Chapter 21: For the Glory of Merlin
[This chapter contains scenes from Episode 13: The Battle of Two Bridges from Trollhunters]
The battle erupted into chaos immediately as Bular called for their deaths, ordering his forces forward on the Trollhunters. Draal leapt forward, engaging Nomura and keeping her occupied while doing his best to keep an eye on Barbara, though she hardly seemed to need the help as she swung her bat swiftly, bludgeoning goblin after goblin while occasionally throwing one of the makeshift chemical bombs they made, causing the little green menaces to gasp and wheeze as they choked and their eyes teared up.
AAARRRGGHH was quick to rush in, scooping up Toby and tossing him onto his back. The large troll tried to run around the bridge to pick up Blinky, but was intercepted when Bular leapt from overhead, cutting him off.
"Looks like the pet is at the beck and call of his fleshling master." Bular taunted AAARRRGGHH as Toby let out a terrified scream, but Jim wasn't about to sit by.
However, before he could leap in, Strickler acted first, unfurling his feathery cloak into large wings as he swooped down off Killahead Bridge and struck Bular in the side of the face with his daggers.
"Young Tobias, get yourself to safety posthaste!" Strickler ordered.
"Strickler's on our side?!" Toby exclaimed, clutching onto AAARRRGGHH's fur as the large troll turned and ran. "Awesome-sauce!"
"Young Atlas! Do what you must! I'll hold him here!" Strickler called back as he swooped down at Bular again, making sure to keep a good distance between him and the massive black troll.
Jim nodded, trusting his teacher as he slid down the side of the bridge to where Blinky was recovering from his fall. The six-eyed troll was still grumbling as he got to his feet, looking around at the absolute chaos that was unfolding within the museum.
"My word, Master Jim, this is–"
Blinky was cut off before he could finish his sentence as Jim hugged him tightly, holding onto the troll for dear life. It took a moment before Blinky hugged him back, patting him reassuringly on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Master Jim. I should have trusted you from the beginning."
"No, I should have trusted you." Jim shook his head. "There's a lot I need to tell you once this is over. For now, help the others."
"Rodger that, Master Jim." Blinky saluted with two of his four arms before glancing over at Strickler as he continued to fight. "Though this is rather curious. A Changeling fighting against Bular? Rather curious indeed."
"Blinky! Later?" Jim insisted.
"Ah! Yes! Indeed! Good luck, Master Jim!" Blinky shouted as he rushed over towards Barbara, toppling a shelf on top of several goblins that were about to sneak up on her.
"You must be Blinky." She smiled as green goblin goo leaked out from under the shelving. "I'm Barbara. Jim's mom."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Barbara Lake. We must talk about your son in depth at a later date."
"Guys! Come on." Jim rolled his eyes as his mom blew him a kiss before sending a goblin flying across the room with a home-run swing and Blinky just waved.
Seeing they were in good hands, Jim turned back only to see Strickler wrenched out of the air as Bular leapt up onto one of the side balconies and grabbed him by the throat. The two of them slammed into the ground, the black troll crushing the Changeling beneath his mass, cleaver poised at his throat.
A flash of fear coursed through Jim as his senses sharpened and he hurled Daylight forward. The silver sword shot through the air, trailing blue smoke before slamming hard into Bular's blade, knocking it from his hand as the Gumm-Gumm turned and snarled at Jim.
"I'll admit it, you're far more trouble than I gave you credit for, Trollhunter." Bular snarled, standing up as he kept his foot on Strickler's chest. "I've killed plenty of your kind, yet, for some reason, you're proving to be a bigger thorn in my side than even Kanjigar."
"That's humans for you. We're persistent." Jim summoned Daylight back to his hand, holding it at the ready as he cautiously eyed Bular, making sure he didn't give the troll any reason to kill Strickler then and there.
"Irritating little insects. Though your affection for your friends and this Impure will be your undoing." Bular tossed his remaining cleaver into his other hand, holding the tip of the blade against Strickler's throat. "Open the bridge, or his head rolls."
Jim looked down at Strickler, the Changeling's yellow eyes meeting his. It wasn't a warning to not do as Bular said though, it was confirmation. This was a step they needed to take, even if it was walking the tightrope.
"Alright." Jim allowed Daylight to disappear as he walked over to the front of the bridge, Bular watching him the entire time with his keen eye.
"Trollhunter! Don't!" A fierce roar echoed throughout the room as Draal leapt through the air, tackling Bular off Strickler as the two of them began fighting intensely.
"Draal! Wait!" Jim clenched his teeth, ready to rush back into the fray when he was suddenly cut off. A high-pitched shriek warned him a half-second in advance before Nomura came whirling through the air, her blazing orange blades slashing at him as he did his best to fend her off.
"Looks like Draal wanted to switch dance partners. Fine by me, I've been waiting for a rematch!" Nomura snarled as she swung at Jim, forcing him away from the bridge.
"Nomura, stop! You don't have to do this!" Jim swung back, batting away the magenta Changeling's blade before she backflipped away, creating distance.
"I don't have to." Nomura agreed as a wicked smile crossed her face. "I want to!"
The Changeling shrieked again, spinning through the air as her blades clashed with Jim's, sending out orange sparks and blue smoke across the room. She was fast, and ruthless, each blow landing like a hammer and driving Jim further back. He was able to keep up for the moment, but he couldn't fight forever and, as unfortunate as it was, he didn't think he'd be able to change Nomura's mind.
Blocking one of her strikes, Jim batted one of Nomura's blades to the side in an excellent show of swordsmanship before slamming the pommel of Daylight into her chin, knocking the Changeling back. Jim followed up with a kick, sending Nomura sprawling to the ground.
"You've improved." Normua brushed the dirt off her face as she stood tall once more. "It would be a pity if you didn't put up a fight."
"You'll forgive me for this eventually." Jim sighed, steeling his resolve. "Tobes! Give me a hand here!"
As he called out, AAARRRGGHH and Toby came rocketing around the corner, a horde of goblins in pursuit. Somewhere, Toby had procured one of the display hammers as well as a helmet, which bounced up and down on his head, obviously too small for the chubby boy.
"On it, Jimbo! CHAAARRRGGEE!"
"CHAAARRRGGEE!" AAARRRGGHH croared with Toby as the two of them leapt into the air, distracting Nomura as they slammed into the magenta Changeling, the horde of goblins piling up behind them as Jim darted past, leaping up onto the scaffolding in front of the bridge.
"Hey, Jim! What's the plan here?" Toby called out, ducking as a goblin was sent soaring past his head by another killer swing from Barbara.
"Well, I'm gonna open the bridge." Jim shrugged, leaping up another level of the scaffolding.
"WHAT?!"
"Master Jim! What are you doing?" Blinky called out as Toby freaked out.
"Just trust me here!" Jim made his way up to the last layer, reaching down and removing Merlin's amulet from his chest. Holding it out, Jim pressed the amulet into the slot in the keystone, right below the carving of a terrifying stone troll head.
Immediately magic power surged through the stone structure, bringing it to life as the cracks in the stone emanated a fierce blue light. A swirling vortex of darkness crackled in the arch of the bridge, followed by an intense vacuum that kicked up a maelstrom within the museum. As the bridge was opening, it drew the attention of everyone in the room.
Bular stared in awe before a wicked smile crept across his face. Slamming Draal into the ground, the black troll leapt forward.
"Father!" He called out, a rarest hint of hope and affection in the troll's voice.
The Gumm-Gumm leapt up onto the bridge just as Jim also climbed over the edge to avoid the collapsing scaffolding. The black troll growled, swinging his sword, but he was once again met by the silvery blade of Daylight as Jim summoned it to hand without the amulet.
"You have my thanks, Trollhunter! I didn't realize you'd accept your own doom with open arms!" Bular snarled, swinging again, but Jim dodged the blade, sliding underneath the massive troll.
"The only doom I'm accepting is the doom of Gunmar." Jim rolled away from Bular's strike, reaching for the edge of the bridge so he could reclaim the amulet. However, he was cut off.
"The door stays open!" Bular roared, swinging his fist at Jim who only barely blocked it with his sword. "And I will finally see my father again!"
"I get that you want to see your dad." Jim coughed as he propped himself up on Daylight. "But things don't always go the way you plan. We don't always get what we want."
Running forward, Jim slid beneath Bular, dodging his blade once more. Glancing over the edge of the bridge, he saw Strickler fly in, helping anchor his mother to the ground as their surroundings and the myriad of goblins were dragged into the swirling vortex at the base of the bridge. AAARRRGGHH was holding down the fort as well, helping keep Blinky safe, and Draal was clinging onto one of the nearby pillars, looking up with worry at the amulet still glowing within the keystone.
Jim heard Nomura's terrified scream, watching with sadness as the Changeling was dragged through the portal. As soon as she disappeared, he reached over the edge, trying to get his hand back on Merlin's amulet to pull it out before it was too late. However, before he could get his hand on the amulet, he was slammed into the ground, Bular pressing down on him with all his weight.
"The return of Gunmar the Black is at hand!" Bular roared triumphantly. "This world is ours!"
"Think again, buttsnack!"
The massive black troll suddenly squealed, releasing Jim as he clutched at his gronk-nuks and doubled over. Behind him, Toby stood triumphantly, wielding his hammer which had landed a heavy blow against the Gumm-Gumm.
"Tobes! That was sick!" Jim couldn't help but laugh as his best friend helped him up, reaching over the edge of the bridge as the two boys put their hands on the glowing blue amulet which started their adventure.
"I've got your back, Jimbo!" Tobes smiled, his face full of braces sparkling. "Now, let's slam the door in Gunmar's face!"
Jim couldn't help but smile as he and Toby pulled at the amulet with all their strength, the magic trying to keep itself glued to the bridge. However, they wouldn't let it stay open, and the two of them together were stronger than any magic in the world.
"FOR THE GLORY OF MERLIN!" Toby roared.
"For the glory of Merlin!" Jim echoed his cry as they felt the amulet break free of the bridge, slamming the door shut as a haunting cry echoed from two black trolls, separated by the divide.