The sun slowly rose up into the sky the next morning, it's bright rays of light shining there way beautifully in through Poppy's pod's window and shimmering down onto the young queen who still hadn't woken up from the traumatic events the night before...
At the end of her bed, unbenounced to the little pink troll, Branch was standing bedside her, looking sadly down at the love of his life, tears sliding down his cheeks as he thought about soon being ripped away from her side...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
He didn't want to leave... but he knew he didn't have a choice... the power of fate was stronger than he was... and there was nothing the young troll could do about it... he was doomed... doomed to live for all of eternity in a fiery grave, never able to see the love of his life ever again...
"I'm sorry, Poppy," he finally whispered softly as he gazed down at his girlfriend, knowing this would be the last time he ever saw her beautiful face. "I wish I could keep my promise... I wish I had the power to make sure that beautiful smile of yours never faded away ever again... I wish that I could just stay by your side forever... but... but I can't..."
His heart aching and tears flowing from his crystal blueeyes, Branch tried so hard to grab onto Poppy's hand, but his fingers just seemed to slip right through hers, almost as if they weren't even there...
With a sigh of defeat, Branch lowered his head as his ears drooped down in despair.
"This is all my fault..." he whispered through his tears. "I'm so sorry... I... I never wanted to hurt you..." He paused, looking back up at her. "All I ever wanted... was for you to be happy, Poppy... to be safe..." he finally continued softly. "Now... I know your safe... and I wouldn't change anything I did to get you to this point... but please... please don't let me ruin your happiness... Don't be sad... just because I can't be with you anymore... I don't want you to worry about me, ok? Just be happy... live your life... for..." He sighed, looking away yet again, his heart aching with sorrow at what he was about to say... "Forget about me..." He tried to wipe away his tears, but they just kept coming as he continued. "But... I'll never forget about you..."
Slowly, a red mist began drifting into the room, seeming to flood right out of the floor as it rolled stealthily to fill the small space, secretly surrounding Branch within seconds...
The little transparent troll didn't notice, but as the smoke flooded the room, a crack suddenly split through the ground behind him, fire immediately spitting violently out of it...
Finally, a large hand with sharp fiery nails slithered out of the crack, slowly sneaking it's way over to the helpless troll who still hadn't noticed it, his head low and eyes closed, desperately not wanting to leave Poppy's side... But he didn't have a choice... he had already made his decision, and his fate was now sealed... he had to suffer... forever...
