trick, and the floating ball. Ladies love the floating ball."

"Huh?" Aaarrrgghh said as he wondered what was the floating ball trick. Toby had a red ball in his hand, it appeared to be floating and then Toby threw it at Aaarrrgghh, before returning it to his hand. Aaarrrgghh backed away, surprised, and then fell down, causing the dollhouse to jump. Aaarrrgghh caught it, but Chompsky was not happy. Aaarrrgghh then said to Toby. "Mm… blood magic?"

"No, no. It's just a trick, see? For fun." Toby said as he was still playing with the floating ball. Chompsky then yelled at Aaarrrgghh to let go of the dollhouse. After Aaarrrgghh dropped it, Chompsky was not very happy to have Aaarrrgghh living with them. Toby then said to Aaarrrgghh. "I know it's a little cozy, but that's part of the charm. So, what do you think, roomie?" Aaarrrgghh then hit the ceiling and Toby said feeling a little sad. "I get it. This place cramps your style. I guess I was just excited to have a roomie, you know? It's just been me and Nana here for a while." Aaarrrgghh understood what Toby was feeling, and took a closer look at his Toby magic set. Aaarrrgghh then said to Toby. "More magic?"

"Thought you'd never ask!" Toby said as Toby showed Aaarrrgghh some more magic tricks. Back at Jim's house, Jim was about to leave and Noah said to him. "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready." Jim said as he was going to leave. But Seth stopped him and said. "You forgot something?" Jim then noticed the gaggletack in Seth's right hand. Jim laughed, took the gaggletack and left. Seth then said to Noah. "So, what to wait in Trollmarket, until Jim calls us for help?"

"Sure. We can use some practice with the new disk." Noah said as Seth pulled out a blue Soul Disk, before they both went to Trollmarket. As for Jim, he arrived at Claire's house and said after ringing the bell. "Hey, Claire!"

"Jim! Come on in. The door is unlocked." Claire said as she was feeding her brother some baby food, while he was buckled into his baby jumper." Jim entered and Claire said to him. "I put his routine on the fridge. After playtime, you just have to put him down. He's a good sleeper."

"On the fridge. No problemo."

"Phone numbers are here for emergencies. Whatever you do, do not call my parents first." Claire said as she stopped feeding her brother and gave Jim a list of phone numbers. Jim took it and said. "Oh, because they don't know you're going to a concert, do they?"

"You're not the only one hiding a secret." Claire said as she put down the food and grabbed her purse. "So, if your secret is eating babies, now is the time to tell me."

"If I did have a secret, I can tell you that it isn't about eating babies."

"Hm, good enough for me. Oh, there's my ride."

"So when will your parents be back?"

"My parents are at some kind of fundraiser, so they won't be back until "late" late. I'll be two or three hours max. What else am I forgetting?"

"I've got this. Enjoy the concert."

"And help yourself to anything in the fridge." Claire said before they heard a horn honk. "I'm coming!" Claire said as she ran outside. Jim followed her and saw that Steve, who was on the scooter Jim wanted, was the one taking Claire to the concert. Steve saw Jim and said to Claire. "What's up, my Juliet?"

"You're going with him?" Jim said, pointing at Steve. Claire turned to Jim and said. "He, um, bought the last tickets."

"Like my ride, buttsnack? Last on the showroom floor. Handles like a dream. No big deal." Steve said, laughing at Jim. "Thanks again, Jim. You're my hero!" Claire said after she got onto the scooter. Steve then drove them away and Jim was a little mad, but he had a job to do. Jim looked at Enrique and said. "I'll give you this much. You seem a little too adorable and drooly to be a changeling. Hey, are you now, or have you ever been a shape-shifting troll-creature?" Enrique acted like a normal baby, and Jim said. "Oh, man, what was I thinking? You're no monster. But just in case… want to play the horseshoe game?" Jim then opened his bag and the gaggletack was missing. Jim then said as he took a closer into his bag. "Huh. That's weird. It was just here." Jim then noticed that Enrique's baby jumper was unbuckled. Jim then said looking at Enrique. "Wait a minute. You were buckled in a minute ago. This is supposed to be childproof. Where did you hide it? Speak." Enrique didn't say anything and Jim said. "Oh, you want to play games, do you? Then let's play."

Speaking of playing games, Toby was going to start playing a 3-person shooter video game with Aaarrrgghh. While Toby had a lot of experience with video games, Aaarrrgghh did not. As Toby's character was taking enemy fire, Toby said to Aaarrrgghh. "Where are you, wingman?"

"Wingman?"

"My partner, my comparde, my comrade in virtual arms. We've got to work together, wingman to kill cyber ninjas."

"Kill?" Aaarrrgghh said as Toby's attention was to focus on the game. Aaarrrgghh then started to play the game after watching what Toby was doing. But the more they played and the more Toby said "Kill them all!" over and over again. Aaarrrgghh old warrior instincts started to come out again, as he lines and eyes started to glow green. Aaarrrgghh roared and then smashed the controller. That did surprise Toby, and as Aaarrrgghh was breathing heavily, Toby said to Aaarrrgghh, a little worried. "Okay, we can pause it." Toby then paused the game and Aaarrrgghh calmed down. Aaarrrgghh realized what he just did and saw how scared Chompsky was. Toby was still a little worried, but said to him. "Wow. When you get into a game, man, you really, um… commit."

"I'm sorry." Aaarrrgghh said before grabbing his head and said "pacifist" over and over again. Toby then said to Aaarrrgghh. "No, hey, hey! It's cool, dude. Is something wrong? Come on, I'm your wingman. Look, I get it. You get angry. Everybody gets angry. Is that why you're a pacifist?

"I should go." Aaarrrgghh said as he was going to leave. Toby realized that the game was too violent for Aaarrrgghh to play. So Toby got in front of the door and said. "You know what I think? This game's lame. How about we play something else? I've got Bubble Buddies, or maybe Go-Go Sushi."

"Go-Go Shuho?"

"You have to dodge sushi as you're serving hungry tourists. It's awesome. And the best part is, we're on the same team." Toby said and Aaarrrgghh was happy to play the game with Toby. Back in Trollmarket, Noah undid the transformation after he and Seth practiced with the new powers. Before Blinky could say anything to Noah and Seth, Jim called them over the Bat Phones. "What's wrong?" Noah said as he answered the call. Jim then said to them. "I lost the gaggletack."

"Did you misplace it, or did someone take it?"

"I didn't misplace it. It was in my bag, and I was only away from it for about a few seconds."

"Was anyone in the house when you were away from your bag?"

"Just Enrique."

"Then our theory is all, but proven. Ok, Seth, Blinky and I will get another gaggletack. Call Toby and Aaarrrgghh and wait for us."

"You got it." Jim said before he hung up the phone call. Seth and Blinky heard the whole conversation and went to RotGut. Blinky knocked on the door and said. "Uh, excuse me, uh, Mr. RotGut. It is with great respect that we return to you to ask for another gaggletack."

"Go away. We're closed." Gut said from behind the door. Blinky then said to Gut. "You haven't closed your apothecary since the wart outbreak of 1982! I urge you, if we do not acquire one at this very moment, we may be dealing with an exigency that could shut you down indefinitely."

"What's an exigency? Should I be scared?" Rot said before Noah said. "Yes, now please give us the gaggletack!"

"We already gave them a gaggletack, so it doesn't matter. Also! I told you never to give out free merchandise." Gut said stopping Rot from doing anything. Blinky then said to them. "But you said you had a bag of… them."

"Let me handle this." Seth said as he knocked on the door. Rot and Gut looked at him and Seth said as H.Q. appeared with a bag. "How about a bag of sweaty, tasty, slightly argyle socks." That caught both of their attention. As Rot and Gut talked, Noah said to Seth. "Where did you get that stuff?"

"Toby used H.Q. to clean his gym locker today. And she removed them, but didn't get rid of them. I didn't know why until she appeared with the bag. Apparently, she can see the value in things." Seth said as Gut opened and said. "Put the bag in the slot, then we'll give you a gaggletack."

"Make it three and you got a deal." Seth said as they made the trade. After getting the gaggletacks, they all left for Claire's house with the gaggletack. At Claire's house, Jim was having problems. First was the fact that he could find the gaggletack he lost and then he lost Enrique. Looking for Enrique alone in the house made Jim feel like he was in the horror movie. So when Toby hit a window with a rock to let Jim they were there, he freaked out a little. Jim went outside and met up with the others. Blinky then said to Jim. "I've brought the gaggletack. Now, where is the child?"

"I sort of just lost him." Jim said, causing the others to feel a little frustrated. Blinky then said to Jim. "Are you not babysitting?"

"Well, I'm not saying I'm good at it."

"I don't understand how the baby could elude you if you were rightfully sitting on him." Blinky said before Noah said. "That is not what babysitting means, Blinky."

"Then what does it mean?" Blinky said before Jim said. "Forget it. Blinky, you and Aaarrrgghh, stay here while Noah, Seth, Toby and I handle this." They then went to the door, but it didn't open. After Jim was done trying, he said to the others. "Do you see this? The little poop-bag locked us out! He's been playing me all along, hook, line, and sinker."

"Jim, he's a baby, not a poop-bag. Get a hold of yourself. He can't even reach the lock." Toby said before Noah said as he, Seth and Jim looked for another why in. "Toby, Claire's brother, is a changeling. Everything that has happened tonight as all, but proved that fact."

"I still don't believe you." Toby said as Seth found an opened window. Seth opened it and said. "Then hold Enrique down, so we can check." Inside the house they heard Enrique crying in his room. Toby ran into the room and said to Enrique. "Aw, there, there. Did the nasty Trollhunter-man scare you? Oh, come here, come here, little baby baby boy. Don't worry. Don't cry. Shh." As Toby claimed Enrique, Jim, Noah and Seth pull out their gaggletacks. Toby didn't hear, but Jim, Noah and Seth did Enrique gasping. Enrique then started to cry and Toby said to them. "Hey, what are you guys doing? He's freaking out."

"Just hold him so we can check if he is or isn't a changeling." Noah said as he tried to touch Enrique with the gaggletack, but Enrique moved and Toby moved with him. "Hold him still." Seth said as he tried, but missed too. "All right, come to daddy, poop-ling!" Jim said before he tried and touched Enrique. The gaggletack responded with Enrique and in a flash, Enrique turned into a small green changeling with big yellow eyes. Toby screamed, threw the changeling and said. "Oh, no, that is not Enrique!"

"You think!" Noah said as the changeling jumped out of the crib and started to make a mess in the house. Lucky for them, they had H.Q. to clean up the changeling was making. When they found the changeling, he jumped on them and said with a male voice. "You guys are a real killjoy."

"I've had enough of this." Jim said as the changeling left them. Jim pulled out his amulet and said. "For the glory of Merlin, daylight is mine to command." As Jim armor equipped, Seth said to Noah as he pulled out the blue disk. "Let's join them."

"Agreed." Noah said as he put on the Twin-Soul Driver. Seth put the disk in and the Driver said. "Undine!" Noah then put Fighter into the Twin-Soul Driver and the Driver said. "Undine Fighter!" Noah then said as he overlapped the disk and followed Jim. "Henshin!" As Seth fainted on the second floor, Soul, whose left side was like ocean blue, followed Jim. The changeling wasn't stronger than them, but he did have a nasty ability to walk on any surface. And even with the water powers Undine was giving Soul, that changeling was able to dodge them. Soon the changeling was in a chair and said to them as he opened a magazine and had a bottle of wine. "Do you realize how good you boys have it here? It's a party compared to those troll-turds in the Darklands."

"Be quite you. You Teika." Noah said and they were all confused until Seth said. "Teika means Taker in Japanese. Which is what we are going to call you." (Time out. I hate NotNames, so for this story NotEnrique will be called Teika instead.) Then Toby tried grabbing Teika, but failed and grabbed the magazine instead. Outside, Blinky and Aaarrrgghh saw the chaos through the window. Aaarrrgghh then said to Blinky. "I'm going in."

"No! This is a good test for our Trollhunter and Kamen Rider. They must learn to stand on their own. Stay hidden." Blinky said as Aaarrrgghh covered himself with a bushes. Blinky then said to Aaarrrgghh. "I mean, lie low."

"Lie low." Aaarrrgghh said as he got down. Inside Teika was throwing things at them from the kitchen. Jim and Toby were hiding behind Soul, who switched out Fighter for Guardian. "Undine Guardian!" The Driver said as Soul changed forms. With Undine the shield now had a blue center, also it was spinning around. Jim said to Teika, as H.Q. cleaned up the mess. "Where's the real Enrique, you filthy rugrat?"

"As if I'd ever tell you!" Teika said as he continued to throw food. Jim summoned his sword, and said after slashing some food away. "Don't make me use this."

"You can't touch me, I'm her baby brother. What do you suppose is gonna happen when they come home and see something's happened to their precious? I'm untouchable, baby." Teika said before he laughed. Noah then said to Teika. "First of all, you are not her brother or their precious. And we might not be able to hurt you, but I think H.Q. has enough of you." Soul then pointed to H.Q., who was very mad. Then next second, H.Q. summoned her bees and didn't stop until they covered anything in the house. A few seconds later, the bees disappeared and everything and everyone was sparkling clean. H.Q. also had Teika tied in a blanket that he couldn't escape from and was holding him in the air. Seth then said as H.Q. gave Jim Teika. "Not having any fun now, aren't you?"

"I can get off of this." Teika said as he turned into Enripue, but he was still trapped in the blanket. "You were saying?" Noah said as he undid the transformation and laughed. Noah took Teika as Seth joined them and Jim undid his transformation. Jim then took Teika back and said. "All right, where is the bridge?"

"What bridge? London Bridge? I hear it's falling down." Teika said as he turned back into his changeling form. Noah grabbed Teika's right ear and said pulling it really hard. "No smart talk!"

"Ow! Fleshbags… no sense of humor." Teika said before Seth said as he grabbed the left ear and pulled really hard too. "If you want it to stop, then tell us where the bridge is?"

"Give me a break! I don't know anything. It's my first day." Teika said before Toby said. "Then what do you know?!"

"I know about the Pig Protocol." Teika said before Jim said. "And what's that?"

"When a changeling dies, our familiar is returned to the human world, but very far away from where they were born." Teika said before Noah said. "Why do that?"

"So there would be one more human for Gunmar to feed on." Teika said as his ears were turning red. Jim then said to Teika. "Why tell us about this protocol?"

"Because if the bossman hears I squealed, he'll feed me to Bular and you'll never see the kid ever again." Teika said as he was about to cry. "Great." Both Noah and Seth said as they let go of Teika's ears. "Who? Who is Bular working with?" Jim said and before Teika could say anything, they all heard a vehicle approaching. "Looks like we'll have to show him to Vendel another time." Noah said as he gave Teika to Jim. Teika turned back into Enrique, and Noah, Seth, and Toby ran out of the back door to meet up with Blinky and Aaarrrgghh. A few seconds later, Claire's parents walked in and saw how clean the place was. When they saw Jim with Teika, Claire's mom took Teika from Jim and said. "Who are you and what are you doing with our child?"

"I'm Jim. Claire's asked me to babysit." Jim said and before she could ask why, she heard another vehicle and looked outside to see Claire come home on Steve's scooter. Claire rushed in and said not knowing her parents were home. "Jim, I'm back from the concert. Now you need to leave, before…"

"Before we get home?" Claire's mom said letting Claire know that she was in trouble for letting a stranger babysit her baby brother while she was at a concert with a boy. As that was happening, Noah, Seth, Toby, Blinky and Aaarrrgghh were making their way to Trollmarket and Noah told Blinky everything Teika told them. Blinky then said to them. "And here I thought they could not be any more diabolical."

"I know right." Seth said before Toby said to Noah and Seth. "Look guys, I'm sorry for not believing you."

"It's fine, beside I have other things on my mind." Noah said think about Enrique in the Darklands. Unknown to any of them, Enrique was fine and fasted asleep. But he was just one of many babies trapped in the Darklands.