بخش نهم

Wake up, wake up!

Don’t want to sleep through your big day.

Big day?

The big day you start with Mom’s special birthday pancakes!

He looks like he’s screaming.

He’s excited.

I know, I know.

You always hate your birthday.

But you’re 16!

This is a big one.

We should do something tonight.

Oh, Mom, you know I don’t want to.

This isn’t up for discussion.

No one should be alone on their birthday.

When you’ve had your fill, I have another surprise for you downstairs.

Warhammer to Trollhunter.

Copy?

Copy.

What is it, Tobes?

Look out your window!

I think a bird or something tore away a piece of your drawing, Tobes.

Ah, that was Aaarrrgghh.

He thought the cake was real.

Or maybe he just likes the taste of paper.

Any word from Claire?

No, she’s not returning any of my texts.

It’s not like I destroyed her house or anything.

Oh, wait.

It is.

Dude, you didn’t destroy her house.

Her fake baby brother did.

Yeah, I’ll be sure to mention that.

Have you thought about it?

Telling her, I mean?

Telling her her baby brother’s been swapped for a shape-shifting changeling troll because of me?

Is there a Hallmark card for that?

If there isn’t, there should be.

In the meantime, ignorance is bliss, and I’ve got a birthday gift for you that Aaarrrgghh cannot eat.

Toby-Pie!

Why is this box empty?

Ugh, Aaarrrgghh ate the kitty litter again.

Gotta go.

Warhammer out.

Ew.

Oh!

Wait!

Wait right there.

Let me get your present ready in the garage.

The garage?

I know you’ve wanted this for a while, and now that you’re the big one-six, maybe it’s time.

I think you’ll get a lot of mileage out of it.

Did you seriously just get me a.

The Food Magic 3000!

From those cooking shows you like.

It slices, it dices.

And you hate it.

No, no, Mom, it’s.

it’s.

it’s great!

Oh, no!

You were expecting a.

With the garage and the mileage.

It’s fine.

I also wanted one of these.

We’ll get a Vespa someday, Jim.

Just.

You know I hate the idea of you on one of those things.

The Food Magic is perfect, Mom, really.

I can’t wait to cook you something with it.

Jim!

You gotta come quick!

There’s an emergency in the place.

With the thing.

Not even an emergency, actually.

It’s.

Hey, is that a Food Magic?

3000.

I’ll leave you boys to it.

But, Jim, tonight celebration!

Looking forward.

Seriously, we’ve got a Defcon One situation in Trollmarket.

How do you know?

I just do!

Come on!

Hurry!

Run!

It’s too late, Master Jim.

Aaarrrgghh has lost his mind!

Save yourself!

I thought Aaarrrgghh was at your house!

Oh, my gosh.

Was it the kitty litter?

What the.

Surprise!

Happy birthing day, Master Jim!

What?

Good actor.

Tobias informed us of your human surprise birthday customs.

Are you not surprised?

Uh.

That would be one word for it.

I was convincing.

Sixteen years!

A propitious milestone.

Sixteen is when young trolls master command of their bowels.

The Hero’s Forge!

Sacred proving grounds for Trollhunters past, present, and future, reduced to mockery.

Balloons.

Pop.

You will remove them post-haste.

I don’t want anything to delay the Trollhunter’s training.

He didn’t mention Claire’s brother.

In his defense, he’s never met Enrique.

I mean, didn’t you tell him about Enrique?

Mm, it pops.

Vendel doesn’t believe we have a changeling problem, Master Jim.

He certainly won’t simply take my word that Claire’s brother has been replaced with one.

But he’s right about your training, and what better way to celebrate your birthing day than to work on forestalling your dying day.

Mm.

You will not always be the quarry, Master Jim.

The hunted must become the hunter!

Speed and precision is the goal of this 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!

Whoa!

A weapon you use, I mean.

Master Jim does not appear to be himself.

I expected the celebration of his birthing day to add some spring to his step.

Birthdays really aren’t Jim’s thing.

For creatures with such a short lifespan, I would think they would be cherished.

Uh, not for Jim.

They always remind him of the day when his dad disappeared.

Interesting.

I did not know Jim’s father was a magician.

Mm, not “magic” disappeared.

More like “walked out ‘cause he’s a deadbeat” disappeared.

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.

What a horrible tragedy.

Made even more horrible that I had no idea.

There you go, Master Jim!

That’s how you.

Gotcha.

Uh.

Mm.

This is a scale, isn’t it?

You’ve summoned a stalkling.

To do what we should have done long ago.

Stalklings are as dangerous and unpredictable as they are uncontrollable.

We agreed that any attempt on the boy’s life would bring too much scrutiny.

Which is why I summoned the stalkling.

I’m sick of hiding in shadowswhile this fleshbag stumbles closer and closer to my father’s bridge.

When she gets her prey alone, no one will ever see or hear from the Trollhunter again.

Lest they find his rotting bones.

They open at 11:00!

I’ll see you inside.

Okay, cool!

Oh.

All right, chief.

You ready for your birthday gift?

Are we gonna sue someone?

Nah, that’s next year’s gift.

Hey, give me your wallet.

Maybe you don’t know how this whole gift thing’s supposed to work.

I’ve got it wired.

Give me your wallet.

Cool.

We’re ready.

Not this again.

Ha-ha!

Hmm.

Huh.

Good day to you, sir!

Lovely weather we’re having.

You again?

I told your friend he can’t do a test drive unless you have a learner’s permit.

Hot off the press.

Yeah, I also need an insur.

An insurance card?

Luckily, he’s still on his mother’s plan.

His Social Security card.

Trust me, he’s got good credit.

And just for fun of it, I also have his library card, along with signed testimonials from his teachers and friends.

Happy birthday.

But he’s still only 16.

Needs a signature from a parent.

Would you accept the signature of Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Washington?

Ten minutes.

And it better not come back with a scratch.

Enjoy the ride, birthday boy.

What the.

What the heck!

What was that?

Steve?

Nice wheels, understudy.

I knew you wanted to be me, but this is pathetic.

This is really not a good time right now, Steve.

Time for what?

Whatever!

This, you!

Whoa!

You calling me out?

You want to race?

No!

What I want is to have nothing to do with you!

You think you can take me, buttmunch?

Bring it!

I don’t want to bring anything!

Oh, yeah, I’m totally gonna crush you!

Hey, look out!

My wheels!

Uh.

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

Ah, Vendel!

Just the troll we’ve been looking for.

Don’t stop looking on my account.

But it is imperative that you look upon this.

Easy on the scruff!

And what are you staring at, grandpa?

Have you never seen a changelin’ before?

So, this is Trollmarket.

A changeling?

You called me crazy, but who’s the mad troll now, huh?

Behold!

I have proof!

Put that thing away!

What are you trying to do?

Incite a panic?

Ey!

I only came here ‘cause you promised me socks to eat.

And you’ll get them.

They better be argyle.

And smelly.

Do you finally believe me?

Changelings, therefore bridge.

Bridge, therefore panic.

Have you heard nothing I’ve said?

Hole.

For once, you’re right.

And the horror of it.

Threat of Gunmar’s exile right over our heads, and all Trollmarket has to protect it is your human Trollhunter child.

You can trust the Trollhunter.

In the face of the greatest danger, he will stand steadfast and gallant.

Blinky!

Blinky, you have to save me!

A huge troll bird, like a jetliner with claws, just tried to kill me!

How could I not be put at ease by such gallant bravery?

Stalkling.

Very nasty.

Stalkling?

Stalkling?

It was flying in daylight.

How could it fly in daylight?

Stalklings are one of the only species of troll immune to the effects of sunlight.

That looks not nearly as scary as what attacked me.

That’s because those unlucky few who are caught alone with it never live long enough to depict it.

I’m curious.

How is it that you’re not disemboweled?

I don’t know.

I hit him with my sword, I think.

You struck a blow against a stalkling?

What gallant bravery!

Well, it was more like luck than.

Incredibly heroic and brave and Trollhunter-ish.

We shall see.

Once a stalkling marks its target, it.

Well, stalks it till death.

That doesn’t sound good.

Fear not, Master Jim.

As long as you are not alone, you will remain unharmed.

You mean, I can’t be alone for the rest of my life?

Is that a problem?

You seem quite social.

Ugh, this Vespa guy keeps calling about paying for the damage.

Ugh, the mirror.

He noticed?

You know the $328/32 you saved up?

He wants all of it.

I told him you became a monk and renounced all earthly possessions, but he didn’t believe me!

So how you doing with that whole death-bird thing?

I’ll live.

I’ll just never be alone again.

Claire and plenty of other people are at rehearsal,

I can call my mom to pick me up after, and you’ll ride with me to school tomorrow.

Okay, and then what?

What happens if you have to go to the bathroom?

Do you have to take a chaperone?

Not it, by the way.

Eventually, the stalkling has to lose interest, right?

Hide out amongst people until the troll bird gets bored.

Heroic plan, Jimbo.

There you are!

Claire!

I.

I thought you said you weren’t ever gonna speak to me again.

Actually, I said I hoped I’d never see you again.

Well, looks like you’ve got a chaperone.

Adios.

I’ll let you know when I gotta go to the bathroom.

I was upset.

You and Toby totally trashed my house.

My parents blamed me for leaving Enrique with you.

I would’ve gotten in less trouble if you’d let him get kidnapped.

Really?

I-I mean.

No, you’re right.

You’re right.

You’re totally right.

Toby and I should never have used your house for, um for a rave.

I’m sorry, again.

The thing is, I asked around.

I couldn’t find a single person who was there.

Be straight with me.

What really happened?

There you are, Jim!

So glad you’re here!

I hope the two of you are ready to recreate the tragedy of true love.

Places in five!

What’s she talking about?

Steve totaled his Vespa.

He’s got a concussion.

And Ms. Janeth says he can’t be Romeo anymore.

We can’t do Romeo and Juliet without a Romeo, Jim.

Uh, okay, but I’m still confused.

You’re the understudy for Romeo, remember?

I need you to come back.

I’m willing to beg.

No, sure.

Let me just see if I can get my mom to pick me up.

“Forgive me!

Forgive me!

“Forgive me, cousin.

Ah, right.

Sorry.

Got it.

“Forgive me, cousin.

Ah, dear Juliet, why art thou yet so fair?

Great rehearsal.

Memorize, memorize.

Opening night’s just around the corner, thespians.

What was that?

Uh, maybe I can walk you home?

I think my parents would kill you if they saw you with me.

And anyway, they’re picking me up.

Oh, no, no, no.

My mom’s picking me up, too.

I just.

Maybe we could keep each other company.

Okay.

Uh.

Are you all right?

Uh, yeah, just, um.

I’m worried about the weather.

Thanks again for stepping up today.

You really saved the play.

Claire, wait!

Uh.

Hey, it’s me.

I have to stay a little late at the clinic.

What?

I know, I know.

We’ll still celebrate, I promise.

But some knucklehead crashed his Vespa, and I have to work up the x-rays.

You have your bike.

Can you find your way home by yourself?

By myself?

Wait, wait!

Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Nunez!

I was hoping maybe I could catch a ride?

Power outages could be occurring.

We’re also experiencing flash flood warnings in Arcadia.

Wait, wait, wait!

But it’s my birthday!

Have a great night!

Come on, Tobes.

Pick up.

Please, pick up!

Come on, come on, come on!

Shrimp roll, here I come!

No, no, no!

You’ve reached the Toby phone!

Ooh, cream cheese!

Get the Philadelphia roll!

Yeah!

Boom!

Double points.

Wingman.

Now what?

Hey, you!

Spicy tuna!

Spicy tuna!

Aw.

Oh, man!

Stupid storm.

Tobes, please pick up the phone.

This thing is following me and I’m all alone!

Alone!

We gotta go!

Sixteenth birthday, but do I get a Vespa?

No.

I get a food processor and a killer flying troll!

Where are you taking me?

This way!

For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command, because I really, really don’t want to die!

He’s up there!

How do we get up there?

No wings.

Please let me go.

The air.

I can’t.

I can’t breathe.

You don’t need weapons.

Your environment can sometimes be the weapon.

If I go, we go!

Hurry!

Hurry, hurry!

Jim!

Jim!

Gotcha.

Yeah, Aaarrrgghh!

This is why I hate birthdays.

This better not be another surprise because I really don’t think I can handle any more.

No, no.

If my calculations are correct, there’s only a few more minutes left to your birthing day.

Time for one more present.

I know it doesn’t look like much.

Wait.

That’s a 150 G.S.

Four-speed gear box, classic long saddle original handlebar headlamp unit!

These are the pieces of a 1955 Vespa!

I thought perhaps one day we could build it together.

After your training, of course.

Thank you.

Thank you!

This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten!

Oh, well.

I knew we’d turn it around.

When is your birthing day?

Like I’d ever tell you, wingman.

And welcome to America.

Next.

Business or pleasure?

Perhaps a bit of both?

Boy.

Anything to declare?

The Eye Stone.

It is almost complete.

And Gunmar will rise again.