Chapter 15: Crispy Lessons
[This chapter contains scenes from Episode 11: Recipe for Disaster from Trollhunters]
Taking a seat on one of the large rocks in his backyard, Jim caught his breath after his training session with Draal. He may be the Trollhunter and have years more experience than he should, but Draal was a formidable warrior in his own right, having trained for years to inherit the mantle of Trollhunter from his father. It was a little frustrating, but Jim had to accept that he was outclassed when it came to straightforward combat.
"You are coming along well, Trollhunter." Draal complimented, standing stoically with his arms crossed. "Though you're still rather puny, and easily distracted."
"Thanks, Draal." Jim chuckled, letting the armor disappear in a flash of blue smoke as he held Merlin's amulet in hand. "I don't think I can change much about the 'puny' part though. Humans don't usually get as big as trolls."
"I suppose you're about as good as a flesh bag can get." Draal snorted, causing his nose ring to tap against his upper lip.
"Not a fan of humans?"
"Flesh bags are fragile, weak, and cowardly. They'll always band together like pests when they are too puny to deal with their own problems." The blue troll bared his stone teeth but his irate expression quickly changed as he looked down at Jim. "Though, I have seen that I'm not entirely right when it comes to you humans."
"Do trolls not have relationships?" Jim probed, leaning forward on his knees as he looked back at Draal.
"A troll is born when a mother and father troll chip away part of their heartstone and place them in a crystal. We have families, like my father, Kanjigar, but our relationships may vary." Draal explained solemnly. "He was… distant, due to his responsibilities as Trollhunter."
"What about you and Nomura? You seem to have a history."
Draal jumped in surprise, stumbling back a little before catching himself and growling.
"I did once have stirrings for the impure, but no longer." The spiky troll snarled. "Her allegiance to Gunmar… Bushigal. Trollhunter, forget everything I said, or I will bury you beneath that stone."
"Alright, alright." Jim raised his hands innocently as Draal thrust his spear towards him. "It's not a bad thing though. What if Nomura wasn't trying to free Gunmar? What if she turned her back on him?"
"You do not understand, Trollhunter." Draal shook his head, large horns swaying back and forth. "Those who follow Gunmar worship the earth he walks on. They believe he will bring about an age where trollkind rules the surface and you humans cower in fear. Such a vision is not so easily turned away from."
"You never know." Jim replied, keeping some hope in his heart.
He didn't know much about Draal and Nomura's past together, but he did hope they could make amends. When Nomura heard of Draal's death at the hands of Angor Rot, she seemed distressed. It was clear that, beneath the anger and taunting, there was something between the two of them. This time around, Jim would make sure that something had the chance to become more.
"Enough about me, Trollhunter." Draal snorted. "Your training continues."
"Wait, really? I thought we were done?"
"Bular won't play so nicely. Besides, if you have enough energy to pry, you have enough energy to not die." A wicked grin crossed the troll's face as he whipped his spear around and caught Jim by the collar of his jacket, lifting him up into the air as he shouted in surprise and tossed him across the backyard.
"Draal! No fair!"
"Hahaha! Then do something about it, Trollhunter!" The large blue troll laughed and grinned broadly, leaping back into action as Jim once more donned his armor and sparred with his brother for another round.
"So, Young Atlas, feeling ' crispy' today as well?"
"You had to bring that up, didn't you?"
"I distinctly remember hearing about your antics last time around. I must say, I'm a little disappointed that I missed out." Strickler teased Jim as the two of them walked through the halls of the school.
"Yeah? Did you also know Coach Lawrence let us watch Gun Robot 3 in your class?" Jim smirked back.
A couple of interesting things Jim discovered about time magic while searching and writing down his memories, it also restored the memories he didn't fully remember. Like his time as a fully corrupted troll imprisoned by the Arcane Order or, in this case, his antics with the Grit-Shaka. If embarrassment could kill, he would already be buried. Fortunately he didn't have to rely on Draal's help this time around, but that didn't mean Strickler was going to let things slide.
At the very least he didn't have to repeat everything that happened while he was wearing the Gumm-Gumm amulet. That meant not embarrassing himself in front of the entire school, or making Claire angry by behaving like Steve. It also kept him from going after Bular alone. Though he was still attached to ' keeping it crispy' as it were.
"I'm aware. Though there are more pressing matters I had to attend to. Such as the completion of a certain bridge."
"So Killahead is complete?" Jim nodded to himself. "Wow, you guys really do work fast."
"A world-wide network like the Janus Order operates efficiently. Sometimes too efficiently." Strickler replied. "Bular is growing even more impatient after speaking with his father. Gunmar has also placed him in charge, so my influence is weakening. He'll more than likely come after you soon, and 'reveal' my identity to you as part of Gunmar's plans."
"So Bular calling me ' Young Atlas' wasn't just a slip up, but infighting?" Jim hummed. "Well, that's good to know. I really wasn't quite sure what to think when Bular said it the first time."
"A ' test' as Gunmar put it. To see if I would be willing to kill you and take the amulet."
"Guess you failed that test in the end?" Jim smirked, teasing his teacher back.
"It's a good thing I did, Jim. It's a good thing I did." Stickler rolled his eyes. "We're reaching a turning point. Be prepared. If we want to turn Nomura to our side, it may be necessary we open the bridge, albeit for an instant. There's a delicate balance to be kept."
"Got it." Jim nodded. "Just don't twist my arm about it, alright? It was pretty rough the first time."
"I'm just glad that I don't have you glaring at me during my classes this time around." Strickler chuckled. "Though your mother did still invite me over to dinner tonight. Perhaps we can enjoy ourselves this time instead of attempting to slit each other's throats."
"Oh yeah. Wait, didn't you steal the amulet during all that?"
"I did. But since Bular hasn't yet revealed my identity to you, I have yet to receive an ultimatum from Gunmar. We have a little more time." A bell rang throughout the hallway, signaling the start of class. "You had best get going, Young Atlas. I will see you this evening."
"Alright. Oh, and bring the Fetch. We need it to find Enrique." Jim waved over his shoulder as he ran off down the hallway to his next class.
"Mister Lake, no running in the hallways."
Jim rolled his eyes as he slowed down, not noticing someone duck around the corner and out of sight just before he got there.
The day came and went and Jim was home before he knew it, prepping dinner in anticipation for Strickler's arrival. Toby decided to head down to Trollmarket with Blinky and AAARRRGGHH, bringing along NotEnrique so they could make some more progress with Vendel and their upcoming plans. The little Changeling had been as uncooperative as ever, but that worked out for the best, seeing as Jim and Strickler needed to keep the bridge hidden from the trolls for a while longer until they figured out what they needed to do.
Dinner went off without a hitch as Strickler arrived and sat down, Barbara more than happy to have him over. He shared stories, as he'd done the first time, and it was all the more clear he was alluding to his work alongside Bular and the other Changelings. It made Jim curious as to how Strickler and other Changelings managed to stay in society for so long when they didn't exactly age like normal humans, but he could ask those questions later. Eventually, Barbara got a call from the hospital, pulling her away from the table and allowing Jim and Strickler to talk.
"Well, what's the plan?" Jim asked as he took a bite of steak.
"I think it's best I take the amulet tonight. It will keep Bular from seeking you out if I prove my loyalty here." Strickler replied. "If you can avoid another confrontation with him it may be for the best. It will leave him unprepared when you already know his habits and weaknesses."
"That's kinda risky though." Jim clicked his tongue. "Won't Gunmar be suspicious if I'm still alive and you have the amulet?"
"I can smooth things over." Strickler reassured him.
"You boys want something while I'm up?" Barbara leaned back into the dining room from the kitchen, checking in on the two of them.
"I think we're fine, Barbara. Thank you."
"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks, mom."
"Alright, let me know." Turning back to the kitchen, Jim's mom continued to talk on the phone.
"I'll be fine, Jim. Gunmar needs me, at least at the moment. Bular knows this as well. They can't just kill me on a whim."
"... Alright." Jim bit his lip before reaching into his pocket and handing Merlin's Amulet over to Strickler, placing it in the Changeling's hand.
"The bridge will close without you anyway. This will more than likely lead to Bular acting out in a rage." Strickler turned over the amulet a few times in his hands, the ethereal blue glow reflected in his eyes. "Still, it's better than leaving a line open to Gunmar and his plotting."
"Just be careful. If not for me, then for my mom." Jim pointed a finger at Strickler. "Got it?"
"Got it." The Changeling chuckled, tucking the amulet away in his pocket while handing Jim a fake one. "Here, just in case your friends are wondering about it."
Jim reached out, taking hold of the false amulet and observing it, noticing the subtle differences as well as the keen lack of the Daylight Stone's glow. "I really should have noticed this was a fake earlier."
"Probably." Strickler smiled as Barbara finally came back into the dining room.
"Sorry about that. Who wants pie?"
"Pie sounds lovely."
"Here, I'll help." Jim was quick to get up, not quite trusting his mother to manage the kitchen by herself.
"Thanks honey. Seems like you two are getting along well." Barbara smiled as Jim walked past her.
"Yeah. Mr. Strickler's taught me a lot. Though I'd like to think I taught him a lesson or two as well." Jim smirked back at his Changeling mentor teasingly. "How about you two talk for a bit? I'll get the pie ready."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, mom. Go ahead. I'm sure."