Jealousy

Poppy and Branch are so cute. I wanted to write a little story around them and this came to me. Let me know what you think, please.

I own nothing. Nothing.

Chapter One

Poppy held tight to Branch's hand as the other troll panted softly while he slept. There was no denying the pained looked on the other troll's face. Her friends looked down as Poppy turned beseeching eyes on the older troll known as Doc that knew about health and medicine better than anyone in their tribe.

"He's hurting," Poppy tearfully insisted as she turned back to stroke a hand gently down Branch's cheek, "Help him, Doc. There has to be something you can do. Please."

"My queen, his heart is straining from the poison in his system," the older troll admitted as the pink troll groaned softly in frustration, "I've given him the cleansing medicine, but there is nothing more I can do. It's all up to Branch's will to live now, but he's so weak…it doesn't look good, Queen Poppy."

Soft coughing drew everyone's attention as Poppy leaned over Branch to try and offer comfort as he shifted in his sleep. It was several minutes before Branch was able to settle back into as calm a state as he was in earlier while the pink troll tucked the blankets back over him.

"Just rest, Branch," Poppy insisted as the most special troll to her heart slept fitfully, "Keep fighting. Please don't leave me."

"He's the most stubborn troll I know," Guy Diamond suddenly spoke up as Poppy regarded him in surprise, "That troll don't leave unless he wants to leave. Nothing stops Branch, Poppy. He won't let a little poison take him anywhere he doesn't wish to go. You wait and see."

The rest of the Snack Pack began to chatter in agreement as another troll standing in the doorway shifted uncomfortably. Anger flared when Poppy locked eyes with her almost look alike.

"This is all your fault," Poppy hissed as her friends turned to regard the darker pink troll with bright red hair, "You did this to my Branch. Why, Posie? I thought we were family and you tried to take my most precious troll lad. Why would you hurt him like this? I don't understand!"

Posie gulped as the others in the room turned to watch the exchange between the two cousins. Why, indeed.

A month earlier:

Posie huffed as she hiked behind the rest of her traveling companions. She was irritated beyond irritated. So much so that she hadn't joined in her father's traveling song. Leave it to Cousin Poppy-perfect, perfect, Queen Poppy to make peace with Bergens, get their old home back, and send out word for the scattered trolls who had escaped prior to that historic Trollstice to come back to the Troll Tree.

"Little Miss Perfect always ruining everything," Posie hissed angrily as she stomped forward, "Bergan poop!"

Just a day ago, Posie had been "Princess" Posie. Princess of their small band that had escaped months before King Peppy had staged his escape. Posie should have one day been the queen of her own tribe, but no! Not now. Now she was just to be another troll among trolls to be ruled by HER. This was so unfair.

"Come on, Posie," her father called as the pink troll trotted forward quickly, "Look! The tree. It's our home."

Posie regarded the distant Troll Tree and sighed. Her father was King Peppy's younger brother. Perry hadn't wanted to leave the others behind, but had to make his escape when he had with the few trolls that could follow so long ago before either Posie or Poppy had been born. Posie and Poppy had met a few times before when the two tribes would meet up, but the hidden village that King Peppy had built wasn't big enough for both tribes which had been fine with Posie. She had always hated having to share a spotlight and Poppy was just too…too perky a troll for Posie. Plus, it was nice to know that if Poppy was going to one day be queen then so would Posie for her own people. Now here they were…almost back to join the rest of the tribe with Poppy ruling them all. Yay. Not.

"Great," Posie spoke up as her father grinned at her, "Can't wait."

The female troll almost groaned at the group of trolls that had gathered to greet the newcomers. Posie wasn't in the mood until a rather…wow that troll lad looked danged good.

"Welcome," the blue-eyed troll greeted as Posie studied him from beside her father, "Queen Poppy sent me and my comrades to lead you through Bergen Town. The path can be a bit startling for newcomers."

"Why thank you," Perry answered as he studied the troll, "Don't I know you, Lad? You look different, but I've seen you before, right?"

"Heh. Kind of," the other chuckled as Posie watched many of the new trolls laugh along, "I'm Branch, Sir. I um…I once kind of ruined the party to welcome you all to the hidden village. I maybe flipped the cake and ran screaming though the party about Bergens. I was a bit paranoid back then."

"A bit?"

"Hush, you two," Branch hissed at two conjoined trolls that Posie remembered were the twins, Satin and Chenille, "A lot paranoid back then, happy?"

Perry laughed along with the welcoming party of trolls. Posie remembered this lad now. He was that grey troll that Poppy always tried to invite over. Branch looked so much better now. His coloring was so uniquely dark with that almost cobalt mane and soft, glowing, blue skin. Yummy.

"Branch, Lad, you've regained your colors," Perry exclaimed as Branch blushed in the cutest fashion while Posie smiled to catch the other's attention, "Could the Queen not come and greet her family herself?"

"Poppy wanted to, but then something came up with King Gristle and she sent me in her stead," Branch explained while he began to lead the group towards the large village that surrounded the Troll Tree, "It is an honor to meet you all again and I promise not to flip any cakes…or yell…or call you names like I did before. Sorry about that and all. Yeah, this way."

"We have all heard the full story of your heroics. How brave of you to follow someone that had no clue what she was getting into all the way to Bergen Town," Posie complimented while Branch finally focused fully on her, "Names Posie. Remember me?"

"Wow," Branch breathed as Posie tried her best to act regal and refined, "You are nearly the spitting image of Poppy."

"What?" Posie gasped as Branch circled her with a look of amazement on his face, "I am not!"

"You are, Girlfriend," one of the twins called out, "You are darker than Poppy in skin tone and surely your hair is a real red instead of Poppy's pink, but your family resemblance is uncanny. Chenille and I have the perfect dresses for you and Poppy to wear to the special party we are throwing for you, by request of our new queen."

Posie was a bit placated at having a party in her honor, but paused as Branch's face filled her vision as he studied her carefully.

"Your eyes are green," Branch pointed out as Posie nodded while he stepped back, "I understand the choice of your name now. Always thought your family was hung up on the letter 'P,' but you are literally named for the flower. Becomes you. Anyway, this way people."

Posie watched Branch take charge and lead the group away as she watched him dreamily. She liked this one. A lot.

"No way, Girlfriend," the same twin spoke up that must be Satin, "Branch is off limits to you, Posie."

"That is 'Princess' to you," Posie hissed as Satin rolled her eyes, "I don't know what you are referring to and what do you mean 'off limits' anyway?"

"You'll see," Chenille snickered as she struck a pose, "That troll lad has eyes for only one other and she isn't you and she would be a little put off to know that you've been ogling her troll lad."

"He married?" Posie asked as the twins shook their heads in the negative, "Fair game then. No one beats me when I want something."

Posie jumped as her bracelet chimed the hourly hug time and other bracelets chimed in around her.

"Hug time!"

Posie heard Branch laugh loud as a pink blur tackled him flat. It was her.

"Poppy!" Branch chuckled, reaching to hug the wild troll back as he was snuggled for dear life, "I thought you and King Gristle were dealing with the plumbing issue."

"All fixed, Branch, my man," Poppy chirped, allowing Branch to sit up as she remained in his lap, "Bridget found that Gristle's pet had gotten his chew toy stuck in the drain and now it's all better and Uncle Perry!"

Branch seemed amused as Poppy launched herself at her uncle while dragging him back up to his feet at the same time. The look in his eyes as he watched Poppy was pure, adoring fondness.

"Told ya," Satin hummed as she strolled by Posie, "Branch is taken, Princess."

"Yep. He and Poppy are such a thing," Chenille finished as she shared a grin with her twin.

Posie wanted to growl, but bit her tongue. Okay. He had a thing for Poppy, but he'd complimented her.

"And that means I'm not out yet," Posie decided while she walked over to brush some leaf bits from Branch's mane as he turned to her in surprise at the touch, "Poppy got you all dirty from that tackle. Used to do that to me when I visited. Leaf bits can get itchy and tangle troll hair pretty bad. Can't have that, now can we?"

"Guess not," Branch agreed as Posie gave him a winning smile before bright pink hair obscured his face while Poppy leapt at Posie.

"Cousin! It is so nice to see you," Poppy said as Posie was wrapped in a hug, "I see you've met Branch. Isn't he wonderful to come and greet everyone? Changed a lot, hasn't he?"

"Yes," Posie sighed as she carefully extricated herself from Poppy's strangling "hug," "How wonderful to see you, Princess."

"Queen," Branch corrected as Poppy knocked him playfully with her arm while he covered his mouth with a hand in what looked like remorse, "Oh. Sorry, Princess Posie. It's become a bit of a habit to correct the trollings when they use the wrong title to address Poppy. You two are family and families don't stand on formalities. I've still got a lot to learn about living among everyone instead of closing myself off."

"You are doing a great job learning what you need to know," Poppy gushed as Branch blushed in his fetching way once again as she eagerly squeezed his hand before looking to Posie, "Come on, Cousin. I got all your favorite foods ready and DJ Suki has the best songs picked out for you and Branch should hear you sing. Posie sings so pretty, Branch. Let's go!"

Posie watched as Poppy took off running while dragging a laughing Branch after her before they both ended up in some song as the elder cousin snarled to herself while jealousy filled her heart. So Poppy was queen, taking over Posie's position of ruler over her band, and she got a handsome troll lad like Branch too? Not on Posie's watch!

"I'll deal with this in my own way," Posie hissed to herself as she trudged forward.

The party was awesome, the food was delicious, her dress was prettier than Poppy's, and Posie sang and sang. She also gloated when Branch clapped in appreciation after one of her finest performances.

"Like what you heard?"

"Poppy is right, Posie, you do have a lovely voice," Branch complimented as Posie gave him a coy look, "Um…you okay there?"

"Sure. Why?" Posie asked in surprise as Branch tilted his head in confusion.

"You looked a bit funny there for a second," the other remarked as she was studied by his blue eyes once again, "Are you tired?"

"No, Branch, she isn't," Chenille stated as she waltzed over, "Posie just feels very complimented by what you said. Very nice of you, but Poppy needs some help since Cooper got his foot stuck in a root gnarl."

"Again?" Branch huffed with a shake of his head, "Does that guy ever watch where he is tap dancing? I even put up safety fences around the worst gnarls, for troll's sake!"

Posie turned with a snarl once Branch was out of sight.

"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't interfere with me," Posie insisted as Satin and Chenille glared at her, "I was just getting to know more about Branch."

"Looked like flirting to me," a voice said as a sparkly troll walked over to join the group, "Twins."

"Guy," Satin greeted as she shared a smile with her sister, "So you see flirting too, hmm?"

To be continued…