Kung Fu Troll 2: Secrets of a Rose

Prologue

Flames engulfed every building, blazing like giant torches. Screams echoed in the night, indistinguishable. Metal clangs rang sharp like a knife on a chalkboard. Everywhere she looked, something burned or someone screamed or someone died. She ducked under a burning rafter that had fallen and escaped into the open air, cold and clogged with ash. She skidded to a halt, and the tip of a sword nearly grazed her nose.

"Goin' somewhere?" The armed soldier sneered, readying his sword. Before he could lunge again, a shadow came up from behind and stabbed him in the neck with a dagger.

"Get away from my wife." The hulking shadow snarled. He grabbed the dead soldier by his breastplate and threw him several feet away.

"Nice timing, Kai." She sighed in relief.

The shadow came into the light to reveal a troll with dark blue skin, neon blue hair, and blue-grey eyes. He had a short, bristly beard and mustache. He wore pants and a vest, and he was armed with a pitchfork and a broken shield. He stood a head taller than the female before him. She had purple skin and green hair and eyes, her dress torn and dirty with a few bloodstains.

"Are you hurt?" Kai asked worriedly.

"Bumps and bruises." She assured. Her eyes widened with realization. "Where—?"

"They ran off like everyone else." Kai explained. "Rosiepuff, listen to me. You have to run. Run far and hide somewhere. I'll come find you and the others and we'll run away someplace safe."

Rosiepuff stared at the soldiers still fighting with the other village warriors. "You can't fight them alone!"

Kai forced a chuckle. "I've got my Merry Men, don't I?"

"I won't leave you." Rosiepuff was caught off-guard when Kai pulled her into a tight hug. He was strong enough to snap a troll's spine, yet his hugs were always gentle.

"And I won't lose you." He kissed her quick. "Go. I'll find you. I will."

Determination shined in his eyes, but also desperation. Reluctantly, she ran into the snowy forest, leaving her massacred village behind. She heard Kai's battle cry, and the terrified screams of the enemy soldiers. Rosiepuff came to the top of a hill and saw the outline of a city with the sunrise behind it.

"No thanks, Sunrise City." Rosiepuff turned and sprinted deeper into the forest. "Goodbye and good riddance!"

She slipped in the snow a few times. Now and then, she would take an abrupt detour at the sight of an enemy soldier. She passed a few bodies but did not dare stop to see which of her friends died.

That is, until she saw the body of her son.

Any scream or words she might've had were caught in her throat. Rosiepuff knelt by Larch's body and rolled him over. She choked on a gasp when she saw his throat slit. Nearby, she found another heartbreaking sight: Stella's bloody body. Rosiepuff trembled, tears forming in her eyes.

A wheeze from Stella startled Rosiepuff from her grief, and she quickly crawled to the younger troll's side. Stella's eyes were out of focus, and she breathed shallowly.

"It's okay." Rosiepuff soothed. She knew Stella wouldn't make it, but she would spend her last moments with the comfort of a loved one. Rosiepuff looked around. "Where is he?"

Stella moved her arm with the last of her strength, and she passed away pointing to her right. Rosiepuff swallowed her sorrow, knowing someone else needed her now. She followed Stella's point and ran off, searching behind every tree and under every leafless bush. So intent on her search, she didn't see the steep slope until she fell down it. She tumbled down the hill and landed face first in the snow.

"Fantastic." Rosiepuff groaned, spitting snow and gravel from her mouth. She perked up. Someone was crying. A baby! She scrambled to her feet and followed the sound to a nearby vegetable cart, loaded and ready for transport. She dug through the marshtatos and turnips until she found a little blue baby troll in a shamrock green onesie. Relief washed over Rosiepuff. "There you are."

The baby stopped crying long enough to see his grandmother, and he reached for her with a whimper.

"It's okay." Rosiepuff scooped the child into her arms. "There now, angel. My Branch, my baby." She hugged him tightly. "Let's get out of here."

A second after she moved, an arrow hit the cart in the very spot she once stood. Rosiepuff spun around and saw a group of soldiers at the top of the hill. Two of the trolls stood out: an armored one with a cape and a captain's medallion, and the other wearing regal clothing. Rosiepuff held Branch close and sprinted away.

"Orders, Your Excellency?" The caped troll asked.

"I believe I said 'leave no survivors.' Kill them." The regal troll commanded.

Rosiepuff ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She clutched her infant grandson to her chest, keeping him from jostling too much. The guards pursued her, cutting her off and forcing her to make wild turns and go about in circles. She ended up back towards Sunrise City, the guards still in pursuit. Early morning fog shrouded the city. Rosiepuff couldn't see more than a few feet in front of her. She barely felt wooden boards below her feet.

Suddenly, the road stopped, and Rosiepuff just managed to stop herself from running right off the edge of the docks. There was fog and dark waters on three sides of her and soldiers blocking her only escape. The guards all had arrows pointed at her and her grandchild. The caped troll stepped forward.

"Surrender or we'll have to kill you." The caped troll droned.

"You'll kill us anyway!" Rosiepuff growled.

The caped troll shrugged. "Yes, but killing you in the dungeon means I don't have to worry about cleaning your blood from the docks. But if you insist on being stubborn…" He turned his back to Rosiepuff and looked to the soldiers. "Shoot them both."

The guards fired their arrows. Rosiepuff shifted Branch to one arm and used her free hand to make a big sweeping motion upwards. Water shot up from under the docks, through the boards, and created an ice wall to catch the arrows.

The caped troll spun around and growled in frustration. "A water-bender?!"

Rosiepuff used that moment of distracting shock to leap off the edge of the docks. She manipulated the water to form a bubble around herself and Branch, and they went under the seawater. She landed in the squishy, wet sand and then took off running again. Arrows shot in the water and missed her entirely.

"Did you hit her?" The caped troll demanded.

"I don't think so, sir." A guard said.

"What do we do?" Another guard asked. "What will the prince say?"

"What Lord Artemis doesn't know won't hurt him." The caped troll said. "Let's go. There's plenty more hunting to do."

Rosiepuff didn't stop running until she slipped yet again and landed on her tailbone. She panted heavily, leaning against a rock and still holding Branch like a child clutching their favorite teddy. Branch whimpered in fear, the infant snuggling closer to his grandmother.

"It's okay. We're okay, Branch." Rosiepuff sighed. "We'll be just fine. We just have to…..we have to…" She took a moment to better assess their situation. They sat at the bottom of Sunrise City harbor. She cradled Branch in one arm so she could use her bending abilities to create their bubble. Kai and whatever survivors from the massacre were who-knows-where. What would she do now? Simply walk around the bottom of the harbor and hope she came to the shore? Pray that, once she got to dry land, no enemies would be there to greet her? "I'm in trouble." She muttered to herself. Using the rock to support her, she managed to stand again.

Just as she was about to get moving, Rosiepuff saw a shadow in the water. This turned out to be a troll on a rope, swimming right for her. She tensed up as the troll stepped right into her bubble, giving two tugs on the rope tied around his waist. The troll had amber-colored hair and eyes, with yellow skin, wearing pants and a vest over a long-sleeved shirt. He smoothed out his wet, grey-streaked hair and smiled at Rosiepuff.

"Good morning!" He greeted. "Lovely day for a swim, eh?"

Rosiepuff didn't answer. She was ready to run at a moment's notice.

"I come in peace, fair lady." The troll said. "My crew and I saw your predicament on the docks. We doubted that you or your child could've done anything to warrant such violence."

Rosiepuff looked up and saw the shadow of a ship. "What do you want?"

"To help." The troll assured. "Unless you'd rather take your chances with the guards."

Rosiepuff weighed her options for a moment, and finally decided her best bet for Branch's safety rested on this troll's ship. "I can't carry him, hold this bubble, and hold onto you all at once."

The troll held up another length of rope. "May I?" Rosiepuff hesitantly nodded, and the troll looped the rope around her hips. He held onto her and tugged on his rope again. The rope tightened, and they rose through the water. Rosiepuff's bubble burst when they reached the surface, and the sailors of the ship pulled them all aboard. The troll untied the ropes from himself and Rosiepuff. "Well done, men! Good work." He looked to Rosiepuff and bowed a little. "Welcome aboard the Storm Chaser, Golden Rose."

Rosiepuff tensed again, and she backed away from the troll captain. A column of water rose from the sea behind her. "Very few still know me by that name. How do you know it?"

The captain remained calm, even when his crew feared this water-bender would sink their ship. "I am not surprised that you do not remember me. It has been many years. Last I saw you, you were hardly older than twelve, and I used to play tricks on you with your older cousin, Bramble. I was Bram's best friend, Tan."

Almost instantly, the water fell back and the seas calmed. "Tan? Not the same rascal who pulled at my hair?"

"And you froze me in a block of ice for it." Tan chuckled. "It's been a long time, Golden Rose."

Rosiepuff's smile faded. "I no longer go by that name."

Tan nodded slowly. "I see. Why were the guards chasing you?"

"My village was attacked." Rosiepuff explained. "I have no idea who managed to escape, but I'm supposed to meet with my husband and the other survivors."

"Where?" Tan asked.

Rosiepuff paused. "Well, Kai didn't say anywhere in particular. But he said he'd find me."

"And I think it'd be best if he found you alive." Tan said. "Stay aboard the ship with us. We'll hide and protect you while some of my men attempt to find your husband and the other survivors." Tan noticed Rosiepuff's doubtful look. "Please. Let us help you. It's the least I can do for the family of my dearest friend."

For the first time that night, Rosiepuff relaxed. "I'll thank the gods every day that I did find a friend after all this. Thank you."

Tan nodded, and he started barking orders to his crew. "Silver, steer this ship back to the docks! Prepare to dock ship! Amber and Bones, take this money, go ashore, and find us some provisions for the journey. This little one will need some sort of formula, I'm sure. Jim, you'll lead the search through town. Roberta, you and Louis take a team to cover the forest. If there are any other survivors to be found, tell them we have two of their own on our ship, and we will give them safe passage to sanctuary. Let's move!"

As tense as she was to be in Sunrise City much longer, Rosiepuff was happy to be with friends. Branch began to calm as well, and even whined for breakfast.

Around lunchtime, Tan's search parties returned. Rosiepuff left Branch in the care of a cabin boy while she hurried above deck to greet her husband. She hardly made it outside before Tan grabbed her and pulled her into the captain's quarters.

"With all due respect: are you mad?!" Tan checked out the window. "If the guards saw and recognized you—"

"My apologies." Rosiepuff sighed. "I was anxious to see Kai. Where is he? Did you find many survivors?" She noticed Tan's solemn gaze. "What? Where is everyone? I'm certain at least some of them must've escaped. Kai would've found them."

Tan sighed heavily. "Not if the guards found them first."

Rosiepuff shook her head in denial. "No. No, he's fine. He said he was going to find me. No matter where he would've gone, he would—"

"Golden Rose, listen to me." Tan said in a firm, yet empathetic, tone. "We did a sweep of the forest and the city, but Artemis and his men did first. I overheard the captain report to the prince: there were no survivors. They found some stragglers and killed them. They believe you to be dead as well."

Rosiepuff's knees gave out, and Tan caught her before she could hit the ground. She clutched his vest, sobbing into his shirt as the weight of his words crushed her heart. Everyone was gone. Her husband, son, and daughter-in-law: dead. Her village: massacred. Only she and Branch remained.

Her breathing hitched. Branch. Her infant grandson. She saved him, at least. Now, she had to be there for him. She rubbed her eyes on her wrist and stood with Tan's help.

"I must return to Lotus Lagoon to retrieve some things. Then, I need you to take me to Troll Valley." Rosiepuff requested.

"As you wish, my lady." Tan nodded. "We'll be doing some trading there in two days' time. I'll escort you there myself."

Rosiepuff thanked Tan, and then excused herself. The crew watched solemnly as she returned below deck. Rosiepuff found Branch and took him in her arms. The child did not know the reason for his grandmother's sadness, but understood that she needed a hug.

"It's just you and me now, Branch." Rosiepuff sighed heavily. "But it's okay. I'll be there for you."

The next time the Storm Chaser made port, Tan and a group of his sailors escorted Rosiepuff and Branch ashore. They rented a wagon and began their journey to Troll Valley. Rosiepuff spoke very little on the way. A thousand thoughts buzzed in her mind like busy bees in a hive: her family was dead, she alone would have to raise Branch, she needed a place to live, she needed a source of income, so much to do and she'd have to do it alone, she'd have to see if her old friends were still around, she ought to look for schools for Branch, it would be great if Kai were there to help—

"Here we are." Tan's voice jolted Rosiepuff from her thoughts. She looked up and saw Troll Valley before her, with the Troll Tree standing tall and casting a protective shadow over the village.

Tan parked the wagon in the marketplace and helped Rosiepuff climb down. "Thank you for everything, Tan." Rosiepuff said gratefully.

"It's an honor and a pleasure." Tan said. "Is there anything else we can do? Shall we stay in town until you're settled?"

"Let her be, Captain." One of the crewmen on the wagon chuckled. "Let's not forget who this is. All the stories you've told about her family. She'll be fine."

"I will. Really." Rosiepuff said. "Anytime you're in the village, come find me. Tea and a good meal will be ready for you."

"Best of luck to you." Tan said. "This is a good place to stay. Heaven knows why Lord Artemis wants you dead, but Master Ryu can give you protection."

"Happy to do so."

Tan and his sailors immediately straightened and then bowed, as did several other trolls around them. Rosiepuff sighed, a knowing look in her eyes, and she turned around. A troll wearing kung fu robes and carrying a staff stood before her. He had peach-orange skin, deep violet hair, and mahogany-colored eyes. A tree-shaped crest was stitched into his robes, over his heart: the symbol of the Troll Tree Palace.

"You always seem to show up at exactly the right time." Rosiepuff mused. "How long has it been, Master Ryu?"

"Far too long." Ryu chuckled. "It's funny. First time you ever came to Troll Valley, you were with child. Now, you come again with another one!" Confused, his eyebrows furrowed like caterpillars creeping together. "But this is not the child I remember. And you had someone else with you back then."

Branch began fussing out of boredom, and Rosiepuff bounced the baby. "Kai couldn't make it."

Ryu did not need to hear anything more. "Welcome home, Rosiepuff."

A/N: To be honest, this has been sitting on my computer for a while, and I'm bored and quarantined at home. So I'm reviewing the story, editing it, and publishing just because! :D Constructive criticism is welcome.