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A Long Journey To Happiness

King Peppy made it to the entrance holding all of the injured trolls in hand. Everyone cheered when he made it through. He would normally give a big speech of no troll left behind, but he would be lying. Viva…he hopes she's ok.

He set all the injured trolls down except two passed out trollings in his arms. Floyd must have been exhausted for him to pass out in that mess. 

“Is everyone ok?” He called out, everyone started to nod their heads, but someone asked where Poppy was. “Don't worry she's safe.” She popped out of Floyd's hair and hopped into his.“Da!”exclaimed while hugging him. 

She then looked down at Branch and Floyd, giving them concerned looks, “Floy and Grumpy face hurt!”

Grumpy face? 

Everyone was awwing at her concerns, he had to admit it was adorable.

“Their fine Poppy, just tired.” He said, trying to hide the fact that at least Branch was injured. “Now come on quickly! We must go before we are discovered!”

Everyone started to run into the forest, not daring to look back.

________

Bridget stood there and watched as the king banished Chef. Her vowing to find the trolls and bring back happiness. She hopes that it will never be fulfilled. Once Chef was outside of Bergen Town she walked into the castle to finish cleaning the throne room.

When she entered, vacuum in hand, catching a conversation between King Gristle and his son.

“-I ever be happy?” The young prince asked, looking up expectantly at his father. She also looked up to him wondering what he would say. 

The King looked down at his son, picked him up and said sadly, “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You will never ever, ever, ever, Ever be happy.”

“Never?” Young Gristle asked sadly. King Gristle just looked at him, “Ever.”

His son looked away heart broken, and hopped out of his father's lap, and walked out.

Bridget just stood there dumbfounded, they will never be happy? That doesn't sound right. She saw a troll, who are supposed to be the happiest beings in the world, cry and lose their color. So if a troll can be sad, can't a Bergen be happy?

She looked back at the door the prince left through, and she decided to follow him. Leaving the vacuum behind, she knows nobody will care at the moment, everyone being sad that the trolls are gone, so she won't get yelled at.

She followed the prince all the way to his room, and watched as he collapsed on his bed crying. She watched him for a few minutes before she knocked on the door. Gristle looked up at the door and saw her staring in the doorway. 

“Who are you?” He asked confused, tears stains on his face.

She walked up to him and got on his bed and said,“I'm Bridget.”

He looked at her up and down and said, “You're a scullery maid, what are you doing here?”

She then opened her arms and said, “I just thought you might need a hug.”

Gristle looked at her with wide eyes, like she said the weirdest thing he had ever heard. He has every right to be confused, it's unheard of for a Bergen to hug. We are the most miserable beings in the world.

But that look disappeared into sadness as he launched himself at her, and started crying again. The hug was a bit awkward, but she didn't mind. It was the first time that either of them had a hug, for her a hug of someone her size, so it was bound to be awkward.

After a little while he pulled away and said, “Thank you.”

She blushed a bit, saying “You're welcome.” Then started to get out of his room. She outstayed her welcome, and should really clean the throne room.

“Wait!” Gristle called out, she stopped and turned around. “Where are you going?”

She looked around nervously, what is she supposed to say, “Um…the throne room.”

“Why?” He asked, she nervously fidgeted with the flower and said, “I have to clean it.”

“Oh.” He said, Gristle looked down like he was thinking, then perked up. “Can you come by after that.”

She paused for a moment in thought, she can't come by later, she has to clean the portraits, and after that the dishes. She looked down sadly, “I can't, there is more cleaning I have to do.”

Gristle looked disappointed for a second but quickly perked up and grabbed a paper and pen. “Here!”

She looked at him confused, he noticed this and said, “We could write letters to each other!”

She smiled a little and said, “I can do that.” She then turned around and started to walk away, but before she left she heard Gristle say, “I like the flower in your hair! Makes you look pretty!”

She blushed hard when she heard this and quickly walked towards the throne room.

_______

King Peppy led his people a good distance away, while carrying Branch and Floyd, who were still out, from Bergen Town and decided they should make camp. Everyone got to work quickly, set up tents, and quickly fell asleep. He didn't blame them; it was stressful getting out, and having to walk a long distance after that. They are going to have to keep walkin tomorrow to find a place to stay. But first he has to take two trollings to the medical tent. 

He walked towards the now finished med tent, and walked in. When he walked in he was heartbroken. Trolls were laying on cots with broken bones, some had their face wrapped up and others had ice packs to their sides. It makes him wish he did more, but he can't think about that right now.

He waved over a doctor who was not busy, and handed Branch over so they could look over his leg. He watches them take him away, as he holds a sleeping Floyd, and waits. He wants to follow them, but he knows that they don't want distractions.

An hour has passed and a different doctor walked up to him, and asked if he could look over Floyd for a moment. He nodded his head, and carried Floyd to a cot and laid him down. He watched as they looked over Floyd, changing his bandages and saw the ugly scars on his eye. There was a line starting from his eye to his forehead, and his left arm looked mangled. He knew his injuries were bad, but he didn't expect this.

Once the doctor was done he told Peppy that he was fine, just tired. Which was a relief, he knows Floyd wasn't hurt in the escape, but confirming it made him feel better.

“What about Branch?” He asked, concerned. The doctor looked at him and said, “Which one is Branch?”

The king looked around a bit and spotted the gray trolling with another cot, with the doctor he handed him to, and pointed at them. The doctor next to him nodded and said, “I'll go ask.” And left.

Leaving king Peppy alone with Floyd and his cute daughter Poppy…

He hopes Viva is ok….