3rd POV

Its been a day since Strickler return, Jim and Steve were in the principal office due to their behavior in the classes. However, Jim and Strickler had a fight talking to each other. Turns out Strickler wasn't done with them and Jim wanted to end him right there. But not in front of everyone. So they both decided to walk away. After all, Jim had other things to do as we see the trio and Claire are at the bridge to enter the trollmarket.

Jim: (Sigh.) I should have pulled Daylight on him right then and there.

Claire: Steve would've gone bananas.

Toby: It's probably good you waited.
I imagine murdering your principal looks pretty bad on your college application.

Jim: I'll just have to wait and get him alone.

YN: Well next time I see him, I'll deal with him myself. Better yet, break his teeth. As far as I know, he wouldn't be here unless he came prepared.

Toby: How would you know?

YN: Its what I would do.

Suddenly Claire spotted something far away but was gone as it got the trio concerned.

Jim: What's wrong?

Claire: I just got a weird feeling.

Toby: I have those all the time, it's usually after the school lunch.

YN: (Scoff.) Chicken surprise?

Toby: Uh...no?

Jim: Speaking of surprise, Blinky said he had something urgent he wanted to tell us.

They open the path and enter as Claire was the last one before entering and YN ask.

YN: You sure you didn't see something?

Claire: I thought I did. Wait, you're an earthbender, NotEnrique told me you can spotted people with seismic senses.

YN: That's only when I'm on barefoot. I'm wearing shoes.

Jim: Maybe its best to wear sandals.

YN: Okay, can we focus on what Blinky has something to say to us?

Everybody just shrugs and head to the trollmarket to meet Blinky.

Blinky: I've spent nights poring over the legend of the stones, decoding its hidden meanings. Endless, sleepless nights.

Jim: The Triumbric Stones. You found something?

Blinky: At first, I combed every library for insights, but there is nothing written.
Rumors say they are tied to Gunmar's life force. So I searched for stones that would have a significance to his past.

YN: What exactly are the stones we seek and which one?

Aarg: Birthstone.

Blinky: Indeed. Such as Gunmar's Birthstone.

Jim: Why is it so powerful?

Blinky: Long ago, trolls lived underground, blissfully unaware of humankind above. Inevitably, our worlds collided. Trolls and humans each wanted the world as their own and fought for it. But even though the earthbenders tried to stop the fight, blood was shed, and our First Heartstone rotted from within. And from it, Gunmar was born.

Jim: Birthstone, okay. Where would we find that?

Aarg: Birthstone gone.

Blinky: It was plundered before any good could come from it. But then I remembered this passage. "Three forces Elemental thou must seek in marshland, caverns deep, and mountain's peak." Ah.
Which is elusive, but the clue-

Claire: Is hidden in the final stanza "mountain's peak." It's so obvious! The stone is hidden in a mountain.

This confused everyone until she speaks.

Claire: Sorry. I'm a riddle dork.

Toby: Yeah, I'm not getting it.

YN: Okay so we know its hidden in the mountain, but which one exactly?

Blinky: Gatto's Keep! Deep in the realm of the Volcanic Trolls is a vault of the greatest treasures untold. Treasures too powerful for the underworld to possess.
Treasures kept locked up by Gatto himself. Treasures like-

Jim: The Birthstone.

Claire: So this Gatto has the stone that will help us get Enrique back?

YN: And slay Gunmar?-

Blinky: If I could just finish a thought!

Claire: When do we leave?

Toby: Wait, this sounds like a quest. (Smile excited.) This is a quest! Guys, we're going on our first official Trollhunters quest!

Blinky: Pack your bags. There's more to see in this world than you know.

Toby: Oh, my! Oh, my! Oh, my! Trollhunter quest!

YN: Grab what we need, we leave as soon as possible.

Time skip, Jim's POV

We all got back to our homes and start packing until I hear a knocking which is my mom.

Barbara: Going somewhere?

Jim: Um uh, yes, yeah! A camping trip with Tobes, Claire, YN, and a few others.

Barbara: And when were you gonna ask me? What if I said no?

Jim: Sorry, it just kind of sprung up.
I was gonna leave a note, but uh-

Barbara: Well, you can't go.

Jim: I have to.

Barbara: Then you're grounded.-

Suddenly we hear a knocking on the door and we head down as my mom answered it only to meet YN with his backpack.

YN: Hi, Ms. Barbara. I'm here to pick up Jim. You know, camping trip with my uncle. Archaeologist stuff. Am I right?

Barbara: No I don't.

YN: What? (To Jim.) You didn't told her?

Jim: I was gonna leave a note.

I then notice YN uncle arrive from his truck.

UN: Hey, kids. Hi, Barbara.

Barbara: UN, why didn't you tell me about your camping trip?

UN: Last week we made an agreement, but Jim wanted to tell you. I'm sorry.

Jim: I forgot about after focusing on school.

YN: So, he can come?

Barbara: Hmm.

UN: Don't worry Barb. I'll keep an eye on your son. You have my word.

Barbara: Fine, but you better keep an eye on him and I mean it. (To YN.) That goes for you.

YN: Yes, mam.

Barbara: (To Jim.) I want you back in one piece. No funny business too. Till then, stay safe.

Jim: Ok. Thanks.

She hand me my bag and got on UN truck as we wave our goodbye to my mom before leaving.

Jim: Few, that was close. Thanks for having my back you guys.

YN: Figured you and your mom would have a argument after your last visit at the hospital.

Jim: You know I can't tell her the truth.

UN: Jim, I know she wouldn't like it when finding out the truth. But sometimes its best to tell the truth so they can rest easy.

Jim: (Sigh.) I'm just not ready to tell her.

YN: It doesn't have to be after our quest. But you can't wait forever. The longer you wait, the more damage you can do.

Jim: All right.

UN: YN, told me about your quest seeking. I'll keep an eye on Strickler and anything suspicious while your gone. Until then, be very careful.

Jim: Thanks, Mr. UN.

YN: Thanks, uncle.

3rd POV

They stop at the bridge and hop off the truck before meeting with the rest at the trollmarket. Soon they went somewhere new in the trollmarket.

Toby: Whoa. You've never taken us this far before.

Blinky: Because out here, Tobias, there is no protection. Beyond the barriers of Trollmarket lie unforgiving realms, ripe with lawlessness. Aha! We're here.

Blinky: Did everyone come prepared?

Jim: Yeah, I've got my flashlight, horngazel, amulet.

YN: Got my staff, gloves, metal chain, extra rocks and metal if need, and a pack of flares from my uncle.

Claire: I've got a first-aid kit, matches.

Toby: And I got tacos! Extra spicy! What? I get hungry on a quest.

Toby eats a taco before Aarg groans.

Toby: What's wrong, wingman?

Aarg: Hate gyre.

Toby: What's a "gyre"?

YN: No idea, but something tells me you're gonna regret eating right now.

Blinky: Come with me and prepare to be amazed.

Jim pulls out the key crystal like carve the wall like how they did it at the bridge.

Jim: Seriously? You brought tacos? 

Toby: I brought enough for everyone!

Once open, they walk through as the ground opens and emerge out of the ground, revealing what appears to be a huge wheel as the humans watch in awe.

Toby: (Stammers.) That's the coolest troll-y trolley I've ever seen!

Aarg: Gyre.

Blinky: Yes. A gyre. Our kind's quickest form of transportation.

Everybody gets on and take a seat while Blinky takes the control.

Blinky: For the last 200 years, trolls have used the vast network of subterranean sewers to get to any part of the world in record time!

Jim: Wait, Gatto isn't in Arcadia?

Blinky: (Chuckles.) Of course not. He lives under what you humans call Argentina.

Claire: Argentina! That's a whole other continent, Blinky! How long is it going to take to get there?

Blinky: Less time than you'd think.
Let's burn some tunnel!

YN: Wait, isn't there seatbelts on this thing-

Blinky: Let's burn some tunnel!

Blinky push the button and the gyre drives in a incredible speed. Causing everyone to screams except for Blinky who's having fun as if its a rollercoaster. Soon they finally arrive to their destination.

Blinky: Ha-ha! A new record! You see? Was that so bad?

Toby runs and throws up after the ride while the rest hop off.

Jim: Yes. Yes, it was.

Aarg: Hate gyre!

Claire: Gross, Toby.

YN: Don't say I didn't warned you.

They move on and head to the stairs.

Jim: Out of curiosity, have either of you ever met this Gatto?

Blinky: Uh, no, Master Jim. In fact, I've done everything in my power to avoid him.

YN: Is he really that dangerous?

Blinky: Very few ever return from his keep. So-

Aarg: Stay close.

As they continue to walk, the air begins to heat up.

Toby: Agh! It's so hot. Why is it so hot?

Claire: Because we're in a volcano, aren't we?

Blinky: Welcome to Ojos del Salado, the home of Gatto.

Toby: "Ojos del Salado"? Well, that's not gonna be good for my mobile plan.

YN: Hey, trolls up ahead. Lets ask them.

Blinky: Uh, you there, we would most graciously request an audience with Gatto.

The troll turns around, revealing that the volcanic trolls wear a metallic mask with glowing eyes.

The troll kindly points at top that Gatto lies above.

Blinky: Thank you, kind friend.

They walk pass as YN realize that they'll have to climb all the way.

YN: Oh no, I ain't climbing up there while its hot.

Jim: You got a better idea?

YN: Of course I do. Follow me.

Everybody follow YN to the edge.

Claire: What are you gonna do?

YN: Just watch.

YN spits his hands and rubs them together before stomping his foot. He then swing his arms like a wheel as the ground lifts.

Claire: Whoa! That's so cool!

Soon they made it to the top. As soon as they step out of the ground lifting them, it slides back down before they realize no one is here.

Toby: Are you serious?

Jim: Okay, where's Gatto? They said he'd be here.

YN: Lunch break perhaps.

Toby: Gatto's a real butt-snack.

Suddenly the mountain begins to rumbling before they hear a echoing voice.

Gatto: Who has awakened Gatto?

YN: Guess not.

Claire: Holy sheesh-kebob!

Toby: I am so sorry I called you a butt-snack.

Jim pulls out his amulet while YN pulls out his staff before Gatto chuckles.

Gatto: A human Trollhunter and an earthbender? How interesting.

They look back and see the a gigantic troll face.

Gatto: How unique.

YN: That is Gatto!?

Gatto laughs before asking the group.

Gatto: To what do I owe this pleasure?

Jim: We've uh sorry, we've come for-

Jim was interrupted by a troll, bringing a wheel barrel filled with rocks for Gattos meal.

However, Gattos uses his tongue to grab and eat the food at the troll. Shocking everyone after witnessing it.

Toby: Agh! Did he just eat a troll?

Gatto: You must excuse me. I never talk business without something to eat. Go on.

Jim: We need...we need the Birthstone.

Gatto: (Laughs.) The Birthstone of Gunmar. Very powerful. Why should I give it to you?

Jim: Because we are going to destroy him.

Gatto: (Laughs.) Why do I care? Why should I give it to you?

YN: That big greedy bastard.

Blinky: He's negotiating, Master Jim.

Jim: What do you want for it?

Gatto: Ooh. An answer to a little riddle.
That's all?

Toby: Whew. I thought Claire was a goner.

Gatto: Answer it correctly, the Birthstone is yours. Answer it incorrectly, I eat you all.

This fear everyone as Gattos laughs.

Claire: Eat? Did he say "eat"?

Gatto: Yes, humans. I hear they have a gamey taste.

Toby: He said "eat." (Faints.)

Blinky: Master Jim, we must not enter into this binding agreement. I'm beginning to catch on why so few trolls ever leave this domicile.

Jim: We'll play.

YN: Are you nuts!?

Jim: We need it to save Claire's brother and, besides, she's good at riddles.

Claire: Not "bet-our-lives" good! 

Jim: You're a straight-A student!

Claire: When do we go to "riddles" class?

Blinky: Ah, I am savvy with words. Gatto, do your worst. Riddle away.

Gatto: What begins and has no end, and ends all that which begins?

Blinky: ....I have absolutely no idea. Those words mean nothing. Indecipherable.

Jim: Everyone, start thinking. We can do this.

Everyone starts figuring out the answer to the riddle.

Claire: "What begins, has no end"...

Aarg: Begin, end. Begin, end. Oh, head hurts!

Toby: School bus? Meatloaf? Hair!

YN: Hmm...

YN sits down and mediate to clear his mind while everyone continues to babble.

Gatto: Ten more seconds.

Blinky: You didn't tell us we're on the clock!

Toby: Kangaroo! Golf! Socks! Magic! Warhammer! Baby deer! School buses with hobos driving full of macaroni and cheese! I don't know!

Claire: A loop begins and has no end, but it doesn't end when it begins. Shoot, it's not that. What is it?

Jim: Wait, wait, wait! I got it! The answer is a riddle! No, that's stupid. Could you repeat the question?

Gatto: Tick-tock, tick-tock. Five seconds.
Prepare the chimichurri!

Toby: There is no answer! The answer is nothing!  What if there is no answer?

Jim: There's always an answer.

Blinky: Then what is it?

Claire: "What has a beginning?"

Jim: (To Claire.) You know this. You have to know this! We're gonna die!

Gatto: Three, two, one.-

YN: (Yells.) WILL YOU ALL JUST SHUT UP!?!

Everyone including the lava trolls and Gatto became silent until YN answers.

YN: The answer is death. It begins and has no end. And ends all things that begin. "Death."

Gatto: What? No one has ever answered that before.

Toby: Oh, my gosh!

Claire: Yeah!

Gatto: And lived to tell about it.

Gattos laugh as the lava trolls point their weapons at the group.

Jim: Oh no!

Blinky: (To Gatto.) You were never going to give it to us! You horde treasures only to lure those into your literal trap!

Gatto: Oh, come now. A mountain has to eat, you know.

YN: No, we don't!

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

Claire: What do we do now?

The lava troll caught Blinky and Toby and pushes them to Gattos mouth.

Toby: I don't wanna be food!

Blinky: Master Jim!

It was too late as they were toss in Gattos mouth and swallowed.

Jim: No! Aarg! YN!

Aarg: Wingman! Blinky!

YN: He ate them!

Claire: They still could be alive. Coach Lawrence told us how long it takes to digest something, or someone.

Jim: That doesn't make it better! 

YN: Wait, there's still time! Aarg help me with this!

They both force Gatto mouth to open.

YN: I'll save Toby and Blinky. You guys get out of here!

YN jumps in before Gatto mouth closed.

Aarg: Must leave!

They manage to escape from Gatto grasp.

Gatto: Get them!

Meanwhile inside Gatto, YN manage to catch up with the others to see them alive.

YN: You're alive!

Blinky: We appear surprisingly unscathed by that ordeal.

Toby: Unscathed? We're in a stomach right now! I feel very "scathed"!

YN: Uh guys.

They look at YN is pointing at piles of treasures.

Blinky: Great Gronka Morka! Gatto's Keep it's his belly! That means the Birthstone must be here somewhere.

Toby: Yeah, along with a bunch of lava acid, that's rising!

Blinky: Then we should make haste! Contact Jim! Tell him we have found Gatto's Keep.

Toby: What? I don't have an international plan. The rates will be crazy!

Blinky: (Snaps.) I'LL COVER THE CHARGES!

Toby immediately text Jim that they're ok.

Jim: They're okay!

Aarg: Wingman, Blinky, okay?

Jim: Yeah, they say they're going for the Birthstone, and they're gonna try to find a way out! Good! You're alive! Happy face!

Jim text back while they fight their way back down.

Claire: Tell them to meet at the gyre!

Meanwhile with the others, they begin to look for the birth stone while Toby notice the golds.

Toby: Look at all this gold!

Blinky: Careful, Tobias. I encourage you to keep your hands to yourself.

Toby: We're already in a stomach. What's the worst that can happen?

Blinky: Boils and disembowelment, for starters. Magically cursed objects are often disguised as the most ordinary items to lure unsuspecting victims- Oh, glorious me, a Roman penny! I haven't seen one of these in ages.

YN glares at Blinky.

Blinky: Uh. (Toss coin away.) Gunmar's Birthstone must be here.

Toby: Okay. Let's see, if I was a Birthstone, where would I be?

The stomach begins to rumble as the lava continues to rise up.

YN: Forget about the Birthstone, guys! We gotta get out of here now!

Blinky: Make haste! We can't possibly climb out of here.

Toby: (To YN.) What are you waiting for? Use your rock magic!

YN: Can't. We get out, Gatto will eat us again. If I make a hole, the lava will just follow us!

Blinky: I'm afraid we are without an exit.

The lava begins to rise more until Toby gets an idea.

Toby: Guys, there may be another way, but you're not gonna like it. If this is his stomach, then there must be a "back door" too.

Blinky: "Back door"? What is- Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no, no.

Toby: If we upset the stomach, we may have a chance to be passed through.

Blinky: I'd rather die in a stomach than go out through a an alternate route.

YN: We're out of options. Start throwing everything in the lava!

Everybody starts grabbing everything and toss them at the lava. Blinky grabs the bottles and throws them in before causes a huge smoke where Blinky accidentally breath in and cough

Toby: Blinky? Are you okay?

Blinky: (High pitch voice.) I'm okay, I'm okay. Sounds like it's just helium-based.(Cough to normal voice.) Oh, dear.
Good thing that wasn't permanent.

YN: Less talk, more throwing- Whoa!

YN trips and accidentally breaks the bottle with orange glowing liquid as he accidentally inhales it and coughs.

Toby: YN, are you ok?

YN: I'm fine, just focus on upsetting it!

Toby then spotted something glowing purple.

Toby: Is that?

He digs through the gold and finds something.

Toby: Guys?

Blinky: Have you found it?

Toby picks up a glowing stone which reveal to be a birthstone.

Toby: Strange.

YN: We need to text Jim that we found the Birthstone.

Blinky: Everyone get back!

They notice the lava rises fast and they all back away.

Toby: It's not working! We need something more, something that will really upset his stomach.

Blinky: We must move!

YN breaks a piece of stone and toss it on the lava only to have it floating.

YN: We can use this! Hop on!

Toby: We're not gonna get out of here, are we?

Blinky: I fear we are doomed, my friends! And that this will be our final!

YN notice Toby is eating tacos.

Toby: What? I'm stress eating. Don't judge.

YN: Tobes, your tacos!

Toby: My tacos?

YN holds Toby while Blinky grabs the tacos.

Tobu: Are you crazy? What are my tacos gonna do?

Blinky: Tobias, I've had your tacos.
I know what they do to the insides of a troll.

Blinky threw them in the lava.

Toby: No! Those were Diablo Maximus!

Blinky: Oh, dear. And that's the one.

The lava begins to rise more until the stomach begins to upset.

Gatto: Uh-oh..... Not tacos.

The lava begins to sink down by the "Back door".

Toby: The back door, it's open!

Blinky: I hate to repeat myself, but it might be apropos. Let's burn some tunnel!

YN: Hang on!

They yell as they sink down to the back door while Toby text Jim.

Toby: Jim, get to the gyre! We're coming out the back door! Whoa!

The Birthstone slipped out of Toby hand but YN caught it.

Toby: Smiley face, smiley face and send!

Blinky: Hold on!

Meanwhile with the others, they manage to escape from the trolls but realize that they're gone.

Claire: Where did the rest of the trolls go that were here?

The lava begins to burst out of the ground.

Jim: I think they knew this place was gonna blow.

Just then, Jim received a message from Toby.

Jim: Okay, Toby says they're gonna go out the back door. What's the back door?....Oh.

Jim now realize whats the back door as they see the others got out alive.

Claire: There they are!

Blinky: Start it up! Start it up!

Everyone get to the gyre and Jim was about to start it up until Blinky push him away.

Blinky: Leave it to me! You infernal piece of agh! It wont start!

YN looks at the lava coming towards them rapidly until he made a a crazy decision.

YN: Oh screw it.

YN ran towards the lava.

Jim: YN!?

Toby: YN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?

Blinky: Master YN!

Claire: YN, stop!

Aarg: YN!

YN raise hands and yells until something unexpected happened.

Blinky: Incredible...!

Jim: You can bend lava!?

YN: Oh my god...how and since when can I do that?

Toby: Awesome!

Time skip

When they got back to the trollmarket, everyone gathered around to see the birthstone in the center of the table.

Blinky: Never in my wildest dreams did I dare think I would ever see such a sight.

Toby: I'm never gonna look at food the same way again.

Blinky: Indeed. We were all quite the intrepid heroes today but a special accolade to you, fair Claire, master of riddles.

Claire: It was a team effort. Besides, we still have two more stones to find. The next ones might not be so easy.

Toby: Easy? We were eaten! I'm pretty sure I was technically digested and then-

Blinky: Tobias! The less said about our escape, the better. Gorgus forbid we are remembered for that in the history.

Suddenly Blinky farted which made Toby laugh.

Toby: That was almost grosser than-

YN: Don't. Say. It.

Jim: You okay, Blinky?

Blinky: I'll be fine. Seems I may have been allergic to something in Gatto's belly. But nothing a good night's rest won't fix.

Claire: I'm just glad we got out alive and without empty handed. Plus YN has a new upgrade.

YN: It must've been one of the potions we found back at the keep. (Grin.) Either way, this is a game changer.

Jim: First metalbending and now Lavabending? Who would've thought of that?

Blinky: Nevertheless, tread carefully with that ability. Lava is much dangerous as a-ah-hh-choo!

Blinky farts again before Toby notice the troll food passing by.

Toby: Ooh! Are these salty niblets?

Claire: What happened to never eating again?

Toby: This is troll food, not human food.
There's a difference. (Chewing.) Not horrible.

YN: Something's never change. (To Jim.) So what are we going to do with Strickler now that he's back.

Jim: Guess I'll just have to pay a visit.

Nightfall came and we see Strickler left Jim's house and waves goodbye to Barbara before entering his car and saw Jim is inside.

Strickler: Young Atlas, is that-

Before he could finish, Jim summoned his sword and points the black right next to Stricklers head.

Jim: If I ever see you near her again-

Strickler: I expected this time would come.

Jim: Oh, yeah? Give me one good reason not to do away with you right now.

Strickler: Did you and your rock friend happen to spot my companion watching you the other day? He's my assassin with how should I put this? Enchanting abilities.

Jim: That was you? What do you mean "enchanting"?

Strickler: He entwined your mother's fate with mine. Any harm you do to me will be done to your mother.

Strickler proves it by running his finger on the sharp edge blade. When he felt a little pain, so did Barbara as Jim saw it from the window.

Barbara: (Confused.) Ow! How did that happen?

Strickler: What strange magic. Mm. What happens to me happens to her. You've hurt your mother enough, Jim. So, what will it be?

This made Jim angry yet still holds back until the sword disappears. Exiting the car to let Strickler drive away unharm.

AN: Stand by for some changes and news.