Chapter Nineteen – Rumble in the Spirit Realm
As soon as Titan was stabbed with The Cleaver, his ice warriors and frost creatures dissolved. Word spread about the victory, and everyone gathered at the portal symbol on the lake. Nobody would step onto the seal.
"Is there anything we can do to help them?" Trollex asked.
"Can we go in there?" Coral Blush added.
"No!" Kai barked. "We can't lose anyone else."
"They aren't lost. Not yet." Eclipse soothed. "Just give them some time. The portal can still be opened on their end to let them out. Living mortals aren't meant to be in the Spirit Realm for long."
"But there's nothing we can do to help?" Delta Dawn asked.
"Just be patient." Eclipse said. "Titan has no demonic powers in there. He'll be much easier to defeat."
"Let's hope so." Apollo gulped.
Their vision had been engulfed by light. Once they could actually take in their surroundings, the first thing Rosiepuff did was hug Branch tighter.
"I'm really sorry if I hurt you, angel." Rosiepuff sighed.
"No worries." Branch assured. "I blame Titan. Where are we?"
Rosiepuff helped him stand, and they looked around. They seemed to stand in a field of wildflowers, with a bright blue sky overhead. Though, oddly enough, there did not appear to be a sun. Branch walked around a bit, but his foot slipped and he almost tumbled right off a ledge. Rosiepuff joined him, and they realized they stood on a small island in a vast space of swirling colors. There were other floating islands all around them, each encased in their own little bubble. There was a desert in one bubble, and a raging storm in another, and one bubble seemed to be filled with cotton candy.
"This is the Spirit Realm?" Branch asked.
"Not quite what I imagined, but okay." Rosiepuff shrugged. "Hey, what happened to Titan?"
"Duck!" Branch pulled her down to avoid the knife thrown at them. They spun around to face Titan. In the Spirit Realm, he simply appeared as he did while alive, only with a soft glow outlining his body.
"Was that your whole plan?" Titan demanded. "Drag me into the Spirit Realm yourselves?"
"Hey, we were willing to end this in the Mortal Realm." Branch pointed out.
"Then we will end this here!" Titan charged, and Branch and Rosiepuff jumped in opposite directions to avoid him. Rosiepuff tried to create water from the air, but nothing happened. She couldn't air-bend either, and she had to dodge Titan's attack yet again.
Branch realized he did not have the Dragon Blade—or any weapon—and he shot a fireball at Titan. But nothing appeared from his fist. "Uh, Grandma? I can't fire-bend!"
"I can't water- or air-bend, either!" Rosiepuff confirmed. She tried earth-bending. Thankfully, that worked, and a column of rock sprung from the ground right in Titan's path. He face-planted into it.
"That worked." Branch grabbed his grandmother's wrist and pulled her along. "Jump!"
"What?!" Rosiepuff yelped.
"Jump!" Branch practically pulled her off the wildflower island. They passed through the bubble, and then they floated. It was a surreal feeling, unable to really tell which way was up and which down.
"This is odd." Rosiepuff said. "Now what?" Titan jumped from the island, except he knew how to move in the Spirit Realm. He shot towards the pair, slamming into them and sending Rosiepuff and Branch flying. They went through the bubble surrounding another island, this one full of raging seas. The waves tossed Branch about until his grandmother could haul him onto a makeshift ice boat she created.
"Wait, you can water-bend in here?" Branch called over the roar of the water.
"It's the only element I can bend in here! Just like the earth on that last island!" Rosiepuff confirmed. "I think each island is made for one particular element!"
"Heads up!" Branch warned as Titan shot through the bubble.
Titan sliced through the icicles shot at him. "Welcome to the Spirit Realm, Golden Rose. At least, part of it. Each bubble is its own land, and only one element can be control in each one. However, some of these bubbles are deceptive. One is a gateway to the heavenly delights of the afterlife. One is a path straight to the fires of hell. Personally, I'd prefer to cast you into the latter."
"Oh yeah?" Branch scoffed. "Bring it on!"
"Even if you do send us there, we won't go without a fight!" Rosiepuff created more icicles from the water around her, and she launched them at Titan.
Poppy groaned in frustration. "I can't take this! We can't just sit here and do nothing! There must be some way to reopen the portal so we can help them."
"None of us are spirits, or else we could use The Cleaver." Darnell said.
"The portal is only supposed to be used by spirits in the first place." Quincy pointed out.
"If Branch and Rosiepuff can be sucked in, we can, too." Poppy asserted. She stepped onto the portal, but nothing happened. She stomped on the ice in anger.
"Okay, okay, don't break it!" Eclipse snapped. She sighed, pinching the space between her eyes. "I was hoping it would not come to this, but you are so stubborn. Guess that makes you a good addition to the Golden Rose family."
"What do we do?" Poppy asked.
"I'm going to open the portal so we can save my best friend and your fiancé." Eclipse said.
"I'm coming with you." Kai insisted.
"Nope. Double-benders and girls only." Eclipse said. "Men will only muddle it up."
"Is this really the time for a 'girls rule, boys drool' argument?" Kai grumbled. "You've been doing this to me since we were children."
"You really must learn to trust me blindly, dear brother." Eclipse patted Kai's cheek. "Poppy, come along."
"Best let only a few go, Kai." Essence reassured the chief. "Besides, Eclipse looks like she knows what she's doing."
"I know." Kai admitted. "But, as her brother, I'm holding this against her."
"How exactly are you going to do this?" Poppy asked as she and Eclipse stood in the center of the portal symbol.
"You know, too often, people ask such useless questions." Eclipse said. "Sometimes, you have the most fun when you just let go and enjoy the experience."
"Um….okay…" Poppy said.
"Good. Now let's see…." Eclipse made sure to plant both feet in the very middle of the symbol, her toes pointed out like a ballerina in first position. She held Poppy's hands in her own. Poppy noticed the silver flecks in Eclipse's eyes sparkling like stars in a night sky.
Suddenly, the poral glowed brighter. Eclipse and Poppy sunk through the ice and disappeared.
"Cannonball!" Clampers cheered. She leaped into the portal just as it closed again.
"The kid just jumped into the Spirit Realm, didn't she?" Delta Dawn asked.
"Yep." Apollo said.
"Why am I not surprised?" Delta Dawn sighed.
Despite their best efforts to stay in the water sphere, Titan managed to kick them out, literally. Outside the spheres, there seemed to be no gravity, and only Titan could move with ease. Even worse, there was no element-bending when floating in the emptiness of the Spirit Realm. Out there, Branch and Rosiepuff were defenseless against Titan's attacks. Whenever they got tossed into another bubble, Branch and Rosiepuff would grab hold of whatever ground they could find, and they fought back. Branch only had his fire-bending when they entered bubbles with fire, like the volcano bubble or the wildfire bubble. Thankfully, in every other bubble, Rosiepuff could use the power of the Nymph's Amulet.
One bubble had a flat, stony floor and a storm consumed the skies. Titan ran for them once more.
Rosiepuff first thought to throw a rock, but no earth-bending. "Try air!" Branch urged.
"Nope. Nothing." Rosiepuff looked around. What was this bubble's element? Titan raised his sword, and lightning shot from the clouds and hit it. Another bolt lit his hair on fire.
Branch laughed raucously. "Oh, I wish I had a picture of that."
Rosiepuff glanced to the storm clouds, and she gasped in realization. "Hey, Branch, do you remember that move I told you about a few months back? The Wrath of Zeus?"
Branch stared at her quizzically, and then in clicked. He gasped giddily. "Can we?"
"If you remember it." Rosiepuff nodded. She and Branch faced each other and simultaneously glanced towards Titan as he came running. Rosiepuff counted out the movements for herself and her grandson. "One, two three!" Twin bolts of lightning shot from their fingertips, and Titan was blasted out of the bubble.
"That was awesome!" Branch squealed like an excited child.
"That's my boy!" Rosiepuff hugged him. They looked up quickly at the sight of Titan returning.
"Oh, come on!" Branch groaned.
Eclipse, Poppy, and Clampers materialized in the Spirit Realm, floating in the vast space of color and bubbles.
"Whoa…." Poppy breathed. "This is—"
"So cool!" Clampers cheered.
"Clampers!" Poppy gawked. "How did you get here?"
"Obviously, the same way we did." Eclipse shrugged. "Now where are our friends?"
Branch's scream answered her question, and he flew from a bubble. Poppy caught him in her arms, and they did a few somersaults.
"Poppy?" Branch gasped. "What are you doing in here?"
"I got your back." Poppy hugged him. "Where's your grandmother?"
Rosiepuff shot from the bubble where Branch came. She hit the underside of a rocky island in another bubble and floated down into the empty space.
"Come! We must help her!" Eclipse urged.
"How do we move?" Clampers asked.
"Just push off." Eclipse moved as though she did indeed push off the ground, even though there had been nothing at her feet. She glided through the air towards Rosiepuff.
"Push off what?!" Poppy demanded.
"I've been swimming, for the most part." Branch shrugged. The two of them (with Clampers riding Branch's back) paddled their way after Eclipse.
Rosiepuff groaned, holding her head, and Eclipse guided her upright. "Having fun?" Eclipse teased.
"Shut up." Rosiepuff grumbled.
Branch, Poppy, and Clampers managed to catch up, and Clampers leaped off Branch to land in Rosiepuff's arms. Poppy caught Eclipse's hand, but Branch could not quite stop himself until Eclipse grabbed his vest and yanked him away from another bubble.
"Don't go into that one!" Eclipse warned.
"Why? What's so…..so….." Branch gulped when he saw the inside of the bubble. It looked like a swirling green pool of water, and ghostly white figures swam about inside. They moaned and wailed, hands reaching out towards them.
"That is a bubble you definitely don't want to go into." Eclipse said. "It is the Pool of the Condemned. Ghosts consumed by anger and then became demons; and when they are defeated and sent back to the Spirit Realm, they are put in there. The bubble keeps them from escaping. They are always hungry for new, wayward spirits who might wander into their realm."
"Okay, seriously, how do you know all this stuff?!" Poppy demanded. "First you open the portal, now you're apparently a Spirit Realm expert?"
"Really, Poppy, is now the best time to ask such silly questions?" Eclipse said dismissively.
"Yes! Well, no. I don't know!" Poppy yanked on her ponytail. "You are so confusing!"
"It's one of her specialties." Rosiepuff said.
"What are we gonna do about the scary ghost?" Clampers asked.
"I don't know." Branch admitted. "Even when we go into the other bubbles and use the elements, we can't beat him."
"We're in his element, now." Eclipse said. "We must use what the Spirit Realm can offer."
"Like the bubbles?" Clampers suggested.
"We only get one element per bubble." Branch said. "It's not enough to defeat him. I'm not sure even combining elements will help."
"It's not about the elements. It's about the bender." Clampers said. "That's what Miss Rosiepuff told us kids back home."
Rosiepuff saw Titan coming. He did not tire in the slightest in this realm. "You're right, Clampers. Thanks for remembering what I forgot."
"You're welcome!" Clampers saluted. "Here, let me have a go at that big meanie!" Clampers wriggled out of Rosiepuff's grip and galloped in the air, causing her to float towards Titan.
"Wait, Clampers!" Poppy called.
Clampers dodged Titan's attack and grabbed him by the hair. She began spinning, faster and faster, until she and Titan were only blurs rotating like a top. Then Clampers released Titan and sent him flying far, far away. "Score!" Clampers cheered.
"Whoa. How'd she do that?" Branch's jaw dropped.
"Even if we can manage the floating, we stand a better chance in the bubbles." Eclipse said.
Rosiepuff looked around. "Go wait for me in that bubble there. I'll goad him in. No matter where we end up, do not let him out of your sight. Let's finish this!"
Titan returned after a moment, and the battle resumed tenfold. Eclipse shot for him first. She grabbed his wrist to stop his sword strike, and then she kicked him in the face. When Titan regained his senses, he saw Rosiepuff and the others dive into a bubble full of pink fluff. He charged in after her, followed by Eclipse.
"What is this gunk?" Branch asked, pulling some of the pink fluff from his hair.
Clampers lifted a pink cloud and bit into it. "Cotton candy! Yummy!"
"Cotton candy?" Poppy nibbled on it. "Not bad."
Titan passed through the bubble and started to fall, aiming his sword for the group. They scattered, and Poppy clashed blades with Titan. Rosiepuff thought quickly. What element is this one? Why cotton candy of all things? What element is cotton candy made from?
"Oh, right!" Rosiepuff created a small tornado, which tossed Titan around and even pulled in some of the candy floss from around them.
"Well done, Rosiepuff!" Eclipse shot a powerful blast of air that pushed Titan from the bubble.
"After him!" Branch jumped from the bubble to chase after Titan. The battle continued from there, through bubble after bubble, with Eclipse guiding them away from potentially dangerous bubbles.
Titan shot from a bubble, but his prey had disappeared. Where had they gone? He kept his sword ready, his eyes scanning his surroundings.
Then, Clampers grabbed him by the ankle and bit him.
"Enough of this!" Titan grabbed Clampers by her hair and pulled her off his foot. He pushed the blade of his sword into her neck. "Come out, Golden Rose! Save this little demon if you dare to try!"
"Why that—" Branch might've jumped from behind the bubble island if Rosiepuff didn't shove him back.
"Stay with Eclipse and Poppy." Rosiepuff ordered. There was a fresh hatred in her eyes, like she had seen this happen before. She glared towards Titan. "This is not going to happen a second time." She pushed off the bubble island. "Titan! Put her down!"
"Try and make me." Titan taunted.
"Didn't you spill enough children's blood when you were alive?" Rosiepuff demanded.
"Don't you get it?!" Titan screamed. "This is no child! It's a horrible monster! Your entire family, every bender in the Mortal Realm, they were nothing but demons sent from hell! Cortez was right about all of you! If we let you roam free, your evil and demonic power would consume the earth!"
"He's really hung up on that Cortez guy, isn't he?" Branch scoffed.
"But why?" Poppy asked.
Rosiepuff narrowed her eyes. "You're related to Cortez, aren't you?"
Titan chuckled. "I am his direct descendent. As such, I am honor-bound to continue his mission, pick up where he left off, and finish his life's work."
Rosiepuff sighed. "I'm sure you grew up with all sorts of stories about the horrors of benders. Maybe you even met a bender who used their unique talents for evil. But you were fed lies, Titan. You believed them wholeheartedly. I don't blame you for that. How could you doubt your own family? But you yourself must have seen the lengths I went to for the sake of the people I love. Surely, you saw other benders using their powers for good. Does it not make you pause and wonder if maybe, just maybe, Cortez was simply looking for power and used a minority population as his stepping stone? Did you ever imagine he created his own enemy?"
"What purpose do your kind serve on this earth? You are unnatural!"
"Who knows why we're here? Why are any of us here? Honestly, I'm not in the mood for a philosophical, possibly existential, debate on life. I am a descendent of the nymphs who roamed the earth long before we did. They believed that element-bending was something that connected you to the Mortal and Spirit Realms. I'm sorry you were poisoned into believing us to be demons who needed to be wiped out. But this has to stop here. As much as I hate to resort to this, you have two options: surrender quietly, or be destroyed."
Titan laughed mockingly. He tossed his sword away and held Clampers to his chest. "If you think you can stop me now, Golden Rose, do it! But let your friends take caution: if they try to sneak up on me, I'll snap this little beast's neck."
That warning was enough to keep Eclipse, Branch, and Poppy in their hiding spot. Branch looked to his grandmother. She seemed oddly calm. "Come on, Grandma. You got this."
Rosiepuff touched the Nymph's Amulet, her eyes shut. She could hear the whispers of her family, encouraging her. When she opened her eyes, they were glowing. Water snaked from one of the nearby bubbles and towards her. A column of air from another bubble followed, along with fire from a third and a collection of rocks from a fourth. Even lightning, metal, and blood came at her bidding. Titan stood firm, yet with some nervousness. Would the Golden Rose destroy them both just to get rid of him?
"Clampers?" Rosiepuff called. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes, Miss Rosiepuff!" Clampers called in a cheery tone. She looked almost excited to see what Rosiepuff would do.
Rosiepuff grinned, manipulating the streams of elements around her. They swirled and spiraled together, and then Rosiepuff launched them. Titan prepared to jump out of the way…..
…..and then watched as the attack flew about three feet over his head.
Titan laughed. "You missed me by a—" When he turned to Rosiepuff again, he realized she was right in front of him. A split-second later, her fist met his face, and he went flying yet again. His grip loosened, letting Clampers go free, and Rosiepuff caught her in a gentle hug. Titan tumbled through the air until he went through the bubble holding the Pool of the Condemned. Titan resurfaced from the pool of water, but the demons within caught him before he could escape. Rosiepuff turned away, hiding Clampers' eyes, as the demons ripped Titan to shreds.
"That was awesome!" Branch cheered as he, Poppy, and Eclipse floated over to them.
"So very incredible!" Poppy agreed.
"Well done, Rosiepuff." Eclipse said. "Clampers? You okay?"
"Yeah!" Clampers cheered. She looked past Rosiepuff and gasped. "Dragon!"
Everyone turned. Sure enough, a familiar dragon floated towards them, a rider on her back.
"Symphony!" Branch wildly swam through the air, and Symphony caught him and pulled him into a hug.
Master Ryu himself glided down from Symphony's back. "Well done, all of you. Rosiepuff, you utterly amaze me."
"Thank you." Rosiepuff said. "Though, I think I've had enough excitement for the time being. I might take a vacation when we get home."
"On that note, how do we get home?" Poppy asked. "How do we find and unlock the portal again?"
"I can take care of that." Ryu said, glancing to Eclipse. "Leave it to me this time." He raised a hand, and the portal symbol appeared in glowing lines before them. "It's only temporary, to allow all mortals to return to the Mortal Realm."
"You should go sooner rather than later." Symphony said.
"But….but….." Branch tried to hold onto Symphony's muzzle when she pushed him away.
"You'll be okay." Symphony assured.
"Branch, we should go home." Poppy urged.
Branch sighed heavily. "Okay." He grinned. "Last one out is a rotten dumpling!" He shot for the portal. However, everyone was surprised to see him slam into it as though hitting a brick wall. Branch groaned, holding his nose. "What happened?"
"Why are you glowing?" Clampers asked.
Branch looked at his hands. He did indeed have a soft blue aura around him. He looked to Ryu. "What is this?"
Ryu sighed, sadness in his eyes. "I was afraid of this. You've died, Branch."
"Died?!" Branch gawked. "When? How?"
"Did Titan hit you in here?" Eclipse asked.
"No." Branch said.
"Did he get you in the Mortal Realm? Think!" Poppy urged. "In battle, the shock and adrenaline can keep you from feeling the pain of an injury."
"I don't know!" Branch paused. "The Cleaver. When he possessed me, I stabbed myself—"
"You did what?!" Poppy and Rosiepuff yelped simultaneously.
"I didn't think we had another option!" Branch defended. "I don't know, maybe I hit something I shouldn't have?"
"Your mortal body must have perished on your way into the Spirit Realm." Ryu said. "You cannot go back."
The gravity of the situation settled on everyone. "Is there something we can do?" Clampers whimpered.
"Branch can only leave if another spirit takes his place." Ryu explained. "Titan was always meant to return here. If Branch wants a second chance, there is temporarily the option to replace his life with another's."
"No." Branch interrupted whoever might have spoken next. He did not care to look at who it would be. "No, no, no, a thousand times, no."
"But Branch—" Poppy protested.
"I made my choice!" Branch snapped. "I did it to protect the people I love and to stop a madman from destroying the only family I ever knew! Yes, that family is growing, and it will continue to grow. Now that Titan is gone, I can watch my family get bigger and bigger, safe and happy and strong."
Poppy hugged him. "We're supposed to get married."
"I know." Branch sighed. "I'm sorry, Poppy."
Rosiepuff hugged him next, followed by Eclipse and Clampers. "We're very proud of you, my angel." Rosiepuff said. "Is there any way I can convince you to let me take your place?"
"No." Branch insisted. "You, especially, shouldn't take my place. You and Grandad are finally back together. It's not right to separate you again."
"It does not feel right to let you go so easily." Rosiepuff protested. "There must be another way. There must be something we can do!"
"Like what?" Symphony asked.
"Damn it, I don't know!" Rosiepuff admitted. "But I didn't spend twenty-five years raising you, sacrificing for you, caring for you, just to see you die in the prime of your life. I'm too stubborn to admit defeat, especially now."
"Hey, Miss Rosiepuff?" Clampers tugged on her kimono skirt. "Why are you glowing again?"
Rosiepuff looked at her hands. "I'm not glowing. Are my eyes glowing?"
"No, but that is." Poppy pointed to Rosiepuff's neck, and she removed the Nymph's Amulet.
"What?" Rosiepuff breathed, staring at the glowing amulet. The stone flashed different colors. The amulet felt warm and full of…..life? "Eclipse, help me break this open."
"What?" Poppy, Branch, and Clampers asked at once.
"Okay." Eclipse shrugged. She and Rosiepuff each cupped their hands around the amulet. A golden glow and a bright purple glow emitted from their hands and surrounded the amulet. The Nymph's Amulet began to shake and bounce around, and then it shot straight up and exploded like a firework. The golden powder remains swirled around and solidified into the form of a troll. She dressed in simple clothing, but with a prominent symbol on her back: a rose made of gold thread and detailed with glittery black thread. The troll floated down to the group and turned to face them. Even her eyes were a beautiful, golden hazel color. A soft golden aura outlined her body.
"Who is that?" Branch whispered.
"The Nymph Queen?" Rosiepuff breathed.
The troll looked to Rosiepuff and grinned widely. "Though widely known as the Nymph Queen, my real name is Ninfea. Hey, cousin!" She hugged Rosiepuff tightly.
"Nice to meet you." Rosiepuff choked out. "Can't breathe!"
"Oh my gosh, do you have any idea what it's like to be stuck in a stupid amulet for centuries?" Ninfea stretched and shook out her limbs. "Really gives you a crick in the neck. And the only view of the outside world is through the gem, which is a tiny window in a big room of gold. Gold here, gold there! Oh hey, is that silver? Nope, gold! Plus, there was that one period of time where the amulet was buried under rubble. Ergo, the inside of the amulet was dark. You know I tripped over the bed I made in there, like, a hundred times! And then the dust blows away but all I can do is stargaze or watch the clouds go by until I got picked up again. Ooh, that Artemis really chafes my hide, I'll tell you what. All that nastiness he did, and with my power! How dare he! Oh, but when you got the amulet, little Rosiepuff, I was so happy! Finally, a Golden Rose in control of my powers once more! Not that I wanted this. I was tricked into thinking locking away my powers was the best. 'Keep the power in the family,' I was told, as though my power could be reincarnated anywhere else. Worst of all, with my spirit trapped in the amulet, my powers couldn't be reincarnated into the next Golden Rose! That's the process. The Nymph Queen dies, and their powers get reincarnated into a new member of the Golden Rose family. That's how it always worked! That's what happened to me! And now it can happen again!" Ninfea looked to her audience, who still stared at her with a mix of shock and amusement. "Oh, wow. I have just been rambling on and on and on and on and on, haven't I?"
"I mean, a little." Branch chuckled nervously.
"Sorry, I just haven't been able to talk to anyone in years. And now, here I am, talking to family again!" Ninfea hugged Rosiepuff again, and then backed up. "Look at you. I used to watch you while your grandparents trained you. You are one of the strongest Golden Rose benders in history. You should be very proud of yourself."
"Thanks." Rosiepuff said. "Um, Ryu? With Ninfea here, does that mean Branch can come home?"
"Of course he can!" Ninfea assured. "I'm finally free to live in the Spirit Realm! There's no need for him to be here yet." Ninfea grabbed Branch and Poppy, one arm for each of them, and hugged them. "Besides, these two are about to have a kid who can inherit my powers!"
"Wait, what?" Branch and Poppy asked.
Ninfea put her hand on Poppy's stomach. She frowned. "Oh, that's no good. Very weak. Not good. Not good at all. I need to work fast."
"Uh, can you rewind to the part where you said I'm pregnant?" Poppy requested.
"Can't talk! Too much to do! Must make sure my powers are transferred to your child so she is born healthy and strong." Ninfea said.
"What child?" Branch asked.
"You and Poppy are pregnant." Rosiepuff said simply.
"What?!" Branch and Poppy yelped.
"And I give you full permission to name her after me." Ninfea said. "Now, I must away! So long!" She hugged Rosiepuff. "Bye, Cousin!" Ninfea flew off and disappeared.
"Bye." Rosiepuff waved, laughing lightly.
Branch looked to his hands and saw he wasn't glowing anymore. "So, I can go home?"
"Yes, of course." Ryu said.
"You got a kid to raise, after all." Symphony giggled.
"Okay, but before we tell my parents, we need to visit Dr. Plum and get an official test and whatnot." Poppy said. "I'm still reeling from all this."
"Let's go home." Eclipse said. "Come along, Clampers."
"Okay!" Clampers sat on Eclipse's head, and the two of them passed through the portal to the Mortal Realm. Branch hugged Symphony one last time. He and Poppy floated through the portal hand-in-hand.
Rosiepuff paused and looked above Symphony's head. Thorn and Kala stood a short distance away. They waved to their granddaughter, and Rosiepuff waved back. They faded away before Symphony could see them.
"Whatcha lookin' at?" Symphony asked.
"Nothing." Rosiepuff said. "So long." Ryu and Symphony waved as she left. Rosiepuff stepped through the portal to home.
A/N: We're almost done! Then I'll start my original story based on the poll! It seems most want to see a story about the kids or one featuring a new OC of mine. For further hints (without giving too much away) see here:
"The Power of Friendship" will feature Clampers, Coral Blush, and the Rock Troll child as the main characters!
"Rise of the Hunters" will highlight the bounty hunters, including ones found from the deleted scenes of Trolls: World Tour!