Chapter One: The Bender Revealed

Twenty-one years later

"Land firm! Now back in your stance! Always fall back on that foundation."

"Got it!"

"And watch out for—"

"Whoa! Oof!"

"The sweep."

Branch groaned from his spot on the ground. "Thanks for the well-timed warning, Master."

Peppy chuckled. "Go again."

"Come on, dude." Suki helped Branch rise. "We ain't done yet."

"Go Branch!" Symphony cheered from the sidelines.

A year after defeating Creek as the Dragon Warrior, Branch blended in so well with the Troll Tree lifestyle that it felt he spent his entire life there. The Five were welcoming and supportive in his training. Peppy wasn't as strict as he used to be, and treated his students like his family. Symphony even joined the team of warriors, helping in stealth and reconnaissance missions (being a small dragon came in handy for once). Of course, everyone's favorite tradition was their weekly dinner when Grandma Rosiepuff came to teach them how to make one of her restaurant dishes.

"Well done, everyone." Peppy said at the end of the day. "You may retire to your rooms. Branch, Symphony, I believe you have somewhere to be?"

"Oh, right!" Branch bowed hastily to his kung fu master. "Thanks! Come on, Symphony!" He nearly forgot that he promised his grandmother he'd help her clean the restaurant tonight. Branch went past the wall of the training arena and out onto the limb of the tree. He ran out to the very edge and leapt off. He and Symphony dove, straight for some of the nearby houses. Branch flipped and landed on his feet, crouched down, and he slid down the tiled roof. At the edge, he jumped and tumbled like a gymnast across the ground until he could stand up again. He turned to Master Ryu's gravestone nearby and bowed to it.

"Come on, Branch!" Symphony called. "Grandma is waiting!"

"Right behind you!" Branch jogged after his dragon friend. He waved to the villagers as he passed them. Branch wouldn't lie: he enjoyed being Dragon Warrior and all the attention he got from it. But he couldn't forget his roots, and he took time to help his grandmother whenever he could.

Rosiepuff waited for her grandson outside, watering the flowers on the windowsill. "About time you two made it!"

"Sorry!" Branch hugged her. "Got caught up sparring."

Rosiepuff's nose wrinkled. "Smells like it. Why don't you go hose off and then we can get started?"

"I'm not that sweaty." Branch shrugged. Symphony sniffed him, and then promptly made a few choking noises and fell out of the air. "Okay, fine!"

The family quickly got to work. Branch cleaned the windows to let the sunset light into the restaurant. Symphony tied a feather duster to her tail and flew about the restaurant to get even the highest corners. Rosiepuff swept and mopped. The restaurant practically sparkled by the time they finished.

"How are things at the palace?" Rosiepuff asked as they tidied the kitchen.

"Good. Normal training and all that." Branch said. "Peppy says he wants to take me on another mission next time we get one."

"Nothing too dangerous, yes?" Rosiepuff asked.

"Even if it is dangerous, I'll always have backup." Branch assured.

"Yeah, me!" Symphony said as she hung the pans on the wall.

"I was talking about the Five; but, yes, you also." Branch laughed.

"Speaking of the Furious Five, how are you and Poppy doing?" Rosiepuff handed Branch a teapot, which he nearly dropped.

"Um…..we're fine….." Branch shrugged.

Symphony rolled her eyes. "You want to try to lie to Grandma?"

"Honestly, Branch. You ought to know better than that." Rosiepuff agreed.

Branch sighed. "I don't know. We were doing great for the first few months, even with Peppy objecting. Then we kind of teetered off. We keep arguing. We don't spend much time together outside of training. The romance feels like it's dying a slow, painful death." He tapped his fingers on the counter. "Grandma, how did you and Grandad fall in love?"

Rosiepuff dropped the cup she cleaned and it landed with a plip in the soapy water of the sink. She laughed as she fished the cup out of the suds. "What sort of question is that to just spring on someone?"

"I'm serious." Branch asked. "Maybe I'm not doing it right."

"There's a right way to fall in love?" Symphony asked in confusion.

"Of course not." Rosiepuff said. "Your grandfather and I started out with some witty banter and a few insults I threw at him when he got on my nerves."

Branch laughed. "Really? If that's the case, Poppy and I should be falling head over heels for each other."

"Yeah, you two didn't really get along much in the beginning." Symphony agreed. "She thought you were childish, you actually were childish—"

"Stop commenting, Symphony." Branch rolled his eyes. "Grandma, what about the beginnings of your relationship? What can I do better?"

"Branch, not all advice can apply to all couples." Rosiepuff shrugged. "Your grandfather was boyish and ridiculous. To this day, I will stick to the story that he conned me into a first date. He and I just ended up spending more time together. He charmed his way into my heart, convincing me that I should spend more time with him. Time went by and…..he did the littlest things…he was so strong…eyes like the sea during a storm…"

Branch and Symphony paused in their washing, and they looked to Rosiepuff. She had trailed off, murmuring under her breath. Her eyes stared emptily into space, and it looked like she wobbled a bit. Her hands were trembling.

"Not again." Symphony groaned quietly.

"Grandma?" Branch said loudly, trying to get Rosiepuff's attention.

Suddenly, the glass cup in Rosiepuff's hand shattered, and the sound and shards piercing her hands startled her from her trance. She groaned, looking embarrassed. "Oh for the love of—"

"I'm sorry!" Branch said quickly. "Forget I asked about Grandad. I'm so sorry I asked."

"No, it's fine." Rosiepuff insisted, carefully picking a few pieces of glass from her palm and fingers.

"Are you hurt?" Branch asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's fine. It's all okay." Rosiepuff washed the blood off her hands.

"It's not okay." Branch said.

"Yes it is!" Rosiepuff forced a smile. "It's fine and it's good and I'm going to get a broom so don't step in the glass." She speed-walked away before Branch or Symphony could stop her.

"Grandma!" Branch called. He sighed heavily. "That's what I get for letting her go down that rabbit hole."

"It's hard to tell what will set her off these days." Symphony said. "We just have to be careful next time."

We've had that conversation before. Branch went to get the first aid kit. When Rosiepuff returned several minutes later, Branch gently forced her to hand the dustpan and brush to Symphony. The dragon took care of the glass on the ground, and Branch cleaned and dressed the cuts on his grandmother's hands.

"That was all my fault." Branch said. "Just forget I ever asked about Grandad."

"Branch, I'm fine." Rosiepuff said. She sounded tired.

"No, really! Forget it!" Branch said hurriedly. "Just tell me if you have any advice."

Rosiepuff smiled a little. "I think I do have something. See, you and Poppy were going through what's called the 'honeymoon phase.' The part of the relationship where you're all over each other and you're spending most of your time snogging in a closet somewhere."

"Snogging?" Symphony tilted her head like a confused puppy. "What the heck does that mean?"

"Poppy and I don't snog." Branch muttered.

Rosiepuff giggled. "The point is you've reached the end of the honeymoon phase. Now you have to determine why you were in a relationship in the first place. Is that enough to stay in a relationship?"

Branch thought about it. "I always considered her attractive, I guess. Symphony was the one who set us up on a date."

"I thought you two would look cute together." Symphony shrugged. "Pink and blue. They complement each other."

"You set us up because our colors complemented?" Branch raised an eyebrow.

"Take some time to talk about it with her." Rosiepuff suggested. "That's all I can say." She checked the clock. "I think you ought to be getting to bed."

Branch glanced to the clock. "Oh, right! I forgot to ask: the guys and I were going to go out and hang for a while, and I was going to spend the night at the palace. That's okay, right?"

"You're a grown troll, Branch. A fine young man of whom I am very proud. Do as you please." Rosiepuff reached into the icebox and pulled out a small plate with a dessert on it. "Here, try this first. I've been experimenting with the old tiramisu recipe."

Branch and Symphony each took a bite, and almost immediately melted. "This is incredible!" Branch sighed blissfully. "You used almonds instead of the coffee beans?"

"Glad you enjoy it." Rosiepuff handed the plate to Branch. "Take that up to your friends. I think I'll debut it in the restaurant tomorrow."

"Great. Now we know when to get some more." Branch hugged his grandmother. "See you tomorrow. Love you!"

"Love you!" Symphony waved as the dragon followed Branch outside.

"Goodnight you two! Love you!" Rosiepuff watched them go. She turned back into the dark of her restaurant/house and journeyed upstairs to her room. She changed into her nightgown and sat in bed to do some knitting. Halfway through a stitch, Rosiepuff paused and picked up a picture frame from her nightstand. The image in the frame showed a much younger version of herself, standing with a blue troll with a bristly five o'clock shadow. He had surprised her from behind, scooping her up in a hug while she was in the middle of a conversation. The nearby painter managed to capture the moment perfectly.

How do you sneak so well? You're a goliath!

Even a yeti has softness in its walk.

Yeti, indeed. Kai had a bit of mountain troll blood in him, which made him larger and taller than other trolls. Yet he often moved as nimbly as a gazelle. His name meant "ocean," and he used that as an excuse to compare himself to the sea in terms of strength and mystery. Rosiepuff often laughed at such a thing, though she had to admit that Kai sometimes didn't even know his own strength and broke things unintentionally. Of course, he was always courteous enough to fix whatever he broke. His kindness was equal to his physical power.

"I miss you." Rosiepuff breathed. "I know you're always watching, and Branch can take care of himself. But it's getting quieter in this house. It'd be nice to have someone to share the silence with." She sighed and gently kissed the frame. "Rest well, love."

Branch and Symphony arrived at the palace and practically burst through the doors to the kitchen. "We got sweets from Rosie's Place! Who wants some?" Branch asked.

The Five practically trampled each other, cheering like children. Peppy rolled his eyes and continued drinking his tea. Though he was secretly grateful when Symphony brought him some of the dessert on a tea plate.

"This is incredible!" Guy Diamond sighed.

"Your grandma is the best, Branch." Cooper agreed.

"She is pretty amazing." Branch nodded. "I mean, she did raise me and run a restaurant all by herself."

"She must've had help now and then." Poppy said.

"Sure, she'd have a friend over to lend a hand once in a while." Branch said. "But, for the most part, it's just been the two of us. And, later, Symphony. I worry about her, sometimes. Ever since I moved up here, I feel like she's getting lonely in that old house, all by herself."

"She's more than welcome here." Suki reminded him.

"Yeah, we got the spare rooms." Smidge added.

"I can concur. She would be quite welcome." Peppy agreed.

"I've told her that a hundred times. She always refuses." Branch said. "I guess she thinks she can't run the restaurant and live here at the same time? She wakes up at the crack of dawn every morning anyway."

"Maybe we'll convince her tomorrow when we stop by the restaurant for lunch." Cooper suggested. "I want some more of that dessert!"

"After your patrol." Peppy reminded them.

"Right, of course." Guy Diamond said. "Come on, Branch! Let's get going!"

"Enjoy your Guys Night." Suki said. "Smidge, Poppy, and I are having a nice, quiet Girls Night in the barracks."

"In that case, I'll have another cup of tea." Peppy murmured.

"Let me get that!" Symphony flew over to the teapot.

"Thank you. Oh, Branch," Peppy stopped Branch before he could leave. "I'd like a word alone with you."

Branch waited until the Five disappeared. "What's up?"

"I've been wondering about your grandmother." Peppy said. "We enjoy her visits, but she never agrees to stick around and stay here. She would certainly fit in around here."

"As a cook?" Branch joked.

"No. Not really." Peppy tapped his teacup in thought. "Branch, what do you know of your grandmother's history?"

Branch sat down, realizing this talk was more serious than expected. "Nothing, really. She never talks about her past. I only learned more about my parents when I was eavesdropping on you two last year. Grandma hates talking about her past. Every time I've asked about her family, she'll tell me about it, of course. But she always looks like she might cry. She's kind of stopped talking about our family lately." Branch thought back to the episode back at the restaurant. "So I've stopped asking. I know all I want to."

Peppy nodded, with a look in his eyes that said he didn't believe Branch was content. "I haven't a clue what she could've gone through to cause such a reaction. Even the loss of your parents wouldn't clam her up this much if she was willing to talk to me about it. There's something else. Specifically, can you think of any history she mentioned with her water-bending?"

Branch looked around, in case the Five stuck around to eavesdrop. Rosiepuff refused to reveal her water-bending abilities. Only Branch, Symphony, and Peppy knew. Branch scooted his chair closer to Peppy and lowered his voice a little. "The first I ever heard of it was right before we came back to save you from Creek."

"She told me she learned from my father. That she just took enough lessons to get a handle on it so she could protect you." Peppy explained. "But that level of water-bending she can do…..I haven't seen such level of mastery since my father's time. Her skills reflect that of a true master of element-bending, and bending an element is no easy task in the first place. I doubt she could've learned that from a few lessons with Father."

"I don't know." Symphony shrugged. "I guess she's pretty good."

"Pretty good?" Peppy scoffed. "Have you seen her abilities?"

Branch thought about it. Rosiepuff hadn't used her water-bending in months. Sometimes, though, he noticed water near her doing weird things even when she appeared to be doing something normal. Branch wrote it off as seeing things. His grandmother could bend an element. So what?

But all that she did during the fight against Creek….. "It's like it comes naturally to her." Branch realized.

"Exactly." Peppy said. "And you know nothing about why? Has she ever mentioned where she might've learned it? Besides my father's lessons?"

"She rarely talks about her own past." Branch said. "I don't want to ask her. It hurts her, somehow."

Peppy nodded in agreement. "The past can hurt. But we can't run from it, which I learned the hard way. I'd hate to see the same happen to her."

Branch sighed. "If she mentions anything, I'll let you know."

"Yes, of course." Peppy waved him away. "Go run along and enjoy your evening." Branch bowed and left the room. Symphony stretched and flew off. Peppy hummed in thought. "I wonder….."

Around lunchtime the next day, Rosiepuff noticed the warriors of the Troll Tree approaching her restaurant. She could usually hear them coming based on the raucous noise of Branch, Guy Diamond, and Cooper.

"The Furious Five and Master Peppy!" Biggie nearly squealed.

Fuzzbert garbled something to Rosiepuff.

"Yes, Fuzzbert, it is rather nice to be the Dragon Warrior's grandmother." Rosiepuff giggled. "I suppose it did offer some inspiration for the specials menu."

Fuzzbert nodded in agreement, bringing a sandwich to a customer that had sword-shaped toothpicks stuck in it.

Rosiepuff greeted the warriors of Troll Valley at the door. "Welcome, everyone. I take it you enjoyed the dessert I sent with Branch last night?"

"Yes!" Cooper practically drooled. "We'd like some more of those tears of Sue!"

"Tiramisu." Branch corrected.

"That's what I said." Cooper said, causing his friends to laugh.

Rosiepuff shook her head with a smile. "Go ahead and take your seats. If Biggie can talk to you without fainting, perhaps he can take your order."

While everyone looked over the menu, Branch sneakily scooted closer to Poppy, who sat beside him. "Hey, Pops?"

Poppy couldn't help but crack a smile at Branch's childish nickname for her. "Yes?"

Branch made sure to whisper so Peppy and the others wouldn't hear thanks to the chatter of the restaurant. "Do you think we can talk? About…..you know, about us?"

"Really? Right now?" Poppy whispered.

"Better sooner than later, right?" Branch shrugged. "We seem to be fighting a lot more often."

"Yeah, I guess." Poppy said. "But we haven't been fighting all that much, right?"

"Um….." Branch stared at her questioningly.

"Okay, we're at each other's throats nearly every week." Poppy admitted. "Should we try another date sometime? Rekindle the romance?"

Branch wasn't sure how he felt about that answer. It felt like Poppy was grasping at straws. "Poppy, I know we were set up blindly by Symphony, but we ended up starting something. Now, I feel like we're falling out of love."

"We were in love?" Poppy asked.

Branch nearly dropped his menu. "What?"

"No, that's not what I meant!" Poppy corrected herself. "But, since we're talking about it, why did we keep seeing each other like that?"

"I thought we were an okay fit." Branch said. "We can still work. I want to make us work. Just tell me what you want us to do."

Poppy stared at Branch. "Um….."

A rock suddenly flew through the window on the door, sending glass across the floor. "Hey! Who's throwing rocks in my restaurant?!" Rosiepuff shouted.

Smidge looked out the window. "Uh oh. Bandits coming this way."

Guy Diamond stuck his head outside the door. "Oi! We just sat down for lunch! Go away!"

"If you'll excuse us, Miss Rosiepuff." Peppy said.

"I'll keep your table reserved." Rosiepuff waved them off. The Troll Tree warriors rushed outside and sprinted down the road to the bandits causing mayhem at the market. Symphony darted in first, blowing fire into a troll's pants and causing him to run right into the river to extinguish his underwear. The warriors leapt into battle.

Rosiepuff wisely stepped aside as her patrons hurried outside to watch and cheer on the battle. She knew even a simple bandit attack would draw a small crowd. She rarely partook in the pastime. Watching battles like those made her uncomfortable, though she could never explain to Branch why. This time, she took advantage of the empty restaurant and prepped for her customers' return. She refilled water glasses. She cleared empty plates. She put more bread in the baskets.

The bell on the front door dinged. Rosiepuff turned around and saw a trio of bandits at the entrance. One of them wore a spiked helmet, evidently the leader. "What'd I tell you, boys?" the lead bandit said. "Draw the warriors away, leave the loot unguarded."

"Excuse me, gentlemen, but we're closed for the fight." Rosiepuff said. "Run along."

The bandits chuckled. "Who's going to make us?"

"We will!" Biggie declared as he and Fuzzbert burst into the restaurant. But one growl from the lead bandit, and the two of them scurried away in fear.

Rosiepuff sighed. "Thanks anyway, boys."

"Check upstairs." the lead bandit ordered. "The house of the Dragon Warrior must have something we can sell."

Rosiepuff tried to stand in their way, but the lead bandit drew a knife and put it to her neck. She wisely stepped aside at the lead bandit's direction. If Biggie and Fuzzbert could warn the Troll Tree warriors, she'd be fine.

"So that's your plan?" Rosiepuff asked, stalling for time. "Cause some chaos down the road and then loot and pillage in the empty houses?"

"If you didn't want to be robbed, maybe you should've locked your door." the lead bandit said.

"You smashed my window. Plus, you would've broken in anyway, correct?"

"Well, yes. Now stop talking. I despise prisoners who talk."

"Since when am I a prisoner?"

The bandit grabbed her arm roughly. "Since now. I bet the Dragon Warrior would pay a pretty penny to see you unharmed."

"Let her go!"

The bandit and Rosiepuff saw Poppy, Cooper, and Smidge at the door, ready for battle. The lead bandit shoved Rosiepuff into the wall and pushed his knife against her throat. "Don't make any rash decisions, masters."

"You hurt her in any way, and we'll pound you into paste!" Smidge threatened.

Poppy kept her sword ready. This wasn't a normal hostage situation. It was far too personal, this time. "There's no need for this to end in bloodshed."

"Hey boss!" the two bandits hurried downstairs. "You think this is worth anything?" One of the bandits held up a sword in a black scabbard. The medieval-style sword had a silver cross-guard and pommel, with a black leather grip.

Right then, Rosiepuff hadn't felt such anger in a long time. Her eyes blazed with fury, and she struggled against the lead bandit's grip on her. "That was my husband's sword! Put it down right now!"

The bandits laughed. "Exactly what are you going to do about it?" the lead bandit demanded.

Rosiepuff raised a hand and summoned the water from the cooking pot in the kitchen. She smacked all three bandits with the water, and then encased them in a big bubble. She slammed the bubble on the ground, sending the bandits in a daze. Rosiepuff grabbed her husband's sword and slammed it on the table. She used the water to throw the three bandits through the large window at the front of the restaurant. Poppy, Smidge, and Cooper hadn't pulled their jaws off the floor yet. But they smartly stepped out of Rosiepuff's way when she stomped out the door. The bandits scurried away out of fear. Rosiepuff manipulated the water available for her, making a whip that she cracked at the bandits' heels. The leader called for a hasty retreat.

"And don't let me catch you in my shop again, you filthy ingrates!" Rosiepuff shouted after them. She dusted off her skirt, muttering in anger. Branch, Peppy, and the rest of the Five arrived.

"Grandma, are you okay?" Branch asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." Rosiepuff said. "Those mongrels nearly ran off with your grandfather's sword, but it's fine."

"That was some awesome water-bending!" Symphony said. "But did you intend to do it in front of everybody?"

Rosiepuff froze. She looked up. Everyone except Peppy, Branch, and Symphony stared at her in shock. The Five and the villagers, who only knew her as a kindly old cook, just saw her water-bend.

"Oh perfect." Rosiepuff groaned.