A/N: This will be a pure dream chapter and probably the next one. Wasn't able to update as soon as possible, college is driving me nuts again. Anyway, here's another one for all of you. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, for real.
"Branch!" a voice called, but he was too distraught to react, or even take a glimpse of whoever was calling his name. All that ran across his head was his grandma's face before the Bergen took her. A voice inside his head convinced him that his Grandma being taken away was his fault. He'll never see her again because of him. "Branch!" King Peppy shook him as hard as he can.
"King Peppy?" he finally glanced up. "The Bergen t—took Grandma." He shakily muttered. He turned his gaze back to the huge gates around the Troll Tree. He wished that somehow it would just open up and the Bergen would bring the purple Troll back inside. "It was going to take me, but Grandma pushed me out of the way. And now the Bergen's got her"
Branch cried again. Peppy felt the pain and guilt that the boy had inside him because he felt the same way. The pain that he endured when the Bergens killed his mother and his wife; and the guilt that he has for not being able to do something to help them. He wanted to cry too, Rosiepuff has been a very important Troll to him, she's like a mother to him; but instead of pain and sorrow, he felt hatred stir inside his chest. Rosiepuff being killed is the last straw, he would no longer allow those Bergens taste another Troll. Their dreaded holiday is in a few days, and the Troll King would make sure that none of those nasty beasts will ever get their hands on one of his people ever again.
Peppy watched as the little Troll beside him grieved for his dead grandmother. "I'm sorry." Peppy muttered. Peppy felt that he is to be blamed for the tragedy that happened. His heart continuously break into a million pieces, just by looking at Branch's grey skin. He cannot even say when the child will ever get his colors back, but one thing's for sure—as long as he's grey, Peppy will always be reminded of another Troll that he failed to help.
Peppy stood and took a huge chunk of white rock with him. He placed it on the ground under one of the roots of the tree before he took a sharp stone and carved the name "Rosiepuff" on it. That, and the grave of his wife not too far away from where he placed the stone will serve as a reminder to him of what the Bergens did to his Kingdom. The tunnel is almost finished and so are the decoys, that he asked the Trolls to make. In just a few days—hopefully before the Trollstice—they will soon taste freedom. The freedom that he promised them a year ago.
Peppy took a final glance at the memento before he stepped outside and went back to Branch. He took his cape off and used it to cover the boy. Branch, however, didn't squirm or even move. Peppy took him in his arms and hurried towards the tunnel. He thought that the boy can no longer stay in his old pod, as things could be too painful for him if he continues to stay on that place. He walked along the dark cavern until he reached a door. He opened it and inside was a small room with a bed, table and a small kitchen. He placed the little Troll on the bed, so he may rest. He sighed as Branch remained motionless. He shook his head and headed to the little kitchen to make some food for him.
Branch sulked in the room where Peppy left him. He cannot remember how he got there in the first place, but he remembered being covered with cloth and being carried away. He lay on the bed motionless, staring blankly on the earthen wall in front of him. The voice inside his head told him again that it was his fault that his Grandma was taken by the Bergen; because he was too caught up in singing and dancing, that he didn't hear his Grandma calling his name. "I won't sing or dance ever again" he muttered.
Three days passed and Branch finally had the strength to step outside of the room. The past few days were tough for him, he just cried until he falls asleep and he won't even eat the food Peppy would leave on the table for him to eat. He scanned the place, it was dark and cold. He didn't feel scared, in fact, he kinda felt as if he belonged in that dark and dreary place. He heard the sound of earth being hauled at the other end of the cavern and the faint grunts of a Troll. He followed the sound, until he has finally saw a speck of light at the far end of the tunnel he was walking through. He saw an orange Troll holding a shovel, digging through the earthen wall. "King Peppy?"
The Troll King stopped from his work and turned, so he may see who called his name. Despite the dim luminescence from his little lamp, he could still clearly perceive the grey colors of Branch. The colors of a broken Troll. "Branch? What are you doing here?"
Branch shook his head. He doesn't really know why he went there, but somehow his curiosity just led him to investigate the source of the sounds he heard earlier. "King Peppy, did the Bergen returned my Grandma already?"
Peppy sighed, the child is still hoping that his Grandma would come back. If the Troll King didn't know any better, he might've gave Branch false hopes; however, every Troll with the right mind knows what happens when a Bergen takes a Troll…they eat it. "I'm sorry Branch, but I couldn't think of any other way to say this to you…Your Grandma's not coming back anymore…"
Branch started to sniffle. Peppy could see his tears shimmer in the dim light from his lamp. Peppy walked closer to him and patted his back to comfort him. He made hushing sounds to help ease the pain that Branch was feeling. "Shh, Branch, it was not your fault. None of it was. Please stop crying."
"No! It was my fault Grandma died. I will never sing or dance again!" Branch said. Peppy was stunned at what came out of the little Troll's mouth. A troll that won't sing nor dance? Is that even possible? Peppy tried to comfort him as he cried louder. A child his age shouldn't be having these crazy thoughts inside his head. No one should ever feel the pain that Branch was feeling.
"There, there, Branch, I made a promise to your Grandma to watch over you if ever something bad happens to her" Peppy wiped off the tears that filled Branch's eyes and looked straight into him. "I promised to protect you because, remember? You promised me you'd protect my little Poppy."
Branch slowly shook his head. "I can't protect my Grandma, I can't protect Poppy too…I can't protect my friends or the other Trolls because—"
"Yes, you can, Branch! You're a smart kid and a strong one too. You are a unique Troll, other Trolls just think of singing and dancing, but you—you always think of others before yourself. You always see to it that everyone you love is safe and happy. Your Grandma may be gone, but that doesn't mean that you should give up on life too." Peppy just hoped that the child would understand what he said. Branch remained silent and motionless. Peppy sighed and left the child for a while, and continued in digging the tunnel.
Branch pondered at what Peppy said. Does he want him to watch over Poppy and the rest of the Troll Kingdom? He sighed and looked at what Peppy was doing. He looked around to see if he could do something to help. He saw a spare shovel lying on the ground not too far away from the end of the tunnel, where the King was digging.
"Branch, no! Put that shovel down!" Peppy commanded as Branch tried to help him with his work. Branch didn't respond, he continued what he's doing despite the King's commands. Peppy tried to take the shovel away, but the Troll would just hold onto it tighter. He doesn't want to let go. Why is he being too stubborn? He watched as the little troll struggled to dig. The shovel was too big for him to carry. He gasped when Branch fell down on the ground because he cannot lift the heavy tool he was holding for a long period of time. Peppy tried to assist him, but before he could even help, he's already back up to his feet and shoveling again. Peppy continued his work, but made sure that he keeps a watchful eye on the little one. Is this what Rosiepuff felt when she's watching over him when he was still a young prince? Maybe.
The two dug the huge hole in silence. Peppy watched carefully in case Branch would fall again, but the kid has finally learned an easier way for him to dig without falling. The old troll couldn't tell how long have they been digging, he didn't mind anyway, all he wanted to do was to finish the tunnel and get everyone out before the dreaded Trollstice arrives again. He looked back and saw that they've been yards away from the last mark he made.
The King shoveled the ground off and so did Branch. The kid was determined to what he is doing. Peppy shrugged the thought again and struck the hardened soil with his shovel. He felt cold air flow through the hole he has made. Have they reached their destination? The two looked at each other before they struck the hole again to create a bigger one, where the King could fit his whole body in. The Troll King looked outside. It was already dark. "Not on a cliff like the other hole we made" he said to himself. He climbed onto the ledge where they pierced the hole and saw Bergen Town from a great distance. His eyes widened. He did it. He has finally finished the tunnel that will lead all Trolls to freedom.
"Quick, Branch! Let's go finish this hole" Branch nodded and made the hole even bigger. They need to make sure that many Trolls could fit in, so they may escape a lot faster. Once they were finished, Branch dropped the shovel and left Peppy to marvel at the tunnel he has made. Peppy noticed him walk away towards the forest, "Branch, where are you going?"
Branch didn't respond instead he continued to observe the new environment they are in. Is this what freedom feels like? Is this the feeling of finally being out of that caged Tree? Branch felt his feet tingle as cold earth brushed on it. His eyes marveled at the trees and plants that towered above him and Peppy. He has never seen any other tree except the Troll Tree before. He saw different creatures roaming around the forest too like butterflies, birds, and some other creatures that he never knew existed. Branch heard the forest call him. He walked deeper into it, until his path was blocked by flowing water. Water flows freely outside Bergen Town too? He asked himself. The only source of water he ever knew was rain and the water that came from the hose the Bergens would use to keep the Tree hydrated, other than that he has never seen any other source of water.
Peppy himself was filled with wonder as well. He finally felt free. Being out of that cage felt really different. He has only read a lot of books and heard the stories his mother, father and Rosiepuff would tell about the world outside Bergen Town. He felt really privileged to get a glimpse of nature before he dies, but somehow, he felt bad for those who were taken away without even seeing the wonders that his eyes could see.
The two wandered around, with Peppy making sure he'd leave marks, so they'd know how to get back. None of them spoke, they were too preoccupied with the beauty of the forest. They sniffed the air, it sure was different from the stinking air in Bergen Town. "Is this what freedom feels like, King Peppy?" Branch finally asked. His senses are heightened by the new environment he is in.
"I don't know Branch, but if it is, then I'd be more than happy to spend the rest of my days here." Peppy replied. The two continued their journey, until the Trees overhead disappeared and the starry sky replaced the view. The two was awestruck at the beauty that they saw. They've never seen so much stars before.
"It's like Guy Diamond's glitters" Branch muttered. He looked at the ground and saw an even better view, a field of flowers that stretched over the horizon. He has never seen so much flowers before and so did the Troll King. Everything is new for them wherever they look. Peppy could feel his heart skip a beat as he let everything sink inside him. He even pinched himself many times, just to check if he's actually awake and not just dreaming. The two looked at the horizon and saw a very bright object rise from behind the mountains. It's like a huge ball of fire or something really bright. Is that the sun? They've never seen the sun rise before. Bergen Town is too gloomy that they don't really see where the sun exactly rises from. It was as if that town has been cursed to be shrouded with dark clouds all year round.
"Branch, quick, we need to go back and get the others ready to leave." As much as he wanted to stay and marvel the beauty that they've seen, he still needs to save his Kingdom.
"No! I don't want to go back to Bergen Town!" Branch shakily said. He's too afraid and traumatized of that place, Peppy could say. The old Troll instantly understood what the child meant and thought of something.
"How about this, we'll walk back to the entrance of the tunnel, I'll go back inside to save the other Trolls, while you wait outside. Is that okay?" Branch thought carefully before he slowly nodded his head. Peppy held the boy's hand tight as they returned to the entrance of the tunnel he has made. Peppy searched for the marks he left earlier, so going back wasn't too difficult for the two. Although they haven't realized that they've wandered too far from the tunnel, so it took them hours to return.
A/N: Aaand that's the chapter. I'll update tomorrow or the day after it because the next chapter is pretty much the continuation of this one. Have something in mind? Please do tell.