Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first time that Jim reverted two years in the past, everything went somewhat smoothly – Toby managed to defeat Bular, but when it came to the Killahead Bridge is when it became…problematic – NotEnrique continued to be unnoticed by both Claire and her parents. Claire didn’t know about magic nor trollmarket under her feet. Instead it was Darci of the trio that found out the world underneath, then Toby killed Stricklander once he found out he was a changeling. When the other changelings finished the bridge unleashing Gunmar from the darklands – Toby was killed in vain, the entire world was lit in flames by both Gunmars and Morganas armies.

The second time that Jim reverted time, Claire was chosen as the Trollhunter this time – The Janus Order was found and pillaged by her, Mary and Darci – he only knew because he followed them to the Janus Order headquarters after overhearing them in the cafeteria, after finding out her brother was a changeling she started gaining the Triumbric stones with assist of Blinky, she went into the Darklands. She never came out, Gunmar did.

The fourth time when Jim reverted time, Strickler was chosen as the Trollhunter – Bular tried to kill him the moment he showed the amulet to him, Jim found him in his own driveway – dead, Draal was chosen next, shortly after Strickler's death, same to the ‘vision’ that Unkar/Merlin had showed them Gunmar was freed using the amulet but it had been destroyed leaving Jim to fight. He was cut in half by Gunmar after fighting Bular and Gunmar at once after five minutes of stalling, hoping for someway, they’d be stopped once Merlin or Douxie entered the fight.

The eighth time when Jim reverted time, His mum was chosen as the Trollhunter, considering many things she did alright, defeated Bular while maintaining secrecy, didn’t go into the darklands so Gunmar doesn’t get freed, it wasn’t until Morgana being freed by Usurna thus starting the Eternal night and unlocking Killahead Bridge to unleash Gunmar. She didn’t deserve that fate, nor did the entire world. 

The sixteenth time when Jim reverted time Nomura was chosen as the Trollhunter just like Strickler she only lasted for a month – running from Bular until she fought Draal for the Amulet and lost, Draal retained the Amulet and led the Timeline down the exact same timeline it did before. He’s finding a pattern with this, he can’t help – no matter what he’ll do – no matter if he straight up introduces everything to the Trollhunter. They don’t listen.

The two-hundredth and sixth time when Jim reverted time was when Douxie was chosen, he was smart – awakening Merlin and preparing everything to fight Bular and the changelings ( He killed them, but they’re not on their side this time, he can’t fault them ) stopping the Killahead bridge to ever be opened, Merlin was none the wiser to him reverting time – however Jim missed an important detail. Morando. He succeeded in turning Earth into pure ash and fire with the shard of Gaylen, with Gaylen’s power on his side not even Douxie and Merlin could fight against him, even with each other and their master staff. Jim watched on the bridge, freshly ruined Arcadia wafts of death and smoke, as a wave larger than anything he ever saw rushed towards Arcadia.

“ For the Good of all, Time is mine to command. “

The sixty-five thousand five hundred thirty-sixth time Jim reverted, Mary was chosen – he forgot all relation to Claire, Toby and his own mother in pursuit to save everyone – every single person, magical or not he’ll save them. 

Mary died, everyone died yet again. He can’t succeed in saving everyone can he? Why? No matter what he does he can never get past Morgana nor Morando.

The four billion two hundred ninety-four million nine hundred sixty-seven thousand two hundred ninety-sixth time, nothing – nothing is worth it anymore why can’t at least someone he cares about stay alive? He claws at the barest of advantages but he. just. can’t. save anyone! Why is he the only person that remembers the different times he’s lived, died, loved and forgot? 

“ Of all creatures in this world, I chose you. “

Jim drags the magazine off of his face, glaring at the slightly wet and dirty bended ceiling with bitter resentment of not being able to break out of this repeating cycle of the endless repetition of losing people, only to gain them once again. Only to lose them once again.

“ My amulet does not make mistakes. “

Jim gets up from his bed, to a smaller room than he ever remembered himself being in, light brown ceilings and walls and oak panelled flooring mostly covered by a cloudy blue fluffy carpet, an installed sliding door wardrobe and a small desk welded to the only visible small window in the room around the size of Jim’s stomach.

The side-table is luckily not that different, just the classic alarm clock without the lamp, Jim makes his way to the door facing the window on the opposite side of the room opening it to a small hallway barely the size of his hips, squeezing himself past a small door to his left and a slightly ajar closet with bat-wing doors.

Past another bedroom to his left, the large king bed is messy and empty the curtain still slightly closed the open space of the rest of the ‘house’ is a small kitchen to his right taking up the same space as the bedroom to his right, a wide window that’s curved is the dining/living room with the television being held up on the wall, Jim needed to bend over the table only allowing a small person to slip to the couch to see the television on the right.

He looks at the clock on the left of the fly-wire door leading to outside, nearly five AM, Jim groans, slapping himself in the face as he glances at the small kitchen. Cracking his knuckles he goes to work in the small space.

Full from a simple omelette, packing a brown lunch bag of Greek Lamb wrap Jim locks the mobile home ( Which he discovered only once he exited ) trekking through the caravan park jingling the mobile homes keys as Jim exits the large gates with slight ease. 

+++

MOBILE HOME

+++

The white noise of nature helps calm him, something he’s taken up to help relieve stress and decrease the monumental desire to just stop doing this, until the grunts and roars of both pain and warning echoes from the forested line that covers the view of the canal from their neighbourhood.

Jim even though the countless reverts he’s never been early enough to witness to Kanjigar’s and Bular’s fight in the canal, Eli however was the one to always witness it and now he recognises the small figure of Eli in the bush at the end of the canal, right near the railings of the stone bridge.

He sneaks up to Eli’s place in the bush, Eli had been a Trollhunter once, Eli wasn’t exactly one for the front-lines so when confronted with Bular on Eli’s third day ( At least from Jim’s timeline of when Bular finds out the ‘human’ trollhunter ) Eli went missing, later his remains were found in an alleyway behind Stuart's electronics.

“ Monsters, huh? “ Jim whispers in the lope of Eli’s ears, though his voice is lighter, more high-pitched than what he remembered it being, he spooks the poor boy before he could alert the monsters by screaming from surprise. Jim covers his mouth with his left hand, Eli frantically looks between the two down in the canal then back at Jim.

“ Now I’m going to let go of my hand, whisper. “ Eli nods with slight urgency, Jim slowly lets go of the hand covering Eli’s mouth, Eli puts a hand to his chest as Eli attempts to calm himself down. Jim’s focus is on Kanjigar as they fight in the under-parts of the bridge.

“ How did you..why are you here? “ Eli side-eyes him as Jim watches as Kanjigar falls into the rising sun’s rays, turning into stones in mere moments as Kanjigar shatters on the floor of the canal. 

“ Because.. “ Jim thinks back to every timeline, everything about this timeline is different thinking to the other things that are different to what originally the repeats are like, the magazine was different. His wardrobe was different, Jim had to look for simple jeans, a t-shirt and a blue turtleneck jacket. 

Jim knows that everything has shifted, changed in a way he can’t predict, but it gives him a way to maybe, just maybe, use this as a way to prevent the deaths and tragedies that occurred every single time. 

“ Because..Eli, “ Jim allows his own magic, that he awakened on his thirteenth revert, to float in front of himself and Eli. Eli looks at the glowing dots with awe and fascination as Jim continues, “ I am a person a part of their world, “ He waves a dot towards a rapidly disappearing Buller as he vanishes into the forest with an angered puff, “ and now? You are too. “

Eli blinks in confusion before his expression becomes serious, “ I have so many questions.. “ Eli straightens himself by pushing off the excess of leaves and dirt he picked up from sitting in the bush for God knows how long. Exiting the bush all together, tapping his chin with an expressive thinking face.

“ Firstly, when did you..’become’ a part of this ‘world’ “ Eli makes quotation marks as he asks, turning back to look at Jim as Jim emerges from the bushes to stand next to an anxious Eli.

“ Well..long story short, I awakened it when I was..young – and it..just happened. “ Jim tries to explain, jestering wildly as he attempts to explain, Eli raises an eyebrow as he hums, Eli continues to tap his chin, pacing, continuing to tap his chin.

“ But, “ Jim grabs Eli’s shoulders in an effort to make him listen, Eli adjusts his glasses, noticing the shift in the overall change in mood with an anxious but attentive face, “ We cannot let anyone else know about this, these worlds must remain separate. “

“ Understood? “ Jim shakes Eli’s shoulders in a hope for the idea to cement itself inside his mind, Eli looks hesitant before nodding with an inhale that’s shaky with determination. 

“ Understood, what do we do..with y’know..his remains? “ Eli points behind his back to the remains of Kanjigar’s remains.

“ We’ll search for the Amulet, it’s the only thing protecting both our worlds from demise. We must make sure it doesn’t go into the hands of our enemies. “ Jim detaches his hands from Eli’s shoulder, slowly walking down the slope of the canal allowing the decline to slide him to the bottom of the canal.

“ And..who would that be? “ Eli raises a finger in question, slipping on a can as he reaches from the bottom of the canal he struggles to stabilise himself, Jim catches him by his armpits before Eli could slam his face into the bottom of the canal.

“ Bular – Bular the Butcher, son of the Gum-Gum King. “ Eli makes a puzzled noise opening his mouth to ask yet another question in relation, “ What..a Gum-Gum? “ Eli chuckles humorously, following Jim to the pile of remains of Kanjigar.

“ Gum-Gum is trollish for; bringer of horrible, slow, painful and thoroughly-calculated death. “ Jim kneels at the pile of remains, flipping over the rocks as Jim tries to find the Amulet, Eli gapes as the information loads in his mind, Eli’s mind loading the information with anxiety.

“ And Gunmar the Gum-Gum King, Gunmar the Black, “ Jim finally moves the rock that hides the amulet, its blue-tint glows lining his face with neon light as he awaits for the ticking of the Amulet to finally pulse with whoever is chosen as the Trollhunter this time.

“ Joséphine Lake. “ Jim rapidly blinks in surprise and confusion, Jim knows that he doesn’t have any living relatives aside from his uncle, his mother and his non-existent father. He knows that no-one in his family ever had a name like ‘Joséphine’.

Jim whispers underneath his breath, “ What? “, Eli looks a bit bewildered by what the Amulet says before he registers the confusion from Jim, raising an eyebrow as Eli couches down beside Jim.

“ Uh..that’s your name? “ Eli waves towards him with his right arm that’s not holding Eli’s knees, Jim can feel his eyebrows tighten together as the realization of what exactly changed cements itself, “ Huh, guess..I’m the Trollhunter. “

James Lake Junior is no more in this world, because in its place is Joséphine Lake the girl that’s chosen as the new Trollhunter in place of Kanjigar.

Chapter Text

Eli bites the eraser tip of his pencil, tapping his lower lip as this morning's prior talk rings in his mind like church bells. The ringing makes Eli unable to focus on whatever Miss Janeth is talking about.

“ Eli? “ Miss Janeth calls from where she is from the whiteboard, capping her black marker, Eli can feel the pin prickles on his neck from people staring at him once Miss Janeth calls his name.

“ Yes-Yes Miss Janeth? “ Eli's voice cracks uncomfortably, the audible crack makes everyone cringe, Miss Janeth clears her throat.

“ What does this equation equal? “ Miss Janeth taps the whiteboard, raising an eyebrow in question.

Eli scratches the side of his head, getting up and approaching the whiteboard with twitching nerves, shakily taking the offered black marker, his mind circling with so many theories and questions from earlier this morning that Eli cannot focus on the numbers on the whiteboard.

[ √( 24e5 ) ] 

Eli bites his lower lip once again, feeling the tangy taste of blood from his lips he uncaps the handed black marker, calculating the equation in his mind as everyone watches, the squeaking noise coming from the calculator and whiteboard comes to a stop as Eli takes a couple of steps behind him to look at Miss Janeth for confirmation.

= [ 18.06083 ]

Miss Janeth slowly brightens with a happy expression, “ Perfect, please sit in your seat Eli. “ Eli nods, sitting down in his chair and desk, grunting as a spitball hits him in the back of his head, obviously from Steve he pulls out the stickball and throws it to the ground, slouching to hopefully not be spitballed.

“ Steve? “ Steve pauses with a straw half-way to his mouth when Miss Janeth calls his name, Steve puts the straw in his desk guilty, Miss Janeth taps the whiteboard with an angry expression.

“ Answer this, please? “ Steve’s friend’s giggles, Logan and Seamus, Steve approaches the whiteboard with genuine confusion when he receives the black marker.

[ 15e3 ( √( 5 ) ) ]

Steve frantically looks between Miss Janeth and the people sitting in the front with Eli, to Eli’s left is Claire, to his right is Shannon. Steve stops at Eli, sighing with exasperation, Eli scribbles the answer on a piece of paper. Angling it so Miss Janeth doesn’t notice the answer but Steve does.

= [ 273.5218 ] 

Steve dots down the answer near the equal sign, sighing in relief when Miss Janeth is pleased enough and allows Steve to go back to his own desk, much to Eli’s chagrin as the clock ticks by as slow as a snail while Miss Janeth continues to bring people out to the whiteboard, when the bell finally rings he rushes out of the classroom as fast Eli’s legs could carry him.

Joséphine closes her locker with a puffed exasperation that Eli had during Math class, looking at the flyer in her hands however makes Eli preen, the Romeo and Juilet play and not only that Joséphine looks like she’ll play as one of the characters in the play.

“ Joséphine! “ Eli exclaims with excitement, finally Eli has a friend! Indirectly, the amount of irony makes Eli nervously chuckle while adjusting his glasses. He’s never had friends in his entire life, and due to his own conspiracy theories Eli made one out of pure coincidence.

“ Eli. “ Joséphine halted her actions before continuing what she was doing prior, looking at Eli from her peripheral vision as she adjusts her messenger bag, walking towards her classroom; Science, which Eli has with Joséphine.

Joséphine holds open the door for Eli, Eli knows he’s on a high, pure exultation of having someone notice him and accept his existence and wild theories and scepticism is something that Eli hasn’t known in his entire life-time, Eli doesn’t know what to do with the monumental amount of energy and joy that his body is racking itself with tremors of pure energy.

“ You..okay? “ Joséphine looks back at Eli as she settles on one of the lab workbenches, “ No..I don’t-haven’t had someone that listened to me, or talked to me with interest. So.. “ Eli sits by Joséphine, unsure but since he hasn’t been shoved off yet he’ll take it as he’s welcome to sit here.

“ So you’re happy that I’m..your friend? “ Joséphine slowly says the last part, like she was treading into dangerous territory, and if Eli’s sure that he’s the same, especially now that he’s going into this magical world of mystery and confusion.

A trio of girls come into the Science lab along with Tobias, Darci, Mary and Claire if Eli’s memory serves him correctly, Joséphine looks at Toby with nostalgia while Eli turns over the pages in his mind to search for exactly that feeling that’s crossing her face.

Must’ve been when they were ten; they had a falling out when Toby’s grandmother died, she couldn’t live long enough to see to his eleventh and that caused a rift in Toby and Joséphine, or their nickname back then Josey, that led them to drift apart from each other across middle school.

Now Joséphine apparently works at Mr. Benoit's French Bistro, taking up most of her time, the rumors tell that it might be partially because of rumors about Josey having a ‘crush’ on Toby before everything between them crumbled.

Joséphine raises an eyebrow when Eli starts to frantically scribble on his notebook the faces of the two creatures that he saw this morning, he pauses when Joséphine pinches the end of his pencil, looking up Eli sees that Joséphine is..conflicted.

“ I’ll tell you everything after school, just don’t write or draw anything in school. “ Joséphine leans towards his ears whispering the detail, Eli erases the drawing in an attempt to not draw any more attention.

~~~

Eli walks towards his mother’s car, looking back to the school entrance as Joséphine looks at her phone with a slightly puzzled face before it irons out to a blank face.

Slightly perplexed, Eli continues to circle around theories and connections; If Joséphine is a part of that world, then the other three that frequently work at the cafe and regularly interact with Joséphine must be Wizards too right? 

Eli yearns to know, an itch to finally get something, anything of the world he has found engrossed by the world he’s been keen on for years, Eli has an entire chalkboard worth of theories and speculation on this world.

Eli’s mother calls him from the open window from the driver's side of the car, she’s still wearing her doctor’s uniform, her wild red strays of hair poke out from her messy bun, her grey eyes reflect her exhaustion, her badge still hanging by her neck; Pulmonologist, Dr. Mildritha Leslie Pepperjack, Arcadia Oaks Hospital.

Eli embarrassingly shuffles towards the old car model; 2004 Hyundai Elantra manual vehicle, the weighted creak when Eli closes the back seat car door tightening his seat belt as Eli’s mother drives down the familiar street, his backpack pressing against Eli’s leg.

They pass Mr. Benoit's French Bistro cafe, one of the waiters, the raven haired rival highschooler with blue tips, is picking up some cups from the outside tables. Eli hums which causes Eli’s mother; Mildritha perks up.

“ Something wrong, Leslie? “ Mildritha turns to the right, the blinker ticking clicks off when the car straightens out.

“ Nothing, I’m..just thinking about school..and a friend I made. “ Eli rubs the nape of his neck feeling the palming stickiness of nerves, Eli meets the side-eye of his mother, Mildritha raises an eyebrow when Eli slumps with an exasperated expression.

“ Not like that, Josey’s just a friend plus she’s fun to hang out with. “ Eli attempts to dissuade his mother from going down a conversation that he genuinely doesn’t want to have currently. 

“ ‘She’? “ His mother’s intrusive - ‘I’m going to poke and prod til I get the answers’ - voice lowers a smidge, like Mildritha cannot believe him and must see the proof herself in order to even believe Eli.

“ Yes, ‘she’ mom, she’s a friend. “ Eli stomps his metaphorical foot down, hoping that his mother will push this away for a day because Eli really, really doesn’t want to do this currently.

Eli’s mind is droopy and borderline exhausted with the amount of information buzzing in his brain, his lower eyelids twitch with determination to gain answers and Eli won’t get any until Joséphine’s shift at the cafe is over.

Mildritha sighs, noticing Eli’s reluctance to continue any conversation with her, turning into the driveway of their two-story house, Eli picks up his backpack pushing open the heavy door as Mildritha parks the car. 

Briskly walking towards the front door, tugging open the door and closing it behind him, getting as much distance Eli can manage, Eli moves two-steps up the staircase using the railing to swing himself further and faster down the hallway to his bedroom.

Locking the door behind him, Eli tugs down the UFO poster, revealing his theorised board worth of conspiracy, Eli starts tearing down most of his evidence, sealing it in a see-through plastic bag to preserve their quality.

Eli knows there’s much more, and he’ll discover it, he’ll learn and improve his own knowledge to help and protect this peaceful unaware town of Arcadia.

“ Eli? “ His other mother calls at the base of the staircase, disquietude evident in her tone, Eli feels a mix of frustration and bitterness until Eli shoves it down as far as it can go.

“ Yes, mom? “ Eli hears the clicks of heels going up the staircase, hesitant in their step when they're near the base of his doorstep, making Eli pause in his action of unpinning the very first thing he put on the chalkboard. The uppercase yellow ‘TROLL’ stares back at Eli.

“ Are you okay, sweetie? “ Eli can feel the soft taps from his other mother knocking on his bedroom door. He briefly looks at the door with a tentative glance before getting up adjusting his glasses as he opens the door.

His mother still wearing her black crisp suit she brings to the office with her black heels shuffles on a nervous foot, worry evident in her eyes as they stare at each other. His other mother resembles Eli the most, dark brown hair neatly tied in a french braid, her green eyes shine with restrained anxiety.

“ Yes? “ Eli presses more to get answers from his other mother; Ismini, she taps her fingers on her thighs, before her tense shoulders slump a little.

“ I’m..worried, you come home bruised on some days, filthy with some..kind of liquid and-and you don’t tell us anything. “ Ismini's hands frantically wave around her as she tries to explain her reasoning, Eli feels his legs subconsciously shift, knowing where this conversation is going.

“ I..understand, I was adopted as well, you may not like to recall anything relating to them but just know, “ Ismini gently holds his shoulders, softly smiling as Eli’s shoulders slump with a slight frown.

“ I’m..fine. “ His voice is monotone, perhaps to convince himself that’s true, but Ismini sighs with frustration looking towards the staircase where Mildritha is looking at them.

“ I know you’re not. “ Ismini shakes his shoulders once, her voice torn with emotion staring at Eli’s eyes with unshed tears, “ I want to know, I’m..so worried Elise. “

His hands are clenched, going through a breathing exercise unclenches them looking at Ismini with blurred vision, he takes a shakily breath. Preparing himself for the protests from both of his mothers.

“ I can’t. “ The reactions to his protest is instantaneous, Ismini’s lower lips tremble with practiced restraint; she slowly takes her hands on her shoulder off, going to the staircase with a glance filled with so many emotions Eli can’t pinpoint them.

Mildritha just disappointedly sighs, going down into the first floor with Ismini, the comforted hushes from Mildritha echoes in the stilled silence, suffocating in its pause, torture for it’s reasoning and agony for the tear slowly ripping apart the family in the house.

Eli softly shuts the door behind him, stifling his tears as he bundles up the amount of slipperily objects on the floor, Eli looks at the street as he wipes the tears slowly slipping down his cheeks with his sleeve.

With a spark of Teenage rebellion, Eli clicks open the window’s lock, the brisk frigid cold from Autumn California wafts from the window as Eli turns back to unzip his backpack packing every evidence he’s accumulated these past years.

 Zipping it up once again, adjusting it on his back, Eli checks how secure the backpack is before he goes to the window sill balancing himself on the sill, moving right leg out to catch the outside trimming that lines that first story. 

Once secured to the outside trimming he shuffles the other half latching on the outside trimming, glancing around he notices the garage roof isn’t too far from his window, making sure that the window is closed - silently - Eli grapples onto the groves of the panelling that meet each other, shuffling his way to the garage roof.

Eli’s body is warmer than before as a spark of elation makes his body tremble with restrained excitement, slipping down into the hedges that line their garage, squeaking in surprise when thorns bite at all bare skin as the hedges cushion Eli’s fall.

“ Ouch! “ Eli hisses, forgetting that their hawthorn-hedges plus the excitement to finally do something without his mothers helicoptering him is a good distraction, or excuse, dusting off the dirt Eli runs underneath the window sills of their house, running out to the street remembering the roads and where they lead like the back of his hands.

~~~

Eli groans, heaving from the amount of running he clutches his knees bent over from the strain of running non stop to the main street of Arcadia. Despite the sun setting a few hours ago the cafe is still open, the waiter with blue tips is leaning against the bench with Joséphine tending to the coffees with a focused expression occasionally looking towards the waiter.

He gathers up all of his courage and walks towards the cafe, the jingle alerting the waiter to look towards Eli with interest. He shuffles quickly towards the coffee machine, Joséphine flashes a surprised expression before ironing out a blank face addressing him with a question in her eyes.

“ Um..I..Hi! “ Eli’s voice squeaked uncomfortably with a voice crack causing the waiter to wince at the squeakness of his voice, Joséphine nodded with a small smile urging him to continue. The waiter leaves the counter to tend to others.

“ So..other world? “ Eli questions, tilting his head slightly looking at Joséphine for questions. Joséphine’s lips part for a couple of seconds, smacking slightly against as she tries to answer Eli’s questions.

“ Douxie? “ Joséphine addresses the waiter, the waiter; apparently Douxie, stops in his movement swinging towards Joséphine that sorta resembles a golden retriever in his actions.

“ Can you tell Eli about the other world? Since you’re now off your shift. “ Douxie’s attentive face slumps a little as he sighs, dangling keys that Eli thought were Joséphine’s. Douxie opens the cafe door with a curious expression on his face directed towards Eli.

“ C’mon “ Douxie walks towards a motorcycle, he notices Eli awe and chuckles, “ Beauty, isn’t she? She’s a Kawasaki Vulcan 900, bought all the way back in 2011. “ Douxie spins the keys to the motorcycle, shrugging off his hoodie and packing it into the saddle bags attached to the motorcycle.

Douxie throws a black leather jacket to Eli, Eli catches it by its sleeve before it could drop looking at the skull on the back before shrugging it on, Douxie clicks on his motorcycle helmet, a pure black Dual-sport helmet with various stickers on the helmet. Douxie gives him a simple full-face black helmet, clicking it on it as Eli approaches the motorcycle getting a better view of the sticker.

The one that sticks out to Eli - as he mounts the motorcycle, with the warning from Douxie to hold on, Eli wraps his hands at Douxie's waist - is the homosexual flag and a skull underneath it, not that Eli’s one to judge nor can Eli can speak since he’s also gay.

But Douxie, the one every single girl in school knows, since he frequents the school grounds during or near events, is a favourite for girls to have a crush over. And he’s gay, which is..funny since Douxie doesn’t have any interest in them.

The motorcycle rumbles when Douxie throttles the engine turning it onto the street with a roar of the engine underneath, the wind muffles most sounds passing by them including the horns and rumbles from the other engines.

The ride rolls pass the busy streets to the cool and quiet noise and hums of people within their houses, the t-intersection at the end of the street reflects the headlights from the motor-cycle as Douxie turns to the right, after some time of driving past the large forest that covers most of the outside of Arcadia.

They stop at a large sliver gate, the only occupations aside from the mobile homes and caravan are gazebos with in-bench BBQ’s paired with outside bathrooms, Douxie drives by all the sleek looking mobile homes and caravans to reveal in the far left corner, tucked away from most people.

A beige small mobile home, slightly tinted with age on the corners, it has dents and scratches from use the outside of the mobile home only has an awning outside the mobile home, a car is parked near the mobile home, dusted on the bottom from off-road use.

When the motorbike turns off and Douxie takes out the keys, that's when Eli asks a question; “ What kind of vehicle is that? “, Douxie takes off his helmet Eli mirrors his actions, Eli shrugging off Douxie’s given jacket as Douxie changes the jacket to his hoodie.

“ It’s a Cobalt blue Jeep Wrangler 2003, got it back in 2007, had it for a while before it got its Cobalt blue finish courtesy of Josey. “ Douxie wiggles the lock on the caravan, before a click can be heard, “ It’s a bit cramped, I wasn’t exactly expecting any visitors. “

“ Ah.. “ Eli’s comment dies on his tongue when a homey mobile home interior is revealed behind the fly-wire door, “ It’s actually..nice. “ Douxie chuckles as a cat slips through the open window from the first bedroom Eli can see through.

“ Now, you’ve wanted to know about the secrets of the world underneath your feet? “ The cat says, cleaning its glasses, adjusting them just in time for Eli to tremble, silently shriek then faint, falling face first onto the flooring of the mobile home.

Chapter Text

Eli blinks back to consciousness to a sleeping black cat on his chest he was confused making a noise at the creature, Eli first notices he’s leaning against a surprisingly soft and comfy couch, the second thing Eli notices is the cat curled into a ball is purring like a muffed engine, the third thing is that a kettle is boiling from a very small kitchen tucked into the corner.

A tall teenage boy–the waiter at the cafe–the person that Josey worked with prior, his sweater is nowhere to be seen, complex and intricate tattoos however are out for Eli to see–Eli thinks he recognizes where some of the tattoos on his shoulders, back and front come from but he can’t tell what the tattoo that’s etched on the waiter’s nape.

“ Y'alright, mate? “ The waiter taps a hot cup of black tea on the table in front of Eli, Eli looks down at the cat then the tea when the waiter chuckles making–Eli flinches at the sound–the waiter picks up the cat, it stretches on his shoulders curling like a snake as its golden gemmed eyes slit open like a viper snake.

“ Um..yeah, why am I here? “ Eli taps his very faint bruise pulsing on his forehead, wincing it pain every time Eli taps the peculiar point on his forehead. The waiter places his own tea sitting on the opposite side of the curved couch that Eli somehow managed to get on.

“ You keeled over once ‘tis guy talked. “ Eli could be imagining it, but did the waiter just take a jab at his cat? And did the cat just..raise an eyebrow and the waiter copies the action as well.

“ Talked? “ The waiter nods, scratching behind the feline’s ear when Eli asks–the faint memories of what happened in the morning and what Josey said unfogs itself when the cat’s feline golden eyes lock eyes with Eli.

“ Yes, though I didn’t expect you to faint the minute I talked. “ The feline says, its paws curling and uncurling with lax motion, Eli blinks a couple times as his tea–glowing blue–floats down to his open palmed hands.

“ Let’s have a breather, yeah? “ The waiter tries to assure him, taking his own cup of tea and sipping it, shell shocked Eli copies the action, the words still playing in his head as everything suddenly chimes on–like the power turning on after a power outage. 

“ MAGIC! “ Eli screams, his tea splashes against the rim barely drunk from as the waiter and the feline blink in surprise at the volume before they could even mutter anything Eli starts throwing them intangible words, tied like ropes together as the waiter stares shocked at Eli.

“Sohowdoesmagicworkisitlikethebookslikeharrypotterordoesithavearuletofollowlikeyoucan’tdoaspecificspellunlessyouhaveaspecificskillsetandwhataboutTrollsdotheliveunderthebridgeslikethetalesanddotheyreallyeatsocksandisunicornsrealandwhataboutdragonsarefamiliarsrealwhataboutfairiesandpixiesarewyvernsrealifdragonsarehowdoweknownothingaboutmagicdespitelivingsoclosetothem? “ Eli blinks expectantly at the two as they share an astonished expression, Eli in his excitement sips up all of the hot tea, the thick tea smells and tastes better than he expected Eli places the tea on the wooden tea holder.

“ So..first of all..Magic began at the start of the universe. It's the very..manifestation of someone's soul. It differentiates for each person as it’s connected to the time stream and the changes in how ‘time’ affects someone depends on the innate magic or how far in their magic is. Which is why Wizards or Witches become immortal after some time because their magic grows enough to make a..bubble of sorts that allows them to live off of their own magic but they cannot live without the three Arcana’s as it’s the very building blocks of someone's soul and thus magic itself. “ the waiter tries to explain magic. 

( but to Douxie’s honest opinion it differentiates each Wizard from another, but Douxie’s last point is something that’s universally accepted by all Wizards )

“ Trolls do live in bridges, but they mostly live in shadows and places that don’t have sun because they die if they are exposed to sunlight then they will turn to stone or more recognisably into stone statues. They do eat socks but they can eat metal and trash alike, they can eat some raw meat but don’t anymore due to humanity being a tad..expansive in their ways. “ Eli nods along to the waiter's answer to his own questions that he wanted to be answered by the waiter–the feline jumps down from the place on his place on the waiter’s neck stretching on the couch–the waiter sips his own tea placing it down on the tea holder.

“ Unicorns are real, but they only are peaceful to those pure of heart, they are usually crowned ‘King of Beasts’ born from Nari’s birthstone, like how Elden Dragons are called ‘The Children of the Stars’ born from Bellroc’s birthstone and how the Nereids and Sirens are typically called ‘Creatures of the Gods’. 

Dragons are real, my friend–feline is one as well, he’s my familiar Archie–a dragon I’ve bonded with a few centuries back, wyverns, wyrms, amphiptere and hydras are real alongside Dragons, and for fairies have gone into hiding ever since the war with the pixies,  and the battle of Killahead is the reason the magical world and humanity is divided to make sure the battle that resulted in Camelot being nothing more than a fairytale never happens again. “ the waiter takes the two tea cups with a forelonged look, the cat/dragon? shakes his fur jumping down from the couch to pad alongside the waiter when he turns on the sink to begin scrubbing the cups and tea holders and puts them on a plastic dishrack on the side drying his hands on the tea towel hanging just below the sink on a towel holder.

“ And since I know your name, I’ll give you mine as courtesy. “ The waiter sits down on the couch once again with Archie sitting on the round fluffy cat bed sitting on the curved empty space taking up the rest of the back of the curved couch.

“ My name is Hisirdoux Casperan, but many call me ‘Douxie’. “ Douxie introduces himself at the same time the fly-wire door jingles from someone unlocking the door clicking open with a creak when Josey walks into the house..Caravan? With a glance towards Douxie, which is responded with a loving expression that's prolonged even as Josey walks into the kitchen holding a plastic bag weighing with something from the grocery store, tugging of her backpack from school to lay it on the side of the counter.

“ Um..do you..live with each other? “ Eli scratches the side of his chin, feeling pin pricks of growing hair when Douxie looks at Eli with a lax almost feline manner that resembles Archie to an identical amount.

“ Yes, Yes we do. “ Douxie’s face slowly melts into a feline smirk, a shine of sharper canine teeth slip from his lips making Eli stare at it with a mix of understanding and discomfort from being revealed something very delicate of both Josey and Douxie.

“ Douxie. “ A jokingly strict tone is thrown their way from the back of a busy Josey cutting up onions and asparagus from the smell and from his view on the curved couch–parsnip and carrots with speckles of spices ranging from salt to orange and yellow textures.

“ Alright, but you should be going home, your mothers would be worried if you’re not there to eat supper. “ Douxie looks at Eli dead straight in the eye with a strict tone before the once tight line from his golden almost cat-like eyes lax into a lax posture, the tension that once cut into Eli disappears in the time it took to form it.

“ Ah..I-Alright. “ Eli shuffles towards the gap that would allow him to leave the house when the jingle of keys follow him outside of the housing, glancing behind him Douxie walks towards the blue jeep parked near the caravan..or mobile home? Opening the door, mildly understanding he tip-toes towards the car making sure Eli isn’t mistaken.

“ Hop in, I won’t bite. “ Douxie unlocks the side-doors as Eli tugs at the door handle, the door heavy when Eli swings it open enough for him to fit inside, snapping on the seatbelt in the surprisingly sweet smelling car, beige dotted seats hanging on the rearview mirror is a fresh peach tree freshener is the possible reason for the sweet smell.

“ So I’m guessing you live in which neighbourhood? “ Douxie asks as they drive by countless trees and intersections of other neighbourhoods, Eli tells him where he lives, and when the tires crackle from breaking Eli looks at the worried pacing of his mother that is visible from the open living room window.

“ Go on “ Eli opens the side-door of the blue jeep jumping out and ashamedly closing the door, the loud clack of the closed door alerts his mother which he can clearly with little to none shadows covering her face–Ismini–her hair frazzled with shock and worry, she dashes towards the entrance door, opening it–making it slam the door against the wooden panelling.

“ Elise Leslie Pepperjack! “ Ismini 's voice cracks as she catches Eli into a hug, tightening Eli making him squeak uncomfortably when Ismini rests her frazzled mostly loose hair drapes over Eli like a comforting shade.

“ Where were you! “ Mildritha figuratively stomps from her stance at the entrance, her face scrunched up into an angry scowl; it made Eli feel like a small child in the face of his mother.

“ I..was out, I just..wanted to – “ He’s broken off by Ismini pushing herself back from the hug, her hands still gripped on his shoulders, Ismini eyes shine with tears as they slip down from her emerald eyes.

“ You..were just out?! “ Ismini screams–the very first time Eli heard such a thing from Ismini–she shudders from the power in her voice, shaking from her stance as Mildritha comes from behind, placing a hand on Ismini shaking shoulders.

“ Elise, you know that we want you to be safe, you didn’t even tell us? “ Mildritha stands to the left of Ismini, her face not even moving an inch from her parental glare. Ismini lets go from her grasp on Eli’s shoulder taking her own hands, tight enough to make her knuckles white as they rest just before her chest.

“ You’re grounded, no going out unless it’s for school, and your window will be permanently closed until you have learned your lesson. “ Mildritha scolded Eli, his shoulders slumped from her words, bitterly but..understanding, they only want to help him.

“ Okay..mum. “ Mildritha’s expression wavers faintly as Eli is guided inside by a still shakily and shell-shocked Ismini.

|||

“ I..I yelled at him? “ Ismini takes her lover's outstretched hands in a faint and almost dream-like state, Ismini doesn’t..didn’t want to know what a frightened Elise–her own son–looked like.

Ismini’s upbringing wasn’t easy, not with the secret she and her lover bear, Ismini was treated nothing like a human trapped in pig cages filthy everyday as she trekked through the wet marsh lands that surrounded the place she ‘lived’ in, when the great war started she cut her hair, her stark body worn from starvation and dehydration to near death cut the mark to pass as a male.

Ismini wanted to make sure Elise never knew of the horrors that she suffered for being ‘different’ far different than anyone else, Ismini met her lover through the shells and bombs of the second great war, Mildritha was the one that completed her even though they could be no more different.

Mildritha was a proud warrior of her country, strong that no bullets should shoot her down with strength that outnumbered many of once was Ismini’s country, they found peace in their differences Ismini for her pure of heart and Mildritha for her stone heart but below can be that of a horrific burn of the sun, or the comfortable warmth of a fire.

“ You did what many other parents would’ve done “ Mildritha rubs Ismini’s shoulder with a proud voice, she blinks back to the present Ismini’s view is pointed at her bare feet freezing from the nightly cold. She looks up to Mildritha’s determined face, something weighty and secure makes her nervous twitching soften slowing down with her heart beat making hers.

“ Now let’s go inside, you’ll get a cold if you stand out here any longer, alright elska? “ Mildritha takes her inside, holding her mid-upper arm from her left secure with her grip as they go up the staircase, Ismini looks forelonging at the door of her son’s tucked in the shadows of the night sweat building at her forehead just like when Eli was missing.

An instinct that helped her during the war, Ismini glances at Mildritha with worry it’s responded with worry and as jarring as it is–unwavering trust, Mildritha trusts Elise to remain loyal, and so does Ismini but..he’s a teenager prone to foolishness just like how Ismini was when she was Elise’s age.

“ We’ll wait, remember? We’ll wait until he’s ready, I know he’ll be. “ Mildritha soothes rubbing Ismini’s left arm, they open their bedroom door ready to finally rest for the night..but Ismini cannot shake the amount of sweat beading at her forehead with the fierceness of a fever.

Chapter Text

Jim watches the girls on the other side of the gym chat, including Toby apparently.

Eli shrieks as he slips from the rope flopping onto the mat with a groan–he only managed to get up a few feet–Jim gets up from his place on the benches.

Walking towards the squad of people, Toby side-eys him from his place on the third top bench Jim sighs when he reaches the bench causing most of the girls to side-eye Jim.

“ What do you want Josey? “ Mary snides, glaring at Jim from under her lashes, Darci face distorts with bitterness getting up from her spot on the bench.

“ I want to talk to Toby, alone please. “ Toby’s nose scrunches up, nodding to the girls, hesitantly moving away–not without giving Jim each a stink eye. He gets up from the bench looking Jim in his eyes, Jim rolls over everything that he’s learned.

Toby and himself; since he’s also technically an official orphan, they both got sent into the foster system, Jim himself was sent to a hostile household–purely by the fuzzy memory left behind from this body–and after some complaints from Toby’s foster household that Toby kept running away, trying to get to Jim’s household/foster family.

After a miscommunication that Toby wanted to be in Jim’s household instead, Toby was swapped with Jim, Jim/Josey being in a different household–his Uncle–then Toby’s last one, leaving Toby with the hostile household. It obviously scars Toby despite Jim’s efforts to reconnect with him.

Toby–in his misdirected anger–divided himself from Jim, from the length of time that Jim knew Toby, Jim knows that Toby was enraged–wrongly–at Josey for making him suffer such a fate from the hostile foster family; that’s why Jim/Josey is not a friend of Toby in this timeline.

“ We need to talk about our past, it’s not– “ Toby scoffs, an aggravated stance directed towards Jim, “ Talk about the past? It’s not science, Jim, it was and still is your fault. “ 

Jim/Josey never attempted to correct Toby, too shy or scared to come off as unsympathetic Jim tried to help Toby–however–that only came off as Jim never having to face the hostile environment that Toby suffers from.

In anger Toby forged all that pain and suffering to Jim/Josey blaming him for everything that’s happened, Jim needs Toby to know, the weight of being blamed for something that he didn’t know is something Jim’s already gone through billions of times, Jim wants to finally turn a new leaf in this time-line.

And that starts with Toby knowing everything that happened, to finally close the final chapter in Josey’s book and accept that Jim isn’t going to conform to an idea of another of who Jim’s supposed to be, he’ll..will stay himself–for once.

“ Mrs. Houston and Mr. Houston, they were never friendly with me either, and I..understand that I never told you. But it’s true. “ Toby is still in disbelief–leaning away to not wanting to believe it, Jim–during the entire time of the short conversation–is close enough to only be a half-arm lengths away.

Thinking back to memory spells and silencing the lights common from magic, underneath the sleeves of his blue jacket, Jim weaves together a memory spell, of everything that’s happened during Josey’s time of being in an abusive relationship with the Houston’s household and how his Uncle dies in a fatal car accident just like his mother.

“ Atcerieties visu, skaidras miglainas dienas. “ Jim whispers underneath his breath, barely audible to Toby or the others, Jim latches his hands to the sides of Toby’s head, Toby’s eyes flash with panic, quickly flashing to a dazed expression with sparkles of gold in his eyes.

“ Wha..Josey? “ Toby’s eyes widen further with realisation as everything sinks in, tearing at his very form crumpled under weight, Toby stumbles from his stance before walking back and crumbling like a paper weight on the stands, hands in his head covering his horrified expression.

“ I..thats–how? “ Toby loosens his grasp on his head to perk at Jim with a curious but cautious expression. 

“ I’m..I had a lot of things happen to me, but the one good thing? I unlocked my magic..something that finally led me to be happier, and better well off. “ Jim flexes his hands for their position of being held up, letting them dangle at Jim’s side as Toby looks at Jim–for once in Josey’s life in this timeline–with actual regret and doubt.

“ Magic is real? “ Toby bitterly chuckles–not with any heat, full of disbelief but reluctant to admit it to himself–Jim inhales shakily, after all Toby has been his friend for years, and he’ll be separating himself from Toby. Permeantly.

“ I meant it..superficially, my passion and to finally be happy with myself, a magic that I only discovered after some many years. I found my happy ending to everything that happened, now it’s time for you. “ Toby looks at him in disbelief, opening his mouth in protest, but something must’ve flickered in Jim’s eyes for it to stall–turning into understanding that someone that kept secrets that could mean the difference between Life and Death could understand.

“ Right, superficially. See you around, I guess. “ Toby cracks a smile at the first part of his response, feeling comedic–like how Jim remembers him to be–Toby salutes him with a soft smile, acquaintances, that’s all that Jim and Toby are now.

The gym bustles when the lunch bell rings, Toby goes his separate ways towards the girls where they are at the gym’s double red doors, Eli adjusts his slightly wonky glasses, his brow slightly furrowed as he ‘examines’ Jim with unsettling eyes.

“ So..you talked to Toby? “ Eli shuffled after Jim in the busy hallways, the bustle of the other students almost deafening against Eli’s questioning mutter, but Jim miraculously could hear him underneath the chatter.

“ Yes, I..want to make sure I don’t have attention on me..since I’ll be the Trollhunter. “ Jim rubs the back of his own neck to snuffle the prickle growing on his neck from the staring of both Eli and someone else—possibly Mary from the intensity of the glare.

“ Oh.. “ An embarrassed flash of understanding flashes in Eli’s eyes, Eli shuffles from his place behind Jim, when Jim raises an eyebrow at Eli, Eli guiltily chuckles his eyes glancing multiple places in the hallway until it pauses at Steve’s–just a few feet in front of Jim.

“ Uh-huh.. “ Jim catches the harsh glare that Steve throws at Eli’s way, Steve flinches a little when he notices Jim staring at him—remorse glimmers in his blue eyes before being snuffed out by bitterness—Jim sighs, not really willing to deal with Steve’s antics ( and hasn’t for a very, very long time ) Eli giggles underneath his breath behind him, covering his gleeful smirk.

“ Eli? “ Jim raises an eyebrow at the gleeful expression on Eli’s face.

“ Oh..uh, yeah..I think you know that Steve makes me do his homework..and stuffs me in lockers. “ Eli rubs his neck straightening from his crouched position behind Jim, they finally reach their classroom after a few minutes the idle chatter filling the space in between as Jim informs Eli everything that he couldn’t ask last night.

They walk by a chalkboard—finally out of the main hallways and into the lesser used hallways with only a few students within the play; Romeo and Juliet, however, is hung on a pin that catches his attention like a fisherman rolling in a catch.

Jim snuggles the flier into his jacket’s pocket, Eli catches the action and beams like a sun.

“ What about you, and the waiter–Douxie, I mean, you both seem close. “ Jim's memory flashes back to the day before–coincidingly only a day has passed, today should be the day that Blinky and Argh should meet them at the caravan. But what Douxie informed him, that and his flirtatious nature made quite the time consumer for his shift.

“ We’re.. “ The one timeline where Jim loved Douxie flashes through his mind. Jim didn’t want to test his luck, after all Jim already outgrew Claire and anyone that would be the definition to be a romantic companion to Jim.

“ Friends. “ Jim’s cutoff voice leaves Eli staring at his back, Jim settles into his desk letting Jim’s bag dangle from the back of his chair.

|||

Archie watches the back of his wizard as Douxie sweeps up the accumulated dirt and grim from the countless feet of filthy outsoles from customers, Archie yawns, stretching while listening to the humming tune of Douxie.

“ Douxie, might you tell me why you’re not going to tell her–or should I call Josey him? “ Archie plods towards Douxie leaping onto the stools from the bar's outstretched counter, Douxie stops his humming, acknowledging Archie as they stand near eye-level from the outstretched counter.

“ Not yet, it isn’t right, besides.. “ Douxie’s eyes glanced at the sunset, the fading light of the sun giving the town an eerie almond glow that speaks of an omen, a chant of unknowns that makes Archie’s spine spike.

Archie sighs, trotting down from the bar’s counter and going towards the flapping door.

“ If anything is to happen, I will update you, via our bond. “ Archie clarifies, his bones and muscles shifting with his shapeshifted form, his scales overruling his muscles from his feline form.

“ Right, let me know Arch. “ Archie leaves behind his wizard in pursuit of the teenager and his wizard’s promised one, the entangling smell of humans snuffle some of the small magical smells like goblins and gnomes alike, but Trolls and wizards/witches stand out from the rest making it easy to track those two since they’re attached at the hip.

“ HELP!  “ a shrill scream, most definitely a young girl, echoes through the street followed by a monstrous roar that’s not animal-like, Archie dives down from his birds-eye view tucking his wings tight against his body, the wind gashing against his scales as Archie sails scrapping with sparks from his lowered position on the ground.

With his lowered form his turns become sharper until Archie can clearly see the pair, a younge–possibly a teenager from the pubescent smell–raven human is running with a crushed phone within her/his hands.

“ I shall skin you of your flesh, eat your muscles like string and use your bones to make a throne! “ Bular’s distinct voice echoes along-side his thundering thumps on the asphalt as Archie allowing his magic to swirl inside his draconic core.

“ ȶǟǟզɛ ʟɨռ ɨզ’, ӄ’ɛȶ! “ Archie hisses under his breath, Archie’s chest curling into itself as his draconic magic flies out of Archie’s maw, a straight-line of volcanic magic thinned to a cutting edge of a scythe slices between Bular and the young girl, dividing them allowing Archie the time to shift his scales to strong musculoskeletal of a horse.

His flapping of draconic wings is followed by galloping of his black hooves clipping into the pavement—picking up the running and panicked girl by the back of her t-shirt clamping it securely even as she screeches when Archie flips her onto Archie’s hindback.

“ Wh-this.. “ Her hands drift against Archie’s fur, the nails dusting the fur with awe but mostly confusion, her hands flinching when Bular’s bone chilling roar rumbles through the street.

“ Hold on, unless you want to fall off my back. “ Archie’s hooves screech to the left leaving his passenger to slip and slide with a high pitched gasp, her hands clenching harder into Archie’s fur as Bular thunders just behind him, Archie’s eyes flicker at the different streets, signalling Douxie to assist him.

Douxie responds with a magical ping, relaying that he’ll be there shortly, just in time for Bular to snarl at Archie’s behind, his occupant on Archie’s hindback gags from the hot and stinky breath coming for the Gum-Gum prince.

“ Murum vitis et viridis, divide! “ Douxie’s signature cyan magic comes into Archie’s view first light and flowy elemental magic flickers to light, what comes next however makes Archie’s eyes widen, ancient and powerful magic sparkles in along with Douxie’s magic the vortex, a miniature black hole of ancient green glow makes the small runes burst into life, expanding underneath the weight of the new magic.

The unstable elemental current of magic cracks the pavement of what used to be a transparent blue barrier to a violent vine tangled mess shooting into the sky and tying the other buildings into an entire impenetrable wall of mossy vines.

“ Oh Mordax’s curses. “ is the only thing to fall out of both Archie’s and Douxie’s mouth as Archie winces, clamping his eyes shut, hurling into the vine wall with pain blowing through every muscle in Archie’s body.

Chapter Text

Archie spits out some bloody mucus grumbling, the muffled roars and slicing of vines and mossy leaves reassures Archie, pushing through the thorny vines that cut against his hide.

Frantically Archie begins to worry as a trail of blood is found in the thick bush of vines and leaves, Archie positions down to the floor couching down as far as his horse form can allow. Archi manages to push away the vines and bush that’s tangling the leg of the small teenager that got launched from his back.

“ Wake up, “ Archie nuzzles the teenager's waist, doubt and worry boil in his stomach when he doesn’t get an immediate response, Archie nuzzles their waist once again beginning to assume the worst until the teenager whimpers.

“ Can you talk? Or move for that matter. “ Archie shifts into his feline form, his pelt dragging with the vines but otherwise unscathed, the teenager starts to panic, their heartbeat and breath coming in faster and faster.

“ Focus on my voice, now, slowly inhale “ Archie presses his upper right paw on the teenager's chest, her light brown eyes narrow into Archie, her lips pressed together tightly barely leaving any colour to notice they have lips.

“ 1, 2, 3, 4. Hold. “ Archie slowly inhales with his instructions, the teenager following him as the thick vine wall slowly decays, crumbling slowly by blue magic by his wizard, “ 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and Exhale at 10. “ The teenager follows, her breath still slightly shaky but stable enough that when the vine wall collapses the teenager only flinches from the sudden action.

“ Careful. “ Douxie’s voice cuts through the vines, retraction of the large weighted leaves and vines allows the teenager to shuffle out with the help of Archie and Douxie’s careful touch.

“ Wizard scum! Show yourself! “ Bular’s thunderous voice rumbles from the other side of the vines, Archie looks around before being disappointed in the transport his wizard decided on having—his motorcycle—Archie pads up to the motorcycle with a limping teenager and–from the scent alone–guilty wizard.

Archie curls around the front of the motorcycle, his small and petite feline form takes up less space then his draconic. Douxie settles the teenager down before getting on himself, turning on the engine and slowly driving down the slightly crumpled and cracked cement street, the motorcycle picks up speed, the wind whipping behind them–the teenager grips Douxie’s hoodie.

“ Run! “ Couple more pubescent smells waft from one of the neighbourhood’s roads, Douxie’s face morphs into that of shock as two trolls alongside Josey, and three other teenagers, a stocky one with gingered hair, a latino–from the way the teenager dresses–punk with a blue streak in their hair and a northern american indigenous teenager are running alongside the Trolls or on the back of the larger one mossy green with grey stone skin.

The other troll is blue with six eyes and four arms and despite that the extra limbs it’s stumpy legs makes it’s running the same as the teenagers, Archie hisses when the larger troll growls before noticing another louder thump begin to echo behind them.

“ Bular?? “ Josey’s confused voice comes from near the blue troll, adorning the daylight’s armour as she turns to look back at Bular, Bular’s skin cracked—one of his horns broken left behind in Bular’s rush to catch up to Archie, Douxie and the teenager—the stocky teenager makes wheezed sounds possible from being out of breath.

“ It seems as though we have two unpleasant companies, “ the blue troll narrates with an irritated tone, one of his many eyes glancing at the motorcycle that holds them, Douxie has to swerve to avoid a cement blocker that comes from an unknown source–but Archie knows that Bular has honed in their scent, Bular won’t stop until his gotten rid of Archie or Douxie because of their presence at the Battle of Killahead centuries ago.

“ This.. “ Douxie mutters, Archie looks at his wizard with a questioning glance before the blue troll shouts for them to go to Trollmarket–for safety–Douxie pings from their bond.

‘This shouldn’t be possible, Bular doesn’t attack them or us for that matter today, it should’ve been tomorrow’ Douxie grabs the teenager’s thighs to secure them when the take a sharp turn to keep up with the trolls, Douxie lets go when they straighten themselves to bump against the roots from the surrounding trees.

‘You said yourself, everything has changed, who’s to say this isn’t one of the changes?’ Archie’s fur spikes up when they speed down the canal, the others go with the trolls out of pure fear but Josey stays back, Douxie glances back with a worried glance that widens when Bular’s shadow can be faintly seen up top from the bottom of the canal.

Archie notices the others hesitating in opening the entrance, Douxie slides the motorcycle to a tilted stop alongside the others, Archie shifts himself in his draconic form, flapping his wings before taking flight. Archie floats above the injured teenager before signalling to Douxie.

‘Go through the entrance, now!' Archie clamps his back two legs onto the injured teenager's shoulder before fully taking flight flying towards the two trolls, the blue trolls upper right arm holds the key–Archie snatches it–the teenager's shoes skid against the floor from the low momentum but Archie swoops up narrowly avoiding the blue trolls grasp and the larger trolls attempt of taking the teenager.

The other teenagers glance between Archie with awe and fear when they glance back at Bular and now Josey that’s slid into the bottom of the canal–Bular jumping down making a notable crater in the bottom. Archie quickly makes an arch before zooming into the arch–the teenager screams when Archie flies by the entrance–Archie lowers himself to the ground unlatching his claws from the teenagers shoulders to allow the teenager to lean on the stone wall.

Archie shifts himself into a black snake when the trolls and the other teenagers walk–for the teenagers, dash–into the entrance part, Archie curls underneath the teenager his black scales camouflaging himself from the two trolls and hopefully covers his scent but Archie highly doubts that.

A motorcycle’s engine rumbles becomes closer as the current occupants of the space panic from the noise, Douxie’s motorcycle clips the reforming stones of the entrance with Josey weighing down the end of the motorcycle donning his armour.

Everyone’s pants fills the space until Blinky claps all four of his limbs making everyone taking up the space flinch including the injured teenager—despite her injured state—Archie flicks his tongue as Blinky walks towards the entrance the blue glow from the crystals highlights Archie’s midnight scales, one of the teenagers—the stocky one—looks towards injured teenager before screaming pointing at Archie.

“ Snake! “ Douxie turns off the engine, looking at the direction of the teenagers pointing finger their eyes connect before the blue troll roughly grabs Archie, curling his tails around its upper left arm, hissing as the large troll sniffs—the troll's nose curls with unease—the blue troll shakes Archie, tired of being shaken and tugged around, Archie shifts into a lizard form.

Launching himself before the blue troll can grab him curling Archie curls himself in the lap of the injured teenager still slumped against the wall the injured teenager curls in herself protecting Archie from the blue troll making another attempt of grabbing Archie’s lizard form.

The blue troll sighs, putting his lower arms on its hip, “ That is a shapeshifter, they are dangerous, deadly creatures, hand it over before it does something that can hurt us, “ The blue troll reaches towards the injured teenager, Douxie dashes before the blue troll putting distance between him and the injured teenager and Archie, Douxie’s hand clenched as the two trolls harden stares lay on his wizard, Archie can feel his scales spike up from the bond—sharing the tensed mood that Douxie is feeling to Archie.

|||

Douxie sighs, the two—Blinky and Argh—had taken all of them to the library after Douxie dropped the bomb of him being the apprentice of Merlin himself and the little spat of Josey and Draal had—a duel between the two of them scheduled to happen a few days from now, Douxie currently is leaning against the bookshelf as Josey heals Mary from the injuries inflicted from Douxie’s mistake.

Douxie really didn’t expect the release of magic that the tattoos gave Douxie, the runes are obviously ancient with magic—the runes on the tattoos however are identical to the ones Douxie saw on the daylight armour, the others however are shuffling about in the enclosed space the two—Blinky and Argh—stuffed them in to get to Vendel as fast as possible.

“ So.. “ Darci rubs the back of her neck, looking towards Douxie and Josey, the golden glow of Josey’s magic makes up for  most of the light inside the library, “ You’re..like..Immortal? “ Mary slowly blinks like an owl, Toby stores a large book he was absently looking at and Claire immediately snags towards the conversation.

“ Yes, but semi-Immortal, I’m not impervious to being harmed physically, it’s being immune to disease and non-aging part of being semi-Immortal, but complete Immortality is only given to Gods. “ Douxie explains, Vendel and the other two come into the library at the same time Douxie finishes explaining.

“ Merlin’s apprentice, Hisirdoux Casperan if my old memory serves me right, “ Vendel strokes his beard, one of Vendel’s eyebrows raised in suspicion, Douxie inwardly shrugs to himself before doing a proper bow towards Vendel, crossing his legs tucking Douxie’s hand to his chest, and bending all the way to forty-five degree angle.

{ I, Hisirdoux Casperan, son of Megan Casperan, humbly introduce myself to one of the members of the Troll Tribunal, Vendel. } Douxie introduces himself in Trollish, making sure his speech highlights elegance of the Çelwx Trollish Tribe that Vendel originates from bleeds into the normal Trollish spoken.

{ You know Çelwx Trollish? Merlin taught you well. } Vendel compliments much to Blinky’s verbal shock and the others confused as the language is lost even to Josey, then Vendel ducks his horns giving Douxie the same respect, something flickers in his eyes while looking at Douxie and the others.

“ I am Vendel, son of Rundle, son of Kilfred. “ Vendel looks at the others as they gape, looking slightly gobsmacked at the difference between Trollish to English, Archie pads between the Trolls legs with a grimace, Douxie bends down so that Archie can curl around Douxie’s neck in his feline form.

“ I am..Joséphine, daughter of Barbara. “ Josey bends into a bow copying Douxie, the others glance at each other with varying emotions on their faces.

“ So you are the ‘human’ Trollhunter? “ The human is joined by verbal air quotes, heavily hinting something is amiss, Douxie narrows his eyes thinking what is amiss before Archie pings something between their bonds.

‘Those runes don’t just make your magic unstable, they made you something else, I can tell through our bond.’ Archie side-eyes Douxie with an analytic glance, scanning Douxie with his draconic eyes, Douxie can feel his neck pickles with goosebumps sharing a tentative glance towards Josey with Archie.

“ Well, let’s hope he isn’t like the last one you’ve taught, Blinkous. “ Vendel snarks, looking between the two—Douxie and Josey—with a lipped snarl before turning towards Blinky with a disappointed glance, his footsteps and the thud of Vendel’s staff grow distant before Blinky slumps huffing and crossing his arms.

“ Blasted, Blind Old goat! “ Blinky curses before looking at the stunned teenagers still reeling from everything, his face starts to smile but before he can mutter out a word questions start pouring out from the teenagers excited mouths.

“ One at a time! “ Argh stomped his feet when he noticed Blinky struggling to keep up with the questions, the noise quieted them all down, Douxie chuckles making all of their heads—expect Argh—snap to Douxie, he scrunches up his shoulders not expecting immediate attention before loosening them with a soft smile.

“ Well? “ Blinkly encourages the teenagers, finally getting an available pocket to answer the questions that the teenagers wanted to ask, Douxie feels Archie jump down from his shoulders curling himself at Douxie’s ankles yawning and flopping down, trapping Douxie from moving.

Douxie relaxes his tense shoulders before a stone hand clasped around his shoulder, spooking the hell out of Douxie as he whips around to look at Argh, the ladder having a grave look on his face, Douxie raises an eyebrow as Archie ears perk from his curled position at Douxie’s feet.

{ You do anything to Blinky, then Argh will become warmonger again } Argh’s tusk slightly snarl before going back into a slightly eased expression when Douxie nods, Archie’s fur rises a little until Argh takes off his hand on Douxie’s shoulder, it lowers down when Douxie itches the small space behind Archie’s ears.

“ Argh? “ Blinky stops answering Darci’s question on what the Heartstone is to speak Argh’s name, his six eyes scanning the close proximity between Argh and Douxie with caution, mainly dragging when it meets Douxie’s eyes.

“ We were just introducing ourselves, I hope that isn’t too much trouble? “ Douxie straightens himself, Blinky narrows his eyes but noticing Argh’s small smile Blinky relents, his posture straightens, clapping to catch the drifting attention of the others.

“ Now, we should make our way to the hero’s forge! “ Blinky spikes up his spine with enthusiasm as the others begin buzzing with faintly restrained excitement, Mary chatting to Darci even with her evident limp from the crash, guilt still crawling at Douxie from the prior events, like ants infesting his muscles and skin eating away at it like a woodpecker, Josey notices Douxie’s tucked posture as the group makes their way through the different stores, his shoulders pressed against his ears muffling some sound.

Douxie’s hands are stuffed in his jackets pocket, Josey nudges Douxie, Archie nods when Douxie looks down at Archie whose walking at his feet, Josey shuffles her left hand into Douxie’s right, interlocking Douxie’s enclosed hand with hers.