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Falling down only to get back up

He keeps falling and falling and falling. Screaming at the top of his lungs, trying to slow himself down. Desperately trying to grab something, anything to stop himself from falling. Except he was falling too fast, and both his hands and hair kept slipping. He kept hurting himself doing it too. Leaving burns and cuts as he descends.

He needs to get back up there! He needs to save Grandma!

But he keeps falling and there is nothing he can do. And eventually he fell on a pile of dishes, and started to tumble down wards.

He tried and tried and tried to stop himself but he was going out of control, and everything was starting to spin. Because of this he didn't notice a particularly sharp fork he was heading towards.

As he fell he got a nasty cut on his arm as he tried to grab something. He cried out and tried even harder to stop himself.

But as he tumbled into the air, he finally noticed the fork, but it was too late. 

*Cruch*

He landed face first onto the fork. He was stunned for a moment. Laying there for a moment trying to process what just happened. But he just couldn't, all he saw was red. All he feels is numbness. His ears are ringing, he sees blood pooling.

He can't feel anything, he can't see through his left eye. He sees the darkness creeping in. He feels his eyes getting heavy.

Is he dieing?

The last thing he sees before everything goes black, was a hand coming towards him.

_______________

Branch woke up the next morning miserable. He wasn't sure what to do any more. It's been two days since Grandma and Floyd have been taken by Bergens. He doesn't feel safe anymore. He just wanted to run far away from here and build the bunker, but the walls enclosing the tree were made of glass. Very, very very hard glass. 

He wants to stay in bed, lock himself in his room and stay there forever. But he knows Grandma would be sad if he gave up. She wanted a happy life for both him and Floyd. It was just him now.

Reluctantly he got up and out of bed and started heading out. Trying to not look at Floyd's side of the room.

He quickly walked all the way to the front door to open it. Only to see King Peppy at the doorway, looking ready to knock but quickly put his hand away.

“Branch!” King Peppy said, looking surprised then quickly putting on a smile. “How have you been!”

Branch just gave him a look saying ‘what do you think’ then started to shut the door again. Nope, he was not dealing with this right now. But unfortunately for him the King stopped him and continued talking.

“Ok, how about you come over to my house! We can have a happy dinner!”

No he would rather not be happy right now or ever at the moment. “No.”

King Peppy looks surprised, again. “Would you want to blah blah blah blah blah blah-”

Branch stopped paying attention and just started walking away. He does not want to be bothered, and here is the king inviting him to dinner. Why does he care! He's just a gray miserable trolling that brings bad luck and kills his family. 

He walked into the main part of the troll tree trying to get to the lines. Fortunately trolls moved out of his way, unfortunately they started whispering about him. It might have been two days since the Bergens took his family, but trolls have been whispering about him. But he honestly doesn't care, Floyd taught him how to not let mean words get to him. So he ignored it all until he was out of hearing range from them.

He continues walking until he reaches his destination. Looking around he found the abandoned laundry basket his Grandma dropped saving him. 

Wasn't Floyd here when he was taken?

He walked up to it and picked up all the laundry that dropped, and unhooked the ones hanging on a line. He didn't want to leave these here for other trolls to take. He doesn't need a reminder of what he has lost.

Once he was done he started walking back to the pod. Ignoring other trolls whispers again and makes it back home safely. He didn't see King Peppy at the front so Branch guesses that he left. 

He was dead wrong because when he entered the house, he see the two young princesses running around in the living room, King Peppy in the kitchen baking and a bunch of random toys all over the floor.

He put down the basket, walked past the living room fuming, got into the kitchen and screamed. “What are you doing here!”

The king, who was stirring batter, looked back and said. “Oh Branch your back! I'm making cookies, want some?”

Branch was a little baffled at that, does he? Before he gave an answer, princess Viva came around the corner, holding princess poppy and exclaimed “Cookies!”

“They're not ready yet.” The king said laughing, then turned completely towards Branch. “Would you like some?”

“Yes!”

Branch can't help but nod. Somehow time passes and the next thing he knows, there's a cookie in his hand and he's sitting at the dinner table.

“You enjoy the cookies?” The king asked.

Branch looked at him and nodded. This was nice actually, but he would like them to go soon.

After a while the King and the princess left, and Branch headed to bed feeling better. Not great but better. 

He went to sleep smiling as he held onto Floyd's vest.