Costs
Chapter 1: Sacrifices
So I got only a few days left of Vacation so I decided to write a Short story and I mean SHORT. So Sorry if it's not as long as you want it to be. I'll write longer one's later after my vacation. Enjoy my new fic!
-In the pot-
"Thank you" Poppy said holding Branch's hands.
"No, Thank you" Branch replied
"For what?" Poppy asked
"For showing me how to be... happy" Branch responded
"Really!? You're finally happy!? ... Now?" Poppy looked confused
"I think so. Happiness is inside of all of us right? Sometimes, you just need someone to help you find it."
Poppy gave branch a loving smile. He at that moment stole her heart. Even facing death in the face, she couldn't be happier. But a young troll broke her loving gaze
"What's gonna happen now Princess Poppy?" The kid asked
"I don't know, but I know we're not giving up." She smiled at Branch who returned one also.
Suddenly the pot started to shake and clang. This was it. The top was taken off and the Chef smiled at the now frightened Trolls. Poppy grappled onto Branch now fearing who would be chosen first. Branch now having no fear and now knowing what it was like to be happy again, decided to take the bold step to give the Trolls extra time to think of a way out. He managed to get Poppy's arms off from around him.
"Branch? What are you doing?" She tried to whisper just loud enough to break through the Bergens chanting.
"I'm going to buy you some time. You can get all these Trolls away safely. You'll be a hero." He smiled.
"No! You can't go out there! You'll die!" Poppy pleaded.
"Well at least I can die happy then." He gave Poppy one last hug. "You not only showed me what it was like to be happy but what it was like to feel love. This is the only way I can see to protect you." Poppy started crying into his shoulder not wanting to let him go. But she had to or they'd all die. She slowly let him go and watched as he made his way to the center of the pot in the spotlight by himself smiling all the way. A Bergen's hand swooped down and snatched him from the pot.
"MMMMMM!" A couple trolls held Poppy's mouth shut while she muffled screams for the Troll who took her heart and was now taken from it.
"WHAT THE-!" Plates started to crash and there was a huge commotion outside. Branch had somehow got free and started distracting the Bergens. Suddenly the pot was tipped over. All the Trolls fell out. Poppy turned to see who knocked over the pot.
Bridget.
"Run! Get out of here!" Bridget yells.
"What about Branch?" Poppy shouts back
"He won't be able to distract them much longer! Run!" Bridget starts pushing her towards the door. Poppy reluctantly goes.
-At the Troll Tree-
As they leave towards the Troll Tree, the Bergen commotion silenced and a cheer arose. Poppy stood at the edge of the tree looking back with more worry than she ever had before.
"Poppy it's time to go." King Peppy held her shoulder.
"But Branch." Poppy didn't take her eyes away from the castle.
"Branch was a hero. He gave his life to protect you." Peppy tried to calm her but Poppy started moving towards the castle. "Poppy? What are you doing?" He now asked fearfully.
"I have to find out if Branch made it out." She started walking faster.
"He wouldn't want you to go back!" Peppy tried to reason with her but failed.
"If I don't find out what happened to him for sure, I'll go grey!" She threatened. But deep down she knew she would probably turn grey if Branch had died for her.
"Poppy-"
"No! I'm going to find Branch!" She turned to her father and gave him a quick hug. "I'll make it back. I promise. I just have to know."
"Be careful."
Poppy left for the castle in a hurry to find her Branch.
-In the Castle-
Poppy searched around the castle to find Branch but had couldn't find him anywhere. She started to panic so she ran to the kitchen to see if there was any hope that he was alive. She found her way into the kitchen and to her joy and admiration, Branch was in a cage being tortured slowly. The Bergens were trimming off tiny bits from the edge of his hair and sprinkling it on their food.
What Poppy didn't know is that the Bergens found out that Troll hair still made them feel happy so they caged the only remaining Troll and only fed him enough to keep him alive so they could keep trimming the top of his hair for a seasoning for their food to make Bergens happy.
Poppy had to restrain herself from just running at Branch to save him. She had to think of a way to rescue him without drawing any attention. She sat there for hours it seemed like until she finally took together a plan to save the Blue Haired Troll who she fell in love with.
This story won't be as long as my last one "Old Ways" but I hope you'll still enjoy it! Luv u all! 3 As always thanks for the support!
