Archive of Our Own ^beta

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He didn't know what had pushed him to do it, but after 2 years staying with a friend, he decided to move back to his Grandma’s pod. He had to know his little brothers were okay, though, he wasn't sure if Floyd had stayed. He had probably left, just like the rest of them had.

As he descended the thick branches of the tree, he thought more of his little brothers, skipping over memories of his two older siblings. Had they gotten taller? What were their hobbies? He should have known what Floyd’s hobbies were; he was 10 when he had left him for God sake. But Branch, he had only been a year old when he last saw him.. God did he even act the same anymore?

After what felt like hours, even though realistically, it had only been around 10 minutes, he had finally reached his grandma’s pod. He gathered his thoughts and took a deep breath, pushing his anxiety to the back of his mind as he knocked on the pod door. He heard shuffling, so quiet he almost missed it, before the door opened, and the troll he was greeted by was hardly recognizable. The little trolling’s skin being grey instead the same powder blue it always was, and his hair, no longer was it a beautiful indigo, but now, it was a sharp black.

“...Bitty B..?” he gasped.

The younger troll stayed silent, only slightly looking up at him as he opened the door wider, stepping to the side as a silent invite for the older troll to come inside.

As Clay stepped into the pod, he was instantly hit by a wave of nostalgia, the pod looking and smelling the same way he had remembered it from the very day he had hatched, but the more he looked around, the more he realized how eerily silent and empty the pod was, no signs of life other than he and Branch, speaking of the child, the 3 year old was still stood at the door, barely meeting his eyes.

“Branch..” he breathed “where are grandma and Floyd..?” “they're gone.” the child said hoarsely, as if he hadn't used his voice in weeks. “Gone..what do you mean they’re gone?” Clay questioned, his heart sinking, already sure of the answer he was about to receive “Floyd left the same day you all did, and Grandma…” Branch had started twisting at part of his vest, Floyd’s vest, he realized “..Grandma was taken by a Bergen three months ago.”

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Clay was speechless..so many thoughts were running through his head.. His 10 year old brother was off on his own at who knows where, his grandmother was dead, his baby brother has been on his own for 3 months… he felt a lump rise in his throat, but he swallowed it back down. He had to be strong for his little brother, he needed him.

“..hey, its okay buddy, i know we all left.. But, im here to stay now..” Clay paused for a moment “I hate to sound like a hypocrite, but, i am going to leave you here for a few minutes, okay? Judging by the fact that youre only three, i doubt that you would have been able to go down to the market to get more food, i just dont want us to only have food that may be rotted, is that okay?”

The young child looked slightly upset about being left alone again, but slowly nodded.”I’ll see you in a few minutes Bits” Clay said, ruffling the childs hair before he walked out of the door and to the market.

The market was bustling with trolls, all gathering at the market for the usual midday rush. As Clay was walking around the stalls, trying to find berries that their Grandma had always used in her cooking and baking, he ran into a familiar face.

“Ah! Hello there King Peppy!” he exclaimed, surprised. “Clay, why, I havent seen you around the market for the longest while! Where were you, and what brings you here today?” “I’ve been staying with my friend, Thorn, for the past 2 years, but im now moved back into my Grandmother’s pod so i can look after Branch.. Im sure you’re aware of.. The situation..” King Peppy looked at him sadly “yes.. I have heard, im sorry about your Grandmother by the way.”

They both stayed silent for a minute before King Peppy spoke up again “Have you heard about the escape tunnels yet?” Clay looked at him, puzzled “What do you mean sir?” “well me and some of the other trolls have started digging tunnels that lead out of the troll tree and away from Bergen town. We should be done around the time of the next trollstice.” 

Clay thought for a moment “thats.. For lack of a better word, impressive, if im being honest-” suddenly, a large crash came from somewhere behind King Peppy, who turned around with a groan “Poppy!” he called exasperatedly “I told you to be careful around the market! Im sorry Clay, but I need to cut our chat short” before he started going in the direction the noise came from, leaving Clay with many questions. 

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As Clay walked back to the pod, he couldn't help but think back on what King Peppy had told him. Tunnels? Out of the Troll Tree? He knew it was a great way for them to escape, but all of the risks that were going to come with it, Tunnels collapsing, people not being able to keep up, the bergens finding them.

He shook off his thoughts and trudged on through the tree and back to his grandmother’s pod. He was debating asking Branch if he had heard of the tunnels or not, arguing with himself that he shouldnt trouble the child with ideas like that. He was only three for God’s sake, but, he ultimately decided he would ask him, if he hadn't heard, it would be better than finding out the minute they had to leave the tree.

Clay entered the pod and looked around, confused when he saw no child in the main room of it.”Branch?” he called “are you still in here?” he called again, though, he didn’t expect a response; the child had been mostly silent the whole time he was here, then, he heard the telltale sounds of small feet shuffling towards him out of one of the bedrooms.

He watched as Branch poked his head around the corner before silently walking up to him.”there you are B,I just needed to ask you something.” Clay steeled himself before he continued on speaking. “Did King Peppy happen to tell you about any escape tunnels he and some other trolls were making to get out of the tree? I just want to know what you’ve heard, Branch.” the child looked at him before nodding slowly.

“I heard King Peppy mention some tunnels once, but I don't know much.” Clay nodded “Thats fine, B, i just wanted to make sure you knew what was going on.” Clay paused for a moment before continuing “did you happen to hear when King Peppy thinks the tunnels will be done by?” he asked; and the child shook his head. “Thats alright, he thinks they’ll be done the night before trollstice, I just wanted to make sure you knew so you wouldn’t only find out just as we had to leave.”

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Quiet whispers echoed around the tunnels, as minutes seemed to feel like hours; the trolls, trying to be as quiet as possible when escaping through the tunnels,else they be recaptured by the bergens on this trollstice morning.

King Peppy was leading the group, they all making a quiet yet rapid beeline for the exit of the root tunnels, a life free from the shadows that had haunted them for generations.

Clay held Branch close to him, knowing the three year old would never be able to catch up to him should they need to run to get away faster.

From above them, they could hear the muffled shouts of the bergens,chanting ‘Trollstice!’ like they did every year. They had kept somehow even more silent, before they heard the shouts of the bergens, having found the decoy trolls.

All the trolls started to run, Clay putting Branch in his hair in order to ensure he’d be safer. Suddenly, the rumbling of the bergens’ feet from overhead shook the tunnels, before shovels and pickaxes started descending upon them.

As he ran, he barely took notice of the King running past him to help the other trolls that couldn't keep up, his brain did, however, notice Viva, his friend and one of the princesses, running past him too, probably hoping to help her father save the rest of the trolls, judging from the glint in her eye.

He pressed on further, running faster, getting narrowly avoided by one of the bergens shovels.

He could see a small pinprick of light in front of him “ the exit of tunnels ” he thought.

Running somehow even faster, he emerged from the tunnels and took the shaking trolling out of his hair and back into his arms. He and the small group that had already ran out watched as more trolls poured out of the tunnel exit.

As a large ball of trolls was seemingly thrown out of the tunnel, one of the trolls from that group limped forward, gazing into the tunnel, before he spoke “..I.. I don't think King Peppy made it…” a collective tragic gasp was drawn from the crowd, before an echoing voice came from the tunnel.

“When i say no troll left behind.. I mean no troll left behind!” the king shouted, as he emerged from the tunnel.

The crowd started cheering, before a girl in the front spoke “King Peppy, where’s Princess Poppy? Or Princess Viva?” “dont worry” the king started “Poppy’s right here” as he pulled a small pink trolling from his hair “as for Viva…” he sighed, as confirmation that she was gone.

Clay was horrified, Viva had been one of his best friends his whole life, and now, she was gone, just like that.

Tears brimmed his eyes as he fought not to cry, before he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He turned his head to look at the troll attempting to comfort him, and was incredibly relived to see the peach furred, red haired troll he knew all to well,

Thorn.

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The surviving trolls had been forced to travel for days, but it was crucial, they needed to get away from bergentown.

Thorn had stuck by Clay and Branch’s side the entire time, catching up with Clay, even though they had only spent around a week apart.

Eventually, after what must have been a week of traveling, they had finally found their new home.

“Here, right here!” the king began “this is where we will rebuild our civilization! It has everything we need. Fresh air, clean water, and sweet acoustics!” he finished, as he pulled Poppy out of his hair along with a cow bell.

All of the trolls started walking off to help rebuild, when Thorn spoke “right, well, Clay i'm going to go off now, my pod’s not going to build itself!” he laughed, patting Clay on the shoulder before walking off.  

Clay watched Thorn leave before he turned to the trolling next to him. “So, Branch, where do you think we should rebuild the pod? Maybe we should make it higher up?” “...do you think we can make the hideout and live in that instead?” Clay smiled at him. “I can't believe I forgot about our hideout! Sure buddy! Do you still have the plans with you?” He watched as Branch pulled out the drawing of the Hideout from Floyd’s his vest before he looked the drawing over “..this all should be doable! Well.. maybe except the 10 story water slide” the trolling’s ears became darker “i was going to say that we weren't going to make the waterslide..”

Clay laughed “haha..yeah, okay Bits” He looked around, scanning the area “hey, B? Where do you think we should make the hideout?”

The three year old looked up at him before pointing at a part in the woods behind him.

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If Clay was being honest, he wasn't expecting the hideout (which he had started to call a bunker) to be as hard to build as it was. Of course he knew that it would be difficult, they were building underground after all, but after the 3rd time the walls collapsed, he started to get frustrated,however, the trolling suggested mixing sand and water into the walls, in an attempt to make them and the roof stronger. And, to his surprise, it worked.

After nearly a week of digging, they finally had enough room for the two trolls to live in until they finished the lower part of the bunker.

During the first night in the bunker, Clay had put the trolling to bed, but couldn't manage to fall asleep, so he looked for something to do, just until he felt tired enough to sleep.

At first, he had attempted to tame his wild hair, something he had gained during his time living with Thorn, but he just couldn't seem to get it under control.

Now he had taken to pacing around the bunker, watching the entrance. He must have been at this for hours, as before he knew it, he saw sunlight peeking through the gaps in the trap door.  

Clay was worried. He knew his youngest brother would have plenty of trauma from all the recent events that had taken place, but he hadn't expected it to be this bad.

His little brother had outright stopped singing, dancing and even laughing, something that was concerning for a trolling his age.

Every sudden loud noise had the trolling on edge, even if it was a troll pyramid falling over. He kept freaking out about the bergens, of course Clay could understand him slightly, he had watched their grandma get eaten in front of him for God’s sake and it had only been a month since they all escaped, But the amount he talked about adding more rooms than planned should a bergen find and attack the village and they needed to get everyone down into it.

During one of these ramblings, Clay decided to interrupt the young troll. “-hey… B? Maybe you should chill it with the whole “Bergen panic” thing, i get you’re worried, I am too, but it's been  a month,they're not going to find us” the trolling started looking panicked “you don't know that!” he yelled, tears forming at the corner of his eyes.

Clay quickly rushed over to the trolling in an attempt to comfort him “hey, hey..i'm sorry,i didn't mean to upset you..do you want me to bake Grandma’s flufflecake recipe?”

The trolling wiped his eyes and sniffled “..okay..”

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Clay passed through the village, not quite listening to the princess’ singing, just taking in the fact that he had been “back” for 19 years, that he had been taking care of Branch for that long.

He was knocked out of his thoughts hearing a slow clapping, turning around to see his little brother facing the princess and her friends.

“Really, really great you guys. Seriously, amazing. I could hear you from a mile away!”

“Good!” the Poppy breathed, regaining her breath “I was worried we weren't projecting enough!”

Branch stared at her with a dead panned expression. “Poppy, if I can hear you, so can the Bergens!” his ears twitching.

Poppy’s friends groaned.

“Oh boy”

“Here we go again”

“Oh Branch..”

“You always ruin everything!”

“Warning us about the bergens!”

Clay frowned and walked towards the group 

“No i don't!”

Poppy stepped closer to him “come on!” she exclaimed “we haven't seen a bergen in 20 years! It's not like they’re going to find us now!”

Branch glared at her before he spoke again “no, they’re not gonna find me and Clay, because we’re going to be in our heavily fortified, bergen proof, survival bunker” 

Clay had moved so that he was now standing beside Branch and was facing Poppy and her friends.

Poppy looked sadly at them both “you mean you're not coming to the party tonight?”

“But its gonna be the biggest-” Satin and Chenille started

“The loudest-!” DJ Suki continued

“The craziest party ever!” Cooper finished.

Poppy’s friends all cheered while Branch and Clay looked at each other

“Big? Loud? Crazy?! You're just going to lead the bergens right to us!” Branch yelled, Clay looked at Poppy sadly “I have to agree Miss..”

Cooper leaned down to Poppy “are you sure you wanna invite these party poopers to your party?” he whispered loudly

Poppy sighed before smiling at Clay and Branch again “of course! I think everyone deserves to be happy!”

“I don't do happy” Branch said, making Clay’s heart break a bit.

“Branch, i know that everyone has happiness somewhere inside them, you just need our help to find it!”

Poppy handed both him and Clay invitations,which threw glitter, in their faces.

“What do you say Branch?”

Branch smiled at her, taking the invitation, before throwing it on the ground, crushing it, making all of Poppy’s friends gasp. Clay swore he heard a faint “oh my god”

“I wouldn't be caught dead at your party” Branch growled, wiping the glitter off of him “but you will be caught and dead” he said, making a slicing motion across his throat

“Woah, easy Branch, easy.” Both Clay and Branch groaned as soon as they heard Creek, neither of them liked him a single bit.

“Thank you for providing a safe passage brother, namaste” he spoke to his bug. “Okay, first of all mate” he started, pushing past Clay “thanks for sharing your unique perspective on things”

“Again”

Poppy’s friends laughed at this, making Clay glare at them slightly

“And maybe try some positivity ay? A little positivity, might go well with that vest” he finished his sentence with a baby voice.

“Fine! I’m positive you're all going to get eaten!” he called.

Poppy stared at him, before her hugtime bracelet went off.

“Hug time!” she yelled, Creek walked over to her “it is hug time”

Before Clay knew it, both he and Branch were swept up in a hug among Poppy and her friends.

Branch struggled out of the hug and pulled Clay with him. They started walking away before Branch turned to face Poppy again 

“When the bergens inevitably find us, and the survival of every troll is in your hands, i sure hope the answer is singing, dancing and hugging, because that's all you know how to do!”

Biggie walked up behind Poppy and was the next to speak “thats not true! Poppy can also scrapbook!” he scoffed.

“I can’t believe you're going to be queen one day” Branch said to Poppy before stalking off, Clay running after him.

Chapter Text

Clay groaned, Poppy’s party had been going on for hours, and, even though he and Branch lived in the bunker underground, he could still hear all of the music and cheering, and could feel the vibrations reverberating off the walls and floor.

His head was pounding, and he couldn't tell if it was just from the music or the vibrations. Eventually, he ended up lying on the floor with his head in his hands and his tail curled around him in a desperate hope for some relief from his headache. 

He would have asked Branch for help, his youngest sibling had always been great at relieving pain, but he had been in a bad mood all day, and had shut himself off in his room when they came home, so Clay didn't quite feel like ‘bothering’ him at that moment.

Finally, after what must have been hours, there was finally a break in the noise, but that relief was only temporary, as soon enough, he felt the vibrations start up again, and he could have sworn he heard a few screams, but he just chalked this up to someone getting hit with a ball of compacted glitter. ‘ I really meant to talk to Poppy about those’ he thought.

Finally, after roughly 11 minutes, the noise finally died down for the night, much to Clay’s relief.

But he was soon interrupted from his moment of silence when he heard loud banging and yelling at the entrance of the bunker

“Branch! Clay! Branch! Branch! Are either of you in there?!”

Clay heard his little brother groan before he turned the corner, looking exhausted, snapping open the hatch to the bunker, Clay moving closer to the entrance in an attempt to listen in to whatever conversation ensued.

“We already told you, we’re not coming to your party.” Branch huffed

“The party’s over! We got attacked by a bergen!” Poppy cried, seeming like she was desperate for him to not close the hatch on her.

“I knew it!” Branch pulled Poppy into the bunker as he pushed her and Clay next to the elevator, before surrounding them with mouse traps, and then silently joining them.

They all sat in silence, before Poppy spoke again.

“Branch I-” “-sh..” Branch shushed her.

“I was just gonna…” “Shh! Shh!”

Poppy stared at him, deadpanned, before she raised her hand, causing Clay to snicker slightly.

“What?! What could be more important than leading the bergen right to us?!” Branch whisper-yelled at her.

“The bergen’s gone!” she yelled back

“You don't know that! It could still be out there, watching, waiting, listening..” his ears twitched at the last part of his sentence.

Poppy stared at him exasperatedly before she next spoke “No, it left! And it took Cooper, and Biggie and Mr Dinkles, and guy Diamond..Satin and Chenille, and Smidge, and Fuzzbert…and Ceek!”

Clay had long since tuned himself out of the conversation, yet he couldn't help but take notice of his youngest brother’s eye roll as Poppy mentioned the name of her last friend.

“Which is why I came here to ask you both..will you go to Bergen town with me and save everyone?”

Branch looked at her, incredulous “What?! No!”

“Oh come on! You both are the two trolls who know more about bergens than anyone, and when we actually need you both you just want to hide here forever?!”

“Forever? No.” Branch replied before lowering them all into the rest of the bunker.

“Yeah, we only really have supplies to last us 10 years down here, you all said we were crazy huh? Well, who’s crazy now? Us, crazy prepared.”

Poppy sighed defeatedly “I’m sorry, I should have listened to you both. Both of you told me not to throw the party and I threw it anyway, it's my fault they were taken, and now I don't know what to do!”

“Why don’t you try scrapbooking them to freedom?”

Poppy deadpanned “solid burn branch, well, thanks anyway you two.” she said as she turned to leave.

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Clay didn't know what possessed him and his youngest sibling, perhaps it was how Poppy had moved the entire village into the bunker, but after three more hours in their home, both Clay and Branch had set out after Poppy. 

Maybe the hug times had simply gotten to be too much for Branch, he did hate being touched after all, Clay did too, but he didn’t mind being hugged randomly,whereas Branch on the other hand, despised it.

They must have been walking for hours, however, Clay concluded that it was better than having to go through more hug times. 

Clay could hardly register anything that had just happened, finding Poppy, having to fight off tarantapuffs, and then having to make sure Poppy was even still alive, he knew that him and Branch had taken multiple minutes, but to Clay, it felt like mere seconds.

“Branch! My man! You and Clay are right on time!” she called

“Oh right, like you knew we were coming” Branch huffed.

Well, yeah, kinda figured you’d both think being eaten by a bergen wouldn't sound so bad.” after the third hug time” replied Poppy.

“And we figured there was no way you’d be able to do this yourself, guess we were both right.” This retort from Branch made Clay snicker a bit.

“Eh. alright, lets do this!” Poppy yelled excitedly “the sooner we get to Bergentown, the sooner we can rescue everybody and make it home safely!”

“Poppy, hold on a moment, what's your plan?” Clay asked her, his concern slightly growing.

“I just told you both! Rescue everyone, and make it home safely!”

“Okay, that's not a plan, that's a wishlist.” branch deadpanned at her.

“Alright, so I suppose you both have a plan?” she asked as she looked at them both with an eyebrow raised.

“First, we get to the edge of Bergentown without being spotted, then we get inside through the old escape tunnels, which then will lead us to the old troll tree,right before we get caught, and suffer a miserable death at the hands of a horrible, bloodthirsty bergen-! Hold on a minutes, are you scrapbooking my plan?!”

“I think she is scrapbooking it B.” Clay whispered loudly.

“Yep! almost …. Done!” she yelled proudly, presenting a cutout that popped up to show him, Branch, and Poppy, along with all of Poppy’s friends, which displayed and called out “we did it!”, before the cutout of Fuzzbert spewed out glitter, covering both him and Branch.

Branch stared at Poppy with a deadpanned expression “there will be no more, scrapbooking” he said, spitting out glitter.

Chapter Text

They had been wandering for hours, in a seemingly feeble attempt to find the old escape tunnels, and Poppy had been singing for the last 5 minutes, and Clay noticed his younger brother getting slowly annoyed. 

"Do you have to sing?"  Branch eventually hissed at her

 "I always sing when I'm in a good mood!" Poppy replied back jovially.

“Do you have to be in a good mood?”

“Why wouldn't I be? By this time tomorrow, I'll be with all my friends! Oh, I wonder what they're doing right now.”

“Probably being digested.” Branch retaliated flatly.

Poppy stared at him, unimpressed.

“They’re alive, Branch! I just know it!”

“You don't know anything Poppy” Branch growled, which caused Clay to start getting nervous, his tail flicking anxiously. He could feel a fight brewing between the two.

“Sh!” he suddenly whispered.

“A bergen?!” Poppy whispered nervously.

“maybe ..” Clay muttered

“...there's no bergen, is there? You just said that so we’d stop talking!” Branch glared at him

“Maybe.” Clay repeated, a smug grin forming on his face.

The previous night's camp had been.. Unsuccessful, to put it lightly.

Poppy had pulled out pictures of all of her friends, and said goodnight to them all, before Clay begged her to stop talking. However, she then started singing, which led to Branch burning her ukelele.

Eventually though, they eventually came across the old escape tunnels.

“So, one of these tunnels leads to the troll tree..?” Poppy muttered.

“That’s right..”

“There's just so many… I wonder which one..”

“I don't know..” Clay mumbled.

“ Choose a hole wisely” a voice suddenly boomed, causing the three of them to jump.

“ For one will lead to bergentown, and the others.. To certain death! ” the last part echoing.

“Who said that?!” Clay yelled, his tail bristling up.

“ It was…. me. Hey guys, how's it going? Welcome to the root tunnels. Uh, just wanted to warn you three, one of these led to bergentown, and the others, to certain death,death,death,death…” said a..cloud? Who suddenly grew legs and arms and walked down the base of the tree he was on.

Chapter Text

Clay was perplexed yet bewildered. Never once in his life had he seen a talking cloud, nor did anyone he knew. Makeover plants? Sure, but a talking cloud?

“Do you think you could tell us which one is the right one?” inquired Poppy.

“You bet.” the cloud..guy? Responded lazily.

“Great! No, that's okay. We're fine, thanks!”

“Branch..He's trying to help us!”

“I don't like the looks of him.. I mean, who wears socks with no shoes?” he said as he shot a glare at cloud guy.

Clay had to agree with him on that point, he was already annoyed by the cloud’s antics.

“He seems to know what he’s talking about!” Poppy whispered at him.

“Okay, fine. Which way do we go?”

“First, you have to give me a high five. Then I'll tell you.”

“Oh! Oh! I love high fives! I’ll do it!” Poppy yelled exitedly, her tail moving rapidly.

“Oh I know you’ll do it, but will he?” cloud guy asked, gesturing towards Branch. Clay knew this wasn’t going to end well for the cloud.

“Alright dumpy diapers, up high!” the cloud spoke happily.

“Nope, I don't do high fives.”

“Slap it, boss.”

“Not gonna happen.”

“Party on the top floor.”

“Nope”

“That's weird.”

Clay watched this exchange and, while he was already irritated with cloud guy, he couldn't help but find it slightly amusing.

“Here, just do this...But with your hand.” he said, slapping one of his hands to the other.

“Thank you for that demonstration.Really cleared up exactly what I will not be doing.

“Branch, it's a high five! The others lead to certain death! Get perspective!” Poppy groaned exasperatedly.

“..One high five and then you'll tell us which tunnel to take, right?”

“So easy” cloud guy whispered

“Okay, fine!”

“Ohh! Too slow!” cloud guy laughed, quickly moving his hand backwards.

“ Too slow ?!” Branch growled.

“Ha! Classic.” Clay giggled.

“I'm gonna let you slide with a fist bump.” cloud guy smirked.

“Shark attack! Nom-nom-nom-nom. Jellyfish! Hand sandwich. Turkey. Snowman. Dolphin. Helicopter. Last Supper. Monkey in a zoo.”

“What?!”

“Gear shift!” cloud guy started imitating engine noises.

“Okay, okay” cloud guy laughed. “now I'm thinking we hug.”

That seemed to be to be the last straw for Branch, as he took a twig and snapped it at cloud guy, causing the cloud to become a thunder cloud.

“ That's right. You better run, Cloud! ”

“ Wait!”

“ I'm gonna tear your little cloud arms… off your cloud body,and high five your face with them! ”

“ He's just a cloud! ”

“ Get back here! ”

“ Branch! He can help us!”

“ Come back! ”

“ Run cloud guy! ”

Cloud guy suddenly stopped and turned around with his arms raised

“Ta-da! We’re here!” 

“You three are a lot of fun, you know? I gotta go, got some cloud stuff to take care of. Catch you on the way back, unless… you die..” the last part echoing as he slowly sank into the hole in the tree.

“The troll tree..” Poppy whispered

“Bergen town..” muttered Clay.

Chapter Text

“Wow….they're almost as miserable as you…”  Poppy mumbled, her comment clearly being directed towards Branch, who just scoffed and rolled his eyes in response.

“..which means..they haven't eaten a troll yet!” she exclaimed, almost happily, while still being quiet.

“Now come on! Let's go save our friends!” she called, before moving to swing off the tree.

“Your friends, not ours” Branch grumbled before moving to follow her.

“Our friends, don't fight me on this.”

Eight out of the nine of them who were taken all yelled as they unceremoniously were dumped out of the chef’s fanny-pack into

The cold, metal cage, before being locked inside.

“Shh! Dont cry Mr Dinkles! Dont Cry! Guys! Mr Dinkles is really freaking out!” Biggie was the first to speak.

“Woah! Woah! Everyone, we must remain calm.” Creek said calmly, attempting to make everyone stop panicking.

“Thats right, a calm troll is a tasty troll!” Chef suddenly spoke, re-emerging from the shadows,startling everyone “and you’re the key ingredient in my recipie for success! You see.. He who controls the trolls controlls the kingdom! And I! I am that he!”

“You’re a dude?” asked Cooper, most likely completely seriously.

Chef glared at him before quickly moving, cutting up a lemon and squeezing the juice into his eye, making him cry out in pain, before she spun the knife and stored it back into her holster, causing Biggie to need to cover Mr Dinkles eyes.

“By this time tommorow, I’ll be queen, and all of Beregntown will get exactly what they deserve… true happiness! ” she shouted, almost geefully, laughing maniacally.

“Chad”

“Todd” the two guards nodded at eachother as they passed.

Both Poppy and Clay stopped disguising the three of them, putting thier hair down before continuing on moving through the castle.

“So where do you think our friends are?” Poppy asked in a hushed voice, looking disturbed as she looked at an old portrait of a bergen family eating trolls.

“If I had to guess, I’d say… in a bergens’s stomach.” replied Branch in a bored, monotone voice, causing both Poppy and Clay to shoot him a deadpanned look.

“Could you try to be positive? At least once, you might like it.” she said, with Clay nodding along.

“Okay, im sure they’re not only alive, but about to be delivered to us on a silver platter!”

“I dont think thats what she meant..-” spoke Clay

“SH! Both of you, wait” Poppy hushed them as her hug time bracelet went off.

“Hug time?! Now? Seriously-” Branch started.

“No, listen!”

They all saw them before they heard them, colourful glowing casted over the walls, followed by a soft ding, the obvious chime of a hug time bracelet.

“Trollstice is tommorow everyone! Everything needs to be perfect!” Chef called out to everyone in the dining room.

A chorus of “yes chef!” echoed around the room.

“Feels great to be ordering everyone around again!”

“Branch, Clay, look!”

“They’re alive?”

“And on a silver platter too! You were both right!” Clay whispered.

“-and to mark the occasion, your higness, look, your old troll bib!” Chef spoke, voice sickeningly sweet

“Oh wow! I bet it still fits!” the king said, before struggling to put on the bib “like a glove!”, it didn’t, infact, fit like a glove.

The bib tore to peices, causing Cooper to laugh before everyone else in the cage quickly covered his mouth, but it was too late, the damage had already been done, as the king glared at the nine trolls before advancing towards them.

“Oh, you think thats funny? We’ll see who’s laghing when i bite your yummy head off, when i bite all y’alls yummy heads off!”

The king paused in the middle of his rant and looked at the trolls inside the cage, almost as if counting them.

“Wait a minute…chef, this isnt enough yummy heads to feed all of bergentown! How are we supposed to have trollstice if theres not enough trolls?”

Chef seemed to stammer abit, seemingly trying to come up with a half decent response.

“Oh theres plenty more where that came from sire!”

“Are you sure? Because i promised everyone a troll”

“No,no,no, sire! Everything will be fine! If i were truely worried.. Would i be willing to do this ?”

She put her hand inside the cage and grabbed the first troll she could catch, Creek .

The king stared at Creek, almost longingly.

“Oh! My first troll!”

“Go on then. Eat, king Gristle, enjoy a taste of true happiness.”

However, the king paused.

“Shouldn’t we wait for trollstice?”

Every troll in that room breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sire, everyday is trollstice when you have trolls!” chef said, procceding to put Creek in a taco before handing him back to the king.

“Yeah i guess.” he spoke, before pausing once again.

“But my dad said the first time should be special.”

“Well you’re the king now.” Chef’s voice was getting more annoyed at this point, as she added hot sauce to the taco.

“Yeah, I am the king.” the taco had just barely touched his lips before he paused once more.

“But I think I should share this moment with all the kingdom”

Chef had finally had enough, shoving the taco into the king’s mouth and spinning him out of the room before yelling at the scullery maid to gaurd the trolls with her life and to take them to her room.

“No!” Poppy cried, reaching out towards where the king and chef once stood, as if she could reach Creek from the chandilier they were currently hiding in.

“Poppy, dont!” clay said softly, grabbing her arm.

“We cant just do nothing! We need to go save him!”

“Save him from what? The bergen’s stomach? Face it Poppy, sometimes people go into other people’s mouths and they don’t come out. Its too late for him.” Branch tried to reason with her.

Poppy seemed to ingnore the two of them, jumping down onto the ribbons of the maid’s apron, Clay and Branch quickly following after her.

They had been subjected to the young bergen’s singing (which, honestlly wasn’t bad at all, but neither Clay nor Branch were about to say something nice about a bergen), before they had silently made thee way across her room, and over to the table upon which she had put the cage.

Poppy exitedly ran up to the cage and pulled the cloth covering it off.

“Guys!”

“ Poppy! ”

Celebrate good times come on!

Its a celebration!

Branch tried to shush them, but they kept singing, only quieter this time.

Theres a party going on right here-

“-no there is not a party going on right here! The sooner we get you all out of here-”

“-the sooner we can save Creek!”

“ What?!” both Clay and Branch yelled.

“Hello?” the bergen sat up, and they all held their breath.

“Is it me you’re looking for..?” she muttered, before falling back asleep.

“I know you’re looking for the cupcakes and rainbows here, but lets face it, Creek’s been eaten!”

“It was horrible!” Biggie whispered, stepping out of the cage

“Sorry Poppy, Creek’s gone..” Guy diamond attempted to comfort her.

“Poppy, how could you possibly think that Creek is still alive?” Clay asked.

“I dont think he’s alive, I know he’s alive, and thats enough.”

“How can you possibly look on the bright side? There is no bright side! None!” Branch frowned.

“Theres always a bright side!”

Suddenly, a large flashlight was shone apon them

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going!” the bergen girl yelled.

They all started running all over the room, attempting to avoid escape, before Poppy manged to distract her

“Briget stop!”

The chaos immediatley ceased.

“You’re in love with King Gristle!”

“Uh..no im not.” Briget replied sheepishly

Poppy then procceded to pull apart the curtains on Brigit’s wall, revealing a, quite disturbing shrine of the king.

“Thats not mine!” Briget yelled,quickly shutting the curtains, obviously embarrassed.

Poppy then pulled apart a smaller part of the curtain, revealing an image of a married couple, with cutout images of Gristle and Briget in place of the actual couple.

“Oh, what does it matter… its not like he even knows im alive..”

“Briget, I can help you! What uf there were a way we could both get what we want?” Poppy beamed.

Briget suddenly became deensive “You love Gristle too?! You better back of, girlfriend”

Poppy grimaced at the image that suddenly appeared in her head

“No, Briget, no. that troll, that King Gristle put in his mouth, thats Creek, and i would do anything to save him. The only problem is we can’t get anywhere near the king without him eating us, but.. You can!”

“As if, his royal awesomeness would never talk to a scullery maid like me.”

“What if he didnt know you were a scullery maid, what if he thought you were this total babe?” 

“What kind of total babe would be dressed as a scullery maid? I smell lik gravy.” Briget responded.

“What if we made you a new outfit?”

“I’m thinking….”

“ Jumpsuit!” Satin and Chennile both suddenly spoke up.

“What’s the point of a jumping suit if my hair still looks like this?” she said, tugging at her hair tufts.

“We can fix that!”

“Whats the point of a new outfit, and new hair, if i don’t even know what to say?”

“We can help with that too! What do you say Briget, we get you a date with the king and you help us get ou friend back?”

Briget thought for a moment before responding “lets do it?” she said hesitantly

Just as most of the trolls were about to fully start a huge song number, Briget stopped them.

“Why isn’t this one singing?” she asked, pointing to Branch

“Come on Branch, sing with us!”

“Yeah! Sing with us!”

“Oh, no, thats okay”

“You dont think this will work?” she asked, tears starting to form in her eyes

“Oh its not that, i just dont sing”

“He’s right! This idea is stupid! King Gristle will never love me!” she sobbed falling forwards with her face in her pillow.

While the others focused on comforting Bridget, Poppy followed Branch up to the windowsill, Clay following her after a moment.

When he caught up to them, they were yet again starting another argument, however, this one felt..off.. In a way Clay couldn’t put his finger on

“Why not?! Why wont you just sing-?!” Poppy started

“Because singing killed my grandma okay?!”Branch yelled at her “..now leave me alone.”

Poppy was left standing there, dumbfounded, as Clay walked over and sat next to Branch at a corner on the windowsill, soon after though, Poppy walked up slowly next to them.

“How did… singing kill your grandma? What song was she singing?”

“..i was the one singing.”

Poppy had been expecting a lengthy story, she thought that, something as tragic as singing literally getting your own grandmother killed would have had a longer story behind it, but no.

Eventually, she knelt down beside Clay and Branch.

“Look.. i know you dont really like hugs, but it feels like you need one” she said, as she waited with her arms out for permission to hug him, soon enough though, he opened his arms slightly, which she took as confirmation.

Chapter Text

Every bergen she had passed on the street stared at her, maybe because the bright, vibrant colours of both her hair and outfit weren't typically the norm in the town.

 Poppy and Bridget high fived, before they heard a muffled voice yelling from one of the shops in front of them.

“No, no, no! This is all wrong! I’m the king who’s bringing back trollstice, I need a bib to match!” King Gristle yelled

“Oh he’s so beautiful..” Bridget said dreamily, her voice just above a whisper.

“And so are you!” Poppy beamed.

“Oh! He’ll know I'm just a scullery maid!” Bridget began to panic.

“No no no!”

“Ack! I've got to get out of here!” 

“I'll be right here for you, Bridget. We all will!” Poppy assured her.

“You’ll tell me what to say, right?”

“Of course I will!”

“Of course I will” Bridget repeated, putting on a ‘diva’ voice.

“Uhm, maybe just wait until we get inside?” Poppy suggested.

They snuck into the shop quietly, just as the king was trying on one of the bibs.

“Okay, now just do what we practiced!” Poppy whispered confidently.

“I think you look fat.”

“...what?!” the king turned around angrily

“P, h, phat, then strike that pose!”

“Ph-phat, ew..”

Clay shook his head, there was no way this was going to work.

“Hot lunch!” what “total honesty from a total babe” how did she manage to pull it off?

“And who might you be?” the King asked Bridget, kissing her hand.

“Uh..”

“Your name is..uh- um-?” Poppy began to look panicked, turning around slightly to beg her friends for help.

“Lady”

“Glitter?”

“Sparkles!”

“Seriously?!”

“My name is lady glittersparkles seriously.”

Both Branch and Clay were ready to be done with this bullshit.

The king paused for a moment before responding.

“..well, my Lady Glittersparkles, would you care to join me for an evening at Captain Starfunkle’s roller rink and arcade?”

“Would I!... would I ?” she asked, whispering the last bit, hoping for an answer from her new troll friends.

“Yes, you’d be delighted!”

“Yes, you’d be delighted”

The King looked slightly confused for a moment “huh…indeed I would!”

“When are you going to ask him about Creek?” Branch asked Poppy

“We’ve gotta warm him up first, don't you know a single thing about romance?” she retorted.

“Of course! I'm passionate about it!” he shot back sarcastically.

“Really?”

“Don’t you know anything about sarcasm?”

Cooper leaned closer to them both “I think i had a sarcasm once!”

“Gross, man”

Clay looked slightly disturbed

“-and I’ll take one of everything, Bibbly! Things are gonna get messy!” The king called before walking out the door with Bridget, causing Clay to retch.

“Enjoy your pizza, here's your tokens.” the server spoke in a bored, monotone voice.

Clay grimaced at the sheer amount of grease on the pizza, he knew Spruce would have nearly had an aneurysm and would’ve had to have been worked with, had he saw that pizza.

“Oh! So fancy” Bridget laughed nervously, reaching for a slice of he pizza when her and Gristle’s hands touched. They both started into the other's eyes for a moment that seemed to last for hours. That was before she slapped the king’s hand away before shoveling in the pizza slice.

“Wow.. you are fantastic!” the king spoke excitedly

“Bridget! Complement him back!” whispered Poppy.

“I like your back”

Poppy and Clay looked at eachother, dumbfounded.

“She means like, say something nice about him”  Clay whispered, attempting to do damage control

“But I do like his back” Bridget muttered back, making the king look confused for a moment.

“Poppy! Help her!” Branch whispered

“Your eyes… They're… Ugh... Ooh! Your ears…” Poppy frowned, unable to think of a compliment for Bridget to give the King, becoming more distressed as Bridget parroted her jumbled attempts.

“Nose?”

“Skin!”

“Neck!”

“Skin, neck, ears, nose,face…”

“Your teeth!” suggested Guy Diamond

“Your teeth” Bridget repeated, unfortunately attempting to replicate Guy’s autotuned voice.

“What's going on, are you making fun of me?” the king asked indignantly, getting up to leave.

“Your eyes!” Bridget said suddenly, startling Gristle “they’re like …two pools so deep, i fear that if i dive in, i may never come up for air”

Clay, knowing that Bridget couldn’t come up with something like this that suddenly, began looking around for the troll saying this, and he was shocked to see his youngest brother.

“And your smile” he continued “The sun itself turns jealous.. Knowing it cannot shine half as bright.” Bridget repeating every word he said.

“I  kinda do have a nice smile, don't I?” Gristle asked Bridget, beginning to smile softly.

“Yes, you do” Branch finished, looking at Poppy before looking away quickly, causing Clay to start grinning, knowing damn well that he now had ammunition to tease his youngest brother with.

“I can’t believe I'm about to say this..” Bridget started suddenly, startling all the trolls.

“Guys she's going rogue!” Biggie whispered loudly, panicking.

“But, being here with you today.. Makes me realize that true happiness is possible.”

“Woah…” Poppy breathed quietly

“It is! True happiness is a lot closer than you think! It’s right here.” Gristle replied, almost excitedly, showing off the brooch on his cloak.

Clay scoffed. Leave it to the king to ruin a romantic moment.

“Oh..that's pretty, I guess” Bridget responded, uninterested in that brooch.

“How about now?” Gristle asked, opening the broach to reveal…Creek?

“Creek..?”

“He’s alive!”

“Mr. Drinkles he’s alive!”

“Oh snap” Mr. Dinkles suddenly spoke. Tonight is a night of surprises.

Everyone collectively gasped in surprise.

“You just talked..!” Biggie whispered

Mr Dinkles looked at him with a blank face before giving out one of his usual, high-pitched mews.

“I've been savoring this little guy” the King said proudly

“Mercy!” Creek tried to call, before he was shoved back inside to brooch.

“Tell me my Lady, will I be seeing you at the trollstice feast?” Gristle asked

“Well duh, I’ll be working”

“It!”

“It! You know, working it!” Bridget panicked, attempting to save the conversation once again.

“Yeah you will! ‘Cause you’re gonna be my plus one!”

“Really?”

“That is if you’ll say yes..?”

“Yes!”

“Yes!” most of the trolls quietly yelled.

“In the meantime..maybe we should find another way to, work up an appetite?”

“Oh yeah.. What did you have in mind?”

The trolls acting as Bridget’s hair stood in silence, looking a mix between horrified and disgusted.

“Again, gross”

honestly , they had expected worse than just roller skating, which the two bergens seemed to enjoy (except for when their whole plan almost fell apart when the group of trolls had been suddenly flung off Bridget’s head)

Just as the two were about to kiss, there was suddenly aloud voice.

“Your majesty.” chef suddenly appeared, slowly sliding next to them “you seem to be having… fun ”

“Oh, I am! Meet, the lovely lady Glittersparkels.” the king replied to her, seeming completely love struck with Bridget.

Chef glared at Bridget “you remind me of someone….”

Both Bridget and the trolls shook, the small group of them probably making the hair shake.

“She’s uh, gonna be my plus one”

“Oh, I see, for a minute there i was concerned that you were, changing the plan.” she almost growled the last part.

Clay and Branch looked at each other with a mix of confusion and slight worry.

“well, this won't be a problem at all, Your Highness.I'll just get my worthless scullery maid to get another place setting ready for the lovely...Lady Glittersparkles.”

“Put her place setting next to mine, I want her right by my side- Lady glittersparkles?”

Bridget was already halfway down the street when they heard the king yell “I’ll see you at Trollstice, yeah?!”

Chapter Text

Im incredibly sorry, and it hurts to write this chapter, but Thresholds of Time is being discontinued.

I might go on posting more content of it on my tumblr, but it's not set in stone. I don't feel inspired to write it anymore, writer's block has been an ass, but it is taking a toll on both my physical and mental health, with me being hunched over a laptop until at least 3 in the morning. Recently, attempting to write chapter 14 has felt only like a chore and I've been starting to dread writing this.

To anyone who was/is supporting this fic, I'm sorry, after my slight hiatus this probably isn't the update you were hoping for, and to that I apologize again. I had a lot planned for later chapters that take place during tbt, and plans for a spinoff, but it just wasn't meant to be.

This isn't to say that I’m done writing, I’m going to be taking a longer break from posting more writing on here, that, if my mood towards writing doesn’t change, will be indefinite. I might do some writing exercises and maybe after a while, post oneshots or even start working on a fic with multiple chapters for a new au i'm working on, but again, i don't know if i will.

Thank you all for your support 🖤