Chapter Text
“Do you feel that, master Jim?”
Jim closed his eyes. The warmth that already surrounded him became even more apparent, filling him with strength and energy. It was as relaxing as a hot bath yet rejuvenating as a cool shower. It was amazing.
His eyes blinked open, and he smiled. “Yeah, I do.”
His mentor grinned. “That, my boy, is the power of a Heartstone. It has been too long since I last felt one’s presence. Oh, I needed this.”
Jim couldn’t agree more. He was only a half-troll, but already he couldn’t imagine being away from one. According to Merlin’s wayfinding spell, there were still a good mile or two away from the Heartstone, but its power was so palpable. How the other trolls had managed this long, he couldn’t imagine.
“The only thing I can feel is the grossness of this tunnel,” Claire grumbled. She stepped in a mysterious pile of green gloop and gagged. “Of course the only way to the Heartstone is through the sewers.”
Jim’s eyes twinkled deviously. “What if I told you all this actually smelled good to me?”
“Please don’t make me want to barf more than I already do.”
“I for one am glad to be out of a forest,” Nomura rasped. “If I see one more tree, I’m going to cut it down myself.”
“What about when you were detained by the Janus Order? You weren’t in a forest then,” Vardan piped up helpfully. He withered under Nomura’s glare. “Okay, I’ll shut up now.”
The changeling’s face softened and she sighed. “No, I was asking for that one.” She cracked a grin and punched him playfully on the shoulder. “Remember, it’s okay to push back.”
Vardan smiled sheepishly as he rubbed his arm. “Working on it.”
The interaction warmed Jim’s heart. He was worried the other trolls wouldn’t accept Vardan, with him being a changeling and all. Well, he was sort of right—he still heard a few muttered ‘impures’—but Vardan was managing just fine. In the past couple weeks, he had spent most of his time with Nomura, and surprisingly, the berserker trolls. Jim liked to think the berserkers were more accepting of other trolls because they themselves were different.
“And we’ve officially lost it,” Claire sighed. She put away their ‘borrowed phone’ in her pocket. “The last bar just blipped out of existence.”
“At least we know where the exact spot is,” Jim said.
“I don’t see any landmarks around, Jim.”
Jim paused, thought for a moment, and then punched the wall next to him. His fist left a small crater, with thin cracks spiderwebbing from it.
He flashed Claire a thumbs-up. “There! Now we have a landmark!”
She stared at him, bemused, before bursting into laughter.
Jim stared at her, nonplussed. “What? What’s so funny?”
“Jim, you just punched solid stone like it was nothing,” she snorted. “Before, you were so short and scrawny, and your legs were like, super skinny—”
“Now this is just getting personal—”
“—but now? You have so much strength and confidence. I wish I could see sophomore Jim’s expression if he saw you today.”
He puffed out his chest. “He’d be intimidated, that’s for sure.”
She shook her head with a giggle. “Still haven’t lost your dorkiness, though.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Merlin groaned. “Are you lovestruck younglings done? We’ve arrived.”
Jim gasped and sprinted to the front of the group where Merlin was. Finally. They were here. They had made it across the country, fighting golems and changelings alike. Their journey was over. He skidded to a stop as the New Jersey Heartstone came into view.
It was breathtaking, both in sight and…and in how it made Jim feel. Seeing it made him feel safe, energized, and relaxed all at once. It was a cool blue, but the base was a bright orange. Its light illuminated the massive cavern it was housed in, where dozens and dozens of smaller colorful crystals glowed. Patches of luminescent moss lit up the entrances to multiple caves scattered throughout the cavern.
“It’s not as large as the one back in Arcadia,” Blinky murmured. His face broke into a wide grin, and he wrapped his four arms around Jim. “But it’s more than enough. Well done, master Jim.”
The other trolls broke into raucous cheers. They swarmed past Jim, patting him on the back or crying, “Thank you, Trollhunter!” They ran around the cavern, eager to explore every nook and cranny.
“Hey, kid.” Jim turned to look up at Carbak. The orange troll smiled. “Thank you for giving me and my kind a new home.”
Jim nodded. “And thanks for helping me, Carbak. Without you, I doubt I would’ve gone back for them.”
“Ah, don’t sell yourself so short, kid. You would’ve come around; I just helped you take the shortcut.” He chuckled and cuffed Jim affectionately on the ear before striding off.
“Come on, Vardan,” Nomura said. “Let me show you the power of a true Heartstone.”
The other changeling beamed. “A—alright, Miss Nomura!”
“I told you already, drop it with the miss!” Her emerald-green eyes flicked over to Jim’s blues. She gave him a small smile and nod before leading Vardan to the enormous crystal.
Merlin placed a hand on Jim’s shoulder. “A job well done, James. You overcame all tribulations better than I ever thought you would. I know I don’t convey it, but…out of all my Trollhunters, you are the one I am the most proud of.”
He smiled. “Thanks, Merl.”
The wizard sighed. “Now, I’m going to find the most comfortable rock I can and get some rest. This trip has been far more eventful than I would’ve liked.” He trudged off.
Jim chuckled. As cantankerous as the old man might be, he had good intentions at heart. He couldn’t stay mad at him, not really.
He looked around and realized it was only him, Blinky, and Claire left. “Well, shall we join the others?”
“Not so fast, Trollhunter,” Claire said, a twinkle in her eyes.
Jim frowned. “What, is something wrong?”
“Quite the contrary, master Jim,” Blinky grinned. “We have something for you.”
With a flourish, he whipped a book from his pocket and presented it to Jim. It was a small thing, with a worn cover and yellowed pages. He took it hesitantly.
“Thanks…?” Jim said, flipping through the pages. He appreciated it, of course, but books weren’t really his thing. Still, the fact that they even gave him something was—
He gasped and peered closely at the pages. It couldn’t be…
He flipped the book over to them. “Are these…are these recipes?!” he exclaimed.
They burst into laughter. “Yes, they are!” Blinky answered delightedly. “Trollish recipes, as a matter of fact.”
Claire nodded. “After the whole Janus Order thing, the trolls wanted to show their gratitude to you, so when we told them you loved to cook but couldn’t anymore because of your transformation, they compiled this cookbook for you.”
Blinky pointed at the text on the page in front of him. “It’s all traditional, too, the best of the best. This right here is sock-and-moss soup. A wonderful dish, might I add.”
Jim’s eyes watered. Despite making peace with his new form, he was always going to miss two things: the sun, and cooking. And because of his friends, he could finally enjoy the latter again. In a different way, yeah, but they had given him a link to his old life.
He pulled them into a tight embrace, nuzzling his head into Claire’s hair. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t know I needed this.”
“Of course, Jim,” Claire said, squeezing him back. “I know they can be difficult to work with, but the trolls really do care about and respect you.”
“We trolls aren’t very sentimental,” Blinky added. “Sometimes, it takes us a while to appreciate those around us. But fair Claire is right. We do care; it’s just hard for us to show it.”
Jim laughed and pulled back. “But you guys did! With this,” he gestured at the book in his hands. “I can’t wait to try all this.”
“Easy there, tiger,” Claire grinned. “Let’s take a look around the new Trollmarket first. I don’t want to lose you in the realm of cooking just yet.”
“Indeed! All our trials and tribulations have led to this very moment. I am most eager to explore our new home!” Blinky exclaimed, his six eyes shimmering with excitement.
He chuckled and tucked the book into his hoodie pocket. “Okay, okay. I guess I can wait. Let’s see if this place was worth all the trouble, huh?”
As they walked deeper into the cavern, Jim found his gaze drawn to the Heartstone once again. Its presence comforted him, and he instantly knew that it had all been worth it. The golems, the gravesand, everything. Not only had they found the Heartstone, Jim had found himself. Or rather, he had accepted himself, trollish nature and all. This recipe book was only the beginning to learning more about this new side of him.
Their journey to the Heartstone was over, but Jim’s own journey was far from over.
Miles away from New Jersey, and high in the night sky, floated a fortress. The skull-shaped castle hovered in the air, piercing the darkness with its brightly lit sockets. The headlights swiveled the ground below, searching for something.
Or someone.
A figure in a feathered headdress snarled and slammed their staff on the floor. “This isn’t working. I say we raze this forest to the ground until we find her.”
The figure next to them tutted and wagged an icy blue finger. “Patience, Bellroc. There’s only one person she can run off to. And once she does…”
The figure turned, the wind whipping his cloak around him. A being in dark green armor stared at them with dull yellow eyes. A jagged sword hung at his side.
Skrael grinned. “Our Green Knight can kill Merlin and his Trollhunter once and for all.”