Almost a year had passed by since Lady Abilene had made her escape but to Branch it only seemed like yesterday when he was being stared down by a hungry growl beast. He would often wake up in a cold sweat from nightmares he would have about everything that happened. A lot of the trolls from the village apologized to him about how cruel they had been to him and how they had laughed and cheered when he was being led toward his fate. Then there the few that still looked down upon the young teal colored troll and even went as far as to shoving into him as he passed and mumbling just loud enough for him to hear "Too bad you survived."
He tried his best not to let their words affect him but sometimes he couldn't help it. Poppy could always tell when something was bothering him because he would always sit off alone and be a in deep thought.
"What's wrong?" she asked walking over to him and placing her hand gently on his shoulder.
Branch jumped slightly from her touch "Nothing," he lied.
Poppy sat down beside him "Branch," she said softly as she placed her head on him "you can tell me anything."
He let out a deep sigh "I've just been having nightmares," he replied, "that's all."
"That's all?" she repeated "Branch, no troll should have gone through what you did. It's no wonder you have nightmares about it."
"Poppy," he said softly "what changed your mind about me?"
"All my life I was told about how dangerous grey trolls were and I was taught to fear them but then I saw how you were with Roselyn. At first I tried to tell myself that you were just being kind to her to trick her but then I opened my eyes and saw how much you really cared for her." She explained "I could sense the love there. I saw the great troll you really are."
"Hello Princess Poppy," Roselyn greeted as she entered the room wiping her eyes and yawning from just waking up.
"Hi Rosie!" she said happily as she sat up and faced the little troll "And how are you doing today?"
"A little tired," she replied yawning again.
"How can you still be tired?" Branch asked playfully "You slept for twelve hours."
Roselyn just shrugged her shoulders and sat down on the opposite side of Branch, so she could lean up against him. "If I were to guess, I would say that she's bored." Poppy mentioned.
"Is that it?" Branch asked his young friend "Are you bored?"
"A little," Roselyn mumbled down low.
"You could always come back to the palace and help me decorate the cupcakes for Cupcake day." Poppy suggested.
"Cupcake day?" Branch repeated with a raised eyebrow "Since when has there been a Cupcake day?"
"Since about two weeks ago, my dad told me I could create a new holiday." Poppy happily explained "And he said I choose any one of my favorite things, so I chose cupcakes."
"So, there's nothing you like more than cupcakes?" Branch asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well there is one thing," she replied with a blush.
Branch stared at her for a few seconds before replying "Oh," and returning her blush.
"Can we go?" Roselyn asked looking up at her big brother "Please?"
"Alright," Branch replied pretending to sound disappointed "Fine, we can go."
Roselyn jumped right up completely forgetting how tired she was "Well let's go!" she said with so much excitement in her voice.
Poppy allowed Roselyn to lead the way, so she could walk side by side with Branch and which he offered her his hand to which she happily grabbed a hold of. Never in his wildest dreams would he have guessed he would ever be this happy again, so what if a few trolls were still bitter toward him? At least the trolls that mattered the most to him loved him as much as he loved them back. Once at the palace the trolls made their way into the giant kitchen where hundreds of cupcakes waited to be decorated.
"Six hundred cupcakes undecorated, just as you requested your majesty," the troll in charge of cooking for the royal family stated when he saw Princess Poppy.
"Thanks, Cliffy," Poppy replied giving the orange troll a nod.
Cliffy nodded back before pointing in the direction of a long table of colorful frosting filled bags "The frosting and other decorations."
Poppy thanked him again before dismissing him "So," she said turning back to her two friends "Who's ready to start decorating?"
"ME!" Roselyn exclaimed.
It wasn't long until both girls were covered from head to toe in frosting and sprinkles "Branch," Poppy said noticing just how clean him and his area were "they don't have to be perfect."
"Ah, yeah they do," he argued back "I prefer to take my time."
"Well your way is going to take all night," she quickly pointed out.
"Besides," he replied, "I don't want to get frosting in my hair, do you know how hard that is to get out."
Poppy rolled her eyes and shook her head before coming up the perfect idea to have fun. "Hey Branch?" she said sweetly as she came over.
"What?" he asked looking up at her at the exact moment she placed a small smudge of frosting on his cheek. She then playfully stuck her finger in her mouth and said "Yum. Strawberry."
"That's not funny," he huffed.
"You're right," Poppy replied "I think you need a hug as well. What do you think Rosie?"
"Yep!" Rosie replied with a wide smile.
"Don't even think about it," he said slowly trying to back away.
"Fine," Poppy sighed turning away "you win."
Branch was about to return to his work area when Poppy threw her arms around him and embraced him in a tight hug. "Isn't nice to share?" she teased.
"You're right Poppy," Branch replied calmly "it is nice to share." Then before Poppy could escape Branch took a drop of frosting and playfully added to the side of her nose.
"Hey!" Poppy laughed before starting one of the biggest frosting fights in the history of all frosting fights. Roselyn just watched from her spot and shook her head, they were both older than her yet sometimes they did not act like it and right now was one of those times.
"You'll pay for that…!"
"Oh no you don't…ack!"
By the time they had finish both trolls were covered in frosting and staring at each other….. "You two aren't going to kiss, are you?" Roselyn asked.
"What? No," Branch denied
"Good," she replied, "it's gross."
"I guess we should get back to decorating these cupcakes for the party," Poppy pointed out.
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On a mountain top at the far east end of the forest Lady Abilene sat staring down at a boiling liquid, a small smile crept across her thin lips as it changed from it's purple color to a bright magenta color. "It's ready," she whispered, "I will finally get my revenge so be prepared."