Not Quite A Country Troll - A Creek (Trolls) x Arthur Morgan (rdr2) Fanfic

Prologue

        My aura has never been more off than these past few months. Guilt weighs down on me, and it feels as heavy as drowning in the ocean. I never should have betrayed my friends...my only family. But as they say, you never know what you have until it's lost.

        Will they take me back? That's the question constantly on my mind as I slowly make my way back to Pop village, learning and rehabilitating along the way. The burn marks all over my body are constant reminders of how I strayed from my ideals and morals. I wonder what's changed; what's stayed the same? I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

                                                                                                ~

        "What are you doing back here, Creek??" Poppy screams while Branch and her father hold her back.

        "I'm..I'm sorry..." Creek falls to his knees as he stutters out his apology. "I know that you all have no reason to forgive me, but...please let me come back..."

        Poppy breaks free from the grasp of Branch and Peppy, and she approaches Creek with a disdainful look on her face. He seems to be genuinely remorseful, but then again, he also seemed to really be her best friend before he betrayed all of them. How could she believe him after he took her trust and threw it off a cliff? But Poppy always believes in second chances; she'd seen change in Trolls with darker hearts.

        "If you're going to stay with us, then you'll need to prove yourself faithful," Poppy spat to Creek; the man who pathetically groveled below her. She is hesitant to allow him back, but a part of her did miss him and the times they shared together.

        "Poppy, there's no way we can trust him!" Branch runs behind her and grasps her shoulder. As he looks at her with pleading eyes, she looks back and makes eye contact with him. It looks like she has some sort of a plan. Branch takes his hand off, and relaxes a bit.

        As Poppy extends a hand towards Creek, she says, "You'll stay outside all night every night for a week without complaint. It works as a punishment, and it can also work as guard duty," she watches Creek's face soften as he stands up to his full height. He looks extremely grateful towards her, but Poppy second guesses it. "I'll leave you to it, then. Don't leave this spot if you truly want to prove yourself." She turns her back to him and grabs Branch's hand as they're walking away. She whispers to him, "Can you keep an eye on him Branch? I know that's a lot to ask, but I really can't trust him yet," she rambles quickly and Branch shushes her.

        "Poppy, Poppy, I understand. I would've done it even if you didn't ask me," Branch replies to his Queen, then he turns around to look at Creek standing awkwardly in the middle of Pop village as the sun goes down in the distance.

                                                                                          ~

        Five days now I've been standing in the same spot. The nights are the worst. I hear loud noises, but I'm able to calm myself after a quick meditation session. They think they've been sneaky with watching over me, but I notice Branch every night when everyone goes to sleep. I don't know what happened while I was gone to allow him to get all buddy-buddy with Poppy, but I guess they're a couple now.

        While actively trying to avoid eye contact with him (because it's honestly tragic how not discrete he is), I notice a twinkle from behind a tree. I haven't seen anything like that for my entire conscription here, but it could be something...dangerous! That's my ticket to gaining their trust again!

        I run towards the light, eager to prove myself worthy.

                                                                                             ~

        Branch shakes Poppy awake furiously and yells, "Poppy! Hurry! Creek's left and he's doing something shady for sure!"

        "What? Branch, what are you talking about?" Poppy stirs awake while rubbing her eyes, "where did he go?" She jumps out of her bed and grabs him by the arm. They run out of her hut and on the way her father, Guy Diamond, Satin, Chenille, DJ, and Biggie all run after them.

        "Right there! Look at that li~i~i~ghhtttt!!" Guy Diamond pointed at a growing ball of light.

        "Is he starting a fire?" Biggie gasps and slows down a bit, scared to approach danger. From behind him Satin and Chenille push past him, and then end up dragging him along with them.

        "Creek! Stop!" Poppy screams as they catch up with him. Creek turns around fast, with a surprised face. His face steels and a show of determination forms.

        "I'll prove myself! Don't worry guys, stay back!" Creek shoves his arm out, turns around fast and runs into the bright light screaming, "AAAAHHHHH". Everyone from behind him looks at the light in shock as he disappears into the bright aura. Branch and Poppy look at each other with knowing expressions. This would be another adventure. To save the traitor.

        "Yolo!" says Poppy. And before the two of them can jump in after Creek, the light grows extremely fast and swallows the entire group into its warmth.