A/N: Hey! Sorry if I wasn't able to update the other day. I've been really busy with school and I'm really really stressed out. So much for that, here's another chapter. Somehow, when I create new stories I feel less tense, so I hope you'll enjoy this one.
Disclaimer: You know what I mean.
"How many were taken?"
"About fifty Trolls sir" a yellow Troll reported. Peppy sighed when he heard the number of casualties. He promised them that no more Troll shall ever be harmed after his wife's death, yet he failed them. He never thought that bringing his people to freedom would be this hard. Trollstice has arrived, and as usual all the Bergens are excited to feast on a Troll to feel happiness.
His plan was pretty simple, they'll dig a tunnel from the bottom of the Troll Tree, which will then lead them to the outskirts of Bergen Town. As a diversion, they will carve some Trolls out of wood, place some of their hairs on it to make it look a bit more real to trick the Bergens that were guarding the Tree. Some Trolls volunteered to help in digging the tunnel, while the others chose to help in making the decoys. Peppy estimated that the plan would only take them only a few days to accomplish, but weeks passed and they're not yet even halfway across Bergen Town. He placed his digging tools down and sat on a corner. Could he really do it? Could he really lead them out of Bergen Town and live without the fear of being eaten? Especially now that their little princess was out of her pod. Can he really make the future safe for Poppy?
He sat at the corner watching the Trolls dig the tunnel that will lead them to freedom. Is this plan going to work? He felt defeated and hopeless as the thought of those fifty Trolls the Bergens are going to feast in. Those fifty Trolls and even their families believed in him, when he said that no more Troll shall cry after their queen's death. It was a smaller number compare to the past Trollstices, but the guilt that he felt was unexplainable. The Trolls working on the tunnel all looked at their king, they could sense the great disappointment that he has for himself. They've always believed in him, but seeing him all sad and hopeless, made them think that freedom will never be possible for all of them
"What did I tell you about not giving up?" an elderly voice called. Peppy looked up and saw a familiar purple Troll approaching him.
"Rosiepuff" Peppy called as his eyes widened in surprise. The old woman approached him her face was scrunched up a bit.
"Just because you failed, doesn't mean that you will accept your defeat. You failed because you tried, but always remember that true failure is when you finally stopped trying" she said looking straight into Peppy's eyes. "I've known you since you were still a young prince, your father has always told me to keep a watchful eye on you because your curiosity always leads you to trouble."
Peppy grinned a bit when he remembered the times when Rosiepuff would have to help him out of the troubles he has caused. She's always been the mother he never had. Ever since his mother, the queen before his wife, died, Rosiepuff has always been there to guide and protect him. She's been his adviser during the times when he needed to make a tough decision for the kingdom.
"You remember, don't you?" she smiled. The purple troll cupped his cheek as she said those words to him. "I know Sharon was your happiness, and I know that deep inside you're still in pain. But always remember that we are all still here for you. If you want to cry go ahead, it's okay to shed some tears every once in a while." Peppy, however, turned his head away from her and held his knees to his chest.
"Yes, my queen is my happiness, but I failed her. I wasn't able to help her when that Bergen came. I saw the creature about to take our child, but instead I chose to hide. Sharon fought off the Bergen to rescue Poppy, instead. I tried fighting the creature off, but I was too weak that it easily threw me to the ground." Peppy cried out. He started to feel a pang in his heart again. "And now, I've promised them freedom, and yet here I am still digging for that freedom. I don't even know where this will lead us. I am not a great king, and I think I will never be."
Rosiepuff shook her head in disbelief. Are those words really coming out of his lips? "Is that what you really think? That you failed as a king?" Peppy remained silent as the purple Troll raised her tone. He knows when she's mad, he saw it before when he was almost eaten by a Bergen when he stepped out of the gates that surrounded the Troll Tree. "Sharon won't ask you to lead the Trolls to safety if you are a failure. She knew that you can, Peppy"
"Fifty Trolls died." He said every word with great stress. "Those Trolls believed that I can do what my wife asked me to do, and where did that led them?" He started to breathe erratically. Just by the thought of those Trolls horrified him.
"Yes, those Trolls died believing that you are going to lead them to safety. They died believing that you will lead them and their families to freedom. They may not have been able to see that promise be fulfilled, but they—no, we all believe that you can. Fifty Trolls who died is nothing if all of us are going to die." The elderly Troll said trying to bring some senses to their King. "If you give up now, then that's when you've truly failed those Trolls because you will also fail those who loved them. So please Peppy, don't put their deaths in vain"
Peppy pondered upon the words that came out of her mouth. He wanted to succumb to his fears and to what his mind tells him, but something inside his chest tells him not to listen to it.
"Grandma?" a little voice called. Everyone turned their attention to the entrance of the tunnel and saw a little Troll standing. He was a little blue troll about four or five years old, he's wearing a jumper and has a bright cobalt hair. He was holding a baby, whom Peppy knows very well.
"Branch, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to wait outside, it's dangerous here." Rosiepuff said as she turned her attention to the boy.
"But Princess Poppy and I are getting bored outside. There are no Trolls playing outside too, even Cooper, Suki, or Biggie, or Guy Diamond, or Satin and Chenille because their parents say its Trollstice. They said little Trolls should stay inside and hide" He held the little Troll tighter, so she won't slip from his arms. Peppy walked closer to the two and stared at the Troll resting on the boy's arm.
"May I?" he asked as he opened his arms and asked Branch to hand him the child. The Troll nodded and carefully gave him the little pink Troll. She snuggled on Peppy's arms as the king stared at her carefully.
"King Peppy, are you really going get us out of Bergen Town?" Branch asked. "I can't play outside with my friends because the Bergens are always coming to the Troll Tree. Please King Peppy, get us out of Bergen Town" he added. Peppy could feel the fear in the child's heart. He glanced at Poppy and sighed. He doesn't want his daughter to feel the same fear that the little blue Troll is feeling or all the other Trolls are feeling. He glanced at Rosiepuff, who gave him a concerned look.
"Your name is Branch, right?" The boy nodded. "Well then Branch, yes, I will get all of us out of Bergen Town, so all the Trolls could sing and dance again without being afraid. So, you and your friends can play all day too" Branch's face lit up as he smiled widely to the king. "But, I need to ask you something."
"What is it King Peppy?" the boy asked with great curiosity.
"I need you to watch over my Poppy while I dig our way out of Bergen Town okay?" he said as he leaned down to the boy's ear as if his task would be just between the two of them. Branch nodded excitedly and looked at the king with awe.
"I promise!" he shouted before he covered his mouth because he was being too loud. Peppy chuckled at how ecstatic the boy was. But seeing him all excited made him think, if he should ever give up. He glanced at his sleeping daughter and asked himself again. Does she deserve this nightmare that all of us are in? He glanced back to Rosiepuff and gave her a determined look. The purple troll smiled as she succeeded in bringing some senses to the Troll king. The Trolls digging in the tunnel smiled too because finally their king is back to his old determined self, and will surely do anything to fulfill his promise. Peppy handed his daughter back to Branch as he turned to grab his pick to start digging again. He is going to finish the tunnel even if it takes them another Trollstice to do so, as long as he fulfills the promise that he made to his people.
Rosiepuff walked towards her grandson and led him out of the tunnel. The Bergens may no longer be outside the Tree since they can no longer hear their cheers. She took a final glance to Peppy before she finally left.
"Dad?" a voice called from his head. "Dad? Wake up! You fell asleep on your desk again." Peppy slowly felt his eyes flutter open and saw his daughter standing in front of his desk.
"What time is it?" Peppy yawned and stretched his old body until it produced some cracking sounds. He usually falls asleep on his desk, especially when there are lots of work to do.
"It's morning" his daughter replied with a giggle. "I thought you were in bed when I got home last night, so I just went straight my room. If only I knew that you were sleeping in here again, I might've asked you to go to your room, so you may sleep better."
"I'm sorry for not being able to go to your birthday party" the king apologized. However, Poppy does not seem to mind his absence to her party, she looks quite happy too. "You look very happy; did something special happen last night?"
"Yes! The whole village and I had a great time!" she excitedly said. Peppy could say that there is a deeper reason why Poppy was extra happy. "Oooh! DJ Suki played some great songs, everyone was dancing and throwing glitters at each other. Oh! I just really wished that you were there!"
"Am I the only one whom you wish that was at your party?" Poppy's excitement suddenly went off. She suddenly remembered something very important that she wanted to tell her dad.
"Branch! Something really great happened today dad!" her excitement went back again. Peppy smiled as finally he'll know why Poppy was all jumpy.
"And what is that?" he asked as he watched his daughter tell the full story.
"So, last night, when everyone was having the best time of their lives, I sneaked out and went to Branch's bunker to bring him a few cupcakes. I know he doesn't like singing, dancing or partying, but I just don't want him to miss out." She had to take a pause from her story to breathe. Her excitement grew even more as she opened her mouth again. "I knocked on the entrance of his bunker, and told him I brought him some cupcakes. He did not open up, so I just left it at his front door. And just this morning, I went to check if the cupcakes are still there! It's gone Dad! He took the cupcakes!"
"Are you sure it was him who took it?" Peppy asked curiously. He does not want to break his daughter's spirits, but he also doesn't want her to have false hopes. "What if it was just some animal who took it, or other Trolls took it?"
Poppy shook her head to disagree. She had a great feeling deep inside her gut that Branch did took those cupcakes. "I don't think so Dad. I can feel that there is still a part of him who is still searching for happiness. And I am going to make sure that I help him find it!"
Peppy chuckled at how determined his daughter was at making sure everyone in the Troll Kingdom is happy. He smiled as he thought of his daughter being the next queen. She will be a great queen.
"Can I get you anything, Dad?"Peppy shook his head. "Okay, in case you need anything, I'll be with the little Trolls, I promised to read them a few stories." Poppy ran along and left him in the solitude of his office. Suddenly, he remembered something important. He stepped off of his seat and walked outside.
The forest was silent, Peppy could hear the sound the earth makes as his cane and feet hit the ground. There is a gentle breeze that made the leaves rustle. He looked around and spotted a patch of red flowers growing at the side of the path. He smiled. "Poppies". The old king continued walking until he reached a rock that blocks the path. He has arrived to his destination. He knocked on the rock with his wooden cane. "Branch, are you in there?"
He waited for a couple of minutes before a hatch behind him opened up. He smiled upon seeing a grey troll step outside. "King Peppy, what brings you here? Can I help you with something? "
Peppy shook his head and smiled. "Branch, it's been twenty years." Branch knew what he meant. It's been twenty years since his Grandma died. For the past years, only he and King Peppy knew what happened that day, when the Bergen took his Grandma away. Everyone believed that Rosiepuff just disappeared with her grandson, until one day they saw Branch, grey and miserable, wandering around the forest. "I'm sorry. If only I came sooner, then I might've helped. She won't be gone and you won't be grey."
Branch felt pain pierce through his chest, but at the same time, he also felt sad for the King. "King Peppy, it was not your fault that Grandma died" he said looking down. "Like I said before, it was all my fault. Maybe being grey and miserable is the punishment that I deserved after what happened to my grandma" he chuckled halfheartedly. "Still, thank you for keeping me company whenever this day comes. Everyone should be celebrating Poppy's birthday, but here I am all sulked up."
"I understand." Peppy tapped Branch's shoulder a few times. "I miss her too, especially whenever I am on the verge of giving up or whenever I have some difficult decisions to make. She's like my second mother." Peppy could sense the sadness Branch felt as he was feeling the same sadness to.
"Thank you" Branch said.
"Remember, if you need anything, feel free to ask." Peppy said before tapping Branch's shoulders again. "And also, thank you for making my Poppy really happy last night." Branch's forehead furrowed a bit. How did he make Poppy happy last night? Then he remembered the cupcakes she left in front of his bunker. Did she came back to check if he took it? He also remembered the squeals he heard earlier that morning. Was that Poppy? He thought it was just some animal that passed by. He wanted to confirm his speculations to the King, but before he could, Peppy was already walking back towards the village. He wanted to go after him and ask, but he chose not to. He shrugged.
"It's not a big deal, Poppy will probably get over it soon." he chuckled. He looked back at the poppies he saw last night. They were already in full bloom. Crimson petals filled the forest floor, and it sightly made him sad. It was those same flowers.
A/N: I will try my best to update tomorrow, this story is really fun to do since I am really fascinated with dreams. I hope you liked it! Have something in mind? Ooh, please do tell me! I love new ideas!