A/N: Wow! What a reception! I'm so glad you like this story! And the polls are going crazy! It looks like a lot of you guys like Tarzan for my next adaptation. I like that one too, because Rosiepuff doesn't die in that one! On request from Jpbake, I have also added The Lion King. You're all welcome to vote again! Or as many times as you want, really (as long as Fanfiction lets you). Remember you can vote on the poll or through a review! I will keep the poll up until about Chapter 5, because this is a bit shorter than my other stories and if you want daily updates like I've been doing (or even every other day updates), then I need to get started on a few chapters of the next story.

NerdAlert8910 – Thank you! I'm definitely prouder of my work I do nowadays in comparison to some of my first fanfictions.

Maipayperz – I figured it was time for Branch to have the spotlight. He's kind of my favorite character anyway. Him and Rosiepuff.

AnimalGirl1507 – Thank you!

Jokerswilf002 – I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

BornOnTheBreakOfDawn – I'm interested in seeing if my ideas line up with or differ from yours.

Moonlightdreamer1 – Enjoy this next chapter!

LivvyLeopard – Thank you!

FandomsAreLoveFandomsAreLife – Yeah, I almost cried writing Rosiepuff's death scene in this story. I wish we could've seen more of her in the movie.

Jpbake – I am thinking about a Lion King version myself! I look forward to seeing your version!


Chapter Two – Friends in the Forest

Perhaps Branch didn't know Guffin as well as he thought. Soon after she and her sons moved into the manor, she started making changes to the normal routine. It quickly became apparent that Guffin had moved herself and her sons into Branch's home since her house apparently fell into disrepair. Branch had no way of proving his grandmother wanted him to have the house, so Guffin could swoop in and take it for herself. She dismissed the entire staff, leaving only Branch. Guffin, though insanely jealous of her former friend Rosiepuff's wealth and royal living, still felt obliged to care for Branch. Rosiepuff had, after all, introduced Guffin to her husband who had died a few years prior. So, to honor her "friend," Guffin kept Branch in the house as a servant. Creek and Guy Diamond couldn't remember their friend Branch very well, but they knew he wasn't a grumpy grey troll, so clearly this grey troll who served them was a different Branch.

Guffin and her sons treated Branch like a slave. Guffin forced him to dote on her and her sons, squandering Rosiepuff's wealth on her boys. Creek and Guy Diamond were a little nicer in their treatment of Branch (at least in comparison to their mother), but they refused to acknowledge Branch as their equal. Branch's shorts had to be patched several times with extra bits of cloth he found in his grandmother's sewing kit. His room was technically in the attic, atop a tower in the manor. He managed to make it comfortable and homey, despite being filled with various items like old desks and garden tools. But there were several nights when he was so tired from work that he couldn't bear the thought of climbing up the many stairs just to sleep in a cold, drafty space. So Branch would instead curl up by the dying embers of the fireplace in the kitchen to stay warm.

He didn't deserve this torturous existence and he knew it. Then again, he had nowhere else to go. Branch had no other family, no other place he could call 'home.' So he would just have to endure this for now. At least he had some friends: the bugs and other animals who lived on the property. Thanks to his grandmother's constant hikes and teachings in the woods, Branch learned to really connect with the animals that lived near his home. The llamas they used for wool acted as playful as puppies, and the mice and variety of bugs made for good company. The animals didn't care what color he was; they liked him for his kindness. And the food, of course.

Branch took one more look around before setting a bowl down on the ground outside the kitchen door. He shut the door behind him and sat down, waiting patiently until a few beetles and glowworms came up to him.

"Hey guys." Branch greeted. "Not a lot of table scraps today, but the food is still good." The bugs chirped and mewed, appearing to thank him. Branch didn't really eat with his stepmother and stepbrothers, and his only real meal was breakfast. Lunch was nonexistent, and dinner was the scraps Guffin, Creek, and Guy Diamond left. Still, he was happy to share what little he had with his friends. Guffin and her sons were technically his family now. That didn't mean they treated him as such. Branch would forever be grateful for his little bug and animal friends, or else he would be entirely alone. The thought truly terrified him.

Branch stared at the night sky, sighing and stretching his aching muscles. It was hard to believe it had been five years since his grandmother died. He had very little to remember her by now: only the small things he managed to hide in his attic. One of his most prized possessions was a pendant Rosiepuff gifted him when he was a child. The circular, gold pendant had an intricate design stamped in the front and an engraving in the back, and could be split into two parts. Rosiepuff instructed Branch to give one half of the pendant to his true love. Branch had yet to find someone he liked even remotely, much less his true love. He still held onto the pendant for when he did find her.

"Branch! Where are you?!"

Branch jumped and the bugs scattered. He scooped up the bowls and slipped into the kitchen just as Guffin marched in.

"Haven't you finished those dishes?" Guffin demanded, carrying a basket of laundry in her arms.

"Almost done, Madam." Branch said, tossing the wooden bowls into the wash bucket.

"Fine." Guffin plopped the laundry basket onto the table. "These need to be mended. See that it's done and the clothing folded and returned to the proper owners before tomorrow."

"Yes Madam." Branch sighed as Guffin left. He cleaned the rest of the dishes and put them away before starting the mending. When his grandmother taught him how to sew, this most likely isn't what she had in mind.

It took a few hours to finish the mending, fold the clothes, and sneak them into the rooms of Guffin, Creek, and Guy Diamond. Branch glanced at the clock to see it was already two in the morning. He stifled a yawn and looked to the door leading to the attic stairs.

"Nope. Nuh-uh." Branch yawned again. "Too cold." He stirred the embers of the dying fire and lay as close as he could to the fireplace. The gentle warmth helped him drift off to sleep.


A cold splash of water on his face woke Branch with a start the next morning. He sputtered and coughed a little, seeing Creek standing over him with a now-empty cup and a frown on his face.

"The glitter-covered scarf belongs to GD, not me!" Creek snapped. "You left that stupid thing on one of my favorite shirts and now it's covered in glitter!"

"Don't you always go shirtless anyway?" Branch muttered. Creek often only wore a pair of golden yellow pants.

"Just get our breakfast!" Creek stomped off.

Branch made a face and mimicked Creek's words in a mocking tone. But he got to work quickly. He could live with Creek's verbal torment; Guffin wasn't afraid to be physical and take out the whip to reprimand him.

"Do you have to sit so close to the window?" Creek complained to Guy Diamond. "You're sparkling right in my eyes!"

"It's cloudy outside. Stop complaining." Guy Diamond droned.

"Boys, do behave." Guffin said, sitting at the head of the table. "True troll gentlemen are dignified and regal."

"Yes, Mother." Creek and Guy Diamond said simultaneously.

Branch pushed open the door with his foot and glided into the room with a plate of food in each hand and one balanced perfectly on his head. He set the plates in his hands before Creek and Guy Diamond. When he handed the last plate to Guffin, his previously flattened hair sprung up again.

Guffin grabbed Branch's wrist and held it in a vice-like grip. She analyzed Branch's face with a critical gaze. "Good grief, child, what is that on your face?"

Branch glanced to the window nearby and, in his faint reflection, he saw that he had smudges of black across his cheek and forehead. "Uh….."

Guy Diamond snorted derisively. "It's ash from the fire."

"Sleep by the fireplace again, eh?" Creek snickered. "Filthy Troll."

"He's a real Cinder Servant." Guy Diamond gibed, causing laughter between him and his brother. Even Guffin grinned in amusement. Branch bit his tongue to prevent him from saying anything because he knew it would only make it worse.

Creek gasped. "Cinder-Troll! That's what we'll call him!"

Guffin laughed. "Oh Creek, you're so clever."

Branch swallowed. "Excuse me." He said in a soft voice, walking back into the kitchen as quickly as he could. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself. When that didn't work, he grabbed the closest pot and threw it against the wall as hard as he could. He heard Guffin shouting at him, but he ignored her as he sprinted outside and headed towards the stables where the llamas stayed. The furry animals seemed to sense their master's distress. When Branch jumped onto the closest one, the animal didn't protest as Branch kicked its flanks. The llama took off across the field behind the house and into the forest.

Normally, Branch didn't pay any heed to the words of his stepsiblings and stepmother. Names had power, though. Who was he? Branch was a blue-skinned troll with azure hair, happy and carefree. He was a grey-skinned troll with black hair, miserable and lonely. The name Cinder-Troll seemed to fit him now.

After some time, the llama slowed to a walk and veered off in one direction to drink from a stream. Branch dismounted from the llama and knelt beside the stream, sighing heavily. He cupped his hands to scoop up some water and washed away the soot on his face. Branch looked down at his reflection in the water. A sad-eyed grey troll stared back.

Then, Branch noticed a second reflection in the water: something big and silvery-gray in color. Branch slowly raised his eyes and head and saw a stag-like creature standing across the stream. The creature had silvery-gray hair and dirt-colored hooves. Its antlers looked like tree bark and its eyes had a golden hue to the hazel color. If Branch remembered his grandmother's teachings correctly, this was a mystical and rare animal known as an Artemis Steed or Arte.

The Arte dipped his head and sniffed Branch's hair. Branch gradually stood up, staring in awe at the great stag. He stretched a hand out. The Arte sniffed Branch again before gently touching Branch's hand with his nose. Branch smiled broadly, patting the stag's nose. He had never been so close to such a giant animal before.

The Arte suddenly lifted his head, his ears swiveling about. He darted off into the trees. Branch stared after him, waving a little.

"Hello? Is there somebody down there?"

Branch spun around at the voice. A figure came through the trees and right towards Branch. He had a thought to run, but curiosity overshadowed that urge. The figure finally emerged to reveal it was a female troll with pink skin and darker pink hair. She even had pretty pink eyes. She wore a simple blue and green dress and a green headband with blue flowers in it.

The pink troll saw Branch and paused. "Oh. Hello there."

Branch had to take a few seconds to shake off his awe at the female troll's beauty. "Uh, hi."

The pink troll smiled. "I didn't think I'd run into anyone way out here." She stared at him quizzically. "You know, I thought I knew everyone in the kingdom. But I don't recognize you. What's your name?"

Branch looked down. "Depends on who you're talking to."

The pink troll tilted her head to one side in confusion. "Oh."

Branch cleared his throat. "What do they call you?"

"Well, my dad calls me 'Poppy' when he's in a good mood." The pink troll shrugged with a smile. "'Persephone' when he's mad at me."

Branch grinned a little. "I think I like 'Poppy' better."

Poppy laughed. "I do too."

"What are you doing out here, anyway?" Branch asked.

"I'm afraid I've become a bit lost." Poppy admitted.

"How unfortunate. That doesn't answer my question, though." Branch raised an eyebrow.

Poppy giggled softly. "I was just trying to get away."

Branch eyes traveled to the ground again. "From your dad? Or life in general?"

Poppy shrugged. "Both, I guess. Don't get me wrong, he's a great dad. It's just that he has expectations for me that I'm just not ready for yet." She sighed. "It's like he doesn't understand I'm still learning."

"Learning what? Are you an apprentice?" Branch asked.

"Of sorts." Poppy nodded. "I'm a…..gardener…."

"If you're lost, I can help you find your way back home." Branch offered. "I know this forest better than anybody."

"I would appreciate some directions." Poppy said.

"Where do you live?"

"The palace."

Branch blinked. "You're a gardener in the palace?"

Poppy rubbed the back of her head. "Uh, yeah."

Branch chuckled. "Well, come on. Let's get you out of here."

"Thank you." Poppy nodded.

"There you are!"

The two trolls turned to see a couple other trolls nearby. One was a llama-like troll with pink fur, blue legs, darker blue hair, and a green hat. The second troll was quite large, with blue skin and blue-white hair, wearing purple shorts and a vest almost too small for him.

The llama-like troll looked to Poppy. "We've been looking for you, Prin—"

"Poppy! It's Poppy! Yes!" Poppy said hurriedly. "Um, yes, thank you for coming to find me, Cooper. Biggie, good to see you. I was just coming now."

Cooper and Biggie exchanged a look and a smirk. "Well we should get home now, Miss Poppy." Cooper suggested. "Come along."

"Of course." Poppy nodded. She smiled at Branch. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Grey Troll Who Lives in the Forest."

Branch laughed, shaking his head. He bowed to Poppy. "It was very nice to meet you, Pretty Pink Troll Named Poppy." He immediately shut his trap when he realized he just called Poppy 'pretty.'

Poppy giggled and curtsied. "I hope we met again."

Branch smiled awkwardly. "Yeah. I hope so too." He watched as Poppy joined Cooper and Biggie and disappeared in the trees. Branch hummed in thought. "Poppy." He chuckled a little, mounting his llama steed and steering the animal back to the house.