Rosiepuff sat by herself in the kitchen humming to the radio. John Dory had it still set on the Rock Trine's radio station which she personally didn't mind. It reminded her of her bonus child that married into her family. Mostly the Queen songs carried that sentiment to her since he would sing them a lot. Noah used to joke how he was always listening to songs of the past rather than the newer songs. Called himself an "old soul".

" Branch. Floyd. Clay. Want to taste test my brownies?" Rosiepuff called out.

Her ears perked at the sound of feet running down from upstairs. There was also a pair being much softer from the living room. Branch popped up from his grandmother's side out of nowhere. When Rosie looked down her heart flipped in her chest as she jumped back still sitting in her chair. Toddlers were experts at startling adults. Nobody could change her mind about it cause she lived through it regularly.

" Oh you! You got Grandma good." Rosiepuff giggled tapping Branch's nose.

She picked the youngest up placing him on her lap. Now Branch could see the tray of cooled down and freshly decorated brownies on the table. They were chocolate fudge with raspberries inside, caramel spread and nuts and white chocolate chips sprinkled on top. Branch's jaw dropped as he eyed the treats. While Rosiepuff got a bad baking reputation from other trolls for her Fuffleberry Cake,her grandsons had a different set of thoughts on her skills.

" Wow!" Branch gasped.

Clay dashed into the kitchen passing Floyd. Floyd spun around almost losing balance but, he grounded himself before taking a seat at the table. Despite being dizzy the pink haired one was able to walk straight. He still wasn't straight though in a completely different and unrelated manner. Clay planted a kiss on their grandmother's cheek earning him one from her on the forehead.

" They look great,Grandma." Clay said.

" Yeah. They do. Is that white chocolate?" Floyd pointed.

Rosiepuff nodded her. " They are. Tried something new. Go ahead. Take one. I have nowhere to be today besides here." She smiled.

Technically that was a lie but, her grandchildren didn't need to know that she had been cancelling on the council meetings every chance she got. She had sent a message via a critter and scrapbook pop up. King Peppy wouldn't let her go even if she asked but, there was no rule against her not showing due to having her own plans. She was done rearranging her timeline. Rosiepuff took one brownie giving it to Branch.

Branch took a bite and swallowed. "Yummy!"

Floyd reached into the tray plucking one brownie that had the most nuts on it. Clay took one brownie with more raspberries in it. Then the prolonged banging of a cowbell echoed into several parts of the tree. No. There were multiple cowbells. Rosiepuff stiffened in her hair while holding onto the toddler on her lap. Clay and Floyd paused not even having taken a bite of the treats in their hands.

" Oh God... What is it now?" Rosiepuff groaned.

" Didn't we already have the morning pep talk and announcements?" Clay questioned.

" Yes,we did. Whatever this is about better be good." Rosiepuff confirmed.

Moving Branch up into her arms the grandmother stood up from her chair. Branch rested his hands on her shoulder looking behind her for no reason. He was simply observing their familiar surroundings. Wearing now furrowed brows and pursed lips on her face, Rosiepuff shook her head then rolled her eyes at the thought of another vague speech. While she understood it was needed in certain situations,King Peppy kept their village in the dark more than he should be.

Floyd and Clay glanced at each other sensing the odd and more vocal disliking their grandma displayed. It was as if something they didn't know about had changed which was true but, the grandsons didn't know that. They knew very little when it came to Rosie's roles outside of their family and being the village nanny. Not from a lack of interest but, cause not even Rosiepuff wanted to bring her negativity into their moments they shared when spending time together. Her family was her escape.

" You two coming?" Rosiepuff asked calmly.

" Yes, Grandma." Floyd and Clay answered.

Soon that afternoon the whole village of trolls had followed the source of the musical banging. Behind the tree on thr large mushroom stage Brozone once performed on, stood King Peppy with his daughters standing back behind him. The Bergens were gone now due to plans by the old king of Bergens, King Gristle, having everyone in his castle. So the streets were quiet with only the trolls currently in the center of town. The sunlight was partly blocked out by the tree's leaves.

" What's going on?" John whispered.

" I don't know. " Spruce whispered back.

" Don't get your hopes up..." Rosiepuff whispered to John and Spruce.

Spruce raised an eyebrow confused at the sudden advice as him and his older brother joined their grandmother's side. Clay and Floyd stop at her left with Floyd holding Branch in his hair. Only the three year old's upper body was visible from the bright pink mane. Due to them all being in the front role,they had one of the better views of the Royals.

Princess Viva seemed equally as confused as the summoned crowd while holding her sister, Princess Poppy. Spotting her friend in the front she waved to Branch with both arms wildly with zero understanding that now wasn't the time to greet her friends. Her high pitched voice called out causing Branch to tilt his head in order to figure out where the familiar voice was coming from. Spotting Poppy he waved back as Viva took the tiny princess out of her and began rocking in her arms.

" We'll visit Branch later. I promise. Let's just be quiet so Dad can talk so shh..."Viva gently hushed.

" Okay. Ssh!" Poppy playfully hushed back.

The rest of the village was still far from being quiet themselves. Whispers, complaints and chit chat filled the eerie silence the Bergens left by removing their presences. Some trolls didn't seem too pleased to see their leader on stage. Just like Rosiepuff they shared a skeptical expression. While this group was a minority they were still not giving up their glances,glares, folded arms,eye rolls and disinterest at this moment. This was the group King Peppy was worried about.

The rising tension could be cut with the knife once all the talkative villagers grew quiet. Clearing his throat King Peppy stepped forward with an unprepared speech floating in his mind. All eyes were on him. The small group of trolls doubting him and his capabilities of getting them all to freedom was growing by the day. He could feel their annoyed and tired gazes glaring at him with disdain.

" Now Trolls. I don't know when the Bergens would be coming back to us but, I will not waste this opportunity for us to talk freely. I have promised we would escape soon years ago and I have news. We have a tunnel fully ready with scouts sent out to find us a new home. One of them is coming back with a promise that they have found us something to look forward to. " King Peppy announced.

Trolls who never doubted their King's promises cheered and beamed with excitement. To them this meant they would be out of the tree in no time. Some even clapped overjoyed at the thought of being free from the suffering the Bergens put them through. However the skeptical minority kept staring unconvinced or rather felt like there was a catch waiting to extend its claws.

" In a few more years we will have two fully ready tunnels to add. Until then we will stay right here and wait. The current main tunnel will be off limits to everyone but the diggers and the scouts." King Peppy continued.

All the cheering trolls' faces dropped at the clarification made. Many felt their hearts sink in their chests. The trolls who expected a catch or setback rolled their eyes and shook their heads holding back their tongues. "I told you so" was not appropriate and they knew that. Spruce turned his to his grandma biting down his lip. Rosiepuff flashed a glance earning a nod from him. Her earlier claim made sense now. Viva still being on stage frowned as her hopeful spark died from behind her eyes.

" Just trust me. This will all be worth the wait." King Peppy insisted.

" Why wait? Just why? If we have one working tunnel why not just leave now?" One male troll questioned.

" Now is not the time." King Peppy answered.

" Then when is the time? " A female troll called out.

" Yeah! It's been a decade since you first told us that the escape was happening and only now we find out about the tunnel and yet we can't use it?" Another troll joined in.

" Why is it really off limits? How long have you been hiding this tunnel from us?"

The pile of questioning, disappointment and disagreement was growing by how vocal the skeptical had gotten. It only took one troll confronting their leader for others to voice their minds too. Years of waiting and pent up emotion boiled over. The minority was louder than the majority supporting the Royal's plans. Feeling the walls closing in on him, feeling desperate Peppy searched for ways to calm down the upset.

" Now. Now. Settle down. One question at a time please." King Peppy stated.

" At this rate we will never leave unless we make our own escape plans." A female troll whispered.

That whisper spread to more than the intended listeners. Other trolls who weren't part of the minority that disliked and didn't trust their King for how he was handling their future escape, began to wonder doubtfully too. They would look amongst themselves creating their own wave of whispers and mutters. Were they actually going to escape in a few years? Were they going to be safe at their new "home"? Was their new "home" even real?

" I'm sure my Dad has everything figured out and good reasons for his decisions. Right, Daddy?" Viva nervously defended.

" Of course I do. I am taking everyone's safety very seriously. We need to wait until the Bergens least expect it." King Peppy declared.

John looked at his brothers who all shared his uncertainty. Their grandmother showed no signs of actually believing a single word. The weight of heavy thoughts clouded the parent-like sibling. The surrounding doubt voiced by others clawed their way into his mind. No. John didn't want to believe that they would stay trapped here. Raising his hand Dory stepped forward hoping to get their leader's attention. King Peppy's eyes darted down to John noticing the familiar jacket.

A memory flashed before his eyes of Noah wearing it standing in John's place. If it wasn't for John's colours and body type,he would look identical to his father. From the hairstyle to colours to even John's voice changed in the king's eyes projecting a father's image on his eldest son. Even the way John stood and body language matched Noah. As the young troll tried to voice his own concerns his voice grew deeper and definite when John was speaking respectfully to Peppy's ears.

" King Peppy, with due respect. I need to know. What else are you planning for our escape? Two more years is-"

" I won't let you plan more unauthorized death wish ridden escapes, Noah! Nobody but, me can plan and direct our escape. Everything is the way it is now cause of you! I outlawed it for a reason cause of you. The escape will happen when it happens." King Peppy interrupted.

The sudden facade of Noah vanished as a gasp left the Timberlake family. Rosiepuff whipped her head jaw dropped and clutched her heart. Spruce, Floyd and Clay froze in place,modified at the accusations directed at their brother as if he was their deceased father. Branch hid in Floyd's hair frightened by the yelling. John just stood there frozen in place as well. He stared at King Peppy like he had been stabbed with a dagger.

" What?" John muttered shocked.

" We're going home. Right Now!" Rosiepuff ordered taking John's hand furiously.

" Dad! "  Viva gasped.

In less than fifteen minutes, Rosiepuff had all of her five grandsons in their pod. His hands balled into fists and flames were spreading behind her eyes. Smoke would be editing from her ears if she could. A sour hiss escaped past her lips. Her grandchildren sat on the couch with Branch still in Floyd's hair hiding. Breathing in and out until she calmed down enough, Rosie reached into the pink mane and pulled the toddler out.

John stared down at his hands resting on his lap growing more distant. Thoughts of who his father used to be ran around and crashed into each other. Spruce squeezed his shoulder trying to bring his brother some comfort. Clay looked at Floyd hoping he would have something to say but, there was nothing. Rosiepuff put Branch down the bean bag after rubbing his back. Then she turned to the JD. Sadness floated up into her shine of her eyes while her voice stayed gentle and loving.

" King Peppy shouldn't have yelled at you like that. While your father has made mistakes, there was more to it than you think. I'm not just saying that to protect his image. Noah led and planned escapes before. Sometimes he didn't think everything through but, nobody got hurt or taken. He stayed back and fought the Bergens until everyone else was back in the cage when stuff just didn't work out. The Bergens just got more strict with watching us back then but, they're not doing it as much now. " Rosiepuff sighed.

John lifted his head. " Is that actually true?"

Rosiepuff went upstairs then came back with a box filled with notebooks,maps and some old photos of possible exits to use. She dumped the box on the coffee table. Curious Clay picked up one of the notebooks opening it to find ramblings of their father's time being in the Troll Tree and how he was observing the Bergens trying to crack of the code for the best time to attempt any escapes. John looked down at the crazed and short hand notes.

Floyd opened one of the rolled maps revealing a planned escape routine of going through the cage bars and sneaking off into an open water pipe that was never fixed. In fact it was shut down years ago and left untouched. Apparently it led to the beach or so did some Bergens claim when the pipe was last cleaned according to the notes on the map.

Then John and Spruce drew their attention to the notebook that had pictures peeking out of it. John reached for it and opened it up. Inside were personal journal entries from. The first photo on the page used like a bookmark was of Noah and Olivia, their parents, posing excited before the cage bars. They had the biggest smiles and were drenched in water. Rosiepuff smiled at the faded image.

" That was from the last night your Dad went out of the cage looking for the perfect escape route. Your Mom followed him insisting she wasn't going to let him get himself killed. They didn't get far but, they found an abandoned pipe that had shallow water running through it. Apparently they could hear the ocean when they went inside. Came back before the Bergens noticed smelling like salt. Then before they could pitch it as an option King Peppy banned everyone from making plans for our escape. Nobody but; me,your grandfather and your mother believed in him anymore." Rosiepuff told.

Spruce brought the photo close to his heart. The thought that their parents did everything they could brought a sad smile to his face. They tried. They could have escaped when they had the chance but, they didn't. They came back due to them wanting to help everyone escape. They believed in "No Troll Left Behind" more than anyone. John's eyes wandered to a journal entry as he carefully flipped through the pages of his father's words.

" I have a family here. Friends. Might have made some enemies but,hey that's not new. I can handle assholes. The Bergens have been watching us like a hawk now. There's been talks of them maybe adding a second layer of bars to box us in more. I don't want to be in this hell as much as the next but, if my new family and love can't leave then so won't I. I will do anything and everything to keep them alive long enough so all of them will escape like Peppy plans. I just hope that fucker keeps his word.

Olivia has an egg. We have an egg! Can't believe it! Never saw myself as the parent type but, if something happens that tiny thing I will never forgive myself. It's so precious. My little egg. I won't let my egg get taken by those monsters eating us. I wished me and Olivia escaped that night we found that pipe to the beach. We could have taken Rosiepuff and Thornleaf with us and this egg could grow up in a world where it didn't need to worry about getting eaten. God! I never think things through. I won't let our egg fear the world. As long as I'm around I will do what I have to keep them safe." John read in his mind.

Tears filled the corner of John's eyes but, he quickly wiped them away. Spruce peeked at the journal entry he was reading. Seeing their father's regret and love and protectiveness for their family hit like a wall. Remembering the times their father would hide them away during Trollistise while holding whatever he could use as a weapon for in case their pod got picked at. More than once had they seen Noah run in just to distract the Bergens then come back to them and sooth them when him,John, Clay and Floyd were scared. He was always protecting them from the world while showing them to not fear it.

" Is this the same pipe they found?" Floyd asked showing the map to everyone.

" Yes,it is... The Bergens never fixed it. It's a really long distance walk unless you take the shortcut your Dad used to make that map." Rosiepuff confirmed.

" What if we used it now?" John asked.

" What?" Rosiepuff blinked stunned.

Everyone turned their heads to JD as he closed the journal then set it aside on his lap. Clay almost dropped the second notebook he picked out to read through when he heard John's question. Spruce's jar dropped as his one eyebrow raised up. Floyd closed his mouth, not sure how to respond to that line of thinking. John carefully took the map from Floyd. Moving the box out of the way onto the floor, he placed down the poorly drawn map on the table. A couple notebooks laid on the corners preventing the map from rolling up.

" What if Dad and Mom were right about this? Maybe we could escape through it to the beach. Dad regretted not escaping through it with Mom, Grandma and Grandpa. He wanted to set our family free. I don't want any of us to be taken while we wait two more years for an escape that might never happen." John explained.

" Oh Johnny. It's not that simple. I wish it was. Where would we even go after that?" Rosiepuff said.

" Plus the Bergens and King Peppy wouldn't let us leave if he knew." Clay said.

" What if we didn't tell him and found our own shortcut there?" Floyd suggested picking up Branch.

" We could try the rooftops or maybe leave at midnight. Bergens are almost all gone by then." John added.

" I know a place where we can go and hideout... Vacey Island..." Spruce suggested.

" Will the Bergens get us?" Branch asked softly.

" No. Not on my watch." John answered determined.

Rosiepuff paused giving the idea some more thought. While she didn't actually believe in King Peppy's way of thinking, she also knew the risk of not thinking things through like Noah did. However if this plan was truly good enough to work like Noah and Olivia claimed, once they figured out the getting to the pipe... Maybe it is worth a shot. Rosiepuff also had a good feeling that sweet Brandy girl Spruce was seeing would keep her word and help them. She truly rather see her grandchildren escape and succeed through a planned risk crafted by Noah than watch them get taken.

" Okay... Let me think about it first. If we are going to pull this off we have to plan for everything we can expect. Especially for getting caught. " Rosiepuff stated calmly.