بخش هجدهم

Mary, can we be real for a moment?

A woman like you deserves anything she wants.

And what you want is me, as your date to the Spring Fling.

It’s okay, you don’t even have to ask.

I’d rather choke to death.

Huh.

Your loss.

Hmm!

Darcy.

Well, I’ve asked out every single girl.

They all said no?

Of course not.

I got a few “as ifs.

”

A couple “not in a million years.

”

One actually gagged.

I took that as a “not interested.

”

You actually asked out every girl in school?

Nope!

Saved Claire for you, buddy.

I didn’t wanna promblock you.

Thanks.

You haven’t asked her yet, have you?

I’m working up to it, okay?

Oh, is that what they’re calling “wussing out”?

Hey, I’m just waiting for my moment.

That’s what they call wussing out these days, Wussy.

He’s correct, Master Jim.

I spent the afternoon in the school libraryand you are, apparently, a popular topic of gossip.

Blinky, what are you doing hanging out at our school?

Well, that’s an interesting story.

Wait, you said people are gossiping about Jim?

I didn’t hear much but the words “wussing” and “out” were frequently invoked.

Why were you in the library of our school?

I exhausted all of Trollmarket’s resources pertaining to the mysterious mark Angor Rot painted on your forehead.

Then a thought occurred to me.

“What about the libraryin Arcadia Oaks High?

”

And?

Sadly, all I learned was that Master Jim is a wuss when it comes to the fairer sex.

Oh, really?

Look at that hypnotic, bewitching allure of that swaying mole.

Excuse me, seems I was wrong about asking out every non-Claire girl in school.

Does he even know if a female is, in fact, beneath that costume?

I really don’t think it matters.

Yes!

I knew it!

Hey, you!

You have a visitor’s pass?

My dear sir, I dare say, my humanity is my pass.

Yeah, that’s not gonna work.

You might wanna run.

Why on Earth would I.

All right, all right.

Let’s go, stranger.

Stranger Danger!

Very well!

Um.

M-Master Vendel?

I am known to no troll as “Master.

”

Oh.

Okay.

Well, Vendel.

But I like the sound of it coming from you.

The Birthstone you recovered from Gatto’s Lair.

It must be cleaved.

Cleaved?

You humans cut stones to unlock their beauty, but trolls cut stones to unlock their power.

Chisel along the ridge, right over here.

Yes.

And along this facet.

Excellent.

I thought you were against finding the Triumbric stones.

I am against you collecting the stones.

If you were to fall into Gunmar’s hands, he would use youto escape the bridge and unleash himself upon this world.

Keep your eye on the stone, and your hand steady.

A little off, here!

Excuse me for wondering but then, why are you helping me?

You are determined to save Claire’s brother?

I am.

Then for everyone’s sake, what choice have I but to do all within my power to make sure you are successful?

Its pure form.

Whoa.

Hand it over.

The power of a gem can alter your armor’s ability.

A combination of gems, like the Triumbric stones, can reap infinite rewards.

Okay.

So, what just happened?

I am unsure.

Properly cut gemstones work in ways one can never predict.

Only discover.

I wanna discover.

Then maybe I should tell you where the Killstone is hidden.

They’ll be going for the Killstone in the Swamps of the Quagawumps.

The Killstone?

A remnant of Gunmar’s first kill, where he shattered their beloved Wumpa King.

Quagawumps.

I have heard they are not friendly to outsiders.

Especially the human kind.

Recover the Killstone.

And destroy the Hunter.

Now that he is marked,I look forward to taking what is most dear from him.

As you wish.

If Wumpas don’t let outsiders into their camp, how do we get the stone?

Don’t worry, Master Jim!

I already have a plan!

It’s rudimentary.

If Quagawumps are hostile to outsiders, we’ll need an insider!

One of you is going to pretend to be the human reincarnation of the Shattered King!

It’s genius!

What?

That’s insane!

You, Tobias, bear a most striking resemblance to their dead king.

Me?

Yes.

The Quagawumps are short and stout in stature.

It’ll be a role of a lifetime. Mostly because if they see past our little charade, the time of our lives will end.

Well, we better get a move on!

This place is creepy.

Where are we?

A place renowned for its vast swamps, theme parks and retirement communities.

Florida!

Come on, Your Eminence.

Your people await.

I’m just saying.

I’m built to be a sidekick, you know?

I’m not leading man material.

I’m a wingman.

Don’t be a wuss.

Come on.

Hmm?

Mmm!

Humans!

A taste not common.

Toby?

Okay.

It is I, the Shower King!

Shattered.

The Shattered King!

Reincarnated as a human.

Whoo-oo!

You’re not a ghost.

Gunmar kill you.

You cannot be.

Prove you are he.

Show us great magics, god king.

Hi-yi-yi yi-yi-yi-yi-yah!

Ahem.

Okay.

All right, now.

Stand back.

This one’s not for the faint of heart.

Abara-cadabara, nothing up my sleeve-ara!

He dismembered his hand and then rejoined his flesh and bone!

His magic is so powerful!

Hi-yi-yi yi-yi-yi-yi-yah!

Nice work, Tobes.

You are leading man material!

Ha-ha-ha!

Hi-yi-yi yi-yi-yi-yi-yah!

The lost king, returned!

Huh?

Hi-yi-yi yi-yi-yi-yi-yah!

I don’t believe it.

Neither do I.

Ugh, I know, right?

He doesn’t even look anything like me.

Mouth filled with precious metals!

Hey, watch your hand there.

Ugh!

So handsome the king is!

That’s what I keep telling the girls at school, but they weren’t interested.

Who are these girls at school?

We shall hunt them down, and make flutes out of their arms!

No, don’t do that!

That’s very kind of you, but not necessary.

A song of a Quagawump.

No outsider has ever heard such a rare delight.

Catchy!

Awesome sauce!

This song is so beautiful.

Come.

We feast.

Oh!

What’s on the menu?

Outsider tried to sneak

into camp last night.

Tonight, we eat its heart.

Hey!

Ah!

Fresh swamp maggots.

Ugh!

Ugh!

Ugh!

Eh?

Ooh!

Mm!

This is delicious.

What is it?

It’s not people, is it?

Flamingo!

Don’t you think it’s time to ask them for the you-know-what?

We just got here.

We don’t want to just exploit the situation, do we?

This servant bother you?

You want me kill him?

No, no, no, he’s fine.

For now.

It is you?

Really you?

Faith I kept.

Others follow Blungo, the Pretend King.

“Pretend King”?

And now you stay and fight Blungo?

Yeah.

Oh, great king.

Now is the time of telling.

Why returned have you?

Uh, yeah.

I have returned for one great purpose.ahem to tell you of my grand adventures in a far-off mystic land called Arcadia!

Yeah!

Yeah!

There, I battled the diabolical Coach Lawrence and his Unclimbable Ropes!

And that day, I was going commando.

Or should I say, comman-do?

More!

Another warrior epic we hear!

Excuse me, god king?

Please, kneel.

It’s protocol.

What are you doing?

I thought you were trying to get the stone.

I’m their king, man.

They wanna hear stories.

We can’t just lie to them and bounce.

The longer we stay here, the more likely we’ll end up on the dinner plate.

Fine.

I’ll ask for the stone, after you ask Claire to the dance!

Fine.

Fine!

Fine!

My king?

After journey, what is song you bring?

Hmm.

Jim, song?

Jim?

Hmm?

Fine.

Boom!

Boom!

Shake the room, say what?

I said

Say what?

Boom, boom, shake the room

Say what?

I like!

Boom, boom, shake the room, say what?

Boom, boom, shake the room, say what?

Boom, boom, shake the room, say what?

What?

Boom, boom, shake the room, say what?

Boom, boom, shake the room, say what?

Boom, boom, shake the room, say what?

Boom, boom, shake the room, say what?

Hi-yi-yi yi-yi-yi-yi-yah!

Hi-yi-yi yi-yi-yah!

Hi-yi-yi yah!

Come on.

Uh.

It’s catchy.

Oh, sure.

In a minute.

Ooh, I’m just digesting.

Everyone right.

What?

Wuss.

Wuss.

He’s correct, Master Jim.

Wussing out.

How many people did you tell?

Just Aaarrrgghh!

Though, Master Jim, your wussiness is readily apparent to anyone.

Epic, one might even say.

It’s not wussiness.

It’s.

it’s.

I can’t dance.

Boom, boom!

Wuss!

You defeated Draal, battled Bular, and yet you fear dancing?

Pretty much.

Yeah.

Jim, dance like nobody’s watching.

And love like it’s never going to hurt.

Whoa.

That’s that’s profound.

I know.

I read it in a human phone booth 20 years ago and it has always stayed with me.

In 600 years, I’ve seen many human dances and I’ve noticed one thing has always remained consistent.

Yeah?

It’s the females of your species who dance.

Males merely move and sway.

Can’t go wrong.

Indeed.

You’re right.

Ey-hey-hey!

Ey-hey-hey!

Ey-hey-hey hey-hey-hey!

Ey-hey-hey!

Ey-hey-hey!

Hey, cool music.

Yeah.

Isn’t this amazing?

Sorry.

I’m not much of a dancer.

Hey, do you want to go to the Spring Fling?

Yeah, I’ll probably go, but I.

Oh, you mean with you?

I’ve been waiting for you to ask me but I’m afraid we’ll both graduate by the time you get around to it.

Graduate college, I mean.

Yeah.

I was.

Yes!

Definitely!

What manner mischief this be?

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Who’s this joker?

It is Blungo, the pretend king.

You fight him, eh?

Why humans here?

He is our true king.

Returned!

What?

Hi, Mr. Blungo.

Shattered King cannot be.

King was shatter-ed.

King am I!

My favorite musical!

What?

It’s like a play with singing.

Use your magic, my king.

Cast Blungo away you will!

Dismemberment amuse Blungo.

Now, I dismember you!

Oh, boy!

Does anybody have a dove?

Shake, shake, shake.

Shake, shake, shake!

Hey, please don’t kill me, Blungo.

I’m not the king, okay?

Why you here?

I only made it up to get the stone.

Shake, shake, shake.

But king you are not?

I’m sorry I lied to you.

Shake, shake, shake.

We only came here for the.

Shake, shake, shake.

The Killstone!

Put my friend down!

Or what?

For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command!

Enough waiting.

It hurts!

Augh!

Who you now?

Death.

What happening?

Angor Rot!

Boora Nazulrah Char Sha!

The mark!

How did you do.

Daylight is now mine to command!

Jim, he’s taking the stone!

Properly cut gemstones work in ways one can never predict.

Oh.

Sweet!

That’s new!

The Birthstone, he’s unlocked his armor!

Yes!

Smooth move.

The Killstone!

Search for the stone!

Ugh!

Now, isn’t this fun?

Agh-hh!

Be careful!

His blade is poisoned with Creeper’s Sun!

One cut and you will be turned to stone!

Oh, no!

Wumpa, watch out!

Are you okay?

There it is!

Oh!

This is a finger.

Dude, I can’t find it!

The stone!

You found it!

I lied to you.

I’m not your king.

You my king.

Hey, everyone!

I’ve got the stone!

Don’t let him get away!

That’s our stone!

We need that to save my brother.

Claire!

Claire, are you okay?

I.

I lost the Killstone!

But we have you.

We’ll get it back.

Indeed, the victory here was survival.

Shadowstaff!

Very dangerous!

Let me take that from you.

No way!

I’m keeping this.

I’m not really good at this.

Toby be good friend to Wumpa.

Maybe one day return to be king?

Toby.

Goodbye, for now.

For now?

Boom boom?

Shake the room?

Say what?

Wumpas don’t need a king.

Maybe it’s time you had a queen.

Hey, big guy!

You coming?

Coming.

Goodbye, my king.

My staff!

Hmm.