Chosen

bittersweet sixteen

"Tobias informed us of your surprise birthday customs. Are you not surprised?" Blinky asked excitedly, his six eyes sparkling. "Uh.." Jim chuckled. "That would be one word for it." "I was convincing," AAARRRGGHH smiled, still looking so proud, as he lowered Jim back onto the ground. "Sixteen years! A propitious milestone. Sixteen is when young trolls master command of their bowels," Blinky told as Tobias handed Jim a blue balloon. "I'm so happy for you, James!" you whispered.

"The Hero's Forge!" a familiar voice of authority suddenly spoke. "Sacred proving ground for Trollhunters past, present and future," Vendel continued as he entered the Forge, "reduced to mockery." He stopped right in front of Jim, lowered his headstone staff and popped Jim's blue balloon with it. Jim backed up, looking like a scared child as AAARRRGGHH ate an orange balloon. "Pop," he smiled.

"You will remove all of this post-haste," Vendel commanded sternly. "But father-" you began. "I don't want anything to delay the Trollhunter's training," he interrupted you as he turned around and walked off grumpily.

"He didn't mention anything about NotEnrique. Haven't you told him yet?" Jim turned to Blinky as Tobias and AAARRRGGHH began popping balloons. "Vendel doesn't believe we have a changeling problem, master Jim. He certainly won't simply take my word that a baby - and possibly several others - in Arcadia are being replaced with those stinky creatures," Blinky replied, seemingly accepting the fact. "But he is right about your training, and what better way to celebrate your birthing day than to work of forestalling your dying day!" he happily said, pulling Jim in by his shoulder.

"Okay, great work everyone! Uh, let's just wrap this up and continue with our days!" you announced, getting grunts and thumbs up as replies.

"You will not always be the quarry, master Jim. The hunted must become the hunter!" Blinky lectured as Jim chased AAARRRGGHH around the Forge as a way of training. "Speed and precision is the goal of our drill, master Jim. You must catch AAARRRGGHH without reliance upon your amulet or the sword it manifests. If you are without your weapon, the environment can be your weapon!" Blinky encouraged. Humorously, as the troll finished his sentence, a shiny blade swung at Jim. You felt your arm grab Tobias' shoulder on instinct and felt your heart caught in your throat as he bent down just in time with a; "Woah!" "A weapon you use, I mean!" Blinky added. You sighed and thanked Deya under your breath as you let go of Toby's shoulder.

AAARRRGGHH hopped onto one of the giant blades on the ground, raising himself far beyond Jim's reach. And without any help from his amulet - except his armor - the task of getting to the troll became much harder for the hunter. He looked around nervously and seemed a tad.. uncomfortable?

"Jim seems off," you thought out loud as he began making his way up the familiar moving obstacles within the centre of the Forge. "Master Jim does not appear to be himself," Blinky agreed, thoughtfully. "I expected the celebration of his birthing day to add some spring to his step." "Birthdays really aren't Jim's thing," Tobias said, shrugging sadly. "For creatures with such a short lifespan, I think they would be cherished. Do you not, Y/n?" Blinky turned to you, looking confused. "I do. I think they're nice," you replied. "Jim doesn't. They always remind him of the day when his dad disappeared," Toby explained, looking at the two of you. "Interesting. I did not know Jim's father was a magician," Blinky said, rubbing his blue chin. "Mm, not 'magic' disappeared," Toby replied, looking pained. You looked at him curiously. "More like 'walked out because he's a deadbeat' disappeared," he told.

Toby kept explaining as the three of you watched Jim struggle at his task of catching AAARRRGGHH. "I'd just moved into the house across the street, and Jim's dad got him this sweet bike kit for his fifth birthday. And then, he just took off. The pieces laid there in the garage for years. Last I heard, the guy ran off with his girlfriend to be a ski bum in Vermont." As Tobias told the story, you could feel your eyes getting wet, but quickly dried them with your shirt before they got the chance to spill. You looked over at Blinky and surprisingly saw the same look in all six of his eyes. "What a horrible tragedy. Made even more horrible that I had no idea," Blinky said, laying a comforting shoulder on Toby's left shoulder. You did the same.