"So how are we doing this again? Because Chef specifically said I couldn't leave this room.." Bridget asked nervously.

"Okay, Branch is gonna lead everyone up that vent and we'll sneak our way to wherever the kitchen is, and once we're there, he'll lightly knock to give you a signal they're there. And I'll go with you to find your way to the kitchen swiftly and talk to the King. If Chef sees you, just say something like the king wanted to talk to you." Poppy enlightened her.

Bridget nodded, but then looked nervous again.

"Well.. I'm not sure, the King isn't very convincing most times."

"Use your most persuasive voice and try to add in things that'll appeal to him." Poppy patted her hand.

Bridget looked down, then back up and nodded slowly.

Poppy smiled at her then turned to the trolls and walked to over to Branch.

She put a hand on his shoulder gently.

"Will you be okay leading them on your own? My dad can help you if you need it." She asked in a soft voice.

"Yeah, of course. It's not like I don't trust my own village." He joked and chuckled.

Poppy shook her head and chuckled as well, then wrapped her arms around him.

"Be careful." She whispered, burying her face in his neck.

Branch returned the embrace gently.

"I will, I promise. I love you." He gave the Princess a soft kiss on her cheek.

Poppy smiled and pulled away and gave him a kiss on his cheek back.

"I love you too."

They slowly, not wanting to, but knowing they had to, pulled apart from each other, and both went their separate ways.

Poppy went over to Bridget as she held out her hand, allowing her to climb up her arm to hide in her hair.

She looked to her village again and waved to them.

"Good luck everyone!" She said.

Everyone either waved or responded back as Branch began to help everyone into the vents, and the girls were on their way.

"Good luck, my Princess." Peppy whispered and smiled as he watched his daughter leave the room.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Bridget slowly walked out the room and locked the door then looked around.

Chef was nowhere to be seen.

"Okay, we're clear for now." Bridget looked up at her hair that Poppy was hiding in.

Poppy smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

Bridget began to walk, looking around constantly just to be sure.

Poppy could feel she was getting tense and she gently patted her head for comfort.

"You're doin great Bridge, the kitchen isn't too far away." She whispered to her.

Bridget calmed down and smiled a bit,  and she continued to walk, until she bumped into-

"A-AH CHEF! I mean, hiiii.." She waved slowly and nervously.

Poppy did her very best to try and blend in with Bridget's hair by camoflauging into it.

Chef just glared down at her.

"Are you leaving, your room? After I clearly told you not to?" She said in a low but threatening tone.

"N-No ma'am, I uh.." She tried to think of an excuse, but then remembered what Poppy said earlier.

"King Gristle told me he wanted to see me, yeah!" She nodded, hoping the sweat trailing down her temples wasn't too visible.

Chef just kept glaring at her for a second, but then huffed.

"Alright, but after you're done, you come straight back to this room, understood?" She looked her in the eyes.

Bridget gulped and nodded slowly, then Chef left without saying another word.

"That was scary.." Bridget whispered, starting to walk again.

"Don't worry, she won't lay a hand on you." Poppy patted her head again.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Branch continued leading the trolls down the vent, feeling himself begin to tense up a bit.

He took deep breaths to calm himself down.

The trolls behind him noticed this and began to look a bit concerned.

Suddenly, the blue troll felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Branch, are you alright?" King Peppy asked him.

Branch sighed and looked forward again.

"I just.. I don't know if I can do this. I don't even know if I'm going the right way."

Then Branch backed up a bit, as he was now kneeled next to him.

"You should lead them. You are their King, after all."

Peppy kept his hand on Branch's shoulder.

"Branch, so far, you have been a great leader. You've calmed down trolls who've began to panic at the thought of something happening, and you made sure everyone was here and safe. And we've also gotten very far in these vents, why should you give up now?"

Branch looked away then at the trolls behind him, then back at Peppy.

"But, if you're really not comfortable, I don't mind continuing on for you." Peppy added.

Branch thought for a second, then looked back at him again.

"You know what, I think I can do this."

Peppy smiled as he said that and patted his shoulder.

"But, I could probably use your help. I wanna make sure we aren't lost. You remember your way around here, right?" Branch asked him.

"It's been in the back of my mind for years, but I think I can try and remember most of it." Peppy responded, and gestured his hand for him to follow him.

"Come on everyone!" Branch told the trolls, and they quickly followed behind, in relief that things were alright now.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

"We made it!" Bridget said in a whisper voice, looking at the kitchen from behind a wall.

There were many plates on the table and some bergens had come in to settle down at the table, readying themselves for trollstice.

And there they saw King Gristle, getting his seat ready while also talking to a few people.

Bridget stared at him with dreamy eyes.

Poppy noticed this and smiled down at her.

"Oooooh, is someone in loooveeee?~" She said in a teasing voice.

Bridget immediately snapped out of it and her eyes widened.

"What! No, no, I just.. I like his smile, okay. It's.. mesmerizing." Bridget rubbed her arm.

Poppy giggled.

"Okie dokie then."

Bridget slowly walked into the kitchen and avoided looking at anyone and just looked to the side or to the floor.

"King Gristle?" She said in a soft voice, nearing to where he was.

Gristle stopped what he was doing and looked at Bridget, his smile immediately turning to a blank expression.

"Oh, it's you." He turned his full attention to her, "What is it?"

"Um, well.." Bridget felt Poppy lightly tap her head as she whispered to her something, making her look up a bit at where the vents are, seeing Branch and Peppy and the rest of the trolls in there, and sigh quietly in relief.

"Well? Don't keep me waiting, I have a trollstice to begin soon!" Gristle crossed his arms and tapped his foot.

"O-Oh, about that sir, I was just gonna um.. ask you something.." She quickly turned her attention back to him.

"And that is?"

"Well.." Bridget sighed shakily. "Do you think, maybe we should stop killi-"

Just then, a loud screech was heard from down the hall, making both Gristle and Bridget jump slightly.

"What was that!" Gristle yelled.

The Bergens sitting at the table also turned their heads to see what or who caused the sudden commotion.

Chef angrily stopped out from the hall into the kitchen, holding an opened cage in her arm to the point it looked like it was about to crush right then and there.

Bridget's eyes immediately widened in complete and utter fear, not even wanting to think about what could be next.

"SHE ATE THEM!!!" Chef screamed out in anger, holding out the open cage in both of her hands now.

All the bergens were now staring at the cage that was supposed to be full of trolls, in both shock and anger.

"Chef, calm down! Who ate them?!" As upset Gristle was, he also needed to know who "ate the trolls".

"Her." Chef pointed a harsh finger at Bridget, making the pink haired Bergen back away from her in fear.

"I specifically left her to watch them and to NOT leave her room, and I come in to find THIS!" She held up the cage again.

Wait, I locked the door.. how did Chef get in..

Chef had a key hanging slightly from her pocket.

Oh right, I forgot she has a key.

Gristle then turned to Bridget angrily, making her stomach drop.

"So is this what you came here to tell me? That you ate the trolls?!" He yelled at her.

The Bergens began to glare at her too.

"No! I swear I didn't! I-I- I-"

The guards walked up to her with swords pointing at her throat.

Poppy gasped quietly from inside her hair.

Branch stood speechless from inside the vents, not knowing what to do.

"Finish her." Chef said.

A/N: TeehEe
Okay I start school in 3 days so definitely do not expect much updates from me
I'll try but e h
Anyway, hoped y'all liked this chapter, we're a few chapters away from the end :)
Byeeeeee