A/N: Well, I've joined the Trolls fandom. I've had this idea for about a month now and I'm really hoping you Trolls fans will like it. I told myself I wouldn't do this, but I'm going ahead and posting this before I have the next chapter written, mostly because I'm impatient and just want to get this thing out already. Plus, I'm already into Trolls and I want to keep this inspiration for as long as possible. I'm gonna try to stick to this story like an octopus to my face no matter how hard it may get. I'm so sick of getting writer's block and abandoning my past stories, so I'll try my best to stick with this even if it takes me awhile!

So what should you expect from this story? Expect a journey, psychological struggles, Branch development, Poppy development, Branch's parents, and Broppy of course! It's mostly gonna be about Broppy :) They're one of the few OTPs I have and I just can't resist writing a story about these two. Yes, this first chapter is short, but it's setting things up. I have a lot more planned, don't worry. By the way, this story is going to get REALLY sad and maybe even tragic at parts for the characters emotionally, so if you're particularly sensitive you may want to read future chapters with caution.

If anyone's wondering, I am NOT taking this story down the route of "Branch being a lost prince from another tribe of Trolls." No, that's already used a lot and I don't want to unintentionally copy someone else's fanfiction.

I hope you like it! Please R&R :) Reviews fill me with determination!

Trolls belongs to Dreamworks. Not me.

Chapter 1: Seed of Unease

"You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you say," Poppy sang as she busied herself with her party invitations. It had been a month since the Bergens and Trolls made peace. You're invited to the One Month Peace Anniversary Party! said her invitations. They were bright and colorful as always, and full of glitter. If her last invitation had been enough to cover Branch's whole face with glitter, he was sure the quantity her latest creations packed were enough for every Troll to shower in daily for a week.

"I'm talking loud, not saying much," she continued.

"How long are you going to keep singing that song?" asked Branch, a playful tone in his voice. "You've been singing it for two weeks now. Every. Single. Day." He sat at a table drawing a map of the new Troll Tree and the surrounding Bergen Village. They occupied Poppy's new home, a large pink pod hanging at the top of the Troll Tree.

Poppy smiled and turned to give him a playful smirk. "As long as it's in my head, I'll sing it, and it's been in my head for the past two weeks."

Branch grinned, continuing his work. Silence hung between them as Poppy became engrossed in her own work, momentarily forgetting to sing. The afternoon sun shone softly through the pink petals of Poppy's pod. A small breeze was drifting around outside, but neither Trolls felt it as the pod petals shielded them from the weather. In the distance other Trolls could be heard singing and having fun while the Bergens in town went about their day.

"Whatchu doing, Branch?" came Poppy's sudden voice just by Branch's right ear.

Branch jumped and turned to face her. His eyes glanced at Poppy's invitations before meeting her eyes in astonishment. She was leaning over his right shoulder, one hand wrapped around his neck in a friendly gesture. The blue Troll felt his face grow warm. Their faces were just inches apart and she was gazing at him with her cheerful expression that made him weak at the knees. If he leaned in just two inches...

"I'm drawing a map of Bergen Town and the new Troll Tree," he said, turning away from her to face the drawing on the table.

"Do we really need a map?" Poppy questioned. "I mean, the Troll Tree is right in the middle of Bergen Town. It's pretty easy to spot."

"But what about Bergen Town itself? Most of the Trolls don't know their way around yet. We just barely moved back in a month ago. Someone could get lost."

The pink Troll smiled. "Alright, Grumpypants. If you insist," she said teasingly.

Branch chuckled and Poppy laughed. He may be colorful now, but old habits die hard. He was still introverted. He was still reserved. He was still Branch, just happier... most of the time.

They both grew quiet. The ambient sounds of distant singing Trolls and working Bergens filled the pod. Branch turned back to drawing his map, absorbed in his thoughts. He may have gotten the south side of Bergen Town wrong in his drawing. Is Captain Starfunkle's more south or west of the Troll Tree? he wondered. Perhaps he had better go back and check.

He wasn't sure how long she'd been talking, but he was suddenly aware of Poppy calling his name. "Branch?"

Branch turned his full attention on her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She looked off, maybe even a little forlorn. Her eyebrows were slanted like she was worried. She was nervously rubbing one arm, hunched in on herself. Poppy? Sad? The two words didn't mix. Only when they'd been trapped in that pot had Poppy ever experienced such a melancholy as he had, and it broke his heart. "Poppy, are you okay?" he asked slowly.

It was like she'd been trapped in a little world of her own as he had been about his map just moments ago, but she suddenly snapped to attention. Quicker than Cooper could say "Cupcakes!" she had a smile on her face. "Oh, yeah!" she said a little too fast and a little too brightly. "Sorry, I was just wondering something, but it actually doesn't matter."

Branch grunted in surprise as she lunged at him for a hug, her arms wrapped around him tightly. Branch's eyes grew wide. He returned the hug, but her movements seemed too stiff, too mechanical, too unnatural to be the Poppy he knew and loved. She pulled away quickly and gave him a million dollar smile. "Well, I should go see how the party preparations are coming, so I'm gonna get going, but you're welcome to stay here as long as you want." She scampered over to her door and gave him a wave. "See you later, Branch!"

The blue Troll was left in the solitude of Poppy's pod. Uh... what just happened? Branch wondered. Was she alright?

He shrugged. She was a strange Troll. Strange in a good way, of course. She was the kind of Troll who could probably skip sleeping for a week and still sing a musical like she was high on sugar. Who knew what went on in her mind? Even now she still surprised Branch with her endless energy and optimism. Perhaps it was just Poppy being Poppy.

Still, a small seed of unease planted itself in the back of Branch's mind, but he tried to ignore it. He could almost hear Poppy giggling and telling him that he worried too much.