Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a quiet night in the Pop Village. Everyone was asleep, not a living soul—troll or dragon—wandering about. Until: “FIRE!” a panicked glitter troll yelled.

At that, the whole village woke up in a frenzy. It was true—someone’s house was on fire. The king, Peppy, quickly began to issue commands. “Poppy! You know what to do!”

As he said that, his daughter and her friends quickly got into position. Each one of their dragons held a bucket of water and began to drop it onto the dark green burning building. Branch was the last one to act, using his snow powers to finally extinguish the flames.

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Once Branch flew down, Poppy quickly wrapped him in a hug, her tail curling around his. “Good job, Snowball! You did great!” That caused Branch to chuckle affectionately at his girlfriend's praise. “Thank you, Pop Star. You did pretty well yourself.” Her cheeks flushed as the whole village cooed at their shared affection.

Suddenly, an angry John marched toward them, adjusting his goggles, unknowingly ruining the cute moment. He ignored the worried looks his parents sent him.

“John, are you alright?!” a panicked Branch asked as he raced to his elder brother. “Are you hurt?”

John rolled his eyes, brushing off the concern. “I am fine, baby bro. It’s just that… I know who did this,” he said with hate, his heart-shaped tail rattling in anger.

“WHO??” Branch demanded, his voice filled with rage and an unmistakable need for vengeance. His eyes shifted to blood red, burning with fury. “Who did it?!” he insisted again. “I swear I’m going to—”

“A dragon,” John said sternly, cutting him off.

The Snack Pack froze, staring at John as if he had suddenly lost his mind. Branch’s blood-red eyes quickly reverted to their normal color, the rage in them replaced by sheer confusion.

“A what?” Satin asked hesitantly, her voice breaking the stunned silence.

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Poppy then looked at John with an incredulous expression before turning to her dad, who seemed fed up by this claim. She quickly began to defend her dragon friends. “Dad, you know that dragons don’t do that anymore, right? They’re different now; they’ve changed!”

Peppy sighed at the desperation in his daughter’s voice. “It’s none of your dragons, dear—”

“It’s an imaginary one,” Clay finished with a deadpan tone as he rolled his eyes.

“It’s not true!” John insisted, trying desperately to prove his point, ignoring how hurt he felt when the village either groaned or rolled their eyes at him, even Clay, his own flesh and blood.

He also Ignored the deep concern in his parents’ eyes.

“He is real, Clay! He found me… He wants to kill me.”

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Suddenly, Floyd approached them, holding what appeared to be John’s burned BroZone CDs. “I found these near the fire,” Floyd confessed. “I think they where the once to started the fire.”

There was an uncomfortable silence among them.

Until the whole village began to laugh.

“There’s your so-called ‘dragon,’ John.” one troll teased.

“Yeah, a burned CD is definitely out for your blood.” another added.

This caused Branch to glare at every troll mocking his elder brother. But none stopped until a forest green ice spike shot up from the ground and destroyed what was left of the CD.

Floyd flinched back as John looked up, his cheeks flushed—whether from rage or embarrassment, no one truly knew. “I will prove that that motherfucker exists,” he declared, determination sharp in his eyes, just like his ice.

“Whether I am alone or with a group,” he finished as he began to walk toward the river’s docks. Clay tried to reach out for him, trying to stop him and make him see reason, but John stopped him dead in his tracks by glaring at him with a crazed and determined glare.

“Don’t you dare try to stop me, Clay,” he demanded, causing Clay to quickly back down and look at Branch as John kept on walking away.

“If I can’t stop him, can you and your gang go with him?” Clay pleaded with his younger brother. Branch only nodded. “We’ll keep that idiot safe.” He then turned to the Snack Pack. “Come on, we have a mission.”

Poppy and the others quickly agreed and began to run after John, leaving Creek behind as he crossed his arms and tsked. “There is no way that in the gods name's I’m chasing after an imaginary dragon.”

Chapter Text

Creek hated it.

He hated every single second of it.

Why, you may ask? Well, because he had been dragged all the way from Pop Village to row on this stupid boat. Every stroke of the oar made him feel like he was losing his mind. He clenched his jaw, suppressing the urge to scream—or worse, to throw someone overboard.

For the tenth time that morning, he let out an exasperated sigh.

“Why are you so negative?” Satin asked, her voice light and curious, though it grated on his nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

Creek felt his eye twitch as he turned to face her. “Well, I don’t know, Satin… Could it be because I didn’t want to come?!” he snapped sarcastically, his voice dripping with venom.

“Don’t be mean to my twin!” Chenille shot back, stepping in to defend her sister.

Creek groaned, throwing his hands up in frustration. “Oh, Eirene help me,” he muttered under his breath, his tone a mix of desperation and anger. “One of these days, I swear I’ll—”

“OKAY!” Poppy’s voice cut through the tension like a sharp blade, interrupting him before he could finish his sentence—or do something he’d regret. She stepped forward, her ever-optimistic demeanor shining like a beacon amidst the chaos.

“Let’s focus, everyone!” she said brightly, addressing the group with her signature enthusiasm. “Isn’t this cool? Bringing the gang back together for a brand-new mission?”

Her cheerful tone hung In the air, but Creek just rolled his eyes, the others quickly exchanged uncertain glances with each other. It was going to be a long day.

“Yeah,” Creek muttered as he rowed again, his arms aching with every pull. “Nothing’s more fun than rowing until your hands are bloodied and cracked,” he added sarcastically, rolling his eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck. He was beyond done with everyone’s nonsense.

John turned to face the Snack Pack, his expression one of genuine gratitude. “I would like to thank you all,” he began, his voice steady but laced with determination. “For coming to help me end this beast. It’s been a pain in my ass for as long as I can remember.”

Creek bit back a snide remark, though his thoughts betrayed him. ‘Sure… just like schizophrenia,’ he mused internally, but he kept his mouth shut. He wasn’t that kind of jerk anymore—or at least, he liked to think he wasn’t.

“Oh!” Biggie suddenly exclaimed, his excitement palpable as his tail wagged furiously, drawing everyone’s attention. “I’ve read that the Bonekapper’s roar is so powerful, it can make you deaf just by listening to it! Like a sonic scream!” His enthusiasm was almost contagious—almost.

“Not true,” John interjected, his tone calm but firm as he continued sharpening his ice dagger with deliberate precision. The sound of metal scraping against ice sent a chill through the air. "A Bonekapper doesn’t even have a roar,” he said, pausing for dramatic effect before lowering his voice to a near-whisper. “It’s a silent killer.”

The ominous statement hung in the air, sending an involuntary shiver down the spines of everyone present. Even Creek, who prided himself on being unimpressed by most things, felt a flicker of unease creep into his chest.

“So you’re telling me… if we don’t hear it coming, we’re all dead?” Chenille asked, her voice tinged with apprehension. Her words caused everyone to pause, their oars hovering above the water as they collectively held their breath, bracing for the unknown.

The sudden caw of a crow shattered the tense silence, making them all flinch in fear and panic. It was only when they realized it was just a bird that they began to relax. “It’s just a bird,” Poppy reassured them, her tone soothing as she tried to calm the group. “Nothing to fear.”

John couldn’t contain himself; he burst into laughter, his amusement echoing across the water. “Oh my gods! The faces you made! They’re priceless. As soon as we get back home, I’m going to scrapbook them!” He continued to laugh heartily, even as Branch shot him a playful glare.

Despite himself, Branch couldn’t help but chuckle as well, glancing at his still-nervous parents. He had to admit, John was right—this moment was definitely scrapbook-worthy, even if he wasn't quite sure how to do it.

However, amidst the laughter and relief, Biggie noticed something unsettling. “Uhhhh, guys?” he began quietly, his eyes fixed on something in the distance. But caught up in their own reactions, no one paid him any mind. As the boat drifted closer to the looming danger, Biggie’s sense of urgency grew. “Guys!” he called out again, louder this time, hoping to capture their attention before it was too late.

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But it was too late. The boat crashed against the jagged rocks with a sickening crunch. “Shit!” John exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency as he scrambled to gather the essential supplies needed to protect the kids or confront the Bonekapper.

Yet, as he moved, he suddenly froze, his eyes widening in horror at the sight of water slowly seeping into the fractured hull of the boat.

John’s breath quickened, each inhale sharp and shallow as he stared at the encroaching water. Though he knew he wasn’t back on the boat that had nearly drowned him that day, the memories surged forward, vivid and suffocating. He could feel the phantom sensation of water consuming him, enveloping him like a predator closing in on its prey.

The ghostly weight of shackles seemed to bind him once more, rendering his magic useless, trapping him in a nightmare from which there was no escape. He could almost feel the icy water filling his lungs, choking out any hope of survival.

He was trapped; he couldn’t get out! He was going to—

“John!” Branch’s voice cut through the haze of panic, however he was unable to snap John back to the present. Branch scanned the surroundings frantically until his gaze landed on a small island just a short distance away. Relief washed over him, and he quickly extended his paw toward his brother.

But John remained frozen, holding his breath as if the very act of breathing might drown him. It wasn’t good; Branch knew he had to act fast. He’d figure out how to help John later, but for now, getting everyone to safety was the priority.

As soon as Branch stretched out his paw, he conjured vibrant dark blue ice stairs that connected the sinking boat to the nearby island. “Come on! We don’t have much time. The boat will sink and take us with it if we don’t move. NOW,” he commanded, his voice firm and urgent.

The Snack Pack didn't hesitate. They quickly but carefully began to ascend the icy stairs, making sure not to slip. Each member wrapped their tail around the next, forming a chain to ensure no one fell back or got left behind.

Branch then turned his attention to his big brother, John, who was still paralyzed by fear. Grabbing him firmly, Branch began to pull. “John!” he called out again, his voice filled with desperation and a hint of fear. This time, the urgency in Branch’s voice managed to penetrate John’s panic, snapping him out of his traumatic reverie.

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John blinked, the fog of terror lifting from his eyes. He looked at Branch, who was pulling him with all his might, and felt a wave of relief wash over him. With a deep breath, he regained his composure and started moving, following Branch up the ice stairs.

Together, they made their way to the island, the boat creaking ominously behind them as it continued to take on water. Once they reached solid ground, John let out a sigh of relief, grateful for his brother’s quick thinking and determination. The immediate danger had passed, but the real challenge—facing the Bonekapper—still lay ahead.

As the sibling duo reached the island unharmed, John let out a shaky sigh he hadn’t realized he was holding. Relief washed over him like a wave.

Poppy quickly approached Branch, her eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice soft yet urgent.

Branch nodded, brushing off some frost from his fur. “I’m fine,” he replied.

Before anyone could say more, Creek’s voice cut through the moment like a blade. “Great…” he muttered bitterly, pacing back and forth on the rocky shore. “We’re stuck in the middle of nowhere… literally! We have zero dragons, meaning that boat was our only way back home. We have no knowledge of our surroundings, making us sitting ducks for whatever danger awaits us.”

Creek paused, taking a deep breath as if trying to steady himself, though his frustration was palpable. “So, we’re just here waiting for death…” His words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the group’s fragile sense of relief.

Then, Creek turned sharply to face John, his expression twisted with rage. “I hope to the gods that this dragon of yours is real,” he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. “Because I swear, if it’s not, I’ll personally kill you.”

Chapter Text

As Creek walked away from the argument, afraid to say something he might later regret, he sank to the ground, his shoulders heavy with frustration. He tried to ignore the worried glances cast his way by the others, their silent concern only adding to the weight pressing down on him.

A lump formed in his throat, and for a moment, he felt as though he might shed a tear.

He didn’t want to die—especially not here, on this desolate island. Alone. Without his dragon companion by his side.

Creek shook his head, forcing himself to banish those dark thoughts. Desperately, he tried to summon his power, hoping it would help calm the storm raging within him. But no matter how hard he tried, the effort was futile. His powers refused to respond, leaving him stranded in his turmoil. He longed for peace, for calm, more than anything else.

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John watched as the purple troll walked away from him, a pang of guilt surging through his chest. He should have tried harder to convince the Snack Pack to let him go alone.

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“Hey, Creek…” Branch said worriedly, cautiously approaching him and slowly reaching out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Are you—”

“Does anyone want to hear the story of when I first saw the Boneknapper?” John’s voice suddenly interrupted.

“I do!” Poppy exclaimed, bouncing up and down before quickly sitting on the floor like a child eager for story time in kindergarten. Everyone else followed her lead, though it wasn’t as if they had much choice.

Branch shot his elder brother a glare that clearly conveyed, ‘This isn’t the time! Creek is having a mental breakdown or crisis, and I can’t sit through one of your silly stories while a friend is in need, as if we were at a tea party!’

John shot Branch a look that seemed to say, ‘This is my way of helping! At least I’m trying to distract him!’

Before Branch could respond, Creek suddenly spoke up, ignoring their silent exchange. “So~ are you telling that story or what?”

That made John laugh as he stuck his tongue out at Branch. “I told you, Bitty!” he teased.

“Don’t. Call. Me. That,” Branch growled, his tail twitching in irritation. But John ignored him entirely.

“Anyway,” John began, turning to face the group, who were now patiently waiting for his tale. (Poppy looked like she was about to explode with excitement, barely able to contain herself.)

John cleared his throat dramatically. “It was a long time ago…”

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The scene shifted to a young John sprinting through a snow-covered mountain range in the Neverglades. His breath came in ragged gasps, his feet crunching against the icy ground as he ran aimlessly, without a plan or destination.

He couldn’t stop—not after what had happened.

 Not after the sin he had committed just nights before his daring escape.

The sin that had shattered BroZone forever.

The sin that had driven him to attempt an escape along this very trail for the first time, only to be pulled back by the news of his grandmother’s death, forcing him to return to his family.

The sin that had brought his brothers together again until the great escape.

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“It was a few days after the great escape,” John recounted to the trolls. “I was all alone, with nowhere to go. To this day, I still don’t know how I reached the Neverglades so quickly, but anyway…”

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Young John then spotted a mountain. But this was no ordinary mountain; it held its own secrets.

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“What was in the mountain?” Biggie asked eagerly. John was about to answer when he noticed half of the Snack Pack shushing Biggie. Branch and Creek appeared disinterested, but John could tell they were secretly intrigued.

“It’s alright,” John reassured them. “I’ll tell you what was inside that mountain, Big. Inside the mountain were…”

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Trolls. Frozen trolls, trapped in time as if frozen mid-battle on a long-forgotten battlefield. “Wow…” young John whispered in awe. His eyes widened further when he noticed something glinting within the ice—a small treasure chest made of gold.

He had to have it.

Determined, he used his ability to manipulate ice, carefully carving out a clearing in the icy wall that stood between him and the treasure. The barrier melted away under his control, revealing the golden chest.

As he reached inside, his fingers closed around the chest, and he pulled it free. A Cheshire Cat-like grin spread across his lips. He had done it! He got it!

But his triumph was short-lived. Out of nowhere, he felt a sharp blow—a punch that sent him staggering backward. His eyes widened in shock as he realized what had happened. One of the frozen trolls had moved. It was alive!

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“Wait, wait,” Satin interrupted, raising her hand to stop the story. All eyes turned to her before her twin, Chenille, chimed in skeptically. “You’re expecting us to believe that a frozen troll just 'came to life' after you used your ice powers to grab the chest? Just like that?”

John nodded emphatically. “It did happen! I even have proof!” he declared, showing off his gloved hand. Embedded in the center was a T-shaped bone, frozen in place. “See? The prize inside the golden chest!” he added proudly.

The Snack Pack stared at him with varying degrees of disbelief. Branch, however, seemed torn—part of him wanted to believe John’s tale, yet doubt lingered in his eyes. John simply rolled his eyes and continued with his story.

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After being punched by the troll a few more times, the troll gestured urgently at something behind John. It seemed as though the troll wanted to speak, but being frozen, it was unable to do so.

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“It was too late, and before I knew it, a dragon was chasing me around, trying to reclaim the chest that I had obviously won fair and square. But I managed to dodge out of the way!” John recounted with excitement.

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John deftly dodged the bone dragon as it pursued him, watching in horror as the creature collided with the frozen trolls, triggering an avalanche. As he sprinted through the icy terrain, the dragon’s claws suddenly caught him, lifting him high into the air.

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“Wait, do you really expect us to believe that the same troll—frozen, mind you—punched you?” Creek asked, his voice dripping with disbelief. By this point, Branch seemed to have made up his mind about which side of the story he believed.

“Big Bro,” Branch said, “as much as I want to believe you, there’s no way that in Aletheia’s name, that what you just described is true.”

John looked at Branch, feeling a pang of betrayal before his expression shifted to one of determination. “It is!” he insisted. “And I’ll prove it to you—to all of you.”

Chapter Text

“But~” Poppy interjected, managing to capture everyone’s attention. “Let’s not forget that Creek is right. No one knows where we are.”

John simply rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ve been through this before,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “After all, you never forget your first shipwreck!”

“ That’s so helpful.. “ Branch murmured with sarcasm.

Satin and her twin burst into laughter. Chenille chimed in, “Sounds like I’m hearing another story!”

Biggie cheered enthusiastically. “Heck yes!”

Both Branch and Creek rolled their eyes, knowing full well that this wouldn’t be their last.

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By this point, John had left the Neverglades and found himself shipwrecked on a very small island—emphasis on “small.” As he searched for a way out, he noticed something approaching from the distance. It was the same dragon!

The dragon flew closer, reaching for him once again. But John wasn’t about to let himself be taken.

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“So, do you want to know what I did?” John asked the group proudly. “Swam your way out?” Branch asked sarcastically, earning a playful nudge from Poppy. “What did you do?” she inquired with curiosity. John smirked as he continued his tale.

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His first thought was to swim away, but a group of sharks appeared out of nowhere, their fins cutting through the water. With determination in his eyes, he spotted another island just a few feet away. And do you want to know what he did?

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“Wait, so you’re telling us… you jumped on top of every single shark that came your way?” Biggie asked, shell-shocked and clearly in disbelief. John nodded, confirming his curiosity.

“That’s so cool!” Poppy exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement, her tail wagging furiously.

“What happened next?” the twins asked eagerly. “Well…” John began, continuing his story.

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The Boneknapper was opening its mouth, getting a bit too close for comfort. Suddenly, from the depths of the sea, a giant hammerhead whale emerged, seemingly intent on finishing it off.

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“So the whale killed it then,” Creek interjected. “Then why are we here if that thing is, according to you, dead?” Creek questioned. Branch, though silent, shared Creek’s skepticism. “Bro,” Branch finally spoke up, “we’re just chasing a ghost.”

John disagreed, and with a smug smile, he looked both Branch and Creek straight in the eyes. He knew they would definitely hate what he was about to say. "it would have been a ghost if it wasn’t still alive.”

Branch looked at him, his eye twitching and his tail rattling. “What…”

Creek, who had subconsciously mirrored Branch’s expression, finished the question for him. “Do you mean?”

John only laughed as he clarified, “It managed to escape.”

Chapter Text

“What do you mean?!” Both Branch and Creek exclaimed in an angry union. They had both reached their limit.

John only nodded, “Yes, it got away, but it chased me throughout the jungle!”

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A young John was seen fearfully running through a large patch of bamboo, fleeing from the same dragon. He was then seen running toward a volcano. He had no other choice. He jumped through it, barely escaping.

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“So you got away?” Chenille asked while looking at her nails, having clearly lost interest in the story a long time ago. “Yes, but you’ll never guess what came out of the volcano!” John said excitedly.

Branch just rolled his eyes and chuckled as Creek did the exact same thing. “Let me guess… A hammerhead whale came out?” Creek asked sarcastically.

“Creek!” Poppy warned in a scolding tone.

John shook his head and let out a laugh, “Close… but no.”

That made everyone look at him. “Then what was it?” Biggie asked as he held Mr. Dinkles, earning a meow from the worm.

“A hammer-headed yalk!” he said proudly, laughing at the gang’s increasingly incredulous expressions.

“A WHAT?!” Branch raged as he grabbed his hair. Honestly, John was afraid he was going to rip it out… Oh wait, he did rip it. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN A HAMMER-HEADED YALK?!” Branch exclaimed.

He looked like he was about to jump at him, but Poppy quickly calmed him down. “Why don’t you carry on with the story, Dory?” she asked, then laughed as Branch sent her a death glare. If John didn’t know the other troll, he might have thought the princess was in danger.

But he did know better. While his baby brother did send her a death glare, he didn’t mean any threat at all. So he chuckled. “As you wish, princess!”

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A hammer-headed yalk was seen leaping out of the volcano, strangling the dragon and dragging it down with him.

Never to be seen again.

Or at least, that’s what John thought…

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“So the ‘hammer-headed yalk’ killed the ‘Bonekapper?’” Satin asked John, clearly wanting this ridiculous story to end already.

“Close,” John replied. “But he got away!”

“There’s no way!” Biggie exclaimed, practically the only one left who still believed John’s stories. His eyes sparkled with star and heart shapes that practically shined with excitement.

John continued, “One day, I had enough of the beast chasing me… so I decided to trap it.”

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Young Dory was seen setting up traps. Confident they were sufficient, he pulled a chair from his hair, sat on it, and quickly crafted an iced dagger.

He was ready for anything.

Suddenly, he saw a shadow—a very familiar shadow. “You…” he whispered dangerously as he saw the dragon quickly approaching. He began to race through his traps, which were set only for some to be triggered too early and others too late.

They weren’t working.

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“So he chased me around for approximately a full hour… until he caught up to me,” John said pensively while looking at the sky above. “He almost had me if it wasn’t for a certain someone…”

“Who?” Branch asked.

“You’ll never believe it, Bitty.”

“We don’t believe you at all,” Branch said, gritting his teeth. John just rolled his eyes and continued with his story.

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John was then pinned down by the Bonekapper’s huge claws. With no other choice, he yelled for help. As he screamed, the clouds above them parted. A god emerged, but it wasn’t just any god—it was Zeus.

The god of thunder quickly picked up a thunderbolt and hurled it to the ground, causing a very disappointed John to look at him. “Really?” he asked the old god.

“Wait for it,” the god replied, and out of the depths of the earth emerged a giant hammerhead whale! And riding atop it was the same hammer-headed yalk!

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“There is no way that happened,” Creek said. “Yeah, I kinda agree with you there,” Branch added. Well, at least the two finally agreed on something together.

“Was he finally defeated?” Biggie asked. “Were you finally able to be free from it?”

John shook his head. “No. He got away again! And then he found me and burned down my house for revenge…” As he continued murmuring to himself about how the dragon was still out there wanting to end him permanently, Branch heard Creek sigh and say, “This is going to be a long day.”

And you know what? He couldn’t help but agree.

Chapter Text

Branch gently nudged Poppy toward his elder brother. He gave her a look that clearly said, ‘You talk to him, because if I do, in the gods names, I’ll say something terrible that will hurt his feelings. And I don’t want that.’

Poppy didn’t say anything; she knew him too well. She simply nodded and began to approach John with nervousness and caution.

As Poppy walked toward John, Branch felt a wave of relief wash over him, but then he noticed his parents giving him a stern look, prompting another sigh. He knew they were right. He should be the one to talk to John instead of Poppy.

After all, they were family.

And family sticks together no matter how stupid or delusional they might be. So he knew what he had to do.

As Branch took a step towards John, he quickly stopped when Poppy spoke up. “So, John… instead of searching for your imaginary dragon, can we focus on finding a way to, I don’t know…” She paused, adopting a mockingly thoughtful expression. “FIND A WAY TO GET BACK HOME?!”

Branch couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“Yes, I hear you loud and clear, princess,” John replied as he rose from the rock where he had been sitting. “Alright…” He said, glancing at the bewildered dragon riders. “Who wants to be dragon bait?”

The dragon riders wore expressions of shock and horror as they realized John was looking at them. They all sighed in relief when he pointed at Branch, whose eye twitched in response. “I hate you so much,” he murmured to himself.

“D’aww, I love you too, bro,” John said, ignoring Poppy’s protests. “Now all we have to do is follow my plan and wait.”

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Branch stood atop a pile of bones belonging to who knows what, clad in forest green armor that John had crafted just minutes ago. Above him loomed a massive rib cage, intended as a trap to, well… trap the dragon.

He was glaring daggers at his brother while Poppy sent him a worried look. Meanwhile, the Snack Pack was embroiled in a debate about whether this plan was a good idea. However, something else caught Branch’s attention.

His parents looked worried and scared. Why? As if sensing his gaze, his mother pointed toward where the Snack Pack and his brother were hiding. What he saw made him gasp in fear. It was the dragon.

John hadn’t been lying about it.

The dragon stood behind the unsuspecting trolls, poised to attack. “Um… Guys!” Branch yelled, but his voice went unheard. Not even Poppy, who was caught up in the conversation, noticed him. “GUYS!” he shouted again, this time successfully capturing their attention.

“WHAT?!” they all screamed at him in unison.

Branch opened his mouth, desperate to warn them, to say something—anything—but it was too late.

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The dragon huffed loudly behind them, the sound freezing everyone in place. If this weren’t such a serious situation, Branch might have laughed at their expressions of sheer terror. “He’s right behind us… isn’t he?” Poppy asked, her face deadpan but her voice tinged with dread.

Branch gave her an awkward nod.

 ‘Great,’ Satin's sarcastic thoughtful remark could be heard in everyone’s mind.

Slowly, they turned to look behind them, only to scream in fear as they saw the enormous, untamed beast stretching its long, bony wings. The dragon’s presence was overwhelming, its sheer size and ferocity enough to send chills down their spines.

Without hesitation, the group bolted toward Branch, seeking safety. But in their panic, Mr. Dinkles—who had been tasked with pulling the lever to trigger the rib cage trap—accidentally fell onto it. The mechanism activated prematurely, and the rib cage slammed down, trapping the trolls inside with nowhere to escape.

“Mr. Dinkles!” Biggie yelled, his voice a mix of anger, fear, and panic as he glared at the tiny yellow worm responsible for their predicament.

Suddenly, the dragon reared up before them, opening its mouth wide to unleash an ear-piercing roar. But to everyone’s surprise, no sound emerged. It was a dry, silent roar. John had been right all along.

“Huh,” Chenille remarked in amazement. “You were right, Mr. John; it really does have a silent roar.”

Chapter Text

“I TOLD YOU!” John said proudly, despite being trapped in a rib cage. It all happened so fast: one minute he was proud of himself for having someone believe in him, and the next, he and everyone else were pressed against the rib cage’s bones to avoid being burned alive as the flames threatened them.

Amidst the blood pounding in his veins and the raging fire around him, John could hear Biggie muttering to himself, “Find a happy place, find a happy place,” over and over again. To be frank, John couldn’t blame the poor kid.

He also noticed that even while panicked, Creek was trying—and failing—to activate his power to at least attempt to calm his friends.

John made a mental note to teach these kids how to use their powers when they were high on adrenaline or panic.

Once the flames finished being hurled into the rib cage with the intent to kill everyone inside, they stopped. The Snack Pack barely had a few moments of relief before the dragon’s massive mouth reached inside, catching them off guard and snatching John as its hostage.

Branch and his parents froze in horror and shock, their eyes widening at the sight. “BRO!” ,“SON!” Branch and his parents yelled in panic as they watched John being tossed around like a rag doll. Branch wasn’t going to stand for this. He had pulled someone’s eye out before—a foe much taller than him—and he was ready to do it again.

Even if this time it cost him his life.

For a fleeting moment, Branch’s eyes turned blood-red, only to revert back to their original color. No one noticed the change.

Just as Branch prepared to charge at the beast, Poppy stopped him. “Branch, wait!” she called out, her voice urgent. She looked at him with one of her famous expressions—the kind that said, ‘I have a crazy idea.’

That’s when he felt himself calm down.

Creek had finally activated his power.

“Yes!” Creek cheered himself on. However, Branch quickly adjusted his axe behind his back and sent Poppy a look that said, 'Alright, I trust you.' She nodded before turning to face the others. “Alright, everyone, listen up!” she instructed the Snack Pack. They, along with John—who was still being tossed around—listened intently.

“John said that the Boneknapper would stop at nothing to get the perfect bone, right?!” she began, prompting the others to respond in unison, “Right.” Poppy then continued, “Well, I think the reason the dragon hasn’t stopped following John is because he has the perfect piece!”

“WHAT?!” everyone yelled in confusion and fear. Poppy just shook her head before turning to face John, her tail wrapping around her leg. “JOHN, GIVE THE DRAGON THE BONE!” she commanded.

“NO!!” John yelled back.

Poppy : “GIVE IT BACK!!”

John : “NO!!”

“Oh great goddess Hybris!” Branch exclaimed, exasperated. “JUST GIVE IT THE FUCKING BONE!!”

☾⋆⁺💀₊⋆☽

As John heard his brother’s voice, he simply shrugged and said nonchalantly, “Fine.” Before reaching into his glove and unfreezing the T-shaped bone, he threw it at the dragon, causing it to release him. As John fell to the ground, he could hear Branch yell, “JOHN!” Instead of hitting a hard surface, he landed on a soft pile of dark blue snow.

“Are you okay?!” John heard Branch ask worriedly. “I’m fine,” he confirmed. “Good,” Branch said before he began to punch John, “Don’t.” He punched him. “Ever. “ another punch. “Do.” Another one. “ That.” This was the last punch as he yelled, “AGAIN!”

That made John laugh. “Okay, okay! I will never do that again, B!” This sweet brotherly reunion was then interrupted by a loud, ear-piercing roar that came from the Boneknapper, causing everyone to cover their ears.

Once the roar was done, Poppy was the first to speak up, gently rubbing the muzzle of the now friendly beast. “See? The reason he was going after you wasn’t to take revenge on you; he just wanted his bone back.”

John then got up and nervously reached out to the dragon, only for the dragon to press his muzzle into John’s hand and begin acting like a puppy, making the others laugh. “Well, I guess we can be friends now, huh, boy?” John asked the Boneknapper. The dragon only nodded as he started to shake his tail.

“Who’s a good boy? You are! Yes, you are!” John kept praising the dragon as if they were long-lost friends and not enemies who had literally tried to kill each other just a few minutes ago.

Poppy stood by the side, watching this adorable moment play out, as she felt Branch’s presence next to her. “How’d you figure that out, Pop?” he asked

.

“Well, I noticed a hole in his chest that looked just like the bone John showed us when he first told us about seeing him!” she said excitedly. “So it was only natural for me to think it belonged to him, and thank the gods it did. Who knows what would have happened if it hadn’t…”

“Hey now,” Branch said, gently lifting her chin, causing her drooping ears to perk up as she looked at him. “No need to worry about the ‘what-ifs,’ okay? Nothing bad happened. At least in this universe, in this timeline, everyone is alive and okay, alright?” As if on cue, everyone’s hug-time bracelet turned on. 

“Want a hug?” he asked her. “Do you have to ask?” she replied before they wrapped themselves in a bear hug, her tail subconsciously wrapping around his, making the others go, “Awwww!!” Once the hugs were over, Branch giggled before he looked at the dragon.Branch then said,“Well, at least we found a way back home.”

☾⋆⁺💀₊⋆☽

With that, the Snack Pack was seen flying through the sky, all finally happy to be heading home as they rode the incredible beast. “Looks like Clay and Peppy will believe me now, huh?!” John said proudly, ignoring the twins’ complaints.

Biggie clung tightly to both Mr. Dinkles and the dragon for dear life, while John paid no mind to his brother and Poppy whispering to each other.

He was finally going to prove that he wasn’t crazy—that this dragon was real and he hadn’t been chasing his imagination or a ghost.

He was finally going to prove that he was right.

And no one would ever doubt him again.

Chapter Text

Play List :

“ Old Doll “ from Mad Father

“ 13 Angels Standing Guard ‘Round The Side Of Your Bed” from Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra

“ We Know What You Whisper “ From Wakanda Forever

“ Sonne “ by Rammstein

• Cover by The Rock symphony Orchestra 

Song Total: 4

Fun fact: I chose these songs in this order to show how John’s was slowly loosing it, each song became more ‘creepy’ and ‘unsettling’ as his mental health declined until the very last one which is where he had peace within himself and the dragon!

Credits to the songs go to their respective owners. I own nothing.

John’s now Bonekapper friend that’ll join him though out the rest of these series( His name shall be Rattlebone) :

Keep in mind I am not much of an artist so my bad if my drawings don’t look good but I think it’ll be best for me to do them then to use ai right?

GIFT TO A FRIEND

Sneak Peak:

Branch felt powerless and worried as he watched Frost leave, he was unsure of what was happening. It wasn’t just his dragon that had departed; every dragon in the village had vanished.

Suddenly, his mind went blank.

He was indifferent to everyone’s concerns.

He paid no attention to how the tells surrounded him and the rest of the Snack Pack, seeking answers they couldn’t possibly provide.

The only thought and question that emerged in his anxious and paranoid mind, which he whispered to himself, was: “Where is Poppy?”

Will Be realized next Thursday from 10 – 11 pm!

Hope to see y’all there!