Branch watched powerless, unable to do anything as Rosiepuff loaded the ships ready to sail out again to find and destroy the dragon nest. Rosiepuff drug Melody to her own ship, chained her up and muzzled her attending to use her to find the nest.
"Lead us home devil."
Branch wished he could run over there fight off his Grandma and her men, free Melody and fly off to the skies, but doing so would only seal his status as a traitor and he would never bring peace between the two species. So he stood on top of the cliff watching defenseless as his Grandma set sail with his dragon to wipe out the same dragons Branch's parents tried to protect years ago, not realizing what was waiting for them when they arrived.
Branch was still staring at the ocean long after the ships were out of sight when Cloud Guy arrived and stood next to him "What? You ain't going to yell at me, tell me how I ruined your life, chase me around tunnels with a stick threatening to rip my tiny cloud arms off my tiny cloud body and high five my face with them? Come on man humor me will you?"
"What's the point?" Branch sighed "I failed, Grandma has Melody, and is heading to the dragons nest, and I can't do anything about it. It's over."
"Maybe," Cloud Guy replied "Maybe not."
"Why couldn't you have chosen Reby for this job? Somebody who loved dragons from the beginning."
"Okay Branch let me let you in on a secret, I don't actually choose people for anything."
"What?"
"When parents bring their children up to me, I look into their future and tell them what I see. When I pick people to be dragon killers or non dragon killers it's because I have seen into their future and seen what they are going to become. But I never force them to do anything. When I looked into you I saw the savoir of the dragons, the one who will bring peace to the dragons and the trolls, but do you know why I never told you that?"
"Why?"
"Because I can't force you to do anything. You needed to make the decision for yourself. Even if you hadn't have ran into me on that mountain and told you, you wasn't a dragon killer, you still would have found yourself unable to kill that dragon. You still would have been sent you dragon training school and you still would have found yourself training Melody and building a friendship. Nothing that has happened would have been any different then what it is now and you would still be on top of this cliff moping about how bad your life is right now."
"I still would have found about what happened to my parents?"
"Okay now that you probably wouldn't have found out if I hadn't had told you but the results would have been no different. You still would have battled the Demon Dragon and found yourself trying to rescue the dragons. Now that I have let you in on my secret let me ask you something. Why didn't you kill that dragon? And don't say it's because of destiny I want to see things from your own eyes.
"I don't know, I just couldn't."
"That's a lie, you had the dragon tied up and trapped, you had a dagger pointed at the dragon you easily could have killed him."
"Why is this important to you all of a sudden? You know the answer."
"Your right, I do, but I want to hear it from your own mouth. I want to hear exactly what you say right now."
"I was a coward I was weak, I wouldn't kill a dragon!"
"You said wouldn't that time."
"Your right I wouldn't, three hundred years and I was the first troll who wouldn't kill a dragon."
"First to ride one though. So why wouldn't you?"
Branch sighed "I wouldn't kill him because she looked as frighted as I was. I looked at her and I saw myself."
"I bet she is really frightened now."
"It doesn't matter though. I can't handle this one on my own."
"Your not alone though." Branch heard Poppy say behind him. Branch turned around and saw his friends and Poppy all standing behind him with determined looks on their faces.
"How long have you all been standing there?"
"Long enough to here the conversation." Poppy replied "We're here to help you."
"I can't let you do that, it's dangerous and you aren't experienced dragon riders."
"We are experienced enough." Reby replied "And we took down that monster once."
"We did," Poppy added "Your right you can't do this on your own. But if we work together, we can win this, you can still save Melody, save all the dragons."
"I like Melody," Cooper said "She might be a dragon and is powerful enough to kill me but she is actually really cute."
"So what are you going to do now then?" Poppy asked
"Probably something stupid."
"Well you already did that."
"Then something crazy."
"That's more like it."
Rosiepuff didn't say much as Melody was forced to lead the trolls to the dragons nest, she was still heartbroken over Branch's actions. She tried to act tough for her tribe, but everybody could tell as Rosiepuff stared at the sea in silence that she was still in pain. They understood the reason, her own grandson had betrayed the tribe. Anyone of them would have felt the same way.
"Are you going to be okay?" Peppy asked Rosiepuff in concern.
"I don't know," Was Rosiepuff's response. "He's my own blood, the only family I have left after my son died. I honestly don't know what to do with him right now. I am the chief of this tribe, I am supposed to uphold the law even if it's against my own family. But I can't with him."
"Well we are here to support you no matter the decision."
"Let's just get this done, the sooner we destroy the dragon's nest, the sooner we can finally end this war and put this behind us. Then I will worry about Branch."
The trolls noticed Melody's eyes light up again and her neck turn left. The trolls then steered the boat left, followed by the rest of the boats.
"Oh I was wondering where this lead to." Peppy responded.
"We are getting close, I can feel it." Rosiepuff whispered.
Thirty minutes later the boats landed at the dragons nest. Rosiepuff was the first to step out, arming herself with a ax.
"Three hundred years and we have finally found it." Rosiepuff replied excited. "Ready the catapult's when that nest opens all hell will break loose." One of the trolls fired a boulder from a catapult, slamming it against the nest causing a giant hole to appear. All the dragons instantly shot out, flying above Rosiepuff and her men. The trolls swung their weapons at them but surprisingly found themselves unable to hit a single one. What was even more surprising was that the dragons didn't fight back, they just flew off and left them, leaving every single one of them confused as to what happened.
"Was that it?" Peppy asked "What a let down."
"We won!" One of the trolls cheered causing most of the army to join in the celebration. Rosiepuff wasn't celebrating, she had a suspicion something wasn't quite right. Her suspicion's rose when she heard a roar coming from inside the cave.
"This isn't over men, brace yourselves."
Suddenly the whole cave exploded sending rocks flying in every direction. The trolls had to duck behind their shields to avoid getting hit. Once the rocks stopped flying Rosiepuff peaked her head out of her shield and gasped when she saw a giant red dragon four times the size of a troll with bony wings and a flaming skull head and black smoke coating it's body.
"Oh my Thor what is that?" Peppy screamed staring at the sight of that dragon.
"Odin help us." Rosiepuff gasped.
Branch gathered his friends and his fellow dragon training students in the dragon arena and went through his plan to rescue the dragons and his grandmothers army from the Demon Dragon. The students from dragon training didn't know how to feel about the idea of riding dragons over their in fact some of them looked at him as if he was crazy, but Branch remained persistent.
"If you want to get yourself killed, I suggest trying to ride the Widowmaker." Biggie said when Branch started to open the cages.
"I love this plan." Satin responded
"I don't" Creek replied
"Your crazy." Chenille added "And that means something coming from me."
"We are with you to the end Branch." Poppy replied "Now open those cages."
"Wait can we talk about this?" Creek whined as Branch opened the cages
"Stop being a wuss" Poppy responded. All the dragons walked out of their cages and slowly walked to the students. Creek slowly tried to make his way to a dagger to defend himself, still scared of the dragons but Poppy spatted his hand away. Branch grabbed Creek's other hand and scooted towards the Monstrous Reaper's snout.
"Wait what are you doing? What are you doing?"
"Trust me." Branch placed Creek's hand on the Reaper's snout and Creek was astonished to see how calm and accepting the dragon was to him, like he knew Creek was no threat."
"How is this possible?"
"As I tried to tell you all in the arena, we don't have to fight these dragons." Branch turned to the rest of the class. "Everything you knew about dragons are wrong. They were never the enemy, they are slaves to a bigger enemy, a demon dragon who forces them to steal from us or get killed themselves. Now my Grandmother, the chief is about to go up against it unprepared. She needs our help, the dragons need our help."
"How can we be sure about all of this?" Biggie asked
"Cause I have seen it too." Poppy spoke out "I wanted to be top dragon killer more then any of you, so if I say what Branch is saying is true, then it's true."
"None of you have to join me if you want to. But if you care for your tribe then I beg you, help me take down this demon dragon.
"I'm in." Creek said still amazed by the Reaper's acceptance of him.
"Sounds crazy." The twins replied "We're in!"
"Eh, I doubt I was going to live to see thirty anyway so why not." Biggie sighed.
"Then pick your dragon and let's get flying."
Despite having the strength in numbers, Rosiepuff's army found themselves quickly overpowered by the Demon Dragon. Their weapons couldn't pierce it's bony skin. It's fire was hotter then any dragon they had ever fought. They soon found their shields melting due to the heat of the dragon's flames. One troll tried to stab at the dragon's underbelly, what was supposed to be the most vulnerable part of the dragon. But even the underbelly was to tough for their swords, and the demon dragon grabbed the troll's foot in it's mouth, flipped the screaming troll in the air and ate the troll in one bite.
Overpowered Rosiepuff had no choice but to try to flee. "Retreat, get to the ships." The trolls ran towards the ships but the Demon Dragon was not about to let the trolls escape. He fired his flames at the boat setting them all on fire, Melody who was still chained to Rosiepuff's ship tugged and pulled at her chains trying to get free at the sight of the flames.
"We're trapped!" Peppy screamed "What do we do now?"
Rosiepuff closed her eyes and sighed "The one thing we can do, go out in a blaze of glory."
"It's been a honor fighting beside you Rosiepuff"
"And fighting along side you as well Peppy." The two raised their swords as the Demon dragon raised up on his hid feet ready to burn them two death when suddenly it found itself get blasted by a oncoming dragon.
"Cheer's love the cavalry's here!" They heard Suki cheer as she came flying to the rescue riding a Homewrecker.
"Look at me mom, I'm riding a dragon!" Reby waved at her parents who just stared in shock.
"What the..." Rosiepuff gasped at the sight of seeing her grandson and the others flying to the rescue on dragons.
"That boy is twice the stubborn troll you ever were." Peppy responded.
"Biggie Cooper, Creek, Reby, try to see if you can find that Demon's blind spot," Branch ordered as he rode on Star fire with Poppy"Twins, see if you can cause a destraction for that thing."
"No problem, I'm good at distractions." Satin replied
"Not near as much as me, see!" Chenille turned upside down on her half of the Troll eater she rode and made a annoying face.
"Yeah that should work." Branch moaned rolling his eyes "The rest of you help out the trolls down there and get them to safety, Poppy and I are going to find Melody!" The trolls flew off to do what they were ordord as Poppy flew to find Melody. Soon they saw her struggling to get free from the chains, surrounded by flames.
"There I see him lower me down!"
"But the flames."
"Trust me!"
Despite her best judgement, Poppy lowered Branch down on the burning boat. "Go help the others!" Branch demanded, Poppy nodded and flew off.
"Okay hold on Melody, hold on!" Branch cried, trying to calm Melody down as he worked on the chains around Melody's neck.
Meanwhile the twins flew up to the Demon Dragon and started yelling at it.
"Hey over here! Your mother was a salamander!" The Demon Dragon responded by blasting a fireball at the twins who easily avoided it. "Oh what's the matter did we hurt your feeling? Do you need a kiss? Here kiss this!" The twins stood up on the Troll Eater's heads and started shaking their butts at the Demon Dragon. The Demon dragon growled and readied himself for another blast when the four other trolls flew up to him and started beating on their shields in a attempt to confuse the dragon.
"Please have a blind spot, please have a blind spot." Biggie said really fast as he beat on his shield.
"So what's your dragon's name?" Reby asked Biggie as she beat on her shield. "Mine's Arrow."
"Sapphire," Biggie responded.
"Mine's Razar." Cooper replied
"Blue Fang," Creek said
"What? Your dragon doesn't even have a blue fang." Satin teased as the twins started shooting funny faces in the dragon's direction.
"Oh yeah, what's yours?"
"Ash and Cinder!" The twins responded "Because they are fire breathing dragon's duh!"
"Hey I think it's working!" Biggie noticed the Demon Dragon getting loopy and confused, unfortunately so were the dragons they were on, Blue Fang got extremely loopy from the beating of shields and threw Creek right off and onto the back of the Demon Dragon. Both Biggie and Cooper lost control of the dragons they were on and started spinning toward the Earth. Biggie was the first to land, gaining enough control of Sapphire to land her on her feet.
"I'm okay!"
Cooper landed next, screaming as Razar face planted on the dirt, tipped over and landed on her back on top of Cooper "I'm not!"
"The heck with this shield!" Reby tossed her shield to the side and took out her bow and shot a arrow in the Demon Dragon's right eye! "Look's like you got something in your eye!"
"Nice one now get me off this thing!" Creek ordered. Reby flew Creek close enough to hop on Arrow's back. As they were about to fly off The Demon Dragon got the arrow out of it's eye and fired a angry at the two hitting Arrow in the side. In a fit of pain Arrow bucked the two off and started diving to the Earth.
"Arrow!" Reby Screamed. The two trolls landed on the necks of Ash and Cinder right behind the twins.
"Need a lift?" The twins asked. Reby looked to see if her Reaper was okay and to her relief saw him land safely on the ground.
"Good boy stay there."
As Branch continued to try to free Melody, the crow's nest suddenly got consumed in flames and fell, splitting the boat in two causing the two of them to sink. Branch tried to swim over to Melody, who was still chained but a hand reached up above him and pulled him above water before he could reach her. The hand of course belonged to Rosiepuff who placed him on a rock
"Grandma, Melody, we need to save her!" Branch protested. Rosiepuff didn't respond as she dived back into the water. She swam to where Melody laid and quickly ripped apart the chains on her neck and feet and pulled her above Melody swam on the rock with Branch, Branch wasted no time climbing aboard him.
"Let's say we finish this girl."
"Branch wait!" Rosiepuff cried out running to him and taking his hand. "I'm sorry, for everything."
"Thanks Grandma."
"You don't have to go up there."
"Yeah I kind of do. This is my battle, if I don't fight it who will?"
"I'm proud to call you my grandson. Now go, win this!" Melody took off in the sky, Branch rallied his remaining riders up.
"Let's hit him with everything we got!" Branch ordered.
"That's the only way to do it!" Poppy cheered as Star fire hit the Demon Dragon in the side with a blast.
"You need a time out Demon!" Suki screamed as she flew her home wrecker close "Darla fire!" The Homewrecker, who Suki named Darla fired a blast hitting the Demon Dragon in the side of the face.
"Say Goodnight!" Guy Diamond Screamed as his dragon A Widowmaker fired a blast of his in the Demon Dragon's face!"
"Have some of this!" Reby responded shooting a arrow in the Demon Dragon's back.
"Eat it you ugly lizard!" Smidge roared firing spikes from her Homewrecker's tail in his direction. Fuzzbert somehow found himself a trumpet and blew the "Charge" music from it allowing his Widowmaker to fire a blast in the Demon's side.
Poppy flew in front of the Demon dragon about to attack, but the Demon Dragon started sucking Poppy towards his mouth it wouldn't be long before Poppy would become that dragons next meal. Branch spotted Poppy and Star fire trying to get free and firing a huge blast Melody hit the Demon on the side of the head.
The blast had more impact then Branch intended because not only did it temporarily stun the Demon Dragon but it also knocked Poppy off Star Fire. Branch had to act fast to save Poppy. Melody flew after her at top speed, grabbing Poppy by the leg and landing her safely on the ground.
Now all he could focus primarily on the Demon Dragon, with Poppy safe Branch flew straight after his target, it was time to finish this.
"Go," Poppy hollered out at him.
"Reby I need your bow." Branch called out.
"How come?"
"Trust me I have a plan,"
"Fine but if you get even a scratch it won't be that demon dragon that kills you."
"Warning noted." Branch responded taking the bow and a few arrows. "Guy Diamond do you still have that feather sword."
"Of course." Guy Diamond said handing it to Branch.
"Seriously?" Reby scolded
"Trust me, this time it will be used for good. One more thing I need to do this alone."
"What?"
"Trust me, I need to do this."
Reby sighed, she didn't want Branch to go up there alone, but she couldn't stop him either. "Fine, but promise me you will come back alive."
"I will." Branch the took one of Reby's arrow and having Melody light it he shot it at the Demon Dragon causing it to chase after him. Branch then flew to the sky the Demon Dragon fired shot after shot but Melody's fast speed caused her to dodge every one.
"Okay Melody, it's time to blind this thing." Melody flew up and hid in the clouds. From inside the clouds Melody fired a blast which was quickly followed with Branch shooting a arrow. They then quickly flew behind another cloud and repeated the process they did that time and time again with the Demon unable to tell where each shot was coming from.
Fed up the Demon fired in every direction hoping to force Branch to show again.
Branch did reveal himself, but he flew out wielding the sword that was now set ablaze by Melody. Branch through his sword, striking the Beast in the forehead. It didn't kill the Demon Dragon and he knew it wouldn't, it was all part of the plan. Furious the Demon Dragon opened his mouth ready to go for the kill, that is when Melody and Branch both fired one last shot. Branch fired a flaming arrow in the dragon's mouth and Melody fired a deadly blast in the Demon Dragon's mouth as well. The Demon Dragon screamed and the two watched as the Demon dragon's skin started to turn to ash. The Demon dragon exploded in a ball of flames, knocking Branch off Melody and sending him falling into the flames.
Scared for her friend Melody dived toward Branch, wrapping her wings around him shielding him from the blast as the two crashed into the earth in a wall of smoke.
"Branch!" Rosiepuff hollered out when the smoke cleared. The Demon Dragon was destroyed, it' bones scattered across the island, but there was no signs of Branch or Melody, and Rosiepuff was getting worried about her Grandson. "Branch were are you?" Rosiepuff suddenly spotted Melody laying on the ground in the distance. Melody appeared badly wounded and her prosthetic tail was destroyed.
Rosiepuff ran over hoping to see Branch with her, but to her horror Branch was not there. "No," Rosiepuff cried collapsing to her knees fearing that her Grandson did not make it. "I did this, this is my fault."
Everyone else ran up to where Rosiepuff laid and they too let out a horrified gasp when they saw Melody without her rider.
"No?" Reby cried, cupping her palm over her mouth as a tear fell from her eye.
"Branch!" Poppy gasped tears falling from her eyes and a closed fist over her mouth.
"Oh my gah?" Smidge gasped, she bowed her head in mourning in closed her eyes, everyone else did the same as well.
"Oh Branch, I am so sorry." Rosiepuff cried. It was right then that Melody spread out her wings and Rosiepuff saw Branch laying beside her unconscious.
"Branch!" Rosiepuff grabbed her grandson and put a ear to his heart and let out a sigh of relief. "He's alive, you brought him back alive!"
Everyone cheered in joy and hugged each other. Rosiepuff put a hand on Melody's head overcome with joy. "Thank you, for saving my Grandson."
It was then Peppy walked up and noticed something wrong with Branch "Well most of him."
Next Chapter will be it and then we are done with this story
Real quickly, to all of you who are reading Eden I need to apologize because I was wanting to update it this week but that may or may not happen. I left my computer charger at my Parents house and I may not have enough charge to write another chapter before the battery dies. I will get it this weekend when I am off work but until then I will need to watch my battery life. I know I ended the last chapter on a cliffhanger am I am so sorry for the possible delay. This stuff happens.
Till next time, cheers.