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Chapter Text

Centuries ago...

Two species...

Trolls and Fairies once lived in harmony.

The fairies would help the trolls in many different ways.

Using their magic, they would grow crops, heal wounds, cure sickness, protect them from predators, and so on.

Then one day, the fairies vanished.

The trolls tried to look for them but no matter where they looked or how long they searched they just couldn't find them,

As if they never existed in the first place.

However the trolls never lost hope,

Believing that the fairies were still out there, somewhere.

Each year on the anniversary of the fairies disappearance,

Every troll makes a paper lantern then releases them into the sky.

In hope that one day the fairies would return.

The book closed with the cover reads 'The Tragic Tale Of The Fairies.'  Ironically, the person reading the book was a fairy herself and her name was Lillian. She has long white hair that went to her hips, ice blue eyes, pale skin, and a light blue dress. She stared at the book with a sad expression. "If only they knew" she whispered to herself, gripping her necklace. She was snapping out of her thoughts when she heard singing in the distance.

Everybody

Move your hair and feel united

Ooh!

Everybody

Shake your hair and feel united

Ooh

She chuckled knowing exactly who it was. It was her friend, Princess Poppy. Starting off the morning song and assumingely passing out invitations for their 20th anniversary party. She arrived at troll village 15 years ago and she met Poppy and her friends the Snack Pack 2 years after that.

13 years ago

She had been flying around the forest. It wasn't raining yet but it was thundering hard. "I better get back home before it starts raining. He'll be worried sick if I don't." "Mr Dinkles! Where are you!" The sudden shouting made her stop. It sounded like someone it distress. She quickly flew to where the shouting was without thinking twice.

Poppy and her friends had been walking home from their picnic. Somewhere along the way Biggie had lost his beloved companion Mr Dinkles so he had been running through the forest looking for him. Of course his friends Poppy, Cooper, Fuzzbert, Smidge, Satin & Chenille, Guy Diamond, DJ Suki, and Creek followed him. They had been looking for over five minutes and they were worried. They had been told to be back before the storm since it was going to be a bad one so it'd be very dangerous for them to be out during the storm.

"Guys! We really have to go!" Cooper said worriedly. "But we haven't found Mr Dinkles yet!" Poppy interjected. "We know! But we'll be in big trouble if we don't leave right now" DJ Suki said. Biggie shook his head. "We can't leave without him." "Biggie, we get it. You care about him a lot but we'll be in danger if we don't get out of this storm. I'm sure he'll be ok" Creek said with all of his friends agreeing with him, well almost all of them (Biggie and Poppy). Biggie kept shaking his head repeating 'no' over and over again.

Seeing that the poor troll was about to have a panic attack, Poppy ran to him and tried to comfort him. "Biggie, it'll be ok we'll find him." Before anyone else could say anything, they heard a little 'mew' off in the distance. Biggie immediately perked up. "Did you hear that! It's him!" He then ran off. "Mr Dinkles!" "Biggie!" Poppy shouted. She turned to her friends and said "you guys can go home. I'll go get him." She then ran after her friend.

Biggie once again shouted for his companion and heard another 'mew' except it was real close this time. He pushed some bushes aside and smiled when he saw him on the floor. "Mr Dinkles" he said relieved. Poppy quickly caught up and saw him kneeling on the ground, clutching his companion, telling him how relieved he was. The happy moment was cut short when a bolt of lightning struck a tree causing it to fall. Biggie screamed as the tree was falling towards him. "Biggie!" Poppy shouted, running over to him.

"Biggie! Poppy!" Their friends yelled as they watched the tree fall on top of them. Some of them fell to their knees, others stood there in horror. Tear welled up in their eyes, thinking they had just lost two of their beloved friends. They suddenly heard two gasps causing them to look up. They gasped themselves at the scene ahead of them. In front of them was the two friends they thought they lost but there was a third person they did not recognize. The tree was lied on the grow destroyed while the three of them were covered by a transparent, pastel yellow, dome.

Lillian dropped her shield before turning to look at Poppy and Biggie to see if they were ok. "Are you ok? No injuries?" They looked at her with their jaws touching the ground. "Y-yo–" Biggie was too stunned to finish his sentence. "You... saved us" Poppy said surprised, finishing his sentence for him. Their voices barely above a whisper.

"Thank goodness you two are ok" Creek said to Poppy and Biggie. "That was aaaawesome!" Guy Diamond's autotuned voice boomed. "You saved them!" The twins Satin and Chenille said together. "That was the craziest thing I have ever seen!" Cooper chimed in. Fuzzbert nodded in agreement. "Thank you so much!" DJ Suki said sounding very grateful. "How did you do that?!" Smidge asked.

When she turned towards them, their jaws dropped much like Poppy and Biggie's. They were all stunned at the young girl's beauty. Lillian, feeling uncomfortable with them staring at her, took a couple steps backwards, getting ready to fly away. The trolls were somehow even more stunned when they saw her wings. "A FAIRY!?" They all shouted in unison.

Scared by the sudden shouting, Lillian began to fly away. "Wait a minute!" Poppy shouted. She didn't want her to leave. She had so much she wanted to ask to her. Lillian landed on a high branch before looking back at her. "I'm so sorry. We didn't mean to scare you." The Snake Pack nodded and apologized as well. "It's alright" Lillian quickly reassured them. "I can't handle big groups so is it ok if I stay up here?" Poppy nodded. "If you feel more comfortable up there than of course."

She cleared her throat and introduced herself "hello, I'm Poppy and these are my friends." She gestured to the trolls behind her, pointing to each respective troll as she said their names. "Biggie, Cooper, Fuzzbert, Smidge, Satin & Chenille, Guy Diamond, DJ Suki, and Creek." They waved at her and she waved back. "It's nice to meet you all. I'm Lillian but you can call me Lilly."

"Thank you for saving me Lilly!" Biggie said a little too enthusiastically. "Oh my goodness you're beautiful!" DJ Suki said. "Lillian, what a lovely name to go with such a beautiful creature, such as yourself" Creek said taking a great liking to creature in front of him. Cooper nodded. "Yeah! A book I read said your kind were pretty but you are gorgeous girl!" Their comments caused her to blush as she shyly brush a strand of hair behind her ear. She wasn't used to being called beautiful. When you're born in a type of species that was well known for their beauty, it wasn't common for someone to call you beautiful, unless it was coming from their parents. "She is beautiful..." Satin hesitated. "But her clothes aren't." Her comment caused her to look at her outfit.

Her entire outfit was black, looking almost emo-ish, which clashed with her pale complexion and her light hair. Chenille agreed with her sister. "Black doesn't suit her at all and is it me or does that look like a boy's outfit." That last comment caused them to look at her confused, wondering why she was wearing boy clothes. "It's the only article of clothing I have" she answered rubbing her arm. The trolls gasped. "Oh my Guh!" Smidge said. "That's no good!" Creek said. "A gorgeous creature like you shouldn't be forced to wear something so hideous!" 

"Satin & Chenille can make you some make you some new clothes" Poppy said. The twins quickly agreed. "What color you think she'd look good in?" Satin asked. Chenille looked at her and thought about her sister's question. "What about pastel blue? It would go with her pale skin and white hair." Satin agreed, along with everyone else. Before anymore words could be said, it started raining. The Snake Pack panicked. Satin & Chenille panicked about their clothes being ruined, DJ Suki panicked about the rain destroying her headphones, the rest of them panicked because they realized how much trouble their gonna be in since they were supposed to be home before it started raining.

Lillian flew down. "There's no need to panic" she said capturing their attention. "I can get you back home safely." "How?" Poppy asked. She held out her hand and twirled her other hand above it. Fairy dust fell from her fingertips and pilled up onto her hand. She blew the fairy dust onto the trolls causing them to glow before disappearing. She smiled, happy that she was able to help, before flying away.

By the time she got back, her brother scolded her for staying out too long. Saying how dangerous it was for her to be out there. What's funny was that she was older but he acts like her big brother. The Snake Pack found her again the next day. They dragged her to the village and to say everyone was astonished was an understatement.

They surrounded her asking questions. It was so chaotic that even Poppy couldn't get them to backoff. It got so overwhelming that she had a panic attack. She flew herself out of there and shut herself in her room. Lucky for her, her brother was by her side for the entire day, helping her through it. He knew how to help since he's had many panic attacks before. It was so bad that it took him over a week to coax her out of her room and their home, even refusing to go anywhere near the village.

The next time she stepped foot in the village, Poppy had to do a lot of convincing to get her to go and had to have it arranged so that no one would crowd around her. She gradually introduced her to everyone including her own father, King Peppy. Almost all of them asked her something. They were surprised since many of them were convinced that fairies were just a fairytale, no pun intended. Those who did believe in them, saw this as a sign that the fairies were coming back.

Present

As time passed, she's gotten better with groups but that's only if they have less than 15 people but she still couldn't handle large crowds, nor could she handle loud noises or flashing lights so she ultimately couldn't go to any parties they threw, which greatly disappointed her friends. When asked why, she told them the true large crowds, flashing lights, loud noises but she never told them why she couldn't handle them. "Might as well see what's going on.” Lillian stretched her wings and flew. She was perched on a nearby tree, watching Poppy wrap up her musical number.

Everybody, move your hair and feel united

Ooh! Yeah, ooh!

Yeah!

Lillian placed her hand in front of her mouth. Trying her hardest to suppress her giggling, knowing very well that they had over done it again and left themselves exhausted. She watched as they panted from singing so hard before a slow clap caught her attention. "Unbelievable guys. Really, really great. Good job." A gray troll sarcastically said before he started walking towards Poppy and the Snack Pack. "I could hear you from a mile away."

Lillian couldn't suppress the smile on her face since she knew that troll very well. It was her brother, Branch. When they were young, he had found her sitting in the snow, cold, alone, soaking wet, injured, with frozen tears streaming down her face. She was shaking from the cold due to the fact that she didn't wear any warm. Her wing was torn, preventing her from flying, with her sparkly pastel yellow blood staining the sleeve of her dress. He was hesitant to approach her at first but he couldn't leave her to freeze to death.

He invited her back to his bunker got her dry, helped bring her temperature up, gave her some new clothes, and bandaged her shoulder. He would have also bandaged her wing but she told him that it doesn't need bandages, fairy wings would regenerate on its own. He let her stay in his bunker when she told him that she has nowhere else to go but she had to help out. She helped him build his bunker and abided by his rules. It was supposed to be temporary but as time flew by she just never left and Branch never made any indication that he had wanted her to leave, even built a room for her.

"Good, I was worried we weren't projecting enough" Poppy said sounding relieved. "Poppy, if I can hear you, so can the Bergens." Ahh, the Bergens, the entire reason for her brother's paranoia. The Bergens are the most miserable creatures in the world and the only way they can be happy is by eating a troll.

"Oh, boy" Guy Diamond said rolling his eyes. "Here we go again" Cooper chimed in. "Oh, Branch" Biggie said. "You always ruin everything" Satin said with her hand on her hips. "Warning us about the Bergens" Chenille added. "No I don't" Branch defended, looking at the Snack Pack. Lillian frowned, thinking about all the times Branch panicked because he thought a Bergen was near but he had a right to be afraid. Those were times Branch was genuinely convinced a Bergen was near. Just because they hadn't seen a Bergen in two decades, doesn't mean that they aren't a threat.

"Guys, can you please lay off my brother?" She asked making her presence known. "Lilly!" Her friends practically cheered. "I know the past times he panicked turned out to be nothing. But that doesn't mean he's wrong. It wouldn't hurt if we're a little more careful." "Come on!" Poppy insisted. "We haven't seen a Bergen in twenty years. They're not gonna find us." "No" Branch insisted. "They're not going to find me and Lilly because we'll be in our highly camouflaged, heavily fortified, Bergen-proof survival bunker."

"You mean you're not coming to the party tonight?" Poppy asked disappointed. "But it's going to be the biggest..." Satin and Chenille started. "The loudest..." Followed by Dj Suki. "The craziest party ever!" And Cooper finished with Biggie nodding. The Snack Pack cheered while Branch looked at them incredulously. "Big? Loud? Crazy? You're just going to lead the Bergens right to us!"

"Are you sure you wanna invite this party pooper to poop on your party?" Cooper asked Poppy. "Cooper, be nice" Lillian said sternly. She loved her friends but she hated when they made comments like that about her brother. "Yes, I think everyone deserves to be happy" Poppy said with Lillian nodding in agreement. "I don't do happy" Branch replied. "Branch, I know you have happiness inside you, you just need our help to find it" Poppy insisted before pulling out an invitation and opened it. It was a personalized pop-up invitation that Poppy had made herself singing. "Celebrate freedom from, the Bergens!" Once the song ended, the card blasted glitter in his face. She smiled. "What do you say, Branch?"

Branch smiled as he took the invitation before tossing it to the ground and stomping on it. The Snack Pack gasped in horror. "Oh my Guh!" Smidge said. Lillian placed a hand on his shoulder. "Branch." Poppy sighed in defeat. "What about you, Lilly?" She asked changing the subject. "Huh?" Lillian questioned. "You're coming to the party, right?" A terrible memory flashed in her mind. Hundreds of people running for their lives. Screaming, running past her, bumping into her, nearly knocking her over. She had been a child at the time so they towered over her.

"Poppy, you know I can't handle large crowds." "So you're not coming?" Biggie asked actually sounding disappointed. The rest of the Snack Pack wined. "Come on, Lilly" DJ Suki said. "You always say no" Satin said "come on, it'll be fun" Cooper said. "Quit trying to guilt her into going when she's already told you no" Branch stepped in, feeling frustrated for his sister. "Neither of us wouldn't be caught dead at your party but you will be. Caught and dead."

"Woah woah, Easy, Branch. Easy" Creek said as he floated down with of his bug friends holding him by the hair. He nuzzled his friend saying "thank you for providing safe passage, brother. Namaste." He then waved the bug off. "It's lovely to see you this evening, Lillian" he said before kissing her hand. "Hey!" Branch said pushing him off her. Believe it or not, she was actually thankful for that.

Creek was the one troll she tried her best to avoid. There was something about him that doesn't sit right with her, like he was hiding something not just from her but from everyone. Maybe it was his 'above everyone else' attitude that no one else besides her and Branch could see or was it something else? She didn't know, but there was one thing she knew and that was Poppy's crush on him. Every time she saw him flirting with her, she saw a flash of hurt and jealousy in her eyes. It always made her feel bad.

Creek grinned, turning to Branch. "Okay, first of all, mate, thanks for sharing your unique perspective in things.... Again." Biggie and Cooper started snickering. "But, just for now, why don't you try on some positivity, eh? A little positivity might go with that vest." "Okay, fine. I'm positive you all are going to get eaten" Branch said in an annoyed yet positive tone.

Their bracelets went off indicating that it was hug time. "Hug time!" Poppy excitedly calling out with her arms out. The Snack Pack also shouted 'hug time' pulling Branch and Lillian into a group hug. Lillian chuckled and accepted her friends hug while Branch resisted. It wasn't long before Branch managed to pull himself out of the hug. "Someday, when the Bergens find us," Branch started, walking away, "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 quickly came to her defense. "That is not true, Poppy can also scrapbook." "I can't believe you're gonna be queen one day" Branch said annoyed. Lillian covered her mouth as she watched him storm off. She was about to go after him before turning to Poppy and apologized "sorry Poppy, maybe next time." "Yeah, maybe next time" Poppy said, sad but tried to hide it with a smile.

"Branch, that wasn't called for" Lillian scolded. "She's not taking this seriously," Branch insisted. "We could be attacked any day by Bergens and she wouldn't know what to do." He sighed and sat down, frowning. "Lilly, do you... think I'm crazy?" He hesitantly asked. She gasped and rushed to his side. "Of course not, Branch. You're not crazy." "They seem to think so" he replied. "Branch" she said softly, lifting his chin so he'd look at her. "They don't understand that you have a different perspective on things and that crazy and trauma are two completely different things. I remember how scared you looked every time you thought a Bergen was near by. You were traumatized by them and trauma can make do a bunch of things to avoid experiencing that again. Whether a Bergen shows up or not, I know you'd rather stay down here and I'll stay down here with you. Cause no one deserves to be alone, especially not you."

"I..." Branch couldn't finish his sentence. "Look at your hand." It was a weird request but he knew the meaning behind it. He looked at the back of his hand and on it was a mark. The mark was white and in the shape of fairy wings with a star in the middle. "That's a permanent reminder that we're family." The mark on his hand was the result of little ritual they did. The ritual is called a 'Fairy Bond.' It's a special ritual two non-blood related Fairies, or a Fairy and another creature, do to become honorary siblings. All they had to do is cut the palms of their hands and press the wounds up against each other to swap blood.

The ritual is an eternal bond that can't be removed even in death. "So, if we did the ritual... Does that mean you'll stay here with me?" He asked her when she told him about it. "I'd stay even if we didn't do the ritual" was her reply. Her response made him happy so did her asking him if he wanted to be her brother. The only thing about that made his stomach churn was that she would also inherit his memories. He settled down some when she told him that he pick which memories he did and didn't want her to see. It took him a few days to think before he decided to do it. He had let her see all his memories but in any memories where he still young and colorful, she saw nine blacked out figures but she couldn't hear what he or the figures was saying.

One of the memories had took place when Branch was a baby, there looked to be a fight going on between the three older figures while Branch and the youngest one, who looked closer to her age, watched. They were all older than him but they didn't look like adults so she guessed that they were teenagers. The memory ended with the figures leaving and she never saw them in any other memory.

The second memory had taken place when Branch was a bit older. He was with four more blacked out figures but they looked to be around Branch's age. The five of them were playing some kind of card game, having a good time. They were in more of Branch's memories but they stopped appearing in his memories not long after he lost his colors.

The final blacked out figure was in the majority of his memories. The figure was definitely an adult maybe they were an elder? She couldn't tell but she could tell that they meant a lot to him. The last memory she saw them in was in the Troll Tree. Branch was holding a rose and singing and the figure was doing laundry. The memory suddenly cut off then reappeared with the figure gone and Branch on his knees with his colors disappearing.

To this day, she still doesn't know who those figures were. She didn't bother to ask him because Branch didn't want her to know who those trolls were and she will respect his privacy. Branch took a breath, feeling better than he did a moment ago. "Lilly... thank you." He didn't know how but she always knew how to make him feel better. "You're welcome" she said resting a wing on his back. He may not be a fan of physical contact, but he liked how warm Lillian's wing felt. "I don't care about what they have to say about you, I think you're great just the way you are" she said meaning every word. She was not about to let him doubt himself.

Not long after, Lillian retired to her room. She sat on her bed, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Once she opened her eyes, she was in a forest with white trees and golden leaves. These are rare trees were known as fairy trees, they grow fruits that heals and improves health. The scenery was beautiful but the only time she's brought here, she's warned about an approaching disaster. "Lillian." She heard a familiar voice. In front of her stood a fairy with long curly blonde hair. She couldn't see her face since she had her back turned to her but Lillian already knew who she was. It was her mother, Elizabeth. She tragically died several hours after her birth. The only time she's seen her was in these warnings but she never looked at her, she's always had her back turned to her which hurts her in ways you can't imagine.

"Mother?" If she could, she would have ran up and hugged her mother but she sadly couldn't. She tried when she first saw her but she ran face-first into an invisible wall. "Is it time?!" Elizabeth shook her head. "No, not yet. But something bad will happen very soon. You need to be prepared, or else you'll lose the people you love." The scene and her mother began to fade away. "Wait, Mother!" She shouted in an attempt to make her stay but she was gone. That's always what happens when her mother appears. She was there for short sessions just to warn her of up coming disasters but she never told her what these disasters were.

Lillian felt tears welling up in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around herself and did her best to compose herself. When that ultimately failed, she resorted to the one tactic that always worked.

All of the time that we took for granted

Thinking tomorrow's just another day

Sun on your face with the windows open

I never got the chance to say

She sang this song when she was about to cry. It always succeed in stopping her from crying. Her mother had made this song for her so it holds a special place in her heart. She made sure to sing quietly so she wouldn't disturb her brother.

I know your wings are getting heavy

She walked to the mirror and pulled down the sleeve on her dress, reveling a scar in the shape of a claw.

You can let go when you're ready

This scar was a permanent reminder of that awful day. The day she lost everything. She gently ran her thumb over her discolored skin.

To fly, fly

I know we'll meet between heaven and the sky

I, I'll try

I'm gonna try to find the good after goodbye

Butterfly

She stopped singing when she knew she wasn't going to cry anymore. Taking a deep breath, she wiped any remaining tears from her eyes and readjusted her sleeve to cover her scar. "I won't lose them too." With a determined expression, she left.

Chapter Text

Lillian had left the bunker, telling Branch she would collect more supplies for him. She watched the party from afar, countless trolls singing and dancing without a care in the world. She had to wear sunglasses and earplugs to cancel out the bright lights and loud noises. "MORE GLITTER!" Poppy shouted. Bright beams of glitter shot into the air. Even with the sunglasses on, Lillian had to turn away to shield her eyes. The warning she had received made her nervous but the beams of glitter made her anxiety shoot through the roof. She just hoped that whatever was gonna happen next wouldn't be too bad but the world wasn't that generous.

Somewhere not too far away, a Bergen resident. This Bergen happened to be the Royal Chef. She was banished from Bergen Town 20 years ago. They believed that it was her fault the trolls escaped, that they lost their only way to be happy, for ruining the prince's first Trollstice. She had been living in the forest for the past 20 years, searching for them day in and day out. She was alerted when she heard fireworks and saw wisps of glitter flying by her. She took out a telescope and began looking around. "I can't hear you!" Poppy's voice rang out as a firework launched into the sky. Chef smiled maliciously, knowing that she finally found them. "Trolls."

Back at the village, Poppy was on stage with Cooper and King Peppy. "Ok everyone, I just wanna take a moment... and get a little real." "Poppy!" Biggie shouted. "She's my friend! I know her!" The rest of his friends shushed him. Poppy smiled. "I'd like to take a second to celebrate our King, my father." She reached out her hand to hold his. "Who 20 years ago this night, saved all of us from those dreaded..." She was unable to finish her sentence as a loud 'THUMP' could be heard as well as the ground shaking. This made the trolls look around as it happened again and again. It wasn't until the four time it happened did they see what it was. "Bergens" King Peppy quietly said.

There was no doubt about it. Standing right there in front of them was the monster that has plague their kind for so long, a Bergen. "Gotcha" she quickly said with her hands on her hips. "Uh... cupcake?" Poppy said awkwardly. Chef just smiled and unzipped her fanny pack. Poppy dropped the cupcakes and shouted "RUN!" The Trolls ran and hid, trying to get away from the Bergen.

Lillian stayed hidden, watching all this happening. Memories of that day flashed in her mind. People screaming and running for their lives and she couldn't do anything to stop it. She watched as her friends, minus Poppy, were taken. 'Not again' she thought. She wanted to help, to try and save them but she couldn't move, her body wouldn't let her. She stood there hyperventilating, frozen in fear. She was close to blacking out but she managed to force herself to calm down.

Once Chef couldn't see any more trolls, she stopped. "Thanks for throwing the biggest... the loudest..." "The craziest party ever" Cooper said poking his head out of the fanny pack. Chef pushed him back in before zipping it shut. The Snack Pack screamed in fear as she walked away. Once she was gone, the trolls came out of hiding, looking at their destroyed home before looking at Poppy. "Is it coming back?" "What are we gonna do now?" They questioned. Before Poppy could answer, King Peppy stepped in "we have to find a new home. Everyone, hurry! We have to leave before the Bergens come back!" "We have to rescue them!" Poppy interjected. "No, Poppy, we have to run" King Peppy quickly shut her down before turning to the remaining trolls. "Now, let's go everyone. Come on!" "What about "No Troll Left Behind"?" Poppy asked, not believing that her father, the king, the same troll who saved everyone from the Bergens, wasn't gonna go save them.

King Peppy looked at his daughter and with a sad face, he said "I'm sorry, Poppy. That was a long time ago. And I'm not the king I once was." Poppy thought for a moment. She accepted his answer but there was no way she wasn't gonna save her friends. "Then I'll go. I'll go and save them." King Peppy quickly turned to look at her. "No, Poppy. It's to dangerous." "I have to at least try." "No. You can't go to Bergen Town by yourself. It's impossible." Poppy turned away from her father as she thought of what to do.

Branch was staring at the, now fixed, Invitation Poppy had given him. It repeated "Celebrate freedom from, the Bergens!" Over and over again. He looked at the other invitations Poppy had given to him over the years. He had to make two little cubbies just to put them somewhere. He doesn't know why she still try and invite him to things, he made it clear that he wasn't gonna come, but he was still touched by the gesture. There was something about her blind optimism and her stubborn drive to make him happy again that he just couldn't get off his mind.

His thoughts were interrupted by someone pounding on the door. He closed up to card and attempted to hide it with the others, but in his hurry he ended up knocking the invitations out. He frantically tried to close them to get them to shut up but they just kept opening back up. He eventually gave up and shoved them back into the cubby and closing the curtains. Poppy kept knocking and repeating his name. "Branch, are you in there?!" She shouted losing her patience. "Huh?" She said as he opened a little hole in the mat. "I'm not going to your party" he said. "The party's over! We just got attacked by a Bergen!" Branch's eyes widened. "I knew it!" He pulled her into the bunker.

As he did so, his eye caught the mark on the back of his hand causing his mind wandered to a certain sister of his, who happened to still be outside. "Where's Lilly?!" He asked. Poppy looked at him surprised and confused. "Lilly was there?" She said more to herself. "I didn't see her." Branch felt tears welling up in his eyes, immediately assumed the worst. 'No, no, no, no! I can't lose her too!' He thought on the verge of a break down. "Branch." He opened the door and sighed in relief, seeing his sister standing in front of him. He ran over and hugged her. "Are you ok?! You're not hurt, are you?!" He asked, looking for any injuries. Lillian shook her head. "No, I'm ok." 'Physically that is.'

He pulled her into the bunker and said "go to your room, don't come out no matter what!" She didn't argue and flew off to her room. She closed the door with her back pressed to it, sliding down. She panted heavily and her heart raced as memories of her friends being taken played in her mind. Branch always told her how terrifying the Bergens were but she never met one before so she never truly understood how it felt, well now she does. She gripped her hair in panic, the Bergen's twisted smile made her think back to another creature showing her that exact same smile. She let go of her hair and gripped her shoulder instead, feeling a familiar burning sensation. Her scar itched when she remembered the day she got it but it burned when she felt fear.

She walked to her mirror and pulled down her sleeve. Her scar looked the same as it always does. She honestly doesn't know why she expects it to be red whenever she gets this burning sensation. She turned her attention away from her shoulder and to her reflection. Instead of seeing herself as a grown up, like she expected, she instead saw herself as a child. The same scared, injured, crying child she once was. Back then, she had been a child so there was nothing she could do to stop that disaster from happening but know she was a grown woman, she could have done something to save them and what did she do instead? Nothing, absolutely nothing. She just hid and watched as her friends were taken.

Her fist clenched in anger as tears fell from her eyes. She punched the mirror, unable to stand looking at that helpless child any longer. The mirror shattered as blood trickled from her knuckles. She fell to her knees, shoulders slumped, her chest ached, with tears sliding down her cheeks. "I'm so pathetic" she angrily whispered to herself. "All these years, I tried to be stronger so I wouldn't lose anyone else but when they actually need me, I let them down. This is my fault." As the words left her mouth, her necklace began to glow. 'Don't give up.' She heard a familiar voice in her head. This voice talked to her and encouraged her when she needed it. 'It'll be a while before that Bergen arrives back at Bergen Town. You can still go after it. It's not too late.' The voice vanished and her necklace stopped glowing.

She looked at her distorted reflection and wiped her tears away. She stood up readjusting her dress and bandaging her hand. "I'm not weak" she told herself with a determined face. She wrote a letter and addressed it to her brother. 'Branch, if you're reading this then I already left, I'm gonna go to Bergen Town and try to save the kidnapped trolls. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you but I promise to be careful and to return as soon as possible. Please don't follow me. I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt. Please be careful Love Lilian.' She hopped he would forgive her for this. "I'm sorry, Branch, but I have to try." She packed some supplies then, using her magic, she teleported out of the bunker and outside the village.

She looked at the sky before gripping her necklace and closing her eyes. "Lady Aurora" she stared, addressing the Fairies Goddess. "First Fairy to exist, Mother Of Magic, please lend me your courage and show me the way." The necklace once again began to glow and a path was created. She sighed in relief, knowing her prayer was answered. "Thank you." She followed the path, flying to avoid predators.

Lillian had landed on the ground. She had been flying for hours. She still had ways to go but she needed to give her aching wings a break. "I'll just have to go the rest of the way on foot." She could have teleported but she had no idea what she's up against so she wants to save as much magic as possible. That and if she wants to teleport somewhere, she needs to know the coordinates. She was about to continue on the path when she suddenly heard singing.

And if you knock knock me over,

You knock knock me over

I will... get back up again!...

The last bit sounded forced and like they were having trouble catching their breath. The song ultimately ending with a 'bleh.' "Was that... POPPY?!" Lillian said to herself shocked. In hindsight, she should have expected this. She had told her father that she would go after their friends and once she has her mind set on something, it's almost impossible to get her to back down. She ran over to see her friend passed out, wrapped in webs, with four spiders surrounding her. 'Poppy!' As she was about to run over to them until she saw a familiar troll wrapping his hair around her and pulled her to safety. 'Branch?!' Lillian  thought astonished. The spiders charged towards them. Lillian ran over to them and summoned her shield. "What are you doing here?!" He reached into his vest. "I'm pretty sure you know exactly why I'm here!" he said showing her the letter she left him.

The moment Poppy left the bunker, Branch had been preparing to go after her. He went to her room to tell her that he was leaving, only to see that she wasn't there. He freaked out over her absence along with the broken mirror with her blood running down the cracks. He saw the note on her bed and groaned when he read it. "Of course she when after them" he said bitterly. He loved his sister dearly but sometimes her need to help people drove him insane. He saw the path not long after leaving the bunker, he just hoped that they hadn't gone too far.

"I told you not to follow me" Lillian said. "Did you really think I was gonna let go to Bergen Town by yourself? If you did then you're the crazy one, not me" Branch answered. Lillian opened her mouth to speak but the spiders started attacking the shield. The shield held strong but they couldn't just sit there and wait for them to give up. They had bunch of Trolls to save. Branch threw his backpack to the ground and using his hair like a whip, he managed to drive them back and into a cave. The entrance to the cave closed, revealing to be a giant creature when it opened its eyes. Lillian ran to her brother's side, ready to put up her shield again.

The creature didn't attack, it simply closed and went to sleep. They sighed in relief. "Nice, Branch." He blushed at her compliment. He'd never say it aloud but it was nice to hear someone praising him for his accomplishments. "Poppy!" He shouted, suddenly remembering the still unconscious princess behind them. He placed his ear close to her to make sure she was still breathing. She was it was just very faint. "Hang on!" He turned to Lillian. "Get your healing magic ready, Lilly!" "Alright on it!" She replied as he ran.

He grabbed the nearest sharp object and two light beetles. He cut the webs to reveal her swollen, blue spotted body. Which was definitely caused by poison or an allergic reaction, either way it didn't matter. Lillian blew a handful of fairy dust onto her causing the swelling to go down and the spots to disappear. Branch, using the bugs as defibrillators, quickly rubbed them together and placed them on her chest. "Get back up again!" Poppy sang springing up. Her eyes lit up when she spotted Branch. "Branch! My man, you are right on time!" She turned her gaze to Lillian when she offered to help her up. "And you brought Lilly too! This is perfect!" she said as Lillian helped her up.

Branch couldn't help but flinch when she used the word 'perfect' the one word he hates more than anything. "Oh, right. Like you really knew we were coming." Lillian gave the bugs a quick pet as a way of saying thank you. "Yes! I figured after the third hug time, getting eaten by a Bergen wouldn't seem so bad" Poppy said sounding smug. "And I figured there was no way you could do this by yourself" he shot back. "Guess we were both right." Poppy shrugged. "Hmm. All right! Let's do this!" she declared as she walked away. "Sooner we get to Bergen Town, sooner we can rescue everyone, and make it home safely." "Poppy, do you have a plan?" Lillian asked because to her, it sounded like she was running in blind. "I just told you. Rescue everyone and make it home safely."

Branch sighed. "Okay. That's not a plan. That's a wish list." "Oh! I suppose you have a plan." "I'm sure he does" Lillian chimed in. "He always has one." Branch smiled at his sister and cleared his throat. "First, we get to the edge of Bergen Town without being spotted. Then, we get inside by sneaking through the old escape tunnels which will then lead us to the Troll Tree, right before we get caught, and suffer a miserable death at the hand of a horrible, bloodthirsty Bergen! Hold on a second" he stopped narrating when he saw Poppy on the ground. "Are you scrapbooking my plan?" "Uh-huh. Yeah," she replied from her spot on the ground. Surrounded by colorful craft supplies and snipping away at a pink piece of paper. "Almost." After one final snip, she held up her masterpiece to show him. "Done!" Mini versions of her, Branch, Lillian, and the rest of her friends popped up saying "we did it!" It then blasted glitter in his face, much to his annoyance. "And there will be no more..." He blew some glitter out of his nose. "Scrapbooking." Lillian quietly chuckled. She took a breath before activating the path again. "This path with lead us there." "Awesome!" Poppy said.

The three continued on their way. Poppy started singing and like usual Branch as annoyed. "Do you have to sing?" "I always sing when I'm in a good mood." "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." Branch rolled his eyes. "Probably being digested." "They're alive, Branch. I know it!" He shook his head. "You don't know anything, Poppy. And I can't wait to see the look on your face when you realize the world isn't all "cupcakes and rainbows" cause it isn't. Bad things happen and there's nothing you can do about it."

As sad as it is, he's right. Everything can seem happy but then out of nowhere horrible things can happen that can cost you everything. Life is like nature, where nothing is ever consistent and things can change in an instant. By the time you get used to the warmth of the sun the wind will start to get colder and the leaves will change color for the cold dark winter ahead, but no matter what happens there's one thing that never changes. When happiness is destroyed it leaves a lasting impression on someone.

"Hey, I know it's not all cupcakes and rainbows but I'd rather go through life thinking that it mostly is instead of being like you." That caught her off guard. "Poppy!" That ended up being louder than she intended making the two jump. Branch scurried ahead, not wanting to see her mad. Lillian took a deep breath to try and calm down. "Poppy, you have no right to judge someone for how they are especially if you don't know why they are the way they are. What you just said was very disrespectful. Branch wasn't always like this. He was once like you but sometimes terrible happened that made him like this. So if you're gonna say things like that to somebody then please keep it to yourself cause you're just gonna hurt their feelings."

Having said what she wanted to say, as politely as possible, she left not wanting to say anything she'll regret later. Poppy, meanwhile, had trouble comprehending what just happened. Was Lillian mad at her? She had seen her mad before but never at her. Was what she said really that insensitive that she felt the need to scold her like a mother scolding her child for bullying? Then again, why did she sound so... insulted? It wasn't evident in her voice but it was there.

The three decided to stop for the night when the sun went down. Branch was working on a fire when Lillian approached him. "Hey, I'm gonna set up some spells around the area to keep predators away." He threw a stick into the fire before turning to her. "Alright, just be careful and be back soon." She nodded then left. She set up a trail of fairy dust around the camp so if something tries to get near them, a shield will prevent them from getting close.

She was about to head back, until a certain flower caught her attention. A single red rose. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. With shaky legs, she walked to the rose, unable to find the strength to walk away. She fell to her knees and cupped the flower with her hands, gently to not damage any of the petals. The tears fell from her eyes as memories of a man, she cherished, would bring her these flowers almost every day, even when she was a baby. That man was her father. He had white hair, ice blue eyes, and pale skin. The tears fell faster as she remembered an old nickname he gave her. “My wild flower." She carefully plucked the flowers and held it to her chest.

'Now's not the time for tears. Your friends need you. Focus on the task at hand' the voice said. Lilian took a shaky breath and stood up, not letting go of the flower. She tried in vain to wipe away her tears. When that failed, she took a breath to start singing again.

You come down to visit your favorite flower

The forest around her disappeared and was replaced with a dark room. Not far away, she saw the younger version of herself but she looked to be made out of fairy dust. She was admiring a rose bush when her father approached.

Catching the wind in the light of day

He placed a hand on her shoulder causing her to look at him. He picked her up and swung her around several times before embracing her.

You keep sending me bittersweet reminders

Signs, you're never really far away

You know I will always need you

He flew away with her in his arms.

I feel better when I see you

Fly, fly

I know we'll meet between heaven and the sky

Her father appeared behind her with his hand stretched out. She reached out to touch him.

I, I'll try

When her hand was just inches away, the fairy dust dispersed and reformed into a butterfly and flew away.

I'm gonna try to find the good after goodbye

She tried to chase after it but it disappeared into the sky.

Butterfly, butterfly

Fly, 'til next time

Where to butterfly disappeared, a bunch more butterflies emerged.

Butterfly, butterfly

Fly, 'til next time

They all flew in circles around her before flying into the sky.

Butterfly

Once the butterflies disappeared, she was once again back in the forest, looking at the moon. She wiped away any remaining tears then looked at the flower. "I'm not that little girl anymore. I can't stand here and cry. I have to be strong, for me, for them, for him." She placed the flower in her hair to remind her to be strong. "I should head back. Branch might be worried." She walked back to their camp, mentally preparing herself for whatever challenges may lie ahead.

Chapter Text

The three of them made it to the old escape tunnels but there was a problem. There was more than one tunnel and the path had disappeared. The magic that created the path had diminished not long before arriving. “So one of these tunnels leads to the Troll Tree?” Poppy asked. “That’s right” Branch confronted. “That’s so many of them. I wonder which one.” “I don’t know” Branch said inspecting one of the tunnels. “Choose a hole wisely!” A sudden voice boomed making them jump.

Branch pulled Lillian behind him, using himself as a shield to protect her from whatever was out there. “For one will lead to Bergen Town and the others, to certain death.” Lillian felt a shiver run down her spine as ‘death’ echoed. “Who said that?” Branch demanded. Lillian did her best to keep herself from shaking. What had said that? Was it something dangerous, a Bergen, or was it…? Her eyes widened in terror. ‘I-it can’t be!’ Her scar began to burn again. “It was…” She tensed, not knowing what terror to expect. “Me.” Instead of some terrifying creature, they saw a cloud.

Lillian swore she almost passed out, nearly falling to her knees as a few shallow breaths escaped with all the fear leaving her body. “Hey guys, how’s it going? Welcome to the root tunnels. I just wanted to warn you, one of these tunnels leads to the Troll Tree and the others to certain death, death, death, death…” he said walking towards them with a lazy smile and a half-lidded gaze. "Do you think you can tell us which is the right one?" Poppy asked. “You bet” the cloud said grinning. “Great!” Poppy’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “No, that’s ok. We’re fine, thanks” Branch stepped in, pushing the girls away from him.

“Branch.” Poppy chuckled nervously before whispering “he’s trying to help us.” “I don't like the looks of him.” He turned to look at the cloud, suspicious of him. "I mean, who wears socks with no shoes?" "He seems to know what he's talking about" Poppy persisted. Branch was still hesitant. “Branch, I don’t know if I trust him either but let's be honest, I’ve never been here before and you two haven’t been here for twenty years. Maybe the tunnels had changed and we’ll be running in blind. So asking for help won't be such a bad idea.” Branch groaned, annoyed that she had a point. “Okay, fine.” He then turned to the cloud. “Which way do we go?"

“First, you have to give me a high five, then I’ll tell you.” “What?” Branch asked while Lillian looked confused. “OH! I love high fives! I'll do it!" Poppy said bouncing in excitement. “Oh, I know you’ll do it and her too, but will he?” He turned to Branch. “All right, dumpy diapers, up high!" Branch shook his head. “Nope, I don’t do high fives.” “Sir, can you please refrain from calling my brother names?” Lillian jumped in sounding stern. “Yes ma’am” he said before turning back to Branch.

“Slap it boss.” Branch shook his head. “Not gonna happen.” “Party on the top floor.” “Nope.” “Little slappy? Make daddy happy?” Lillian visibly cringed at that one. “That’s weird” Branch commented. “Come on, just one little high five” the cloud groaned. “Oh, no, thanks. I’m good.” “Here, just do this…” He gave himself a high five. “But with your hand.” Ok, this was getting on her nerves now. Why did this guy want a high five so bad? “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 said, fead up with the their bickering.

He sighed. “One high five and then you’ll tell us which tunnel to take, right?” The cloud nodded. “So easy.” “Okay, fine!” He raised his hand, intending to give the cloud his high five but then he moved his hand away, making Branch miss. “Too slow.” “Too slow!?” Branch repeated annoyed. The cloud laughed while Poppy snicked. “Classic.” Lillian, on the other hand, pinched her temples.

That’s why he wanted a high five so badly?! Just to screw with them?! They had better things to do, trolls to save, and yet this cloud, instead of just telling them which tunnel, wanted to make her brother look like an idiot. Who would have expected such behavior from a cloud? She certainly didn’t! She never understood why people thought pranks like that were funny, she just found them annoying. “Sir…” She tried to speak but he ignored her.

“No, no. Alright. I’m going to let you slide with a fist bump.” Branch raises his arm but the cloud hand other ideas. “Shark attack! Nom-nom-nom-nom. Jellyfish! Hand sandwich, turkey, snowman, dolphin, helicopter, last supper, monkey in a zoo!” “What?!” Branch said confused. “Gear shift!” He grabbed Branch’s fist and moved it around as if it were a gear lever, making driving sounds. Lillian face palmed as both him and Poppy broke out laughing. This cloud was really teasing her patients. Normal, Lillian was a patient person but right now she wanted to kick him into next week.

“Okay, okay, okay. Now I’m thinking we hug.” That was the last straw for Branch. He grabbed a stick and broke it in half. The cloud’s face morph into terror as he turned into a rain cloud. Lillian almost laughed as she watched Branch chase him around, screaming “That’s right, you better run cloud!” Poppy followed them trying to get Branch to calm down. “Wait!” As much as she wanted to let this happen since he had it coming but she’d rather not have a murder for a brother.

They unknowingly followed him into one of the tunnels with Branch spewing threats and Poppy trying to reason with him. “I’m going to tear your little cloud arms, off your cloud body and high five your face with them!” “He’s just a cloud!” Poppy cried out. “Get back here!” “Branch! He can help us!” “Come back!” “Run, Cloud guy!” “I’m gonna kill you!” Once they all exited the tunnels, Cloud Guy stopped and turned to them. “Ta-da! We’re here!” They stopped confused.

“You guys 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…” Cloud Guy turned to them and his face morphed into a serious expression. “You die!” He disappeared back into the tunnel repeating the word ‘die’ like an echo. They looked around and saw that they were indeed at their old home. Except the cage around the tree was busted and the tree itself was withered and decayed. “The Troll Tree” Poppy muttered. “Bergen Town” Branch muttered.

They watched as the Bergens walking slowly, looking as miserable as they usually do but what caught Lilian off guard was that they were singing, not greatly, not even close but still singing. The song had no emotion in it so it sounded like they were just saying stuff they didn’t mean, it was off key so it wasn’t catchy, it mostly sounded like they were just doing it cause they had nothing better to do.

I ain't happy

I'm feeling glad

I got sunshine in a bag

I'm useless

But not for long

The future is coming on

I ain't happy

I'm feeling glad

I got sunshine in a bag

I'm useless

But not for long

The future is coming on

Is coming on

Is coming on

Is coming on

Is coming on

Is coming on

Is coming on

Lillian honestly felt bad for them. She couldn’t imagine having to wake up everyday and just feel miserable. Yes, Branch is considered miserable but she’s seen him happy from time to time, mainly when it’s just them at home with no one to bother them, but never being able to feel even an ounce of happiness is a fate that nobody deserves. “Wow! They’re as miserable as you” Poppy whispered to Branch. “Poppy” Lillian scolded. Had she seriously not gotten the hint to not say stuff like that? Branch was a great troll with a heart of gold, why can’t they see that?

Poppy perks up upon realizing “which means they have eaten a troll yet.” Lillian couldn’t deny that she had a point. As sad as it was to see them miserable, the fact that they are means that her friends were still alive. She couldn’t help but feel relief wash over her. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get going.” Poppy nodded springing to her feet. “Come on. Let’s go save our friends.” “Your friends” Branch corrected. “Our friends. Don’t fight it” Poppy fought back.

Inside the castle, sat on the throne was King Gristle Jr with his pet gator Barnabus, his guards Chat and Todd, and the scullery maid Bridget who was vacuuming the floor with a dust buster. King Gristle sighed, turning to his pet. “Oh, Barnabus. You're my only friend in this whole miserable world.” He looked at the painting above him. It was of him and his father smiling. “Dad was right. I'll never ever, never ever, never be happy” he said hitting his head on the throne before face planting on the seat. “Never.”

“Never say never" a voice echoed through the room. Chef pops out from behind one of the potted plant beside the door, startling the king. Barnabus growled while the guards pointed their weapons towards her. “Chad. Todd” she addressed, dropping her cape and stepping on the dust buster. “Chef, where did you come from?” Gristle asked sounding both surprised and angry. “My father banished you 20 years ago. Have you been standing behind that plant this whole time?" She continued to approach him. “If only, sire. No. I've been out in the wilderness... Thinking of nothing but how I let you down. If only there was some way I could make you feel better.” “Well, fat chance! The only way I'll ever be happy is by eating a troll... And that ain't gonna happen, thanks to you" he grunted, plopping back on his throne.

“Ah, but it just might. Thanks to me" she opens her bag to reveal the trolls, each one of them singing. Everyone in the room gasped. “You found the trolls” he said reaching for them. Chef smacked his hand making the trolls retreat into the bag. “So this means I might actually get to be happy!" He said still in disbelief, after all these years he finally has a chance to be happy. Chef nodded. “That's right.” He looked at the trolls excited. Chef zipped the bag closed. “Of course, everyone else in Bergen Town will still be miserable... But that's not your concern.”

He looked at the other Bergens in the room. He’ll get to be happy but everyone else is miserable? That wasn’t unfair. “I am their king, so maybe it kinda is." Chef got in his face. “What exactly are you proposing? Bringing back Trollstice? For everyone?" “Hmm…” He thought about what she said. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea. They haven’t had a chance to be happy in 20 years so if he gets to be happy then so should the rest of his people. “Yes! That's exactly what I'm proposing.” Chef smiled wickedly.

“Great idea, sire. Absolutely brilliant. Aren't you smart?" He chuckled shyly. “I guess I am." “And I, your loyal Chef, will be right behind you.” She picked him up and off the throne before sitting down herself. “Holding a knife.” “What's that?" Gristle questioned suspiciously, having heard the last part of her sentence. “Holding a knife, a spoon, a ladle. I'm your chef, after all!" “Yeah, you sure are" Gristle said grinning, completely unaware that she plans to overthrow him.

She changed into her old attire before happily bursting into the kitchen. "I'm back!” She exclaimed victoriously, knowing her plan was in effect. “You, scullery maid, what's your name?" "Uh, Bridget." "Congratulations, Idget. You work for me now. So you take those dishes downstairs and you start scrubbing" chief ordered. "Yes, Chef. Thank you, Chef" she said takes the towers of dishes downstairs. Once Bridget left, she tossed the trolls in a cage.

They wimped in fear while Biggie was comforting Mr. Dinkles. “Shh. Don’t cry, Mr. Dinkles. Shh! Guys, Mr. Dinkles is really freaking out!” “Mew” Mr. Dinkles said very much not freaking out. “Whoa, whoa! Everyone, we must all remain calm. Comb" creek says as he combs his hair. "That's right” Chef said approaching the cage. “A calm troll is a tasty troll. And you are a key ingredient in my recipe for success." She pulled out a cookbook specifically one with trolls in the recipes.

"You see... He who controls the trolls controls the kingdom. And I am that "he!" Her statement left Cooper confused. “You're a dude?" Chef grunted, annoyed. She cut up a lemon and squirted the juice in his eyes. "By this time tomorrow, I'll be queen... And all of Bergen Town will get exactly what they deserve. True happiness!" It thundered as she laughed maniacally, scaring the trolls.

Meanwhile, Poppy, Branch, and Lillian managed to sneak into the castle without being detected. Right now, they were hiding in a torch using Poppy’s hair to imitate fire. “Chad.” “Todd.” The guards greeted each other before disappeared in the corridors. Once the coast was clear, Poppy shifted her hair back to normal. They used they used their hair to swing across to the hallway and onto the edge while Lillian flew. "So where do you think our friends are?" Poppy asked. “I don’t know, Poppy” Lillian said. “If I had to guess, I’d say in a bergen’s stomach” Branch said.

Poppy frowned at his negativity. “Could you try to be positive? Just once. You might like it.” Branch rolled his eyes. “Okay. I’m sure they’re not only alive… but about to be delivered to us on a silver platter.” Poppy sighed relieved. “Thank you. That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Branch and Lillian exchanged confused looks on how Poppy had missed his sarcasm. Poppy’s hug time bracelet went off. She gasped. “Branch! Lilly!” “Poppy, now isn’t the ti-” Poppy placed a finger on her lips, shushing her. “Listen.” They heard multiple familiar chimes and from the corner of their eyes they spotted bright multicolored lights shining just around the corner.

"This is gonna be the best Trollstice ever! Such a great idea I had" Gristle says as the guards were setting up the dining hall. “Yes” Chef said before addressing all of the workers in the room. “Tomorrow is Trollstice, everyone. And it must be perfect!” "Yes, Chef!" "Feels great to be ordering everyone around again" she gleamed. They watched from the chandelier. Lillian was confused. Why were they taking orders from her? From what she can see, she was just the chef not the queen. “Guys, look!” Poppy said bringing her out of her thoughts. "They're alive?" Branch questioned. "And on a silver platter, too. We were both right," she remarked.

“And to mark the occasion, Your Highness, look. I found your old troll bib” Chef said taking out an orange bib. Gristle’s face lit up upon seeing it. “Oh wow! I bet you still fit.” He tried to put it on but as it turns out, it was too small. He managed to get it on but it was pretty much strangling him. "Like a glove!" it ended up ripping apart causing Bridge to gasp. Cooper laughed and the others immediately shushed him. Gristle, insulting, turn to them. “Oh, you think that’s funny?” He approached the cage making them cower in fear. “We’ll see who’s laughing when I bite your yummy head off. When I bite all y’alls yummy heads off!”

He took a closer look at the trolls when he calmed down. “Wait a minute. Chef, this isn’t enough yummy heads to feed all of Bergen Town” he addressed Chef in an angry tone has his face twisted in annoyance. Chef, on the other hand, was trying to find a good excuse for her blunder. “How are we supposed to have Trollstice if there’s not enough trolls?” She quickly tried to come up with an excuse. “Oh, there’s plenty more where that came from, sire.”

Poppy gasped, looking at her companions worried. “Are you sure? Because I promised everyone a troll” Gristle said suspicious. She thought of an idea to deescalate the situation. "No, no, no, sire! Everything will be fine. If I were truly worried, would I be willing to do this?" She opened the cage and grabbed Creek. "Creek!" Poppy squealed. Lillian and Branch pulled her down to avoid being seen. Chef looked in their direction suspiciously until Gristle spoke. "Oh, my first troll!" he exclaimed excitedly. “Go on, eat, King Gristle. Enjoy a taste of true happiness" Chef urged, handing him Creek.

Every troll and fairy watched in horror as Gristle lifted Creek to his mouth. He stopped, asking “shouldn’t we wait for Trollstice?” "Phew" the trolls sighed in relief. "Sire, every day is Trollstice when you have trolls" Chef answered, putting Creek in a taco. "Yeah, I guess." He lifted the taco to his mouth. He stopped again upon thinking what his father told him. "But my dad said the first time should be special.” They all sighed in relief again. "Well, you're the king now." Chef poured hot sauce on the taco making Creek groan. "Yeah, I am the king" Gristle said feeling reassured. He once again began to lift the taco to his mouth. He stopped again. "But I think I should share this moment with all the kingdom." He was about to be happy for the first time in his life, he felt that everyone else should be there with him.

Chef growled, deciding to take matters into her own hands. "Eat it!" She demanded, shoving the taco into his mouth. The Snack Pack gasped. "Oh my Guh!" Smidge said horrified. "No!" Poppy shouted. "Yes!" Chef exclaimed then snapped her fingers. The guards put a sombrero on the king's head, maracas in his hands, playing music, spinning him towards the door. "Idget, lock these trolls in your room and guard them with your life" Chef commanded, throwing a wooden spoon at her head. "Yes, Chef." Gristle moaned. "Yes. Yes, I know" Chef responded as they left the room.

"Guys, we have to go save him!” Poppy was about to jump down when Lillian and Branch grabbed her and pulled her back. “Poppy, no, we can’t.” "Save him from what? His stomach?" "We didn't see him chew. We didn't see him swallow!" She tried to argue. "Face it, Poppy. Sometimes people go into other people's mouths, and they don't come out. If we go after Creek now, we're going to get eaten. I'm sorry, but it's too late for him," Branch explained. They looked at her with sympathy. Neither of them liked Creek but no one deserves to be eaten.

Poppy looked down and saw Bridget carrying the cage away. Her face became stern has she immediately jumped off the chandelier. “Poppy!” Branch and Lillian called out. Determination crashed through her has she made her way towards the maid. She may haven’t been able to save Creek but she wasn’t going to fail the rest of her friends. She jumped on a spoon and used the momentum to propel herself towards the edge of the table then jumped and landed on an apron loop. Branch jumped down, jumped across the guards hats, swung on one of the tassels, and made it to the other loop. Lillian flew to them and held onto the string.

They reached the maid’s room and they jumped off the string before hiding beneath a cart has they watched her placed the cage on the table right next to her bed. “Scullery Maid!” Chef’s voice boomed. A rumbling sound was heard and a pile of dirty pots and pans fell right on top of her. “Wash these pots and pans for Trollstice! The king’s inviting everyone. Except you.” She threw a spoon down which hit Bridget on top of her head. Lillian and Poppy watched in sympathy as Bridget cried and clamored out of the pile of dishes, throwing herself onto her bed, crying into her pillow. Nobody should be treated like that not even a bergen. Bridget pulled out a magazine from her nightstand with Gristle on it.

I've been alone with you inside my mind

And in my dreams I've kissed your lips

A thousand times

I sometimes see you pass outside my door

 
Hello!

Is it me you're looking for?

I can see it in your eyes

I can see it in your smile

You're all I've ever wanted

And my arms are open wide

 
'Cause you know just what to say

And you know just what to do

And I want to tell you so much

I love you

She sobbed into a pillow until she fell asleep. "Oh, she's in love with the king" Poppy said. ‘How sweet’ Lillian thought. "What are you talking about? Bergens don't have feelings" Branch said. "Well, maybe you don't know everything about the bergens" Poppy remarked. “Guys, can we please not fight?” Lillian urged pointing to the cage. Reminding them that they had friends to save. They managed to make it to the table without waking Bridget. Branch removed the cloth covering the cage. “Guys!” The girls greeted. “Poppy! Lilly!” They cheered.

(Snack Pack)

"Celebrate good times, come on"

(Poppy)

"It's a celebration"

Branch and Lillian shushed them. The Snack Pack continued to sing but instead of out loud they whispered.

(Snack Pack)

"There 's a party going on right here"

"No! There is not a party going on right here," Branch remarked, grabbing Poppy's scissors and jamming them in the lock. “We can celebrate once we get home but we have to be quiet right now” Lillian said. Branch, once he heard the lock click, handed the now destroyed scissors back to Poppy and with Lillian’s help they managed to get the lock off. "The sooner we get you guys out of here…" "The sooner we can save Creek!" Poppy finished. “What?” Branch and Lillian shouted. Bridget shot up from her bed. “Hello?” Everyone gasp in fear only to sigh in relief when she fell back asleep saying “Is it me, you’re looking for?”

"I know you're looking for the cupcakes and rainbows here… but let's face it, Creek's been eaten," Branch said opening the cage. The Snack Pack eagerly spilled out of the cage. “They put him in a taco” Biggie said holding Mr. Dinkles tightly for comfort. “It was horrible” Cooper added. Guy placed his hand on Poppy’s arm. “Sorry Poppy. Creek’s gone” he said feeling both sad at the loss of his friend and bad that Poppy had lost her crush. “Poppy, how could you possibly think that Creek is still alive?” Branch asked, not believing that she was still under the impression that they can save Creek. “I don’t think he is alive. I hope that he is alive and that is good enough” she answered. “Poppy” Lillian spoke up. “It’s good to have hope but right now you’re was just setting yourself up to be disappointed.” Branch momentarily looked at his sister. Why did it sound like she’s talking from experience.

Before anymore words could be said, a bright light shone upon them. “Hey! Where do you think you’re going?!” Bridget asked, wide awake. “RUN!” Lillian  screamed. They ran while Guy sprayed glittering in the Bergen’s face. “No! Get back in your cage!” She yelled trying to catch them but they were much too fast for her. She began to panic. “Chef’s gonna be so mad!” She couldn’t imagine what Chef, and more importantly King Gristle, will do to her if they found out that she let the trolls escape. They banished Chef when it wasn’t entirely her fault they escaped the first time but this time, it was her fault since she wasn’t keeping an eye on them.

“Guys!” Lillian shouted from her hiding spot. They ran towards her. “No!” Bridget shouted trying to catch them. Branch grabbed a spork to use as a weapon. Bridget held up a frying pan. Lillian put up a shield around her friends before running to her brother’s side with her magic ready. They were about to attack when Poppy shouted “BRIDGET STOP!” She turned to look at her. “You’re in love with King Gristle.” Bridget gasp while Lillian looked at her confused. Why was she bringing that up? “Um, I don’t know what you’re talking about” she tried to lie, blushing out of embarrassment.

Poppy turned around and opened the curtain to reveal a collage of Gristle plastered onto her wall. She dropped the frying pan and rushed to close the curtain. “Uh, excuse me! That’s not mine.” Poppy pulled back the curtain a bit to reveal a cut out of a couple with Gristle and Bridget’s faces taped on it. She sighed in defeat. “What does it matter? It’s not like he even knows I’m alive.” Lillian frowned at her statement. “Bridget, I can help you!” Poppy exclaimed. “What if, there is a way that we both get what we want?”

Bridget slammed her hands down. “You love Gristle, too?” ‘What?’ Lillian thought. How did she come to that conclusion? “You better back off, girlfriend” Bridget threatened sassily, hissing like a cat. Lillian couldn’t help but find Bridget kind of adorable. She remained her of the princess in a way. Poppy looked at her confused. “No. Bridget, no.” She quickly clarified then cleared her throat. “That troll King Gristle put in his mouth, that's 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.” “Oh.” Bridget frowned. Even if eating a troll is the only way for her to be happy, she never liked the idea of hurting others. So Poppy’s description of what would go down really didn’t sit right with her. “But... you can." Bridget gasp excitedly. “You can walk right up to him and tell him how you feel.” “As if. I can’t just walk right up to the king.” Bridget reasoned. “His Royal Awesomeness would never talk to a scullery maid like me.” Lillian felt her heart ache. She could see where she was coming from but it never hurt to try.

“What if he didn't know you were a scullery maid? What if he thought you were this total babe?" Poppy asked. "What kind of total babe would be dressed like a scullery maid? I smell like gravy" Bridget pointed out. "What if we made you a new outfit?" Satin asked, on bored with Poppy’s plan. "I'm thinking…" Chenille started. "Jumpsuit!" The twins exclaimed. "What's the point of a jumping suit if I still have this hair?" Bridget asked. "Oh, we can fix that" Poppy assured. Bridget was still hesitant to go along with the plan. “What's the point of a new outfit and new hair if I don't even know what a total babe would ever say?" "We can help with that too!" Poppy answered. “Really?” Poppy nodded. "What do you say, Bridget? You get us Creek, and we'll get you a date with the king."

Bridget sighed. They may be able to change her clothes, hair, and tell her what to say but the one thing they couldn’t change was her appearance. Bergens weren’t the most attractive looking species but did they think she’d be pretty enough for the king? “I don’t know, what if he thinks I’m too ugly?” A loud gasp could be heard. “Bridget, don’t say that!” Lillian flew in front of her face. “There’s nothing wrong with how you look.”

Bridget’s eyes widened as she took a good look at the creature before her. She was to focused on recapturing the trolls to notice that she wasn’t a troll. “What are you?” Lillian shrugged at the enchanted look on her face. Although they used to creep her out at first, she was used to those types of looks nowadays since she had gotten so many of them in the past and still gets them know. “I’m a fairy.” “A fairy” Bridget said sounding amazed. “I didn’t know fairies existed.” She smiled. Lillian shook her head. “Nope, we’re real.” She turned her head and said in a quiet barely audible voice “I am, at least.”

She shook her head. “A-anyways, you’re not ugly.” “But I’m not beautiful either.” “Bridget.” She picked the flower from her hair and handed it to her. “I think everyone is beautiful.” Bridget smiled with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Even me?” She nodded, placing the flower in her hand. “Especially you.” As much as it hurt to part with the flower her father loved so much, she needed to show her that she was serious. She was beautiful inside and out.

Bridget was trying her hardest not to cry again. No one has ever told her she was beautiful. It was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to her. She looked at the microscopic flower in the palm of her hand. Feeling a new sense of confidence, she turned to the trolls and said “let’s do it?” They cheered while Poppy looked at her fairy friend with gratitude. “Thank you.”

Chapter Text

“A 5, 6, 7, 8…" Poppy sang prompting the Snack Pack joins in.

When You Look In The Mirror

Let It Disappear

All Your Insecurities

"Wait!” Bridget interrupted. “Why Isn't This One Singing?" She asked pointing at Branch. He tensed up when all eyes were on him. “Come on, Branch, Lilly. Sing with us!” Cooper said. The others urged them as well. Lillian shook her head. "Oh, no. That's okay," Branch declined. "You don't think this will work?" Bridget asked saddened. "Oh, no, no. It's not that. I just don't sing" he answered. “I don’t want to either” Lillian said. “Branch, Lilly!” Poppy scolded sounding disappointed. Of course Branch doesn’t wanna sing like normal but Lilly? She’s never heard her sing but she knows she does, so why doesn’t she sing now? She was just helping them a second ago and now she suddenly changed her mind.

Bridget shook her head. “No. They’re right. This idea is stupid. King Gristle will never love me." She cried as she face planted into her pillow. The others tried to cheer up while Lillian and Poppy looked at her with sympathy. Branch scoffed then walked away, climbing the curtain. Lillian knew that he wasn’t going to help. As innocent as Bridget is, she was still a Bergen. The same creature he feared. He was most likely gonna escape through the window.

Poppy followed him. "Branch, what are you doing? You have to sing!" ‘Oh god, not another fight’ Lillian thought, flying after them. "I told you, I don't sing" Branch answered. "Well, you have to!" she pushed. "I'm sorry. I can't." he replied as he finished climbing. "No, you can. You just won't" she corrected. "Fine. I just won't" he said not pushing it any further. "You have to!" she commanded. "No!" he refused, looking out the window. "Yes!" Poppy yelled. "No!" Branch shouted back. “Poppy, enough!” Lillian chimed in, feed up with her behavior. "Why not? Why won't you sing?!" Poppy demanded.

He turned to her and shouted "because singing killed my grandma, okay?" He looked away frowning. "Now, leave me alone." She looked at him with her eyes wide. That’s why he didn’t sing? ‘What?’ Lillian thought stunned. ‘Is that who that figure was? His grandma?’ “My uncle broke his neck tap dancing once," Cooper commented. Branch sat at the far end of the window. "How did singing kill your grandma? What song was she singing?" Poppy asked. "I was the one singing" he admitted.

When Branch was young and colorful he was with his grandma, singing very loud without a care in the world, oblivious to what was lurking near by. Chef had heard him. "That day, I was so lost in song, I didn't hear my grandma trying to warn me." She looked over to check on him and saw him in danger. As Chef went to grab him, she managed to push him out of the way but ended up getting caught in the process. Branch watched as Chef walked away with his beloved grandparent, unable to do anything to help. That’s the story of how he lost his color. Lillian felt her heart break. She could imagine the pain and guilt he must have felt but knowing him for as long as she had, she was certain he still carries that guilt.

(Snack Pack)

Once upon a time, there was light in his life

But now there's only love in the dark

Nothing he can say

(Bridget)

A total eclipse of the heart

"I haven't sung a note since" he finished. They stayed quiet, finally understanding why he hated singing so much. "I'm so sorry, Branch. I had no idea" Poppy apologized. "I just assumed you had a terrible voice." Lillian elbowed her. "No, no, it was like an angel's” He denied. “At least, that's what Grandma used to say." Lillian felt like she was gonna cry. No one should have to witness such a scene. “Why didn’t you tell me this?” She asked. There are many reasons why he didn’t. Why he still keeps a part of himself secret, even from her. “I didn’t want you to hate me” he answered sounding sincere. That was his ultimate reason for not telling her. Her heart broke even more. Branch really thought she would hate him because of an accident. “Branch, that’s stupid.”

She wrapped her wing around him. “There is nothing you could do to make me hate you. You’re my brother and you have been for the past 15 years. You saved me from freezing to death, you gave me a place to stay when I had nowhere to go, you saved me in so many ways. I love you Branch and I always will.” He clenched his fist and grit his teeth to keep himself from crying. A few simple sentences she’d often tell him when he needed it but they never fail to bring him to tears because it meant so much to him. Hearing her say things to let him now how much he meant to her. He lended into her embrace, feeling the warmth of her wing on his back, hearing the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, thankful that he still had someone that loved him no matter what. “Awww” the Snack Pack cooed, seeing how close they truly are.

Although Poppy was smiling, she couldn’t help but feel jealous. She had always wanted a sibling, preferably a sister, to sing and dance with. If she had a sibling then they would be best friends, they’d teach each other things, never fight, always have each other's backs, they wouldn't even have to talk because they’d think all the same thoughts, and everyone would ask them if they were twins. They’d laugh and be like “well, not technically” but she excepted that her dad couldn’t give her one since he could never love another troll like he loved her mother.

She ran to them with her arms wide open. “Whoa, whoa. What are you doing?” Branch asked as she pulled them in a hug which he didn’t return. “It's not hug time.” “I thought you could use one” she answered. The others joined in including Bridget. It didn’t take long for Branch to break out of the group huge. "Okay. Okay, I'll help. But I'm still not singing.” Poppy smiled. That was good enough for her. "Okay, people. Hair we go!"

(Snack Pack)

You

You

You

You

You

(Poppy)

You gotta let it show

(Snack Pack)

I'm Coming

I'm

Coming

(Cooper)

(Alright)

(Snack Pack)

Out

I'm coming

I'm

Coming

Out

I'm coming

(Bridget)

Yo, I'm comin' out like the sun after rain

Ready to shine, no time to be playin'

Feeling good, gonna get, get what I, what I want

Gonna show ev'ry, everybody how I, how I flaunt

Look at me now, my confidence is soaring

Dudes be impressed with the points I'm scoring like

(Random Bergens)

(That ain't boring)

(Bridget)

And it just don't quit

Watch the king drop his jaw when I'm shaking my hips, I'm saying

(Snack Pack)

She's coming out

(Biggie)

(She's coming)

(Snack Pack)

It's time to take a stand

(Bridget)

And show the world that I'm coming out

(Poppy)

(She's coming out)

Lillian couldn’t deny that she impressed. In a short period of time they managed to transform Bridget into a completely different person. They gave her new clothes and they used their actual hair to make her a wig, which they are currently hiding in. Now they just needed to find the king and hope that they can pull this off. “No, no, no! It’s all wrong! I’m the king that’s bringing back Trollstice. I need a bib to match.” Speak of the devil. Bridget gasped as she observed him from the window. They watched as he screamed at the tailor.

Lillian did not like his attitude one bit. Would it kill him to be a bit nicer to his subjects? “Oh, he’s so beautiful” Bridget said staring dreamily at him. “And so are you” Poppy said but Bridget began to get cold feet. “Oh, he’ll know that I’m just a scullery maid!” “No, no, no!” Poppy exclaimed, trying to put her mind at ease. “Argh, I got to get out of here!” Bridget was full blown panicking and Poppy was trying to calm her down. Lillian couldn’t really blame her for being nervous, she had never done this before and this was the king they were talking about. “Bridget calm down, everything is going to be fine. We’ll be right here with you” she said blowing a bit of fairy dust in her face. She felt her anxiety and worry disappear. “What did you just do?” “It’s just a calming spell. I use it to help calm people down when their emotions get too high.” It’s true. She uses it on her friends when they get away too excited but she mostly uses it on Branch when he has nightmares or his anxiety gets the best of him.

Bridget looked at Lillian and said “thank you. I needed that.” “You’re welcome.” She then looked at Poppy. "You'll tell me what to say, right?" Poppy nodded. "Of course, we will." "Of course, we will" Bridget copied. "Just wait until we get inside" she said hiding. As Bridget entered the store, Gristle had found the perfect bib. The tailor complimented him and the guards clapped. “I think you look fat” Bridget chimed in with a deeper voice. Gristle got angry. “What?” He turned around. “P-H, phat. Then strike that pose" Poppy said hoping that would fix it. “P-h, phat!” Bridget clarified striking a pose.

Gristle felt like the world around him had stopped. Wondering who this gorgeous babe was. “Hot lunch! Total honesty from a total babe.” Gristle practically floated towards her. He took her hand and asked “and who might you be?” Bridget hesitated. “Your name is, um…” Poppy looked at her friends for an answer. “Lady!” “Glitter?” “Sparkles!” Biggie, Guy, and Smidge suggested. “Seriously?” Branch hissed. Lillian looking at them in disbelief. They couldn’t come up with anything better like Emma, Rose, Sophia, they could even tell her to use her real name but that’s what they went for? “My name is Lady Glittersparkles, seriously.” Branch and Lillian fought hard to not face palm themselves. “Well, Milady Glittersparkles.” Gristle bowed. ‘He bought that?!’ Branch and Lillian pretty much shouted in their heads.

“Would you care to join me for an evening at Captain Starfunkle’s Roller rink and Arcade?” He asked. “Would I!” She whispered in disbelief before glancing at Poppy, uncertain. “Would I?” “Yes! you’d be delighted” she answered. “Yes, you’d be delighted” she copped. Lillian sighed. “We really should have clarified this more.” Branch nodded. “Oh, indeed, I would” Gristle said liking her attitude. “When are you gonna ask him about Creek?" Branch asked. "Well, we have to warm him up first. Don't you know anything about romance?" Poppy asked. Branch sarcastically replied "of course! I'm passionate about it" and Poppy looked surprised. “Really?” Lillian giggled. This girl can’t tell what sarcasm was even if it bit her in the butt. “Poppy, he was being sarcastic.” "I think I had a sarcasm once" Copper said. Lillian shook her head. “No, Copper. That’s not what sarcasm is.” "And I'll take one of everything, Bibbly. Things are gonna get messy" Gristle says as he and Bridget/Lady Glittersparkles exit the shop. Lillian blinked, puzzled at his word choice.

At Captain Starfunkle's Roller Rink and Arcade. Gristle and Bridget/Lady Glittersparkles were sat at a booth. A pizza was placed in front of them. “Enjoy your pizza. Here’s your tokens” the server said tossing tokens on the table. “Ooh, so fancy” Bridget commented. Lillian blinked. Did she really find this fancy? Sure it was nice but she wouldn’t exactly say it was fancy. “Good thing I brought my appetite.” Her and Gristle reached for a slice and their hands touched. They looked at each other, gazing into each other’s eyes. They leaded in closer… She slapped his hand and gobbled down the slice. “You are fantastic!” The king complimented. “Bridget! compliment him back!” Poppy said. “I like your back.” "No. I meant say something nice about him" Poppy said. "But I do like his back" Bridget said back. "Huh?" King Gristle asks in confusion. Lillian chucked. She couldn’t help it. Bridget’s very cute.

They tried to find an away to complement him but they were having trouble. Everyone was talking at the same time making it harder for Bridget to say something. "Your eyes... ears... nose... skin... neck... ears... nose... face... back of your head... your teeth." "What's going on? Are you making fun of me?" King Gristle asks standing up to leave. They panicked, thinking that it was over for them, thinking they would never save their friend, thinking the mission was ruined because of…

“Your eyes.”

They snapped out of their panic and saw Branch, telling Bridget what to say. "They're like... two pools, so deep... I fear if I dive in... I might never come up for air. And your smile... the sun itself turns jealous... and refuses to come out from behind the clouds... knowing it cannot shine half as bright." Gristle sat back down, feeling touched at her words. “I kinda do have a nice smile, don’t I?” Poppy stared at him. She never thought that he would be such a poetic person. “Yes, you do” he said looking at Poppy. Lillian smiled. She knows about her brother’s crush on the princess but he asked her not to say or do anything about it.

“I can’t believe I’m about to say this” Bridget said hesitantly. "Guys, she's going rogue!" Biggie warned. Bridget continued "but being here with you today... makes me realize that true happiness is possible." They were at a loss for words. All of their lives, Bergens were beings incapable of happiness, that’s why they eat trolls, to make them feel happy but now, this one Bergen was contradicting everything that they have been taught or experienced. Maybe, just maybe, everything could change for the better for them both. “Whoa” Poppy murmured.

“It is! True happiness is a lot closer than you think” Gristle eagerly agreed has he slid towards her and presented her with a green emerald and gold locket. “It’s right here.” ‘What?’ Lillian thought confused. “Hmm. That’s pretty, I guess” Bridget said. “What do you think now?” He asked opening the locket, revealing that familiar purple troll was in it. “Creek?” Branch said in disbelief. Lillian coved her mouth with her eyes as big as the moon. “I knew he was alive!” Poppy cheered. The rest of the Snack Pack celebrated. As happy as Lillian was that Creek is alive, she couldn’t shake that something felt off.

How was he alive? Why was he alive? They all saw him go into the king’s mouth. Yes, they didn’t see him chew or swallow but from what Branch had told her, Bergens were bloodthirsty savages who would kill to get their hands on a troll so they can enjoy one day of happiness. If they’re that desperate to be happy then why didn’t Gristle just eat him? Something wasn’t right and by Mother Of Magic she was going to find out what.

“I’ve been savoring this little guy” Gristle said looking pleased. Bridget looked at Creek and felt pity. “Help!” Creek yelped before he was shoved back into the locket. “Mercy!” “Tell me, my lady, will I be seeing you at the Trollstice feast?” Gristle asked her casually with a charming smile. “Well duh. I’ll be working” she replied. “It!” Poppy shouted. “It. Working it. You know…” she got up and swayed her hips. Lillian struggled to suppress her laughter. “Yeah! You’re not kidding, you will” Gristle laughed in awe. “Because you’re gonna be there as my plus one.” “Really?” Bridget asked in shock. Gristle nervously backtracked. “Assuming you’ll say yes?” Bridget didn’t hesitate or need the trolls help. “Yes!” “Yes!” Gristle and the trolls cheered. “Meantime, maybe we should find some other way to…" He adjusted his clothes. “Work up an appetite." "Oh yeah? What did you have in mind?" She asked. Lillian flinched, disgusted.

I walked over, got this sunlight

Ain't got time to listen to any shade

Yeah

Luckily for Lillian’s sanity, the two went roller skating. They moved in sync holding hands and did a lot of complicated moves like nothing. She watched them in awe. She loved stuff like roller skates and ice skating but she wouldn’t be able to do it since there were usually too many people. Watching them skate and having fun made her smile. They really do make a cute couple. 

The wind on my pony, top-down, alright

Ain't got time to let them darken my day

That's right

Gristle spun Bridget nearly sending them flying off her head. Lillian grabbed onto Bridget’s hair and outstretched her wings to her friends. Poppy managed to grab onto her wing and Branch’s hand. They formed a troll chain to keep themselves from blowing away.

So light the fireworks

Sing like no one's heard

Dance, it's us against the world

… Oh, oh, oh

Bridget saw the Gristle was about to turn around. She spun him around so he wouldn’t see them. Lillian took this chance to pull everyone back. She used all her strength and ignored the pain she felt as her wing rip. She groaned felling her wing ached. “Lilly!” Branch ran to her, ignoring the fact that he landed in Poppy’s arms. He knelt beside her and inspected the damage. The tear was pretty big but it was nothing compared to how bad it was 15 years ago, her whole wing was practically gone. It’ll probably take around three to four days to heal but she’ll have to avoid using her magic if she wants it to heal faster. He rubbed her wing to try and sooth the pain causing her to flash him a smile.

(Ooohh Heeeeyyy)

They don't know, they don't know, they don't know, they don't know about us

They don't know, they don't know, they don't know about what we do

That it's true

Thinking of all this but I'm good, if I've got you

They don't know, they don't know, they don't know, they don't know about us

Everyone, minus Branch who was too busy with his sister, was on the edge of their seats, watching as Bridget and Gristle leaned in for a kiss. Only for an unwelcomed voice to interrupt. “Your majesty.” Chef skated towards them. “You seem to be having… fun.” The older Bergen stated at them with a look of disgust and confusion. “Oh, I am! Meet the lovely Lady Glittersparkles.” Gristle introduced her with a soft voice and a love struck gaze. Chef hummed suspiciously, inspecting the her up and down. “You remind me of someone” she mused has she absurd her, not noticing that her knees were shaking.

Meanwhile, the Snack Pack and Poppy were shaking in fear. Lillian stepped in front of them, ready to jump into action in case anything happened. Branch stood by her side. Despite his terror, he refused to lose his sister to this monster. Everyone was silent has Chef kept staring. No one noticed that their nervousness was making the fake hair shake as well. The tension was broken when Gristle spoke oblivious of the tension going on. “She’s, uh, gonna be my plus one.” “Oh, I see. For a moment there I was concerned you were changing the plan” Chef said. Gristle laughed, Bridget nervously chuckled, Cooper tried to laugh too but the other’s shushed him.

“Well, this won’t be a problem at all, your highness. I’ll just get my worthless scullery maid to get… another place setting for the lovely… Lady Glittersparkles” Chef said smirking. ‘Witch!’ Lillian thought. “Put her place setting next to mine. I want her right by my side...” He tried to wrap his arm around her but she was gone. “Hey!” He looked at the exit when he heard the door close. “Lady Glittersparkles?” He ran out the door. “Lady Glittersparkles!” He saw her skate away. "I'll see you at Trollstice, yeah?" Gristle waved. He then gasped when he saw she left one of her skates. Eagerly picking it up, he spun one of the front wheels and whispered "I miss you already." He attempted to kiss the spinning wheel only to hurt his lips. "Ow!"