A/N: Aw, I loved your reviews for the last chapter. You guys are great. Now, you want to know which adaptation I'm writing next? Drumroll please…
Kung Fu Troll! You can guess which movie that's an adaptation of. Now, Part One is nowhere near done. But when I get to Part Two, I'm hoping to publish both stories simultaneously. More info on "Kung Fu Troll" will come in due time!
Guest – One of the best Trolls fics you ever read? Wow! I'm honored. Thank you!
Mlpfanceline1 – Oddly enough, I'm glad I made you cry. I take it as a sign you enjoy this story. Thank you!
So it looks like I got all of you right in the feels. (insert evil laugh) Maybe I'll get you again in this chapter.
Chapter 10 – Silhouette
"Grandma!" Branch called excitedly. The young troll bounded into the room holding a piece of paper in his hands. "Look what I drew!"
Rosiepuff paused in her laundry work to take a look. The lovely little picture showed herself and Branch in the Troll Tree. Simple yet beautiful. "It's wonderful, Branch. Well done."
"Will you help me put it in my scrapbook?" Branch requested. He knew he wasn't allowed to use the glue unsupervised. Last time he tried to scrapbook by himself, he got glue in his hair and it took an hour for Rosiepuff to wash it out.
"After I'm done with the laundry." Rosiepuff said, lifting up the laundry basket and heading outside.
"I'll help!" Branch offered as he hurried after his grandmother. Rosiepuff laughed and let Branch run ahead of her towards the clothesline. She lifted him up so he could pin the damp clothes onto the clothesline, and the toddler beamed with pride. It didn't take long for him to become bored with the chore, so he picked a flower nearby and started to sing. Rosiepuff didn't mind. She loved hearing Branch sing, and it entertained her while she finished hanging the wash.
Rosiepuff turned to smile at her grandson, but the sight of a large shadow made her do a double-take. Her adoring smile turned to a horrified expression when she saw the shadow was in fact the Bergen Chef. Why she was here and how she got in so silently, Rosiepuff didn't know. But she did see that Chef came right towards her beloved grandson.
"Branch! Watch out!" Rosiepuff shouted, running towards him.
Branch continued to sing, unaware of the danger approaching him. Rosiepuff barely felt her feet touching the tree bark, desperate to reach her grandson.
"Watch out, Branch!"
Branch finally stopped singing when he heard his grandmother shouting, and a shadow passed over him. He turned just in time to see a large Bergen hand coming right for him. Rosiepuff didn't even think twice. She lunged forward and shoved Branch out of the way. Her eyes locked onto her grandson, who stared back in fear. She prepared to grab Branch and cushion his fall. Instead, she felt Chef's fingers close around her. Rosiepuff liked to consider herself brave. But this was the closest she had ever been to the horrible Bergen creatures. A terrified scream ripped free from her throat. Chef tightened her grip, and Rosiepuff desperately fought to break free. She had to go back to Branch. She couldn't just leave him alone. But the more she struggled, the tighter Chef's grip became. One of her nails pressed against Rosiepuff's neck. It became hard to breathe, and Rosiepuff passed out.
When she woke up again, Chef took her into the kitchen at the castle. She threw the elderly troll into a cage and locked the door behind her. Rosiepuff scrambled to her feet and shook the door, but it stayed firm.
"Please, please don't eat me." Rosiepuff begged. "It's not even Trollstice." Chef ignored her. "You don't understand! I have a grandson back at home. I can't leave him all alone. I'm all he has!" Chef still went about organizing the pots and pans in the kitchen, not paying Rosiepuff any heed. Rosiepuff angrily rattled the cage door. "He's too young to be on his own! He needs me!"
"Shut up!" Chef smacked the cage, shaking it enough to send Rosiepuff to the floor of the barred enclosure. Rosiepuff backed away when Chef put her face close to the bars, but the old troll's eyes developed an uncharacteristic glare. Chef glared too, looking irritated. "You're not going back. If you didn't want to be captured, you should've let me take that little pipsqueak I was aiming for."
"Over my dead body." Rosiepuff growled.
Chef chuckled. "Oh that can be arranged. Trust me." She turned and marched out the door, leaving Rosiepuff alone in her cage.
Rosiepuff rattled the cage door and then kicked the bars when they still didn't give way. Though confused as to why Chef didn't prepare to cook her, she had more important things to worry about. She had to escape while she had the chance. Rosiepuff analyzed the lock on the cage. Too big for a hair pin. But maybe Rosiepuff could use something else. Thinking for a moment, she decided to pull out a pair of scissors from her hair. She stuck the blade end into the lock and twisted the scissors around, listening for the clicks of the lock mechanisms. Finally, the lock clicked open, and Rosiepuff silently cheered for herself. But she didn't like how bent and utterly useless her scissors had become from being used as a lock pick.
"Oh, these are my good sewing scissors." Rosiepuff pouted. She sighed and tossed the destroyed scissors over her shoulder. She hopped out of the cage and ran across the countertops, making a beeline for the door. She didn't expect the door to swing open, and she skidded to a halt. When the door closed, Rosiepuff saw a little Bergen child with pale grey skin and pink hair, wearing a pink dress and white apron. The scullery maid saw Rosiepuff and gasped in surprise. Rosiepuff turned and ran.
"Wait!" the girl called quietly. She chased after Rosiepuff, but the elder troll proved to be rather sprightly despite her age. She easily dodged the Bergen girl's attempts to grab her. But she didn't expect the scullery maid to grab a pot and slam it over her. The pot moved, pushing Rosiepuff off the counter and onto a lid. Now she was fully trapped. The Bergen girl peered inside and then grabbed Rosiepuff before she could run away again. Strangely enough, this girl's grip felt gentle as opposed to Chef's bone-crushing fist.
"Look, I will anything you want." Rosiepuff pleaded. "Just don't eat me."
"Why would I?" the Bergen girl asked. "It's not Trollstice."
Rosiepuff sighed in relief. "At least one Bergen understands laws." She and the Bergen girl froze when they heard voices, and the girl grabbed a sponge from the sink. She dropped to her hands and knees, pushing Rosiepuff under the counter.
"Go. Get out of here!" the Bergen girl whispered as she pretended to scrub the floor.
"Thank you." Rosiepuff breathed. She hid behind a table leg as Chef entered. She snickered silently when she heard Chef screech.
"Where's that troll?!" Chef demanded. "You! Scullery maid! Did you eat it?"
"It's not Trollstice, Chef." The Bergen girl replied timidly.
A male voice chuckled. "How strange to see a Bergen with a sense of honor."
Rosiepuff's head tilted in her confusion. She didn't see another set of feet. Who did that voice belong to?
"I have honored our agreement since we first made it!" Chef snapped.
"Oh really?" the male voice scoffed. "If I recall correctly, our deal was every Trollstice you would provide me a troll to use in my experiments. In return, I give you a single wishing star to use as you please."
"And what a lot of good those wishing stars did for me." Chef grumbled. "I could only make simple wishes like new spices or money."
"Or a golden spatula, it would seem." The male voice mused.
"They wouldn't make me queen. That's what really irritated me. But that's beside the point! If I recall correctly, the deal also says you only come during Trollstice so the king won't ever know about the deal." Chef snapped. "Why were you not here last Trollstice?"
"I was otherwise engaged." The male voice said. "Now produce the troll you promised or I'll be forced to tell King Gristle about how you've been illegally taking trolls."
Chef grumbled and muttered angrily. "I'm sure she's around here somewhere. Help me look."
That was Rosiepuff's cue to leave. She started running, only for her coat to catch a nail sticking out of the table leg. Desperate to escape, she tore off her knitted coat and abandoned it. She stopped again when she reached the end of the countertops. The door wasn't that far away. Rosiepuff exhaled silently, counted down, and dashed for the door.
Just as she reached the door, a crocodile appeared in front of her. The large beast hissed at her, and Rosiepuff screamed as she skidded to a halt. She turned and ran the other direction, the crocodile chasing after her.
"Bad crocodile!" Rosiepuff yelped when the animal snapped his jaws at her. His teeth almost caught her dress. "Bad! Sit! Heel!" She ducked under Chef's legs, and the crocodile tripped the Bergen and caused her to fall. Rosiepuff climbed a broom to get to the countertops, but the crocodile still chased her. She stretched out her hair and grabbed a skillet hanging on the wall. Then she jumped down, but the crocodile clamped his teeth around her hair. Just as she planned. When Rosiepuff and the crocodile hit the floor, the jerk of the croc pulling on Rosiepuff's hair caused the skillet to fall. The heavy pan landed right on the crocodile's head, allowing Rosiepuff to run back towards the door.
Suddenly, black smoky tendrils appeared and circled her. Despite her attempts to avoid them, the snake-like trails of smoke wrapped around her and formed a cage around Rosiepuff. The smoke hardened to metal, leaving Rosiepuff to stare in fear and confusion.
"Very resourceful, as usual." The male voice from before said. "You haven't changed a bit."
Rosiepuff turned to the source and saw a troll with grey skin and black hair, dressed in black robes. "You?"
"Hello again to you too." Blackwood bowed mockingly. He looked to Chef. "Well done, Chef. Normally, I would be angry at you for almost messing up. But you've managed to capture the one troll I always wanted. So, I'll double your pay as long as you promise this mistake won't ever happen again."
Chef's eyes shined greedily. "Of course! I can assure you that I will always have a troll reserved for you when I gather them for Trollstice."
"Very good." Blackwood reached into his hair and pulled out two little lights that looked like stars. The lights floated up to Chef, who held out an open locket and locked the wishing stars away.
Chef giggled albeit darkly. "These will be most helpful. Thank you."
"No, no, thank you." Blackwood said.
"You there, scullery maid!" Chef barked. "Escort him to the tower. We can't let King Gristle see him leaving."
"A pleasure doing business with you." Blackwood bowed as the Bergen girl lifted him and the cage. The maid snuck out of the kitchen and through the castle, careful to not let any of the guards or castle staff see them. They reached the tower, where Blackwood's dark phoenix waited. Blackwood mounted his bird and turned to the scullery maid who still held the cage that had Rosiepuff prisoner.
The Bergen girl stared at Rosiepuff sadly. 'Help me.' Rosiepuff mouthed.
"Young lady." Blackwood said. "I'll be taking my prisoner now."
"Right." the girl sighed. She held up the cage. Blackwood's bird creature grabbed the cage in his talons and flapped his wings to take off.
Rosiepuff tried one last time to break out of the cage, but the bars were firm. Her eyes traveled to the ground, and she saw something strange: a dark pink dot on the steps of the castle. Rosiepuff stared at the pink dot until she finally recognized it as Peppy.
"Peppy!" Rosiepuff shouted. "Stay away from the castle! I'm up here! I'm—" She didn't get to finish when Blackwood's bird gave the cage a vigorous shake. Rosiepuff's head hit the bars, and she was out cold in seconds.
"When I woke up, I was in a cage in Blackwood's home." Rosiepuff finished. "He kept me there until Rosie came to help."
"I think I remember Chef mentioning those wishing star thingies." Suki said.
"Yeah, on the way to Bergen Town when she caught us!" Biggie nodded.
"We almost got eaten by a hill monster, and she used her last wishing star to save herself." Cooper said. "She must've used the first one already."
"But, Rosiepuff, you were taken decades ago." Poppy said. "How are you almost the same age as you were when you were taken?"
"Blackwood made a youth potion and slipped it into my drinks." Rosiepuff explained. "I wouldn't be surprised if he drank some himself. That's actually how Creek ended up so much younger."
"Like he tested it on you before giving it to Grandma?" Rosie guessed.
Creek had stared at the ground the entirety of the story. "Uh, yeah. Wanted to make sure it worked, so he used me."
"How did you end up his slave anyway?" Bliss asked.
Creek didn't like the attention on him. He cleared his throat. "I escaped being eaten in the forest, and Blackwood actually found me soon after I lost my colors. He made me his slave. At the time, I didn't know where else to go."
"He soon became my only friend in that dungeon." Rosiepuff added with a smile.
Branch scoffed. "Shocking, really." Creek looked away. He felt Cybil's comforting hand on his shoulder.
"What's shocking is what Blackwood did to him." Rosie said with a glare. "He tortured Creek."
"He tortured you?" Guy Diamond repeated, gawking at Creek. Everyone stared at him again, and Cybil even gently turned him around so they could all see the scars on his back from Blackwood's whippings. Creek heard several gasps of horror, and he spun back around to face them again.
"It's nothing." He shrugged. "You get used to it."
"You did a pretty nasty thing, Creek." Suki said. "But nobody deserves that kind of treatment."
"What matters is that he's home now." Rosiepuff said. "We both are, and we aren't going anywhere."
Branch and Poppy exchanged a look. Branch was overjoyed that his grandmother had been alive all this time, and now she was finally home. But he still didn't know what to think of Creek. Even Poppy was still wary of him. But Rosiepuff and even Rosie mentioned that Creek was the reason they escaped Blackwood in the first place. If nothing else, Branch was desperate to keep his grandmother at home where she belonged. If that meant even pretending to trust Creek, he'd do it.
"He is going to stay, right Dad?" Rosie asked. "Both Creek and Grandma have to stay."
"Of course." Branch glared at Creek. "Against my better judgement, I'll allow you to stay if my grandmother wishes it."
"I agree." Poppy nodded. "If you can prove yourself deserving of a second chance, we'll give it to you. But you won't be left alone very often."
"He'll be staying with me." Cybil said. "He's too young to be on his own now."
Creek blushed. "I'm sixteen years old now. I think I could be on my own." A smile tugged at his lips when Cybil laughed and tousled his hair. "But I agree with the king and queen's orders. And I promise I will show you how badly I want a second chance."
Poppy nodded in satisfaction. "Well, Branch, I think we'll just leave you and your grandmother to talk. Come along, everyone."
Though the Snack Pack let out a collective, disappointed "Aww," they agreed and everyone departed from the royal pod to go back to their usual business. The Snack Pack stampeded off to tell the other trolls about what happened. Peppy invited Bliss and Rosie to take a nap in his home so they could catch up on their sleep. Cybil escorted Creek back to her pod. Creek stuck close to his surrogate mother, the only one who really seemed happy to have him back. He wouldn't say it out loud, but it felt good to know there was someone who actually missed him.
Once they were alone, Branch hugged his grandmother again. It still felt so unreal to have her home again. But she was really here, and he wasn't going to let her go again.
"It's so good to have you back." Branch sighed.
"It's good to be back, my angel." Rosiepuff said. "Rosie and Cooper told me so much about what happened. To think that you and Poppy went on such a daring mission to Bergen Town." She glanced out the window with a troubled gaze. "And now we're back to living in the middle of Bergen Town."
"But this time in harmony with the Bergens." Branch added. "King Gristle Jr. is our friend, and he promised no troll would ever be eaten by a Bergen ever again."
Rosiepuff scoffed bitterly. "And you believe the word of a Bergen?"
"I believe in my friend." Branch corrected gently. Rosiepuff still looked distressed, almost angry. Branch took her hand in his. "I know it's a big change. A lot of the trolls had trouble adjusting. But everything is going to be all right."
"I admire your optimism, Branch." Rosiepuff said. "But we're talking about Bergens. They're monstrous beasts who nearly destroyed our way of life. They put us in a cage and treated us like wild animals only useful for cooking. They made parents childless and children orphans." Her grip tightened on Branch's hand. "They took me away from you. You were all alone, because of them."
"Because of Chef." Branch said. "Chef was the cruelest person I ever met, Bergen or otherwise. She took you away from me, and she almost destroyed the trolls just to get what she wanted. But that's done now. She's gone, and she's never coming back. So we need to move forward. And if it's not easy, then tell me how I can help and I'll do it."
Rosiepuff finally smiled. "Always the problem-solver. While I'm glad you weren't trapped with me in that cage, sometimes I wondered if I could've escaped sooner had you been there."
Branch blushed a little. "Well I'm not that clever." He and Rosiepuff jumped at a bird cry from outside. The pod shook as something bumped against it.
"All right, Symphony!" Rosiepuff laughed. She and Branch exited the pod to stand beside the phoenix, perched on the branch near the royal pod. Symphony nuzzled her head against Branch adoringly.
"She really likes me, huh?" Branch laughed.
"You must remind her of your mother." Rosiepuff guessed.
Branch petted Symphony's head. He stared at the phoenix in awe. "So this bird really knew my mom?"
"Your mother was a phoenix trainer." Rosiepuff explained. "Phoenixes aren't found in very many places. When they choose a partner, that partner becomes like a second half. Symphony and your mother made an amazing team, and they relied on each other so much. By choosing you as her partner, Symphony is able to fulfill that bond she lost when your mother died."
"So Blackwood stole two things from me." Branch frowned. "My grandmother and a part of my mother." He reached into his vest and wrapped his fingers around his mother's necklace. He sighed through his nose and smiled again. He pressed his forehead to Symphony's head. "Don't you worry, Symphony. I'll always be right here. Nobody's going to get you or Grandma ever again."
Rosiepuff smiled with pride. "Something to know about this bond, Branch: you get what you give. Symphony will show you unfailing loyalty if you do the same for her."
Branch nodded. "I don't think we'll have to worry about that. But I may need a few flying lessons."
"Care to start now?" Rosiepuff asked. Symphony chirped excitedly and lowered herself down more.
Branch's eyes were alight with excitement. "Really?"
"After you." Rosiepuff offered.
As Creek stepped into Cybil's pod home, a tidal wave of memories washed over him. Everything overwhelmed him: the jasmine incense, the yoga mats rolled up in the corner, the instruments sitting quietly against the wall, and even the soft floor. He could practically hear the calming music of the meditation instruments.
"Have a seat." Cybil encouraged. "The tea should still be warm. I'll draw you a bath. You look like you need some Zen time; and, no offense, you smell like you haven't bathed in weeks."
"Just about a month." Creek said with a sheepish shrug. Cybil giggled softly and drifted off to the bathroom. Creek sat at the table and poured himself a cup of tea. He took a few sips, savoring the wonderful taste he hadn't experienced in so long. He looked around the room, and ghosts of the past danced across his eyes. His first time meditating. Learning yoga. The pride he felt when he finally learned to do a full split. The joy in Cybil's voice when he mastered the art of reading auras.
The overwhelming feeling returned, and Creek felt tears in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away, yet they kept coming. He tried again, and suddenly he heard something shatter. With a start, he saw the fragmented remains of his teacup in his palm. He frantically searched for someplace to fix or hide the mess. The tears streamed down his face, and his breathing and heart rate quickened.
"Creek?"
The grey teen froze when he felt his mentor's hand on his back. He slowly turned and stared at her concerned face. "M-mother…"
"Easy, my boy." Cybil knelt down and pulled Creek into a hug. "Let it out. Talk. Release the negative vibes."
Creek shuddered. "I don't belong here. I'm not supposed to be here." He hiccupped and sniffled between words. "I did such a horrible thing. Why would anyone give me a second chance? I know I shouldn't have come back, but I promised Rosiepuff I would protect her. So I know I'm not supposed to be here, but how do I not be here and still protect her? Because I want to protect her. I promised I would and when I made that promise I swore I wouldn't break it." He wanted to continue, but he felt like he was rambling, so he just collapsed into Cybil's embrace and kept crying. Cybil didn't move beyond rubbing his back soothingly, allowing him to let out his tears. It seemed Creek's mental state reverted to match his new, younger age. Cybil knew he wouldn't act this way if he were his actual age.
"You are too concerned with what was and what will be." Cybil said once Creek calmed down. "Let go of your past. Keep your promise as you intended, and everything will fall into place. You will prove yourself in time. Just don't rush it and do not fret over it."
Creek sniffled again. He took a few calming breaths. "I'm afraid."
"There is nothing wrong with being afraid. Just do not let it change you again." Cybil said wisely. Creek only nodded in understanding. Cybil smiled. "You know, when Rosie told me someone was trying to talk to her through her dreams, I thought of you first. I knew you were trying to master dream-speak. I am very proud of you for mastering it so well."
Creek blushed. "I learned from the best."
Cybil hugged him tightly. "Go take your bath. Relax for as long as you like. I will make you some dinner."
"I wish you wouldn't fuss over me." Creek said in a soft voice.
"Call it a mother's habit. Now go wash up." Cybil ushered Creek to the bathroom and left him alone. Creek had to admit that a bath sounded lovely right now. So he shed his pants and slipped into the water. He sighed heavily in relief. He fingered the Phoenix Tear Crystal, still around his neck.
It's time to let go and change. Creek told himself. I can do this. At least, I hope I can.
When Rosie walked around the village after waking from her nap and saw her great-grandmother again, her heart swelled with joy. She thought for sure the entire rescue was a dream. Seeing Rosiepuff confirmed otherwise.
"Hey Grandma!" Rosie greeted as she jumped into Rosiepuff's arms.
Rosiepuff hugged her tight and kissed her head. "Hello there, Rosie."
"What're you doing?" Rosie asked. Rosiepuff seemed to just be standing in the middle of an open space, staring at the sky.
"Just keeping an eye on your father." Rosiepuff pointed up, and Rosie gasped when she saw Symphony flying overhead with Branch on her back, whooping and laughing the entire time.
"I want to do that!" Rosie clapped her hands with delight.
"Maybe tomorrow." Rosiepuff said. "Symphony still needs to build up her strength."
Rosie snapped her fingers. "Darn. Well, I guess she should have some time to relax. You too. And Creek too! How are you feeling, anyway?"
Rosiepuff laughed at Rosie's rapid speaking. Clearly the younger troll was filled with excitement. "Believe me, sweetheart, I'm feeling better than I've felt in years. Bliss's mothers even offered—or rather insisted—that they make me a new dress and coat. I wish they wouldn't go to the trouble, though."
"Aunt Satin and Aunt Chenille? Just let them do their thing." Rosie said. "They aren't called the Fashionista Twins for nothing. Besides, I think that dress has seen better days."
Rosiepuff glanced down to her sleeveless, apricot cream dress. It was so dirty it looked more tan than cream colored. It was also torn around the hem of the skirt and had a few minor rips. "It's also seen the inside of a cage for three decades." She joked. She and Rosie giggled, but Rosiepuff's laughs died off. She stared at the ground.
Rosie stared at her in concern. Was that fear she saw in her great-grandmother's eyes? "Grandma? You okay?"
Rosiepuff shook her head to refocus herself. "Yes, I'm fine." She smiled at Rosie to reassure her, and then looked past her and gasped happily. "Creek! How lovely to see you!"
Rosie turned and she smiled broadly. Creek looked much different now that he was rested and bathed. He once more wore his yellow pants, which looked very bright compared to his grey skin. His skin was freshly cleaned and his hair combed. He even smiled warmly. As always, he had the Phoenix Tear Crystal clipped around his neck.
"Rosiepuff, Princess Rosie, good to see you both." Creek said.
"And here I thought you'd be asleep all afternoon." Rosiepuff said. "You're looking well."
"As are you." Creek said politely. "Are you settling in well?"
"Yeah! She's staying with us in our pod tonight!" Rosie said excitedly. She looked to her great-grandmother. "You can sleep in my bed. I'll take the couch."
"That's very sweet of you, Rosie." Rosiepuff said. "Creek, how are you settling in? Cybil's taking care of you, I'm sure."
"Yes, and I'm thankful for it." Creek nodded. Rosie noticed that Creek spoke softly, humbly, and she took it as a sign that everything was calm for him. She hoped he would adjust well to living with the trolls again.
With a dull thud, Symphony landed on the ground before the trio. Branch smiled at his grandmother and daughter, but he cast a brief glare at Creek. The grey-skinned troll bowed and stepped back.
"Have a nice flight?" Rosiepuff asked with a knowing smile.
"This is amazing!" Branch laughed. "But I think we need to get Symphony some food and water. In fact, dinner should be ready soon. We should get home."
"You want to have dinner with us, Creek?" Rosie offered.
Creek didn't even have to check with Branch. "I think I'll just have dinner with my mother, Princess."
"You can invite her too!" Rosie suggested.
"No, no, thank you." Creek said. "I'm sure you will have a lovely supper with your family. I would like to enjoy a quiet meal with my own mother." He didn't like lying to Rosie, but he knew Branch wouldn't approve of his presence at a family meal.
"Okay." Rosie nodded. "See you tomorrow!" She joined Rosiepuff and climbed onto Symphony's back.
Branch glared at Creek, a clear message in his eyes: stay away. Creek averted his gaze, and Symphony flew off. Creek sighed heavily. It would take quite some time before Branch would even consider forgiving him. Meanwhile, Creek would have to deal with the other trolls. None of them would even give him the time of day. Several would throw him disapproving glares. Yet there were a few who whispered about him with concern and surprise in their tones. If he listened, he could hear them muttering, "Scars." Creek ran his fingers down one arm, feeling the grooves in his skin from years-old mutilations via whippings and burnings.
These scars are a reminder of who I was. Creek thought as he walked home. They are my punishment I rightly deserve. But I'm home now, with my mother and a friend and even a princess who care for me. He glanced to the royal pod. Even Poppy seems to be getting used to me. Maybe, just maybe, she will forgive me.
Breathe. Stretch. Focus on the muscles working. Listen to the sounds of the forest. Inhale. Exhale. Center yourself.
"Whoa."
Blinking his eyes open, Creek looked over to see a familiar pink troll staring at him with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. He lowered himself out of his standing split position, his yoga mat separating his feet from the ground.
"Hey there, Poppy." The ten-year-old greeted. The younger pink troll still stared at him, and he tilted his head in confusion. "What?"
"How did you do that?" Poppy asked in awe.
"This?" Creek lifted his leg up and leaned over to go back into a split position.
"That's so cool!" Poppy clapped gleefully. "How do you do that?"
"Lots of practice, and calm breathing." Creek laughed, lowering his leg.
"Teach me!" Poppy jumped over to stand next to Creek before he could respond.
He laughed again. "Okay. You're wearing shorts under that dress, right?"
"Yep!" Poppy even lifted up her skirt to show Creek the blue shorts that matched her dress. The boy quickly forced Poppy to lower the skirt, his face darkening as he blushed.
"Now just lift up your leg like this." Creek lifted one leg and pressed it to his thigh. Poppy mimicked him, wobbling a little. "Great. Now try and get it above your head while leaning towards the ground."
Poppy tried, but she couldn't get her leg above her head. She bit her tongue in concentration and tried to force her leg higher. She only succeeded in toppling over, and Creek quickly went down on one knee and caught the princess in his arms.
"Well that didn't work!" Poppy giggled. Creek laughed too. He felt a strange feeling in his heart. A feeling he would not recognize until he was a bit older. His stomach did a few flips. He blushed again as he helped Poppy stand.
"Maybe we should try a simpler yoga pose." Creek suggested.
"You'll teach me?" Poppy beamed.
"Whatever will make you happy." Creek said.
Poppy squealed happily and hugged the purple troll. "You definitely make me happy, Creek. Thank you!"
Creek returned the embrace, smiling. "You make me happy too."
Creek woke with a start. He stared at the ceiling and sighed as he sat up. It was still the middle of the night. He had tried to go to bed early, but that plan didn't seem to work too well. He still felt restless, and his dream only brought more pain. Creek stared at his grey skin. He wished Poppy could help him regain his colors like how she helped Branch bring back his own. But that would require her to love him again.
Slowly, Creek stood from his bed and walked to the window. Cybil had meticulously kept Creek's room clean and organized, anticipating (read: hoping) for his return. Now he was back, but he didn't feel all there. He was missing so much: his colors, his friends, and his love for Poppy to name a few. Perhaps, in time, his colors would return. He had a friend in Rosiepuff and even Rosie. Maybe the other trolls would forgive him too (though he highly doubted it). But he would never regain that love he felt for Poppy. He truly did love her, and that love did not cease now.
Maybe I never should've come back. Creek leaned on the windowsill and stared at the grassy area just below Cybil's pod home. Branch, Poppy, Rosie, and the Snack Pack held a mini-party to celebrate Rosie's successful mission. Many of the other trolls joined in. Who could resist a night of singing and having fun, especially with Rosie around? Creek watched them longingly.
Soon, Creek began to sing of his loneliness and depression. He hardly felt like himself anymore. Creek climbed out the window and used his hair to lower himself down to another tree branch. He started walking along the branch, staring off into space. He began a slow, waltz-like dance as he sang.
A flurry of fireflies zipped around Creek and flew off, and he reached for them wistfully. But when he saw the partying trolls again, he immediately felt the urge to turn and run. He didn't belong with them. Not anymore.
Instead of running, Creek simply snuck away and walked through the quiet streets of Bergen Town. He traveled along the rooftops with only the full moon light to guide him.
The day he betrayed the trolls haunted Creek. One moment was all it took for him to ruin his life. He acted out of fear, and it had dire consequences. For the longest time, he thought himself brave. Almost being eaten proved otherwise. Even when he tried to salvage the situation and turn his cowardice into a rescue, he failed miserably. The worst was when he hurt Poppy. He didn't tell her that he was trying to think of a plan. He didn't want to jeopardize whatever idea he was supposed to come up with. That look in her eyes when she pleaded for him to reconsider his betrayal. It made him want to cry, and he had done enough crying already.
Creek ran along the rooftop and jumped to get to the next one, his form a shadow against the moon. He landed on the chimney of the smaller house and then slid down the shingles to the ground.
He wrapped his hair around a lamppost to swing himself to the windowsill of a craft shop. Creek traced a hand across the rainbow paint on the window. He paused when he saw a photo frame for sale inside the shop, just big enough for a troll. The picture inside depicted Branch and Poppy on their wedding day.
Even being in Bergen Town brought bad memories, and Creek escaped as quickly as he could into the forest. He climbed up the nearest tree.
Creek stared back towards Bergen Town. He could just make out Troll Grove peeking over the walls. How he wished to feel like he belonged there again. What he'd give to be with Poppy again, like how it used to be. So desperate for his dream, Creek's psyche created a ghostly image of Poppy to stand before him. The ghost smiled, taking Creek's hands. Creek grinned as color passed over him, returning him to his original state. This is who he was, who he was meant to be. He began to dance with Poppy across the tree branch.
Poppy leaned in to kiss Creek, and he went forward to accept it. But then, the ghostly image of his former love faded away, as did his colors. He was thrust back into reality. A reality where he was a monster; where the trolls hated him; where Poppy didn't love him anymore.
Creek sat down on the branch, sighing softly. He stared up at the starry night sky.
A/N: So I actually made a music video for Creek's song at the end. Search into YouTube "Creek's Silhouette." Also, support the artist of the song I used in the video. I heard it once, and it instantly clicked in my head that this would be perfect for Creek.