No Branch is not the Phantom. A couple of you commented that you were surprised i didn't cast him in that role, but sorry he isn't. I'll admit that a thought about putting him in that role originally and I could see him fitting it well, but I wanted to keep Branch the love interest for Poppy and I didn't think that would have worked well with him as the phantom. Sorry to those who got their hopes up for a Branch Phantom.
(Act 1: Scene 2 Paris Opera house 1881)
"Come on Poppy, you can do this." twenty year old Poppy was standing outside the Paris opera house shaking like a leaf as she ran through the lyrics for a upcoming play. Her best friend since she was eight Suki was there with her for support.
"Come on Poppy what's there to be scared of?"Suki encouraged, patting Poppy on the back. "This is everything you have ever dreamed about ever since we were kids. You was always singing to me and your father all your favorite songs, telling us how you would one day make it big on the stage. You got this girl, you have the voice of a angel, just take a deep breath and you will be fine. I'll be here with you the whole time."
"Thanks Suki," Poppy smiled "I guess I am just nervous. Been dreaming of this since I was a child and I guess I am just scared of messing it up."
"You won't" Suki said pushing Poppy toward the door "Now go in there and show the world what Poppy is made out of."
Taking a deep breath Poppy opened the front door of the opera house and stepped inside. As Poppy walked toward the auditioning room she could here the sounds of instruments playing and the voices of many different trolls auditioning for the play. Once she walked into the room she saw a silver glittery troll on stage singing the roll of the male lead. The owners of the theater, a pink four legged troll with a long neck and a big blue chubby troll were in the seats listening to the audition as well as the conductor, a orange troll with big fluffy green that covered his entire body.
"Well done Monsieur Guy Diamond." The big blue troll said, the blue troll had a surprisingly thick British accent despite being French."
"Excuse me," Poppy called out, getting the attention of the owners. "I'm here to audition and want to know where I wait until I am called."
"Behind the stage with the others Miss..." The four legged troll said
"Poppy" Poppy replied letting them know her name
"Madam Poppy" Cooper bowed "I'm Monsieur Cooper and this here is Monsieur Biggie." Cooper pointed to the big blue troll. "The two of us bought this opera house ten years ago when the original owner retired. They were going to shut it down but we came in and saved it. Best investment we made in our lives don't you think Biggie?"
"I couldn't agree more Cooper." The two then pointed to the green haired troll with them "And this here is Fuzzbert," Biggie said he conducts all the shows we put on, he's the best in the business. Now if you go wait behind the curtains, we will get to you shortly." Poppy went behind the curtains while the next troll a orange troll with green hair stepped up to sing. As she waited in line she caught the attention of a yellow troll with sky blue hair.
"Haven't seen you around here before." The yellow troll said with a deep growling voice despite dressing and having all the features of a woman. "This is your first audition?"
"Yes." Poppy replied "I'm kind of nervous. I'm Poppy by the way"
"Names Smidge" The yellow troll replied "And word of advice madam Poppy don't even think of trying out for the lead role, that belongs to yours truly right here. Same with all female lead roles in this theater. I'm the star around here. But you can still try out for one of the smaller roles if you care too."
Smidge was then called on stage as Poppy just huffed at Smidge's hugely inflated ego.
"Prima Donna much?"
"Ah don't let her get to you." Guy Diamond, The glittery troll that auditioned when Poppy first walked in said "She's been doing this for so long that sometimes her fame gets to her head. Don't let her scratchy voice fool you. Despite her deep voice that woman can sing.
"Awe Smidge." Biggie applauded when she walked on stage. "Always looking forward to hear you sing. You trying out for the lead again?"
"Like always." Smidge huffed. "Cut the chit chat and play the music piano man. I got places I need to be and don't want to be here all day."
The pianist, a green female troll with green hair started playing as Smidge started singing.
Think of me, think of me fondly when we've say goodbye.
Remember me, once and a while Please promise me you'll try.
It was right then that the curtain drop fell on Smidge trapping her underneath, causing her to scream for assistance. As several trolls including Biggie and Cooper rushed to her aid, Poppy looked up above the stage and saw what looked like a mysterious cloaked figure in a mask walking away from the scene where the curtain fell from.
"It's the phantom of the opera." Guy Diamond gasped
"The who?" Poppy asked confused
"The phantom of the opera." Guy Diamond replied "Legends say he haunts this opera house, haunting those whose singing voices he don't like.
"But I thought you said Smidge could sing good?"
"Oh we like her singing." Guy Diamond said "The phantom on the other hand is a different story. This isn't the first time stuff like this has happened to her."
"Get this thing off of me!" Smidge screamed. A worker quickly pulled lever that raised the curtain back up and Smidge mumbled some bad words in French as she picked herself back up.
"Madam Smidge we ensure you it was a accident." Cooper pleaded trying to calm the angry Smidge down. "Things like this happen sometimes."
"These things are always happening!" Smidge snapped "This is the fourth time a "Accident" has occurred to me while I've auditioned for one of your shows! Well until this things stop happening this thing won't be happening. Good luck finding a star!" Smidge stormed out of the auditioning room angry, cursing in French as she slammed the door behind her.
"Well what are we going to do now?" Cooper asked concerned "Who's going to be the lead if it's not going to be Smidge."
Suki who was sitting in seats and witnessed the whole incident then hopped out of her seat and ran behind the curtains and pulled out Poppy.
"Monsieurs let me introduce you once again to Madam Poppy" Suki replied
"Suki are you sure?" Poppy asked nervously. "After what we just witnessed you sure this is a good idea for me to try out for such a role."
"You know I don't believe in legends Poppy. Now show them what you got, you were born for this."
Poppy sighed, giving in as she took a deep breath. Suki politely walked off the stage as Poppy closed her eyes and started singing.
Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye.
Remember me once and a while please promise me you'll try.
Then you'll find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free.
If you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me.
Biggie and Cooper's jaw dropped to the floor when they heard just how good Poppy could sing. Suki sat next to the two owners with a proud smirk whispering "Told you so"
Finding their star the show went on and within a week Poppy was on the stage, her hair covered in white flowers, wearing a beautiful white gown that made her almost look like a bride. The stage backdrop was that of a river in the moonlight, The lights were made to look like stars in the night sky, and dry ice was used to create a foggy mist that coated her feet as she sang.
We never said our love was evergreen, or as unchanging as the sea. But if you can still remember, stop and think of me.
Smidge was in the back of row of seats, arms crossed and pouting thinking of how that should have been her on stage. Suki was near the front row of seats cheering her friend on.
Think of all the things we've shared and seen, don't think about the way things might have been.
Think of me, think of me waking silent and resigned. Imagine me, trying too hard to put you from my mind. Recall those days, look back on all those times, think of the things we'll never do.
There will never be a day, when I won't think of you.
Down below the stage in the cellar of the opera house, the same mysteriously masked and cloaked troll was listening in on Poppy's singing and he liked what he heard.
On a balcony suite, watching the play through a pair of binoculars, a blue troll with sapphire hair gasped when he saw the pink troll singing. He remembered this troll from back when they were younger. And use to have a relationship when they had to call it off for when he had to go to the military. But now that he was back and had been honorably discharged he thought he would stop and catch a show, not knowing who he would see.
Can it be? Can it Poppy! The blue troll stood up and cheered Bravo! The blue troll then left his seat to go and meet her back stage after the show.
Long ago, it seems so long ago, how young and innocent we were! She may not remember me, but I remember her.
Back on stage the spotlight shined bright on Poppy, lighting up the whole room as she continued to sing. Flowers fade, the fruits of summer fade, they have their seasons so do we. But please promise me, that sometime you will think...
O-o-o-o-o-o-o—o-o-o Of me!
Down in the cellar of the opera house. The masked troll was also cheering Poppy's performance. "Brava brava bravissima." He would have to definitely find out more of this Poppy girl.
Poppy took a bow as everyone minus Smidge cheered Poppy as she took a bow and left the stage. Poppy was walking to the direction of her changing room when blindly she bumped into the blue troll cheering her earlier.
"Oh I am so sorry I wasn't watching were I was..." Poppy paused when she recognized the blue troll she bumped into "BRANCH?"
"Hey Poppy." Branch waved
"Oh my gosh Branch!" Poppy leaped into Branch's arms giving him a huge hug "It's been so long."
"I know, but I'm finally out of the army so I'd thought I'd come see a show, never would have thought I'd bump into you though. So you've finally made it big on stage I see."
"Well this was my first show but yeah, hopefully this can turn into the career I was always hoping for."
"Keep singing like this and you will make it big in no time."
"Poppy my girl!" the two heard Suki call out. Suki came up and greeted Suki with a equally big hug. "You were AMAZING! Not that I had any doubts of course, but wow, you lit up the stage. Poppy what on earth have you been hiding? Really you were perfect. I only wish I knew your secret who is your great tutor?
Poppy looked around then ushered Suki and Branch into her dressing room so she could tell them what her father had told her when she was a young girl. The story always seemed a little hard to believe so she wanted to make sure nobody but those two knew her secret.
"Father once spoke of a angel... I'd used to dream he'd appear.
Now as I sing I can sense him! And I know he's here!
Here in this room he calls me softly! Somewhere inside he's hiding.
Somehow I know he's always with me. He the unseen genius.
Both Suki and Branch were confused by Poppy's tell. Surely there couldn't be a actual angel teaching Poppy. Stories like that were of pure fairy tales.
Poppy you must have been dreaming Suki sang "Stories like this can't be true."
"Poppy you're talking in riddles, and it's not like you!"
Poppy started singing again, sure she knew what she was talking about. "Angel of music guide and guardian! Grant to me your glory.
"Who is this angel?" Suki asked as the two started singing together. "Angel of music hide no longer. Secret and strange angel.
Poppy started hearing the angel calling her. She could hear his voice calling for her. Could either Suki or Branch hear it too?
"You hear him?"
"No," Suki replied
"All I hear is your singing." Branch replied
"He's with me even now." Poppy replied
Poppy your hands are cold." Suki replied concerned
"All around me..."
"Your face Poppy it's white" Suki was really getting concerned about her friend now.
"It frightens me" Poppy had to admit, the fact that no one could hear the angel calling her when she could here it clearly in the room with her that very moment was scaring her.
"Don't be frightened."
Poppy took a few deep breaths to calm down. She was still a little scared of the idea of a angel that only she could hear but she calmed down and soon the paleness in her face left.
"I'll be okay." Poppy said "If you excuse me I would like to change out of my stage wardrobe and into something a bit more comfortable. You think the three of us can meet for dinner later though?"
"Of course." Suki replied
"I would love to." Branch replied "We got a lot of catching up to do. A lot of stories to tell."
Poppy smiled and waved bye as Suki and Branch left. Once out of the room Branch asked about the angel story.
"So do you think she is right, and there is actually a angel teaching her?"
"No," Suki replied "I think her father told her that story so many times as a child that she started believing it. And now that her father is gone she forces herself to believe that what he told her is true. I believe that in believing in this angel, it is like a piece of her father is still with her."
"I had no idea that Peppy had passed." Branch replied sadly. "I've been gone for five years on duty. I have missed so much."
"You'll have plenty of time to catch up over dinner tonight."
Poppy changed out of her white dress, and removed the flowers from her hair, before putting on in it's place a simple blue dress with flowers painted on it and a green head band with blue flowers. Poppy just finished putting her hair in a pony tail and was about to leave the room when she heard the angel calling out for her again, this time more louder and with force.
"Insolent boy, this slave of fashion, basking in your glory." The voice yelled, referring the Branch "Ignorant fool! This brave young suitor. Sharing in my triumph!"
Poppy was startled hearing her angel calling, but she regained her composure enough to respond. "Angel I hear you! Speak I listen, stay by my side and guide me. Angel my soul was weak forgive me.. Enter at last master.
Flattering child you shall know me. The angel called, his voice was coming from the mirror in her dressing room. Slowly Poppy walked toward it. "See why in shadow I hide, Look at your face in the mirror. I am there inside!
Angel of music guide and guardian," Poppy replied " Grant to me your glory! Angel of music, hide no longer. Come to me strange angel."
"I am your angel of music." The angel replied as suddenly the mirror slid to the left like a revolving door, and a hole appeared in the wall that Poppy had know idea was there. Then a purple hand appeared from the dark hole signalling for her to grab it. "Come to me angel of music."
This time Branch could hear the voice, Suki heard it also "Who is that voice? Who is that in there?" Branch ran back toward the dressing room, Suki following close behind. Branch frantically started twisting the doorknob. Only to find that it was locked. "Great it's locked!" Branch started slamming his body weight onto the door trying to get inside.
"I am your angel of music."
"Poppy!" Branch yelled trying to get her attention. Poppy couldn't hear Branch though. As she took the hand Poppy was put in a trance causing her to follow the angel inside.
"Poppy!" Suki Screamed
"Come to me angel of music." The mirror slid back into it's normal position just as Branch was able to bust the door open.
"Poppy!" The two of them called out. Only to see to their horror, that she wasn't in there. "Where did she go?"
I have read comments from Phantom of the opera fans that are treating this fandom like it's Twilight. What i mean by that is that they are splitting up into teams over who they think Christine should be with. A lot like how Twilight fans debate over team Jacob and Edward. So I would like to know which team you are a part of Raoul or Phantom. I think i already know a couple of your teams considering a couple of you were surprised that Branch wasn't the Phantom but I'm curious anyway.
Also I mentioned it in a previous story now I am about to upload it. This Friday December the 1st, "Branch's Gift" my long awaited Trolls Christmas story will be published. Keep a eye out.
