"Whoa. Those Woffs are moving fast." Hilbert said as he packed his bag.
"Can't argue with that," Johanna sighed. "I've been thinking about the threats we were receiving."
"Look, mom. I have been trying to deal with that," said Hilda with a little bit of uncertainty in her voice. "Even Hilbert is stepping in to lend a hand." The boy felt guilty knowing that not all things can end the way they wanted.
"I know, but all this trouble made me realize that we're the only people for miles in this place." Johanna sadly slumped on the couch.
"But that's why we love it," commented Hilda before turning to her sibling. "Right, Hilbert?"
"Yeah, she's a got point there," said Hilbert with a weak smile. "The town would not be very welcoming to us since I am known to have my inventions explode everywhere in total failure."
"But wouldn't you like other kids to talk to?" Johanna was concerned.
"I have myself to talk to, and Twig, and Spark...even Hilbert, even if we don't get along," said Hilda, stealing a short glance at her brother as she said the last part. "See, we're okay."
"Let's take a small trip to Trolberg tomorrow" said Johanna getting an instant refusal from her girl. "All I ask is for you to keep an open mind."
Hilda at first calmed down in an upset manner, only for her to immediately scratch her hair. "Why is my head so itchy?"
"Let's check it out," said Johanna in slight concern as she checked Hilda's hair. "Oh, it's nittens."
Hilbert ignored the whole thing and dejectedly headed to bed, but Johanna noticed how dispirited he was.
"Hilbert, are you okay? You've been awfully quiet." Johanna asked in concern.
"Yeah, I'm...I'm fine," said Hilbert dejectedly as he slowly covered himself in his blanket. "Just exhausted, that's all."
"Don't worry, things are going to be okay," said Johanna with a soft smile as she ruffled her son's hair. "Life in the city isn't that bad. It might grow on you and who knows, maybe you'll make some actual friends."
Hilbert didn't respond. He was very upset to do anything other than try to sleep.
"Well, I brought my old Trolberg guidebook for tomorrow. Maybe you could check it out on the trip," said Johanna with a weak smile as she placed a small guidebook near the room's lamp before noticing Hilda enter the room. "Hilda, are you alright now?"
"Yeah, my hair stopped being itchy." said Hilda despondently as she crawled into bed.
Johanna gave the two a smile before turning off the light and leaving the room. As soon as Johanna left, Hilda sat in her bed and spoke. "Hilbert, you better not be giving up already." The girl was in disbelief, thinking her brother would throw in the towel.
"Relax, Sherlock. I ain't." said Hilbert dejectedly as he tried to ignore her more. It was hopeless, a giant was much more than he could handle.
"You don't sound that confident," said Hilda with a frown.
"Just leave me alone."
Hilda went silent with a deep scowl. She was pissed. How can he just give up like that?! There's still something to be done! Hilda thought to herself. She stayed awake pondering that...until a large shadow passed by their room's window.
Hilda immediately noticed the shadow and headed to the window, attracting the attention of Hilbert, who was also awake at the time.
"Hilda?" Hilbert called out as Hilda grabbed her notebook and headed to the window again. Hilbert got out of bed to try and talk to her, but she went outside through the window. The boy tried to call his sister back to the room, but it didn't work. "Ugh! What the hell has gotten onto her?!" Hilbert knew his sister was about to do something stupid and he couldn't stop her, nor did he have the power or bravery needed to follow her. As an alternate solution, he ran towards a box that was in his room and pulled out a drone that had a camera that contained a screen, as well as a controller.
"Whoa!" Hilda was heard yelling outside.
Hilbert activated the drone and used it to follow Hilda using the controller.
"Hilda! What do you think you are doing?!" Hilbert spoke in an annoyed manner through the controller's microphone.
"The giant! It's here!" said Hilda with a determined look as she stood on the giant's shoulder.
"Then why are you on their shoulder?" asked Hilbert while covering himself with his blanket.
"I want to know why they've been coming here lately," said Hilda with a determined look before glaring at the drone. "And if you want to stop me, get out of that blanket and tell me that yourself!"
"But it's cold! Not to mention it's late out here!"
Hilda ignored him and called for the giant before heading to the giant's ear. Hilbert stopped the drone when he saw that. Ugh. Will that girl ever learn? Hilbert went back to bed and slept.
Eventually, Hilda quietly made it back home. Upon seeing her brother snore off, she was scowling. It was bad enough he refused to join her on her adventures, but the fact that he is simply giving up on their home really set off the deep end. Normally I would just wake Hilbert up to rant at him, but I should get back to sleep now so I won't be drowsy when we visit Trolberg.
"This is quite interesting," said Hilda as she sat in the car with her mother and brother the following morning. "It says here that Trolberg was built smack in the middle of land that belonged to trolls."
"That's why they built this wall; to keep the trolls out," said Johanna with a smile as she gestured to the walls of Trolberg.
"I take back what I said about this place being interesting," said Hilda, deflating at Johanna's words.
"Don't blame them. They don't want to become the beauty of some beasts," chuckled Hilbert, gaining a glare from his sister. "I'm just saying."
Hilda didn't answer and just scowled while Johanna rolled her eyes. Hilbert shrugged and the family continued their trek into Trolberg. They eventually stopped by a big building.
"That one's available," said Johanna with a smile as she pointed at one of the houses before looking at a pamphlet in her hand. "Parking, pets okay, close to park and three bedrooms, sounds perfect. You two can finally have separate bedrooms."
"Not bad...I guess?" said Hilbert as he stared at the house. He seemed somewhat interested in this setting.
"You're joking, right? Please tell me you're messing with me," Hilda expressed her displeasure as she glared at Hilbert before inspecting its sides. "We'd be trapped in a house sandwich!"
"I'm fine with this area since it has enough space for me to do my thing," Hilbert blew a raspberry.
"Oh, there's a big surprise, since you never leave the house anyway," said Hilda with venom in her voice as a deep frown took place on her face.
Hilbert rolled his eyes and ignored her as the three decided to go and check out the school.
"This could be your school," said Johanna cheerfully as she gestured to the school's playground "Take a look."
"Fine, but I'll keep a low profile." Said Hilda in a serious tone as she entered the playground.
Johanna noticed a dollar on the ground. She told her son that she would return shortly.
"Ugh, my life's a living-" Hilbert started before a girl with velvet red hair walked up to him.
"Hello, little buddy!" The girl was cheerful. She inspected Hilbert, weirding the boy out. "You're not from around here, are you?
"Not really. I don't even live here, to be honest," Hilbert narrowed his eyes. "Pretty much my first time visiting this place."
"What's your name?"
"Uh, Hilbert." The boy scratched his head. "We are just looking around."
"Who's we?" the girl raised an eyebrow.
"My family, of course," Hilbert responded. "There's no way I came here alone."
"So, the 'royal we' is what you meant?"
"Yeah," the boy shrugged his shoulders. "That's right."
The girl did a cartwheel on the ground. "Hey, are you a hobo?"
Hilbert furrowed his eyebrows. "No. I'm not a hobo. But you probably might need to head back inside since the bell is going to ring now. Don't be late."
"What's that? Didn't hear ya. Your whining is so bad, it made my ears numb," the girl replied while doing a handstand.
Hilbert was getting annoyed. "Listen, I tried to be nice…"
"'I tried to be nice…,'" the girl copied Hilbert.
The boy groaned. "You're mimicking me…"
"'You're mimicking me…'"
Hilbert shook his head. "Okay, that is rude, and this conversation is over."
The girl repeated what Hilbert said just in time for him to look for his sister. The girl noticed the bell was about to ring. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Very funny," Hilbert let out a sarcastic chuckle. "I know what I'm doing."
The bell started ringing. Suddenly, Hilbert was trampled by the various kids that ran over him. He screamed as some children stomped on his face and stomach while running to the building. The boy was dizzy when the kids were gone. The girl helped Hilbert up. "Bell ringing means end of break. Doyee. Hey, why do you look so freakishly French?"
Hilbert noticed his beret and hid it. "I don't know. Why are you so freakishly annoying?"
"Well, why are you so freakishly…" The girl felt her stomach rumble. "That reminds me, it's Taco Tuesday! Gotta go! And welcome to Trolberg!"
Hilbert dusted himself off just in time for Hilda to reunite with him. They met up with their mother and they went back home.