Chapter 12; Claire and the Hidden Danger
The next night after the dinner fight with Strickler. Strickler had brought all of their troops to the bridges and showed everyone the Trollhunters Amulet. The goblins chanted as Strickler walked up to Gunmar and Bular. "Open the bridge!" Gunmar ordered and Bular said as took the amulet from Strickler. "It is my honor, Father."
"Where is the young changeling?" Nomura said to Strickler as he joined her and the head goblin. "He should be here." Strickler said before turning to the head goblin and said. "Fragwa, take your brethren and fetch that vile little beast." The head goblin then left the room, but just him. The rest was going to catch up after seeing Bular free Gunmar. "For centuries, Father, we have awaited your glorious return. Tonight, we take back the surface lands. Tonight, we feast!" Bular said as he put the amulet in its spot on the bridges. Everyone smiled as the bridge began to glow and energy came out of the underpart, but something went wrong. Instead of opening the doorway to the Darklands. The bridge was building and building energy inside the bridge, releasing only very little energy from the underpart. Strickler then said to Bular. "Take out the amulet! Take it out now!"
"The portal is closing!" Gunmar said as Bular tried and failed to pull out the amulet. And after the bridge closed the window, so Gunmar was gone, Strickler picked up the amulet, which fell out of its spot, and said. "Daylight is his to command." Bular!"
"You said the amulet would open the bridge!" Bular said, grabbing Strickler by the neck. Strickler then said to Bular. "Bular, I know what we need."
"What?"
"The Trollhunter. The amulet won't work without him. He is the key."
"Bring the Trollhunter to me!" Bular said to Nomura and Nomura was more than happy to do so. After Nomura and the goblins left, Bular said to Strickler. "Prat that you're right, impure, or Arcadia will burn in my fury."
"He still has the fake amulet. And if we separate him from the Kamen Rider, nothing will protect him." Strickler said as put the amulet down on a box.
Back with the head goblin. He had reached Teika home and inside Teika was reading a sock magazine in his changeling form. Teika stopped reading when he noticed the head goblin had walked into his room. The goblin had told Teika that he was summoned to the museum to witness Gunmar's return and then help in the destruction of this world. Teika actually likes this world and didn't care about being there, so he said no to the head goblin. The head goblin didn't like that answer and tried to take Teika by force, but Teika fought back. It wasn't long before the whole room was ransacked and Teika used a shelf that had a picture of Claire and Enrique to turn the head goblin into mush. "Definitely not childproof." Teika said before the rest of the head goblins teams appeared. Teika hid, but the moment they saw the remains of the head goblin and picked up the picture, which only showed Claire. The new head goblin then said to the others, that instead of looking for Jim and using him to finish the bridge and free Gunmar. That they would hunt down Claire for killing their last head goblin. Once the goblins were gone, Teika came out of his hiding spot and said to his bunny. "Uh-oh, Suzy. Think I got sis in trouble." Teika then ran to Toby's house.
At Toby's house they were making plans to use the Fetch to travel into the Darklands and rescue Claire's baby brother. Seth was going over a list and said. "Lets see, the plan to send Teika into the Darklands to save Enrique is not going to work, because Teika doesn't want to return to the Darkland. Plan sent Soul Gadgets into the Darklands to save Enrique is not going to work, because they are scared of the Darklands. Plan to use Soul Gnome Jewel to send golems into the Darkland to save Enrique is not going to work, because they wouldn't be able to deal with unforeseen problems. Plan to use the furgolator and walk through the Fetch and then save Enrique is not going to work, because we would be trapped on the other side after the effects wear off. I'm sorry, Jim, but we have no plan for saving Enrique from the Darklands."
"What good is this amulet if it can't help me with this? Claire's brother is trapped somewhere in the Darklands, and there's nothing I can do about it?" Jim said to everyone and Blinky said to Jim. "Unfortunately, there is nothing any one of us can do."
"And you're sure the Darklands is a labyrinth, Blinky?" Noah said to Blinky and Blinky said. "Without a doubt."
"And that means we will spend who knows how much time in the Darklands if we want to find Enrique." Seth said before Aaarrrgghh said. "Gunmar."
"Aaarrrgghh is right. If any of us were foolish enough to cross over, under no circumstances could you be saved, at risk of freeing Gunmar." Blinky said before Jim said. "But, what if–"
"Under no circumstances!" Aaarrrgghh said getting up and getting angry. Toby then said to Aaarrrgghh. "Dude, don't be reckless! You almost just lost a golden tuna roll! Sit down! Relax!"
"I'm sorry to say this Jim, but Aaarrrgghh is right. If we go after Enrique, we risk the world to Gunmar's merslies wrath." Seth said and then Jim said looking at the fake amulet. "What happened to the Trollhunter answering every call?"
"We will find a way Jim, we are not going to abandon Enrique." Noah said before giving Seth an angry look. Blinky then said to Jim and Noah. "You both have a strong heart, Master Jim, Master Noah, a quality rarely seen in trolls. I believe, one day, you two will answer that child's call, but that day cannot be today." They all then heard Chompsky chattering to his girlfriend, before he came out of the doll house and gave a soldier salute before pointing to the Fetch. That let everyone know that Chompsky had just volunteered to enter the Fetch and look for Enrique in the Darklands. Toby gasped and said. "Chompsky, no! It's too much to ask."
"But he looks ready for the challenge." Seth said as Chompsky didn't waver from his choice. As Seth put the Fetch on the ground, Noah said Chompsky, while tying a life line to him. "Now remember. Your mission is to find Enrique. When you do, give us a tug and we will pull you back through the Fetch. Okay?" Chompsky understood and Seth turned on the Fetch. Blinky then said to Chompsky. "I have sorely misjudged you. You are no vermin. You are a "ver-man."
"Wait! She has something to say." Toby said grabbing Chompsky's girlfriend and in Chompsky fantasy they were saying goodbye like a soldier leaving his love before going to war. Chompsky then gave her back to Toby before he went into the Fetch. Everyone else took cover and waited for something. But that was something pulling on the life line and was stronger than them, so the line broke and Chompsky was lost in the Darklands. As they all worried for Chompsky safety, Teika knocked on the window and said. "Open up! Let me in!"
"What's he doing here?" Noah said as Jim let Teika in. Teika then said to them. "A goblin came at me. I made mincemeat out of him, but now, the rest of them want their pound of flesh. I'm lucky to have escaped with only a soiled diaper!"
"You've drawn the ire of goblin vengeance and have led them here!" Blinky said before pinning Teika to Toby's desk." Jim broke them up and Teika said. "Relax! They think the girl did it. Now, they're after her."
"They think Claire's responsible? They're gonna go after her!" Jim said as he pinned Teika to Toby's desk. Noah broke them up and then Jim grabbed the fake amulet and ran to Claire's house. Teika then said to them. "Whoa! He is brave to go and save the girl with that fake amulet."
"The amulets fake?!" Noah said as he pinned Teika to Toby's desk. Seth broke them up and Teika said. "Yes, Strickler switched it out yesterday, oh? And Bular's got all the bridge pieces."
"Bular got all of the bridge pieces!?" Seth said, pinning Teika to Toby's desk. Toby broke them up and Teika said. "And now, I hear all they need is the boy." Toby then pinned Teika to his desk and Blinky said to them. "Master Noah, Master Seth, turn into Soul and protect the Trollhunter. Toby, Aaarrrgghh. Help Soul."
"You got it!" Noah said as he put on the Twin-Soul Driver and pulled out Fighter. Seth led down on Toby's bed before pulling out Sylph and putting it into the Driver. Toby and Aaarrrggh followed Noah as Sylph and Seth's soul went to Noah. Teika got up and said to Blinky. "What are you gonna do?"
"By my six eyes, I will find the bridge if it kills me. And you are going to tell me where it is." Blinky said and was backed up with the Soul Gadgets. Teika had no choice, but to tell Blinky the location. At Claire's house, while Claire's parents were watching a movie, Claire was in her room, studying and chose to believe that everything about that letter was just Jim's way of getting attention from her. "Claire, open the window." Jim said to Claire after he had climbed to her window. It did give Claire a little scare, but she did open the window and said to him. "What are you doing?"
"We got to leave. They're coming for you." Jim said entering Claire's room and shutting the window. Claire looked at him and said. "Who's coming? Why were you on my roof?"
"I don't have time to explain. You're in danger. You have to trust me."
"Don't touch me! I don't want you near me!" Claire said pushing Jim away, because he was getting too close to her. "Okay, how do I say this?" Jim said before he took a deep breath and then said to Claire. "Your brother has been switched with a changeling, but now, goblins are after you because of something he did, and now, I'm here to save you."
"I always suspected there was something different about you. And now, I know. You're crazy!" Claire said before grabbing Jim and leading to the window. Jim pulled against her and said. "Stop! I know it sounds insane, but I can prove it to you." Jim then pulled out the fake amulet. Claire gave him a look and he said to her. "Okay… I'm the Trollhunter. This amulet gives me mystical powers."
"Seriously?"
"Stand back." Jim said before he did the incantation, but since it was a fake amulet, he didn't transform. Jim tried again and again, thinking that he was doing something wrong. "Oh, come on! Why isn't it working? For the glory of Merlin–" Jim said before Claire said. "Shh! Keep your voice down! I'm not supposed to have boys in my room." They then heard the goblins on the roof. Jim looked out the window and said. "They're here!"
"Those are raccoons, Jim." Claire said and Jim thought about how to make Claire believe him. Jim got an idea and said. "Your brother! They've taken your brother! Check his crib!" Claire then went to Enrique's room. There she saw the mess and was worried when she didn't see her brother in his crib. Claire attacked Jim and said. "What did you do to my brother?"
"Ow, ow! Claire, your brother isn't who you think he is! He's been switched!"
"You aren't making any sense!"
"Ow! He's at Toby's house! I mean, the changeling is at Toby's house! You've got a strong right."
"Where is my brother?"
"Your real brother is in the Dark–" Jim said as a goblin that was crawling on the window was turned into goo on the window. Jim opened the window and they both saw Soul standing outside in their Sylph Archer Mode. "Who is that?" Claire said as Jim opened the window and said to them. "Noah, Seth, why are you here?"
"We've got some problems." Seth said before Noah said. "The goblins have found out Claire is here. We need to go, now!"
"Wait, Noah? Seiji? What is this?" Claire said before Soul shot two more goblins with wind arrows. Jim then said to her. "If you want to find your brother, you have to come with me, now!"
"What about my parents?"
"They're not after your parents. They're after you." Jim said before grabbing her and taking her outside. Once outside, Claire saw all of the goblins and Noah said to Jim. "Go! Into the woods! We'll cover you!" Soul then killed more of the goblins as Jim and Claire ran into the woods. "Sylph Fighter!" Soul Driver said as he turned into their Sylph Fighter mode and ran after Jim and Claire. In the woods, Jim tried to use the amulet and it failed. Claire stopped and said. "Stop it! Just stop it! You're scaring me! What was with Noah and Seiji?"
"Its Seth, not Seiji." Seth said as Soul appeared. Noah looked at them and said. "We don't have time for a break. We will tell you everything, but we need to get to Trollmarket."
"Trollmarket?" Claire said before Jim grabbed her and said. "We have to keep moving, Claire. If they catch us–" Then the goblins surrounded them. Seth then said to them. "Get behind us."
"Sylph Blade!" Soul Driver said after Noah took out Fighter and replaced it with Blade. Claire took Jim's hand and they all ran away. Toby and Aaarrrgghh had reached Claire's house and saw the goblins going into the woods. "Oh, on! Come on! We have to find Jim, Claire, and Soul before the goblins do!" Toby said as they followed the goblins. In the woods the goblins have surrounded them and Jim pulled out the fake amulet. "Jim, you can't transform with that amulet." Seth said to Jim and Jim said to them. "Why?"
"It's a fake. Strickler took the real one when you dropped it during dinner." Noah said as he started cutting down goblins. Jim threw the fake amulet at a goblin. One of the goblins jumps over Soul and lands in front of Claire and she falls and screams. Soul turned around and killed the goblin, turning it to goo. Seth then said to Jim as Soul started to cut more goblins. "Jim, we will open a path with a Final Attack. Once we do, you two get out of here."
"I am not leaving you guys behind." Jim said picking up a stick and was going to use it as a sword. Then one of the goblins jumps onto Jim's back. Jim tried to get him off, and Claire helped, by punching the goblin in the face with her left hand. "Wow! You've got a great left, too!" Jim said as the goblin fell off. Claire picked up some rocks and they all got ready for a fight. Back at the museum, the real amulet responded to Jim and was not only glowing, but it was shaking. Back at the woods, there were too many goblins, so Soul was having a hard time keeping Jim and Claire safe. "For the glory of Merlin— Where are you?" Jim said, hoping the amulet would return to him. Back at the museum, Strickler picked it up and Bular said. "That's strange. Why is it–?" Then the amulet then started to fly around, causing Strickler to let go. Bular tried to grab it, but it created a flash. It then flew up, out of the museum and out of their reach. The amulet had flown high into the sky and then located Jim. It then flew into the woods and almost hit Toby, if it wasn't for Aaarrrgghh. Toby then said to Aaarrrgghh as they saw it going to Jim. "Whoa. Thanks, wingman, that was—"
"Weird."
"Come on, man! If it's a weird thing, then it's a troll thing. After it!" Toby said as he got onto Aaarrrgghh and Aaarrrrgghh went after the amulet. Back with Jim, Claire and Soul. Most of the goblins were fighting Soul and were about to attack Jim and Claire. But just before they could, the amulet arrived and Jim said. "For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command!" Jim then equipped with his armor and sword and started to help Soul with the goblins. Claire watched Jim's transformation, him helping Soul, and the two of them cutting down all of the goblins with great skill. After killing ¾ of the goblins, the last of them ran away in fear. As Soul got his breath, Jim said to them. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah. Nice job with the amulet. I didn't know you could do that." Noah said and then Jim said. "Me neither." Claire then said to them. "What the–? How the–?"
"Yeah. That cool thing I wanted to show you? This is it." Jim said as he put his sword away and Soul replaced Blade with Fighter. Claire got closer to them and said. "This? This is… Wow."
"Pretty much." Jim said before she touched Jim's armor. "This was never a costume." Claire said before Seth said to Jim. "Jim, we have to go."
"Why?"
"While Claire is safe now, you are not. They are after you."
"They are already after me." Jim said before Noah said. "No, Jim. They had finished the bridge and they had your amulet."
"Wait, does that mean Gunmar's out."
"No. Looks like in order to open the doorway to the Darklands you need the bridges to be the door and the Trollhunter to open the door. So they need you to free Gunmar."
"The Darklands? Is that where these things took my baby brother." Claire said and Jim said to her. "Yes… and no. It's complicated."
"The monsters… in your letter! They were real monsters!"
"No, not monsters. Trolls. And some of them are our friends." Jim said before Claire started hyperventilating. Soul pushed Jim forward and Jim said to Claire. "Breathe."
"This is—"
"Take a breath."
"Don't tell me to–"
"Claire…" Jim said and Claire took a deep breath. Claire then said to Jim. "I should've believed you. Why does something that makes no sense make so much sense now? When you missed so many rehearsals– You wore that knight suit to tryouts! Ugh! Like, being in a stupid play is suddenly some high priority."
"No, it is! The play must go on! We have to make it look like everything is normal. If people knew… I'm-I'm sorry, Claire, but you can't tell anyone about this. Not your friends, not your parents."
"What am I supposed to tell my parents about Enrique? That-That he's a change-thing?"
"NO! We destroy Teika cover. They will kill him and then put Enrique god knows where." Seth said before Noah said. "I'm sorry Claire, but there is some good news. Enrique is 100% safe and we have a friend looking for him."
"Am I ever going to see my brother again?" Claire said and Jim said to her. "Like I said, it's… it's complicated. But I promise you, I will find him and bring him home."
"Thanks Jim." Clare said with a smile. As Jim and Claire looked into one another's eyes, Seth stopped this moment by saying. "Uh, guy? We should really get moving before–" Then they heard something hissing before they heard a whistling melody. They all looked around and Noah said to Jim and Claire as he pulled out Blade and Seth pulled out Efreet. "Jim, take Claire and run. We will hold her off."
"Efreet Blade!" Soul Driver said and Soul drew his flaming sword. "I am not leaving you to face her alone." Jim said as he drew his sword. "Who's whistling?" Claire said as she picked up a stick. Nomura then came out of the trees and Claire was very surprised to see her. Nomura laughed before saying. "How cute. And they chivalry is dead."
"Get out of here, NOW!" Soul said pushing Jim which caused him and Claire to run. Nomura tried to chase them, but Soul used his sword to create a wall of fire, so Nomura drew her sword at Soul and said. "Let's see how you handle yourselves, Rider."
"You ask for it!" Soul said as they charged at Nomura. Soul and Nomura's blades clashed, which caused little flames from Soul's sword to go all over the place. "Noah, can we stop using Efreet? You are going to burn the forest down!" Seth said to Noah and Noah said to Seth. "Sorry, Seth. We need the firepower." Soul then was able to use his blade in a circle motion that not only hurt left hand with the fire, but caused her sword to get sent flying into a tree. "Impressive. How you two grew. I'll cut you both down to size." Nomura said as she attacked them, by jumping around them and trying to cut them with her blade. As Jim, who turned off his armor, and Claire. They had run back to Claire's house and they had rushed inside. Claire's parents turned to them and Claire's dad said. "Claire, what's wrong?"
"We need your help." Claire said and they all ran back to Soul and Nomura fight. And Toby and Aaarrrgghh heard the fight and saw the fire, so they went to the source. As for Soul, he was holding his own, but because of Nomura jumping around and more experience with a blade. Soul was getting hit and sparkes were coming off his armor. "We have to finish this!" Seth said pulling out the Soul Jewels, but just before Seth could put them into the sword. Nomura threw her blade at Soul, which caused Seth to drop their Soul Jewel's. Noah turned back to normal and Nomura picked up her blade and slashed Noah straight across his chest. Noah fell down, he tried to get up, but he was in so much pain and losing a lot of blood, that he wasn't able to stand. Nomura laughed and pulled her other blade out of the tree. She then walked over to Noah and raised her swords, but before Nomura could finish Noah off, she saw Jim, Claire, and Claire's dad on one side and Toby and Aaarrrgghh on the other. She growled before she left and Noah fainted, with relief and blood lost. All of them saw the damage and Claire's dad not only called an ambulance, but firefighters too. And before Toby joined them, he told Aaarrrgghh to go home before the humans saw him. Aaarrrgghh understood, but was very worried about Noah. The paramedics took Noah to where Barbara works and she helped with the surgery. As Seth, Toby and Jim waited to hear news about Noah. Blinky had found the bridge. "Great Gronka Morka, the changeling was right! The bridge is complete, and it was here the whole time!" Blinky said before Bular found and grabbed him. Strickler then said as he and Teika appeared. "If Young Atlas won't open it for us, maybe he'll open it for you." Yes, the danger was not over, but growing to new and more serious heights.