As I hide here in my cave guarded by two Grizzly bears I have adopted and named Will and Rogers (as far as you know) I must warn you to grab some tissues, you'll need them.
"You did good my son," Beyond the bright white lights stood Branch's parents and Grandparent's "Your journey is complete you can come home." Branch's mother extended a hand, her face shining like a angel as she talked to Branch in a soothing comforting voice. "You don't have to be afraid, you did it, you won. There is nothing for you to worry about anymore."
"Branch!" Branch opened his eyes halfway to see Guy Diamond running up to him. Lifting him up and resting him against a rock, he placed his right hand on Branch's face, tears falling from his face upon noticing the color fading from Branch's skin. "Branch, can you hear me? Branch? It's Guy Diamond, you did it, you won. Branch, we won Branch, you did it. I'm sorry, we should have never left your side we should have gone together." Guy Diamond starting balling on Branch's shoulders as Cooper patted Guy Diamond's hand. Standing up Guy Diamond sobbed in Cooper's arms as Poppy walked up and cradled Branch in her arms. Poppy didn't know what to say, she held onto hope that there could have been another way for the dragons to be saved without Branch giving his life. But as Branch laid in her arms, his color gone, blood and burns coating his body, his eyelids only halfway open, she knew, this was it, her final moment with the troll she loved.
"Hey,"
"Hey baby," Branch whispered.
"Branch, we are going to be okay, you can rest now."
The entire tribe watched speechless as Poppy and Branch shared their final moment. A single tear fell from Smidge's eyes, while Heather cupped a closed fist over her mouth and choked on some tears before burying her face into Biggie's shoulders. Reby covered her mouth with both of her hands as she sobbed. This couldn't be true, not Branch?
"Poppy," Branch whispered softly, "Watch over the Troll tree, they answer to you now as their chief, I know you will be a greater chief than I ever was."
"You was a great chief Branch, the best we ever had."
Branch formed a weak smile. "You will be even better though. When I started this mission, it was only to bring peace between our tribe and the dragons. I never dreamed the friendship, the love we would all build together as riders, as family. There is no one else I would rather die for," Branch turned to look at his friends, his eyes gazing finally to his daughter who was cradling against Peppy's leg "Than all of you."
As a single tear fell from Branch's eye he looked up and saw the spirit of his mother reaching out his hand again, then as he closed his eyes he whispered "It is over." Then he leaned his head back, his arm fell limp and he died.
Cradling Branch's body close Poppy wept, burying her head in Branch's body. Raider was the first to lower her head in respect, followed by the riders and then the rest of the tribe. The dragon's flying in the sky also lowered their head, knowing that their hero had passed, then they lifted their heads and let out a loud cry and shot fire in the sky of all different colors, filling the sky like a rainbow in honor of the troll that freed them.
Two days later Branch's body was laid in a ship coated with a bed of roses, his famous flaming sword was clutched to his hands and his body coated with oils and perfume. A satin blanket was placed over his body as Biggie and Peppy pushed the ship out to see while Poppy spoke the Eulogy.
"His name was Branch, For many years he did what was once considered impossible. He found a way to train a beast thought to be demons.. He showed the world that it didn't need to fight them, and soon thanks to him, our enemies became friends. It didn't stop there though. He worked hard to save the dragons pushed to near extinction do to the mistakes of trolls and stood up to any threat that dared to harm the dragons he loved. For he was more than a trainer, he was a savior he was a legend. We send you now my love to Valhalla, were you will now be at peace, where you can rest easy knowing your mission has been complete. For even though we have lost a great leader, a Chief, a husband, a father, a friend, we can be at peace knowing that his death wasn't for nothing, for Branch won the war, and now he can finally receive his reward."
Through teary eyes Poppy lit the first arrow and fired it at the boat lighting the flames. The riders soon followed each firing a single flaming arrow at the boat and watched as it burned. The Dragons fired flames into the sky again, lighting it up like they did when Branch first passed. The tribe looked on in awe as the many colors lit the sky like fireworks. Poppy didn't even know Cloud Guy had walked up to her until he heard his voice.
"Now that's how you honor a Legend." Poppy looked down at Cloud Guy confused for a second before looking back up at the dragon's display and nodded. This was exactly how Branch deserved to be honored.
"Thank you Branch," Poppy said through one last tear as the ship carrying his body finally sank into the sea "For everything."
The next morning the riders took all of the dragons to the hidden world, which would now be their permanent home. As they landed inside the island all the riders removed their saddles as they gave their dragons one last goodbye hug.
"I will miss you Hurricane," Jo cried "You was the best dragon a girl could have."
"This is what was best," Heather ensured putting a comforting hand on Jo, "This is what Branch gave his life for."
"Maybe," Raider thought as she studied the dragons that were native the Hidden World. First time her and Jo arrived to the Hidden World the dragons native to the Hidden World attacked them, now they were totally excepting to the trolls, realizing they weren't the threats they thought the trolls were, she then had a idea. "Branch died though for the dragons to be free, we are the only trolls in history to discover the Hidden World but what's to stop some threat in the future from discovering it?"
"What are you saying?" Reby asked.
"I'm saying somebody needs to stay here, with the dragons in order to keep guard of the Hidden World just in case a somebody ever does discover it. The war may be over, but Branch's mission, keeping the dragons safe lives on. I will stay here, I will guard the Hidden World, and I will ensure that Branch's legacy, everything he stood for, lives on."
"Are you sure?" Poppy asked "That would be a permanent mission, you would never be able to return Raider."
"I know, but same as Branch sacrificed his life for these creatures, I must to sacrifice never returning home."
Jo walked up and gave Raider as tearful goodbye hug. "I will miss you my friend."
"I will miss you too. Tell my mother, that I love her, I will miss her, but I am living my calling."
The Riders all gave Raider a goodbye hug before boarding their ships and headed back towards their home. Raider watched as the ships disappeared through the fog that hid the entrance to the Hidden World, then boarding Shadow she flew to the highest hill in the Hidden world, stared down at the island, and smiled as she looked up to the sky. "I will continue your legacy Branch, I promise, the dragons will be safe with me."
"So what now?" Suki asked as the former riders sailed back home. "What do we do now, that the fighting is done and the dragons are gone?"
"Well," Reby thought "We might no longer have dragons but there is tons of other creatures out there that need our help. I will probably open up another breeding facility, for other threatened animals, in hopes to save as much of them as we did with the dragons."
"That sounds amazing Reby," Heather replied
"How bout you Heather," Reby asked
"I don't know," Heather thought before her voice getting sad. "I don't have a tribe to return to since them bastards destroyed my tribe, my whole life centered around those dragons, I don't know if I know how to do anything else."
"You will figure something out," Biggie replied wrapping his arms around her. "And you do have a tribe to return to, ours."
Heather gasped and turned around when Biggie said that. She gasped again as well as all the other former riders when Biggie took Heather by the hand and got on one knee. "I know we will never replace the family you lost, but I hope you will be willing to start a knew family here, with your friends and with me. Heather you are the best troll I have ever come to know, and I would be the happiest Troll on Earth if you start a future with me. Heather, will you marry me?"
Heather gasped and burst into tears as she squeaked out the words "Yes," Before tackling Biggie, nearly knocking them both out of their boat as she gave him a kiss.
"Yes!" Reby screamed as everybody cheered for the knew couple. " Dibs on the Maid of Honor title!"
The following day as every Troll finally settled on their new island that Poppy dubbed New Troll Tree, Cloud Guy reigned Poppy in as the new Chief of the Troll Tree.
"May you Protect the tribe from any threats that may pursue it, and be willing to put others safety before your own. For being a good Chief is more than just making the rules and barking out orders. It is a call to protect, to sacrifice, and to be willing to risk everything for the safety of the entire tribe. May the Gods bless you Oh Chief, and may they guide you through your new journey. Now rise and greet your people Chief Poppy of New Troll Tree." Poppy rose to her feet and was greeted by her friends in a tight group hug.
Poppy's first action as Chief was building a statue of Branch riding his fierce dragon Melody, she owed it to him to ensure that his memory, his legacy would never be forgotten by future generations. The statue standing at the highest hill in New Troll Tree staring out at the sea, Poppy held Scarlett in her arms and watched the sun rise on her island.
"Your memory will never be forgotten Branch," Poppy ensured as she looked up and talked toward the sky "I ensure that, for you may be gone, but your legacy, will never die. I love you Branch and thank you, for everything."
We ain't over quite yet. We still have a epilogue to do involving Rosie and Cloud Guy (You forgot about them did you) so please come back for the emotional and extremely bittersweet final chapter in this long running Dragons trilogy.