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‘Man this hurts.’ JD thought to himself, holding an ice pack to his eye. You're probably wondering what happened to give JD a black eye. Once the group returned to Pop Village, Poppy immediately contacted the other kingdoms, surprising JD, Bruce, and Floyd with her being queen.
After explaining what happened, a certain rock queen decided that they weren't punished enough and tried to attack them, getting a good hit on JD before being pulled back by a larger troll. ‘But it's not like I didn't deserve it.’ JD thought sullenly, 'After all,what kind of older brother just abandons the baby of the family.'
That's what's bothering him. 20 years ago, after failing to reach the perfect family harmony, he just packed up his essentials and basically abandoned his family. It didn't matter if he eventually came back. Having your brothers walk out on you is a pain that can't be redeemed. JD sighed in regret, "You know, they say if you sigh, a piece of happiness leaves you."
JD turns around and sees Delta walking towards him, a soft smile on her pretty face. John gives her a sad smile, "It's not like I deserve any happiness, after what I've done."
Delta frowned as she sat next to him, "Now, Sugar, you know that's not true."
"Isn't it?!" He looked down, digging his nails into his palms, "I left my baby brother alone! And for what?! To hike the Everglade Trail?! To not be in charge and run away from any sort of responsibility like a coward?!" He could feel the hot tears threatening to come out, but he held them back. He didn't deserve it.
Delta gently took his hand and gently relaxed his fingers, rubbing the nail mark on his palm, "I'm not going to lie to ya, John, you made a mistake, a big one." She gently caressed one of his many calluses on his hand, "But that doesn't mean you're irredeemable."
"I could've taken him with me. I could've spared him all this trauma if I had just taken him with me."
"Or ya could've put the both of you in danger! Don't you remember how I found ya?"
JD blushed in embarrassment, "I'd rather not remember."
"You were passed out in the middle of the desert, with heat stroke and no water for miles! Those goggles certainly didn't help keep you cool." She would never forget that day. What you think would be a routing check for stray buffalo ends up becoming a rescue of a strange troll in a puffy jacket.
"Still though," he messed with his goggles, a nervous tick he never outgrew, "I could've done something."
"John, you can't keep thinking of what you could've done. You have to think of what you can do now . Branch is right here, still waiting for his brothers to show that they still love him. He may not forgive you right away, but isn't he worth it?"
JD closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He remembered clutching onto Branch's egg after he saw their parents being carried away by a bergen. He remembered how small those hands were against his, how Branch would hide in his hair like all trollings would do with their parents, the first time he heard him giggle, all precious moments.
"Yes," he opened his eyes, finally clear after so long, "he is worth it. It doesn't matter if it takes the next 20, 30, or even 40 years to forgive me. I'm not going to leave him, not again."
Delta smiled at him, happy to see the determination back in his eyes, "That's what I'd like to hear."