Chapter Text
The air was warm, the sky shone bright blues and warm yellows with the arrival of the rising sun. A breeze swept through the village of the Pop Trolls, carrying scents of pollen and distant rain. On the edge of the forest, a certain dark-haired troll sat enjoying the quiet morning.
The corners of his eyes were wrinkled in a small smile as he took a deep breath in, savoring the air that seemed to fill him with hope for the day. The twittering of birdsong in the trees behind him only seemed to aid his sense of calm, something had he had rarely been able to relish in after the events of the past few months.
Branch’s life had changed so quickly in such a short amount of time, it gave him a sense of mental whiplash like nothing else he’d ever experienced. He had changed from one person to another in what felt like the blink of an eye, his entire lifestyle morphing before him into something he could only have dreamed of before.
For years of his life, he’d been shrouded in a cloud of grief so thick that he couldn’t seem to see through it. His entire life had seemed to crash and burn before his eyes, without anyone to explain why.
He’d been born into a world with four brothers, four confident, charming, caring, funny brothers. They were his world, and for a time, he thought he was theirs, too. Branch had felt like he belonged, anywhere in the world—as long as his brothers were beside him.
One stood out above the rest, though. There was one Troll who’d been by his side no matter what life threw at him, no matter the time, no matter the place. His face was as clear in Branch’s mind as if his favorite brother had been standing right in front of him.
Floyd.
Floyd was everything that a big brother should’ve been. He was kind, he soothed Branch’s worries no matter how insignificant they were deemed by the others. He’d support even the most naive of Branch’s ideas, even something as childish as a ten-foot water slide. As a child, Branch thought Floyd to be the perfect brother that everyone deserved.
That outlook on life crumbled away before him in the aftermath of his very first—and last show. Being on stage with his brothers was awe-inspiring. He felt star struck, whether by his brothers, or the glare of the stage lights in his glasses, he couldn’t tell; but suddenly as quick as they began, their entire performance broke apart.
They’d been so focused on accomplishing one thing: the perfect family harmony. Something that signifies a bond as a family, that sent ripples of energy through the air and lit up the sky like nothing else in the world. It was rumored to be so powerful, it was the only thing that could shatter diamond.
In just a few moments though, they’d failed—and made a complete fool of themselves doing so.
He could hardly remember what was exchanged between his brothers in the dressing room. None of them had spoken to him, it was all angry back and forth shouts over his head between them and John Dory, their oldest brother and self-designated leader.
Branch could only remember being scared. He’d followed the verbal shots back and forth with his gaze, tears welling up and dotting the lenses of his glasses as he watched his family break apart into nothing. Rapidly, without even a goodbye, his brothers were gone, with their last words being nothing but venom-filled growls tossed over their shoulders.
Except, a figure was crouching down before him. Familiar red hair filled his damp gaze as he looked up at his big brother Floyd. For a few moments, he thought he hadn’t lost all of his brothers. Floyd was the one Troll who he believed in, he wouldn’t leave him too. His hope was crushed when the words that still haunted his ears today were spoken by his big brother.
“Not forever. I’ll be back, I promise.”
Unfortunately for Branch in his childhood nativity, he had been stupid enough to believe him—and so he waited, and waited, and waited. Suddenly days turned into weeks, weeks into months—and months into years.
The last person Branch had in the world was his grandmother. She was the last piece of his brothers he had, she reminded him of Floyd in small ways that he clung to at all costs. It was fitting that she would be the one to save him from his fate, the greedy clawed hand of a Bergen.
He could still hear her screams, when it got to quiet and he let himself get to thinking. Any time the song he’d been singing when she saved him appeared into his head like a curse, he felt a wave of nauseating grief so strong that he nearly couldn’t stand.
He was unfortunate enough to still retain the memory of him falling from the tree, hitting the ground with a force that made his entire body go searing cold. He’d feel that pain a thousand times over if it meant he could go back and save her.
He’d lost his brothers for what felt like second time that day. Any connection he’d ever had with them since they’d left was gone. Music, the one thing that’d brought them so close together—not only broke them apart, but led to the downfall of their grandmother.
He’d felt the music seep out of him as if it were cold water dripping down his body.. His color leeched from his skin, stealing away his bright teals and blues, to be replaced with the dull grays of someone he did not recognize. His life had felt over right then and there. Not only had he lost his brother’s music, but no longer did he even resemble his family.
That was—until he met *her.* The most fearless, spirited and bright Troll he would ever have the fortune of meeting. Her name was Poppy, and she would be the one Troll who wouldn’t give up on him. She would frustratingly, *infuriatingly* push Branch out of his comfort zone like nobody else had bothered to do.
She’d stayed by his side no matter how much he’d tried to push her away—enduring everything he threw at her. Even through his sarcastic remarks, she’d have a snappy retort always ready to keep him on his toes. She taught him so many things that he thought he’d been so sure about.
Even through their ups and downs, where they’d have disagreements and go their separate ways, they’d always make it back to each-other in the end. These moments were always so scary to Branch, and he’d think he’d lost her too; but she’d always come back in the end, and that’s how he came to believe in her.
She’d brought out his true colors, and helped him finally recognize himself again. Suddenly, for the first time in years, he had someone in his life who made an effort to stay. She gave him a reason to sing, a reason wake up each morning and look forward to what the day had to offer.
She’d become his best friend, something that he’d long since giving up on ever having. Soon his heart had started to race every time he saw her. It would dance and sing in his chest with a feeling of adoration that he hadn’t felt in years, long before he’d ever lost anyone.
Their holding hands began to linger, stolen glances became exchanged looks, and her smiles made him unable to stop smiling in return. She became the first thing he’d think of when he woke up, and the last thing to appear in his mind before he fell asleep.
He’d struggle with these emotions for so long, not knowing what to do with them in fear of losing the one person who meant the most to him. It was a split-second decision that ended this struggle through, as he flung himself through the air to shield the light of his life from the Ultimate Power Chord.
The pain was excruciating, but once more—he’d feel that pain a thousand times over if it meant keeping her safe. After she’d helped to save him and the lives of others once again, he’d finally realized that he couldn’t live his life hiding his feelings any longer. He’d told her he loved her, and to his heart’s delight, she’d felt the same.
Now they were together, spending their afternoons trailing after one another from task to task. They’d savor any and all time spent together, even if it was something as simple as doing different tasks in the same room. Poppy would oftentimes scrapbook in the floor of his bunker while he’d make repairs—or at least pretend to, so he could get away with stealing glances in her direction.
This would culminate into the night Poppy had kissed him on the cheek, where he felt any semblance of his hard exterior that was left melt away. From that night on they’d been closer than ever before. It made him the happiest he’d ever felt, and while the old him might’ve looked upon the morning like another day to survive, he now saw it as a day to live.
Suddenly a loud noise interrupted the peace, a familiar voice accompanied by a flurry of movement at his side.
“You’re up early!”
Poppy greeted, appearing suddenly beside him and causing Branch so scuttle and struggle to get to his feet. He didn’t know if she’d caught him looking wistfully into the sunrise, or if he still had time to salvage a nonchalant demeanor.
“Poppy! Oh hey, I- I didn’t see you there!”
He’d say as he finally managed to stand, waving his hands around frantically in search for something, anything to do with them. Eventually he shifted a few poses of leaning on a tree beside him before finally crossing his arms tight over his his chest and managing an awkward smile.
Poppy only laughed, endeared by his frenzied scurry to appear as if he’d been expecting her arrival all long. The sound was music to Branch’s ears and his smile became a bit more real. He rubbed the back of his neck with one arm as the other fell to his side.
Poppy beamed up at him, gazing with bright eyes. She rocked on her feet, biting her lip and beginning to jog in place in apparent excitement for something mysterious that she had yet to tell her boyfriend. Branch raised a suspicious brow, wondering what trouble she had gotten into already.
“Is there something you wanna tell me?”
Branch asked, and wasn’t surprised when Poppy exploded in a tumble of words where she grabbed his hands in hers and began to jump up and down at a speed that nearly pulled both of his arms out of socket simultaneously.
“YES I’m so glad you asked! I was talking to Bridget and since we’re like *best friends* I get to be the first to know all of the hot happenings in Bergen Town, which is like- SO cool, but because of that I found out that her and King Gristle are getting MARRIED! I get help plan her wedding and I’ve ALWAYS wanted to help plan her wedding and that’s-“
Poppy had began to talk so fast that Branch lost track, and eventually devolved to simply watch her speak with a small smile on his face. When she lost all of the breath in her lungs, she took a big gulping gasp and had to take a minute to breathe.
Branch’s eyes met hers, and she laughed breathlessly before looking down at their hands, still breathing heavily to recover from her passionate speech about her best friend’s engagement. Branch tucked a loose strange of pink hair behind her hair before she smiled and finally seemed to be finished recovering.
“Basically, I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to the castle today to start planning. Do you want to come with me?”
She squeezed his hands in hers, a wordless reassuring gesture. Branch loved seeing her this happy, her happiness radiated off of her until it became his own as well. He couldn’t help but be happy for her in times like this.
“I think I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Pop Village for you. Enjoy your time with Bridget, yeah?”
Poppy nodded, her face a mix of elation and disappointment at the notion that Branch wasn’t coming with her. She loved having him at her side, but he knew that having someone here to keep an eye over her subjects would allow her to fully appreciate her best friend’s company.
Poppy nodded assuredly, squeezing Branch’s hands again before pulling him forward into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her as she did the same, pulling each-other close into an embrace that seemed to last for lifetimes. She nuzzled into his neck, resting her head on his shoulder for a long few moments.
Their heart beats both sped up as they hugged, seemingly greeting each-other as they became close against each-other’s chests. After what felt like not long enough, as their hugs often did, they pulled away—their hands slipping into their familiar places in eachother’s grasps again. Poppy kissed Branch on the cheek, leaving what felt like fireworks across his face as she did so.
He suppressed a giggle and felt his face grow hot, and Poppy gave him another one of her beaming grins before waving and trotting away back into the trees. Branch watched her go, his heart feeling full to a point that it seemed to take up his entire chest.
He rubbed his face in preparation to make the walk back to Pop Village, not wanting the other Trolls to see himself in such a vulnerable state, one that was meant for Poppy’s eyes only. As he was looking down shyly, his eyes caught on his vest, the familiar overlapping petals of green igniting a distant memory.
He stopped to study it further, running his hand along the stitching as he thought about his brothers while people he loved was on his mind. His ears dropped slightly at the thought of them, but he shook it off with a shake of his head. Before he could take a step forward and move on towards the safety of Pop Village, the ground fell out from beneath him.
Suddenly the world around was washed in a deep purple, and the surface around him was unnaturally smooth and cold to the touch. He yelped in surprise, being flung onto his back as he was scooped up into a geometric container. He looked up in horror at the vast figure before him, feeling white hot terror flow through his veins.