An alternate ending for season 3. I know this is a popular request in the Trollhunters fandom, so I decided to do my own version of the ending. The only issue I have with season 3 is that the pacing was too fast, I felt like they could have extended the timeline to months instead of a few weeks. That way we could've had some more character development (not just Jim and the other, but I felt like Gunmar and Morgana needed some backstory as well), and the gang would have more time to prepare for the war.

Summary: In this AU fic instead of Merlin turning Jim into a half-troll, he would do something different.

"I agree that you have courage and heart, young trollhunter." Merlin tells Jim. "But you can only go so far with that puny human body of yours. Gunmar will chew you up into pieces and then Morgana will cast your remains into oblivion."

"Gee, that's real helpful advice, Merlin." Jim rolls his eyes. "What do we do?"

"Well, first you need to be aware of what you lack."

"Excuse me?"

Merlin stands up paces the room. "You see, Jim. The reason why the amulet doesn't pick humans is because trolls are the perfect warriors." He turns towards Jim, staff in hand. "They are agile..."

He proves his point by swinging the staff of Avalon towards Jim. Surprised, Jim ducks before he gets hit.

"Quick..." Merlin raises the staff above Jim and swings down. Jim yelped but managed to roll away just in time, the staff smacks the ground where Jim's head was previously at.

"And most of all," Merlin swings again and this time Jim wasn't able to dodge. The staff hits him hard on the abdomen and sends him hurtling back. "They don't let anything hold them back."

Angered, Jim summons his armor and his sword, Daylight, appears in his hand. He forms a stance, readying himself for another attack. Merlin grins at this and calls forth his own weapon. A sword morphs in the wizard master's palm, a gold blade about three feet long, sporting a golden handle.

Jim lowers Daylight in awe, "Is that...?"

"Behold, the almighty Excalibur." Merlin proclaims

Now with both the staff of Avalon and Excalibur, Merlin charges at Jim again. He was pretty fast for an old man. You could barely tell that he is a thousand years old. He strikes Jim hard and repeatedly, trying to break the young boy's defenses. Jim tries to block and parry as many as he can, but Merlin was too fast. A few hits already scraped some parts of Jim's body that wasn't covered in armor.

Jim panted. His sword arm felt heavy. Fighting the old wizard shouldn't be this hard. What more if he were to face Gunmar? Not to mention Angor Rot was still alive somewhere. And he still have Morgana to deal with. This was impossible! His mind screams at him.

"Okay, I get it." Jim removed the amulet from his chest. The armor de-materialized back into the amulet. He walked over to Merlin, "I need to get stronger. Do you have a plan?"

"Yes. We need to unlock your full potential."

"What do you mean?"

Merlin chuckles mirthfully. "So as I previously stated, you are not a troll. And you don not have the skills and abilities of a troll."

"Great observation." Jim mumbles nonchalantly.

"But humans do possess something that trolls don't have."

"And what is that?"

"The human chakras."

Jim raises an eyebrow, "The what?"

Merlin dissolves Excalibur before continuing, "The chakras, or spiritual energies, are nexuses of chi within the body. Each chakra has a purpose and deals with a different emotion. As such, each one can be opened and closed depending on a given individual's state of mind. You unlocking all those chakras will connect your energy with the amulet's energy."

"Uhhh," Jim scratches his head, "I'm still confused."

Merlin sighs, "The amulet holds the power and spirit of all the previous hunters. Being able to connect to the amulet's energy will enable them to focus their energy through your body, increasing your skill and strength greatly. The combination of their power with yours will be more than enough to help you defeat our enemies." He explains finally.

"Whoa! I can do that?" Jim jumps at the fact.

"Now, hold your horses, young one." Merlin puts his palm up and motions for him to settle down, "Unlocking these energies would not be easy. There are steps into mastering your control over your chakra."

"How do I do that?"

"How do you think?!" Merlin chided. "I'm going to train you, of course."

A few days later...

"Are you sure you're going to be, okay?" Barbara Lake asks her son in concern.

Jim was already loading his stuff inside the car for him and Merlin's training trip to the mountains. Why it needs to be there? Well, Merlin says that the isolation would help him concentrate.

"Yeah, mom. It's just for a few days." Jim hugs her. "I need to do this if I'm going to save you guys." He mumbles into her shoulder.

"Oh, Jim. I'm so sorry you have to carry this responsibility." His mom sobs quietly as she held Jim's face in her hands, "You're just a kid. You should be enjoying your teenage life."

Jim smiles, though there was no happiness in it, "It's fine, mom. If I'm gonna protect you guys and Arcadia from Gunmar, I have to do this."

Barbara sighs, reluctant of letting her son. He was still just a boy, yet he acts so mature for his age. This responsibility should be impossible for a boy his age but he shoulders it without breaking. She was so proud of Jim. Very proud of her brave son.

She smiles faintly, tears forming in her eyes as she embraced Jim lovingly.

Toby ran to him next, and hugged him tight. "Goodluck out there, buddy. When you get back, we'll be ready."

"For sure, Tobes." Jim said. "We're gonna kick some serious Gumm-gumm butt."

"You said said it, Jimbo."

After they pulled away, Jim turned to Claire. Claire walked up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. Jim wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, their noses touching. She gazed at him and smiled softly.

"I love you." She says.

Jim returns her smile with his own. He pulls her in slowly and kisses her.

"I love you too, Claire." He says after the kiss.

"Be careful, out there."

"Yeah, you too."

Blinky put a stony hand on the young teen's shoulder. Making him look up.

"I'm proud of you... son." He says, and Jim could've sworn that tears were forming in his mentor's eyes. He wrapped his four arms around the teens warmly. AAARRRGGHH!, Barbara, and Toby all joined in the hug as they bid each other farewell.

Merlin stood by the vehicle him and Jim were going to take for their spirit training. He eyes the contraption warily. Still not fully trusting its capabilities, but he knew otherwise to not complain, it would only ruin his image towards the trollhunter and his allies.

He stared and the mother and son forlornly. Then to the short young boy, a weird and boisterous child, but a powerful ally nonetheless. Then to the pretty young lover, whom he still can't figure out how she attained and then control Morgana's dark magic. He taught her some tricks and spells of his own so she can try to master while he's gone. She will be of great help in the battlefield but Merlin knew he had to keep an eye on her in case Morgana takes over the girl's mind again.

Their bond strong, compassionate, and full of love. Such a waste if it were to be severed. He would know because it may not be the same once they got back, if Jim is successful with his training that is. He felt bad, the young lad had no idea what sacrifice he has to make in order to complete the spiritual connection.

Merlin exhaled gravely. He was afraid that Jim won't be successful if he has that kind of attachment. It would doom him and the world. But he had to try, if he wants to rid the world of his long time rival, Morgana. He cannot afford to fail this time. Not after what happened to Arthur... who almost became the first human trollhunter.

To be continued...

Author's Note:

I got this idea from Avatar the Last Airbender from Nickelodeon (I recommend you guys watch it if you haven't heard of it. It's such an awesome show!). I just think that Merlin could have done more canon-wise. I mean he is Merlin for crying out loud. He should be able to do all kinds of magic, not just turning young boys into trolls.

This is just part one! Let me know if you guys want me to continue this fic. I personally like this, how about you?

This hasn't been proofread yet so expect some typos. Like and comment please! Thanks!