After Toby fainted, Blinky and AAARRRGGHH! Just stood there, Blinky shuffling his arms awkwardly.
"...That isn't good." Jim said mildly, rolling Toby over to check his face.
Pale, but fine. His armor was also gone.
"Try not to bring up his impending death next time you meet? Humans are kinda sensitive about that." Jim pinched the bridge of his nose irately.
Blinky winced. "Ah–I shall endeavour to follow that piece of advice…"
"Jim Lake." Jim said, smiling.
"Blinkous Galadrigal. This is my companion, AAARRRGGHH!." He gestured towards AAARRRGGHH!, "With three 'r's."
"And the guy you just scared to death is Tobias Domzalski." Jim said.
Blinky nodded gratefully. "If I may… you do not seem too surprised to learn another species is living beneath your feet…?" Though his tone was light, Blinky's voice was subtly laced with suspicion. If he had said that to anyone else, they wouldn't have noticed.
Jim Lake Jr. was not like anyone else.
Keeping his tone just as light, Jim responded, "Weird things happen in Arcadia allllll the time. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if aliens crash landed here and pretended to be students!" He chuckled and continued. "I always suspected there was something odd with our town–pets regularly go missing, strange noises echo in the suburbs–I think a few people even went missing at one point!"
Though Blinky didn't look too placated, he dropped the subject. "That's very… interesting-"
"Toby-Pie?" Nancy Domzalski's voice rang out above their heads, "Are you home, dear?"
Blinky looked panicked, his six eyes widening. "AAARRRGGHH!, we must flee the premises!"
Without exchanging another word, the two trolls left through a tunnel hidden in the corner.
Very neat, but what are the odds this tunnel gets abused by a not-so-friendly-troll later down the line? He'd need to have to watch it–even if he knew nothing wrong should happen. After all–Draal tunneled into Jim's house to live there, and nothing went wrong.
…
Okay, until Angor Rot broke in and trashed the house and nearly killed all of them.
Better get Strickler on my side first before he goes chasing Angor's dead body. In fact, he should probably go there and permanently destroy the body anyway–in case Otto Skaarbach went after it.
He also needed to get Nomura as soon as possible… NotEnrique as well–though that would hopefully be easier.
And Dictatious, to a lesser extent… Morgana would come to herself when she's resurrected. Other than that, there was no way to get Morgana back, as far as Jim knew.
Man, I have a LOT of friends that tried to kill me once upon a time.
Oh, and Draal.
I also need to prevent his death. I really hope he ends up on our side–even if Toby doesn't challenge him to a rematch.
And he needed to save Vendel, along with Heartstone Trollmarket as a whole.
For a moment, Jim considered just murdering Usurna in cold blood when she visits.
No–no, I'll warn Vendel first. Jim shut away the corruptive thought and moved on.
So much to do… and it feels like I have so little time…
Jim and his friends would be safe. In the past, there was only one Daylight wielder.
Now there were two.
Jim's phone buzzed as Toby called him at four in the morning. He groggily pushed a motorcycle magazine off his head and received the call.
"Tobes, it's four."
"Did we both go insane last night?!"
"I'm going to assume you're talking about the trolls?"
"No–I was talking about Unicorns eating us both–OF COURSE I WAS TALKING ABOUT TROLLS!" The audio was so loud Jim winced and moved the phone away from his ear.
"No, Tobes, we didn't. I bet they'll probably show up today as well, so don't faint like a princess this time." Jim's voice slowly turned into a laugh at the end of it.
"WHY ARE YOU SO CHILL ABOUT THIS?!"
Jim winced. "This stuff is chill, compared to the stuff roaming Arcadia."
"What's in Arcadia?"
"I'm more outdoorsy, so I've seen the creepiest things, like evil goo."
"...You're messing with me, right-"
"Yes, of course," Jim lied. "Now can I go back to sleep? I need rest if I'm going to make meatloaf."
"Fine, fine…" Toby's voice cut out as he ended the call.
Crisis successfully averted, Jim tried to go back to sleep.
Tried.
Whenever he was about to, the memories would sink in again, forcing him awake. After an hour of trying, Jim gave up and went downstairs to make breakfast early.
Two hours later…
"Oh, dude, you made lunch? Awesomesauce." Toby said, peeking inside.
"Did you have any… visits?" Jim whispered, grabbing his bike out from the garage.
"Straight to business, I see." Toby said, "No, nothing yet. I'll inform you when it happens." Despite the panicking over the phone, Toby looked completely at ease now.
"Should we take the canal-"
"No way! The last thing I need is to fall flat and die from tripping on my bike!"
"You wouldn't die…"
The rest of the day passed without incident for Jim and Toby, who encountered nothing strange during school.
"You thinking of signing up?" Toby said, looking at Jim who was softly caressing a poster of Romeo and Juliet.
"Yeah, I think I will."
"I would get going quick, then." Mr. Strickler said from right behind them. Jim and Toby jumped in surprise. "The auditions end in… what was it, five minutes?"
Again?! Jim swore under his breath as he dashed towards the theater.
"You wish to audition, Jim?" Ms. Janeth said, clapping delicately. "How wonderful! Please enter the stage."
Jim entered stage right. Despite the fact he didn't have any armor this time, he felt more confident than ever.
Maybe because he already memorized every line from the play…
"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?"
Destiny is a gift.
"It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."
Some go their entire lives, living existences of quiet desperation, never learning the truth about what feels as though a burden pushing down upon our shoulders, is actually a sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights.
"Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief,"
Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor, that to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means…
"That thou her maid art far more fair than she: be not her maid, since she is envious;"
What it means…
"Her vestal livery is but sick and green and none but fools do wear it; cast it off…"
…To be a hero.
…
As the entire balcony scene ended, the whole theater–about five inhabitants–burst out clapping. Even Eli, who was his competition.
"Erm, thank you." Jim said, quickly walking out. As soon as he was alone, tears started rolling down his cheeks unhindered, and Jim Lake started crying for the first time since he'd time travelled.
After school that day, Jim stayed up in his room, watching for any trolls trying to sneak into his friend's house.
We shouldn't be attacked by Bular tonight, since Strickler shouldn't know that Tobes has the Amulet of Daylight, right?
Nothing happened for the first few hours, but right as the sun went down, Blinky and AAARRRGGHH! Appeared and entered through the door.
Deya's grace! What were they thinking? Toby's Nana was probably home!
And why are they going through the front door?! They already have a tunnel!
Jim hurried downstairs right as AAARRRGGHH! Barely slipped inside, cracking the doorway a little. Distantly, Jim saw a flash of blue light from the Domzalski's house.
Oh crap, I think Toby just used the Amulet.
He sped inside the open door.
"Master Tobias, this mantle is a great honor!" Blinky was saying. No one but AAARRRGGHH! Seemed to have noticed Jim was in the room yet, as Toby was decked out in glowing armor and weakly brandishing Daylight.
He seems more paranoid than in the original timeline.
"Tobes, calm down, don't kill Blinky!" Jim said, looking at his friend with wide eyes. "And Blinky–everyone can see you–you broke the door."
Blinky and AAARRRGGHH! Shuffled away as Jim inspected the caved-in door.
"I'm just hoping my Nana doesn't notice the mess in my house." Toby said, dropping Daylight. It vanished into thin air almost instantly.
"Erm, I apologize for the inconvenience."
"Does that include telling me this Bular guy is going to try to kill me?"
Oh, looks like I missed that part.
"No one should know you're the Trollhunter, Tobes. You'll be fine." Jim said reassuringly.
"And you want me to go to Trollmarket right now?" Toby said.
"Yes–yes!" Blinky said enthusiastically. "We must begin your training immediately, should you hope to make it past day one."
Unlike Unkar the Unfortunate?
Toby gulped. "...School night?"
"I'll cover for you." I'm technically a year ahead of you at school.
Blinky shot an appreciative glance at Jim.
"Actually, can you just give me a day?" Toby said. "I need to… process a few things."
What is with this timeline and trying to follow original events?
Blinky sighed. "Very well. Tomorrow, then! Simply head to the canal, me and AAARRRGGHH! Will be waiting for you."
"So trolls are a real thing. Who would've thought?" Toby said as the pair rode down towards Arcadia High.
Jim shrugged, momentarily taking his hands off the handles. "Have you decided whether or not you're doing this?"
"Of course I'm doing it!" Toby said vehemently. "I have a sacred obligation, now."
"You can save the troll world from Bular, hopefully." Jim added.
Toby went quiet for a short time.
"...That's the plan, Jimbo. Either way, I doubt we'll fight Bular tonight. No Trollhunter is that unlucky."
Jim winced.
…
"Well, I think it's time to go to…" Toby looked around, "You know where."
They had made it to school and were just leaving after Jim went to the first rehearsal. Working with Claire was doing wonders for his mental health, along with making him all the more depressed that he was the only insider in his inside jokes.
"Alright."
The two biked until they were on an empty street.
This is where we were attacked by Bular last time.
Luckily, Bular didn't attack this time.
…
"Okay, Blinky just said to wait in the canal-" Toby started.
"LOOK OUT!" Jim tackled the new Trollhunter, sending both of them rolling to the side. A meter away from them, a black troll sword sunk into the ground.
Jim looked desperately around until he spotted glowing orange eyes glaring at them from the underside of the bridge Bular killed Kanjigar.
I'm such an idiot! He doesn't know who the Trollhunter is, so he must be just attacking anyone trying to enter Trollmarket!
"For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command!" Toby chanted, holding the amulet to the skies. It burned a bright blue as he was outfitted in the Daylight armor.
"Two Trollhunters, in nearly as many nights…" Bular the Butcher scowled, his trollish face making a slight smile.
"We're so dead!" Toby said emphatically.
"Where is AAARRRGGHH! And Blinky when you need them?" Jim and Toby scrambled to different sides as Bular landed in their midst.
As Jim threw himself to the ground, the modified Daylight Amulet poked him in the ribs and he rolled to his feet, narrowly dodging a reckless strike from Bular.
Across from him, Toby was also recovering–albeit not as quickly as Jim. Even though he wasn't even trained, he was performing admirably.
Still, Toby would be killed if Jim didn't take extra action, and Jim would not lose his friend again.
As Bular let loose with another swipe that widely aimed at them both, Jim jumped up onto his sword and scurried up his arm.
"Vermin!" Bular shook his arm furiously, but Jim had already achieved his goal. He jumped off the arm, but not before kicking Bular in the eye.
As the Gumm-Gumm furiously roared, Toby's eyes flashed for a second. Spinning the sword into a thrust, he nearly impaled Bular, who had to awkwardly bend backwards to survive.
"Good hit, Jimbo!" Toby said, backing away as Jim landed next to him.
Suddenly, the wall under the bridge started being outlined as a wide, semicircular door.
Trollmarket's finally opening. What took them so long?
Bular also noticed it, and his eyes darted back and forth from Toby to the opening Trollmarket.
"Grr…" He growled. "Insolent fools." Reluctantly moving away, the troll was gone as the door to Trollmarket opened.
"Maybe we'll finally get some answers, eh?" Toby said.