This is my very first time writing a fanfiction, so please comment. Constructive critisism wanted. Thankyou

Welcome Home

The celebration between the Bergens and Trolls continued late into the night, but as the music began to fade, the dancing was replaced with both Bergens and Trolls lazy sitting and conversing around the now vibrant troll tree. Slowly the number of bergens dwindled as many were exhausted from all the singing and dancing they have never allowed themselves to enjoy before. The few that did stay behind had trolls sitting on there shoulders and hands, now lost in conversation as if they were catching up with olds friends, As if trollstice had almost never happened just hours before.

Everyone was sitting around the fresh new grass that surrounded the once again alive troll tree. Branch took in the view, trying to rap his head around what he was seeing. Who would have ever thought something as incredible as this possible? Trolls were willingly putting themselves at the mercy of there once captors with not a care in the world, while Bergens who believed that real happiness could not be obtain any other way than eating a troll, were laughing and smiling.

As Branch was gazing upon this miracle before him his eyes traveled towards Poppy. She was currently surrounded by her friends, engrossed in their stories about their capture and her in turn telling them of her adventures to free them. He allowed himself to study her in that moment. Her usual bouncy lively self was still ever present but the day's events and partying until all hours were starting to take a hold on her. He could see it in her pink eyes. She looked tired but was stubborn enough to not allow a party as amazing as this, come to a close. Branch knew someone had to take charge.

The night air was starting to get crisp and everyone would need to rest for the night. The troll tree had thankfully provided flower pods for everyone to sleep in, and the bergens were thoughtful enough to leave a large pail of water for the trolls to use. Branches mind couldn't help but begin to strategize what would follow in the coming days. Would there be enough pods for all of them? What about food sources? They have depended on living in the forest for so long and everything that it has to offer, that what would do now? Would they plant wild blueberries here? And what about storage and a more permanent water source? Suddenly a hand touched his shoulder. He jumped and looked beside him. Poppy had a concerned look on her face

" Branch…" Poppy said quietly, "are you alright?" The look of concern on her face made him feel guilty.

" Oh I am fine, just starting to prepare for what's next I guess." Branch forced a smile and sideways glance towards her. She had been having such a good time; he didn't want to burst her bubble with all that needed to be done to return the trolls to their rightful home.

'I guess old habits die hard,' he thought to himself. Although his colors had finally returned and an overwhelming sense of happiness had recently started forming in his heart, he still couldn't shake his need for order and structure.

Poppy gave him a sincere smile and squeezed her hand that was still resting on his shoulder.

" It's good to see that not everything about you has changed," Poppy said while taking her hand off his shoulder and walked around to face him. She smiled while raising her eyebrows. "With all the singing and dancing you have been doing, I was beginning to think you were a completely different troll!"

" Pfff, " he scoffed " If I was a completely different troll, you would miss me! Who else would tease you with such amazing sarcastic wit"

Poppy beamed. Her eyes sparkled with life that Branch used to be jealous of. Not that he would admit that. But with happiness finally coming to the surface, her unwavering optimism now was contagious. He had been smiling so much today it actually hurt his cheeks. Probably from lack of practice he assumed.

" I would miss you, " she admitted honestly with no sign of embarrassment. 'Trust Poppy to always be one to tell it straight.' he thought. Her honesty took him back a little. He recovered quickly, though.

" Really?" Branch said with one eyebrow cocked, "You would miss the constant insults, the overwhelming cynicism and this grumpy face?"

Branch pulled his best-unimpressed scowl he could muster. His impression of his once grey self made Poppy giggle. He could barely keep his face like that before joining her in laughter.

" Your right," she agreed " I wouldn't miss that face, your smiling one now is just too... " She pondered what word to use.

" ...Perfect."

Branch couldn't help but notice she didn't say the last word looking at him but rather at his lips. She suddenly looked flustered and looked away.

" And wow, your voice!" Poppy hurriedly continued. " Your grandmother was right, you do have the voice of an angels"

Branch couldn't even think of how to respond to that. He wasn't used to being complimented and her sudden shyness gave the air between them tension. He just stared at Poppy while she looked out at the scarce crowd left from the party.

He was about to thank her when King Peppy came up from behind them.

" Poppy." She turned at the calling of her name. Peppy opened his arms wide to receive a hug from his daughter. Poppy wrapped her arms around him.

" Dad! I am surprised you are still up. You must be exhausted!"

" I am just heading to bed, " he reassured her "Just wanted to make sure that, now as queen, you order everyone else to also go to their pods and get some rest" Peppy smiled kindly while poking her new crown sitting atop her head.

Poppy looked up through her pink bangs as if to see the crown resting on her flower headband. She had been so caught up in the celebration that she forgot she was now the newly crowned queen of the trolls.

" Of course!" She beamed. She gave him a quick hug before running off to the mushroom platform to announce the end of the party.

King Peppy and Branch stayed back watching Poppy give her first orders as queen. Her people immediately started doing as they were told. Even the Bergens began lifting themselves off the grass and bidding goodnight to their new friends.

" Branch" King Peppy turned to him " I can never thank you enough for rescuing all of us… for rescuing Poppy. " Peppy paused "Rosiepuff would have been so proud."

Hearing his grandmothers' name had come as a shock to him, it had been so long since he heard it combined with King Peppy's words it almost brought a tear to his eye. He quickly shook his head, clearing the sadness away.

Before Branch could explain that it was Poppy that saved him he heard the tell tale Bing of Peppy's hugtime bracelet. He pulled Branch into a fatherly hug. Peppy cut the hug short but held branches shoulders and gave him a sincere smile.

" You two make a great team" Peppy exclaimed " and as father to the happiest troll of all the trolls, I can honestly say I have never seen her happier than when she is with you." He looked at Branch proudly.

Branch was dumbfounded. He stood there trying to find a response but Peppy interjected as Branch began to open his mouth.

" Well I am off to sleep" Peppy said, yawning mid sentence " tell my daughter good night for me"

Peppy gave Branch a good natured slap on the back before making his way up the troll tree for the night.

He raised his hand to give King Peppy a wave goodnight. The bright teal hand attached to him caught him off guard. He admired it for a second before reaching up to grab a few strands of his hair. Lowering it down to inspect them. Cobalt blue. He remembered these colors from so long ago that it felt like it was from someone else's memories. He had been grey for so long that it was hard to believe this was still him.

Now that he could truly feel happiness he wondered why he held onto that grief for so long. Why he refused to let anyone in. He could understand why many trolls stopped trying after awhile, he was not a nice person to be around back then. All gave up with the exception of Poppy. His rudeness had only made her more determined to help him. He did truly find it annoying back then. But something about her stuck with him once he was alone in the safety of his bunker. Her nauseatingly happy demeanor had started working its way into his brain. Once free from prying eyes he could allow himself to write all the things that agitated him about the troll princess. But slowly over time, those rants of disgust turned to poems of admiration and even jealousy. Branch still kept Poppy at a distance in reality, but in his bunker he indulged the fantasy of being just like everyone else. Attending her parties, dancing with everyone, even singing. In his own imagination singing never hurt anyone else. He kept every one of her invitations. They served the purpose of fulfilling those fantasies of being happy alongside everyone else but also brought him back to reality to remind him of his never ending loneliness inside the dark quiet walls of his underground home. It was a love hate relationship with every one of poppies invites, but he never had the heart to throw them out.

Poppy had just finished making sure the last of the trolls were finally on there way up to there new pod homes for the night and the last of the bergens had finally all made it back to their own houses. She felt quite satisfied with herself. She looked above her to admire the beauty of the troll tree. This was her first home but she was of course to young to remember any of it. But it did give a nostalgic feeling in her bones. Like this was the place she was always meant to be. Her real home. She smiled as she watched the dim multi colored lights of the trolls pods one by one turn off as everyone settled into bed.

For feeling incredibly tired just an hour ago she felt alive from her second or maybe even third wind! Her eyes scanned the base of the tree looking for Branch. She somehow knew he was waiting for her. At least she wanted him to. And there low and behold he was standing on a high mushroom leaning against the base of the troll tree. Arms crossed lost in thought. Poppy took a moment to watch him. Branch looked so different to her now that he had his true colors back. His teal skin and cobalt hair gave him a unique look. She couldn't help but notice other female trolls blushing as they talked to him.

Branch on the other hand felt quite uncomfortable. Social interactions with strangers was still new to him and frankly he wasn't that good at conversing while everyone ooed and awed over his regained color. He participated in the first few hug times during the celebrations, but started to look overwhelmed by the end. She completely understood. Instead of being gradually introduced back into normal troll life he was throw in the thick of it. She was proud of how well he did do, though. Snapping back to reality, she hurried over to meet him. As she got closer she noticed the pained expression on Branches face. She stood before him now but his mind was a million miles away.

"Helllllo, earth to Branch." Poppy sang as she waved in front of his eyes.

" Poppy! " Branch jumped "What are you...? Where is everyone? " He was suddenly pulled back to the present, looking around and noticing the lack of lights, talking and of course trolls.

" It's just us out here now. As queen I made sure everyone found their way up to their pods. No troll left behind" she quoted her father. Looking quite proud of herself for completing her first task as queen.

" Well except for me," he stated, "Do I not count?" He faked a hurt expression. He couldn't help himself but tease her.

" Well I didn't want to end the night without talking to you one more time. Come on, I want to show you something!"

Thank you for reading. This is my first time ever writing a fanfiction or really anything (besides school essays) and it is completely nerve wracking. You will have noticed many grammarical errors and probably misspelled words. I know too, but I tired. If you could give any feedback on the story or even the flow of the story and what i could do to improve it, please let me know. Trying to take up writing as a hobby and this is my first crack at it. I hope you enjoyed and Chapter two: Finding Home, will be up shorty.