Phoenix sighed. "Well, originally I had found both of them, but then something kinda happened, and now she is off somewhere very upset a lot and very lost." He turned to Ocean. Ocean looked down in shame. Iris seemed to be thinking. "Okay you two start going back to the Heart Tree, and I'll send some more doves out to find her. We've already found Poppy, Branch, Journey, and Adventure. So, based on my calculations, she's the only one we haven't found yet and we've looked everywhere."

Phoenix nodded and threw some seeds on the ground. He and Ocean were about to go in, until a cage fell on them. They looked around frantically to see who dropped the cage. They looked up and saw Trollex and a bunch of doves. Trollex motioned for a bunch of doves to grab the cage. They did and flew off them.

"Great!" Iris groaned. Ocean started looking nervous. "If they have us, then that means there are other zombie trolls at the Heart Tree. " They turned and saw a bunch of Zombiefied doves flying off. "And Creek must have sent those doves to find Esmerald." Phoenix realized. They all looked at each other nervously. "Oh no! Esmerald and everyone's in trouble!"

*With Esmerald*

It took a while, but I had eventually drawn out a plan that could save everyone and make Creek beg for mercy! I just had to find Ocean, Iris, Poppy, Branch, Adventure, Journey, and Phoenix. Hopefully Creek hasn't captured them yet. I also knew that since Creek knew about my magic, he's going to send somebody, whether it be Zombiefied trolls or doves, to come after me and take me to him. I have to keep my guard up. I started walking to search for everyone.

*2 Hours Later*

I have been rolling for two hours and I haven't found anyone! I stopped to eat a snack, looking around for any sign of anyone. When I finished and didn't see anyone, I started rolling again. I hope everyone's doing better than I am.

*With Everyone At The Heart Tree*

"Okay everyone, listen up!" Emerald called. "So Iris found Ocean and Phoenix, but after finding them, her, Ocean, and Phoenix all got trapped in a cage by Trollex, who you all know has been Zombiefied by Creek. Trollex is going to take them to Creek, so we have to stop him before he does. At the same time I need another group to go look for Esmerald and warn her. She's lost and doesn't know where we are." Emerald looked around. "Okay who wants to go look for Esmerald?"

Adventure, Poppy, Branch, River, and Journey stepped forward. "Okay all of you can go look for her. Poppy your in charge, but don't leave yet." Poppy nodded and they all stood there waiting for Emerald to finish. "Okay everyone else follow me! We're going to find Ocean, Iris, and Phoenix. Listen carefully though. Once we find them we will not rescue them immediately. We're going to follow them to Creek's hideout. Then we attack. Got it?" She turned to everyone. "Okay everyone looking for Esmerald may leave, everyone else follow me!" The Esmerald Search Party left and Emerald started explaining the whole plan to those who were following her.

*With Ocean, Iris, and Phoenix*

All of them sat in the cage silent. "So...." Phoenix said. "Anyone wanna play rock, paper, scissors?" Iris shook her head. "No thanks." Ocean kept crashing into the cage every few minutes. Iris eventually got tired of it. "Dude are you doing that to make us laugh or are you trying to break out of here?"

"I'm trying to bust our way out of here." He answered. Iris looked up in excitement. "Why do you look so happy? Are you excited that we could die?" Phoenix asked. "No Ocean just gave me an idea!" She exclaimed. She looked around the cage. "I found it!" She exclaimed. Ocean and Phoenix looked over to see what it was. "The cage lock?" They both looked confused. "Any of you got a stick, nail file, or bobby pin?"

Ocean started digging through his hair. Phoenix pulled out a bag to look through. "Where you get that?" Ocean asked as he pulled out a book from his hair. "I've had it this whole time." Phoenix answered as he flew into it, rummage around. "I know its in here somewhere. No that's not it. What even is this? No not it either. What's that doing in here? Maybe this is it. Aha got it!" He flew out of the bag. "Here." He held a bobby pin set to Iris. Iris took it. "This is perfect! Thanks!" She ran over to the lock. She stuck the bobby pin into the lock and wiggled it a little. "Almost.... Got it!" She exclaimed. She carefully flew out. "Okay follow me!" She whispered. Phoenix carefully fluttered out behind her. The only one left inside was Ocean.

"Uh... How am I suppose to get out?" He asked. Phoenix started thinking. "Are you afraid of heights?" Ocean looked confused. "No?" Phoenix flew into the cage and went behind Ocean. "Cool! Then you won't mind me doing this.😁😁" He pushed Ocean out of the cage, then he and Iris flew over to Ocean and grabbed him with their feet. "Woah....." Ocean looked around. By that time Trollex and the other zombiefied doves noticed the cage was empty. Trollex motioned for the doves to trap Iris, Phoenix, and Ocean again.

"Uh guys?!" Ocean shouted. "We've got company!" Iris and Phoenix flew faster, Ocean bouncing everywhere. Once he was still enough he spotted a small lake. "Guys let go of me!" Iris and Phoenix looked at each other. "Are you crazy?!" Ocean shook his head. "No there's a lake down there! I know how to swim! Just let go and follow me!" Iris and Phoenix looked at each other again. "Okay." They let go of Ocean. "Woah......" He plunged 10,000 feet. "This is actually kinda fun! Woohoo...." Iris and Phoenix flew beside him. "Remember aim for the lake!" He nodded and 10 seconds later he was in the lake.

*With Esmerald*

I continued rolling until I heard a huge splash. I turned and rolled toward the lake. I saw Ocean, Phoenix, and Iris running. I quickly rolled after them. "Guys wait!" I turned and saw Trollex running after them. "Oh no!" I rolled after them, grabbed them, covered them with my hair, and pulled them into a bush. We sat there not making a sound, until we heard Trollex leave. I undid my hair and we slowly crawled out. I redid the wagon for me since I still couldn't walk. Iris looked at me. "Thank you for saving us um...." Are you serious? Do they not recognize me?! "Guys its me!" I told them. "Who now?" Ocean asked. I groaned and pulled out a picture of me when I was gray. I gestured to the picture and me.

"I'm Esmerald. Ya know what? One second." I took off my hug time bracelet, so I could appear in my human form. "There. Recognize me now?" They nodded. "Oh... Now we see..." They were silent. I put my bracelet back on. "Oh..... Okay, so why we're on the subject of you," Iris started. "HOW IN TROLLSTOPIA DID YOU GET YOUR COLORS BACK?!" I jumped back because of how loud she was. "Well after shall I say, the incident," I started.

*A Few Minutes Later*

"And that's how it happened," I told them almost the whole story. I did leave a few details out. Like the whole crying thing and the whole fight thing. "Okie then." Iris said. "So you got a plan?" I pulled my notebook. "You know I do!" I laid the notebook down. Basically its just about the same plan I had before, but since we didn't have all the trolls from before, I had to move some things around. We'd have to find some more trolls. Ocean and Iris would instead help free everyone. Me and Phoenix would try to take down Creek, but we'll need someone to set the trap, and help us take down Creek and distract his father. We're going to need at least three more trolls/doves to make this work.

"So...." Phoenix started. "Guess we should start looking for everyone." Iris started talking. "Well, if I know Emerald, she sent doves/trolls to come after me, Ocean, and Phoenix." She turned to me. "And she probably sent trolls/doves to come after you because she knows that Creek knows that you have the nature magic. He's going to be sending rock zombies out to find you."

I thought for a second. "Well if she's sending anyone, she'd probably send Journey, River, Adventure, Poppy, and Branch. The only problem is none of them know the woods that well, not even Branch. They could get lost." I turned to Iris and Phoenix. "You two know these woods right?"

"Well, I know some of the woods here, just not all of them. I just moved here a few months ago. Iris has lived here almost her whole life. I'm sure she could help." Phoenix said. Iris walked up. "We both could help!" She told Phoenix. They smiled at each other. "This is so cute! Of course Broppy is still cuter though!" I sniffled a little. Ocean gagged a little. "Can we move on?" Iris nodded. "Follow us!"

*2 Hours Later*

I got tired of rolling in the wagon, so I used a dove feather to turn into a dove, and tried flying again. This time I was able to flutter a little off the ground, but I didn't get far before I fell. I groaned. "This is going to be fun." I continued trying to fly for the next 30 minutes. Finally I got tired and was about to turn back into a troll and continue rolling. Before I did I decided to try one last time. I flapped and flapped. I shut my eyes tight in case I crashed to the ground. I didn't fall, but I also didn't feel anyone holding me up. I opened my eyes.

I was actually flying!! "Yes!" I started turning left and right, then going up and down. "This is awesome!!" I flew up to where Iris and Phoenix were and looked down on the whole forest. Everything seemed so small, yet so big. I wonder what other animals I can turn into.

I flew on the ground, got a royal troll hair sample, turned back into a troll, and redid my wagon. I rummaged around in my hair to find a animal sample. I pulled out a feather collection. I opened up and looked through. "Let's see. Herons? No. Cardinals? Nu uh. Woodpeckers? No. Ah ha! Humming birds!" I exclaimed. I took out the feather and held it for a second. Soon I was on the ground turned into a humming bird.

I was so small no one could see me. "Uh Esmerald? Where'd ya go?" Ocean started looking around. Iris and Phoenix flew down to our level to look around. I quickly flew over to Ocean and tapped him on the shoulder. "What? Which one of you tapped me?" He turned to Iris and Phoenix. They both shook their heads. "Not us." I flew up and tapped Iris. She turned around. "Okay what is going on?" I flew and tapped Phoenix. He turned around. "Okay seriously?!"

I flew in front of them. "I'm a humming bird!" They stared at me. I continued. "Now I can finally get a break from that wagon. EEEEE!! I LOVE FLYING!!" Iris's face lit up. "Ya know, maybe you can be in charge of distracting Creek and his father!!" I turned to her, my face lighting up. "Hey yeah! That'll work! The only problem is if I'm going to be distracting Creek and his father, then who's going to build the trap that I lead him too?"

"Hey I got an idea!" Ocean chimmed in. We all turned to look at him. He continued. "See, the plan before was for me and Iris to capture Creek and his father." We looked at him. "Yeah?"

"Well," he continued. "What if we switch it up a bit? Here's what I'm thinking. Instead of Iris and me distracting Creek and his father right away, what if me and her build the trap that you," He gestured to me. "Could lead him into instead? Before we do that we'll need as many trolls as possible, before we execute the plan, once we find them, they could be in charge of taking down the rock zombies, and turning them back into themselves."

We all looked at each other and nodded in agreement. "Dang! How'd you get so good at planning things so stratgically?" Phoenix asked him. "I play a lot of sports, and you have to plan things really stratgically if you wanna win the games!" He answered plainly. Phoenix stared at him. "Okie then." After we finished the whole plan (hopefully) fully, we continued walking to find everyone.

*2 Hours Later*

This is going to take a lot longer than we planned. We stopped to camp out. Me and Iris were in charge of getting the fire wood, while Ocean and Phoenix built the fire pit. Once we got back we would pitch our own tents. I turned back into a troll and used my hair to make two wagons - one for me because I still couldn't walk, and the other for the fire wood. We were walking back to the camp, until we heard whispering. We followed the sounds and heard Ocean talking to Phoenix.

"Why don't you just tell her?" Phoenix was asking Ocean. "I am not telling her anything!" Ocean argued. "Ugh!" Phoenix groaned. "You are impossible!" Ocean glared at him. "Why don't you just let this go!" Phoenix laughed lightly. "I've never let anything go! Even after the bleachers incident, I continued explaining to Iris how things should've went."

I turned to Iris. "He actually did that?" She nodded. "Oh yeah! He doesn't know, but after the fifth time I used sound proof headphones, so I wouldn't be able to hear him." We turned out heads back to the conversation. "Look if you stop annoying me I'll tell her at the Valentine's Day dance!" Ocean gave in. We rolled/flew back to the camp site, acting like we didn't hear a thing. "Tell who what?" I asked once we made it.

"Oh tell you -" Ocean slapped his hand over Phoenix's mouth. Oh so they were talking about me! "Tell me what?" I asked them. "Tell you that....." Ocean started trailing off. "That we built the fire pit." He turned to Phoenix. "Right Phoenix?" Phoenix nodded his head rapidly. "Yep totally that and not anything else!" He smiled looking nervous.😁😅 Iris noticed. "Phoenix why are you nervous?" She asked him suspiciously. Phoenix started talking rapidly. "Nervous? Who? Me? No! Why do you ask?"

He started looking crazy. "I can't do it! He wants to tell you -" Ocean slapped his hand over his mouth again. "You know what?" Phoenix muffled. "I think I'll leave before I spill anyone else's secrets!" He flew off. Well he obviously isn't great at keeping secrets. I thought for a second. Wait he knows the secret and he's terrible at keeping secrets! All I have to do is break him. I just have to figure out how. I acted casual, so nobody would suspect anything. "Imma go get some fruit for us to eat." I turned into a humming bird and flew after Phoenix. I finally found him building a nest a few feet from the fire. I flew over and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around. "What are you doing here?"

I flew around him. "Oh nothing. Just wanted to talk about, oh I don't know secrets?" Phoenix froze. "I don't know anything." He looked crazy. I smirked, knowing I was getting closer. "Well okay, how 'bout this?" He turned to look at me. "You tell me the secret and I won't tell Ocean you told me." He thought for a second. "Absolutely...😁"

Yes the secrets mine! "Not!😑" Phoenix said. Great. Just great! Guess I'll either have to wait for the Valentine's Day dance that's gonna be here with all the trolls or keep annoying Phoenix until he breaks. He's gonna keep resisting me though. I got it! I'll pretend I don't care or know anything to throw Phoenix off my trail! I fly back to camp site where everyone is.

I saw Iris and Ocean whispering to each other. Ugh come on! He's letting Iris in on the secret too?! I fly quickly up to them acting like I don't know anything. They stopped whispering once they saw me. Iris turned to me. "Esmerald? Question?" I looked confused. "Sure what is it?"

"Well I was wondering exactly how far along you are with that plan?" I looked at her feeling even more confused. "Well its far enough, but we can't entirely complete it until we have a few more trolls/doves. Why?" This is sounding weird. Iris looked terrified. "Let me guess...... We just so happen to be right beside Creek's hideout." Iris nodded. "Yep!"

I start thinking. "Okay Ocean you and Phoenix need to find the stuff for the trap and set it up." Ocean looked at me. "You know it's only 8:00pm right?" I dug in my hair and pulled out a clock. "Oh..... Well that'll give us plenty of time to strike at 10:00pm!" Iris flew up and started grabbing sticks to put in a basket. Ocean watched her. "What are you doing?"

Iris rolled her eyes. "Collecting sticks for the trap. What else? Now c'mon and help me! We need as many as possible." Ocean looked around him. I pulled a basket out of my hair and handed it to him. "Let Phoenix know everything."

"Got it! And what are you gonna do?" I take out a humming bird feather and turn into a humming bird. "I'm gonna spy on Creek and his father and let you know if they move, have a plan, or know we're about to strike them." I start flying off to where he is. Ocean stood in front of me. "Are you crazy?!" I tried going around him. "Technically yes. Crazy over trolls! It's because of them I have my colors back and because of them that I have a positive outlook on life. I have to return the favor!" I started flying again in the opposite direction.

Ocean blocked me again! I stop, turn into a troll, and redo my wagon. "What now?" He looked down. "Well I just want to say, that, in case you
die -"

"Not really helping my bravery here!" I interrupted. "Sorry." I looked at him. "Oh that's fine I know you didn't -" He held up his hand. "Sorry." I felt confused. "Why are you repeating yourself? I could here you the first time."

"I'm saying sorry." He repeated. Okay this is getting weird. "Is this an inside joke? Am I trapped in a world that repeats everything?" I started looking around me.

"I'msayingsorryaboutourfightearlier!" He started talking so fast I could barely understand him. "Is that all that's bothering you?" I laughed a little. "I completely forgot about it. Wait is that what you were talking about? Were you going to tell me that at the dance?" He froze. "Yep!"

"Um.... Okie then. I'm sorry too, but I kinda have to start flying off, cause if we don't stop Creek and his father, there won't be a Valentine's Day Dance and then I won't be able to film Broppy's every move.........." I trailed off. "Pretend you didn't here that." Ocean smirked. "We'll see."

"Yeah, yeah very funny. Now if you'll excuse me...." I grabbed the humming bird feather out of my hair to turn into a humming bird. Once I did I flew off. "I'll be fine, just make sure you get the trap ready!" I called to him. "You got it!" He called back.

*At Creek and His Father's Hideout*

Once I made it to the hideout I could hear Creek shouting at Trollex and a small group of doves. "What do you mean you couldn't find the gray troll?!" Trollex and the doves shook their heads. Creek slumped back. "Ugh! This is pointless!" Barb and Riff ran over to him urgently. They started signing some type of message. "Oh.... So Poppy and Branch made it back to the Heart Tree? Ah. And Emerald has planned a sneak attack? Hmmmmm.... Okay then. We'll see how far she can get with that plan of hers!"

I hope they show up before we plan our attack. Creek stood up and yawned. "Well Imma get to bed now. Barb and Riff guard the guitar in that tent down there." Barb and Riff nodded, and with that, Creek and his father started off to bed. I better go see how the others are doing. I was about to start flying until someone grabbed me in a bag!

A/N: Word count: 3,537. SO CLOSE TO A NEW RECORD!!🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Oh well, I break it eventually.❤️🧡💛💚💙💜😆😀 So I REALLY hope you enjoyed that cause it took me much longer than most chapters did!😁😁😁 But hey it's published!🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 So anyway gtg now! BYE!!

EsmeraldTheBroppyShipper!!😆😀❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🥳🥳🥳🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😁🥰🥰🥰