Chapter 17; Out in The Sunlight

In Trollmarket, someone was stealing things from Trolls. The objects were human clothes. Draal noticed the chaos and ran to the Hero's Forge. Inside the Hero's Forge, Jim was in a meeting with Kanjigar and the other Trollhunters. And inside after showing Jim the images and recordings of them retrieving the Birthstone, their search for Triumbric Stones, and Jim determination to kill Gunmar. The Trollhunter ghosts were very unhappy with Jim and Kanjigar made the other ghost be silent. When Kanjigar appeared, Jim said to him. "You said it was impossible to kill Gunmar, but I found a way. You're either a lousy council or a worse liar."

"We needed to deter you from making a grave mistake. You were lucky to obtain the Birthstone, but the journey will only grow more treacherous from here onward."

"With all due respect, you said a Trollhunter should only work alone, but if it weren't for my friends, I wouldn't even have the first stone."

"If you insist on risking the lives of everyone you care about, I advise you to listen to reason!" Kanjigar said as he and the other ghost were even more angry at Jim. "Trollhunter! Trollhunter!" Draal said, trying to catch the attention of Jim. They all heard him and Kanjigar said. "My son! He seeks you. There is trouble in Trollmarket. An intruder! Go!"

"An intruder? How'd he get in?"

"Go!" Kanjigar said before Jim went back to reality. Back in Trollmarket, the trolls had captured the intruder in a bag and were deciding what to do, which was leaning towards killing. "Hey, stop! I'm the Trollhunter. I'll deal with it. Let him go!" Jim, who was wearing his armor, said as he, Draal, and Aaarrrgghh appeared. Then a male human wearing a brown suit outfit came out of the bag and said to them. "Oh. Thank you, Jim."

"How did you get past Trollmarket's barrier and how do you know my name?" Jim said as he, Draal, and Aaarrrgghh were very surprised to see a human other than his friends inside Trollmarket. The human then said to Jim. "Master Jim, it's me, Blinky."

"No. He lies." Aaarrrgghh said before Draal said. "Strike the fleshbag down. He's seen too much."

"I can prove it. Your mother is Barbara Lake. Your best friend is Tobias Domzalski. Noah and Seth Himitsu are Kamen Rider Soul, and they always have your back. You are in love with Claire Nunez. Your father disappeared when you were five." The human, who was indeed Blinky, said to Jim. Then Noah and Seth arrived and Noah said walking threw the crowd. "Why are you saying facts about Jim, Blinky?" Then they arrived and saw Blinky as a human. Seth looked at Blinky and said. "How is a human in Trollmarket?"

"Master Seth, Master Blinky? It's me, Blinky." Blinky said and they were surprised. Seth then said to Blinky. "Prove it. What is our secret project?" Then Blinky whispered the project into Seth's ear. Once Blinky was done, Seth said to them. "Guys, this is Blinky."

"Are you sure?" Jim said and then Seth said. "Yeah, 100%."

"Ok, but I have to ask. What project are you working on?" Noah said to Seth and Seth said to Noah. "It's a secret, hence the name." As for everyone else, they now knew that the human was Blinky, and while Aaarrrgghh pocked at Blinky, Draal said to Blinky. "What sorcery is at work here?"

"Haven't the foggiest. But there is one troll in Trollmarket who will know." Blinky said before they had Vendel check on Blinky in Blinky's study. After Vendel was done, he said to Blinky. "I am at a complete and utter loss. I can turn wolftoads into willowbait, and willowbait into wolftoads, but this? What nonsense have you stumbled into now, Blinkous?"

"Nothing unusual." Blinky said before Aaarrrgghh said. "Eaten by Gatto."

"You went into Gatto's Keep? Just what kind of insanity possessed you?" Vendel said to Blinky and then Jim said to Vendel. "It was my decision to go to Gatto's Keep."

"And I had the unfortunate experience of being swallowed by that slubberdegullion and drenched by innumerous potions and– Oh, my Gorgus! That must be the explanation for my transformation!" Blinky said before Vendel said. "And why would you venture–?"

"For the Birthstone, and complete the Triumbric Stones. So we can destroy Gunmar and save Claire's brother." Jim said to Vendela as the others hid behind Aaarrrgghh, who said to Vendel. "Vendel mad?"

"Mad would be a significant improvement! The Trollhunter is to protect the Trollmarket, not risk his life chasing stones from fairy tales." Vendel said before Jim took the Birthstone from Seth and placed it on the table. Vendel gasped and said looking at it. "Oh, my… Gunmar's birthstone. The legends are true. This stays here, safe from your bumbling hands." Vendel took the Birthstone and then Blinky said to Vendel. "Speaking of hands, uh, when am I going to get my other two back?"

"It could be days, weeks. It's impossible to know when an enchantment of this severity could wear off."

"Well, then, what shall I do until then?"

"It's your choice. Stay here for me to poke and prod, or enjoy your day in the sun. For as long as it lasts." Vendel said and at the same time, Otto was in Strickler's office, and in the corner was Angor Rot working on a golem totem. Otto was scared of Angor Rot and he said to Strickler. "The Janus Order has sent me. They are starting to question your leadership. They are worried you don't have everything in control."

"As long as his ring is on my finger, I can control him." Strickler said before Angor Rot said. "But how long will that finger be on your hand?" That scared Otto, and made Strickler uneasy. Strickler cleared his throat and said to Otto. "We have information to suggest the Trollhunter and Kamen Rider possess the Birthstone."

"They weren't supposed to know about that. I thought you burned the books."

"I did. But now, I know the path they seek and can use this information to our tactical advantage."

"But what about the bigger picture?" Otto said before Strickler opened his secret room. Inside was a map of the world and Strickler said to Otto. "Eliminating the Trollhunter and the Kamen Rider is but the first part of my machinations. A new police chief in Bordeaux, a state senator is Boise, a news editor in Shanghai. All in the last month. The Janus Order is growing, infiltrating. Together, we who were called "impure" will one day control the world, and the world won't even know it. Without Gunmar, there is a vacant throne for the taking."

"And who will fill it, mein Freund?" Otto said and Strickler stabbed the map. That told Otto that Strickler would take the throne. Then they both saw Angor Rot take off a piece of his body and started to carve it. Otto then said to Angor Rot. "Uh, did you just rip off a piece of your body?"

"Would you rather I rip off a piece of yours?" Angor Rot said, scaring Otto. Then Otto said pointing to the group of golem totems he already made. "And what are those for?"

"The rider, and the hunters friends. Time I met with the hunter alone." Angor Rot said with a wicked smile. Back with Jim and the others. Blinky decided to venture into the light of day, but the moment he opened the door, Blinky got cold feet. "Don't worry, it's not gonna hurt." Jim said, giving Blink a hand. Before Blinky took Jim's hand, he said to Aaarrrgghh. "I'm sorry you won't be joining me on this adventure, my friend." Aaarrrgghh understood, and Blinky took Jims hand. Jim then helped Blinky into the sunlight and he was fine. As Blinky looked at himself, Jim said to him. "There you go. See? You're fine." Blinky then ran off from under the bridge and said looking at the sun. "It's so… bright!"

"Yeah, well, don't stare at it." Jim said as Blinky turned away from the sun. Once Blinky recovered, he said to Jim, Noah, and Seth. "Master Jim, Master Noah, Master Seth, I want to see more!"

"Well, slow down first." Noah said as Blinky as he started to look around the area, leaving Aaarrrgghh alone. On the top of the bridge, Blinky said, looking around. "I've seen the surface so many times, but never like this. It's so… beautiful!"

"But it's still dangerous!" Noah said, pulling Blinky out of the way of oncoming traffic. Then Blinky stomach growled and Seth said. "Let's head back to the house. There Blinky can get some food, and the others can meet up with us."

"Sounds good." Jim said as they took them to Jim's house. At Jim's house, Teika and Draal were waiting for them and Blinky was given some food. Blinky loved the taste of human food and opening the refrigerator. Blinky then said taking a lot of the food out of the refrigerator. "There's so much I want to do, so much I haven seen. I've never cared much for human food, but… but the flavor! The texture! If only I had two more hands to eat faster. What do you call this cuisine?"

"That's leftovers Blinky." Noah said before Tekia said. "I can't even look at you. Your whole body is like an old sausage left on the grill too long."

"Very amusing. Who invited him?" Blinky said before Seth said. "Actually he invited himself. Why I have no idea."

"I'll tell you why. It's boring sitting around the crib all day. When I heard about Blinky's changes, I had to come see it. I didn't know it was into a fat, balding, hot fudge sundae." Tekia said before laughing. As Blinky kept eating, and Tekia kept laughing, Draal said to Jim. "I didn't have time to tell you. While you were seeking the stone, that changeling Stricklander dropped your mother off outside."

"Yeah, I know. We sorta caught him on the way out."

"But maybe you did not see, he…"

"What?"

"Uh… smushed faces with the Barbara."

"He what?"

"What is the word you use? Uh, "kissed"?" Draal said and Jim angrily hit the counter. Draal then said to Jim. "I should have struck him down."

"Yeah, you should have." Jim said before Noah said. "Whoa there! Remember, hurting or killing Strickler in any way, it will happen to Barbara as well."

"I remember. Gah! He's all over my mom. I can't lay a finger on him." Jim said before Draal said. "He's trying to get under your skin, Trollhunter. Do not let him."

"It's filled with glop, yet the exterior is so soft and squishy. How do they keep it all in?" Blinky said before his stomach started to grumble. Blinky then said as Tekia listened to it. "I think my stomach is trying to communicate with me."

"That ain't your stomach, pal. After eating a buffet like that, that fleshy inner tube of a body is about to spring a leak." Tekia said as the grumbling continued. Blinky then screamed and ran for the bathroom. But as he was running, Blinky hit a wall and said before he entered the bathroom. "This is absurd. How can you function with only two eyes?" Then Blinky hit another wall and then entered the bathroom. Back with the others, Jim said to Draal. "You didn't happen to overhear who Strickler brought back with him, did you? Some troll with big horns and a weird staff, maybe?"

"Sorry, I do not know." Draal said and then Seth said. "And we haven't found any record of that troll either, yet."

"Can this get any worse?" Jim said before they heard a Barbara's car pull up. "You had to ask?" Noah said as Draal entered the basement, but Tekia was panicking. As Jim was helping Tekia, they heard the toilet flushed. "Oh, no. Blinky!" Jim said before Noah said. "Seth and I'll deal with him. Hide Tekia."

"Got it." Jim said before he found a spot for Tekia, the refrigerator. Tekia didn't want to hide in the refrigerator, and just before Noah and Seth could reach Blinky. Blinky had walked down and said. "I have to say, indoor plumbing is the most remarkable…" Then they both saw one another and before Noah or Seth could say anything. Barbara pushed Noah and Seth away from them and said to Blinky. "I don't care what you're doing, but if you're not out of my house in five seconds, I have an orange belt in Krav Maga, and I will not hesitate to use it."

"I can explain if you'll just allow me to–"

"Soft targets." Barbara said before attacking Blinky. After a few hits, Blinky was down and rubbing his eyes from the pain from Barbara picking at them. Jim then had finally pushed Tekia into the refrigerator and said as he looked at Blinky and Noah and Seth stopped her from attacking Blinky. "Mom! Wait, wait, he's with us!"

"Jim? He's… Oh! Wait, wait. What? I'm sorry, who are you?" Barbara said, helping Blinky up. Noah made a quick intro and said. "Barbara this is Mr. Blinky."

"Okay, what has Jim done now?" Barbara said to Blinky and Blinky said to her. "No, no, no. Jim isn't in any trouble. I'm here to… assist."

"Yeah, he's my, uh, guidance counselor from my school." Jim said before Barbara said. "Since when do guidance counselors make house calls?"

"I'm new." Blinky said and then Jim said. "Principal Strickler just brought him in." Barbara didn't really believe them and so Blinky said to her. "Do you mind if we speak alone?" Barbara agreed and then walked away from Jim, Noah, and Seth. Blinky then said to Barbara. "When I was first introduced to your son, I'd never met anyone like him. He was scared, vulnerable, filled with questions. He was acting out. Having a father walk out on one's life is a traumatic experience enough, but at his tender age…" Then Barbara turned to Jim and said. "Sweetie, if you needed to talk to someone…"

"Well, you're kind of always working."

"That's what this is about? The trouble you've been getting into and the late nights and the strange behavior?"

"The letter… I wasn't sure how to tell you, and I had to tell someone, and Mr. Blinky's helped me through a lot of stuff."

"Mr. Blinky?" Barbara said before Blinky said. "Bulgarian. It's pronounced "Blink-heh." Barbara then hugged Jim and after that said to Blinky. "I really appreciate that, Mr. Blinky. And I'm sorry I kicked you earlier."

"The pain is tolerable."

"Well, if there's any help that I can be… You know what? I'm gonna write down my number. Please just call me anytime." Barbara said before walking into the kitchen to find a piece of paper and something to write with. Once she was gone, Jim whispered to Blinky. "You know I don't care about my father."

"You do now." Blinky said before Noah whispered to Jim. "Yeah, the reasoning doesn't matter, because now you can fix your bond with your mom now."

"That is a plus side to all of this." Jim whispered before Barbara returned and she said to Blinky, giving him her number. "If this helps Jim work out, you know, what he's– well, what we're going through, I just want to be supportive. Just let me know if there's anything I can do." Before Blinky could say anything else, Claire and Toby entered and Claire said walking through the back door. "Is it true? Is it really true?"

"We came as soon as we—" Toby said and stopped when he and Claire then noticed Barbara in the room. "Oh, hi, Dr. L."

"Hey guys, we were just introducing Barbara to Mr. Blinky, our guidance counselor." Seth said as he walked over to them. He stopped Toby from touching Blinky, and pointed Claire to the refrigerator. Claire quickly opened it and took Tekia out. Once Tekia was out, he turned back into his baby form. Toby then said to Blinky, playing along with the lie. "Nice to meet you."

"Good to see you again." Claire said, appearing with Tekia, who was a little cold. Barbara was confused about where Tekia came from, and then Claire said to Barbara. "Do you mind if we borrow your son, Noah, Seth, and Mr. Blinky?"

"We're burning sunlight, Dr. L. You know what I mean?" Toby said to Barbara and Barbara said. "Oh yes, of course. Go." Then everyone started to leave the house. Jim was the last one out, because Barbara stopped him and said. "Honey, did Claire come in with that baby?"

"No, he just walked in here on his own and he asked for a ride. Come on, Mom." Jim said before giving her a kiss and then left the house. Barbara was happy, because this felt like the first step in fixing their bond.

Once outside, Claire found a spot with shade and out of few of anyone, then threw Tekia into the spot. Tekia turned into a troll and was fine, and Claire said to Tekia. "Come on! Hurry home before Mom and Dad notice you're gone." Tekia wasn't happy, but started heading back to Claire's house. As for the others, Toby said to Blinky. So, what now, Blink? It's your big day!"

"There's only so much time and so much to do. I can brunch. I can picnic in the park. Sunbathe at the beach. And dare I say, boogie board. And, oh, my Gorgus! I can get behind the wheel of an automobile!" Blinky said and then Claire said. "Well, the day is almost over, but I think I know just the place."

As the sun started to set, they had reached the spot Claire was taking them. The spot was an area in the forest that mostly had a lot of glass bottles from a party everywhere. "It's… charming?" Blinky said to Claire after picking up a bottle. Jim then said to Blinky, taking the bottle away from him. "No, she means this." Jim then turned Blinky to the cliff side and everyone saw a beautiful sunset shine over Arcadia. Claire then said to Blinky. "Doesn't get any better than this."

"It's breathtaking. Words cannot describe." Blinky said as he kept walking and would have fall off the cliffside if Jim, Noah and Seth didn't grabbed him in time. Once Blinky was safe, Jim said to Blinky. "Yeah, well, imagine if you had six eyes."

"So your first day as a human is almost to a close. Anything else you want to do?" Toby said to Blinky and Blinky said. "No. Just this. If only Aaarrrgghh could be here, too. I'm so anxious to tell him about all of our adventures. Thank you, Master Jim, Master Noah, Master Seth. Today was a day I will never forget."

"There is no thank you needed, it was our pleasure." Seth said before Blinky said. "But if I am to be honest, I have to wonder how many days this will last."

"Who knows, but do what all humans do with their time. In joy to the best of their abilities." Noah said and then Blinky said. "Ok, but what about this skin… I am still uncomfortable in it."

"Welcome to being a teenager." Toby said before Jim said. "Don't worry, Blink. Maybe now we can be the one who helps train you." Then all of them looked at the sunset, and while it was a beautiful scene. It lowered their guards and Angor Rot appeared behind them and placed all of the totems inside a recycle bin full of glass bottles. Once all of the totems were inside, Angor Rot also placed a Soul Jewel that color was clay orange.

After Angor Rot disappeared, Noah and Seth took Blinky and Toby away, leaving Jim and Claire alone. Both of them took a seat on the bench and Jim said to Claire. "This view is amazing. How did you hear about this place?"

"Logan brought me up here to ask me out to the Spring Fling."

"Oh! He did? Well, are you…?"

"I told him I was waiting for someone else to ask me." Claire said, and that someone was Jim. Jim knew Claire was talking about him, but couldn't say the words. Because Jim was so nervous and didn't say anything, Claire started to feel awkward. Claire then broke the awkward silence by picking up a bottle and saying. "Would you look at this? I hate it when people litter. Maybe I should… eh…" Claire then left for the recycling bin and after that, the others appeared behind Jim and Toby said. "You blew it, man. Claire Nunez wanted you to ask her to the dance, and you stood there and did nothing."

"Even I think you… How did you say it? Ah, yes. "Blew it"." Blinky said before Jim said. "What was I supposed to say?"

"Anything. Literally anything." Seth said before Claire screamed. They all turned and saw a glass monster come out of the recycle bin. As everyone got ready to fight, Blinky said. "Another golem?"

"I thought you said it was made of mud!" Toby said before Claire said. "Not glass!"

"That doll inside of it must use whatever is nearby. Like the glass bottles everywhere!" Seth said, pulling out Efreet. Noah then said putting on his Driver and pulling out Blade. "Let's just smash it and get this over with. Henshin!"

"Efreet Blade!" Noah Driver said before becoming Soul, Efreet Blade form. Then after Jim equipped his armor, he said to everyone. "Well, there's four of us and only one of him. Flank him!"

"Master Jim, it appears we have more guests!" Blinky said more glass monsters appeared and surrounded them. "Our flank was outflanked." Toby said and then Claire said to Jim. "Jim, what do we do?"

"Last time, there was a weird stone doll in it." Jim said before Blinky said. "An animus totem. We must rip them from out of the beast's hearts and destroy them."

"You mean, I gotta put my hand in that thing?" Toby said before Noah said. "No, we do this." Noah then placed the Jewels in the blades and the Driver said. "Efreet Blade! Final Attack!"

"Final Attack! Rising Slash!" Soul said before cutting the golems in half. As Soul switched into Gnome Fighter, the golems recovered and Seth said. "What? I thought that destroyed the dolls too?" Jim then noticed a clay colored armor man with kangaroo feet and pouch. Jim figured it out it was a Phantom and saw the totems for the golems inside its pouch. Jim then said as the Phantom hopped away. "I see the dolls. I'm going after them."

"Jim, wait!" Noah said as Jim ran after the Phantom. Soul was going to follow, but chose to stay with the others. Because the others had only rocks to fight back and protect Seth's body. "Welcome to the rock show!" Toby said trying to throw a really big rock, but it didn't go far. Seth then said to Toby. "That looked cooler in your head, didn't it?"

"Yeah." Toby said before picking up a small rock. Jim followed the Phantom and just before Jim could take down the Phantom, Jim was trapped in some kind of trap that had glowing eclectic pillars that came from rocks. The trap kept Jim from moving or speaking. The Phantom turned around, because it got scared after seeing Angor Rot appear. Angor Rot laughed and used his staff to make a way to Jim. Angor Rot then said to Jim. "You've wandered into my web, my human hunter. I am Angor Rot, and I will be the last you see before you die."

Back with the other, Soul saw the Phantom, but not Jim. "Oh, no! I think Jim is in trouble." Seth said before Noah said kicking the head of a golem off. "So are we!" Then the golem's head reformed and it attacked Soul. Claire noticed the totems inside the Phantom's pouch and said to Soul. "Noah! Seth! Deal with the kangaroo. We will handle this."

"You sure?" Noah said before Blinky said as everyone picked up something to use as a weapon. "Leave them to us, Master Noah, Master Seth."

"Find, just don't die." Seth said before switching Gnome with Sylph. "Sylph Fighter!" Soul's Driver said before Soul chased after the Phantom, which was still going away from Jim.

Back with Jim, he tried to speak, but Angor Rot said to him. "It's useless to speak." Angor Rot then started to make a mark or Jim's face. The mark had an upside down V that connected to Seth's face. The mark was like his face with the left side appearing on Seth's face and the rider side appearing on Jim's face. As Angor Rot was working on the mark, he said to Jim. "I have killed hunters in the past but never a human one, or a rider either. Such curious game. I will not give the sweet release of death. Not yet. I will relish this hunt. Relax. Your friends won't help you now." Then Angor Rot added the finishing touch to his spell and added an X to the front of his head.

"We need to finish this." Seth said as they caught up to the Phantom. "Yeah, let's do it!" Noah said before doing another finisher. "Sylph Fighter! Final Attack!" Soul's Driver said before they started to run ahead then around the Phantom. Soul then trapped the Phantom in the center of powerful winds. And before the Phantom could jump out of the wall of winds, Soul appeared above the Phantom. "Final Attack! Hurricane Takedown!" Soul said as they crashed hard into the Phantom. That crash caused an explosion that destroyed the Phantom and the dolls. Once the golems fell apart, and Soul switched into Undine Archer, they all ran to where Jim was in a hurry.

As for Jim, Angor Rot finished and the X on his face disappeared. "Next time we meet, hunter, Soul and Daylight will be mine to command." Angor Rot said before using his staff to leave the area. The others found just as Angor Rot was gone and Blinky said to everyone. "He's in a stasis trap. Don't touch the stones."

"Got it!" Noah said before tackling Jim out of the trap. It broke the trap and then everyone saw the mark on Jim's face. As the mark started to disappear, Blinky said. "The golems… The Phantom… they were a distraction."

"Yeah, for that Troll to make this mark. But, why would he do that?" Seth said before Blinky said. "It is the worst sigil in the history of Troll kind, Master Seth. The sigil of Angor Rot."

"Who's Angor Rot?" Noah said before Blinky said. "A Troll of great danger to all that wear the Trollhunter Amulet, Master Noah."

"What does this mark mean?" Jim said before Blinky said to him. "Master Jim, I fear you have been marked for a fate worse than death." And then the mark disappeared from Jim and Seth's face. And the next time they fought Angor Rot, he would show them what he meant by Soul and Daylight were under his command.