The present moment was the time to make it or break it. No giving into second thoughts or fear. If Noah and Olivia could be brave sneaking past Bergens then so could their sons. Their family's decision was made and it was final. Rosiepuff sadly smiled as she gave each of her boys a hug. Her heart pained at the thought of not seeing them again but, if it meant that they were safe then she will accept that fate.

" Come with us..." Floyd said.

" I can't,Peachfuzz. As much as I want to go this village needs me to look after the children for them. They need someone to protect them." Rosiepuff said snuggling Branch.

Refusing to let go of their grandmother Branch buried his face in her neck. Spruce picked up Branch's backpack handing it over to John. All the brothers had packed themselves some necessities for their trip and some personal items in their hair. Considering how troll hair could be endless as a storage unit, they still had to pick what was most important to them so not many things were taken anyway. Floyd had his guitar strapped to his side with his light backpack strapped to his shoulders standing out the most.

" I'll come find you all in a few years. I'll catch up. Just stay safe for me. " Rosiepuff promised.

She rubbed the clinging toddler's back with her palm in circling motion. Knowing better John decided to step back letting his baby brother have his last moment with Grandma. Rosiepuff raised her gentle touch up to the little one's sapphire mane running her fingers through it. In response Branch tightened his hold on her not ready to let go of the prolonged embrace.

" Please come with us..." Branch begged.

" It's just Good Bye for now. Not forever. You will see me again soon. You're such a brave boy. Be brave for me,okay? I love you." Rosiepuff whispered soothingly.

Branch eventually lifted his head to take a long look. Some tears threatened to escape but, his beloved grandparent wiped them away while maintaining a smile on her face. She was sad too. Rosiepuff didn't want to watch her babies leave but, she put on a brave face with encouragement. They needed to leave for their own safety. For their future. The Troll Tree couldn't promise her boys the happy and comfortable lives they deserved. Lives where they didn't need to fear whether they would live for another year.

" I love you too, Grandma." Branch responded.

Taking an extra minute to give the youngest one last hug, Rosiepuff eventually put Branch down. The toddler slowly stepped over to John still glancing back at their grandmother every few seconds. Floyd looked away trying to hold back tears. Just like Branch he didn't want to leave Grandma Rosiepuff with Bergens but, a decision was already made and she made her own too. Spruce sighed heavily patting Floyd on the back reassuringly.

" She'll be okay. Grandma is stronger than all of us combined." Spruce whispered.

" I hope so..." Clay uttered looking down at his feet.

John took hold of Branch's tiny hand then bent down. After one last series of more "Good Bye" hugs,Brozone squeezed through the cage bars one by one. John Dory went through first then Floyd then Clay. Spruce lifted Branch up passing him through the gap to Clay before pushing himself through. The eldest brother scanned the mostly empty streets. Due to it being midnight most Bergens were home but, a handful of late late night drunks,stain smokers and some sober questionable folks were hanging around not noticing the trolls.

" Still got the map?" JD whispered.

" Yeah." Spruce whispered.

" Where is the pipe?" JD took hold of Branch's hand.

Grabbing the roughly drawn map from his pack pocket the second eldest unrolled it. Clay and Floyd stood at his sides willing their hair to glow so Spruce could see better. Clay's hair had more green hue to its shine while Floyd carried a pink glow. Joining in creating more light Spruce's purple light mingled with the green and pink highlighting the drawing. The map detailed basic city landmarks and two buildings with an alleyway to the back of the second oldest building. Arrows pointed to directions to the alleyway.

" Straight to the telephone booth then we make a right and keep going until we see a statue and go north from it to the alleyway between a "fuggly jazz" club and some "run down ready to fall on itself" building. Behind the building is the pipe. Dad's words. Not mine." Spruce explained.

John nodded his head." Okay. Let's just hope those Bergens crowding the phone booth won't spot us. We gotta be completely lights out. "

Getting the hint, the three brothers mentally turned off their glow becoming covered in darkness. They each held their hands forming a chain to ensure nobody got lost. However they didn't get far when Branch tripped from stepping into him getting his foot stuck. Clay immediately covered his little brother's mouth hoping to muffle any sound that dared to escape.

" Ssh! " Clay hushed.

One of the Bergens turned their head around at Branch's brief exclaim but, they didn't look down so the run aways went unnoticed for now. John sighed with relief when that Bergen went back to smoking with his buddies under the booth's light. Trying to wiggle his foot out of the sticky and chewed bubblegum, Branch felt it go up further on his leg.

" Ew... It won't come off." Branch whispered stuck to the ground.

Meanwhile back in the cage Rosiepuff was still at the cage bars watching her grandsons. The longer they were in the open the more sharper anxious claws scratched her mind and heart. She was so wrapped up in that feeling and watching her grandsons escape that she was unaware of the trolls nearby by setting up for the usual parties. King Peppy was with this group. They had speakers and flashing lights with them.

" Rosiepuff?" King Peppy muttered confused to himself. " What is she looking at?"

Curiosity got the better of him, the royal  approached the bars. He couldn't see anyone very well until he noticed the familiar shape of troll hair. Raising an eyebrow the King tapped the elder's shoulder causing her to jump like she had been grabbed by a Bergen. Her hand balled into a fist swinging blindly for Peppy but, he tried to duck to avoid a black eye. However he wasn't quick enough.

" WHAT THE TROLL TREE IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?" King Peppy yelled holding his bleeding nose.

The other trolls who heard the commotion turned on their brightest lights to see what was going on highlighting BroZone in the process. Branch was completely free from the gum about to climb up a telephone pole. Spruce and Floyd were already up almost reaching the top while John, Branch and Clay were still on the ground. The Bergens who heard the noise and followed the sudden light source whipped their heads around startled.

Then one dropped their glass beer bottle spotting as John, Branch and Clay froze in the light. Spruce and Floyd looked down wide eyed as the bottle shattered realizing their brothers were caught. The Bergen somewhat drunk Bergen punched his friends causing them to look at the out of the cage trolls. John nervously laughed pulling Clay behind him while picking Branch up.

" Oh Fuck Me..." John kept laughing. " Climb up."

" What?" Clay said unable to move.

" I said climb up,Clay!" John said.

King Peppy's heart stopped the second his eyes caught sight of John, Branch and Clay being three Bergen feet away from getting snatched. Without thinking John whipped out and extended his hair using it to grab Clay and throw him up into the air. Panicking Spruce and Floyd did the same pulling him up to safety. Getting snatched by one of the hungry Bergens, John threw Branch as far as he could.

" RUN! RUN BRANCH RUN!" John screamed.

Rosiepuff snapped her head towards the scene playing out when John's blood chilling scream reached her. She attempted to throw herself through the bars but, King Peppy pulled her away. Terrified little Branch tried to run away as far as his legs could take him but, tripped near another by standing Bergen who was smoking while sitting on the pavement. Branch panted crawling backwards once he locked eyes with the high giant. The Bergen reached out for the child but, before he could grab him Clay, Spruce and Floyd jumped down swinging themselves to the rescue. Spruce went to aid John while Floyd and Clay went for Branch.

" Give it!"

" No! It's mine!"

" We'll see about that!"

The Bergens at the phone booth fought desperately seeking to steal JD for themselves. The first one had John by his hair while the other had legs stretching his body painfully. The third one angrily punched both of them hoping to force them to drop the troll which it did. Swiftly catching John the Bergen shoved him in his mouth but, before he could bite down Spruce took a sharp piece of glass stabbing his foot. Red poured out from the deep cut.

" AHH!" The Bergen screamed spitting pit John.

John rolled out on the road stumbling. Breathing heavily his heart raced. His eyes were shot like he had almost seen god right then and there in the Bergen's mouth. Not wasting any time Spruce dashed for John but, before he could reach him a Bergen with a black eye threw an empty beer bottle in his direction.

" Spruce! Watch Out!" John warned.

Just like the previous bottle it shattered and some of flying pieces cut through not Spruce's clothes. It nicked at his arms and legs too. Falling down to the ground to take cover glittery rainbow blood leaked from a few of  his minor cuts. Groaning in pain Spruce clutched his cut arms harshly getting blood on his hands. The sight of Spruce bleeding turned John's vision red. Growling he got and grabbed a rock with his hair and threw it at the Bergen responsible.

Meanwhile Floyd grabbed Branch as Clay made the Bergen chase him. Running in the opposite direction Clay led the Bergen into an alleyway hoping to lose the predator on his tail. Floyd gently rocked Branch whispering comforting phrases as he ran back to back to the telephone pole. Tears ran down the younger trolling's face sobbing and shaken by how he was almost a snack to that druggie chasing Clay.

Spruce grunted as he forced himself up. He whipped his head around hoping to see Dory somewhere but, he was nowhere in sight. John flung more rocks at the Bergens stoning them enough to send them running. The rocks had left more cuts and bruises than Spruce left on one of them.

" Fuck! These Trolls Have Gone Wild!"

" THAT'S RIGHT! YOU BETTER RUN! THAT WAS FOR MY BROTHER!" John yelled victorious.

" John! Spruce!" Floyd called out.

Both older brothers turned around. Snapping out of their standing still moment they ran to Floyd meeting him near the telephone pole. Floyd gasped at the sight of cuts and blood on Spruce and the bruising on John. He held Branch's head pushing it down so their youngest wouldn't see the damage not wanting to scare him more.

" OH MY GOD! Are you okay? Of Course Your Not Okay! Ah!" Floyd said caught in panic.

" Don't worry about it." Spruce grunted.

" I'm fine! Where's Clay?" John said.

" A Bergen chased him into that alleyway. " Floyd pointed through his hair.

The pink locks extended and twisted towards the direction Clay disappeared in. Sounds of thrashing and crashing followed a hissing angry cat. Then Clay's scream...

" Get Back On Top Of That Pole!" John ordered.

Bolting off John dashed then swung himself by his hair towards Clay's scream. The Bergen was unconscious but, angry cat had the troll cornered. Clay's back hit the wall. Spotting trash can lib about to tip over near Clay and the cat, John threw a can at it. The lid crashed between cat and Clay as John lurched his teal hair at his brother.

Pulling Clay closer, he dragged him out the alleyway away from the beastly cat. Some shallow scratch marks appeared on Clay's check while his yellow hair was shorter and uneven. Clay hugged John panting thankful for rescue.

" Thank you..."

" Save it for later." John ordered.

When they got back to the telephone tower Floyd was up top patching Spruce up. The cut up troll beared his teeth through the pain. Branch stood closer to edge hoping to see John and Clay. When he did spot them his eyes lit and began jumping up and down.

" I see them! I see them!" Branch exclaimed.

" Branch, be careful for the edge." Floyd warned.

" I see- Bergen! Behind You!" Branch called out.

Before John and Clay could do anything a shadow one of the Bergen Guards doing some late night patrolling loomed over them. They stepped on the two without warning preventing them from escaping. Branch stopped jumping stumbling backwards.

" SPRUCE! FLOYD! TAKE BRANCH AND RUN! GET TO THE PIPE!" John yelled.

" JOHN! CLAY!" Branch called out getting closer to the edge.

Hearing Branch the guard looked up but, didn't see anyone else besides Branch. He took his weapon and banged at it against the telephone pole until Branch fell off. Spruce and Floyd leaped trying to save him from the same fate their other brothers were caught in but, it was useless. Spruce only ended up holding onto the pole and grabbing Floyd's foot. The Bergen caught Branch with both hands then plucked John and Clay before going back to the Troll Tree throwing them in harshly.

" NOO!" Floyd cried but, was immediately hushed by Spruce.

Back in the cage Rosiepuff gasped running to her three grandsons. Branch was knocked unconscious while Clay and John groaned in pain. Tears filled her eyes as she got her knees shaking them to make sure they were still alive. King Peppy's eyes narrowed at the sight of them but, his mind was not kind. A memory of Noah and Olivia on their knees near similarly hurt trolls from a passed escape attempt flashed before his eyes. He did not see John or Clay or Branch or Rosiepuff. He just saw the past.

" What were you thinking!?! " King Peppy said unaware of himself.

" OH ZIP IT!!! Save the lecture! Their Hurt!" Rosiepuff snapped. "Is anyone by chance a doctor?"