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rosemaidenvixen · 4 months ago

Text

Between Daylight and Darkness

Chapter 5

Ao3

Over his many years in Trollmarket, and even Dwoza before that, Blinky had inadvertently found himself at the root of several market-wide disturbances. Usually as a result of his attempts to root out conspiracies. While Blinky considered a temporary chaos a necessary sacrifice in rooting out hated conspiracies from their market, others did not share this view, namely Vendel…among others.

But while today's events hadn’t been the result of one of Blinky’s attempts to uproot a conspiracy, the fact remained that this had the potential to be the largest catastrophe attached to his name yet.

Blinky cautiously peeked outside the stairway entrance, the cacophony of noise having greeted him halfway up the stairs, dreading what he might see.

Dozens of trolls rushed about, nervous chatter passing back and forth in voices ranging from hushed to booming. The word Trollhunter repeating again and again, underneath that was the occasional muttered ��fleshbag’. Both the young Trollhunter and wayward humans had been lost somewhere in the crush of the crowd and the maze of buildings. The absence of their new Trollhunter and a lack of new information was making the crowd’s energy rise to a fever pitch. It would surely boil over unless someone stepped in and calmed them down.

And unfortunately it looked as though that someone was him.

Blinky climbed to the top of a large boulder, clearing his throat in preparation of raising his voice “Friends friends settle down! No need for a panic,”

Not every eye in the crowd turned towards him, but enough of them did that Blinky had to stop himself from squirming under their gaze.

“The new Trollhunter’s been chosen!” a voice called out from the back of the crowd “I saw them! They were here and then they ran off!”

Folding his two left arms behind his back Blinky used a right to point at the shouter “Right you are. The new Trollhunter is here, AAARRRGGHH and I escorted them to our fair market and their training will start post haste. So no cause for an uproar. You may all go about your bus–”

“They can’t be the new Trollhunter!” a new voice closer to the front cut in “They’re too damn young! Practically still a whelp!”

“Well you see–”

“And what about the fleshbags!? How’d they get in here?”

“Ah that’s an easy explanation, our new Trollhunter was protecting them from Bular–”

The second the Gumm Gumm prince’s name left his mouth a spike of alarm shot through the crowd, murmurings turning to panicked shouts and roars.

Blinky froze, one hand still perched in midair.

Oh dear….

“But never fear! Bular was halted by the wards! There’s no danger here–”

His voice was lost in the din of the crowd, the trolls before him working themselves up into a frenzy, threatening to–

“What is the meaning of this!”

In an instant every troll present in the square fell silent, Blinky included, swiveling towards the new voice. The crowd parting like all of the sea as Trollmarket’s elder made his way through.

“What sort of calamity justifies this ruckus?”

Both sets of hands netted behind Blinky’s back as he grinned down sheepishly at the approaching Vendel.

“Ah well it’s quite simple really, AAARRRGGHH and I found the new Trollhunter on the surface. They were in the process of rescuing a group of humans from Bular. Me and my mountainous companion then guided them to the safety of Trollmarket where…where…ummm…”

“Where you lost them,” Vendel said flatly “And unleashed a group of panicked humans upon our peaceful market,”

Blinky forced his grin so wide it hurt.

Vendel let out a low groan and kneaded the skin between his eyes with one hand, after a few moments he lifted the hand away from his face, jabbing a finger at Blinky then down directly in front of him.

Guts twisting in on themselves, Blinky got down from his perch and approached, AAARRRGGHH joining them until the three were bunched together.

“Only you could turn a simple retrieval mission into complete pandemonium…” Vendel muttered with a shake of his head.

“But at least we found the Trollhunter!” Blinky cut in “And brought them safely here, both them and the amulet out of reach of the dark clutches of Bular,”

“Believe me I know,” Vendel raised his head to look back at him “And I am more grateful than words can say for your doing so,”

Blinky felt all six of his eyes go wide “Really!?”

Vendel flashed him a rare smile “Yes, but now that the immediate danger is past we must do damage control,”

He pointed the head of his staff at Blinky “Find where in Trollmarket our new hunter has run off to,” the staff pivoted up towards AAARRRGGHH “You gather the stray humans. I will settle the crowd, we’ll meet back up at my dwell with the Trollhunter to discuss what comes next,”

Both Blinky and AAARRRGGHH nodded affirmatively at this then began to move away to carry out their assigned tasks. Blinky made it a few steps then paused and turned back

“Ah! Vendel, what shall we do about…” he trailed off, the words sticking in his throat.

“About what Blinkous?”

“About…Draal,”

The mood between the three trolls shifted instantly, a shadow falling across Vendel’s face.

“We shall deal with Draal when the time comes, for now let’s focus on the problems we can control,”

With a quick nod and a heavy heart, Blinky turned away and left the others behind as he headed down to narrower, less populated corridors of Trollmarket. Scanning every alley and crevice as he went.

Now if he was a wayward Trollhunter where would he hide? He was familiar enough with the various avenues to guess at which corridors to start, but Trollmarket was vast with many hidden nooks and crannies, more than enough places for a young troll to hide. Thankfully the commotion at the main entryway had attracted a large chunk of the market’s population, leaving the rest of the market sparse, so he wouldn’t have to fight through crowds while on his search.

Not to mention fewer trolls to hover over their new hunter and frazzle them more than they already were.

Reaching a crossroads, Blinky paused as he surveyed the paths ahead of him, tapping his chin thoughtfully. After a moments debate he chose his path and hurried on ahead.

It was no wonder the whelp had become overwhelmed and run off. There were full grown trolls that would quake at the responsibility of bearing the amulet of Daylight, to say nothing of how an unblooded stripling would react to such a monumental–

A blue flash in the corner of Blinky’s eye stopped him in his tracks, pulling his attention to a small alley. Moving quickly, he hurried over to the narrow stone corridor, sending a quick plea to Gorgus that his search was at an end.

And perhaps Gorgus did decide to take pity on him because the Trollhunter sat just inside the alley. They were huddled on the ground holding their knees to their chest, breathing so fast and hard their whole body was quivering. Blinky fought to keep from wincing but couldn’t quite keep the grimace off his face.

This troll was so so young. Tusks small and horns rounded, nary a scar or a gouge to be seen. Where had this young troll come from, let alone come across the amulet? Blinky was familiar with all the whelps and striplings in Trollmarket and this fellow wasn’t any of them. The only thing he could think of was that they were part of a clan of surface dwelling nomads. But who would struggle with a whelp on the surface when a protected market full of resources was right below their feet…

Blinky shook his head. However it happened the amulet had chosen this stripling and they were here. It wasn’t within Blinky’s power to lift this burden from their young shoulders, but he could provide them sanctuary and the training to grow into their calling.

He cleared his throat softly, just enough to grab their attention.

The stripling stiffened, instantly going stone still on the ground.

“Are you alright?” Blinky spoke quickly, hoping to stop the young Trollhunter from running off in a panic again “You weren’t injured in your struggle with Bular were you?”

“No I–” the stripling gulped down a deep breath “I– I’m fine. That…Bular guy, is he…gone?”

“For all intents and purposes, yes. He cannot penetrate Trollmarket’s wards, you, and those humans you rescued, are safe down here,”

The stripling flopped back against the wall, arms and legs tumbling limp at their sides, practically melting into the stone, a deep shuddering breath escaping their chest.

“Oh, oh good, they’re…they’re safe,”

The corners of Blinky’s mouth twitched up into a smile. To have such care for even humans, going out of his way to rescue them from Bular when many a troll would have let them be slaughtered rather than risk their own stone. The young troll in front of him was still very much a stranger, but Blinky knew they had a kind heart. A thing which would serve them well as Trollhunter.

“So…this place is…Trollmarket?”

In an instant the smile dropped off of Blinky’s face. The stripling’s unfamiliarity with their surroundings was…troubling. Even exiles and surface dwelling nomads were still aware of Trollmarket. The only reasons he could think of such a young troll being completely oblivious were…tragic ones.

Blinky shook his head and stepped into the alley.

Well whatever their background was, this whelp had a home and community now.

“Correct, Trollmarket is hearth and home to many a troll,” he extended a hand down towards the stripling “Including you,”

The stripling blinked at the offered hand before turning their gaze up towards Blinky “T– troll, right,”

After a brief moment of hesitation they gripped the offered appendage and allowed Blinky to assist in pulling them up, standing on shaky legs.

“I am known as Blinky, son of the Galadrigal clan, Trollmarket’s principal librarian and scholar. Might I have something to call you?”

“J– Jim, son of…Barbara?”

“Well then young Master Jim, I am sure you have many questions,” Blinky stepped backwards out of the alley and stretched out his two right arms “I am happy to provide you with answers. If you would be so kind as to follow me, I know where we can discuss these matters in private,”

Jim appeared startled at his words, but he nevertheless stepped out of the alley after him “That– that would be great, thanks,”

Blinky fought down another smile as he turned and began leading the new Trollhunter towards Vendel’s dwell. Feeling not entirely at peace, but lighter than he had since before Kanjigar’s fall.

#tales of arcadia #trollhunters #jim lake jr #blinkous galadrigal #vendel #aaarrrgghh #between daylight and darkness #sunshine au #rmvwrites

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ask-madam-ruby · 23 days ago

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Dictatious and Ruby are quietly.

“Ruby, if I may?”

“Hm?”

“What happened to Jess? I remember her being a little whelp runt. Now she is a Gumm-Gumm?”

Ruby sigh. “Yes. I know she had feelings for Bular which is why she left us to join him. But I think there’s more to the story.”

“Oh?”

“Well, she’s trans. And she’s been bullied for being trans. She doesn’t get along with Hugo and Milo. And Sasha was on her way to be independent. She felt lost. Even when I tried to be there for her. She kept pushing me away. One day she left.”

“What did you do?”

“Hugo, Milo and I look for her in the forest where she usually goes. She attacked Milo. Without Hugo, Milo would be dead.”

Dictatious expression looks disturbed.

“I also believe Bular treated her poorly as part of her training.”

“So the scar on her chest?”

“Was from Bular. I don’t know what cause it. It just looks bad.”

He sighs. “I worry for her. She’s going to get killed if she keeps acting the way she is.” He takes a sip of soup.

“I’m surprised Bular hasn’t killed her.”

Dictatious nods. “What about Hugo? I notice he lost an eye.”

“He doesn’t like to talk about that.” Ruby looks worried.

“And Milo?”

“He wants to be like you. But I think he has a secret life. I don’t know what it is.”

“What about Sasha?”

“She’s distant from us. It might be my fault. I pushed her to take care of the triplets when I went to work. I feel like a terrible mother for pushing her.”

Dictatious reaches and holds her hand. “You did your best.” He smiles. “Now are you going to tell me about your missing arm?”

Ruby frowns and pull away. “I-I was standing up for Jess. I threatened Bular to leave Jess alone. He cut my arm off.”

“O-oh.”

“Looking back now he used me as an example for other changelings to not cross him. Which is why is spared my life.”

“I missed a lot. I wish-“

“Us too. But you couldn’t help it. I know. We all know. But your back home with us. And our family is growing.”

He smiles. “That is true. My love.”

#one shot #survival mode

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albentelisa · 1 year ago

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Hi there! So what if when Jim used the Khronosphere to turn back time to Season One, he woke up as his half-troll form instead of his human one?

Hi!

Well, I'd say that the things will be way more complicated for Jim in this kind of scenario.

Because, let's be honest, Jim will freak out if he travels back in time and is back to his half-troll form. The fact that balancing human and troll emotions were complicated to him initially, it's easy to imagine that he might lose control over his emotions again if he ends as a half-troll without any warning. He'll panic for sure, worrying that he may scare his mom and Toby, and that sunlight is deadly once again, so he needs to look for a cover. So, Jim escapes from his house without thinking much about possible consequences.

Only once he is in safety in the forest, some common sense returns and Jim starts to consider his situation. Obviously, going back to inhuman form isn't something he will be that happy about, but Jim has lived through losing some dear people (including his best friend), so he probably will think his humanity and regular life were necessary sacrifices in addition to having the memories of that failed timeline where he couldn't save everyone.

Jim will reconsider his initial plan which was leading Toby through the chalenges of being the Trollhunter as currently he cannot even be sure that Toby will pick the amulet. Jim himself also cannot go to get the amulet because of sunlight. So his only possible action right now is to enter the Trollmarket and assist whoever is the Trollhunter now in their quest. The main issue is that Jim has no horngazel to get inside. He decides to look for Blinky who should be wandering on the surface according to his memories (and Jim seriously hopes that Blinky won't treat him the same way as in Unbecoming episode). After some consideration, Jim decides to invent a fake backstory for himself and pretend to be a troll youngling from a different troll community who decided to move to the Heartstone Trollmarket.

Jim doesn't meet Blinky though. He stumbles upon Draal instead - and somehow it's for better as Draal isn't into conspiracies and is just annoyed that some dumb whelp is roaming around risking to stumble upon Bular. So the first step of the plan is finished.

Meanwhile, Toby, who comes to meet up with Jim and go to school together, realizes that Jim is out already, though he has left his bike home for some reason. Toby is both confused and slightly hurt, but he goes to school alone with a full intent to get all the answers from Jim there. Only that Jim isn't in school too. This is where Toby starts panicking for real, not to mention that Jim doesn't answer his phone as well (simply because he hasn't taken it during his escape from the house).

Toby doesn't wait until his classes are over and ride back to Jim's house, where he wakes up Barbara. Barbara tries to act like an adult initially, but her anxiety wins when she finds Jim's phone in his room. Now both Barbara and Toby believe that something is really wrong and go searching for Jim. They end at the canals at some point and Barbara finds the amulet. Both Barbara and Toby are more invested in finding Jim though, so they don't pay much mind to the talking amulet (which is most likely someone's dumb prank from their point of view). Barbara even throws it away (we all know it won't work, though).

The search leads nowhere, and Toby, seeng how much his best friend's mother exhausted, suggest that they both go home, rest a bit and then continue.

Only that there is no actual rest at home because Blinky and Aaarrrgghh (who have been secretly following them for a while) barge in with the shocking news about Barbara's new sacred obligations, giving both her and Toby the scare of their life. Barbara doesn't pass out like Jim in the initial timeline. Instead she tries to connect dots and ask if Jim's disappearance can be possibly connected to all this troll stuff. Blinky says it can be, but he refrains from mentioning that he thinks that Barbara's son may be not alive anymore (Blinky believes that Bular might be involved, so Jim's survival chances are close to none). Blinky and Aaarrrgghh leave as it is close to the dawn, but they promise to come back the next day.

At the Trollmarket Draal introduces Jim to Vendel (Jim gives them a fake troll name to prevent some questions). Vendel is slightly conflicted, because while he is sympathetic to Jim, he still needs to accomodate an underage troll and probably find a good caretaker for him. Blinky and Aaarrrgghh come back just in time to get the caretakers' position. Blinky tries to argue a bit (any other time he wouldn't mind, but currently he needs to sneak the new Trollhunter into the Trollmarket and having a youngling around might complicate the mission). Vendel doesn't wish to listen to his excuses though.

Jim realizes that Blinky has already contacted the new champion, and starts to guess who it can be (his guesses are Toby and Eli). Blinky doesn't want to take Jim to the surface, but Jim still follows. Let's say he's not happy discovering that his mom is the Trollhunter now (and that Toby is also involved). Not to mention that right now Jim has to play stranger around two people who know him the best.

Unlike Jim in the first timeline, Barbara is motivated to be the champion as she believes it will help her to get her son back. Everyone go to the Trollmarket but Bular attacks amid the way. Jim is scared that Barbara might be hurt and fights Bular barehandedly (Aaarrrgghh ends dragging him away in the end). Barbara scolds Jim for being that reckless. She is both angry and worried even though she cannot explain why.

At the Trollmarket Barbara has an encounter with Draal and Jim nearly starts another fight, which both Barbara and Blinky stop. Draal says he respect Barbara's guts but still won't acknowledge her as the new champion. Jim, however, is in the huge trouble because he's basically challenged Draal and Draal won't let it slip even if his opponent is just a child. So, Jim still ends in a deathmatch with Draal (which is difficult for him, because he remembers Draal from his initial timeline). Jim still wins and spares Draal's life. He thinks that he might be able to keep the timeline stable enough while avoiding some bad events and that it's probably for better that he has to build every single relationship from a scratch.

And there's another complication - Toby figures out that Jim is Jim. It takes him just three days because honestly, Jim just keeps slipping with all the inside jokes and calling Toby Tobes. Toby corners his best friend demanding answers. Jim confesses to Toby that he's actuall his best friend, but keeps the time travel part secret. He tells that he just woke up as a troll one day, freaked out, ran away and ended at the Trollmarket and that he has no idea why it happened. Toby insists that Jim should tell his mom too, but Jim is reluctant. Partially, it's because he still feels responsible for Strickler's death and thinks that Barbara might be able to find her happiness without her son around (especially if the aforementioned son is a troll now). Toby promises Jim not to tell anyone, but he still insists that Jim should tell Barbara everything.

As for Barbara, she never gives up on searching Jim, using both supernatural and human means. She meets Strickler who comes to visit after learning about Jim's disappearance. Strickler also thinks that Bular was involved in that disappearance and is rather upset (as he liked Jim). However, he also wants to use it as an opportunity to get the amulet from Barbara. Unfortunately for him (well, we all know that it's actually fortunately) Strickler falls in love with Barbara again. Toby finds this relationship suspicious, but Jim is supportive (he just hopes that Strickler won't pull some shit this time). As for Barbara she feels really guilty for starting the relationship while her son is still missing.

At school, Eli keeps telling everyone that Jim is missing because creeps got him. No one believes him, but Claire is more open-minded. While she doesn't believe Eli, she thinks that Jim's disappearence is odd. And she cannot get why Toby, who is supposed to be Jim's best friend is seemingly rather chill most of time (yep, Toby cannot fake worry and depression 24/7). Claire starts to try tracking Toby and discovers that he goes out with Barbara during the nights regularly. During one of her spying sessions she got attacked by goblins and Jim saves her. Now Claire knows about trolls as well and Barbara isn't happy about dragging another child into the mess.

Claire also discovers Jim's true identity rather fast as Toby slips this time. She also tells him it's wrong to decive his mother like that (as Claire has seen how much Barbara suffers). Jim starts to waver about telling but simply cannot find the right time.

The events of the second timeline seemed to be similar to the first one (minus grit-shaka though as Barbara has no need for a courage boost). The team discover the hideout in the museum and Barbara kills Gladis. Jim thinks that nothing should be changed there, but when it comes to NotEnrique, he is torn. NotEnrique was a member of team in the first timeline and a second brother to Claire, but Jim hates the idea of Claire suffering from losing Enrique.

In the end Jim decides not to risk Enrique's life and find some other way to recruit NotEnrique. However, he has no idea how to prevent Enrique's kidnapping, so he decides to tell Claire that he has read somewhere that goblins kidnap babies. He hopes that Claire will be more vigilant and goblins won't risk, but they still snatch Enrique when Claire gets a minute break. It's even a more devastating for Claire as she blames herself for losing her brother (and she ends even more hostile towards NotEnrique).

And it's only the beginning of disaster as Barbara learns that Strickler is a changeling after checking him with a gaggletack just in case. The reveal hurts her a lot as she already has genuine feelings for Walter.

Jim decides to bargain with Strickler (and Nomura to some extent), as he know that those two switched sides in the different timeline. What he hasn't predicted is that Strickler doesn't know that Jim is Jim, isn't interested in bargaining with a random troll and that capturing him and using as a hostage seems to be more profitable.

Strickler informs Barbara about his hostage and makes a deal to exchange Jim's life with the amulet. While Barbara still has no idea that it's her son, she still cares about Jim as he was always by her side, comforting and supporting her in time of need. She also understands that he's just a kid and she hates herself for allowing him to suffer.

Barbara comes to the agreed spot but much like in Jim's timeline there's back-up coming in the decisive moment. Jim exposes himself during the battle (yelling 'Mom!' when he sees Barbara in danger). Bular still perishes, and Nomura is trapped in the Darklands, but Strickler doesn't manage to run away as Jim captures him.

There's a lot of baggage to unpack after the battle as Barbara has a really serious talk with Jim and asks him if he doesn't trust her at all. Jim promises her not to keep any secrets from her (which is a half-lie as he still intends to carry the burden of the other timeline knowledge alone).

As for Strickler, it's complicated. He has a captive status, but Jim insists on pardoning him, much to everyone surprise. As Jim cannot reveal his true reasoning, he says that Strickler could hurt Barbara countless times, but didn't do that. Everyone else still aren't convinced, so Jim propose he will observe Strickler's actions.

Strickler himself isn't sure why Jim is so deadset on excusing him even if he now knows that it's his favorite student. Walter decides to investigate a bit as well, but he realizes that now he's basically free from Gunmar's orders. Strickler wonders if he can convince other changelings to change sides. He tells his plan to Jim and Jim is willing to give it a try. Those two don't inform anyone else for now.

However, neither Jim, nor Strickler has anticipated that the Janus Order has freed Angor Rot. And unlike Strickler, who pursued his agenda in the different timeline, Otto is too scared to betray Gunmar. He frees Angor to punish Strickler, kill Barbara and her allies and get both the amulet and Killahead bridge.

Otto agrees to meet up with Strickler only to put him under Angor's curse. And it's not like the binding spell in the original timeline - Otto goes for the deadly one, meaning that Strickler is dying slowly now. Angor, however, has the way to lift his curse - and he bargains with Jim, asking for Inferna Copula in exchange for Strickler's life.

Meanwhile, Barbara learns about the Triumbric stones which she plans to recover to be able to travel to the Darklands and save Enrique. However, she doesn't plan to take any children with her (though she considers taking Draal or even Strickler), be it Jim or Claire and Toby, even though she doesn't tell them about that part.

Jim and Strickler come back from their failed negotiations and tell the team about the current predicament. Barbara is upset because those two acted behind her back, but she agrees to find the way to seize Inferna Copula. Jim begs his mom to let him deal with that one as he's sturdy enough and can fight someone like Otto, but Barbara forbids him (she still has nightmares about the possibility of losing her son for real).

Angor decides to help a bit, accidentally 'losing' the shadow staff when the team was recovering Kill Stone. He gets away with Kill Stone though, using it as another bargain chip (because he isn't sure that Strickler's life is that precious).

Claire gets the staff and Toby goes with Warhammer once again. Jim convinces both of them to team up and go to get Inferna Copula (he is more confident that they pull it because Otto's life isn't bond to anyone else's). Besides, Jim is sure that with Inferna Copula they will get both Angor's cooperation and Kill Stone (which should be the last one as the team already has Birth Stone and The Eye of Gunmar is in Strickler's possession). They succeed, however they didn't manage to slay Otto who escapes. Still, Angor is finally free and he keeps his promise.

#tales of arcadia #toa au #post rott #what if scenario #jim lake jr #barbara lake #half troll jim #trollhunter!barbara #text post #ask box #anon ask

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dad-dictatious-galadrigal · 21 days ago

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Jess taps the end of the knife to her chin. "Hm." She hums. "I have to impress Gunmar. I have to show him I can be his assassin. But how?" She thinks out loud.

"I may have a suggestion?"

She throws a knife at Otto's direction. He whelp when he dodge it.

"Oh it's you, impure. What do you want?"

"I want to help you get on Gunmar's good side."

"Oh? And what would you know about that, impure?"

Otto adjust his glasses. "Perhaps if you SHOW Gunmar how strong you are, he will see you as an assassin. Perhaps...kill your instructor?"

"Your suggestion I'll kill my own father?"

He shrug. "Just a suggestion. It will show Gunmar you are better than Dictatious."

She thinks hard. "Hm. If I kill father, Gunmar will be impressed? Yes....yes..."

Otto chuckles under his breath. "He is with Gunmar now. He should be out of the throne room soon. I wish you the best of luck Jess."

And with that, Otto was gone. Jess put her knife away from under her dress. "Yes....time to find daddy." She grins.

--------------------------

Dictatious walk down the hall to find Ruby in their room. As he was walking, he can hear footsteps behind him. He turns. No one is there. "Hello? What do you want? I know you're behind me!"

Silence.

After looking around, he shrugged and turn. Jess pushes him on his back and pin him down. She let out a loud growl.

"Jess?!"

"Hello father!" She raises a knife over her head. "Goodbye father!"

Dictatious kicks between her legs. She let out a cry and giving him the opportunity to push off him and pin her down. He grab the knife from her hand and push it far away from her. She struggle to be free.

"WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU GIRL?!" Dictatious snap. "You trying to kill me?"

"Yes!" She looks up. "So I can prove to Gunmar I can be a good assassin!"

"So you try to kill his advisor? I see you didn't get my intelligence."

She let out a loud growl.

"Jess. Why do you want to be Gunmar's assassin so badly?"

She struggles and looks up. "Like I'll tell you!"

"Is it because of Bular? Is it because you see Gunmar like a father figure? Tell me girl, tell me!"

"I WANT TO BE ACCEPTED!!!!" She yells. "I've always been bullied for being small, and trans. I get bullied so much even Milo and Hugo can't be there for me. I want to be strong. So I became a Gumm-Gumm."

"If I let go, you promise you won't hurt me?"

She nods. He lets go and they sat together on the floor.

"I'm so sorry Jess. I'm so so sorry you get bullied for being you. Your family will always love you, including me."

"You just came back from the Darklands. How could you love me?"

"When you were born, you were a runt and not doing too well. Vendel had to keep you in the hearthstone to keep you alive. Your mother and I would visit everyday for hours just to see how you're doing. I remember your hand grasping my pinky and squeezing it. That's when I knew, you are a stroll troll. And I was right. You've became the strongest troll I know. Even stronger than Gunmar."

Jess looks at him. "Really?"

"Yes."

She looks away. "I'm so sorry dad. For everything." She leans in and hugs him. "I'm so so sorry."

He hugs her back. "It's ok my girl. I forgive you. And your mother will forgive you too. She loves you so much, you know that right?"

She nods. "Yes."

Dictatious pets her hair to comfort her. "Would you like to see mother? She is resting right now."

She pulls away. "Yes please."

-end-

#survival mode au

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