Shadgirl2: Alright, now things really start to get interesting.

Midna Azusa: It's going to be an emotional roller coaster, too, so I hope you're all ready for that. This story gets you right in the feels.

Disclaimer: We don't own Trolls.

Branch returned to his room, as instructed. However, as much as he tried to downplay it, he couldn't stop thinking about Creek's strange behavior as he walked down the hall.

Where'd Creek even come from? We left the Troll Tree four years ago! What exactly happened to him, anyway?

Reaching his room, Branch walked in and shut the door behind himself. "If he really escaped awhile ago, why did it take him so long to try to come home? Creek isn't really the kind of guy who could survive for a long time alone, especially since he was only 7 when he went missing. And why would he care that I'm marrying Poppy? What's he leaving out?"

Why was he so concerned that Branch was engaged to Poppy? Branch never took him for the power-hungry type. Then those last words he'd said... Usually, being called an old friend would be a good thing, but there was something ominous about Creek's tone, almost like a threat. Branch didn't want to think of it as one, though—Creek was supposed to be his friend. His best friend, the one who was closest to him in the world.

His best friend was alive and back home. That should have made Branch feel good in some way, but it didn't. This whole thing just made him feel uneasy. Something told him he was in danger. As much as he didn't want to believe that Creek would hurt him, he couldn't shake the feeling that Creek wasn't the same anymore.

I think it's about time I get out of here. Creek showing up out of nowhere just doesn't seem like a good thing.

He started searching this room for anything he thought would be useful out on his own. Most of it would probably come from his bunker, but he knew he could find some of what he needed here. He did have some bandages and soap here, at least.

It'd be better if Creek had stayed dead, Branch thought, feeling guilty about that thought almost immediately.

Just then, there was a knock at his door. "Branch? You still up?" Peppy asked from the hallway.

Branch quickly tossed his things into the closet, then shut the door quietly. "Yes."

Peppy opened the door and came in, a book in hand. "I have that book I promised you as a reward for apologizing to Poppy and doing the right thing at dinner," he said, holding it up.

"Thank you," Branch said. Being polite was the quickest way to get Peppy to leave.

Peppy set the book down on the nightstand and took a seat on Branch's bed. He looked at the boy and asked, "Branch, do you understand why you got into so much trouble today?"

"Because I upset Poppy?" he answered, heading over to the bed to have a seat as well. If Peppy wanted to have a conversation about his behavior, this could take a while.

So much for getting him to leave quickly.

"Well, that's part of it, yes," Peppy answered with a nod. "But it's more related to your overall behavior these past few years. You've been extremely rude to just about everyone you see and have shown little to no respect for authority. Branch, I know losing your family like that really hurt you, but you can't keep doing stuff like that. Sooner or later, you'll end up upsetting everyone so much that you'll drive them all away. Like you did with Biggie and Cooper."

As if Branch needed the reminder. He'd been a jerk to them after losing his family. Three years ago, he'd made Biggie cry with something he'd said. He couldn't even remember what it was, but neither of them had spoken to him since. It was just the latest in a line of events that had left Branch feeling completely alone, but it also happened to be one that was his fault.

Branch sighed, looking down. "...Everyone might be better off that way..."

Being around him got people hurt, either physically or emotionally. He felt guilty about what he'd done with Biggie and Cooper—he had since the day he'd upset Biggie so much. But he'd never even tried to apologize. He knew he'd probably just hurt them again, anyway, so it was better if they put some distance between themselves and him.

Peppy looked at him sympathetically and said, "Now don't say that, young man. Everyone deserves to have someone who cares about them, no matter how unhappy they are." He put a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Branch glanced up at Peppy, his expression more sorrowful than angry. It was rare that Branch let his true emotions show anymore. Usually, he tried to cover them up with anger, whether warranted or not.

Peppy pulled him into a hug, rubbing his back some, and said, "I know, son. I know."

Branch clenched his fists, trying not to cry. Tears didn't help anything, and he knew that he would probably be stuck here with Peppy even longer if he did start crying.

Peppy held Branch in his arms, trying to comfort the boy. Branch would never admit it, but it did help some. It was the last thing he wanted, though—another emotional attachment to a living creature that could die on him. Granted, he'd already developed an attachment to Peppy even before losing his family, so there was little point in trying to ignore it now.

"Shh..." Peppy rubbed Branch's back. "It's alright, my boy. Everything's going to be alright. But not until you learn to let people back in. No one can help you if you don't let them, Branch. Sooner or later, you'll need to trust in someone, or this hurt you feel inside will consume you. So why not spend some time getting to know my daughter? She's the happiest troll in the village and your fiance, mind you. And, like it or not, that isn't changing anytime soon. So I suggest you start making the best of it and let her help you. Who knows? You may find out she's the best thing that's ever happened to you and you just didn't know it."

Yeah, sure. That princess is no better than I was when I was her age! She wouldn't know what to do if a real problem came up! Branch took a moment to compose himself before saying something else that bothered him about Poppy. "She still thinks I'm her brother."

Peppy chuckled a bit, pulling back from the child and patting his back as he said, "Well, she is only 5 years old, Prince. And kids don't always understand adult stuff like marriage, so they go with the things they can understand. But she'll figure it out in time. You'll see."

Branch sighed. He didn't really care to get to know her. He could hardly believe he'd once thought she'd be a good friend. She was nothing but a pain in the neck.

Still, he wanted to get Peppy to leave sometime tonight so he could leave forever. After a moment, he said, "Fine. I'll...try getting to know her..." Silently, he added, It's not like I'm staying here any longer, so there's no harm telling King Peppy what he wants to hear.

Peppy smiled at him. "Thatta boy," he said, patting Branch's back again. He got to his feet and stretched. "Well. I'm going to hit the hay, then. Good night, Branch. See you tomorrow." With that, he left the room, leaving Branch alone.

Branch glanced at the nightstand to see the book Peppy had brought. Non-fiction, for once, judging by the label the library had stuck on the spine. Maybe that meant it wouldn't just be full of unrealistic happy tales where everything worked out in the end.

Branch picked up the book, curious. "Theories About the True Origins of Fairy Tales?" he read off the cover.

He flipped through the book a bit before he got up and grabbed his backpack from the closet. He shoved a couple of changes of clothes in there, along with the medical and hygiene supplies he'd grabbed earlier. Then he turned his attention to the mementos of his family and realized he wouldn't be able to take them all with him. He'd have to travel light, and he'd need to fit some food and tools in here, too. Those four items he treasured would take up a lot of space. He needed to pack a blanket, but...his mom's was too bulky. It wouldn't fit in his bag. He'd have to leave that and the bullseye.

This was going to be hard. If he had more time—if Creek didn't seem dangerous—then he'd have waited and found some way to make sure he could take it all with him. Still, he grabbed the picture on his desk and Croco. They'd fit in the bag, at least. Beyond that, everything he needed was out in his hideout. There wasn't anything else in this room that would be of any use and would still fit.

With at least two mementos packed up, Branch flopped down on his bed and opened the book. He knew Peppy was still awake, and he wanted to make sure that he gave the king plenty of time to fall asleep before he tried sneaking out. He might as well pass the time with that book.

The first set of theories in that book was for the story of Rapunzel. The section began with the possible origins, including bergens who had locked their daughters up for a variety of reasons. As he read about this fairy tale, Branch realized that this must have been one of the bergen's books. After making friends with the bergens, the trolls had been allowed into the bergen library. Some had made copies of a few of the more trolly books in there so that the trolls could enjoy them, too.

The theories about this tale's origin included a Greek, Danae, whose father locked her in an underground chamber after hearing that one of her sons would kill him. Apparently, a god called Zeus had caused the birth of said son anyway, so that was pointless. Another, Saint Barbara, was locked away by her father as he attempted to keep her from marrying any bergens he deemed unworthy. She converted to Christianity and, after a series of miraculous escapes, her father beheaded her. Apparently, he was then struck by lightning. Another story talked about the tower of Kiz Kulesi, a tower built by a man who feared a prophecy that said his daughter would be bit by a snake and die. He hid her in the tower, which was built on an island without any snakes. On her 18th birthday, a poisonous snake slipped into a basket of fruit given to her as a gift, and she died anyway. Finally, the book discussed another fairy tale that was similar to Rapunzel—"Petrosinella."

"Who actually locks their daughter in a tower? That can't be right!" Branch said, stunned that anybody would be that cruel, even a bergen.

As he continued reading, the book went on to tell the original story, which varied quite a bit from the version he remembered his mother telling him. He figured it must have been the bergen version. In it, Rapunzel got pregnant, and the dummy asked Gothel why her waist was getting bigger. She ended up in a desert, where she had twins that she had to raise alone. The prince tried to kill himself, having lost her, but only managed to lose his eyesight. He wandered alone for years before Rapunzel and the twins found him. Rapunzel's tears healed him, and he took them all home with him. Apparently, another version had Rapunzel ask Gothel why it was harder to lift her than it was the prince, stupidly revealing that someone else was visiting her during the night. In some versions, Gothel set a trap for the prince after finding out about him and blinded him herself before ending up trapped in the tower where she'd kept Rapunzel.

"Wow, asking Gothel why her waist's getting bigger or why it's harder to lift her than the prince? Rapunzel's about as smart as Poppy is," Branch said. "She'd be dumb enough to do both."

Branch's hug watch, which he only kept because Peppy insisted on getting him a new one anytime he "lost" his old, went off on his desk then, signaling that yet another hour had passed. Judging by the number of times it had gone off, Branch figured it was around 1 am by now. He glanced toward the watch.

"...Now's as good a time as ever. If they're not asleep by now, they never will be."

He left the book open on his bed and grabbed his backpack, then slipped out his bedroom door. He took a quick peek around as he slipped quietly down the hall, heading for the exit.

Creek, meanwhile, had been watching Branch's room from around the corner, waiting for the light under the door to go off. Part of him hoped Branch would go to sleep so he could do this unnoticed, but that didn't happen. Instead, Branch came out of his room, and Creek panicked, ducking back around the corner as Branch headed his direction.

Ah! No, no, no, no! Don't come this way! Go back to bed and stay there! He looked around, desperately needing a place to hide, then decided to grapple to the ceiling with his hair.

Unfortunately for Creek, Branch noticed something moving in the dark hallway. He stopped, assuming a defensive position, then blinked and looked up in confusion. "...Creek? What are you doing up?" he asked quietly.

Caught, Creek, leaped down from the ceiling, looking awkward. "Aw, well, you know. Just my late-night Japa practices before bed." He then sat on the floor, crossing his legs, and began meditating. "Om..."

Branch just stared at him for a second, giving him a lame look. "In the hallway," he finally said flatly. He crossed his arms. "Uh-huh. You're up to something, Creek."

Creek gave a start as his eyes shot open. "U-up to something? W-why would I-I be up to something?" he stammered. "H-Hindu worship's e-extremely complex, and—"

"And it doesn't need to happen in the hallway at 1 am. You're awfully jumpy, Creek. What's going on?"

"N-nothing!" Creek said quietly, grinning awkwardly.

"I'm not falling for it, Creek!" Branch hissed at him, not wanting to wake Peppy or Poppy right now. "You've been gone for four years, then, when you suddenly reappear, you're upset that Poppy's engaged. Then I find you out in the hallway doing your new age nonsense early in the morning when everyone else is sleeping?" Branch shook his head. "Sorry, Creek, but I wasn't born yesterday."

Creek chose to ignore Branch calling his religious practices "new age nonsense." It wasn't the first time he'd done that since turning gray, after all. Besides, he had more important things to worry about.

"H-hey, you'd be a-acting f-funny i-i-if you s-spent y-your days i-in the w-woods a-alone!" Creek stammered terribly. "B-but enough a-about me. What are you doing up?" He glanced over Branch's shoulder, seeing the backpack, and added, "And why'd you pack your bags, mate? Are you planning to go somewhere?"

Branch rolled his eyes, his arms still crossed, and answered, "Uh, yeah, anywhere but here."

"Y-you're running away? Whatever for?" Creek asked, and even though that would have made it easy to get Branch out of Chef's way without hurting him, Creek couldn't help but be concerned. He knew first-hand that being alone wasn't any fun, and Branch's mental state made the idea of him being alone even more worrisome.

Branch looked away so Creek wouldn't see the pain in his eyes. "...I don't belong here, Creek."

"What? But, Branch, what about the others? And Princess Poppy, while we're at it? Won't it upset them all if you decided to leave like that? I-I mean—"

"Biggie and Cooper don't talk to me anymore, and I've done everything I can to get Poppy to not like me, so I don't really think anybody will care if I leave," Branch cut him off.

And, as for Peppy, his life would be a lot easier without the most difficult trolling in the village under his roof.

Well, that certainly makes things easier, I suppose... It didn't make things any less concerning, though. If Branch really thought nobody would care if he left, he might need to be locked up for now so someone could keep an eye on him. Besides, Creek's master still wanted Branch brought to her... After a moment, Creek said, "Then why not take me with you? I've got no one to turn to either, friend. And, besides, no troll should have to live this life all alone." Silently, he added, I should know. I've done it the past four years!

Branch looked at him, apparently puzzled. "...Don't you want to stay here?" he asked, gesturing around vaguely. "I mean, you just got back."

"Yes. And you're planning to leave alone. A word of advice, mate: That isn't really the most appealing option, either. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. But, if you had a friend along for the ride, it might be a bit more tolerable. Take it from someone who knows," Creek answered, offering a reassuring smile.

Branch stared at Creek for a moment. Truthfully, he wouldn't mind having someone come with him. Creek had always been more mellow than Poppy or Cooper, and he always knew what to say to make most trolls cheer up. Branch hadn't told him, but he even managed to make him feel a little better from time to time. But, if Creek went with him, he'd probably regret it. Biggie and Cooper didn't want to be friends anymore, and Branch couldn't blame them. He didn't know what he'd do if Creek decided to leave him, too.

So, after giving it a brief moment of thought, Branch said, "You don't want to go with me, Creek. I'm not exactly the best company these days."

"Well, that's okay, mate. I ain't, either!" Creek answered cheerfully. Then, just to prove a point, he stammered, "I-I mean, i-in case you missed it, I-I am a bit j-jumpy now ad-days..." He looked around uncertainly. "Y-you see?"

Creek didn't know what he was getting into, committing to a life on the run with nobody but Branch. The gray troll seriously considered telling him no, but he honestly didn't want to be all alone. After another moment of staring, he said, "If you insist," and walked past Creek, heading for the stairs. "Come on. And you'd better not slow me down, either!"

"Oh, thank you, mate! I promise not to be too much trouble," Creek answered, clapping his hands together cheerfully and jumping. He then hurried after his old friend. ...For the moment, anyway. He added, "And I just may know of a place where we won't be bothered. If I may?" He gestured ahead, asking if he could take the lead, a proud grin on his face.

Branch still wasn't sure this was a good idea. For one, Creek was bound to regret this choice sooner or later. For another, Branch still couldn't shake the feeling there was something off about the way he was behaving. Still, Creek was his best friend—his only friend, as of right now—and he couldn't bring himself to believe that Creek would do anything to hurt him.

After a moment's hesitation, Branch said, "I need to stop somewhere else first, Creek."

"Oh!" Creek said with a start. "Yes, yes, of course. But, uh...where are we going, exactly? I thought you made your home in the royal pod?" he asked, looking at Branch in confusion as he followed.

"Not by choice. There are some things King Peppy doesn't let me keep here, so I hide them in my bunker," Branch said, referring to his hideout in the forest.

Creek stopped walking, stunned. "Your bunker?"

Branch stopped and turned to him, fully prepared to be called crazy again. Defensive, he answered, "Yes. I've spent the last four years building a bunker in case anything happens. It's got some supplies in it, and I am not wandering out into the woods unprepared!"

Creek stared at him in amazement for a moment before saying, "Wow. And I thought I had issues."

Branch rolled his eyes and headed out of the pod toward the edge of the village. "Told you I'm not great company."

Before long, the two reached Branch's bunker, where Creek waited outside anxiously as Branch packed what he needed.

As the night wore on, Creek grew more concerned about what Chef would do to him if he didn't bring Branch to her soon. He knocked on the bunker, nervous, and asked, "Say, uh, you about done in there, mate!? 'Cause it's getting mighty late, and—"

Branch opened his bunker and came out, looking slightly irritated. "Sheesh, Creek, the way you're acting, you'd think you were the one running away from 'home.'"

"W-well, excuse me i-if it d-doesn't feel safe o-out here all alone..." Creek stammered, making up an excuse he knew Branch would be less likely to question. "I-I mean, y-you never know w-when a p-predator's g-gonna j-jump out at y-you and—"

"Right, point made," Branch cut him off. With the amount of stuttering Creek was doing, that sentence would take all night. "I've got everything we need, anyway, so we can get going."

"Great! Fine work, my friend! But, uh, might I make one final request?" Creek asked, looking sheepish again as he slowly lifted a finger.

Branch rolled his eyes, definitely annoyed now. "What?"

"Might we take a couple flyer bugs along? I've got one of my own, you see, and I simply can't just abandon her." He needed to get to the root tunnels quickly, before his master's short temper caused her to grow impatient with him.

Branch thought about it for a second, then nodded, saying, "That'll get us out of here faster, and I'm all about getting out of here. Good idea, Creek."

"Yes. Yes, it was, hmm?" Creek said as he crossed his arms with a look of pride on his face.

The two boys headed back into the village, where Creek boarded his yellow and pink striped flyer bug and Branch got on a blue and purple striped one.

"We all set, pal? Onward to adventure?" Creek asked, feeling a bit more at ease now.

Branch rolled his eyes and said, "Let's just go before Poppy springs up out of thin air."

Creek started, his eyes wide. "What?" he asked, looking at Branch with concern. He couldn't be serious, could he? Who in Troll Village had that kind of power?

Branch just gave him a lame look as if saying he shouldn't ask before he flew off. Creek sat there a second longer, curious, then took off after his friend. He'd worry about whether Poppy had magical abilities of her own later. Hopefully, it was just Branch exaggerating. And, if Poppy did have magic, hopefully she'd at least be unable to read his mind—he'd be in serious trouble if she could.

He set that thought aside for now. He had to focus on the unpleasant task at hand. "Mind if I take the lead now? I have been doing this for longer than you, after all," Creek said with a smug grin.

"Fine."

"Alrighty, then! Follow me, mate!" he said, and he took off toward the root tunnels.

Branch followed, never suspecting that Creek was anything less than sincere.

Meanwhile, Chef had found a clearing near the root tunnels. She only knew about said tunnels because she'd heard some trolls talking about using them to leave. This was shortly before she'd taken her own leave of that town that had dared turn her into a mere servant. Out of curiosity, she'd searched for the tunnel's exit just to see what trolls were capable of. She'd been rather stunned as she saw the trolls head out of it themselves. Given that they'd dug through not only dirt but wood, she'd decided that the cage she used for her captive troll and, in the future, trolls would have to have a cement floor.

At the edge of the forest right where the clearing began, she set up a sticky net that was quite a bit like a spider web, a common tool for hunting small or flying prey in Crumsville. She had seen through her crystal ball that Creek was using flyer bugs to bring Branch to her, and she wanted to be sure she was ready when they finally arrived.

"Hm, yes. That's a good boy, Creek," she said, glancing at her crystal to see the trolls flying her way. "Bring the so-called 'prince' to me. It's not as though anyone will miss him, anyway." Her tone was dull—what she'd heard so far made it clear that Branch's disappearance wouldn't cause too much of a ripple.

Still, the king might try to find him if something wasn't done to convince him the boy was gone for good. And Chef had a plan for that.

She laughed wickedly, then set up a rather unique birdhouse she'd found at the store. It was shaped like a tower, with a small window for an entrance toward the top. Most birdhouses had circular entrances, but the creator of this one had really wanted to make it realistic, so the window was rectangular. It was still wide enough for a bird to enter, which meant it was more than wide enough for a troll. The majority of the structure was just for show. Only the top was actually open. This particular birdhouse could be hung from a tree or post, like a normal one, but it also gave the option of securing it to the ground with some stakes. Chef hammered the stakes through the holes at the bottom, pinning it down so it wouldn't fall over, then stepped back to admire her work. For a bergen, it wasn't high, just about up to her knee. For a troll, however, it was quite a tall tower indeed.

"If anyone can reach him from up there, they're a very dead troll."

There were two ways the trolls could get to Bergen Town—the direct route, which would take them to the gate, and the root tunnels, which would take them straight to the heart of Bergen Town. Given that the route to the root tunnels was horribly treacherous, most trolls opted for the front gate. No troll would ever come out here, and any who tried wouldn't live to tell the tale.

Nobody would ever find this place.

Suddenly Chef heard the sound of singing. She ducked, hiding behind a tree. She recognized that voice.

As Creek and Branch flew along, the guru troll sang a folk song in a language Branch didn't understand. He figured it was probably Indian, given that Creek generally only sang in either that language or English. Still, the whole thing was irritating for Branch

Little did he know, the lyrics to Creek's song were entirely made up. As Creek fretted over what he was about to do, he sang, "Whoa is me. I'm betraying a friend, but how can this be? Is it an omen or destiny that so torments me, or could a stroke of luck set us both free?"

"Do you have to sing?" Branch asked, entirely unaware of what his friend was really singing about.

Knowing it was distracting Branch and would make it easier for Chef to catch him, Creek kept on singing. Suddenly he flew right into a sticky web, getting himself and his bug caught.

"W-what is this!?" He started squirming around, fearing that he'd been caught by a tarantapuff, just as Branch's bug flew toward the web, too.

He didn't have time to stop.

"Whoa!"

Branch's bug slammed into the web, getting both of them caught, too. But something wasn't right about this thing. It looked like a spider web, but the chords that made it up felt more like some sticky rope than anything else.

As he struggled, trying to free himself, Branch asked, "What is this thing!?"

That's when Chef appeared from behind a nearby tree, grinning wickedly at the gray troll. "Gotcha." She moved toward him, looking menacing.

Creek stopped squirming, freezing instantly. While he was glad that it wasn't a tarantapuff, he still feared Chef. She was a cruel master. Branch's eyes widened, and he pulled harder, desperately trying to free himself before this bergen could hurt either of them.

Chef had left town four years ago. Branch knew this because he was Poppy's fiance. Peppy, as the king of the trolls, spent a lot of time in Bergen Town, and he always took Poppy and Branch with him, one because of her age and the other as part of his training. Like them or not, Branch knew most bergens these days, and all of the others said Chef was gone.

Chef moved to pick Branch up by the hair, plucking him from the net as he wriggled in her grip. "Now, now, my prince. There's no need to put up such a fuss. For it will all be over with shortly," she said with a wicked grin.

Branch couldn't believe his ears. There was no way she should have known he was the prince. He hadn't been the last time anyone had seen her, and he'd left his crown in Peppy's pod. "W—Prince? H-how do you—" He cut himself off and stopped squirming as realization hit him like a ton of bricks. His eyes widened as he looked back at Creek. The look in his eyes was desperate, begging Creek to tell him this wasn't a trap.

Creek just closed his eyes, trying not to look at Branch. He couldn't stand the look in his friend's eyes.

Chef moved toward a tower that Branch hadn't noticed before, still giving Branch a wicked grin, as she said, "That's right, Prince Branch. I sent Creek to Troll Village to enact my revenge on you all. Soon, he will take your place as Princess Poppy's fiance and bring the trolls back to my home in Crumsville, where their bergen inhabitants will all get a taste of troll." She laughed evilly, still holding Branch by the hair.

"No!" Branch cried.

He couldn't let that happen. He started flailing around, trying in vain to get free so he could attack this bergen, hoping he could at least do enough damage to distract her long enough that he could escape.

Chef stopped laughing and gave him a wicked glare. "Now! Since it's obvious my plans can't come to fruition as long as you're around, I'm afraid that this is the end of the line for you!" She tossed him in the tower's window and covered it with her hand. Then she looked over at Creek and said, "Now, remind me, Creek. Your friend is gray because he's unhappy, correct?"

Trapped in the dark, Branch dug through his bag, trying to find something that would make for a good weapon in this situation. He grew frustrated, realizing that everything he had was too small to do anything more than irritate Chef. Tossing his bag aside, he lunged toward the window and bit her, hard.

"Ow!" Chef glared at the tower, angry. "Why, you little—"

"Y-yes, master!" Creek answered, partly because she asked and partly to get her attention away from what Branch had just done—whatever that was. She could still kill him, after all. "T-that's ex-exactly it! T-trolls only t-turn g-gray because th-they're unh-happy! S-so he's g-gray 'c-cause of t-that!"

"Traitor!" Branch cried.

Chef grinned wickedly. "Good." Quickly, she flicked Branch back with her finger, causing him to slam into the opposite wall. Then she started chanting in a foreign language.

Branch cried out as he hit the wall, then just sat there disoriented. Suddenly, as Chef chanted, the walls started to emit eerie grayish-brown smoke. It covered them from top to bottom, crept into the ceiling and floor, and even made the window disappear.

"Huh?" Branch asked. He looked around, growing afraid. "W-what's going on!?"

Chef finished up and removed her hand from the window. Then she headed to the net to fetch Creek. "There. That should do it." She laughed through her lips as she moved toward the purple troll. The smoke in the tower cleared away, and everything looked normal again.

Branch looked uncertain for a moment, wondering what had just happened, then ran for the window. He peered out to see how high up he was, then, realizing it wasn't so far down that his hair wouldn't reach the ground, he tried leaning out the window to stretch his hair down. However, as he did, a grayish-brown bubble-like force field appeared in the window, covering the entire thing. It pushed Branch back, knocking him down as it recoiled against his actions.

"Ah!" Branch cried out as he fell. He sat up slightly, looking at the window in shock. The bubble had already vanished. "W-what was that!?"

Chef pulled Creek from the net and pet his hair a bit. "That's a good boy, Creek. Now let's get you back to the village."

"U-uh...m-master?" Creek hesitantly asked. "P-pardon m-my say s-so, but...sh-shouldn't we e-extract the b-bugs, too, t-to elude s-suspicion...?"

Chef put a hand to her chin, thinking. If the bugs were missing, that would make it look as if someone had left with Branch, and that would lead them to suspect Creek had done something to him. It would ruin her plans entirely. "Hmm... You have a point..." She reached into the net and plucked the bugs, too. Creek's dove into her fanny pack, and the other flew off frantically, heading for home.

Chef tucked Creek safely into her fanny pack then, zipping it shut, and started heading for Troll Village.

"Wait!" Branch cried, hands on the window sill. "What did you do!? Why can't I get out of here!?"

Chef stopped and turned to him, grinning wickedly as she answered, "Because, my prince, I just put up a barrier that only allows happy trolls to pass! From this day forward, no unhappy trolls will be able to enter or exit this tower! So say goodbye to that life of yours because it'll be gone soon enough!" She gave an evil laugh as she walked away, leaving Branch all alone.

Branch's eyes widened. "No..." No unhappy trolls could leave? That couldn't be true! If it was, he'd be dead in a matter of days. There has to be a way!

He put his hand out toward the window, testing the barrier. When his hand reached the barrier, it appeared, jiggling like a grayish-brown bubble. It vaguely looked like a soap bubble, so Branch thought maybe he could pop it if he were a little more gentle. He pushed against it, testing its strength. The barrier bulged out some but wouldn't let him through. In fact, it felt thick and strong when he did that, nothing like a soap bubble. When he used a little more force, it bounced back, knocking him back slightly. Once he was no longer touching it, it vanished again.

Okay, so the barrier won't let me through. Maybe there's another way out?

He looked around, seeing no other exit. There wasn't a door or a staircase or even another window.

"Okay...so the window's the only exit. I'll just have to figure out a way through it, then!"

He rummaged through his bag, looking for something he could use to pop the bubble. He pulled out a screwdriver and tried to pop the barrier with it, but the tool went straight through as if there wasn't anything there. Confused, Branch reached out with his hand and hit the barrier again. Apparently, it didn't acknowledge the screwdriver, just Branch himself.

"Oh, come on!" he complained, throwing the screwdriver down in frustration. "Okay, fine I'll just make my own exit!"

He grabbed another tool out of his bag and quickly assembled it—a collapsible pickax. He then set to work, trying to dig a hole in the wall. After getting one brick loose, he reached to remove it, then tried to use his hair to pull a few more from outside. His hair hit the same barrier that he found at the window, forcing him back.

"Ugh! That barrier's here, too!?"

He headed to the opposite wall and tried again, only to be blocked once more. Now he was growing worried. He was running out of options.

He stood there for a moment, looking around. "Maybe if I dig under...? Th-there's no way it's solid brick the whole way to the ground, right?"

Starting near a wall, he tried to dig a hole through the floor. If this didn't work, he didn't want a hole in the middle of this tower that would just bounce him into the air anytime he accidentally stepped on it. The first layer of brick gave way to another layer underneath, but, when Branch reached for it, the barrier appeared again.

His eyes widened and he scrambled away from the small hole. "It's under me, too!?"

He was growing more panicked now as he looked toward the ceiling, hoping that the barrier wouldn't be above him at least. There were rafters overhead, holding the ceiling up. Branch lashed out with his hair and grabbed the rafters, using them to pull himself up. With his pickax, he tried digging through the ceiling. The debris fell on his head, giving him a small bump.

"Ow!" he cried. He shook his head and looked back at the hole, where moonlight was streaming in. "Please let this be a way out..."

He reached out with his hand, testing to see if he could get out this way before he tried making the hole any bigger. The barrier appeared again, bouncing against his hand once more.

"No!" Branch cried, devastated. "There has to be a way out of here!" He dropped back to the floor, desperately trying to think of another idea. Unfortunately, he didn't have any. After a long moment, he wondered, "Is being happy seriously the only way I could get out of here...?"

If he needed to be happy to leave this place, he'd die here. Not only was he alone, but he'd just been betrayed by the one troll he thought he could trust. Apparently, friendship was meaningless.