A/N: Enjoy this next one! I hope it's as funny as I think. Loved your reactions to seeing Rosiepuff as Dory.
Riverajocabed1 – Yes, I agree. That's why I love doing these adaptations.
Cupcake – Yes, Peppy said some things he regrets.
True Colors 96 – You'll see in later chapters.
Chapter Four – Vegetarian Crocodile Club
The pointed teeth belonged to a crocodile, who grinned at the two trolls. "Hello."
Peppy squeaked in fear and hid behind Rosiepuff. "Uh, hi!" Rosiepuff greeted cheerily. "Mister…..?"
"Barnabas. Nice to meet you." The crocodile held out a clawed paw to shake, but Rosiepuff and Peppy recoiled. Barnabas shrugged. "No worries, I understand. After all, why trust a crocodile?" He snapped his teeth at the trolls, and Peppy cowered while Rosiepuff smiled nervously. Barnabas laughed heartily. "Now what are a couple little trolls like you doing way out here?"
"Nothing." Peppy said. "Nothing at all."
"I'm not interrupting a date, am I?" Barnabas asked.
"I don't think so." Rosiepuff looked to Peppy for confirmation.
"Nope. Not a date. So not a date." Peppy said.
"Wonderful!" Barnabas said. "Then how about you two join me for a little party I'm having with some mates?"
"Ooh, a party!" Rosiepuff said. She looked to Peppy. "What do you think?"
"Well, I don't think we should intrude on a get-together with your mates, Mr. Crocodile." Peppy started pulling Rosiepuff away. "We really should be—"
"Oh come along! I insist!" Barnabas suddenly grabbed Peppy's vest and Rosiepuff's coat in his teeth, basically troll-napping his "guests."
"Okay then." Peppy gulped.
Barnabas brought the two trolls through the forest and into a swamp area. This was the farthest Peppy had ever been from home. It only added to his discomfort at being in the homeland of a crocodile and other creepy swamp creatures. Despite the clear, sunny day, the swamp seemed a little darker and spookier. Barnabas took the two trolls to a large tree deep in the swamp, and Peppy saw a boat stuck up in that tree. How the boat got up there, he had no idea. He just knew he didn't like Barnabas crawling up some steps and going right into the spooky, run-down boat. Inside, the wood was rotting and covered moss and mushrooms. Several lanterns were lit to cast a bit more light into the room. There were a couple crates in the corner labeled "DANGER" and "EXPLOSIVE."
Peppy gulped. I really wish I weren't here.
"Irwin! Steve!" Barnabas called after dropping Peppy and Rosiepuff in the middle of the floor.
Two more crocodiles emerged from the dark places of the boat, crawling towards the trolls. "About time you got back, Barns!" One said.
"Yeah, Irwin already ate most of the snacks." The other said.
"No worries, boys." Barnabas said. "There's plenty more to eat." The crocodiles circled the two trolls in the room, and Peppy and Rosiepuff stood close together. Peppy wasn't entirely sure Rosiepuff knew what was going on right now, but he sure did.
"Let's get this started, then!" Irwin urged.
Peppy covered his eyes and cowered in fear.
DING!
"Right! Let's get this meeting in order." Barnabas said. Peppy slowly uncovered his eyes. Barnabas now sat perched on a stool, and Steve and Irwin flanked him and Rosiepuff like guards. Everyone was alert and attentive. Barnabas had rung the bell. "Now, let's all say the pledge."
Steve and Irwin raised their right front paws, and Rosiepuff raised her right hand. The crocodiles of the room spoke their pledge. "I am a nice crocodile, not a crazy killer. I know I can change this image by changing myself. I will not eat the animals of the forest because they are my friends."
Peppy shared a look with Rosiepuff, who shrugged. Vegetarian…crocodiles?
"All right!" Barnabas said. "We're in Step Seven of the program: bring an animal friend that we would normally eat if we were still crazy, killing crocodiles. You've met my friends: this is…oh, I'm sorry, I didn't quite get your names."
"Rosiepuff!"
"Uh…Peppy….."
"Rosiepuff and Peppy!" Barnabas said. "I call 'em 'Rose' and 'Pep!' Now, does everyone else have a friend?"
"I got mine!" Irwin held up a small, pudgy, duck-like bird, who muttered nervously with his eyes darting around.
"What about you, Steve?" Barnabas asked.
Steve looked a little sheepish. "Well, uh, I seem to have…..uh…..misplaced my friend."
Peppy noticed some hairs or fur stuck in Steve's teeth, and he lost all color in his face. "You okay?" Rosiepuff whispered to him. "You look like you're about to wet yourself." If Peppy hadn't been so terrified at the moment, he would have a witty comeback for that.
"No worries, Stevie. I thought this might be a difficult step for you. You can take one of my friends, if you like." Barnabas offered.
"Great!" Steve suddenly grabbed Peppy and hugged him tightly. Peppy thought he really would have an accident in his pants.
"Now, the reason we have this step is to have that extra support as we do our monthly vents." Barnabas said. "I'll start. I am Barnabas, and it has been two months since my last taste of meat. Though I do sometimes miss the thrill of the chase and the sweet nectar of troll blood on my tongue, I have refrained from all hunting! On my honor, or may I be skinned and made into a handbag."
Steve, Irwin, and even Rosiepuff clapped for Barnabas. "You're an inspiration!" Irwin cheered.
"And that's why he's our leader." Steve agreed.
"Who wants to go next?" Barnabas asked, crawling down from the stool. "How about you, little Rose?"
"Sure!" Rosiepuff climbed up onto the stool and looked out to her small audience. "Hi, I'm Rosiepuff, and I've been a vegetarian since….." She counted off on her fingers. "Always!"
The crocodiles of the room clapped. Irwin's duck friend waddled away while everyone was distracted. "Who's next?" Barnabas looked to Peppy. "What about you, buddy? Got anything you want to get off your chest?"
"Nope! Not at all!" Peppy said.
The three crocodiles shared knowing looks. "Denial." Steve tossed Peppy into the air, and the troll landed next to Rosiepuff on the stool.
"Just start with your name." Barnabas encouraged.
Peppy shook like a leaf in the wind. "Okay….hello….I'm Peppy…."
There was silence for a moment. "And what's your problem?" Barnabas asked.
"Is it because Barney interrupted your date?" Irwin asked.
"No." Peppy glanced to Rosiepuff, and suddenly realized. "No! No, no, we aren't…she's not….."
"Oh, come on, mate!" Steve said. "She's a lovely lady, ain't she?"
"Thank you." Rosiepuff said to Steve.
"Well, sure…but I…I mean she….uh….." Peppy didn't know what to say. Not only did he meet Rosiepuff merely half an hour ago, he hadn't thought about having a relationship with another troll since Joy died. Plus, Peppy wasn't sure he could live with a troll who had a mental disability like Rosiepuff's.
"Love problem!" Irwin declared. "We got a love problem here."
"Don't worry, mate!" Steve said. "We'll help you!"
"But I don't—" Peppy couldn't get a word in with the crocodiles talking excitedly. Rosiepuff blushed, giggling at Peppy's expense.
"First, give her a compliment." Barnabas said. "Go on."
Peppy feared that, if he didn't, he'd be eaten. "Fine. Rosiepuff, you…..um…..have a very nice….nose?"
Rosiepuff looked down to her little, blue-green nose. "Thanks!"
"No, no, no!" Barnabas scoffed. "Compliment her eyes! Or her pretty hair!"
"Show him how it's done, Barnabas!" Irwin urged.
Barnabas crawled up and stood on his hind legs to properly see Rosiepuff. "Dearest Rose, your eyes are like two emeralds, glittering in the light of the swamp and shining like little fireflies."
"Aw, aren't you just the sweetest thing?" Rosiepuff cooed, patting Barnabas's snout.
"Do you even understand what's going on here?" Peppy demanded.
"No, but who doesn't like being complimented?" Rosiepuff shrugged.
"Now, you give her a simple yet meaningful gift." Barnabas said.
"Like what? My cane?" Peppy was slowly getting fed up with all this nonsense, and it began to overcome his fear.
"Oh! I'll find you something!" Irwin dove snout-first into a nearby hammock, rummaging around the various items inside and throwing things out.
"Irwin's always finding the most 'interesting' items in the forest and the swamp." Steve sighed.
Irwin tossed out a cylindrical item with a strap. The item rolled across the floor and stopped at the stool. Peppy gasped when he recognized it.
It was the soup thermos that belonged to one of the bergens.
"Poppy!" Peppy gasped, climbing down the stool.
"A flower! Yes!" Irwin agreed. "Too bad I don't have any in my stash."
"No, she's my daughter." Peppy said, inspecting the thermos. "She was kidnapped by bergens today."
"Oh, you poor thing." Rosiepuff said in pity, joining Peppy as they analyzed the thermos.
"Bergens. Rotten little thieves." Steve scoffed. "They're always clodhopping through here."
"One of them even peed in my favorite bathing pond!" Irwin complained. "It took a month to clean it out properly!"
Barnabas sniffled. "Would you look at that? That's a good father, looking for his little girl!" He started bawling pathetically. "I never knew my father!"
"Take it easy, mate." Steve said as he and Irwin pulled Barnabas into a group hug.
"We're here for you, buddy." Irwin agreed.
Peppy found some markings carved into the metal of the thermos. A clue to his daughter, perhaps? He growled in frustration. "I can't read bergen! What do these say?"
"Well, let's just find someone who can read it." Rosiepuff looked around, and then started pulling the thermos towards Barnabas, Steve, and Irwin. "Hey guys!"
"Wait, Rosiepuff!" Peppy tried to yank the thermos back. If he lost this, he'd lose Poppy for sure!
"Give that back!" Rosiepuff pulled on the strap of the thermos.
"Let go!"
"You let go! They can help!"
"Or they'll lose it!"
"You don't know that!"
"Just let go!"
Peppy jerked the thermos away, and Rosiepuff lost her footing and fell forward. She yelped in pain when a nail sticking out of the wood hit her arm. Peppy gasped and rushed to her side. "I'm so sorry! Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Rosiepuff had her hand over her arm. "Am I bleeding?" She moved her hand to reveal a cut on her arm the nail. Not too deep, but plenty painful. Peppy pulled some gauze from his hair to wrap the cut.
"Rose, are you—" Barnabas froze. He inhaled deeply, and his round pupils turned to cat-eye pupils. "OH….that smells good…"
"Intervention!" Steve and Irwin shouted, body-slamming Barnabas before he could snap up the trolls. They pinned him to a wall.
"Just a bite!" Barnabas snarled and hissed.
"Keep it together, mate!" Steve said.
"Trolls are friends, not food!" Irwin agreed.
Barnabas suddenly broke free and charged for Peppy and Rosiepuff. Peppy pushed the thermos towards a hole in the floorboards of the boat. He grabbed Rosiepuff and pulled her down after the thermos, narrowly avoiding Barnabas's teeth. They landed on a couch in the lower deck of the boat.
"Run for it!" Peppy urged, he and Rosiepuff grabbing the thermos as they dashed away. Barnabas broke through the wood floor and darted after them. The crocodile chased Rosiepuff and Peppy all around the room and then right out the door. They ducked into a kitchen area, still dragging the thermos behind them. Peppy and Rosiepuff went up a broom and onto the counter, but Barnabas's claws almost caught them as he scrambled after them. Luckily, the two trolls managed to dive into a metal oven, slamming the barred door behind them. Barnabas clawed and scratched at the door, still hissing and snarling.
"Now what?" Rosiepuff asked.
Peppy looked around the dimly lit area. He guided Rosiepuff to a rusted hole in the back of the oven, and they quietly snuck out. They snuck into a hole in a wall where a dumbwaiter once rested, and they extended their hair to grab the broken rope above them.
Suddenly, Barnabas came from behind and snapped his teeth. He missed the trolls, but he did catch the strap of the thermos and wrench it from Peppy's hands. Peppy tried to go back, but Rosiepuff pulled him along and they climbed up the ropes. Barnabas darted away, evidently going to the other dumbwaiter entrances to catch the trolls. Steve's and Irwin's shouts could be heard as they desperately tried to calm their friend. Peppy and Rosiepuff reached the main deck again, and they hid behind some crates when Barnabas arrived. The crocodile hissed and snarled, sniffing the air to find his prey.
"Psst." Rosiepuff whispered.
"Shush!" Peppy hissed.
"But I have a question."
"What could be so important?"
"What does 'dahn-grr' mean?"
"What?"
Rosiepuff pointed to the words printed on the crate they hid behind. "That there. It's spelled just like 'danger,' but I don't think—"
"You can read that?" Peppy gasped. "You know how to read bergen?"
"I can?" Rosiepuff gasped in realization. "Oh, yes! I know how to read bergen!"
Peppy looked to Barnabas, who still slunk around the floor. "We have to get that thermos."
Steve and Irwin arrived, and they tackled Barnabas to the ground. "Just take it easy, Barns!" Steve said. "Deep breaths!"
"Yeah, no need to eat our new friends!" Irwin agreed.
Rosiepuff dashed towards Barnabas before Peppy could protest. She managed to snatch the thermos from Barnabas's teeth before she turned tail and ran for it. She and Peppy scurried up a table leg just as Barnabas broke free and rushed after them. Peppy skidded to a halt and pushed against a lantern on the table. With Rosiepuff helping him, they managed to push the lantern over and into Barnabas's open mouth. Rosiepuff and Peppy pulled the thermos with them as they ran. Barnabas, feeling the burning sensation of the lantern on his mouth, threw his head to one side in order to throw the lantern away. The lantern soared through the air and broke upon landing in the box of explosives, which turned out to be fireworks.
"Uh oh." Irwin gulped.
"Barnabas." Steve whimpered.
Hearing the concern in his friends' voices kicked in a protective instinct, and Barnabas's eyes returned to normal as he snapped out of it. "What?" He turned and saw the lit fuses of the fireworks. He gasped. "Run away! Run away!"
Peppy and Rosiepuff paused to watch the crocodiles run out of the boat as fast as their legs could carry them. "Huh. Guess the party's over." Rosiepuff said. She and Peppy jumped when the first firework went off, followed shortly by several others.
"Get in the thermos!" Peppy urged. He and Rosiepuff just managed to fit in the soup thermos, and they covered their ears as the fireworks exploded outside. The force of all the explosions caused damage to the boat and sent the thermos bouncing and ricocheting off surfaces.
Peppy and Rosiepuff were quickly knocked out.