Sorry it took so long to update this story but I've been extremely busy and my laptop died on me. I finally got a new one and back in business. As promised this chapter is slightly longer. The next one is coming soon and sorry for any typos.

Rian watched as every troll began building a new kingdom to his liking, he felt so powerful. Even with all his power he could not just command any troll to cry because that would be too easy, no the tears had to come from the heart. He knew that the two trolls that he had tossed in to the river were on their way back and they would be stupid enough to fight but he was going to have the upper hand. The blue troll that he scratched would be to weak and the other to much of a coward.

xxxxxx

"Why did you even go to the imps?" Branch asked as they continued to walk.

"It was an accident," Creek sighed as he began explaining everything "I really had no idea where I was and he just appeared. I wanted to turn around and run away but I couldn't for some reason."

Branch narrowed his eyes still completely unsure if he should trust him or not.

"I know you don't believe me after what I did with the bergens," Creek replied without even looking back at the blue troll "but you're going to have to trust me now."

"What if I can't?" Branch whispered

Creek finally looked back at Branch "I don't know. I guess you're going to have to try."

"Easier said than done," Branch mumbled under his breath.

Without warning a sudden sharp pain flared up from the scratch "ACK!" Branch exclaimed as his hand quickly went to his face. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes from the intense pain.

"Maybe we should take a break," Creek said as he watched Branch try to calm down the scratch's flare up.

"No!" Branch snapped being subborn "Let's just keep going."

"Alright," Creek shrugged "But that mark is really starting to look bad."

"I don't care!"

"Well at least let try to stop it from becoming worst," Creek replied pointing at Branch's face.

"How?" Branch questioned "You can't stop it."

"True," Creek agreed "But maybe we can slow it down somehow."

Branch thought about for a minute before remebering that Lavender leaves crushed up might help. "Lavender leaves," he said out loud.

"Lavender leaves?" Creek repeated tilting his head to the side.

"Yes," Branch nodded "Hopefully we can crush them up and it should slow down the process."

"Are you sure?"

"Not a hundred percent," Branch confessed "but we got to try."

Creek nodded "I'll go find some lavender and you get whatever else you may need."

The two trolls went separte ways but felt it was safe not to travel too far away from their meeting spot. It did not take long for Branch to gather the things he need to crush the leaves into oil and he set it up as he waited for the purple troll to return. When Creek did not show up right away Branch started to think that he was right and that Creek had lied to him and left him.

"I knew it," Branch mumbled under his breath and shaking his head.

As soon as he said that Creek appeared carrying five leaves in one hand and a couple berries in the other. "Here," he said handing the leaves and one berry over "I figured you could use a snack."

"Thanks..." Branch replied slowly "I guess."

"Sure," the purple troll shrugged as he took a seat across from Branch and taking a nice size bite into the berry.

Branch placed the leaves into a bowl shaped rock that he managed to find and started to crush them up together, he then added som addtional ingredents he had found. Creek watched as it slowly became a paste like substance. "Just out of curiosity, where did you ever learn to make things like this?" he asked.

"Well living alone all those years I had to learn things," Branch replied as he finished making the mixture "now let's hope it works."

Creek watched as Branch scooped up a good amount slowly placed onto his cheek and gently rubbed it on the scratch. Branch hissed in pain from the terrible sting, he closed his eyes tightly and waited for the pain to pass.

"Is it working?" Creek asked

"I'm not sure," Branch replied before finally eating the berry.

Once they were finished they went on their way..."I can't believe how far we got washed away in just a matter of minutes," Creek said trying to make small talk.

"I guess it was because of how fast the water was flowing and how small we are." Branch pointed out.

"Yeah I figured that," Creek agreed "but still. It's pretty far."

The two trolls walked along in silence for a long while after that, they really had nothing in common what so ever. Branch kept his eyes on the troll in front of him still unable to fully trust him because trust needed to be earned. Creek on the other hand walked with his eyes closed trying to collect the forests calm nature and sooth the tention between him and the Branch. Hours past before the village came into view, only it did not look they village. Centered right in the middle was a big stone castle being erected.

Branch narrowed his eyes as he watched his fellow trolls carry the stones over to the castle and place them where the imps pointed. Branch could feel his blood start to boil when his eyes fell upon the leader of the imps who had Poppy waiting on him hand and foot while he just sat there. Rian demanded her to get him something else and as she turned to get whatever he wanted he shoved her hard. Poppy fell forward and landed on her knees, the pink troll dusted herself off and looked back on the imp before going off to get whatever he wanted.

Creek came up beside Branch and followed his eyes "They're all under his spell," he said as he continued to watch.

Branch stood up fast but Creek quickly stopped him "Wait! Not a good idea Mate."

Though Branch wanted to just charge down there he knew Creek was right, they had to come up with a plan to save everyone. "We need to figure out how to stop those imps," Branch said as he applied the last of the lavender paste onto his mark.

The two of them brainstormed most of the night until Creek wanted to take a break. Branch found this to be a bit odd and decided to follow him from a safe distance. But all the purple troll seemed to do was pick more berries to snack on and look around. Branch watched him as he sat down and let out a heavy sigh. Creek then started to sing softly...

So you can doubt
And you can hate
But I know, no matter what it takes

I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away
All the pain of yesterday
I know my friends awaits
And they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming

Still far away
From where I belong
But it's always darkest
Before the dawn
So you can doubt
And you can hate
But I know, no matter what it takes

I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away
All the pain of yesterday
I know my friends awaits
And they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the world I'm coming...

Branch said nothing when the purple troll returned for the night and curled up and fell asleep.