Only The Trollhunter Will Know

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄

*𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡/ 𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗬 (𝗢𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟) 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟮𝟭/𝟬𝟳/𝟮𝟭

Even though it had only been a distant twenty-four hours since the stopping of The Titans, Jim was feeling refreshed. From his position beside the Arcadia Oak's stage, he was able to relax once again as he watched time play out despite the conflicting truth of him erasing all he had ever achieved on his initial journey. For the time being he was grasping close the fact that everyone was now alive and well, he planned to keep things that way and that plan was already set in motion-  it had begun the moment he awoke.

The student stood nervously at the centre of the stage suddenly turned before pacing back into the wings and past Jim. It was now his turn to audition and although arriving earlier as planned, he was kept waiting unlike the previous time. With a skip he entered into a brighter light and stepped towards the stage's centre as before but now bare of armour and a deathly magnificent sword.

Looking down his gaze was immediately drawn to the brown orbed beauty he cherished so much but couldn't go to just yet; her memories with him didn't exist, every kiss, hug, adventurer void in her mind. Even with this knowledge Jim was determined to recreate them and fulfil the promise he made to Claire another time.

"I'm James Lake Jr. Here to try out for the part of Romeo," He declared with Eli reaching up from the ground to offer him his own sword prop.

It wasn't Daylight but Jim was still thankful of the smaller boy and accepted it happily as part of his formerly performed speech then looking up to Mrs Janeth for his queue.

"Go ahead, Mr Lake," she nodded.

In response Jim grinned with a tint of cockiness.

"Destiny..." He began and breathed out a chuckled at the thought of the first time he was on the stage quoting Blinky.

"...Destiny is a gift. Some go their entire lives living an existence of quiet desperation, never learning the truth. That what feels as though a burden pushing us down upon our shoulders, is actually the sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights."

He guided his sword towards Claire thinking of her as one of his purposes, she never gave up on him, and he promised he wouldn't on her.

The girl awed up him feeling a rush within her for which quietly confused her as to why, she almost felt connected to his words as he wasn't acting, but almost telling her, perhaps. The conflicted Claire had never felt what she was feeling before as she looked at him and listened, the rush now pooling around something foreign.

"Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor. That to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be a hero." Jim showed determination in what he said thinking of Toby's last words before he passed, an image that would always be his bane.

"Don't think...become."

Everyone in the theatre gawked at his performance but slowly people began to stand up and applaud.

"Well done Mr Lake! Or should I call you Romeo," Mrs Janeth smirked ticking boxes on her clipboard. "I think you and Ms Nuñez are perfect for the parts of our star crossed lovers."

She grabbed Claire's hand and then pushed her up the stairs to the stage, beside Jim. His throat momentarily ran dry seeing her approach him.

"Wow," was all Claire spoke. "Jim that was remarkable. I haven't seen anything as amazing as that for myself before."