Here we are, another amazing chapter! I hope it isn't too heart tearing! Enjoy this very much!
DeZ- Thank you so much! I am glad to hear that! So, sounds like you understood my response last chapter?
Kitten345218- Haha I am glad, and looks like I got a new nickname!
ThatKittyCat- Thank you very much! I am glad that you think so! Yeah, that is true, but still. I also love how your reviews are long, I know some don't but I do! So never worry about length with me!
FandomsAreLoveFandomsAreLife- Haha, yup, I am evil! I twist your mind, steal your soul, and crush your heart! You shall see.. :3 Yes, Lavender surely does need one! But she doesn't give a thought about it!
AnimalGirl1507- Yes, they do! Green is usually an evil colour. Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed!
Samantha Peace HeartStar- Haha, yup! Well, go ahead and die again over this chapter. Not responsible for any death or painful occurence while reading this chapter.
BananaQUEEN13- I am not able to be sued for your heart attack, as I have claimed. Your heart failure is none of my fault (maybe it is a little.. a lot..) but yes, I am the most evil writer ever, but that is why you all love me! Don't worry, I am the overly dramatic one in my group of friends. Okay, that's a lie. I exaggerate my amount of friends. I say group.. not always a group.. *silently cries in corner*
Dustin- Thank you very much! Reviews like this inspire me to keep going! Hope you continue to read and like my story!
Ellohell- Yes, exactly that. Maybe, but the dark ages are yet to come. *evil laughter* Mum, no! I am trying to be the evil self I was born to be! (clean your room) Never! *whole house fills with fire* I have no room! (okay, a little overkill I know!) Thank you very, very much! :3
Lostpuppyowner- Thank you very much, glad you understand! I will always continue on! Thank you! :D
Disclaimer: I know I have said this, but I don't own Trolls, or Total Eclipse of the Heart!
Biggie rolled his bright green eyes, staring deeply into all the other's deep green eyes, and a shudder went throughout the room as, just for a moment, it came across to Biggie that most everybody in the room didn't have green eyes, but almost immediately let go of the thought.
They descended deeper into the basement, coming down to the end of the staircase, the four unconscious trolls having bumps and bruises from their heads hitting every single stair with a clump, clump, clump.
They chained shackled to each of their ankles and wrists, stretching them out so they were up of the ground and supported upwards. They hooked their hair up and made it so tight their heads weren't rolling on their necks, but were straight up in the circular, stone room. In the dungeon, reminding them of their untimely event of Bridget having them in the cage, the abductors were each trapped in their own hell of a dream in their heads, or seeing things that were yet to be, due to the poison they had been administered through unsuspecting, innocent loaves of bread.
"Guys, I am going to get some sleep, down here by Branch's feet. So, whoever isn't tired, guard this place." Lavender yawned and curled up in a fetal position underneath Branch's limp feet, held up by the metal chains.
"Wow, Lavender, we are all tired.. she's already asleep! Unbelievable. Okay, then, Biggie, you sleep. Satin and I will take guard duty. Marcy, Cookie, and Peppy, you guys are all older, so please figure it out yourselves." Chenille leaned against the cement walls, rolling her eyes at Lavender's antics. Why they took her in, she did not know, but she was definitely a weak link.
"No, I cannot sleep without Mr. Dinkles! He abandoned me when I joined the side with you guys, because glow worms cannot be evil, no matter what. I can't sleep, but I can help you two guard! Peppy, Marcy, guard with us. Cookie will sleep, since she is the leader. Okay?" Biggie whimpered, clearly tired but shuddered without his worm. He was also a weak link, but at least wasn't blinded by a crush on a taken guy, for heaven's sake!
"Okay, whatever. I am tired, so goodnight you guys. I will wake up when I please." Marcy appeared to have attitude as she laid down, next to where Cookie had already passed out.
"Are the others coming soon? Send them a message, tell them to find Mr. Dinkles!" Biggie clearly wasn't gonna be any help. Chenille head counted everyone in the room. Eight. There were five, back in the woods, still searching for a missing Branch, because they never would pick up their walkie talkies. She smiled at an idea.
"Biggie, why don't you go and find the others in the woods? I mean, I sent Greg, yes, but maybe you should go too! He will surely need your help!" Biggie darted from the room immediately, and she sighed at the problem out of her hands, before realising a new one. She rolled her eyes up at the surprisingly low ceiling.
At this point, she was the only one awake, and she was defenseless.
Poppy groggily sat up, shaking the sleep from her eyes. The first thing she realised was that she woke up on cold cement, and the chilled air bit at her nose and cheeks. She looked up at the sky, dotted with light grey clouds, behind the night sky, sprinkled with brightly shining stars. Her hair was askew and her hands pained her, like a forced pulled at them. She pushed herself up from the sidewalk and spotted a grey Branch, turned away from her and silent sobs from his mouth, shoulders shaking badly. She quickly ran towards him, fighting a force that felt like quicksand. She felt like it was impossible to get to him, on that cobblestone bridge, 300 feet above rushing water.
"Branch!" Poppy called out, and he turned, crying tears of blood. She finally reached him, holding him close. Her blue dress began being stained with the drops of blood from his eyes, but she could care less. He refused to be let go of, and she refused to let go. He tensed slightly as a rush of cold, drafty air came over them.
"Branch, shh. Don't worry, I am here." He looked straight into her eyes, gripping her shoulders tightly. She gently wiped away the tears, and he leaned into her touch slightly.
"Poppy, I am so sorry. I tried my hardest, but I still failed. I don't deserve you. Make sure that AJ knows I love him. Let him know I have failed him, please. I love you Poppy." Branch didn't necessarily say the words. His mouth didn't move, but somehow, she knew exactly what her husband had said. As the words sunk in, she screamed "No!"
He pressed his bloody lips against her forehead, stood up, and hurled himself over the side of the bridge. She tried to grip his hand, but it slipped through her grip from the blood caking her hands. She tried to use her hair, but it felt as though someone had a tight hold on her head, and she couldn't use her hair at all. The tears fell as she sunk to the ground.
"Mummy? Why do you cry?" Poppy turned her head to the source of the voice, expecting AJ. Instead, a little girl stood there, shaking. Her hair was a dark azure blue, an almost royal purple colour. Her skin was a light pink, and eyes a bright sea blue. She realised this was the daughter she and Branch were supposed to have. Maybe they already had her, and she didn't even know.
"Sweetie, nothing happened, don't worry. Why are you up so late?"
"Liar! Daddy is dead, and so now I will never be born! Why didn't you try harder to save him? Now I cannot have a life, mummy! You allow AJ to have parents, but I cannot even have life. Thanks a lot!" The small girl flung her arms around Poppy, who half-heartedly returned the hug. This was her child, the child who could now never be born. She wanted to comfort the young girl, say anything, but she choked up. She couldn't talk as tears continued to flow down her cheeks. To make matters worse, it began to pour down, the clear droplets of rain falling in sheets heavily in a matter of seconds.
"Poppy?" AJ came and joined the hug, before they all stood up and walked underneath an awning, drenched, to avoid the rain. The metal roof may have provided protection from the wet weather, but certainly gave Poppy a splitting headache on top of everything else from the sound of thousands of hooves pounding the roof per second.
They huddled up, providing warmth towards each other, crying over the loss of Branch, for several minutes. Poppy would always provide comfort, a shoulder to lean on, when someone lost a precious family member, but she couldn't bring herself to do more than just sob. She only felt this pain one other time, when she had seen her parents get in a fight, her mother fleeing from the house as her father lost control of his anger. Again. She never did return. Ever.
The silence was broken by a gunshot emitting through the silent night. Before anybody could react to the sudden noise shift, she felt the warm sensation of blood running down her leg as her son fell into her lap, dead. She felt her emotions rile up inside her. She felt hatred, anger towards the act of hate brought upon her son and began marching towards the angle of where the gunman was, and saw her father. She threw one punch, sending him flying over the bridge, before it hit her. She just murdered her own father.
She felt someone grab her leg, and bent down to see her should have been born daughter clinging to her leg.
"I thought you felt the love and peace of the world, mummy. I guess I thought wrong. Goodbye, murderess." The pink and blue troll evaporated into a pink mist before the queen launched herself over the edge of the bridge, not realising this wasn't really herself.
Creek groaned, holding his back before he gasped. He looked over and saw a small little troll, no older than four, with azure hair and teal skin, singing away to his heart's content. Luckily, though, he knew that this song wasn't the song he had been singing when his grandmum had been taken.
"Grandma, grandma, guess what!" Branch tugged on the old troll's dress before smiling down at her grandson, picking him up gently as he continuously jumped up and down, making the purple troll dizzy. He grinned at his grandmother before putting a finger to his head, thinking. "Umm.. I forgot!" Branch laughed, and jumped from his grandmother's grasp before bounding down towards the grass, and gasping and turning around. "I remember! Grandma, I remember!"
"Yes, what is it Branch?" His grandmother had a gentle tone, speaking so kindly to the small troll, so patient even though he had to have been a hassle, for he continuously interrupted her work.
"The poppies are in bloom! In a few days, I think I can see their colours! Grandma, isn't it great? Ooh, ooh, can I invite Poppy over when they do so she can see them? I think she will really like them! Can I, grandma, can I?" The young troll kept zipping around his grandmother, as she just chuckled, and it was clear he was just a little bundle of energy.
"Of course, my dear. In fact, isn't she coming over about now?"
Branch's face lit up at the thought. "Really? Is it today? Yay! I need to go make my bed, pick up my toys, ooh, and I can make us a snack!" He ran into the pod, his grandmum watching amusedly. She heard the sound of glass breaking and knew he was in the kitchen first. Classic Branch.
Creek jumped back as a six year old Poppy ran through him, but then remembered he was only a mist so no harm could come to either of them.
Branch hopped out of the pod, waving wildly at Poppy, not paying much attention to her father jogging behind her. Rosiepuff came out, looking apologetic, as Peppy walked up to the front porch of the flower pod as the two kids raced past her, grinning like madmen.
"Sorry, he isn't the best yet at remembering to respect you, especially since your daughter, the princess, is his best friend." the purple troll seemed almost embarrassed.
"Don't be. I don't really care about titles, and even if I did, you guys are basically family, and families don't call each other by titles! Besides, I am sure one day they will be married." King Peppy laughed, Rosiepuff joining in.
"They even bicker like a married couple!" They continued to laugh at the two children, before Peppy cut in again.
"So sorry, but I have to go. Here is Poppy's things, and I will be back tomorrow to pick her up. Bye!" He handed her a bright pink bag as both Creek and Rosiepuff went inside.
"Poppy, Poppy, no no no, that isn't how you make the glitter squirt out! This is how you make it squirt out!" Branch told her, and showed her how to correctly fill up the card with glitter and how to make the trigger for it. "How do you make the voice thing again?"
Rosiepuff turned towards Creek, startling him greatly. "Creek, I know you are witnessing this memory. So am I, I am reliving this moment. One of the last with my grandson. As you can see, these two have always had a special bond. I hope that you will make sure that my grandson stays safe, Creek. Yes, you will continue to watch the memories, but I will soon be going. Just in case I leave too soon, tell Branch I love him, tell him nothing, absolutely nothing, is his fault." Rosiepuff sighed, looking longingly, missing her grandson dearly.
"I promise you I will." Creek promised, as she slowly turned back. He tried to get her attention but knew she had gone. He promised to her, and hoped he would be able to fulfill it.
The two had so much energy and played deep into the night, before his grandmum cut them off as they were about to start another song and dance routine.
"Poppy, Branch, it is time for bed." They were led into Branch's room: a room painted blue and the bed had purple sheets pulled over it, the carpets a creamy colour and a few toys thrown into a multicoloured toy chest. He had scrapbooks piled on top of his dresser, painted white, and on his nightstand was a picture of him, Poppy, and his grandma. 'My two girls,' was written in sloppy handwriting at the top, and Creek smiled.
They both curled up in Branch's bed after changing into their pajamas, both Poppy and Branch wearing each other's coloured footie pajamas. They whispered after the light was shut out, kissed goodnight by his grandmum, and the door was closed. They talked about how they could never imagine their life without each other. It was clear on their faces they liked each other, but were too young to even consider dating.
After a few hours, Poppy yawned and she looked over at Branch, who had dozed off. She shook him awake and he quickly wiped the drool from his face, blushing madly.
"Branch, maybe we should *yawn*go to sleep? I mean, *yawn* it's almost one in the morning." Poppy asked, her eyes beginning to close themselves. He nodded off, and they once more got cuddled up by each other.
Everything fast forwarded for Creek and suddenly it was morning. Branch woke up, finding himself cuddling with Poppy. Her head had been laid on his chest. He gently nudged her off, so he didn't wake her, and just looked over at her, eyes filled with love and passion. Most four year olds wouldn't realise they were in love.
Poppy finally woke up to the smell of breakfast. The two kids eagerly jumped out of the bed in sync, running towards the kitchen excitedly. Branch still had a faint blush from watching Poppy sleep, but if she noticed, she said nothing.
"Thank you very much." Poppy thanked as she was given a blueberry waffle.
"Thanks grandma. Poppy, come here. Wanna see something cool I do?" He took her hand and led her over to the fridge, grabbing the whipped cream and strawberries out. He placed them on the counter, standing up on it before his grandmum gently brought him down.
"Looking for these?" He nodded eagerly at the chocolate chips, and the two kids put heaping amounts on their waffles and sat back down. However, Poppy 'accidentally' pushed Branch's face down into the mountain of whipped cream, laughing silently. His grandmother was also stifling laughter.
Branch suppressed a grin. "Think it's funny, do you? Well, how about this!?" He shoved her face into her waffle, and she licked her lips.
"Yummy!"
"Kids, eat your waffles." Rosiepuff failed to hide her laughter. If she had had any doubt in her mind that these two wouldn't get married, the thoughts vanished.
Peppy showed up around noon, coming in the middle of a dance recital the two were putting on.
"Poppy, sweetheart, we need to go now, okay? Have your bag ready?" Peppy asked, feeling guilty for pulling these two kids apart so soon.
"Okay daddy." Branch and Poppy hugged as Rosiepuff handed him Poppy's bag, their hug lingering much longer than usual. Peppy and Rosiepuff shared knowing smiles.
"Bye Poppy."
"Bye Branch! Thanks for letting me come over, both of you." She skipped from the pod and down the hill, glancing back and waving at her best friend before departing completely. As soon as she was gone from sight and earshot, the young trolling turned towards his grandmum.
"Grandma, guess what! When I grow up I am gonna marry Poppy! I love her!" he exclaimed with such excitement. Rosiepuff knelt down to his level as the child rattled on. "I will build an underground bunker in case something happens, and make sure there is plenty of food for you and me and Poppy and Peppy! I will bet many others will build them too, but you three don't need to. When I grow up me and Poppy will live happily ever after!"
"You do that Branch. Promise me, no matter what, protect the princess. You two will live happily ever after. I sure do love you Branch." Branch wrapped her in a hug as his bracelet chimed.
"Love you too Grandma!"
The time fast forwarded a few days.
"Branch! Will you please come and help me with the laundry?" Rosiepuff called. He came up to her very excited.
"Of course grandma! How do you want help? I will be the bestest helper ever!" He pumped his fist, face breaking out in a smile.
"Can you sing for me?"
"Of course! Ooh, the poppies are finally blooming!" He hopped down and picked one for her, and quickly clambered back up. "Okay, where were we?"
He used the poppy for his grandma as a microphone, and began singing A Total Eclipse of the Heart.
"Branch! Watch out!" He was too absorbed in his music. "Branch!"
Next thing the boy knew, he was shoved down off the cliff. He cried out, trying to say grandma, but the word got caught in his throat as he watched the Bergan clamber away. He felt the soft grass beneath him and it sunk in. His grandmother was gone.
He came to his knees, still screaming uselessly for his grandma, throwing the poppy far, far away, sobbing. He stared at his turquoise knees, but they were no longer turquoisey-teal. They were grey. He had felt the shiver run down his body, the happiness drain from inside him.
He continued to cry for over an hour before he heard a voice calling out to him. Peppy immediately knew what had happened. Luckily they had been way off in the forest of the hidden village, so no other trolls would be found, but they lived farther away.
"Branch?" Poppy's eyes widened as she saw her best friend, for once without colours. "B-Branch?" She collapsed down next to him, and wrapped her arms around him. For once, he pushed her away. "Go away, Poppy. Leave me alone." His voice sounded harsher than intended but Branch didn't really care. He just watched his grandma die. He really wanted her arms around himself, but couldn't bear it. The pain he felt was too intense and he didn't want to ever feel that way again.
He raced away, and Creek followed as Poppy cried, chasing after him before Peppy stopped her.
"Branch will be fine. He is just having a bad day. Don't worry, sweetie."
"Really?" Poppy turned towards Creek, her voice suddenly more mature. "Creek? Creek!"
Branch felt himself scooped up into warm, loving arms, but inside he felt numb. He had just lost both parents in one night. He saw the starry night, each star having a purpose, he knew. He saw the flowers growing wildly. He saw the grim face of his grandmother. He saw them, but nothing registered in his mind. All he knew was he just watched his mother get killed in front of his very eyes. He hated his father before, but now he felt anger course his body. If he wasn't feeling numb, empty inside, he would have gone and strangled him already. He couldn't move, he just laid there, wanting this awful feeling to go away. But it might never go away.
He didn't remember anything else as he slipped into a deep, dark sleep, wanting so badly to wake up from the image replaying over and over in his mind, making the pain worsen, the guilt grow, the dark more apparent.
"Hush child,
Go to sleep,
Close your eyes,
Don't make a peep,
Dream good dreams,
All good things,
I love you so,
I won't let you go,
So hush my child,
Rest your head,
I love you child,
Lay in your bed."
He felt love, a surge of appreciation towards his grandmother, but no sound could come from his lips. He wanted so badly to wrap his fragile arms around her, hug her close, to not let her go, but he couldn't. The pain was too strong.
AJ felt the pain of being beaten once again, wincing as his step-father whiplashed his hiney from disobeying. All he had done was sing in the shower, but apparently that 'lacks character' and makes him 'too soft.'
"Will you ever again sing in the shower?" Peppy demanded, AJ shakily heavily.
"Never again, sir." he repeated, feeling grateful. Even though he was going through hell and back in his own life, he knew it was his fault. He had been the one to lead his parents to their house. Accidentally, of course, but still. He was responsible, he shouldn't've run away at that time.
"Good boy. Now drop and give me twenty!" AJ groaned and dropped down on his stomach. "Bad attitude? Another twenty!" Ugh!
Poppy glanced around the room, moving her head as much as possible, She could move her head left and right 90°. She could tell her wrists were in shackles, as were her ankles and hair. Darn it!
She could slightly move her hands, she realised, after seeing Branch waving the best he could, putting on a pained smile. She heard AJ awake, on the far side of Creek, who was next to Branch. She yelled to Creek to wake up, and he promptly did, but she also ended up waking up the Fashion Twins, who were both sleeping against the wall. Nobody else even stirred, but Chenille did and took her sister up with her.
"Please, let me go." Poppy begged. "We are friends!"
"Wanna join us?" It was truly a questions. Their green eyes were piercing. Wait.. green eyes?! She looked over at the others, and realised Branch was trying to speak. "You wanna?" Branch gave a thumbs up to them, grinning widely.
"Branch! How could you?" As soon as he was unchained, he shrugged and smiled sadly at Poppy, gesturing towards Creek.
"Can I join you Mate?" Branch walked over and untied Creek from his shackles too. They fistbumped before turning towards Poppy and AJ, smiling evilly.
"Branch, Creek, I-I thought you were on-on our side!" Branch rolled his eyes at her as tears threatened to spill over her eyes. Branch gave her one last sad smile.
So, was that a big surprise? I will bet not a single person guessed that! If so, virtual high five! If not, still, virtual high five! Not cause you guessed wrong, but that you read through all that painful stuff! Love you!
~GalaxyEvilGirl :D
Ps Yes, I wrote the lullaby! I hope you like it guys! 3 (heart)