This is very new to me so please help me to get used to it. And Woooow! I can't believe it! I was inspired by many authors specifically moonlightdreamer1,Black-Raider, and Rosie2009. They are just the very few whose stories inspired me to this. This has been roaming around my head for nearly 2 months and its not stopping until I make this or not. So yeah that's basically the reason why I'm here. Also I'm very bad in English but I'll do my very best to make it better and understandable. Please forgive me if its bad.

Disclaimer: This story is abit dark and angsty but in some points its very much fine. I will however still put up warnings if ever there will be and i think up on the last chapters some characters will say a bit of mild words. But only a bit.

Also! TROLLS IS NOT MINE! SO DON'T SUE ME! IM INNOCENT!

Anyway enjoy the story!

Chapter 1

In a valley surrounded by high hills and trees sits a village.*Now this village was colorful and festive. They all did what they think is good, now because of this every each one of them helps another like a brother or sister. They were very peaceful even after the great war between the goblins and the imps 20 years ago. Some were killed by raiders and loved ones who were drafted to the war died but still they kept their chins high even though it hurts right to the core.

Everyone loved their village but they also adore a certain someone. Her name was Poppy and she was very positive about everything. She gave happiness to those who were sad or depressed ever since she came to the village. She loved to sing and dance with everyone. The children loved that she would tell them stories in her home and sometimes she would be their substitute teacher if the other teachers have too much on their hands. Ever since the war orphaned children became too many and the elderly ones who have full time jobs dwindled making the village in need for people to fill in on other jobs instead on just one but still they have trust in each other the reason the village still stands.

Poppy was beautiful, 'yes that's true' one would say 'and I want her to be my wife'. Many suitors have already visited her and asked her hand in marriage but she would always refused saying she wanted to marry someone who she will truly love and that future husband would love her the same. One more other reason was that she was still very young so the suitor that she will pick will be the one that she will marry when she's at the right age. Now these suitors came from far and wide. Could be a merchant, a soldier, an aristocrat, a duke, a commander and even a king. They all have connections to other royalties or high ranked trolls meaning they have power and riches in high extent but even though they have many material things, they all proved to be very boastful to what they accumulated in all their time except for the king. The king was silent yet he showed great power and restraint when one of the suitors started to insult him or made fun of him. Poppy refused them all except was a bit hesitant to say no to the king.

The king was very sincere and kind to her. He wanted to know her interest and ideas unlike the other suitors who only talks about how great they will be as her husband. Poppy found out the king was very romantic and she almost fell in love to his charm. Poppy said she doesn't want to say yes to him and she also doesn't want to say no but she wants to think about the offer and that maybe she'll change her mind. The king smiled took her hand and kissed the back of it. Poppy blushed by the gesture of the king. He said he will wait for her and her answer and promised someday he'll come back again then said his goodbyes and left.

Days turned to weeks then turned to months turned to years. The village may love Poppy but that doesn't mean they don't hate someone and that someone was a gray, grumpy, and a masked troll and his name was Branch. Branch wore a silver mask with intricate vine-like designs that was concealing half of his face, no one knows why or what but rumors spread like wild fire saying he is probably an evil enchanter, a spy by the imps or goblins or even an evil beast that will devour everyone by tricking them to leave. Of course none of those were true but they all just couldn't help themselves to wonder who or what he really is or what maybe even his intentions. Branch proved himself to be independent and never asked for any ones help. Everyone was afraid to ask him for help and no one really tried to make a conversation to him, all except for Poppy.

She told them that everyone deserves to be happy and that Branch just needs someone to help him find it. Branch wasn't very keen on the idea and said no and left before any one could stop him.

It was Spring. The air was chilly but couldn't compare to how cold the winter was. Yet it was sunny and flowers were starting to bloom.**

Like today, Poppy wanted to find him and try to talk to him. Her friends all said he'll still shun her away but that didn't stop her from going to the forest to find him. She walked and skipped with a song in her heart. Before she knew it she was already lost. The trees looked the same to her and every shrub or bush she thought was the same thing she ran into before. She began to get worried over her situation and thought aloud of how an idiot she was to get lost for just trying to find the grumpy old troll, funny thing is that Branch is actually still very young just like her. She kept on walking until she found herself in a vast meadow filled with blooming flowers all in different kinds, shapes and sizes. Giant colorful mushrooms loomed over giving shelter to whatever or whoever sits under it.

At the center of the field was the smallest mushroom and on top of it sits a lonely troll, gazing at the light blue cloudy sky with a paper and pen on his hands. He was wearing a white long sleeved shirt with his green leaf vest over it, instead of his patched up shorts that he always wore he was now wearing black pants. He seems to be in deep thought since he didn't notice the real danger lurking closer to him. "BRANCH!" he jumped from his sudden new companion beside him. "Poppy!" she then giggled at his startled state "Hey! What are you writing?"

"Nothing that you can call your business, Poppy and more importantly how did you get here?" he answered grumpily while putting his paper and pencil back to his hair

"Um…..he he….. I kind of wanted to find you and I got lost but anyway good thing is that I found you now!"

*sigh* "And what's your plan after that?" he replied with deadpanned look

"Find my way back to the village and make it home safely!" she said with full determination

"That's not a plan, that's a wish list" he talked back starting to regret why is he even asking

"So then ….. Will you help me get back to the village?" with excitement in her eyes

"Doesn't look like I have a choice now don't I?" from the corner of his eye he could see her smile growing wider clearly as the sun. 'Wait! Like the sun…. That sounds pretty good' he thought. His thoughts were derailed right after Poppy started to talk again. "So how come you're here?" she asked with pure curiosity.

"I'm here trying to find peace and quiet"

"Oh!.. I do like being in peace and quiet sometimes, I ….." She suddenly stopped as Branch gave her a glare "Ahhhhh…..right! Quiet! Peace and quiet! Gonna hehe...shut up now*ahem*" Branch couldn't do anything but just sigh with a shake of his head and try to not stare at her eyes too much. 'Why is she even trying to be his friend when she already has a lot back in the village? Why was she risking herself to get lost in the forest just to find him? Why does he matter to her life that she has to do things that'll endanger her?' he thought. Everything about Poppy to Branch is just full of Why's. Why do this, why do that, its all just confusing to him. Although he does appreciate that Poppy cares for him. Cares. Does she really care? Or is it because she just felt sorry for him being alone with no one acknowledging his presence? But if Poppy does care about him then he has to try his best to push her away more. He can't bare to lose another person that he cares not after.. …

"Hey Branch! I got a question!" She screamed. She was standing pretty …..no …..REALLY far from him and was staring at something but he couldn't quite see it from the distance between them. "WHAT?!"

"IS THIS NORMAL?!" she asked pointing at some furry thing that he couldn't really see right. He then hurriedly jumped down from the mushroom and ran to her thinking maybe its something serious since she does always ran into a couple of times. He remembered the days when he would walk in to her patting at some predators like a pet. He always would have mini heart attacks whenever he could see her with one and up until now he is still wondering how is she never eaten or mulled by them and he would never know, at least not yet.

As he was getting closer the thing she was pointing at was also getting closer with a big mouth wide open ready to chomp and swallow her whole. "POPPY!, GET AWAY FROM IT NOW!" he screamed to the top of his lungs as he kept on running not for his life but for her. But Poppy of course didn't run right away, she looked behind her and then she saw it…. She saw the giant boulder-like furry creature opened its mouth getting wider….ever so close to her. She froze. She wanted to run away but the fear kept her feet in place to the ground.

Then nothing…..