02x13 - Chapter 13: The Stone Forest

[bunniefuu]

[birds chirping]

[theme music]

Hilda ♪

[calm music]

Circle of seven stones complete!

Okay.

Place a small item in the center

of the circle.

David, hand me a Jort.

There's only one left.

Uh, may I point out that

if this spell works,

the Jort will be invisible,

but not inedible.

00:00:59.15

Uh, which version of

the Invisibility Spell are we on, Alfur?

Version Number 79,

circle of rocks,

plus chant and hand waving.

I don't get the point of witch homework.

Why do they make you sort through a bunch

of fake invisibility spells

when they could just give you the real one

and let you get on with it?

It's like Tildy says,

magic is 99 percent focus,

and 1 percent hocus pocus.

They're testing my ability to figure out

the correct version.

Witches really know how to suck

all the fun out of magic.

[sighs]

Marta Skipta Ript!

Well, it's not invisible.

But they are pretty stylish.

[chuckles]

Alfur, those look like they'd fit you!

Oh, Hilda!

Elves abide by a strict dress code.

Um, we've eliminated 79 spells.

Only 91 more to go!

The next one calls for a…

chant and a smattering of dust

from the Trolberg castle ruins.


- Uh
-oh. I don't have any.


- [rattling]

I'll go get it!

Aren't the castle ruins

pretty far outside the wall?

It's barely noon.

I'll be back by tonight, no worries.


- Come on, Twig!


- [barks]

[calm music]

[groans]

This is better than sitting around

Frida's room all day,


- right, boy?


- [barks]

There, that should do!

We'll make a quick stop at home

for dinner,

and then back to Frida's!

There, all set.

Oh, Tontu, turn it up!

[reporter] We've seen a significant,

some would say alarming,

increase in troll fires burning nightly

around Trolberg in recent weeks.

Mr. Ahlberg, is Trolberg under threat?

Oh, absolutely.


- In fact, it may only be myself…


- [door opens]

[pants]

Hi, Mom!

I am so hungry, let's eat!

The pie's still in the oven,

but look at the new game I got.

Let's play a round before we eat.

I don't think I have time.

I need to get to Frida's pretty quick.

Didn't you just come from Frida's?

You said you'd be there all day.

Right, but she asked me to come back

tonight.

I might sleep over.

Not tonight.

I've got dinner planned and this game.

Oh, these rules are complicated.

We can play the game another time.

And you can sleep over at Frida's

another time.

Mom, you don't understand.

I'm helping her with a project.


- What project?


- It's a homework thing.

I'm sure Frida is perfectly

capable of doing her own homework.

You're staying at home with me.


- Why?


- Because it'll be fun.

Oh, come on.

Am I really such bad company?

No! You're just…

[sighs sharply]

You're just a Mom!


- Hilda…


- Why do I have to keep you company anyway?

It's not my fault that you sit around

on your own all day

and don't have anyone else to talk to!

[gasps]

Hilda! Go to your room!

[groans]

[grunts]

So… we're not playing?

[Hilda] Mom is being ridiculous!

[sighs]

Troll fires again.

What do they get up to out there, Twig?

So wild and free.

It's not fair. I wish I was a troll.

Huh!

I knew I left it somewhere.

Tontu! Take me to Frida's!


- No.


- It'll take two seconds.

Too risky.

I don't want to cross someone

who makes a pie as tasty as your mom's.

Well, what if I told mom that

she didn't lose her favorite bowl,

but that you broke it and hid the evidence

in your hidey hole.

Fine.

[sighs]

Hilda, the pie's ready,

and we've both had time to cool down, so…

Hilda!


- [grunts]


- [groans]


- Mom!


- Hey! What's going on out there?

Hilda, get back here!

[grunts]

Agh!

You've got to come all the way through!

This is really


- Mom, no!


- Yes!

Dangerous!

[all scream]

[both scream]

[grunting]

[whimpers]

Mom?

Mom, are you

[groaning, sighs sharply]

I'm all right.

You?

I'm fine.

Is this… the Nisse space?

No, it's not.

I think something went wrong

and it's thrown us out somewhere

we didn't want to be…

[scoffs]

Why did you do that?

Do what? If you'd just listened to me…

Mom, this only happened

because you grabbed me.

How dare you blame this on me.

This happened because you

were using some magic portal

to sneak out of the house.

And you went and messed up everything!

Where do you think you're going?

Home! I guess.

Maybe it's this way.

Get back here!

We're going to stay put

and wait for Tontu.

Tontu could be on the other side

of the world right now.

We don't know where he ended up.

He's not coming for us.

We'll get lost if we just wander off…

We're already lost.


- [sighs]


- [whimpers]

[ominous music]

Where are we?

Come on,

I think I saw somewhere back there

we can get some rest.

We'll be able to see where we're going

when the sun is up.

[Hilda yawns]

That makes sense.

[somber music]

[telephone beeping]


- [dial tone]


- [yawning]

[telephone ringing]

[lock clicking]

Hello?

Hilda?

I don't think anyone's home.

Hmm… maybe they just, you know,

went for a very long drive somewhere.

[grunts]

No, cars parked on the street.

Dinner was set. But never eaten.

An abandoned pie.

Now that's eerie.

It's like they've all disappeared.

All right. David, we'll retrace

Hilda's steps to the castle ruins.

Alfur, you stay here

in case anyone turns up.

I think I should stay with Alfur.

For emotional support.

I don't need emotional support.

But I do!

Come on, David!

We'll be perfectly safe outside the wall

in the daytime.

[sighs]

[gasping]

Ugh!

What was that?

Nothing. Don't worry.

Huh. That's weird.

My watch says it's 10 a.m. already.

But it's still so dark.

Come on, I think we should make a move.

Hm, I thought we'd be able to see

the castle ruins by now.

All these trees must block the view.

I've seen more troll rocks today

than I've seen in my entire life.

That's not saying much,

you've spent most of your life

behind the wall.

Well, I don't like this side of the wall.

What if Ahlberg's right?

What if the trolls sitting around

these fires, plotting against us?

Maybe they've just discovered

the joys of camping.

There's no reason to assume the worst,

just because they're trolls.

That sounds like

something Hilda would say.


- And she'd be right.


- [sighs]

Are you seeing this, Deputy?

There must be

hundreds of trolls down there,

and hundreds are practically thousands!

We were expecting a lot of trolls,

were we not, sir?

Yes, but this many, it's…

why it could be a threat to the city.

[gasps]

Something's on the move down there.

[Ahlberg] It's just a couple of children.

Nothing to report.

This far outside the wall?

They must be lost, sir!

They don't seem worried.

We can't just leave them out here.

I do like idea of a triumphant,

dramatic return…

Head of Safety Patrol rescues

lost children from troll terror…

Keep the children in sight, sir!

What? Oh! Right.

Now where'd they go?

[ominous music]

[sighs]

I don't understand.

We should be at the castle ruins by now.

Oh, just admit it, we're lost.

Oh. Okay. We're lost.

What? I was just being dramatic!

Oh, well, let's not panic.

Why not?

This seems like the perfect time to panic!


- [snoring]


- What's that?

[gasps]

A white woff!

White woffs are good luck, right?

For witches anyway!


- [gasps]


- [all whining]

I found them, Deputy!

What was that?

[both gasp]


- Assume crash position!


- What?

[both gasp]

[coughs]

Hm. Never fear, children!

You're safe with me!

Prepare for

Everybody back! Go, go, go!

Get behind the rock!


- Ouch!


- Frida!

[grunting]


- [expl*si*n]


- [grunts]

[gasps]

Is everybody okay?

Yes, I believe I'm all right.

Ugh! No.

[ominous music]

It's so quiet here…

There's barely even a breeze.

This is the weirdest forest in the world.

I don't even think it's a forest…

Whatever it is, there has to be a way out.

Maybe we can walk a bit faster.

Mom, I'm thirsty.

Oh. Me too.


- [Hilda] Mom!


- [gasps]

We can definitely jump that.

Well, we're not going to try.

What?

It'll be easy!

We'll walk till it narrows

or we find a crossing.

Mom, come on!

This is stupid!

[ominous music]

[Mom] And there we go!

[gasps]

Water!


- Don't drink that!


- Huh?


- Why?


- It's stagnant.

Aww.

But it must have come from somewhere.

Listen!

I hear it too.

[gasps]


- Do you think…


- Yeah, running water!

Come on!

Trolls!

I've never heard of so many in one place.

[groans]

[growling]

Hmm.

Look. I bet we can follow the rocks

round to where that stream branches off.

If we're careful and keep low,

they won't see us.

Really? You want to do this?

You're thirsty, aren't you?

[gasps]

See? No problem.

[troll growling]

[gasps]

[sighs sharply, gasps]

Baba!

[blabbering]

[muffled blabbering]

Shh.

[gasps]

[baby troll] Baba, baba!

[tense music]

[roars]

[low growl]

Baba, baba!

Run!

[snarls]

[all panting]

A dead end!

[growling]

[low growl]

Baba. Ba
-ba.

[giggles]

[gasping, grunting]

You're really good at this.

Not to brag, but Sparrow Scout Badge

I earned was First Aid.

[both grunting]

Good news!

The emergency blimp kit is intact.

It's basically a flying lifeboat

that will get us all home.

Oh! Does it take long to build?

Just a few hours.

But the sun is going down,

and there are trolls.

Everywhere.

It's a good thing we have

the head of Safety Patrol with us.

[grunts]

Uh, indeed.

There's nothing to fear while I'm here.

[ominous music]


- [leaves rustle]


- [grunting]


- [grunts]


- [gasps]

What are you doing?

Securing the perimeter, my boy.

Ensuring our presence here stays well

and truly undetected.


- [trolls growling]


- [gasps]

Easy, everyone.

Don't antagonize them.


- Get back, you beasts! Ha!


- [bell jingling]

[growls]

I think now would be a really good time

to be invisible!

Frida, come on!

But I've never been able to do it!


- [screams]


- [snarls]

Lind Skipta Vinkindi!

[yells]

[coughing]

[all growling]

[buzzing]

[growls]

It worked! My spell worked!

Uh, guys, there's a bug on my head.

And I think it's Ahlberg.

[buzzing]

Oh, no, no, no!

I turned him into a bug!

Do not worry, sir,

we will change you back!

You can change him back right?

I, uh…

I'm not sure!

[buzzing]

The good news is,

I don't think he realizes that he's a bug.

He'll be fine in here for now.

Our first priority is to make it safely

through the night.

Now let's find some shelter.

[light music]

Ba! Ba, ba, ba
-ba!


- Mom, look!


- [gasps]


- Is that…


- [Hilda] I think so.

It's Trolberg!

We must have been inside the mountain

the whole time!

We just have to walk down the hill!

We'll be practically home.

Do you think we can sneak past

without them noticing?

I think we just need to choose our moment

to slip away…

[expl*si*n]

[all growling]

[snarls]

[low growl]

What a bully!

Shh. This could be our moment.


- Ready?


- Yeah.

[trolls growling]

[whimpers]

[panting, gasps]

Keep going!

[growling]

Ha! I think we made it!


- Wait.


- What?

Where's Twig?

[gasps]

[grunting, whimpers]

[gasps]

Twig!


- Wait!


- I've got to get him! Get off me!

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

We can't leave him!

Listen to me.

You wait here, behind this rock.

Don't move.

[tense music]

Hilda, I mean it!

[Hilda whimpering]

[tense music]

[low growl]

Twig! Are you in there?

Twig! You've got to come out, Twig!

[Twig grunting]

Oh.

Let's get out of here.


- [whimpers]


- [low growling]

[snoring]

Okay.

[ominous music]

Sorry, Mom, but that's all

the waiting I can do.

[panting]

[grunts]

[straining]

[exhales sharply]

There's got to be another way through.

[groaning]

Yes!

[snoring]

Oh, we have to find some other way

out of this place.

[Twig growling]

[gasps]

Good boy!

Now we just have to get up there somehow…

A dead end.

Okay, careful…

careful…


- [groaning]


- [Twig whimpers]

Uh, phew.

[gasps]

[clattering]

[snoring continues]

[sighs sharply]

[grunting]

[sighs]

Now what?

[Hilda] Hmm.

How about another snack?

There's a safe way down on the other side.

Come on, Twig.

Twig?


- [clinks]


- [gasps]

Twig! We've got to go now.


- [rumbling]


- [Mom whimpering]

[whimpers]


- [chirps]


- [growls]

[foreboding music]


- [growls]


- [yells]

[gasps]


- [whines]


- [groaning]

[gasps, groaning]

[bleats]


- Hilda?


- Mom!

Twig!

Come on, I've found a way out!

You were supposed to stay outside!

What are you doing here?

Coming to save you!

Hilda, you can't keep doing this
-

you have to trust me to


- [growls]


- Jump!

[yells]

[both screaming]

[all pant]

[growling]

Let's get out of here.

[coughing]

[ominous music]

Which way Mom?

Mom?

I think it's this way.

[sighs]

[buzzing]

Is he okay in there?

He seems fine. He's quite active.

what were the two of you doing this far

outside the wall?

Our friend, Hilda is missing.

We're looking for her.

And you didn't think to go

to the appropriate authorities?

Honestly, the authorities

aren't that helpful most of the time.

Point taken.

[ominous music]

None of this looks familiar, Mom.

No, it doesn't.

[sighs]

[gasps]

Go!


- [gasps]


- [whimpers]

Baba.

[growls]

[whimpering]

Don't worry, Hilda, it's going to be okay.

Baba.

[Mom] Is that the same troll from before?

[Hilda] I think so.

I can't tell if we just got rescued

or if we're about to get eaten.

Should we run?

[low growl]

Oh!

Do you think it's okay to drink this?

[sniffs]

It smells good.

[sighs]

It's sweet!

Kind of tastes like honey.

[sighs]

[light music]

Baba, baba, ba…

[low growl]

Baba.

[baby troll blabbering]

Let's not run.


- Yeah. Let's not.


- [blabbering]

Thanks.

[sighs sharply]

We can't afford to freeze out here.

A small fire won't attract

too much attention, I hope.

David, can you pass me the water

in my backpack.

Thank you.

[sighs]

And look what I have!

I do like these.


- Oh!


- Well, this is pretty cozy, considering.


- [rumbling in distance]


- [low grows]

[all gasp]

Stay calm, children.

Don't make any sudden moves.

Um, would you…

David!

Hmm.

Looking good.

[chuckles nervously]

[calm music]

[giggling]


- [mutters]


- Oh, me?

Okay.

Baba!

[whines]

Strange.

This fire doesn't seem to give off

any heat at all.

[whimpers]


- Huh!


- Hey, Mom, look at this.

Ah, baba!

Can you tell who these are meant to be?


- Ha
-ha! Look at that!


- [whimpering]

Oh, um…

is this for us to sleep?

[blabbering]

I don't think we'll both fit under there.

Don't worry.

Me and Twig will be warm enough.

[light music]

[clock ticking]

Watch journal update,

another hour passed,

and still no sign of Frida or David,

not to mention Hilda, Twig,

Johanna, or Tontu.


- Alfur.


- Not right now, Tontu. I'm on watch.

[gasps]

Tontu!

What?

You're back!

I took a few wrong turns along the way.

[snarling]

[growling]

[screaming]

Ugh! It's good to be home.

Hilda and Mom, are they…

No!

Oh, boy.

There was a terrible breach

of Nowhere Space.

I saw where they were thrown out.

Excellent! Let's go!

It's not that simple.

I can't use Nowhere Space

to take us there on purpose.

I'll go the old
-fashioned way,

which, to be honest, I quite prefer.

[chuckles]

Show me on this map.

It's this big mountain.

[Tontu] I think they're inside of it.

The entrances won't be easy to find…

Which is why I'm going to need a pigeon.

And not just any pigeon.

[suspenseful music]

You can count on Cedric.

His sense of direction

and smell never fails.

[coos]

Fly high, Cedric. Fly swift!

[gasps]

And fly safe!

[Alfur] Whoa!

Safe is good!

[snoring]

Hm.

[clears throat]


- Huh?


- [low growl]

I wonder if it hurts,

turning into stone like that.

[yawns]

I imagine it would make me pretty grumpy.


- [buzzing]


- [gasping]

Oh! Everyone safe?

Very good.

[moans]

Let's put together that blimp!

I've spotted something, Cedric!

Would it be possible go down

a bit closer, please?

[screaming]

Look out!

[gasps]

It's some kind of crazy mountain pigeon!

[both] Alfur!

It's good to see you.

[panting]

Is that pigeon talking to us?

Of course not. Alfur's talking.

Hello!

The voice sounds oddly familiar.

He's an elf.

You can see him only if you've filled out

the necessary paperwork.

I like the sound of that, actually.

Hilda's not with us, Alfur.

We still don't know where she is.

She's actually closer than

you might think… hya!

[Hilda sighing]

[blabbering]

Good morning!

What's going on?

Are you designing a board game?

Our kind host here has drawn a map for us.

This is going to show us the safe way out.

I think.

It's a little tricky to read though.

Do you think this is meant to be a woff?

[low growling]

[gasps]

How?

Where's he off to?

He's off to…

the city?

It's going to lead us out of here!

Come on, let's not lose it!

Baba.


- Uh, thank you!


- Baba!

I hope it's not much further.

I don't know how much longer

I can bear this place.

[panting]

Don't you normally this sort of thing?

I mean, it's nice to be in peril

when I know you're waiting for me at home

with a nice dinner,

or a freshly baked cake…

or you want to watch a movie,

with hot chocolate, of course.

It's sort of unnerving that you're here.


- [gasps]


- But pleasantly unnerving, right?

[chuckles]

[calm music]

[shrieks]

[whimpering]

What is it, boy?

Come on, this way.


- [snarling]


- [screams]

Mom!

[both yelling]


- [growling]


- [both screaming]

[gasps]

[growling]

[whines]

[barks]


- No!


- Twig, run!

[roaring]

[both yelling, grunt]

[snarling]

[panting]

Quick, in here!

[gasps]

He's scared of the slugs!

Eww. There's so many of them.

I don't think it goes any further.

But it's okay. We'll be safe in here.

[rumbling]

Maybe not!

Run!

[both gasp]

[growls]

[roars]

[snarling]

[both panting]

[sighs]

That was

Unexpected?

[somber music]

[Mom sighs sharply]

I lost the guide.

I don't know if we're getting out

of this place or deeper in.

We could be here for…

[gasps]

We might never…

[groans]

[sobs, sighs]

Mom…

I'm sorry.

[sighs sharply]

I'm sorry, too.

I broke my promise. It was just…

it was so hard being out there

and not knowing what was going on.

Just waiting and worrying.

It felt awful.

Hilda, it's okay. It's okay.


- Let's just focus on not getting eaten by…


- [thumping]


- Huh?


- What's that?

I don't know…

[barks]

[light music]

It's coming from over here!

[both grunting]

It's a way out!


- Aha!


- [Hilda] Alfur!

There you are!

Oh, yes!

[groans]

[grunts]

[troll snarling]


- [growls]


- Hilda!

[gasps]


- Uh… uh…


- [Twig growling]

Oh!

[grunts]

[grunting]

[roars]

[grunts]

Mom!

[Hilda] Faster!

Almost there!


- [whimpers]


- Come on!

[both straining]

[grunts]


- [growling]


- [both grunt]

[gasping]

[Hilda panting]

[groaning]

[gasps]

Mom!

[bot] Grab on!

[grunting]

[grunts]

[tranquil music]

The white woff!

Yeah!

[chuckles]

Wait for us!

[Hilda] Whoo
-hoo!

[door opens]

What's in the container?

Oh, um…

it's just a bug.

Nice!

Thank you for bringing us home,

Deputy Gerda.

Just doing my job.

Oh, Hilda!

Did you, by any chance, manage to get

that dust from the castle ruins?

Wow, still focused on homework

after all that!

Heh. Classic Frida.

You know me!

Hm. See you guys soon.

[sighs]

Okay, I need a place to work

with no distractions.


- Understood.


- [engine starts]

Okay, Frida, do your thing.

I'm not even sure if I can.

I didn't even mean to do it

the first time.

Maybe you did it by accident,

but you still did it!

He has a point.

[sighs]

Okay, I'll give it a shot.

Release him.

[buzzing]

[light music]

[sighs]

Lund Skipta Menskur!

[crackling]

You did it!

Oh. Is he okay?

Um, Sir?


- Sir?


- [gasping]

Look at you two!

Deputy Gerda, get a reporter

down here right away!

I'm sorry, sir?

If we hurry, we can get this

on the evening news,

Head Officer Ahlberg saves children

from troll attack!

I'll start the interview with my arms

around these two hapless victims,

we'll talk about my heroic actions

outside the wall.

Feel free to interject anything you want

about how brave I was…

and then I'll announce that

I am more certain than ever

that a large scale, very real troll

attack is imminent.

I don't want to be on the evening news.

We won't do it.

All you have to do is look grateful

and pathetic!

It'll be fun!

With all due respect, sir,

these children have had a traumatic day.

They've had a traumatic day?

I'm the one who's battled with trolls!

[sighs]

[Ahlberg] How dare you

shut the door in my face?

Let's get you both home.

Ah, it's nice to have everyone home again!

Alfur, you were so brave today!

Oh, I simply took the necessary actions.

Good night.

I keep thinking about those trolls,

the ones who helped us.

[Hilda] It was kind of them

to take us in like that.

[giggling]

Baba, baba, baba!

[baby troll blabbering]

I'd like to get the recipe

for that drink we had.

Mm.


- Mom?


- Yeah?

I'm sorry.

About everything.

You don't need to be.

I do about some things.

Just don't hide things from me, okay?

If you don't tell me what's going on,

then how do I know you're safe?

That's kind of worrying for a mom,

you know?

You really don't wish I was different?

I wish I knew what in the world

you were thinking sometimes.

And I'll admit that being your mom

has some unique ups and downs,

but I wouldn't swap it for anything.

Just no sneaking out tonight, okay?

Oh, don't worry about that.

I'm not getting out of bed for a week.

[Hilda] Hmm.

[yawns]

Goodnight, Mom.

[birds chirping]

Hilda, I thought breakfast in bed

might be nice. And…


- Hilda?


- [whines]

Baba!

[blabbers]

What? I…

[sighs]

Ah! Baba!

Where's my daughter?

[Hilda yawns]

[yawns]

Mom?

Is that you?


- [low growl]


- [gasps]

How can I be here?

These aren't my hands!

This isn't my face!

What… What's going on?

♪ You tried ♪

♪ Yeah, I know we tried ♪

♪ But you still made me cry ♪

♪ You still made me cry ♪

♪ And I tried ♪

♪ To close my eyes ♪

♪ But I still saw you cry ♪

♪ I still saw you cry ♪

♪ I didn't think you had the guts ♪

♪ Then you really showed up ♪

♪ But now I'm here in our room ♪

♪ I'm not waiting for you ♪

♪ Now once again ♪

♪ I'm really glad you're my friend ♪

♪ We could do it all again ♪

♪ It doesn't mean it's the end ♪

♪ And I tried ♪

♪ Yeah, I know we tried ♪

♪ But I still made you cry ♪

♪ I still made you cry ♪

♪ And you tried ♪

♪ To close your eyes ♪

♪ But you still saw me cry ♪

♪ You still saw me cry ♪