The Fall of Nugget the Brave

Hey guys! I just recently wrote this fanfic and wanted it to share it here on TTH =D Enjoy!

Leeli tried to ignore the bridge’s shudders as she clung to Nugget’s back as he carried her to safety. She could feel each thundering step the troll’s took as they got closer and closer to her fleeing family. Just as she and Nugget neared the fifth and final bridge, Leeli heard an ear splitting roar of a wounded animal erupt from behind her.

Twisting to look behind her, Leeli’s jaw dropped as she saw one of the troll’s fall forwards onto the bridge with a shuddering gasp, Podo’s sword peeking out through its shoulders. 

“Leeli!” Her mother’s voice barely made it above the thundering roar of Fingap Falls. She turned her back on her brothers and Podo as she urged Nugget onto the last bridge. With a gentle bark, Nugget safely carried her across to the north shore. Leeli slipped off of the huge dog’s back and into her mother’s arms.

She turned back to the bridge and watched as the troll stared dumbly down at his fallen companion and then gave an angry roar. The bridge shuddered and shifted as the troll took another step towards her brothers and grandpa. That’s when Leeli realized it. The bridge was about to collapse.

A faint hope coursed through her as she realized they might just make it to safety. She met Janner’s gaze as he and Tink sprinted across the last bridge with Podo close behind. Her heart fell as she saw the troll hesitantly step over its dead companion and the bridge held fast. Leeli watched through blurred vision as her brothers and Podo stopped and turned, ready to make a last stand.

The troll took a few more shuddering steps as it slowly grew confident in the quaking bridge. It gave a mighty roar that made Nugget growl and Oskar and Nia wince. Leeli saw Podo take Janner’s sword and grip her brother’s shoulder as he gestured for him to take Tink and get to safety. Janner hesitated and then turned away. 

Nugget growled again and started barking. Leeli grabbed his collar and tried to calm him down. Nugget turned his great shaggy head and rested his sad gaze on Leeli and gave her a great slobbery kiss. Leeli felt a lump in her throat as she realized what he was communicating to her. 

“Nugget, no.” she said quietly, resting her hand on his side.

Nugget just looked at her with those huge, gentle eyes as he gave another great bark and bounded up the stairs onto Miller’s bridge. A scream split the air as it tore out of Leeli’s mouth. She watched through blurred vision as Janner dodged out of Nugget’s way as the great dog charged at the troll. The dog gave a mighty bark as he leapt through the air and slammed into the bewildered troll.

“Nugget!” Leeli cried out as the reeling troll desperately tried to rid itself of the dog’s teeth and claws. The troll lost its balance and he and Nugget slammed into the bridge so hard the towers on either side of them shuddered. 

The ancient architects and builders of Miller’s Bridge failed the final test as the thousand year old bridge crumbled and fell into the thundering Fingap Falls below. 

"Nugget!” Leeli screamed as she watched the troll plummet into the unforgiving falls below. She could just make out her dog’s scrabbling outline as he fought to find purchase on the slippery tower. A gut-wrenching sob tore itself from Leeli’s mouth as she watched Fang after Fang attack her dearest companion. 

Tears streamed down her face and blurred her vision as she dragged herself up the steps, before Nia or Oskar could stop her, towards her closest friend in the world, screaming his name over and over again. Nugget tossed one last Fang into the Falls as he turned his huge wounded head to look at Leeli one last time. 

Leeli crawled past a stricken Janner and reached out to her faithful, loving friend across an empty span only love could fill and cross. Her vision momentarily cleared as she met Nugget’s eyes one last time. He gave one last mighty, gentle bark as he let go of the tower and fell into the thundering Fingap Falls, his eyes never leaving Leeli’s face, content knowing he had protected her one last time.

Thx for reading!