3Below: The Adventure Continues

Chapter 3: Calling All Trollhunters

Toby woke up early the next morning. Everyone else is still asleep but he figures he would get up and get ready for the day. Before he did, however, he checked his phone. Hoping for a text his missed during his sleep last night from Jim or anyone of their friends. He pressed on one of the side buttons of his phone with baited breath and.....nothing. Nothing at all. Toby sighed quietly in frustration with a set frown on his face as he put his phone down on his nightstand and got up from his bed, being careful not to wake ARRRGGHH! or Chompsky in his room. It was little difficult since Toby's room wasn't all that big and ARRRGGHH! took most of the room. He was careful not to step on the loose floorboard because that would no doubt wake up Chompsky and you never want to wake up a Gnome unless you have some sort of death wish. Once out of the room, Toby shut his bedroom door and went downstairs to get breakfast. Again, being careful not make too many creaks going downstairs since his Nana and Dictatious are downstairs and he didn't want to wake them. He went into the kitchen and made him a bowl of cereal. He sat down at the table and ate his breakfast. As he sat there eating, he couldn't help but replay last night event's in his mind. He figured that him and ARRRGGHH! would be enough in protecting Arcadia but last night proved him otherwise. He was still in disbelief of how underprepared him and ARRRGGHH! were. Of course, in their defense they didn't realize another potential threat would just occur like that. But still, as Arcadia's only protectors, Toby felt that they should've been on top of that. Then again, that's when he also realized, quickly, that him and ARRRGGHH! just weren't gonna be enough. ARRRGGHH! is big and strong which at the same time an advantage and disadvantage. Since he's so big, he's a big target and even though he's strong enough to protect himself, he could've been over-powered very easily from those attack robots last night since there was so many of them despite his attempts to keep them off him. And Toby himself, well, where should he start. He was clumsy for one and two he's also big, so he could very easily become overpowered himself. Not to mention his Warhammer that acts up occasionally. But their biggest disadvantage of all, is the number of their team. Arcadia was going to need more than two protectors. That's when Toby thought of enlisting Steve and Eli, aka the Creepslayerz, to help. They know about Trolls, know what Toby and his friends do, they both helped the trolls after Trollmarket was taken over by Gunmar, and they helped get everyone to safety in the battle with Gunmar, Morgana, and Angor Rot. So, very easily, they qualified. However, what's preventing Toby from getting out of his spot at that moment, climbing up the stairs to get his phone, and text to see if Steve and Eli can meet him at a place where he and ARRRGGHH! can talk to them, is...well...it's Steve and Eli. They were total opposites of each other. Sure, they appear to work great in a team, which is surprising, but from what Toby has seen, they've been trying to keep up the fact that Steve is the King at Arcadia Oaks High and Eli is the Nerd at Arcadia. Meaning they're trying to keep up with the high school status quote. Not to mention Steve's immaturity and ego and Eli's overall nervous nature. Obviously, both boys have their flaws as does Toby, but he also knows that he doesn't have a choice. If he and ARRRGGHH! don't get any other help, then Arcadia is doom and he'll let Jim down. They were the only people qualified for the job. Toby sighed once more as he stirred what's left of his cereal around before he turned his head up and looked at the clock. It was 8:00 already, there was no way any kid would be up at this time during summer, so he's got at least 2 hours to kill to think up a plan for him, Steve, and Eli to meet. Somewhere private, of course. Just because everyone, at least the people of Arcadia, knows about Trolls now, doesn't mean they need to know about this either or at least not yet. He's needs to find out for himself before he tells people. Suddenly, he heard movement from another room and a door opening. He heard a shuffling of feet from down the hall to the kitchen. He looked up and saw his Nana with Dictatious holding onto her arm at the doorway, "Oh, good morning, Toby Pie! I didn't realize you were up so early. I would've made you some breakfast," his Nana said as she pulls out a chair for Dictatious to sit in and helped him sit down, "Oh, that's alright, Nana. I made myself something," he said to her reassuring as he watched her went to the stove and got out a frying pan. Toby then looked towards Dictatious, who was strangely being very quiet, "Morning, Dictatious," Toby said to him. Dictatious moved his head to the direction he heard Toby to indicate that he heard him or at least not ignoring him which he does sometimes, "Umm, morning, Toby," Dictatious said back to him awkwardly. Toby couldn't help but notice the change in character in Dictatious. Last night he seemed fine, heck he helped make dinner and he was somewhat civil with him and ARRRGGHH! but lately, he seemed off. Usually, he spouts out random stuff about his books or something else that no one cares to listen to, but he's been so quiet that unless he said something or made a noise, you probably wouldn't notice that he was there. Maybe, he was getting used to the fact that he's around decent people and he doesn't have to fear about getting killed or something and he doesn't know how to act. Either way, Toby couldn't help but feel concern for the blind troll. He wanted to ask how he was until his Nana came up to the table with a couple of mugs in her hands, "So, what's your plans for today, Toby Pie?" she asked him as she placed a mug by him and Dictatious and poured them some coffee, "I was going to meet up with some friends today or see if they want to meet up, " he answered her as he stirred his cereal around once more and Dictatious took his mug giving Nana a small smile of appreciation. "Oh, that's sounds nice. It will be good for you to talk to some new people or people haven't seen in a while. Oh, and how was patrol last night? Dictatious told me you and ARRRGGHH! came home early. Everything went okay?" Nana asked him, concern. Toby looked back at Dictatious with a questioned look as Dictatious himself was drinking his coffee, obviously unaware Toby was staring at him, "Uh, yeah, Nana. Everything went okay. We just decided to come home early that's all," Toby answered as he continued to his gaze on the blind troll. "Oh, that's good, I'm glade to hear that," Nana said as she went to the fridge and pulled out some eggs and bacon. She set them on the counter as she left the room for a moment to use the bathroom. As Toby watched her leave, he looked back at Dictatious as he absent-mindly drink his coffee, "You told Nana about last night?" Toby asked him, trying to not sound accusing. Dictatious moved his head towards his direction, setting his coffee down, "Well, yes and no. I only gave her a jest of what happened," he answered him. Toby sat there glaring at him, "And what was this "jest" that you gave her?" he asked him, starting to get angry. Dictatious picked up the anger in his tone but remained passive, "I just told her that you and ARRRGGHH! came back early after investigating in the woods," he said to him as he took another sip from his coffee. However, his answer didn't satisfy Toby one bit, "And what else did you tell Nana?" Toby asked him, getting even more angry but also keeping his tone in check so Nana didn't hear him. Dictatious looked back at him also with a glare on his face, "I told her that you and ARRRGGHH! had a slight issue last night but you both took care of it and that you were both were fine. That's all," Dictatious answered him, gruffly as he turned his head back the wall in front of him. Even though he can't see the wall in front of him or anything for that matter. Toby sat there in disbelief at what he just heard, "Okay, and what gave you the right to tell MY Nana of what's going on in MY Trollhunting business with ARRRGGHH!?" he asked him, angry that Dictatious told his Nana what happen last night. Dictatious glare back at Toby as he unintentionally slammed his mug on the table, "Have YOU been telling her of what's going on with YOUR Trollhunting business?" he asked him as he rested in chin on his hands, trying his best to remain calm. Toby sat there, not sure of what to say next at that moment. "That's what I thought," Dictatious said as he scoffed at Toby's silence. However, Toby suddenly was able to find his words again, "My Nana doesn't need to know what's going on. Okay, she's already worried about me and I don't want her to worry more," he said back to the blind troll. Dictatious gave a look of false confusion to him as he set his mug down, "So, let me get this straight. By NOT telling your Nana something about your Trollhunting life it will worry her less?" Dictatious asked him, not convinced by Toby's reasoning as he tipped his stony finger on his fist. Now, Toby was angry. He sat there, trying to think of some sort of retaliation, "I also want to keep her out of danger," Toby added, trying to sound calm but growled slightly at the end of his sentence. Dictatious chuckled slightly, "Oh, I see, I got it wrong. By telling your Nana less about your life you're not only worrying her less but you're keeping her out of danger. My mistake, I apologize for my lack of understanding," Dictatious said sarcastically as he placed his arms down flat on the table and gave Toby a frown. Okay, there was the old Dictatious we knew or at least sort of. But that didn't make Toby any less angry, "Look, you don't understand...," Toby started until Dictatious interrupted him, "No, actually I do understand. You want to protect your grandmother, I get that. But do you really believe by keeping things from her like that you're worrying her less or protecting her?" Dictatious asked him in a serious tone. Toby sat there in shock as he took in Dictatious's words, "No, I don't think you do and something tells me that's been an issue in the past," Dictatious answered for him. He gave a sigh before he continued, "Look, I'm not saying you should tell her every detail of what's going on in your life. All I'm saying is that you could at least give her a jest of what's going on and your patrols with ARRRGGHH! are no exception. You need to remember that she now knows what you and your friends are doing at night and by not telling her is what's going on is going to worry her more and possibly put her danger," Dictatious said to him, "Your grandmother isn't as absent-minded as she appears. Trust me," Dictatious added as he picked up his mug once more and took a sip. Toby was shocked by his words as he sat there staring at the blind troll as he faces the wall again and drank from his coffee. Was Dictatious seriously giving him advice and GOOD advice at that? Toby was about to say something when his Nana finally came back into the room, "Sorry, boys. These old joints seem to work slower and slower nowadays. I'll get your breakfast started," she said as she turned the burner on and started making breakfast. Toby glanced at her for a moment before turning back at Dictatious and processing his words. His gaze was broken when he saw ARRRGGHH! carefully walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, "OW!" he said as he hit his head on the door frame, "Oh, dear! ARRRGGHH! are you okay?" Nana asked the big troll as he sat there rubbing his head for a moment. He simply nodded down at her with a small smile on his face, "Oh, poor thing, I wish there was a way to make you more comfortable here," Nana said as she pats on the side of ARRRGGHH!'s face, "No worry, I'm okay," he said to her in reassurance and with that she went back to the stove to continue to make breakfast. Toby couldn't help but feel guilty at this. If ARRRGGHH! was going to stay here, he needs to figure out a way for him to navigate through the house without bumping his head on the door frames. How, he wasn't sure. Maybe it should've been better if..." Morning, Wingman," ARRRGGHH! greeted Toby holding out his fist to him. Toby broke out of his thoughts at the sound of ARRRGGHH!'s voice, "Morning, Wingman," Toby said back to him as he fist bumped his friend making their "boom, boom," sounds. ARRRGGHH! took his spot as Nana returned with a plate full of eggs and bacon at the table. She placed a cup of coffee for ARRRGGHH! but of course, pay no mind to it as he discovered that he hated coffee and Nana forgetting that fact but ARRRGGHH! didn't mind it. As everyone ate their breakfast, Toby sat there thinking what to say to Eli and Steve and where they could talk in private. He could bring them back here but then Nana would feed them pie out the wazoo and they probably wouldn't get anything done. He could take them to the lookout bluff since its secluded and hardly anybody knows where it's at. He'll at least text them to see if they're free and they'll start from there. With that, Toby placed his bowl in the sink, cleaned it, and went upstairs to grab his phone.