A/N: Hello! Welcome to the last chapter of Dreams In Color! I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who followed and favorited, and give a big hug to those who reviewed. You guys are so wonderful! This chapter will wrap up the story, but there will be an epilogue. I might do a sequel, but please don't count on it. I don't want you guys to get your hopes up over nothing. I apologize if this maybe seems a bit rushed, but I'm not very good at action scenes. I went back and reread and ironed out everything I could, so hopefully it's passable. Enjoy!

NOTE: Trigger warning for some blood and threats of violence.

As always, comments, questions, reviews, and helpful criticism are highly appreciated.


When Bridget entered the dining hall, hardly any of the gathered Bergens looked up from their whispered conversations or even seemed to notice she was there. Poppy could see that Bridget was nervous, but her steps didn't falter and Poppy felt a rush of pride for her friend.

"Lady Glittersparkles!" Gristle called. Bridget and Poppy looked over to see him sitting at a table at the front of the hall. Next to the throne-chair Poppy had seen earlier was a slightly smaller, outrageously pink one obviously meant for his guest. Poppy cringed. She loved pink probably more than the next Troll, but none of those shades matched and it was quite frankly painful to look at.

Poppy glanced down to see Branch pretending to puke and smothered her laughter at his over-the-top performance. He was such a goofball and she loved him so much.

"Hello," Bridget said nervously, awkwardly sliding into the seat and looking very uncomfortable and all around suspicious. "How, uh, how are you?"

"I'm splendid, thank you. And yourself?" Gristle seemed not to notice his date's unease. That, or he was ignoring it in an effort to be polite.

"Oh, um, good," Bridget stammered. She set down Branch's cage a bit too hard and Branch went sprawling. He scowled at Bridget, brushing himself off, and Bridget blushed and mouthed "Sorry."

Poppy noticed that Gristle was squinting closely at Branch freaked; did he notice the different coloring?

"Quick, distract him!" Poppy hissed in Bridget's ear.

"So, uh, nice weather today, yeah?" Bridget asked loudly. Gristle looked up at her, blinking, and Branch mimed hitting his head against the bars repeatedly.

"Yeah, it is," Gristle said. There was a painful pause. "Well, um, glad you could make it this time," Gristle started again. Bridget nodded swiftly, nearly dislodging the Trolls clinging to her hair. Gristle glanced down at Branch before asking nonchalantly, "Hey, do you think there's something sorta… blue… about this Troll?"

"I'm sure it's just the lighting," Bridget said hurriedly. Branch became very interested in something on the other side of the room. When Gristle nodded, looking satisfied, Poppy exhaled, relieved, and patted Bridget's head.

"Nice one," she whispered.

"Settle down, everyone!" Chef's voice called out. Everyone became silent, staring at her expectantly as she paced down the length of the tables towards Gristle, Bridget, and the Trolls. The Snack Pack clustered around Poppy and everyone held their breath. "I'm sure you're all wondering what we're doing here, seeing as there's only one, non edible Troll."

Poppy looked at Branch. He was standing perfectly still, facing the room with his back to Poppy, but she could see his nerves in the straight line of his shoulders, the tenseness of his body, and the way he held his head. She wanted so badly to jump down there and hold his hand, but that would ruin everything. Instead, she turned her attention back to Chef.

"I have made a revolutionary discovery: Trolls forge very strong bonds, and they don't leave any of their own behind, no matter the danger. Using this knowledge and this Troll," Chef grabbed Branch's cage and held it up. "We will lure the rest of them right to us."

"But how?" a Bergen spoke up. Chef grinned cruelly.

"I'm glad you asked," Chef purred. She reached into her pocket and took out a key, which she used to unlock the cage door. Poppy watched, aghast, as Branch scrambled back, away from Chef's hand, but he was trapped. Chef triumphantly pulled him out of the cage, ignoring his squirming. She set the cage down in front of Bridget, who let out a tiny whimper that only Poppy could hear, and pulled a small kitchen knife out of its sheath on her thigh. Poppy squeaked in distress as Branch went still, his wide eyes locked on the knife that Chef twirled in her fingers.

"I know they're here somewhere," Chef said coolly. "So, I'm going to count to ten. If they don't come out by then, I'll cut off one finger for each second they're late," she gestured to Branch with the knife, the blade only inches from his face. "I have been wondering if gray Troll tastes any different, after all."

She examined every face in the silent hall, shifting her grip on Branch so that one of his arms was poking out of her fist and held firmly between her fingers.

"One," she began, untroubled by Branch's desperate struggles. Poppy could only stare in horror as true panic settled on Branch's face. "Two." The knife inched closer and Branch pulled on his arm, nearly popping his elbow out of place in his terror. "Three."

"Poppy, what do we do?!" Biggie shrieked. The others freaked out, calling out to Poppy, pleading for her to do something, anything, but Poppy was paralyzed, unable to move.

"Six." Chef continued, the knife inching closer with each number. "Seven." Branch jerked away, but the knife was too close and he cut his arm. It started to bleed instantly, even though it only nicked him. Branch stopped struggling and stared at the silver blade, shaking. "Eight."

"Poppy!" the twins cried, grabbing her arms. Poppy snapped out of it when DJ grabbed her shoulders and shook her roughly.

"Ten." The knife rested on Branch's hand and Chef got ready to push down when Poppy finally found her voice.

"Stop!" she shouted. Nobody moved as she and the Snack Pack changed their hair back to normal. Branch was staring at them, his eyes wide in his pale face. The cut on his arm was still bleeding sluggishly.

"Lady Glittersparkles?" Gristle asked. "But… how? Why?"

"She didn't think you'd want someone like her," Poppy explained quietly.

"I mean, hello? Is it me you're looking for? I don't think so," Bridget said sadly.

"What is the meaning of this?" Chef snarled. "Idget? What- why-"

"Don't you see?" Bridget said suddenly, turning to the king. "We made each other happy, and we didn't need to eat a Troll to do it!" The Bergens muttered to each other, looking shocked.

"You mean that's the feeling I had, back in the arcade?" Gristle said. "I just thought I had eaten too much pizza."

"No, that was happiness!" Poppy told him. "Happiness isn't something you put inside you, it's already there! You just need a little help to find it, sometimes," she added, smiling at Branch.

"Can I really be happy?" A female Bergen called out. The others shouted too, looking excited at this new idea.

"No!" Chef broke in, still clutching Branch. She squeezed him tightly and he gasped, choking. "There's only one way to be happy! My way!" She raised the knife and stabbed down and the Trolls screamed.

"No!" Poppy shouted. She jumped, looping her hair around the hand that held Branch, and felt something wrap around her waist and yank. Chef was pulled along and spun, yelping in surprise. She opened her hands automatically and Branch flew out of one, the knife soaring in the other direction. Poppy quickly grabbed Branch with her hair, holding tightly even as she was drawn back towards her friends.

Poppy felt her feet hit the table and straightened, glancing down to see Smidge's bright blue hair unwinding from around her. She gently set Branch down beside her before launching herself at him, snuggling into him.

"Are you okay?" she asked, distraught, and pulled back to search him thoroughly. His arm had stopped bleeding, but she tore a strip off her dress anyway to wrap it up, ignoring Branch's weak protests.

"I'm fine," he said, looking shell-shocked. The others surrounded them, checking Branch over with Poppy and assuring themselves he was okay. Branch didn't fight them, leaning against Poppy and closing his eyes. Poppy gently ran her fingers through his hair, feeling pleased when it began to turn azure at her touch.

"Guards!" Gristle yelled, pointing at Chef. "Capture her! Lock her in the dungeon!"

"No!" Chef wailed, looking crazed. She lunged at the Trolls, but there were just too many guards. They dragged her out of the room, slamming the door behind them and leaving her voice echoing in their wake.

"Is he okay?" Bridget asked Poppy. She nodded, still brushing Branch's hair. He hadn't opened his eyes yet, and Poppy wouldn't have been surprised if he had fainted from blood loss, shock, or both.

"Do you really think we can be happy?" A Bergen spoke up, staring at Poppy.

"Of course I do," she said firmly. "Look at Bridget and the king: they're happy, and they've never tasted a Troll in their lives!"

"It's true," Gristle said. "And from this moment on, the Bergens and the Trolls will live in peace. No more Trollstice!" he cried.

"No more Trollstice!" hundreds of voices cheered as Trolls began pouring out of the chandeliers. "No more Trollstice!" The Bergens joined in. Someone had turned on some music, though Poppy didn't know how, and the Trolls were flooding the room, dancing wildly and getting the Bergens to join in.

"I'm very proud of you," a voice said in Poppy's ear. She looked up at her father and smiled. Peppy patted her shoulder, grinning broadly.

"So am I," Branch spoke up roughly. He sat up, shaking his head, and grinned at her. "Sorry 'bout that," he added. Poppy waved him off before throwing her arms around him in the biggest hug yet.

"Give it up for our new Queen!" Peppy yelled, his voice carrying over the music. Bergens and Trolls alike cheered as he placed the leafy crown on Poppy's head. Stunned, she looked around the room. Bergens and Trolls danced side-by-side, laughing and singing as if they had never been enemies.

"Congratulations," Branch said quietly, taking hold of Poppy's hand and giving her such a genuine, warm smile that she couldn't help but smile back.

It would take a lot of work to truly live in harmony, but Poppy was ready for it. Tomorrow was a new day, after all, and she had Branch.

As the sun rose outside and the party continued, Poppy felt confident that everything would be okay. After all, with Branch at her side, what could go wrong?