It was one of those perfect autumn mornings in Troll village. Leaves were falling and the air was cooler but sunshine and happiness still found its way to every troll. Poppy was brimming with excitement as she sat in the pod of Satin and Chenile, the fashion twins.
"So what do you think ?" they cried in unison as they unveiled a stunning party dress. Poppy stared at it for a second.
"I don't like it...I LOVE IT!" she gasped. "Thank you so much!"
The twins beamed with pride.
"You'll look fantastic in it Poppy!" Satin cooed.
"Can you believe it's been a month already?" Chenile mused.
"Nope feels like just yesterday we were handing out the invitations for The biggest loudest craziest party ever!"
"In other ways it feels like years have gone by so much has changed !"
Poppy smiled and listened quietly to the twins' conversation
"Anyway I can't WAIT for tonight- all work and no play makes Chenile a very dull girl!" The blue fashionista gushed happily.
"You guys have been amazing," Poppy sighed , showing her appreciation for the hard graft the twins had put in.
"Oh well you haven't even seen it all yet!" Satin yelped as she pulled open a closet full of new outfits.
"So these are for the dancers,"
"Oh how pretty, " Poppy grinned, "but I like they aren't too flashy either!"
"We did follow your design Poppy!" Chenile playfully reminded her.
"Well you know Branch is the star and I wouldn't want the lovely ladies upstaging him now would I?"
she retorted with a flutter of her eye lashes as the twins giggled.
"Speaking of Branch , can I see his costume? Did he love it?"
Satin and Chenile exchanged glances.
"What was that look for?" Poppy demanded to know, placing her hands on her hips.
"Well it's just ...Branch hasn't been to see us. He hasn't tried it on and any time we've asked him he's said he was busy." Satin explained sadly.
"Yes," continued Chenile, "we've made it as best we can but we can't finish it until he tries it on. Maybe he just doesn't want to wear it."
Poppy couldn't bear the sad looks on the twins' faces. She plastered on her biggest smile and hugged them both tight. "Don't worry girls!" she beamed. "I'm sure he just forgot! You know how crazy busy he's been with the band- I've barely seen him myself lately. I tell you what, I'll head down there now and see if he's home. When I find him I'll send him right up to you ok?"
The twins agreed happily and Poppy went on her way.
As she made her way through troll village stopping briefly to hand out invitations Poppy noted the buzz and excitement that was coming from everyone. She smiled proudly as she listened to the Trolls talk about Branch and how they couldn't wait to hear him sing again.
The fact was Branch had been the talk of Troll Village for a while. Everyone was keen to learn more about the unexpected hero of the pot, the voice in the darkness but Branch was always quick to shrug and point out that all he'd done was sing a song and it was Poppy who'd faced down the Bergens and convinced them to change. Poppy loved the attention and Branch would slink away into the shadows.
It had come as a shock to her then , that Branch had formed a band with a group of trolls Poppy didn't know well. But that was Branch , full of surprises. Some days he was cocky and electric, lighting up any room he walked into - other times shy and reserved, backing away from attention and busying himself behind the scenes.
Poppy had been a little confused at first, after all she'd tried for years to get Branch to open up to her and her friends and he'd always shut them out. But she'd come to realize that Branch needed to find his own way.
Her thoughts were interrupted as a little troll child ran up and pressed his hands on her legs, "true colors true colors! " he cried , "I'm Branch I gave you your colors back Queen Poppy!"
Poppy giggled and scooped the child up for a hug.
"Well thank you 'Branch' , that was very kind of you." She gave the little troll a kiss on the forehead before setting him down again. As he ran back to his friends chanting "sunshine In my pocket" a bittersweet feeling washed over Poppy. All of those children had lost their colours and they weren't much older than Branch would've been when he'd lost his. Now they were running around like it had never happened. And it was all down to him, so how could he say all he'd done was sing a song.
So tonight, Poppy figured Branch deserved to shine and be honoured. And if he really thought all he'd done was sing a song then tonight he should sing every song. Tonight would be fun. It would be great. Everything was as it should be. Now she just had to get Branch to go and see the twins.
Poppy took the key to Branch's trapdoor from out of her hair and slid it into the lock. After descending via the elevator She entered the living area first, leaving a bag of doughnuts and berries on a small table before moving into the bedroom. Branch was asleep in bed curled up on his side under a dark patched up blanket, his vribrant blue hair sticking out. Poppy smiled. He could really use some new decor she thought. He looked so out of place now among the earthy and dark tones of his underground home. The only hint of colour apart from Branch himself was the small "home sweet home" needle point sign that Poppy had given him as a thank you for housing the other trolls.
She approached him softly and nudged his shoulder. "Rise and shine super star," she cooed. Branch's eyes shot open. He jerked awake yelling "Aaaaaaarrrgh BERGEN!" and shoved Poppy off the bed. "Oh my gosh Poppy! I'm so sorry ! " he gasped, clutching the blanket to his bare chest with one hand and extending his other to help her up. "I'm fine" she giggled as she got to her feet,
"I should've known not to sneak up on you like that."
Branch relaxed a bit, "What are doing here anyway - I gave you that key for emergencies."
"Well this is an emergency!" Poppy grinned, flopping on to the bed beside him, "I wanted to see my favourite guy on his big day before everything gets busy and crazy" she explained as she wrapped her arms around his back and placed a kiss on his cheek. Branch returned her embrace before yawning and stretching.
"I was rehearsing late last night I must've over slept- What time is it anyway?"
"It's only 10. "
"10?! Shoot! I was supposed to be up hours ago. Hey pass me those shorts will ya?"
Poppy picked up the tattered, patched up shorts and handed them to Branch. "Actually Branch that's kinda what I'm here for too ."
" My shorts are an emergency?" he gave her a head tilted look as he slipped the offending garment on under the blanket and got out of bed.
"Yeah , well uhm it's just I saw Satin and Chenile earlier and they said you hadn't been to see them for your costume fitting?"
"My what?"
"Your costume. You need to try it on before tonight in case they need alter it."
"Uhm I don't need a costume Poppy " Branch shrugged as he pulled on his leaf vest.
"Of course you do ! You weren't seriously planning on wearing that were you?"
Branch looked down at himself suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed. Poppy instantly felt guilty but tonight was a big night and she wanted Branch to look the part. He was so handsome and yet he just had no idea.
"Listen, what you have on is fine for digging holes and gathering sticks but tonight don't you want to do a little better? Just go and see them, I helped design it. You'll love it I just know you will. Please ? For me?"
"Ok ok I'll go over before my last run through with the dancers." He moaned as he brushed his hair in the mirror. Poppy looked at him in admiration.
"Ooooh Branchy's gonna dance with all the pretty ladies," she teased, causing him to blush a bit.
"Knock it off Poppy half of them are teenagers !" Poppy wrapped her arms around him as he squirmed with embarrassment.
"Aw I know, cutie- I'm just messing with you. Now I got to get going.
Don't forget to have breakfast, I brought you some doughnuts and berries."
"Oh that sounds great I dunno if I could keep anything down though."
"Awww are you feeling nervous?"
"Yea ... I just ... its gonna be weird not having you up there with me ...are you sure you won't join us? There's room in the band for a cow bell you know?" He took her hands playfully.
Poppy bristled for a second before smiling "Nope, tonight I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy the show. You'll be great. Anyway I gotta go hand out the rest of the invitations. I'll see you later, make sure you see Satin and Chenile ok?"
Branch walked her to the door where they shared a quick hug before she left. He watched her walk away for a minute before closing the door. His home suddenly felt empty. He looked at the bag she'd left on the table and put it in a cupboard. He'd eat that later. He had enough to do right now. A costume fitting with Satin and Chenile? He needed that like a hole in the head. He huffed as he thought about how him hanging out and singing with a few other trolls had now become a huge event with costumes, dancers and invitations. But it was what Poppy wanted and who was he to say no?