*Authors note because for some reason The bold button doesn't want to work for me today: Before I begin I want to get personal for a second. As my most faithful readers know I am a huge environmentalist. I work at the local zoo in my city and donate on a regular basis to animal conservation groups when I can. So the news about the massive wildfires in Australia has literally broken me in ways I have never been broken before. Hundreds of millions of animals have perished in this fire, more than one species is feared to have gone extinct due these fires and other animals are being threatened with extinction that has previously never been threatened before. Decades of conservation efforts have been completely undone due to these fires. My idols the Irwins are doing what they can from the Australia zoo but they can only do so much. If you can I ask that you donate to help battle these raging fires that is destroying Australia, and if you can't and if you are religious then please pray. These fires are destroying an entire country, it is destroying wildlife found nowhere else in the world and it's only getting worse. Australia needs our help, so please, help where you can. End of Authors note*
"Group meeting." Branch gathered the entire team into his tent to go over his decision on the dragons. He knew they wouldn't like it, Branch really didn't like it either, but he knew at this point they really had no other choice, the future of all dragons rested on this decision.
"I know you won't like this decision," Branch continued "I don't like it either, believe me when I say this was not a easy decision, but it must be done. Grim is not going rest until he has the freedom to kill every last dragon in the world. He is more ruthless then any hunter we have ever faced. Which is why I have come to this extremely difficult decision, we must send our dragons to the Hidden World."
"Branch, no." Suki cried.
"I don't want to do it either, believe me. "I was the one that brought peace between us and the dragons, I was the one who started this crusade. Nobody loves dragons more than me, but believe me we have no choice. I cannot promise we can beat these guys, we are short handed and they have already killed two of our own plus an entire tribe. In case we lose, we need to ensure they never find our dragons."
"Even if we do beat them," Poppy added, "What's to say another group of hunters don't show up afterword? We thought the war was over after Blood, then Grim showed up."
"I can't keep fighting forever." Branch added "And I won't. We have seen what this war has done to us, to us all. Heather lost her tribe, we lost our home. I lost my grandparents. If we continue to fight eventually we will all die. Nobody except us knows where the Hidden World is, we send them there, the dragons will forever be safe."
Reby sighed then spoke up. "He's right, we have seen what this war has done to us, done to me. I made a horrible decision that nearly got us all killed, a decision I will have to live with for the rest of my life," Reby turned to Branch "A decision I hope someday can be forgiven. If this is the only way to ensure that this war finally ends, that the dragons are safe, then so be it."
"But what about the rest of our tribe?" Smidge asked "They aren't going to be happy about this idea."
"I know, but I hope that with all of you having my back, by helping explaining to them why we are doing this, that they will understand."
"I will talk to my tribe about it as well." Raider replied "Hopefully when they hear about all we have gone through they will understand that this must be done."
"You think that they will help us in our battle as well? We could use all the help we can get."
"You are our allies Branch, all you have to do is ask and we will be at your side."
Branch then turned to Jo "When all of the dragons are gathered I want you to take them to the Hidden World."
"But what if Grim attacks while I am gone?"
"Then we will just have to hold them off, but promise me you will not stop until the dragons are safe in the Hidden World."
Jo sighed "You have my word."
Branch then turned to the rest of the team. "I do not know what will happen when they attack, I cannot promise that we will win, but I do know this, whatever happens this war will finally end. This is going to be our last stand. I know nobody wants to die, and I cannot promise for once that we are all going to survive, which is why I am allowing any of you this one time, if you choose not to fight, if you want to live, you may go and find shelter at a nearby island."
"Branch stop," Biggie interrupted "We all knew the risks when we agreed to this war, we all knew there was a chance that we might die and we agreed that the risks was worth it. We have your back."
"We all do," Heather replied.
"I can think of worse ways to die than going out in a blaze of glory," Satin replied.
"I'm on your side," Reby ensured "No matter what."
Branch smiled, he was lucky to have such a loyal team. "Then you better gather your weapons, because when they strike all hell will break loose.
It wasn't easy, there was a lot of arguing and a lot of tears shed, but eventually Branch was able to convince his tribe that sending the dragons away was the best option for their survival. Raider shortly arrived with his tribe, all of them already decked out in battle armor ready for when the attack happened.
"Are they on board with the dragons?"
"I won't lie to you it took some convincing," Raider replied, "but when me and Jo explained what you all had went through, when they heard about Heather's tribe, they realized that this really was the only option we had."
Everybody gathered their dragons and met on the beach. As they removed the saddles from their dragons, there was a lot of tears being shed as they said their goodbyes, they knew that this was the best choice of actions for their survival, but it still didn't make this decision hurt any less.
"Goodbye boy," Reby sobbed as she said Goodbye to Arrow. "You have been the most loyal partner a archer like me could have. Ever sense you saved me from falling to my death in the Demon dragon's nest you have been there for me, through all the good times and bad. I will never forget you."
"Shadow," Raider said as she rubbed the back of his dragon's neck "You have been the only dragon I have ever known, I raised you when you were just a baby, we both grew up together, now it's time for you to finally leave the nest and embark on your on journey. Like a mother letting her child go so to must I. I will always love you and cherish the memories we have had together."
"Starfire," Poppy cried "I can't believe there was once I time I wanted to kill dragons, I have come a long way since then, I now can't imagine what it will be like not having you by my side. You have been a amazing sister in arms. You've had my back in war, saved my butt on more then one occasion. You have been the best friend a girl like me could have. I will miss you my friend."
"Tornado," Suki sighed "I know you wasn't my first dragon, and I know I wasn't your first rider, But I have loved you just as much as I loved my first dragon Darla. You helped my during a rough time when I was morning the lost of Darla, I will always be grateful for that. We both have lost so much, but at the same time, we have both helped each other grow stronger because of our lost. Continue to be strong my friend. I will never forget you."
Branch turned to Melody and Rainbow Gem, as he removed Melody's saddle he nearly choked on what he had to say. "Melody, we have come a long way since I shot you down from that sky, you have changed my life in ways I never would have imagined. You showed me that we didn't have to be enemies, you showed me that there was a future for both trolls and dragons to live in peace. You have been with me from the beginning of this amazing journey, having you in my life has been the best years of my life, and now you get to start a new journey, your own journey, with Rainbow Gem. Thanks for the memories girl." Branch put Melody's face in his hands and the two of them closed their eyes as they pressed their foreheads against each other."
"It is time," Jo replied. Branch nodded and let Melody go. Saddling up on Hurricane one last time Jo flew off with everybody's dragons. Everybody watched with tears in there eyes as Jo disappeared into the sky with their dragons knowing that this would be the last time they would see their faithful companions again.
Now came the waiting game, with their dragons safe from harm everybody set up camps as they waited for Grim's attack. As nighttime approached Fuzzbert took the first watch as the rest of the riders started a campfire to stay warm as the temperature dropped. As the riders roasted some fish and fruit over the fire Branch walked out of his tent with some wine and poured everyone a drink.
"Drink with me my friends, for this may be the last night we all sit here together."
"Do you really think, that we might not make it out alive tomorrow?" Guy Diamond asked.
"I don't know, but what I do know is that whatever happens, we will do it at each other's side."
"We've had one hell of a run haven't we?" Smidge asked taking a sip of wine. "Us riders? We've cheated death so many times."
"Gone on wild crazy adventures," Cooper added "We've probably gone farther than any trolls had gone in history."
"Discovered so many new species of dragons," Chenille replied
"Nearly gotten killed by many new species of dragons" Satin added.
"We have had a lot of fun over the years, all of us," Branch replied "Thank you my friends for going on this journey with me over the years, you all was with me from the beginning and now you get to see how it all ends." Branch raised his glass to a toast. "To friendship."
"To friendship," Everybody replied raising their glass and taking a sip.
"If tomorrow is our last day," Branch responded "Then let us enjoy this last night together as friends."
"I'll drink to that," Biggie responded.
As Jo made her way to the Hidden world she heard the voice of Cloud Guy calling her from the clouds. "Jo, you must bring the dragons from the Hidden World back with you."
"What are you talking about Cloud Guy?" Jo responded "My mission is to take the dragons to the Hidden World and then join my friends in battle."
"Listen Jo, your friends, your tribe, they will be vastly outnumbered, if you don't bring the dragons as backup the number of fatalities to your tribe and to your friends will be great. You must bring the dragons of the Hidden World with you in battle."
"Even if I agreed, how will the dragons listen, these are wild dragons, not use to us trolls, how will they listen?"
"Trust your dragon Jo, trust your dragon."
Jo knew what she had to do, "Hurricane can you send a message to the other dragons, let them know they are needed?"
Hurricane let out a grunt letting her know she could then as they flew into the fog that led to the Hidden World Hurricane flew high in the sky looking down to all the dragons in the Hidden World then let out a series of grunts, roars, and growls. Jo wasn't sure what Hurricane was saying, but whatever it was it seemed to be working, for the dragons were roaring back, and not in the way they did when her and Raider was here earlier, this one seemed to be one in alliance. Hurricane then looked up to Jo and nodded, the dragons had their back.
Jo then turned Hurricane around and every last dragon made their way back to camp, Grim was bringing a army, Jo was bringing the cavalry.
"Don't worry my friends, the cavalry is coming."
Poppy laid in her bed next to Branch, clinging tightly to her husband as their daughter slept in a bed right beside them in their small tent. She didn't want to admit it but she was scared, she knew what was coming, she had seen what Grim and his men could do, she would never admit it being the warrior that she was though, but knowing that the survival of their entire tribe and the dragons survival rested on them succeeding whenever the attack came, it was enough to make even the toughest warrior like her scared.
As she slept she suddenly saw herself surrounded by fog, she opened her eyes and both Branch and Scarlett was gone, along with her entire tribe, it was just her and fog.
"Don't worry Poppy, this is only a vision," Poppy heard Cloud Guy reply.
Poppy turned around and she finally noticed Cloud Guy walking up to her, they were both standing on clouds in the night sky. "What is going on here?"
"I know I am not supposed to do this, I usually am supposed to let you guys find out your future on your own, but I have to tell you something Poppy, I have seen the future, and I know how this war ends, and you are going to have to prepare yourself for what happens.
"What are you talking about what will happen? Will we lose?"
"No, you will win, but for you to win Branch is going to have to fall."
"No," Poppy gasped "No, no, there has to be another way, there has to be!"
"Poppy, I have looked at multiple ways this war ends, in all of them except one, you all die. In all of them except one this happens."
Cloud Guy then showed Poppy a vision of Grim defeating them all in battle, Poppy watches in horror as Grim shoots a fireball at the tribe striking them, Poppy watches as her friends all burn, screaming as the flames consume their body. Poppy gasped as Heather, her body on fire get's a a ax lodged into her skull. She saw Reby fighting off as many hunters as she could despite her body being on fire, but eventually she found herself surrounded and ran through multiple times with a sword.
"Mommy!" Poppy hears Scarlett yelling. Poppy turns and sees a image of her running toward her terrified daughter only for Scarlett to be consumed by the flames as well. The Poppy in the vision falls to the floor crying as a hunter walks up to her and behead her with a sword
"No stop," The real Poppy cries not able to handle anymore "No more."
"Now you see" Cloud Guy replies "In order for this vision to not come true Branch is going to have to make the ultimate sacrifice. They are coming tomorrow, you must prepare yourself now for life without him."
"How can I do that?" Poppy cried "Me and Branch have known each other since we were young, sure I use not to like him, but ever since the dragons me and him have been inseparable, how can I prepare myself for a life without him?"
"It won't be easy, it won't be easy raising a young daughter without her father, taking over the role of Chief, but trust me Poppy in time, you will learn to accept it. Branch's death will save everyone, he will die a hero, and with his death, both the dragons and the Troll tree will live to see it's next generations."
Poppy fell to her knees in tears, she didn't want to except this.
"I know it will be hard, but you cannot change what is going to happen tomorrow, which is why I came to you, you have to prepare yourself."
"I do not want this, please Cloud Guy, don't make me go through this."
"I don't want this either, but in order to save you, your daughter, and everyone, this must happen. Please don't fight this Poppy, the future of everyone depends on it." The image of Cloud Guy then started to disappear. Poppy tried to call to him to plead with him more if there was another way, but Cloud Guy just kept repeating the same thing.
"Prepare yourself Poppy, Prepare yourself."
Poppy then shot up in bed gasping for air. She was sweating in fear as she turned to see Branch still asleep along with Scarlett. Poppy then started weeping, she knew that Cloud Guy saw all and knew all, he was never wrong, but she prayed to the gods that this would be the one time he was, but deep down she knew he wasn't. Curling up next to Branch she wrapped her arms around him as he slept, knowing that this would be more than likely the last time she would feel his body heat against hers. Even though Cloud Guy said there was no other way, even though he claimed Branch would die a hero saving everyone. Even though she saw that the alternative involved Scarlett dying in a fire and her being beheaded, she just didn't know if she could prepare herself for a life without Branch.
"Oh Odin, Please give me the strength to endure this."