Chapter wise this is now tied for the longest thing I've ever written...

Chapter 51

As Brainy struggled in Gargamel's hold, Creek climbed up a branch to get higher up and above Gargamel. Still, he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. This Gargamel was roughly Bergan sized and no Troll had fought back against those giants. Not even Hefty had done anything when Gargamel had captured Creek, preferring to sneak into the giant's house and rescue Creek via stealth.

Looking down, Creek knew he couldn't do that. He had been unconscious for part of his rescue and didn't know where the beast's dwelling was. There was also no way he could leave Brainy in Gargamel's clutches long enough to get help; Brainy was a Smurf, Gargamel's intended target. There was no telling what Gargamel would do if he got Brainy home.

Scrambling, Creek lamented that he didn't keep anything sharp in his hair. It actually would have been a good idea to listen to Branch during that particular rambling but he'd have to apologize to Branch about that later. With some struggling, he managed to break off one of the tree's twigs, thankful that it broke off jaggedly. It would have to do.

Wrapping a bit of hair around the branch, Creek wished he had a better idea than this, "I don't know if anything is listening up there but if Brainy and I live through this, I will talk to that blasted Therapist Smurf, alright? That's really all I got to offer."

After making sure Gargamel was still below him, Creek took a deep breath and jumped, extending his hair downward with him and landed on Gargamel's hand next to Brainy.

"Huh?" Gargamel blinked.

"Creek?!" Brainy shouted.

With Brainy's arms pinned, Creek quickly wrapped some hair around Brainy's shoulders, "As soon as you can, hold on." Without waiting for further response, he stabbed Gargamel's hand with the twig as hard as he could.

Screaming, Gargamel dropped Brainy to clutch his injured hand.

Though Creek's hair kept Brainy from falling, the Smurf and the Troll grabbed hold of each other as Creek used his hair to pull them upwards again.

Before they could reach the tree though, a bird's cry warned them of Monty's approach. They would not be safe in the tree even if they made it up with that bird around.

"Change of plans," Creek quickly lowered them both to the ground, grabbing Brainy's hand as they ran, "We need someplace to hide!"

Announcing his presence with a hiss, Azrael blocked them off.

To get away from Azrael they would have to run back towards Gargamel and that wouldn't help matters at all.

Remembering something, Creek let go of Brainy's hand to reach into his pocket, "Brainy, cover your ears, I have no idea if this will affect you."

Though he was confused, Brainy covered his ears.

Creek pulled out a whistle from his pocket and blew it as loudly as he could. He couldn't hear a sound but he watched as Azrael writhed in pain, clawing at his own ears in an attempt to make the sound stop.

Soon enough Azrael and Monty were both fleeing the area.

Lowering the whistle from his lips, Creek smiled a little when he looked at Brainy and saw that the Smurf didn't seem to be affected.

Brainy began to smile back as he lowered his hands but then stopped, eyes going wide as he reached for Creek, "No!"

Just as Brainy's fingertips brushed the back of Creek's hand, Gargamel reeled back his foot and then kicked Creek in the back, sending the Troll flying, with a laugh.

Under different circumstances, Creek might have found the sensation of flying through the air interesting if not for the searing pain in his back where he had been struck. Maybe if it hadn't been for that pain, he could have prevented himself from crashing into the tree and probably breaking his ribs and then his legs as he landed roughly on the ground. He coughed and he could feel blood coming out of his mouth.

"Creek!" Brainy cried, running to the Troll and kneeling by his side, tears quickly starting to fall at the sight of him. "H-hold on, just hold on, I-I'll get you to Papa; you'll be alright."

Barely able to keep his eyes open, Creek saw Gargamel taking his time approaching with a smile on his face. He weakly pushed at Brainy, "Run."

"Creek," Brainy cried harder, unable to move.

"Run," Creek tried again but he could no longer hold his arm up, it beginning to fall.

Grabbing Creek's hand, Brainy held it tightly, "Not without you."

Creek blinked and suddenly he could breathe easily again. A strange warmth was spreading through him and his pain was disappearing. He managed to look up, amazed to see that Brainy was glowing and that glow was transferring from Brainy to Creek, "Brainy?"

"My, isn't this interesting," said Gargamel peered down at them. "Another Smurf has tapped into their magical potential."

"Actually," called Branch, directing Gargamel's attention to him and Poppy, "That's our doing. See when we're around magical beings we can tap into it and use as we see fit."

Gargamel grinned, "Is that so?"

"Totally," Poppy turned to Branch, "I think we, and our good friends the Smurfs, have tolerated this thing long enough. I say we shrink it to ant size and step on him."

Quickly Gargamel's smile faded, "Y-you're bluffing."

"She is," Branch agreed, "We'd need more Smurfs around to do that but one is enough for a nasty curse."

"C-curse?" Gargamel repeated, fiddling with his hands.

"But which one?" Poppy asked Branch, not paying Gargamel any mind.

"Let's let the magic decide," said Branch, grinning, "It's more fun that way."

"Agreed," Poppy nodded.

Turning back to Gargamel, Branch began to sing, "So you wanna play with magic
Boy, you should know what you're chasing after
Human do you dare to do this
'Cause I'm coming atcha like a dark horse."

Walking towards Garamel, Branch's bright colors began to sink into grey in an eerily fashion, "Are you ready for, ready for
A perfect storm, a perfect storm
'Cause once this spell is done, spell is done
There's no going back."

Panicking, Gargamel turned and ran in the same direction as Azrael and Monty.

"Yeah, you better run," Poppy yelled after him.

"The Smurfs are under our protection now," Branch shouted, "You come near them again and you're done; you and your pets!"

There was no response from the human and once they were sure Gargamel wasn't coming back they sprinted over to Brainy and Creek.

"Creek, are you alright?" Poppy quickly kneeled down and held Creek's other hand. "Speak to me."

"You and Branch should do a play," Creek said softly, "You two were amazing."

Smiling, Poppy's eyes watered, "It was Branch's idea."

"Hopefully he doesn't call our bluff later on," commented Branch, kneeling down next to Brainy, still gray. "But you need to answer Poppy's first question, Creek; are you alright?"

"I think so," Creek nodded and shook the hand Brainy was holding just slightly, "Thanks to Brainy."

"I have no idea how I did that," Brainy admitted, eyes still watery but smiling softly.

"I think you made a flower bloom," said Branch.

Though surprised, Brainy smiled widely.

Poppy awed, "Brainy made Creek bloom?"

"Okay, now you've made it weird," Creek tried to pull his hand free from Poppy but she refused to let go.

Chuckling, Branch shook his head slightly, "It's what Poppy does. Come on, we should head back inside. Can you stand?"

"I think so," Creek nodded. He sat up with Brainy and Poppy's assistance.

Reaching into his pocket, Branch took out a handkerchief and wordlessly wiped the blood off of Creek's face.

Though Brainy was still beside him, holding his hand, Creek couldn't fight back the blush that spread across his face at Branch's gentle touch.

After Creek's face was clean, Branch paused, meeting Creek's gaze, "Don't scare us like that again."

Still blushing, Creek managed a nod.

The group stood up, Brainy and Poppy helping Creek to his feet.

"Can you walk?" asked Branch, watching Creek with concern.

Smiling slightly, Creek nodded, "Yes, just slowly would be best right now."

Nodding back, Branch went ahead, looking around to make sure their path was safe and that Gargamel and his pets had not returned.

"I hadn't realized Branch had some control his colors now," commented Creek.

"I don't think it was easy holding the gray back actually," said Poppy. "He started to change when we saw that monster kick you but once it looked like you'd be alright, it gave Branch the idea to use it to freak Gargamel out and hopefully leave us all alone."

"Branch has always been a clever one," commented Creek, immediately feeling like something struck him when Brainy let go of his hand. The pain from before didn't return, Brainy's magic having healed him seemingly completely, but the air felt heavier to take in now. Still he didn't allow himself to reach for Brainy's hand.

Coming out of hiding, Snappy flew to Brainy and nuzzled against his face. Pudgy did the same but cooed as he rubbed against Creek's face.

"Don't try to cute up to me now," Creek rolled his eyes, "Your owner is up ahead."

Ignoring him, as always, Pudgy nipped Creek's cheek in little firefly kisses.

Up ahead, Branch paused and picked up the whistle Creek had dropped when Gargamel kicked him. He walked back to the others and offered it to Creek, "I hadn't realized you kept it."

Taking the whistle, Creek put it back in his pocket, "Unlike you, I don't throw away gifts."

"I don't throw away gifts," Branch rolled his eyes.

"You said you were going to burn your wooing gifts," Creek reminded him.

Stilling, Pudgy looked at Branch with wide eyes and a dropped jaw.

"That was before I knew there could be something living in them," Branch said quickly, "I never would have considered it if I knew, I swear."

Satisfied, Pudgy flew up and gently nipped Branch's nose with a soft coo.

"There we go," Creek sighed, frowning when Pudgy returned to his hair. "Oh, come on, Branch is right there!"

Cooing more, Pudgy made himself comfortable.

Both Poppy and Branch chuckled at Creek's indignant expression.

"Looks like we're sharing custody of him," commented Branch.

Creek blanched, "Please don't talk as if Pudgy is our child."

At that, Branch rolled his eyes, "As if we would ever have children together."

"But Branch, marrying you has been a dream of mine for years," Creek admitted.

"Ha," Branch sarcastically laughed, "Very funny Creek."

As Branch turned around to scout up ahead again, Poppy gave Creek's hand a squeeze, "You okay?"

"No," Creek sighed, "But maybe talking to Therapist Smurf will help?"

Finally, Brainy looked at Creek again, "Really?"

Though he hesitated, Creek nodded, "I still don't want to know what I've suppressed but… I'm sick of feeling this way. Both by whatever it is that I don't remember and this, this agony of one sided affection." He paused and looked to Brainy, "I want to move on."

Slowly, Brainy smiled.

"I knew it," Poppy cheered, letting go of Creek to hug him tightly. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!"

"Yes, love, you called it," Creek managed to use his pinned arms to pat Poppy's back. "Please do try not to break my ribs again."

Giggling, Poppy released Creek, "I can't wait to tell Smurfette!"

"Try not to be overexcited," Creek insisted, "I've merely admitted that there's possibility; I'm not ready to try this yet."

"But you will be and you'll make such a cute couple," Poppy insisted back, before turning to Brainy, "You ever need any help you just gotta ask. Singing, dancing, date planning; I am at your disposal."

Blushing, Brainy looked between Poppy and Creek, unsure of what to think.

"Ignore her," said Creek, "Or you'll end up in Song Boot Camp like Strong Smurf."

"Ignore him," said Poppy, "Song Boot Camp is the best, just don't ask Hefty."

Finally, they got back to the log, Branch giving the all clear that it was safe to go back to the Village before they headed inside. Just as they made it through, they nearly collided with Hefty who had been running to get out.

"There you are," Hefty grabbed Branch up and held him tight, the Troll returning to his pale blue colors in the Smurf's arms as he returned his embrace. "I was looking everywhere for you guys, then I heard you singing; what happened?"

"Gargamel," Brainy replied for Branch, "It's a bit of a long story."

"I look forward to hearing it," said Hefty, pulling back slightly from hugging Branch but keeping his arms around him. He turned to Creek, "But first, we talk."

"Oh joy," Creek mumbled, wishing he could avoid this but knowing there was no escape from this blasted conversation now.

Pulling back from Hefty, Branch walked over to Creek and took his free hand, giving him a gentle smile, "It's alright." He swallowed and gave Creek's hand a squeeze. "You might feel different about things after you hear what Hefty has to say but we won't think any differently of you; you're still our friend that we care about, I promise."

Absently, Creek caressed Branch's hand with his thumb, knowing that Branch was trying to assure him but it just made him more worried, "Thank you Branch."

Poppy squeezed Creek's other hand and kissed his cheek.

Together the group walked to the Recovery Mushroom, finding Smurfette and Therapist Smurf along the way. However, everyone but Hefty and Creek stayed outside as they went in to talk.

Grabbing a Smurfberry from a basket on the table that must have been dropped of there in all the chaos, Hefty offered it to Creek, "You should eat something before we start."

"I had breakfast with Brainy earlier," said Creek, fiddling with the chair before he sat in it, "I just want this over with."

Nodding, Hefty absently ate the berry quick as he gathered his thoughts, "Sometimes, sometimes you hear a voice."

Creek looked at Hefty in surprise but stayed silent.

Hefty forged on, "The voice sounds real, like they're standing beside you, but there's never anyone there. The voice says things you don't want to hear, you don't want to remember, but it haunts you in even in the daytime like a nightmare you just can't shake."

"How," Creek swallowed, "How do you know that?"

Pulling over another chair, Hefty sat across from Creek, "The thing you're suppressing, I think its similar to what happened to me fifty years ago."

Silence hung between for a while, Creek not wanting to ask and Hefty having difficulty saying it out loud.

"I was sexually assaulted," Hefty stated, the words still making him feel a little sick but now knowing that it didn't make him any less because of it. He was still who he was and he had people who cared and loved him. He wanted Creek to know that too.

"I don't understand," Creek admitted, "What does that mean?"

Realizing that this was probably not something Trolls were familiar with even as a concept, Hefty swallowed, "It means I was forced to have sex that I didn't want."

Creek stared at Hefty, eyes softening, "I, I'm sorry, that's horrible." His hands squeezed the chair below him as he connected the dots, "You think I was…"

Sighing, Hefty nodded.

"But Trolls don't do that," Creek tried to reason.

"I'm sorry but from what Poppy said, it makes sense," said Hefty.

Breathing hard, Creek replayed what the voice said in his head, feeling a chill fill him as he curled onto his chair, holding onto his knees. That couldn't be true, it couldn't.

Slowly, Hefty stood and kneeled beside Creek, "Hey."

Hesitantly, Creek looked at Hefty.

"It may take some time to accept this, talking to Therapist Smurf is not an instant cure, but there's something I want you to know that it took some time for me to realize," said Hefty, "It was not your fault. No matter who, no matter the circumstances, no matter their reasoning; it was not your fault. The blame is entirely on them. What happened doesn't change who you are or make you any less than anyone else. You have people who love and care about you and that isn't going to change."

No longer able to fight them back, Creek began to cry. Still he didn't want to accept it and he tried to joke, "You just couldn't allow me to hate you, could you?"

Softly smiling, Hefty stood, "You can hate me as much as you want," he opened his arms in a silent offer of a hug.

Sniffling, Creek leaned against Hefty and allowed the Smurf to hug him as more tears rolled down his face. Being held by Hefty was definitely a very secure feeling, he probably couldn't escape even if he wanted to.

"After last time, I didn't think I had to ask."

Gasping, Creek pulled back from the hug and blindly pushed Hefty away, memories flooding back to him so quickly he thought his mind was going to get whiplash. He didn't realize he was screaming until Poppy barged into the Mushroom and pulled him away from Hefty, trying to hug him and console him.

"Hefty, what happened?" Poppy asked when Creek stopped screaming but was still crying in her arms.

"It wasn't him," Creek whimpered. He dully looked at his hands, watching as the color faded away into gray, "I remember."