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reviewsbyracine · 4 years

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I SAW AN EPISODE OF LAW AND ORDER: SVU: “Babes”

With everything crazy happening in the world, it is important that we still depend on the little things that make everything feel right. For me, I know that I can always depend on classic episodes of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit to help me feel at home. There's something strangely soothing about Benson and Stabler working together to solve a sex crime. (And yes, I know that Christopher Meloni left the show nine years ago - as far as I'm concerned, the Stabler episodes are the only episodes that matter.) When it comes to rewatchable episodes of SVU, I always come back to “Babes," a season ten episode. So with nothing better to do, let me tell you why it is possibly the best episode of SVU ever created.

"Babes" starts with our usual fake-out cold open: characters just trying to enjoy a night out before stumbling on a gruesome crime scene and then we never see them again. This time, it's the last diners at a restaurant. Despite holding holding up the kitchen staff from going home, the gentleman on the date asks to order desserts (despite the fact that they seem to be eating salads) and suggests flambé because it's "exciting." The irate waiter tells them that "the only thing that's flaming is the maître d'."

Just then, a man on fire can be seen screaming and waving around just outside the restaurant. Yes, that's right: SVU set a man on fire and made a visual gag out of it. A poor bus boy throws pitchers of water on the man as he collapses dead into the restaurant.

Stabler and Munch arrive at the scene (Benson is at a conference for… some reason) and meet up with M.E. Warner, who shows them that our John Doe is not only charred to a crisp but is also missing his private parts. When Munch asks where the victim came from, Warner tells them with a straight face to "Follow the bloody brick road."

Someone give SVU's joke writer a raise because John Doe's not the only one who's on fire tonight.

Back at the station, Warner rehydrates his fingerprints (what?) and discovers his identity is that of a homeless man named John Galli. They visit Galli's father, played by Michael Badalucco, a man who hates cows more than coppers. Mr. Galli informs them that his son had been targeted by "Street Cleaners," a vigilante group that runs around beating up homeless people and posting videos of their exploits online. Planning a sting to catch the Street Cleaners in action, Tutuola suggests they "introduce them to the laziest, filthiest bum they've ever seen."

Smash cut to: Munch pretending to be a homeless wacko screaming conspiracy theories into the night. No joke, this edit is hilarious.

Anyway, the Street Cleaners run out to beat up Munch and are quickly arrested. The detectives take off the perps' ski masks and one of them is a girl. The music treats this reveal like it is the most shocking thing that could ever happen. Obviously, they didn't kill Galli - SVU always throws a red herring at you in the first ten minutes and this episode is no different.

Returning to the station, Stabler and Munch find a blowtorch that was found at the scene and can be traced back to the science lab at Blessed Heart High School. Their guide at the school is Max, the president of the school's chastity club (remember this for later), who informs them that the only student who has access to the lab after hours is senior Alec Bernardi. Stabler and Munch spot Alec, who immediately looks guilty and tries to escape the cafeteria. Munch tells Alec that he looks like someone lit a fire under his ass.

"Fire?" Alec asks, sweating. "I don't know anything about a fire."

Smooth, Alec, real smooth.

He's got a burn on his hand so it's obviously him. They bring him to the station for interrogation, where Benson returns from her conference just in time for Alec's mother Peggy to burst in. Peggy is played by the incredible Debi Mazar, so even though the episode was cruising along at a comfortable seven or eight, the energy level has now been dialed up to eleven. Alec is proud of mutilating and immolating Galli and reveals that he did it because Galli raped his little sister Tina and got her pregnant.

Benson speaks with Tina, who vehemently denies being raped. However, she is pregnant. Turns out, she seduced Galli to get pregnant on purpose because she and her friends are in… you guessed it… a pregnancy pact! That's right, this episode's ripped-from-the-headlines story is the Gloucester High School pregnancy pact, where a bunch of teenaged girls got pregnant on purpose.

Benson tells the girls that they are stupid. "What's the big deal?" one girl asks. "That vice president lady's daughter is gonna have a baby. Why can't we?"

The pact's ringleader is Fidelia Vidal, who is excited that she and her friends are "totally gonna be the hottest MILFs on the block." Her father, Not-Bobby Canavale, wants Benson to leave because she is scaring Fidelia with some truth talk. Suddenly, her boyfriend bursts in, having just heard the news of her pregnancy - and it's Max, the chastity club president. Oops. Fidelia's baby daddy is not Max but is instead a twenty-two-year-old rapper named Dizzer.

Let's talk about Dizzer. In an otherwise perfect episode of SVU, Dizzer is a straight-up garbage character. Dizzer is a white rapper who works at a place called Skribble Skratch Records. His motto, airbrushed on his shirt, is "reckin' decks 'n' gettin' sex" and he attempts to get a fist bump from Tutuola, calling him a "brother." Again, this guy is white and he is trying way too hard.

Stabler hands him a court order for a DNA test and the detectives leave to let Not-Bobby Canavale know that they're actually getting stuff done this episode and everything's going to be alright. Not-Bobby Canavale goes to Fidelia's room so they can go get the amniocentesis done and make a DNA match, but her door is locked. Stabler shoulders the door open because he's an animal and the parents and detectives are met with a disturbing sight:

Fidelia, dead, having hanged herself on her ceiling fan.

Obviously everyone is distraught and it's a genuinely shocking moment. Not-Bobby Canavale comforts Max, and Michael Badalucco is spotted moping in the crowd to remind us that he is still in this episode. Fidelia's mother lets the detectives know that someone online was calling Felida names like "slut" and "whore." The email address leads them back to Dizzer, but he denies having sent the harassing emails. His alibi is that he was taking part in a threesome in Brooklyn and reminds the detectives of his motto/airbrushed shirt. Tutuola looks ready to punch this man. The detectives take his phone into evidence and thankfully we don't have to deal with Dizzer ever again.

Tech agent Morales proves that the IP address actually came from an internet cafe and holy shit the culprit turns out to be none other than Peggy Bernardi, seen in some seriously unflattering ATM camera angles. Peggy proudly shows off a onesie for her new grandbaby that says "My grandma is a GILF" and high-fives Tina. When Stabler and Munch confront her about her harassing emails, Peggy goes off on a warpath about how Fidelia ruined her kids' lives and kicks the detectives out of her house. ADA Greylek suggests that they hit Peggy with criminal impersonation and reckless endangerment, among other charges, and Munch reminds the group that Peggy only used words against Fidelia and to arrest her would go against the first amendment. Good ol’ Munch, always a voice of reason. Before they have time to commit to what exactly they're arresting Peggy for, word comes in that a mob has formed outside Peggy's apartment, led by Not-Bobby Canavale. Stabler and Munch arrive to rescue-arrest Peggy.

On the stand, Peggy says that sending harassing emails to a hormonal teenaged girl was "just a goof." A large television is presented so that Peggy can awkwardly read her fake-teenage bibble-babble to the courtroom. We get to learn what "OMFG" and "STFU" mean. In her last message to Peggy, Fidelia writes that her "fath is knocking," implying that their conversation was ended because Not-Bobby Canavale was at the door. However, Tina suddenly comes to a realization and informs the courtroom that "FATH" actually stands for "first and true husband" in some dumb chastity club lingo.

Stabler and Munch realize that Fidelia's "FATH" was Max, who comes clean: when he realized that Fidelia had cheated on him and didn't love him, he killed her and faked her suicide. Case closed.

Max and Alec are put away for their crimes and Peggy is let go. ADA Greylick gives Peggy some unnecessary attitude and Peggy goes fully ballistic, strangling Greylek and screaming "I'm a good mother!" Greylek tells Stabler to "collar that bitch for assault" but Stabler sees poor Tina in tears, having witnessed everyone she knows and loves fall apart in front of her. Mr. Galli offers to take Tina in, given that she is pregnant with his grandchild, and promises to help her raise the baby. The episode ends on a rare moment of kindness.

So what makes "Babes" the best episode of Law and Order: SVU? The episode features a lot of "ripped-from-the-headlines" moments, from the Gloucester pregnancy pact to the the suicide of Megan Meier. There are some genuinely funny moments in the episode and the performances are pretty great, especially Debi Mazar. And while Benson isn't featured all that much, it's a pretty heavy Munch episode, and he's always great. The episode starts with a homeless man on fire with his penis chopped off and still somehow finds a way to get more crazy by the end. "Babes" is a season ten episode, which means it's SVU in their bonkers prime, a few seasons before Stabler left but long enough into the show's run for them to feel blindly confident in what they were doing. If you are able to stream this episode, I highly recommend checking it out - it will almost definitely improve your day.

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rabesfives · 7 years

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What if Love could Save Us? Chapter Two - deviation

{chapter 1} @queen-padme

Upon the dawn of the new morning, Sabé and Padmé were already awake, and readying themselves for the day. It was going to be a dangerous one, definitely, and most likely a long one.

Padmé had started brushing her sister’s hair; it was long, thick and just like her own. If only this were under different circumstances, she thought, then it would be an enjoyable moment, yet now, now it is as if this were my own funeral.

As if sensing Padmé’s sadness, Sabé gently squeezed her arm. “Sister, trust me. We will be back here within the week, the Chancellor will have given us warriors or at least a sort of help, or better yet, deemed the Trade Federation’s blockade illegal. So stop worrying now, okay?”

Padmé sighed. “Sabé, why is it that you can be so happy, yet I cannot see a way past today even? What is wrong with me?”

“There is nothing wrong with you Padmé. You are afraid for your people, it’s not a bad thing. It shows you care. You ask Rabé or Eirtaé and they’ll tell you the exact same thing,” Sabé said, her voice starting to slide into her Theed accent, clipped and slightly pretentious. Padmé couldn’t help but smile; all those nights she had spent as queen-elect with Sabé, trying to mimic the words and expressions. Now she could speak in it fluently.

“No, not quite like that Padmé .” Sabé had said, repeating the word. She would have sworn that her voice sounded just like her friend’s.

“But it was exactly like yours!” Padmé exclaimed.

“It was almost like mine,” Sabé said cheekily.

“You little…”

“Ahh now Padmé… behave yourself.” The two girls fell over laughing, all hopes of learning dashed for today.

“Padmé? Hello?” Sabé asked worriedly.

“Hello sister,” Padmé replied, confused as to what was going on.

“You stopped. Why?”

“Just a memory,” she said. Sabé raised an eyebrow. Padmé had always envied her friend’s ability to do that. “Alright. It was when I was a queen-elect. You were teaching me how to speak in a Theed accent.”

A sad, distant smile filled Sabé’s face. “I remember.”

–

It happened much sooner than they had expected. The Jedi hadn’t even arrived yet.

Nute Gunray had come for them himself.

“You,” Sabé said, in her perfect Theed accent, with a slight bit more anger than there would be usually.

“Yes, your highness,” Gunray said, accenting on the ‘highness,’ as if trying to belittle the queen. “You will come with me, and you will sign the treaty.”

“I will never take orders from you,” Sabé spat back. The Theed accent seems to have evolved for anger, Padmé thought. I suppose it did come from a time when Naboo was a war torn planet. Is history really going to repeat itself?

Nute led the them through the winding corridors of the palace. Federation droids lined every wall, patrolled every path. It was going to be very hard to escape this now.

Sio Bibble was shaking his head, muttering away to himself. “This is not good. No, we are most likely going to die.”

Eirtaé shot him a look of disgust. Padmé tried to hide a small smile. Eirtaé didn’t really like any of the council members; they talked far too much, and didn’t really do anything. Padmé’s younger self might have agreed, but now that she knew the workings of politics and the council, she just had to let Eirtaé have her own opinions.

–

Obi-Wan Kenobi was rather annoyed with Nute Gunray. Not that he’d ever admit it of course, that would be in direct violation of the Jedi code. Of course Gunray had had to take the Queen earlier than expected, and before he had arrived. But then again, Master Yoda always said to expect the unexpected.

He was sneaking around the Theed streets, trying to intercept Gunray and his hostages. Unfortunately, the Federation leader was untraceable.

Suspicious, that he knows how to mask his presence. Obi-Wan thought. It is like there is something we are all missing.

The Jedi master stopped, trying to calm his reeling mind. If I focus, I should be able to find him. Or the Queen…

Reaching his mind over the city of Theed, he felt over the force signatures of the people. They were panicking. He wished he could help, but the council wouldn’t let him stray from orders again.

After a minute or so of searching, Obi-Wan located a large group of people, who were more distressed than most. One signature felt particularly strong, but at the moment, that was no concern of his.

Creeping through the streets was surprisingly easy with the amount of decoration and overpasses the Nabooians had designed. Their architecture really is quite impressive, Obi-Wan reflected. Elegant, simplistic, yet there is more to it than meets the eye.

While lost in thought, he almost didn’t notice the parade of battle droids march past him. A chorus of ‘roger,’ and ‘roger, roger,’ echoed through the streets. This has to mean the queen is coming. Only Nute Gunray would have such an elaborate guard. Now would be his only chance to free the queen.

–

The stupid hood, Padmé thought. It covered half her vision, a half that she desperately needed. She was sure that she had seen someone hiding by them multiple times, but she couldn’t be sure because of the kriffing hood. And those droids. She wanted to go through individually strangling each one, not that that would do much good; they were droids after all.

After five minutes of walking, Padmé was utterly fed up with the hood, so gently flipped it off. Eirtaé looked at her, aghast. I suppose it is quite surprising, after all, we handmaidens are meant to remain… incognito. But it gave her a better view, and that was what mattered at the present; more than her anonymity.

Now that Padmé had full scope of vision, she made use of it. Looking at every shadow, every overpass. Anywhere that it could be possible to hide. Although if what she had heard was true, a Jedi could hide even in plain sight. Yet as Rabé said, nothing could stop Padmé if she put her mind to it. Or to phrase it like Eirtaé, as stubborn as she was persuasive.

Their group was getting closer and closer to the space-port. Every step closer made Padmé slightly more nervous. If the Jedi didn’t arrive soon, then things were not going to go well at all. Silently, Padmé prayed that they would all make it out alive.

One last street before they reached the space-port. Then Naboo would be enslaved. Her people would suffer, the peace she and her predecessors had worked so hard to keep would be lost. Their only hope was for the Jedi to come and free them.

Padmé started to see movement everywhere, anywhere. Anything could be a Jedi if she looked hard enough.

–

There they were. Obi-Wan could see them, as clear as he could feel the force moving around him. Moving into a window of the bridge, over-looking the Nute Gunray and his hostages, Obi-Wan readied himself for battle. As much as he disliked fighting, he believed it was necessary. As was carefully planned timing, which was virtually impossible given the current situation. Then I shall just have to trust that the Force will guide me.

The Queen was steadily approaching. Obi-Wan leapt down, cloak billowing and lightsaber ignited. Twirling around, he slashed through several battle droids, leaving Gunray without any defence.

“Nute Gunray… How did I know you’d be here, chasing after the Queen?” Obi-Wan asked, feigning ignorance.

“Jedi scum. I was told you would be coming. You will not be able to stop me now. The Trade Federation will take control of Naboo,” Gunray spat back.

“Enough of this pointless banter now Nute. Give me the Queen, and I’ll let you go.”

“Never,” Nute said.

“Well, then I’ll have to fight you,” Obi-Wan replied.

Why can’t the Trade Federation do anything diplomatically? He thought to himself. I don’t really need to hurt anyone though; just intimidate them. If I can send them running, that will give me time to get the queen out.

Flourishing his lightsaber, Obi-Wan Kenobi started moving towards Nute Gunray. He twirled the humming blade around, and made to chase him. Gunray, like the coward that he was, ran away, winding through the streets, trying to get as far away from the Jedi as he could.

Running back to the queen and her guard, Obi-Wan told them, “Milady, you must come with me. I have been asked by the council to escort you back to Coruscant with me.”

“Back? Master Jedi, I’m not going back to Coruscant, for my place always has and always will be on Naboo, with my people,” Sabé retorted. Padmé silently praised her sister.

“Whatever you wish to call it, we must leave now. Nute Gunray will not hesitate to come back after us, with a bigger army than before.”

Sabé looked over at Padmé, Rabé and Eirtaé. “Shall we go to Coruscant with the Jedi?” She asked them.

Rabé and Eirtaé discreetly made a motion with their hands, telling Padmé all she needed to know. “We are brave, your highness,” Padmé replied. Yes was what she meant. All the handmaidens were well trained in subtle communications and coded language. Sabé would know.

“I believe the matter has been settled then.”

#my fic #padme amidala #handmaiden rabe #handmaiden sabe #handmaiden eirtae #obi wan kenobi

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miss-bibbles · 2 years

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Random Fact: There's a breed of female spiders that feasts on their mate after mating.

lmao yes i've heard of that. also aren't you sick? go and get some resttt

#mrunu <3 #miss bibbles speaks

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jayankles · 7 years

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Not J2

Pairing: Dean x Plus size!Reader → Dean x Bailey[Me :)] - Platonic

Word Count: 3525

Warnings: Mentions of blood and gore, Language.

A/N – for @mrswhozeewhatsis #Not An April Fool’s Joke Challenge. Everyone received the same prompt - Your doorbell rings, and when you answer it, Sam and Dean Winchester are standing there in all of their denim-wrapped glory. Sam gives you the most effective set of puppy eyes you’ve ever seen and says, “[insert your name here], thank God you’re home. We need you.” They are not actually Jared and Jensen sent by your friend as an April Fool’s joke, they really are Sam and Dean Winchester, and they really need your help to save their hunt. - I kinda changed it a little tiny bit but it still makes sense. It was so hard to write in the first person.

Adjusting the thick black rimmed glasses on my face, I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes, not wanting to continue the torture that was studying. Papers were scattered across the dining room table, some information going straight to my long term memory with enough rehearsal, but some of the others were completely missing the mark, becoming a tangled for me not to recall it at all.

A knock at my door sounded, I breathed out a sigh of relief, able to take my burning eyes off of my laptop screen. I opened my door and smiled seeing my best friend, Jessica. Her green floral bag slung over her shoulder, she smiled as she shook a bag of chocolate in my face.

‘God, I love you.’ I said as I took the bag from her grasp and hugged her.

‘Only when I give you food, you whore.’

I strolled past the full table, nodding with a lopsided smile.

‘Too right.’ I walked to my cupboard pulling out three serving bowls, then ambled over to the pantry, a packet of barbeque beef hula hoops and a few tubes of fruit pastels. ‘You think this will hold us over?’

When she didn’t answer me, I turned around, finding her taking selfies and being her natural, vain self. I rolled my eyes as she tilted her head to the side, getting a better angle, pushing the fringe of her bob cut brunette hair, off her face.

‘Are you done feeling yourself? I’m going to need some of your smartness right about now.’

‘Bailey, you know the answer, you just don’t think you do.’

‘Most of the stuff, I’m relatively okay at, at best. But anything biopsychology related is a big no no. Then there’s research methods and approaches. Fucking hate approaches. Stress convieniently stresses me out, aggression I can relate to and I like relationships even though I’ve never been in one. My memory is like a fish...shall I go on?’

Jess laughed, the sound passing through her red coated lips. ‘Nah, I think I got the message.’

‘Proper food’s almost done. My mom’s out and my sister’s are at my grandpa’s. Just you and me, the house to ourselves. Chicken and mash, you good with that?’ I asked as I poured the contents of the food bags out into the bowls.

‘Bibble, I so cool with that. You’re cooking and I get free food.’ She rolled her eyes, taking a seat up at the table. I punched her shoulder lightly before speaking.

‘Good because whether or not you like it or not, I would have rammed it down your throat, you had no other choice in the matter.’ I smiled sweetly.

Twenty minutes after Jess had arrived, the chicken was ready to be served. I had purposely cooked too much chicken for two people. If I’m being honest with you I told her it was for lunch for a few days in the week but I knew that after she left in the morning I would devour the rest of that poor chicken. I rubbed my plump stomach just thinking about it. Fucking skinny bitches. I love her really.

We ate our dinner relatively quickly, needing to retain and learn as much information as possible.

‘EWT...who studied it and what was their procedure?’ Jess asked, reading from her flashcards as I loaded the dishwasher with our empty plates.

‘Uh, that was Loftus, right?’ when she nodded, I continued, ‘it was a lab study of 45 particpants that were split into five groups. They watched a video of a car crash. Each group was given a verb in the misleading question.’

‘What were the verbs?’ She inquired taunting me as she popped a handful of hula hoops in her mouth, then reached for the fruit pastels.

‘Hit, bumped, smashed, contacted and… shit. It began with a “c” right?’

‘Yeah, come on, you know this, Bibble. Gimme another word for hit.’

‘Consti- nope, that has nothing to do with Psych. Lin’ll kill me.’

‘Dude another word for intersected!’

‘Oh god, I do this in maths...oh wait. Collided! Fuck yeah, bitch got it.’

I started to wiggle my shoulders in a little happy dance, Jess joining in quickly after.

‘Look at you knowing shit, but you ain’t done. What was the speed of the cars in the study that the groups gave, and give me supporting studies or AO2 points.’

‘Hit; 32, and smashed was...41 ish?’

‘Actually it was 31.8 and 40.8 but you got the verbs right.’

‘Do you have to be so pedantic?’

‘Duh,’ she winked, ‘supporting studies, go.’

Just as I was about to answer the knocker at my door alerted me of someone’s presence.

‘Be a doll and get that for me.’

‘Uh huh.’

‘Thanks. Love ya.’ I smiled.

‘I know,’

I scoffed, ‘rude.’

When Jess went to the door, I busied myself, flicking the kettle on for another cup of tea, and tiding the table, straightening a few papers before taking my laptop and plugging it in before it died.

‘Uh Bailey.’ Jess’ voice sounded through the hallway a little shaky. I made my way down there to see who was at my door. My breath escaped me as I saw Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki standing there, in their jeans, flannels and jackets. They looked as if they just walked off of the set of Supernatural still in character.

‘Hi.’

‘Hey.’ they spoke one after the other.

‘Holy shit, you guys are tall...and hot. Damn.’

Jensen looked a bit cocky like he knew exactly how hot he was. When you look like that, though, could anyone blame him.

I turned to Jess, ‘did you do this? You got Jensen and Jared here?’

‘Um no, and a little scared and horny at the same time.’ She whispered.

‘No kiddo. No Jensen and Jared here. Just Sam and Dean Winchester. But Bailey, we need your help.’ “Sam” said.

‘Oh my god. This is a prank, right? Sam and Dean can’t be real, they’re played by Jensen and Jared. This is the Frech Mistake all over again.’

‘Excuse me, what?’ Jared, no Sam, questioned. I didn’t even know what was going on anymore.

‘Sorry, come on in. Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee? We can talk about it if I get some tea in me.’

The men walked over the threshold and into my kitchen. I was freaking out and not Jensen but Dean had to make it worse and open his big, stupid, beautiful mouth.

‘Coffee’s perfect, thanks sweetheart.’ His deep voice was making my knees weak, I know cliché, but it was true the bastard just oozed sex appeal. It was wrong for me to fantasize about him, but anyone with eyes knew my pain. The twenty one year age gap didn’t make it better either.

‘What about you Sam? Can I get you anything? And how do you take it’ The last part I directed towards Dean.

‘Black, two sugars.’ I nodded my acknowledgement.

‘Do you have a bottle of water by chance?’

‘Sure do, moose.’

Jess raised an eyebrow at me and I just explained that Moose was Sam’s nickname on the show. She followed me around like a lost puppy as I frantically pulled out a bottle of water from my fridge and gave it to Jessica to give to Sam, while I finished my tea and Dean fucking Winchester’s coffee.

‘So lemme get this straight. You’re really Sam and Dean. And you need my help of all people. I got one question. Why me? I’m nobody, I have no talents where it counts. I can’t- no I don’t run, I can’t fight. I’ve gone through so much shit with my dad’s controlling and possessive behaviour. My mom’s nickname for me is “my little goldfish.” All I’m good at is eating and watching twelve seasons Supernatural in three months. So I ask you again, why me?’

Jess heard the quiver in my voice as I put myself down and talked about my family.

Sam was the one that spoke, ‘Bailey, you are so much more than that. You think that we would be here if you weren’t needed, if you weren’t strong enough, if you weren’t good enough?’ He scrambled from his seat and sat next to me, wrapping a large arm around my shoulder. ‘Apparently, this monster is right up your alley.’

‘Yeah, that’s something I want to hear, a monster made for me to take down. That’s great Sam, just great.’ I sassed as I again adjusted my glasses, ripping them off my face and rubbing my tear stained, red cheeks before putting them back on.

‘Bailey, Garth talks about you and your “mad Disney skills.” We need you on this one.’ Dean interjected.

‘Garth? How can Garth know of me? I don’t even exist in your freaking universe, I barely exist in this universe.’

‘Obviously, he’s heard of you, otherwise we wouldn’t be here.’ I was completely stunned, from what I had deduced from the prior discussion, people were dying because they didn’t know enough about Disney. I was freaking talented at something.

‘What do you need me to do?’ I was determined to be good at something and this was it.

The brothers looked at each other, telepathically speaking, if I was honest with myself I didn’t know whether I was impressed or spooked out.

‘You have to be the bait, answer the questions, then the monster dies itself. It should foam at the mouth and then vanish into thin air. It’s body can’t control itself when its prey gets all the questions right.’ Sam explained, his hand waving around, wildly gesturing in the air.

‘And what if I don’t? I become the bait, get the answers wrong. I die then it moves onto someone else to kill?’

Jess huffed and shook me. ‘You can’t think like that, you’re always pumping out unnecessary Disney information. I know you can do this Bibble. You need to do this and you will not die!’

I changed from my pyjamas into a pair of sweats and an old t-shirt. If I did die I’d rather save my clothes. On the bright side, if I did die, I wouldn’t have to worry about the stress that was hanging over my head to do well in my exams at the end of the college year.

‘I don’t even know what this monster is.’ I whisper shouted as Sam and Dean walked on either side of me into the warehouse, of course it had to be an old, abandoned warehouse. Why couldn’t it be a nicely decorated mansion. I’d be happy to die there. Gosh, I am such a drama queen.

Dean knew what was running through my mind, also my heavy breathing was a give away. He stops and grabs my face in his large callous hands. God this feels good. ‘Alright, sweetheart. You go in there, you answer those questions to the best of your ability and kill that son of a bitch. If we think things are about to go south, we come here guns blazing and we save your ass for as long as we can.’ His hands drop and he nods at me.

‘Great pep talk, thanks Dean. Okay but all jokes aside, you and your brother really make a difference; in any world you are in. You truly are my hero, Dean Winchester.’ Sam coughed. ‘You’re up there too but you’ve ruined my moment so let’s go kill this son of a bitch.’

‘That’s my girl.’ Dean grinned before he nodded to his brother, ‘she’s ready.’

‘Wait, one more thing, actually two. If I don’t make it, tell Jess to tell my family that I love them and second thing. Can I get a hug from the infamous Winchesters?’

‘Sure thing.’ I embraced both the brothers in a side hug each, sandwiched between them before I let go, leaving my fate in the monsters hands.

‘Ten cuts, ten facts. The wounds will heal one by one if you answer the questions correctly.’

‘What! Wait a minute, why are you slicing me up? Can’t you just tie me to a chair?’

‘More suffering on your part. You’ll be free but unable to go anywhere until you answer all the questions, but if you don’t answer them, well, my poor child, I kill you. You die a slow death, so much so that you will beg me to stab a knife into your chest just to stop the pain.’ His voice was sinister as he continued to tell me the types of torture that he would use. Apparently, I wasn’t worth killing straight away and I don’t know whether to be flattered or scared shitless; always the latter.

‘Can we just start so I can kill your ass?’ I huffed as I sat on the floor, playing with a loose thread on my sweatpants. Might as well get comfortable, right?

‘Very well. Let’s begin.’ He flicked his wrist, pain serged through my body as wounds scattered across my limbs and stomach, crimson blood already seeping through my clothes. ‘Who voiced Belle in the original 1991 Beauty in the Beast?’

‘Paige O’Hara.’ I felt the smallest of the wounds close up, no doubt that I gave the correct answer.

‘Which two female villains were voiced by the same person?’

‘Maleficent and Lady Tremaine.’ Another wound healed.

‘Who was WALL-E named after?’

‘Walter Elias Disney.’ Another.

‘Who voiced Scar?’

‘Jeremy Irons’

‘Character with the least lines?’

‘You’d think it would be Sleeping Beauty but it’s Dumbo with no lines at all.

‘What’s so special about the Frozen characters; Sven, Hans, Anna and Kristoff?’

‘Frozen was based off of The Snow Queen written by Hans Christian Anderson rearrange the names. Hans, Kristoff, Anna, Sven – sounds an awful lot like Hans Christian Anderson.’

‘The Beatles were supposed to voice characters in a movie, which characters in which movie was it?’

‘The...it was the – um – it was The Jungle Book. They were supposed to be the vultures.’

‘There’s a Disney theory revolving around Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel, Ariel and Tarzan. What is it?’

‘Anna and Elsa are cousins with Rapunzel through their mothers, they are sisters. When Anna and Elsa’s parent’s go on the ship for two weeks they are supposedly going to Flynn and Rapunzel’s wedding but the thunder strikes, the parents don’t die, they’re washed up on the island and give birth to Tarzan. As for Ariel, the ship she looks around for human thingimabobs, the ship belongs to Anna and Elsa’s parents.’

The more questions that were thrown at me the more pain from the contuisions followed as he continued. I’m not a big fan of pain but then again who was? I couldn’t think straight. I clutched my sides as I got to the last two questions, these last lacerations giving me the most amount of discomfort but I had to do this. I knew the answers and I couldn’t put myself down any longer, not if more people would die after my mistake.

I felt light headed, the ground shaking as I went from the sitting position to curled up in the fetal position. A scream through my throat as he asked the next set of questions

‘Name King Triton’s seven daughters.’

‘Arista, Attina, Adella, Alana, Aquata, Ariel’ These were getting harder and harder, it took me a while to remember all of them and it was my favourite movie, I couldn’t remember the last one until it finally hit me. ‘Andrina.’

If I thought that the pain couldn’t get any worse, I was wrong. The penultimate would healed only for me to feel the transference of pain in my right side.

‘Should’ve worn red, dammit. Fuck I feel like I should’ve studied. Alright, last question, come on, Walt. Hit me with it.’

He asked the final question and my heart dropped. ‘Mary Poppins says that this word is a word to say when you don’t know what to say. How do you say it backwards?’

‘Shit,’ “Walt” smiled. ‘Just give me a second to figure this out. Supercali-Supercalifra-supe-’ I pause for a second, the pain still evident and lingering on my side before I look into his muddy brown eyes and smirked. ‘Docious-ali-expi-istic-fragi-cali-rupus. Suck on that you son of a bitch.’ I breathed. And just as the brothers explained, the monster foamed at the mouth, its sternum started to glow before he exploded, some of its gut landing on my face.

‘Great, just what I needed,’ I whispered before shouting out to the brothers that it was over and if they had a tissue or something to wipe my gut covered face with. I collapsed even further into the floor, the pain a little numb before disappearing completely.

Sweat was forming on my face, combining itself with the guts, before it dribbled down my neck. All my wounds were healed and all I could do was lie there in a daze, waiting for the brothers to come through the door. Sam and Dean came through the door, along with Jess.

‘See Bibble, you didn’t die. Good job you watch all those Disney movies, huh?’ When she came into the light and saw your face, she didn’t hold back her comments. ‘Ew, you look like shit, even more than usual.’

‘Thanks for that, just totally saved your ass and you’re giving my shit.’

‘You know I love you.’

She hugged me despite my disgusting state, ‘yeah, yeah.’

Sam laughed at the banter between Jess and I while Dean pulled out a black bandana from his back pocket and handed it to me.

‘Thanks, how many times you had to do that?’

The older Winchester smirked, ‘too many. Let’s just say that it’s enough to own at least ten of them.’

‘Oh one question. How do I get the blood out?’

The drive back in the impala was a dream come true for me. I was with my best friend, in the backseat of the Winchester’s baby.

When we reached my home, the Winchesters got out first. Sam and Dean respectively opening the doors for Jess and I, walking us to my front door.

‘How do you guys go this on a daily basis? I gotta give you guys credit, you live a crazy life.’ Jess was impressed by the brothers, and they hadn’t even done anything today but she soon realised that the episodes that I made her watch, they endured so much pain physically and emotionally. The brothers smiled again and shared a look. Jess whispered, ‘ do they do that all the time?’ I nodded. ‘Damn.’

‘We ever need you again, we’ll give you a call. And if you ever need us,’ Sam grabbed a card from his jacket pocket, handing it to me. ‘Anytime.’

‘Got it.’ I wrapped my arms around his waist and thanked him once more.

Jess went into the house after she said goodbye to the Winchesters, and Sam made his way over to the impala, leaving Dean and I alone.

‘You’re such a Disnerd!’

I punched his shoulder, ‘shut up, I saved...well, myself and future vics and aren’t you the one that’s always referencing Star Wars or anything pop culture.’

‘No, maybe, shut up.’

‘Mmm. That’s what I thought.’ Raising my eyebrows and smirking at him. ‘You heading back to the bunker?’

‘Yeah, ‘bout a three days drive.’

I tsked at Dean, asking him to follow me into the kitchen. ‘That’s what I was afraid of. Good job I’m a fat ass who cooked too much food.’

I pulled out the two containers; one with the chicken and the other with the mash. ‘For the road. Should hold you over for a while, better than gas station food right?’

‘Jeez, kid. I’m glad we found you.’

‘Eh. Gives me a chance to see you guys again. You gotta bring back the containers though otherwise my mom will go ballistic.’ I giggled as he fell into a whole body laughter, his back swinging as he lent back. ‘I’m not even joking.’

‘Got any jerky while you’re at it.’

I knew it was a joke but as I thought about it, I recalled something. ‘Actually, I do. I totally forgot about that. I tried it but didn’t like it.’ I made my way to the pantry and pulled out the packages, handing them to him, walking to the front door.

‘God, kid. You’re better than Sam.’

‘Hold that thought because before you ask, no I do not have any pie. Not a fan.’

He dramatically gasped. ‘How dare you! I should kill you for commit such a crime.’

‘Just means more pie for you, dumbass.’ I pushed his back, shoving him out the door, arms laden with goodies. ‘Alright, come’ere, tough guy.’

I embraced him, when he pulled back, he kissed my temple. We said our final goodbyes and he set off, the familiar creek of Baby’s doors sound as Dean got into his beloved Chevrolet. The brothers both waved before they drove away, heading off to save the world from the monsters that supposedly didn’t exist. But I knew differently.

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Branch’s Perspective - Ch 7

Branch's Perspective

Description: The Original Trolls Story from Branch's Perspective as he battles with his feelings for Poppy and struggles with his lifelong depression over losing everyone he loved and held dear. A few extra scenes have been thrown in to help better understand everyone's favorite grumpy grey toll. A Broppy FanFic.

Disclaimer: I do not own Trolls or the plot, it belongs to Dreamworks Productions

Chapter Seven

Poppy and her friends were able to complete Bridget's transformation fairly quickly. Branch had agreed to help, but hadn't necessarily contributed anything yet. He made himself comfortable atop the scullery maid's head but did not include his hair with the others. He simply sat down close to the troll princess and couldn't help but glance at her from time to time while she danced. He was careful not to let her entrance him, he could gaze at her all day, but he didn't want to rise any suspicion while they were surrounded by her friends so he remained poker faced, and tried not to get annoyed while she sang and danced with the Snack Pack.

The group ventured out into Bergen Town, and Bridget was catching everyone's eye. Branch had to give her credit for overcoming her nerves by ignoring most of the stares she received and continued on with her search for King Gristle, he was never one to feel comfortable in the public eye and probably would have retreated back to the comforts of his own home by now had he been in her shoes. But… having just opened up about his past to everyone, he was starting to think that maybe… having friends and enjoying company even if it caused a judgmental eye, wasn't so bad after all.

"Oh he's so beautiful." He heard the bergen gush and realized that she had been able to locate the King's whereabouts fairly quickly. Branch glanced through the colorful troll hair and peered into the window only to cringe immediately the moment he saw the bergen king. His confidence wavered a bit as he looked upon King Gristle shopping for a bib in preparation for this dreadful holiday he had hoped he would never have to experience ever again. Why… why couldn't they have run away and escaped when they had the chance?

"And so are you." Poppy complimented the scullery maid; unfortunately her compliment didn't seem to have the effect she hoped it would have.

"Ohh, he'll know I'm just a scullery maid!" Bridget worried, almost acting as if she were about to bolt back to the castle.

"No, no, no, no!" Poppy cried in an attempt to calm her down and prevent her from running.

"Ahh I gotta get outta here…" Bridget continued to worry as she looked in all directions in search of an escape.

"I'll be right here for you Bridget. We all will." The troll princess reassured the bergen. This statement seemed to calm Bridget down.

"You'll tell me what to say right?" The bergen questioned.

"Of course I will." Poppy reassured her again.

"Of course I will." Bridget repeated and Branch had to contain a chuckle as he listened to that exchange.

"Just wait until we get inside." Poppy commented before hiding herself back inside Bridget's 'wig'. Branch glanced at Poppy as Bridget regained her composure once again. He might not ever be able to understand it, but Poppy's willingness to help anyone, even her enemies, always astonished him. For a princess, she was never selfish she always gave so much of herself to ensure everyone's happiness, and it made her happy to do it. In a way he admired that about her, it was a trait of hers that reminded him so much of his beloved grandmother. His grandmother had always selflessly given so much of herself not only to him, but to so many other troll children in the days she was alive that many trolls of Troll Village still reminisced about her to this day. Of course his grandmother and Poppy were still two very different trolls of whom he loved in very different ways, but he still could not help but notice this similarity between the two. It was probably one of the very reasons Poppy was able to get through to him in ways no one else ever could.

The bell signaling entrance into the store chimed as Bridget cautiously entered Bibbly's, immediately King Gristle could be heard whining like a spoiled child, so much so that no one had even bothered to notice her presence right away. Branch could only roll his eyes in annoyance at the spoiled bergen king. Boy was he grateful Poppy never acted this way, she may be naïve to the bad things that can occur in the world, but she really was the most selfless, caring, loving princess he has ever come to know, and while an exchange occurred between the two bergen's Branch could help but take a trip down memory lane.

-Flashback-

Ten years… it's been ten years now since he turned grey, and ten years since… Grandma Rosiepuff passed away. He was fifteen now, his bunker now complete except for a few 'homey' touches he supposed but wasn't too eager to add them any time soon. His real problem now was… other trolls, he had gotten to that age where bullying was becoming a problem no matter where he went. Bullying was not considered 'troll-like', in fact it was very much frowned upon, but unfortunately it still happened, and it seemed most of the time he was the main target. Most of the kids don't remember anymore why he was grey and so depressed all the time, and if they did remember they chose not to mention it. To them, he was different, to the other troll kids he wasn't 'normal' and because of that, he was picked on.

He was used to it by now; words could never be as painful as the loss he suffered ten years ago so he could live with it. But… some kids were starting to get physical, and he knew it was time he drew a line somewhere before it escalated any further. Unfortunately he wasn't sure how…

His ears suddenly twitched and he picked up on faint snickering not too far behind him. He sighed closing his eyes, why couldn't they just leave him alone. Not wanting them to find the location of his bunker, he made a sharp left turn and began gathering some localized herbs in the area. Soon he could hear something whizzing by him and dodged it easy, casting a glance to where the object had landed he could see that it was a stone. Restraining the urge to snap at them, he continued his work ignoring the bunch, they attempted several more times to strike him with more stones, but he was quick to dodge and they missed him each time.

"Oi! Grumpy!" Finally one of them called out to him, rolling his eyes he still continued to ignore him.

"Hey! Don't ignore us!" The troll barked, suddenly Branch found himself forcefully shoved to the ground, all the plants that he had just gathered scattered everywhere. Branch laid there for a moment deciding whether of not he should stand up to this group of bullies who had now targeted him, but remembered that his words always fell on deaf ears even when he wasn't being bullied. He pushed himself up from the ground stood once more, he didn't even glance at the group who pushed him down before he turned his back toward them and continued gather the herbs once again.

"What's wrong Grumpy? Cat got your tongue?" One of the trolls teased behind him.

'Just keep ignoring them Branch, they'll leave eventually.' The grey troll reminded himself.

"Yeah aren't you going to tell us to run away? That we'll be attacked by a bergen if we hang around here?" Another troll mocked him in a monotone voice.

'Bergens aren't the only thing you should be afraid of out here.' Branch responded in his mind as he continued to increase the distance between him and them.

"HEY!" The same troll who told him not to ignore them earlier shouted, his voice was menacing, terrifying, it made the grey troll freeze in his tracks. It actually seemed like this troll wanted to inflict harm upon him, something he had never encountered before. He had never done anything so horrible to any troll that he would deserve that type of behavior from someone, so why…

"I said don't ignore us!" He barked again, and this time because Branch was so frozen and disoriented with fear, he did not notice another stone coming toward him, much larger then any of the others that had been thrown at him before. That large stone struck Branch right in his temple and the pain from the strike caused him to crumble to the ground again, his hand flew up to grasp the affected area and immediately noticed that blood had been drawn. Branch then felt the presence of the other trolls much closer then they had been before, but before he could react one of the trolls kicked him hard in the stomach, Branch felt the air rush out of his lungs and he coughed as he tumbled into a fetal position.

"Better get up Grumpy… or we'll…"

"Get away from him!" Branch heard someone scream, unfortunately he was in so much pain he could not register where the voice was coming from. Whoever it was, their voice caused every troll hovering over him to freeze in shock and fear, Branch soon understood why when a familiar pink color suddenly flodded his vision. Branch felt his heart begin to race as the princess stood in front of him to protect him.

"What do you think you are doing?!" She demanded, the grey troll glanced up at the pink trolls face, his heart literally stopped beating. A look of anger he had never seen on her before was plastered on her features; the hard glare she was shooting at the group of bullies was sending shivers down his own spine. Why was she so angry for someone like him? Her voice then dropped down an octave as she spoke in warning to the group who attacked him.

"What you've done is unacceptable in my Troll Village and you better believe my father will be hearing about the actions you have taken against Branch." These words caused the group to step back, the troll who had struck Branch with the stone attempted to speak up.

"W-we didn't…"

"There is nothing you can say that will change my mind. Leave here NOW!" She shouted, silencing him instantly. They all turned around to leave and once the troll princess was sure they had disappeared from their sight she dropped to her knees in front of him, her anger now replaced with intense worry.

"Branch are you alright?" She spoke softly, her hand reached out to gently touch the wound on his temple, he flinched in pain the moment he felt her touch and Poppy quickly retracted her hand.

"I'm so sorry Branch…" She whispered, as she reached an arm around his shoulders to try and help him sit up. He allowed her to do so, his mind still reeling at the actions she had just taken to protect him. Why would she do something like this? She never left him alone sure, and always tried to include him in everything, but he never imagined she would go this far for him. He just couldn't figure her out, he was always so mean to her, so harsh, if someone had treated him the way he treated her he didn't think he'd ever be able to stand up for him or her the way she just did for him. Once he was sitting up, he finally found the will to speak.

"Why… did you do that for me?" He asked, unable to look at her directly. She didn't answer right away, when he peered over at her it seemed as if she were shocked.

"No one likes me. You… you could end up disliked, or worse hurt for what you just did… You should just… let me be…" He answered truthfully. She shouldn't get involved with him; she shouldn't try to get close to him. He couldn't give her anything she wanted or deserved and the only thing getting close to him would offer her was pain.

"I can't do that!" She shouted making him jump a bit. She said it with such determination he could no longer find the words to speak, he could only watch her with shock.

"I don't care what others say. I like you Branch and no one deserves to be treated that way!" Branch felt the air leave his lungs again, but this time it was for a completely different reason. This young princess was only ten years old, still just a child, and yet her she was speaking to him with more maturity and determination then he'd even seen in some adults. Not only that, but she was willing to fight… for him.

"Branch I don't know why you lost your colors but…" She looked away from him seemingly embarrassed; her cheeks even flushed a deeper shade of pink causing his own cheeks to flush slightly with embarrassment.

"And I won't force you to tell me… but… I hope…" she was silent for a moment. It appeared she was trying to figure out if she should say what she was about to say, it didn't take long for her to come to a decision and she soon turned to face him again with a bright smile.

"I hope one day you will be able to tell me… that you will be able to… confide in me." Branch's eyes widened in surprise, he could feel his heart in his throat beating rapidly and couldn't find anything he wanted to say. No one… no one ever said anything like that to him, no one ever cared. But Poppy….

"Until then I promise to protect you!" She declared and Branch could no longer look at her. He was too embarrassed, his heart felt as if it were about to burst out of his chest. He… he was in love with her…

"Come on." Poppy was standing now, holding a hand out to him to help him up.

"Let's get you cleaned up." Normally he would not have taken her hand… normally he would say something harsh, tell her he's be fine on his own and head back to his bunker without another word but right now… he couldn't find it within himself to do that… he knew he should but he couldn't push her away. Without meeting her gaze he accepted her offered hand and allowed her to help him up. Smiling the entire way, she did not let go of his hand until they arrived at her Pod which was dead center in the middle of the village. She invited him inside so she could tend to his injuries and or the first time ever, Branch paid no mind to all the stares they received from the rest of the trolls.

-End of Flashback-

"And who might you be?" The bergen king asked as Branch came back from his trip down memory lane, it appears the female bergen had worked up the courage to speak to him. She had started to falter when the king had asked for her name, Poppy and the rest of the Snack Pack were also unsure of what to say.

"You're name is um.. uhhh…." Poppy had turned around to look to him for help, but he could only return a surprised look. It was difficult to come up with something like that on the spot.

"Lady." Biggie started which didn't seem too bad.

"Glitter?" Guy Diamond added.

"Sparkles!" Smidge added confidently, what the heck kind of name was that? King Gristle was never going to buy that!

"Seriously?!"

"My name is Lady Glitter Sparkles…seriously." Bridget you weren't supposed to repeat that! At this rate they were going to be found out!

"Well, my Lady Glitter Sparkles…" What the heck he bought that?!

"Haha! Would you care to join me in an evening at Captain Starfunkles roller rink and arcade?" Was this really happening right now? Poppy's plan was actually working! This bergen just scored a date with the King!

"Would I!" Bridget responded initially with confidence, but hesitated a moment later.

"Would I?" She questioned Poppy.

"Yes you'd be delighted." Poppy reassured her.

"Yes you'd be delighted." Bridget repeated, Branch rolled his eyes at this response but paid no mind to it understanding that this was just how Bridget was, it seemed the King didn't mind at least and although he gave a curious glance now and then he seemed to go along with Bridget's act.

"Oh… indeed I would." Well the date was settled, but Branch couldn't help but feel slightly impatient, he didn't completely understand Poppy's entire plan and where she planned to go from here, and if he was being honest he didn't really want to be an attendee to this date Bridget was about to embark on. He had confirmed with himself that he sympathized with Bridget because she was in love with someone she thought she could never have just as he did, but now that she had scored the date and he was still the same as he ever was, he was having mixed feelings.

"When are you going to ask him about Creek?" The grey troll practically spat the purple trolls name as he faced the troll princess who stood right beside him.

"Well we have to warm him up first. Don't you know anything about romance?" Poppy asked him almost mockingly, almost as if she knew he wouldn't know anything about it. What she didn't realize is deep down, there was more to the grey troll then what meets the eye but he wasn't ready to show that side of him to her yet.

"Of course! I'm passionate about it." Branch replied sarcastically.

"Really?" Poppy responded honestly in disbelief, had she seriously not been able to pick up on when he was being sarcastic yet? Plus he was a bit offended that she really didn't think he could be romantic.

"Don't you know anything about sarcasm?" Branch deadpanned.

"I think I had a sarcasm once." Cooper chimed in with an unwanted comment; obviously not understanding what sarcasm was either. So maybe Branch had never been on a date in his entire life and he really could not consider himself an expert in romance, there was a little something that Poppy did not know about him... something no one knew, and that was the way he felt about Poppy, and how he expressed those feeling through words in private. Over the years his feelings for her would sometimes become overwhelming, especially on the days she really expressed and showed him and everyone else that she really cared about him. He needed a way to express these overwhelming emotions without Poppy ever knowing about them so he began writing his feelings down. It was incredibly therapeutic even if it did sadden him at times that he would never be able to express these feelings out loud, but even so he truly believed he was actually a great poet and songwriter, he never would have learned that about himself if it wasn't for her.

As Branch's thoughts wandered to the book of poetry and songs he always kept close to him at all times, he found himself absentmindedly touching his hair almost as if he needed to reassure himself that something that held great importance to him was still safely tucked away. Once he became aware of its presence, he once again found himself wishing he could admit his love for the troll princess one day, the tug in his heart once again making itself known. But although he wished for it, this time he didn't find himself getting depressed that he would never be able to admit those feelings to her one day. This confused him a bit, he always felt he could never be the troll she needed him to be, even if it were possible that he could actually become that troll, if he really is still alive, Creek was still in the picture, so even if he could become that troll one day he would never win against Creek… so why did he feel hopeful that he could? Shaking his head to rid of those thoughts for now he noticed King Gristle and Bridget had already arrived at their date destination and were enjoying their meal.

"Bridget!" He suddenly heard the troll princess still sitting beside him chide the scullery maid.

"Compliment him back!" She urged.

"I like your back." Branch face palmed… Seriously? Did Bridget or any of the bergens for that matter know anything about romance? He was starting to grow worried that this wasn't going to end well for her and them.

"No! I meant… say… something nice about him." Poppy was beginning to fumble, unsure of how to make Bridget understand her intentions properly.

"But I do like his back." Bridget answered innocently. Okay… that response confirmed Branch's suspicions… As far as romance goes, Branch was pretty sure he knew more about it than any of the bergens.

"Eh?" King Gristle responded confused, giving her a curious look.

"Um, uh…"

"Poppy! Help her…" Branch urged, King Gristle was starting to think something was up, if they didn't do anything soon this would be all over.

"Uh… your eyes… uh…" Poppy gagged a bit as she tried to look at King Gristle and attempt to pull a compliment out that she could feed to Bridget. Unfortunately this task proved to be a bit harder than any of them had anticipated.

"Ooh your… ears?..." Poppy was at a loss, it was obvious that she was unable to compliment someone she didn't personally find attractive. She was honest and Branch loved that about her, but that honesty was about to get them into serious trouble here.

"Your eyes uh.. ears uh…" Bridget started repeating after Poppy.

"Nose!" Biggie was the first of the Snack Pack to try and lend a helping hand.

"Skin." Chimed in Satin and Chenille.

"Neck." Copper included.

"Skin, neck, ears, nose, face uh your head…" Bridget was starting to loose track of everything being said and couldn't keep up.

"Are you okay?" This entire scene was starting to look ridiculous and the King had finally started to notice.

"Your teeeeettthh." Why was Guy Diamond singing right now? Branch covered his eyes with his hand and sighed, if someone didn't do something quick it was all over.

"Teeeeettthh."

"W-What's going on?! Are you making fun of me?!" King Gristle was ready to leave, clearly offended by the scullery maid indecisiveness and very confused by the entire situation at the moment.

"Your eyes!" Bridget shouted and paused for a moment when she realized that Branch was the one helping her. Clearly it was not a move she expected from him, and honestly Branch was surprised he was doing this right now himself, especially for someone of a race he considered an enemy for his entire life. But at this point someone needed to do something before they were found out and by now he knew Bridget had no intentions of hurting anyone, they all knew they could trust her. For him, it was simple to picture Poppy in this moment, instead of personally complimenting the bergen king, and recite one of the many poems he had written about her and memorized.

"They're like… two pools, so deep… I fear if I dive in…"

"I might never come up for air."

"I might never come up for air." Bridget was repeating his words confidently now, good it seemed he was able to smooth this situation over. At this point he was also well aware that everyone's attention was now directed at him, he knew everyone was probably incredibly surprised by him right now, he was acting in a way that was typically unusual for him but at this point there was no turning back now. So, brushing off the feeling of being watched he allowed his feelings for the troll princess to overflow and began to get lost in his own poetry as he continued.

"And your smile… the sun itself turns jealous and refuses to come out from behind the clouds…"

"Knowing it cannot shine half as bright…" King Gristle, seeming to have calmed down now, sat back down in his seat and smiled at the scullery maid.

"I kind of do have a nice smile… don't I?" Upon hearing this question Branch turned to face the troll that these words were truly meant for.

"Yes… you do…" A smile, sweeter then he had ever seen before formed on her lips as he watched her and Branch felt his heart pound in his chest. He was not expecting her to react that way toward him…

'Oh snap…' Did he just… Did she realize that those words he spoke were actually meant for her? What did he just do? What should he do now? Shyly he tore his gaze away from Poppy who was gazing back at him so lovingly. It was another look he never expected to receive from the princess; there was no way she could possibly…

Branch halted those thoughts from developing. Poppy likes Creek… Branch reluctantly reminded himself, and while he still had doubt that Creek was still alive at this point, he knew he was not the troll who could take that purple trolls place in Poppy's heart. Whatever the outcome may be, Branch had vowed to stay by Poppy's side right up to the end whether it was good or bad, he vowed to be there for her and make sure that beautiful smile never left her features ever again, even if it would never be meant for him.

"I can't believe I'm about to say this…" Bridget began without any prompting from any of the trolls.

"Guys she's going rouge!" Biggie worried.

"But… being here with you today… makes me realize that… true happiness is possible." Bridget's words did not only surprise and move the troll princess… they had stirred something deep within the grey troll as well. It seemed those words were the exact words he needed to hear to realize that hope and happiness was always bubbling deep, deep down inside him. Poppy had started to bring that hope to the surface once again on their journey, and Bridget's words had finally, truly made it known. If these bergens… a race that was known for living in misery, could find happiness without eating a troll… then maybe… just maybe Branch would be able to find happiness again as well. Maybe it really was okay for him to be happy… glancing at the troll princess his heart began to race again, she'd been saying this to him for twenty years, that everyone deserves to be happy, even a troll eating race like the bergens, it wasn't until this moment that Branch finally started to really believe those words as well.

"It is! True happiness is a lot closer than you think." King Gristle mentioned as he scooted to sit closer to the scullery maid.

"It's right here." He whispered suggestively as he leaned in close to Bridget and rested his hands on the gem holding his cloak around his shoulders. Branch was beginning to grow suspicious upon realizing the bergen king was not speaking of the happiness they were thinking about. What was he talking about?

"Ohmm that's… pretty I guess…" Bridget relented, obviously not interested in the King's gem he was now holding out to her. He seemed to pick up on her uneasiness and continued.

"What do you think now?" He added as he opened the locket to reveal…

"Creek?!" Branch shouted in disbelief.

"I knew he was alive!" Poppy breathed. Branch was now in complete shock, he was no longer paying any attention to the events occurring on Bridget's date. He was so sure that he had not been wrong about this one, from what they witnessed there was no possible way the purple troll could have lived and yet… here Creek was, being held hostage within the bergen king's locket this entire time. He just couldn't wrap his head around it and had no idea what possibly could have happened for the situation to turn out this way. At this point now, whatever hope he had at being able to maybe one day have a chance with Poppy were now completely crushed…

Branch was finally pulled from his thoughts when he felt himself, along with all the other trolls bring lifted into the air and away from their positions on the scullery maids head, completely exposing them for anyone to see. He quickly realized that Bridget and King Gristle had moved out onto the roller rink and a fancy spin had been the cause of this situation, he scrambled for anything to grab onto to while the rest of the Snack Pack held on tightly behind him and found himself reaching out to grasp the pink trolls hand who had been able to grab hold of the scullery maids hair. Branch and Poppy held on tightly to each other while Poppy tried to think of a way to rescue everyone. Bridget had been able to buy the group some time by sending the bergen king into a fancy spin of his own before he was able to look behind him and notice something was wrong.

Acting quick, the troll princess yanked on Branch's arm hard and was somehow able to pull everyone back safely onto Bridget's head again, although it wasn't very graceful. While the rest of her friends landed behind Poppy, Branch found himself landing right in the troll princess' arms, the grey troll was unable to contain the pleased smirk that formed on his lips upon realizing this. The pleasant moment didn't last long unfortunately as everyone quickly got back into his or her places once again. By the time King Gristle turned around to face Bridget again, it was as if nothing had ever happened. After that incident the two bergens continued to dance with one another and truly started to enjoy the time they were sharing together, that is until a bone chilling voice could be heard echoing through the restaurant.

"Your Majesty." Everyone literally froze, including Bridget as Chef rolled over to the bergen pair in her own pair of roller skates.

"You seem to be having… fun." Chef mentioned seeming a bit bewildered and confused. Unfazed by Chef's presence King Gristle responded.

"Oh I am! Meet… the lovely Lady Glitter Sparkles." Gristle introduced Bridget, and Chef eyed her very carefully seeming to pick up on something that didn't seem quite right.

"Hm… you remind me of someone…" While the rest of the trolls began to shake with fear upon hearing this comment, Branch stood his ground among the group, preparing to act in case the worst was about to happen.

"She's uh, gonna be my plus one." King Gristle chimed in confidently, breaking the awkward silence and relieving the slightest bit of tension.

"Oh I see." Chef acknowledged the King, before redirecting her suspicious gaze on the scullery maid once again.

"For a moment I was concerned you were… changing the plan." Branch could tell Bridget was beginning to loose her resolve, King Gristle had been able to ease the Chef's suspicions slightly, but Branch could tell that the Chef was still aware that something wasn't quite right about the female bergen standing beside King Gristle.

"Well this won't be a problem at all your Highness. I'll just get my worthless scullery maid to get another place setting for the lovely lady… Glitter Sparkles." That confirmed it, she was onto them, and they needed to get out of here… fast. While the bergen king grabbed Chef's attention once again Branch whispered harshly to the scullery maid.

"Bridget run!" Without a second thought, Bridget immediately acted on the command and raced out of the roller rink before King Gristle could even finish his sentence.

Bridget was able to make it back to her room in the castle safely and unnoticed. Rolling in on her one remaining roller blade, she soared around her room feeling like she was on cloud nine. She then pounced onto her bed excitedly, scattering the trolls who had been resting on her head, around her on her bed.

"Hah!" The scullery maid signed dreamily.

"I think the king really likes us!" Cooper exclaimed as he turned to face Biggie who was lying beside him.

"I know right!" The large blue troll responded.

"That was the greatest day of my life!" Bridget proclaimed like a giddy schoolgirl in love, before rolling over onto her stomach to face the troll princess. Branch couldn't help but smile at the scullery maid as well, he'd actually felt happy for her, his uneasy feelings from before now gone.

"Thanks Poppy!" Bridget acknowledged her, and the pink troll simply smiled at the happy scullery maid while nodding her head.

"Thanks to all of you!" She gestured to the rest of the Snack Pack before facing the grey troll who was sitting on the end.

"Even you I guess." She added less enthusiastically, Branch face fell with that comment. Hey, did she seriously forget who it was that pulled her out of that sticky situation when no one could figure out how to compliment the bergen king and who it was that told her to flee when Chef was bearing down on them! Branch glared at her but before he could retort the scullery maid had redirected her attention again.

"I just never thought that something like that could ever happen to me and it just did! I'm so excited I could just scream!" The giddy bergen continued before quietly exclaiming.

"Ahhh!" Oh well, Branch decided to let her comment from earlier slide, there was no way he could dampen the great mood Bridget was in now.

"Oh! I could scream too!" An ecstatic Poppy chimed in as she bounced to her feet. Branch glanced at her and smiled warmly, feeling truly happy that everything she had hoped for was coming true. Wait… happy… for Poppy?

"Creek is alive! Yay!" Poppy and her friends began to cheer, and even Branch hoped onto his feet to join in.

"Aaaahhhh!" Suddenly, he noticed he could no longer hear everyone else cheering anymore and stopped to find everyone starring at him. Great… what had he done now?

"Branch what's wrong?" Poppy asked him, voice tinged with worry.

"Nothing, I thought we were celebrating." The grey troll answered honestly.

"That's your happy shout?" Cooper asked in disbelief and Branch was finally able to realize what had caused everyone to stop. Way to bring a guy down guys…

"It's been a while." Branch deadpanned. Thankfully though, his spirits were lifted again as Poppy approached him stating.

"Well you're gonna have plenty of practice, cause we're gonna save Creek and life will be all cupcakes and rainbows again!" It was strange, here was the troll he loved more than anyone else, getting excited over Creek… the one troll who could infuriate him like no other… his only rival and yet… he wasn't annoyed he wasn't even jealous. Actually he had found himself smiling at her, seeing Poppy smile happily and act worry free again after watching her silently battle her anxieties and nerves over her friends the past two days was exactly what he had been wishing for this entire time. Her never wanted to see her upset, scared, sad or worried, her smile was perfect and she deserved to be smiling happily from her heart all the time.

"Up top!" He teased and the princess actually fell for it just as he anticipated that she would. Right as she brought her hand up to meet his, he quickly pulled his away.

"Too slow." Poppy looked back at him with shock, but the shock was quickly replaced with the same beautiful smile she wore when he had recited his poetry for Bridget and he could easily read that she was happy for him. He could not help but return her smile as well, probably revealing to her the first warm smile he had ever let loose in a long time. Something within him had changed when he opened up to her before they got Bridget ready for her date with the King. Happiness was beginning to make itself known within his heart again and the grey troll realized the source of his happiness… was Poppy's happiness… even if that meant she wasn't meant to be with him. He was able to come to the conclusion that even though he might never be able to reveal these feelings he felt for her, it would be okay as long as she was happy. As long as he could somehow always contribute to that happiness even if it was just as a friend, it would be enough for him as long as he could always see her smile. The tug in Branch's heart that he always felt toward Poppy when he thought this way began to make itself known again, but he was growing used to needing to ignore it, he knew now that as long as Poppy was happy, he could be happy and he could never ask for anything more.

"Okay everybody! Let's go save Creek!" The troll princess exclaimed, and the rest of the trolls were quick to follow her lead. But just as they were about to approach the door to exit the room…

"Ah! No!" SLAM! Bridget had inserted herself between them and the door, blocking their exit. What was she up to?

"You can't leave! Lady Glitter Sparkles is gonna be that King's plus one at dinner!" Bridget frantically explained, Branch cocked an eyebrow at her reasoning.

"The dinner where they're serving troll? Yeah… I think we're gonna have to skip that one." Branch responded before starting to make his way toward the door again.

"No! No, you have to help me be Lady Glitter Sparkles!" Bridget pleaded with him as she landed on her stomach in front of them to get down to their level.

"I need you!" She begged, Branch couldn't find the words to say, luckily Poppy did.

"You don't want to pretend to be someone you're not forever." The princess standing beside him stated, attempting to reason with the scullery maid, unfortunately what they were trying to convey just wasn't getting through to her.

"Then… how about just for tomorrow?" The young bergen pleaded again.

"Bridget, you don't need us anymore. You and the king can make each other happy." Poppy pleaded back as well, and Branch could tell she was starting to worry that the scullery maid wasn't going to let them go.

"That's impossible!" Bridget spat, seemingly offended as stood back up again.

"Only eating a troll can make you happy! Everyone knows that!" The scullery maid cried as she ran back across her room and threw herself against the collage she had pinned to the wall above her bed, she then slid down to her knees and tore the photos while proclaiming.

"I wish I'd never gone on this stupid date!" Well this was quite the mood swing that Branch was witnessing. Had this bergen learned nothing? Did she not remember herself stating that true happiness was possible without eating a troll? This was useless; there was nothing more they could do for the scullery maid if she herself refused to open her eyes as well as her heart. Branch knew that better than anyone, but Poppy on the other hand...

"Bridget…" Poppy called to her softly, attempting to console her.

"Just go! Get out of my room! Leave me alone!" Bridget cried and turned away no longer able to face the troll princess.

"Please listen!" Poppy pleaded, but Branch began to back away and tried to think of a way to get Poppy to go with him as well, the rest of the Snack Pack had already gathered behind them.

"BRIDGET!" came that bone chilling voice once again. That was their cure.

"We've gotta go." Branch urged as he backed away from the scullery maids room along with the rest of Poppy's friends.

"Bridg…"

"Come on." He knew better than anyone else, Poppy was having a hard time leaving the scullery maid alone like this, he knew every fiber of her being was aching to help her out in some way no matter how much Bridget tried to push her away. But with the threat of the Chef having now returned to the castle they had no other choice, right now they needed to leave.

"What's going on down there! Bridget! Scrub that dish!" A dish struck the hysterical scullery maid on the head.

"The King's bringing a plus one!"

"Yes Chef." Poppy lingered a bit longer, but upon realizing that there was nothing she could do for her new friend right now she too, although very reluctantly, retreated from Bridget's room to catch up with the rest of her friends.

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