Fanfic / Hilda The Witch

What if Hilda was the witch instead of Frida?

"Most of Hilda’s life as been usual, wild, crazy, and adventurous. But ever since the day she summoned Tide Mice, Hilda wondered how she could do the spell correctly. But when she learns she's a witch, she does more crazy things and meets new friends while learning life lessons as well. And try to learn of her late dad."

— Fanfic summary

Hilda the Witch is an AU fic based on Hilda, written by TheLapisWarrior.

"Season 1" was complete, with a "second season" released on October 27th, 2022, and a special was released on July 4th.

Can be read on Archive of Our Own HERE.

Season 2, HERE.

Special, HERE.

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Tropes found in this fanfic:

General

• Abusive Parent: Karen is one towards Trever and Jen.
• Adaptational Sexuality:
  • While Kaisa's sexual orientation is never established, Maven is lesbian here.
  • Johanna is implied to be bi.
• Adaptation Name Change: Kaisa is named Maven here.
• Named by Adaptation
  • The bellkeeper is named Argus Mitchell.
  • The pigtail Marra is named Jaeden Blackwillow.
  • Marra with yellow hoodie - Lindsey Aften.
  • Marra in blue jacket and wears her hair in a bun - Jennifer Greene, Jen for short.
  • Marra in glasses - Briar Engelbert.
  • Marra with hair covered eyes - Sophie Dowell.
  • Marra with yellow jacket - Diana Sahlberg.
• Related in the Adaptation: Jen, the Marra in a blue jacket, is Trevor's sister.
• Shout-Out: The Outsiders themselves are based on the Scout Regiment, and named after a book of the same name.
• World of Technicolor Hair: In this AU, abnormal hair color is common for witches and wizards, and each society is color coded.
  • Scorpius Coven: Wizards and witches with red hair.
  • Martel Coven: Wizards and witches with orange hair.
  • Prowler Coven: Wizards and witches with yellow hair.
  • Reiner Coven: Wizards and witches with green hair.
  • Kirk Coven: Wizards and witches with blue hair.
  • Juniper Coven: Wizards and witches with purple hair.

Season 1

• Adaptational Angst Upgrade: Hilda's Leeroy Jenkins and Aesop Amnesia tendencies is taken more seriously here.
• Adaptational Sexuality: Hilda and Frida are implied to be developing feelings for each other.
• Adaptational Species Change: Death Bear went from a Grizzly to a Polar Bear here.
• Adaptation Expansion:
  • The Deerfox has Johanna and Hilda gather whatever survived the destruction of their cabin.
  • The Flashback B-Plot in The Mountain King tells the story of Trundle's imprisonment.
• Adapted Out:
  • In Hilda and the Mountain King, it is stated that witches are not allowed to get involved in Troll affairs. Here, they are.
  • The changeling spell was removed.
  • Because Frida is not a witch, and the changeling spell is omitted, her and David's attempt at using a body swap spell has been omitted as well.
• The Bet: Before Hilda was born, Bran and Maven bet 45 dollars on which gender Rikard and Johanna's child will be. Bran bet that it will be a boy, Maven bet it will be a girl, and Maven won.
• Brick Joke
  • During Hilda's trial, Bran tells her and her friends that his father is gone, then David asks when he's coming back, resulting in Bran revealing that he means his father is dead. It's a more heartbreaking example, when Bran later has a similar exchange to Hilda regarding Rikard, when she denies that he couldn't be missing.
  • In The Pearl of Aster, Cadmus jokingly states that his dad, Deimos stole his college fund. At the end of the chapter, Deimos tells him that he's glad he stole his college fund.
• Calling the Old Woman Out: When Hilda learns that Johanna had Maven erased her memories of Rikard, she gets upset with her mum for keeping her from learning anything about her father.
• Catapult Nightmare: The Runaway started with Hilda having one.
• Cliffhanger:
  • The Stone Forest ends with a magma Troll arriving in Trolberg.
  • In the following chapter, Hilda loses the trust of her friends, family, and supervisors, as some people are looking for Renolds.
  • In The Annihilator, while hiding from Varian, Hilda finds Trundle's cave.
  • Through Maven's history illusion spell, the search party discover that Erik has captured Hilda.
• Connected All Along: Jen turns out to be Trevor's older sister.
• Continuity Cavalcade: Hilda's list of things that are "her fault" contains references to her adventures up till The Runaway.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Each of the Outsiders had family issues in the past.
• Disney Death:
  • To keep Hilda from getting eaten by Varian, Bran took her place instead. Three chapters later, it's later revealed that he survived (thanks to a teleportation spell), just in time to save Baba from getting eaten.
  • During Trundle's attack, the Mountain King eats Kludd after he saves Annie from meeting that fate. And after Trundle dies, an Iron Troll emerges from his remains. It's shortly revealed to be Kludd, who has shifted into the Iron Troll.
• Dreaming of Things to Come: At the end of The Magic Training, Hilda has a nightmare about being eaten by a giant worm.
• For Want Of A Nail:
  • Because Frida is not the witch in training, it was Ziggy who had to link his mind with the kraken.
  • While Hilda still becomes a Troll, here it's her secret power.
  • Instead of being switched with Baba, Hilda went to live among the Trolls on her own free will. Therefor, her reason for helping Trundle is changed to getting information about her dad.

• Foreshadowing:
  • Despite Hilda knowing nothing about her dad, Rikard was in the Flashback B Plots for The Deerfox and The Shenanigan of Death Bear. Hinting that someone erased her memories of him.
  • The Flashback B-Plot of The Wrath of Varian has the titular Troll and Bastyar seeking to kill the Kjølaas family. A clue that the present day Varian is specifically after Hilda.
  • To Trundle being Varian's master. Varian and Bastyar were specifically out to kill Hilda's family. Varian once mentioned that his master is "locked up in jail". And in one of Rikard's notes, his mother told him a story on how the Mountain King massacred her family.
  • Frida escapes from her ropes by briefly turning into green smoke.
• Greater-Scope Villain:
  • Victoria's artificial Nisse was provided by some cloaked figures.
  • Varian and Bastyar were under orders by Trundle to specifically kill Hilda's family.
• How We Got Here: The beginning of The Mountain King shows how Hilda got found by Varian.
• In Spite of a Nail: Despite Hilda being the witch in training, many events from canon happen regardless.
• Internal Reveal:
  • In The Outsiders, Hilda tells David, Frida, Callum, and Ezrah about her private investigation on her father.
  • In The Stone Forest, Johanna and Bran learn about Hilda's private investigation on Rikard.
  • During their fallout, Frida tells Hilda that Ziggy told her that she's being a bad friend.
  • Through the note Hilda sent with Baba, her family and the Outsiders learn about her secret power.
  • While Hilda and Johanna patch things up, the latter learns about the incident with Gryla. In the same chapter, Hilda discovers Bran alive.
• Interquel: The Annihilator begins with Johanna's side of the night Hilda ran away from home, as well as before finding Baba on Hilda's bed.
• Jerkass Realization: Throughout the first half of The Annihilator, Hilda's family, friends, and the Outsiders realize that they were too hard on her, and that was before they discovered that she ran away.
• Laser-Guided Amnesia: Through the Flashback B Plots in The Deer Fox, and The Shenanigan of Death Bear, it is implied that Hilda's memories of Rikard were erased. It is confirmed in The Stone Forest, where it's revealed that Maven did the deed on Johanna's request.
• Last Episode, New Character: In The Mother of Trolls, we see some Kirks locked up, notably Ingrid. Later, Valkyrie Du Harr appears to Hilda in a dream to help her learn from her mistakes.
• Liar Revealed: At one point, Bran asks Johanna if she has told Hilda about Rikard, which she claims to have. After the above Internal Reveal, Bran realizes that Johanna lied about telling Hilda, who in turn learns about the real reason why she doesn't know anything about her father.
• Magic Pants: Thanks to an enchantment from Maven and Ziggy, Hilda's clothes can disappear and reappear when shifting between Troll and human form.
• Named by Adaptation:
  • David's surname is Andersen.
  • David's mum and dad are named Gwendolyn and Andy, respectively.
  • The pillow hoarder is named Udo.
  • Trundle's brother is named Asriel.
  • Hilda is given a full name here. Hilda Margaret Kjølaas.
• Not Me This Time: Once the haunting occurs, David thinks the Marra are doing this, which they deny.
• One-Steve Limit: Subverted. There are two characters named Kelly. One is a member of the Marra gang, another is a member of Trevor's posse.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: While Ms. Hallgrim is impressed with Hilda joining in on the Troll safety drill, she's saddened by that change in behavior.
• Raised by Wolves: For the first six years of her life, Valkire Du Harr was raised by Trolls.
• The Runaway: Hilda becomes this as a result of feeling that nobody wants her around anymore.
• Shout-Out
  • Scarlett tackling Antioch towards the end of The Beast of Cauldron Island mirrors Raph tackling Mikey in the TMNT 2012 episode, Turtle Temper.
  • While looking for the Quartz Troll, Bran tries to get Erik to reconsider his war path against the Trolls, reasoning that nobody's that heartless.
  • In The Stone Forest, we get another one to The Emperor's New Groove, Bran warns Hilda that if she lets her recklessness overcome her, she'll end up all alone, and have no one to blame but herself. Like Kuzco, she didn't take it to heart right away.
  • Three for Andrias. The character himself was based on Kenny Ackerman, his regeneration powers were based on Mike Myers, and was named after King Andrias.
  • The beginning of Valkyrie's story mentions how her parents got one look at her and did not want her.
  • While Hilda, Twig, David, and Frida are convincing Trundle's followers to stop marching, the Trolls are wondering if they're telling the truth, and Trundle tries telling them not to listen.
• There Are No Therapists: Averted. During the week following Trundle's attack. Hilda has been taking therapy sessions from Annie to fully heal from her heartache.
• Voluntary Shapeshifting: Hilda's secret power is turning into a human looking Troll, and back again.

• Wham Episode:
  • Halfway through The Deer Fox's Flashback B-Plot, we learn that Rikard was a part of Hilda's life, even during the time Twig became her pet.
  • In The Stone Forest, Johanna and Bran learn about Hilda's private investigation on her father, Bran realizes that Johanna lied to him about telling Hilda, who in turn learns that Johanna had Maven erase her memories of Rikard. Hilda's secret power is to shapeshift into a Troll, and a Magma Troll that Bran seems to know makes his arrival.
  • In The Wrath of Varian. Hilda getting herself involved resulted in Bran getting eaten by Varian, and loses the trust of the remaining Outsiders, her friends, and family. For that, she's been grounded for 6 months. And the same cloaked figures from The Windmill are coming after Renolds.
  • Three weeks after the events of the previous chapter. Hilda decides to runaway from Trolberg, and live with the Trolls. And uses a spell on Baba to send her to her apartment.
  • In The Mountain King, Trundle is revealed to be Varian's master, Bran is revealed to be alive, and Hilda gets captured by Erik.
• What If?: The plot follows what would happen if Hilda is the witch in training instead of Frida.
• Whole-Plot Reference
  • The Windmill's walkmann subplot is one to the TMNT 2012 episode, I Think His Name is Baxter Stockman.
  • The Horror House was inspired by the Steven Universe episode, Horror Club.
  • The Shenanigan of Death Bear is one to the Regular Show episode, Death Bear.
  • The Diary to the Regular Show episode, Diary.
  • Twofold for The Scary Movie, which adapts two Regular Show episodes. The main plot being one to Ello Govener, and the Flashback B-Plot being on to First Day.
  • The World Without Rules acts as one to Regular Show's, House Rules.
• You Are in Command Now: After Bran has been seemingly Killed Off for Real, Cadmus has become captain of the Outsiders.
• You Are Grounded!: Aside from the end of The Beast of Cauldron Island, Johanna grounds Hilda for a week after she went through Bran's memories, and learns that she stole a vase. And later grounds her again for 6 months after she broke her promise to Bran to stay put, which caused the Outsiders battle with Varian to go sideways.

Season 2 (UNMARKED SPOILERS FOR SEASON 1)

• Big "NO!": Fifteeen years prior to The Werewolf Curse, Rikard lets out one upon learning that his mother passed away.
• Bookends: The Abused Bully begins with Bran leaving Trolberg by train. The chapter ends with him returning, and has brought a little girl with him.
• Brick Joke:
  • In The Vampire, Woodman mentions that he owes 20 dollars to a ghost. Towards the end of the same chapter, he, Hilda, her friends, Twig, Bandit, Theon, Annie, Scarlett, and Kludd run into that very ghost, demanding the money.
  • In an attempt to get Ziggy away from the super wasp egg, Ezrah used his snow hat as toilet paper. In the end, Ziggy confronts the young boy about it.
• Dead All Along: It turns out that the Gryla died 69 years prior to "The Yule Lads".
• Demonic Possession: As a result of Karen's abuse, Trevor gets possessed by the Obscurus, and to make matters worse, it's permanent.
• Didn't Think This Through:
  • After putting the Death Worm to sleep, Johanna takes away Theon's stylophone, and gives it to Argus, who then smashes it. David points out that the needed it to get home, causing Argus to realize his mistake.
  • At one point, Theon challenged Trylla (a troll) to a game of punchies, with predictable results.
• Exact Words: In exchange for David, Andrias demands the pouch the coven gems, but he only said pouch. So Trevor gave him the pouch containing marbles.
• Faking the Dead: Fifteen years ago, Rikard was framed for the deaths of Maven's parents. So the Outsiders plan to fake his death, to keep the Safety Patrol from hunting him down.
• Forced Transformation: At one point, Erik gets turned into a lifesize ragdoll by the Taker.
• Fountain of Youth: In one chapter, Frida turns into a baby after drinking a youth potion by accident.
• Internal Reveal:
  • In The Temple of the 3 Sisters, Maven, Hilda, and Johanna realize that the Reiner Gem is inside of the Reiner All Star Amulet.
  • During a conversation with the Outsiders regarding Hilda's mixed feelings about Johanna dating Maven, the latter two learn that the Outsiders saw them kissing back in The Second Tall Tales.
• Named by Adaptation
  • Frida's mum and dad are respectively named Eliana and Anthony.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: After Rachel bad mouths Johanna and her old friends one too many times, Johanna lays it out on her.
  Johanna: No! I’ve had it with you, Rachel! We first met after 23 years, I actually thought that things would get better, but clearly not! You called me and my friends freaks! You ridiculed my dead husband! And badmouthed my daughter! So maybe things they did were very doubtful, but that does not mean they can’t learn from their mistakes! In fact, you haven’t learned any mistakes at all! I brought you out here because I thought we can make things right, but no! You’re still the sad and scared little girl from years ago! A friend of mine said that people change overtime, and he was right, you have become a NASTY, ROTTEN, NO GOOD, JUDGMENTAL, JERK!!!
• The Reveal:
  • The Völsung Clan has a lot of revelations. Frida has a bit of Marra magic in her from the Marra gathering she attended, Renolds is Frida's uncle from Eliana's side, The Nightmare War was the result of a Cycle of Revenge, Renolds got arrested because Eliana tattled on him, and there are six gemstones.
  • The Gryla reveals that the titular monster has been Dead All Along.
  • In The Ahlberg Mansion, Jack is revealed to be a giant shifter, and the one who was impersonating Gryla.
  • In The Abused Bully, Trevor and Jen's father left them when the latter was three.
  • At the end of The Child, the Reiner All Star Amulet is revealed to have another one of the coven stones.
  • Victoria has been stranded in the Fairy Island since The Windmill.
  • The flashbacks in The Kirkwood show that Andrias killed Johanna's parents.
• Shout-Out:
  • The start of The Vampire plays out like how Evicted started.
  • Sunniva once told Rikard that a stranger is a friend you haven't met yet.
  • Andrias tells Hilda to zip it, then calls her "happy meal".
  • Hilda's conversation with Andrias at the end of "The Volsung Clan" brings the season 1 finale of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated to mind.
  • Karen has been locked up in Arklund Asylum, a nod to Arkham Asylum.
  • Louise teases Hilda for her crush on Frida the same way Agnes teased Gru for his crush on Lucy.
  • Abigail's discussion with Scarlett about why her mother was sent to the void is like how Ozai revealed to Zuko about what happened to his mother.
• Stealth Prequel: The Flashback B-Plot in The Stylophone Gen X-1 acts as this to the flashbacks in The Beast of Cauldron Island.
• Synchronous Episodes:
  • The Child shows what Bran has been doing during the events of The Abused Bully.
  • The Diamond in the Rough shows what Callum, Ezrah, and the Outsiders were doing while Hilda was on a camping trip during The Kirkwood.
• Wham Episode:
  • At the end of The Wishbone, Jack breaks Andrias out of St Arklund Asylum.
  • The Second Tall Tales ends with Johanna and Maven kissing.
  • In the aftermath of Trevor's rampage in The Obscurus, the Trolberg Safety Patrol find the Witch's Tower.
  • At the end of The Temple of the 3 Sisters, Johanna and Maven have a Relationship Upgrade, which Hilda learns after seeing them kiss.
• What Is This Feeling?: Hilda develops feelings for Frida, but she doesn't understand them.
• Whole Episode Flashback: The Futurist tells the story of Rikard, Maven, and Bran's encounter with Suro.
• Whole-Plot Reference
  • The Flashback B-Plot for The Falling Star is one to the Uncle Grandpa episode, Ballroom.
  • The Salt Lions is one to A Bunch of Baby Ducks.
  • The Vampire to Deb Vs. Pedro.
  • The Fountain of Youth to The Cave of Two Lovers.
  • The Stylophone Gen X-1 to The Power, and Stanship Takes Off. While the Flashback B-Plot is one to Freak City.
  • The National Park to Nature Clarence.
  • The Wishbone to The Thanksgiving Special and Gayle Makin' Bob Sled.
  • The Völsung Clan to The Limits of Immortality.
  • The gift exchange subplot in The Gryla is one to White Elephant Gift Exchange.
  • The Werewolf Curse to Transcone, and Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman.
  • The Ahlberg Mansion to A Haunting in Crystal Cove, while the flashbacks are to Northwest Mansion Mystery.
  • The Black Virus to Parasitica.
  • The Reiner All Star Amulet to Death Punchies, while the flashbacks are to Fight Fighters.
  • The flashbacks for The Obscurus to Headhunters.
  • The Founder of Trolberg to Irrational Treasure.

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