Branch's Perspective

Description: The Original Trolls Story from Branch's Perspective as he battles with his feelings for Poppy and struggles with his lifelong depression over losing everyone he loved and held dear. A few extra scenes have been thrown in to help better understand everyone's favorite grumpy grey toll. A Broppy FanFic.

Disclaimer: I do not own Trolls or the plot, it belongs to Dreamworks Productions, I also do not own the song in this chapter 'Sound of Silence' it belongs to Paul Simon.

Constructive criticism is welcome flaming is not.

AN: Another day, another chapter! I'm trying to post as frequently as I can and hope they are posting within a reasonable amount of time! Thank you for all of your review so far and continue to let me know what you think!

Chapter Four

It didn't take long before Branch started to become slightly irritated with his noisy travel companion. Don't get him wrong; he was very glad that Poppy was one hundred percent back to her normal self after that terrifying incident with the spiders, but he was used to silence and solitude. Princess Poppy was the opposite of that… After failing to hold a conversation with the grey troll, she settled for singing and sometimes even dancing as they made their way through a dangerous forest to get to the outskirts of Bergen Town. Sure, he loved hearing her voice and he knew, had they not been in constant danger, that he could probably listen to her sing all day, but it was making it very difficult for him to concentrate and be aware of anything they may try to attack them from behind. Besides doesn't she ever get tired?

"Do you have to sing?" Branch groaned, finally deciding he had, had enough and made his displeasure known.

"I always sing when I'm in a good mood." Poppy responded to him cheerfully.

"Do you have to be in a good mood?" Was this princess ever in a bad mood? He didn't think so, not from what he saw from her anyway. This was Princess Poppy, she was always positive, always looked on the bright side of things, and never gave up on a single task she was ever given; everyone in troll village looked up to her and admired her. These were just some of the traits about her that attracted him to her the most.

"Why wouldn't I be? By this time tomorrow, I'll be with all my friends!" The troll princess responded excitedly behind him as she flipped and bounced around on the log they had currently been walking on. He tried not to show that he was nervous about what she was doing back there, her recklessness could cause her to slip on a patch of wet moss and fall off. So he made sure not to travel too far ahead in case this did happen and he needed to be quick to catch her.

"Ooh! I wonder what they're doing right now." Seriously? If they were alive they were probably terrified as they were being held captive somewhere, they also could've already been eaten. Both possible situations were terrifying, was that really something to be happy about? Did she think they were enjoying cake together alongside the Bergen's? The terrifying creatures that chased them out of their former home?

"Probably being digested." He said sarcastically, although he halfway believed this statement to be true.

"They're alive Branch, I know it!" This comment rubbed him the wrong way, and he felt something within him snap, he turned toward the pink troll and glared at her while responding a bit more harshly then he should have.

"You don't know anything Poppy. And I can't wait to see the look on your face when you realize the world isn't all cupcakes and rainbows. 'Cause it isn't! Bad things happen and there is nothing you can do about it." Although it was harsh, and more than likely hard to hear for the princess, he spoke from truth, from experience and a difficult past. He could feel that he desperately wanted her to understand him, to listen to his reasoning and believe him. But… she most likely never would… nothing really bad has ever happened to her, she was too young when they evacuated the Troll Tree to remember her time there, heck she hadn't even been born yet when King Peppy lost his wife, her mother…

(AN: So I thought I'd mention here my idea on how the Trolls reproduce. I had a couple questions about it in reviews and I apologize for not elaborating further! I'd like to keep it G rated for younger readers and viewers of the movie so for this stories purposes, when Trolls are married and establish a good foundation of true love, happiness and trust with one another, a Troll Pod can appear (no R rated stuff involved), this is where a baby troll will grow and be born from. This can only happen for Trolls who are Soul Matches or Soul Mates. The mother and father then infuse their troll hair with the pod to claim the child, and form a bond the baby needs to thrive. So in Poppy's case she was born shortly after the Trollstis where her mother had sacrificed her life for King Peppy, (One year before they escaped the Troll Tree), which explains why Poppy's mother died before she was born. King Peppy and his wife had already fused their hair with Poppy's birth pod to form the bond needed for her to live, and was almost ready to "hatch" when her mother lost her life, King Peppy was able to care for the pod until her birth. It's kind of similar to animals who hatch from eggs, many mothers die before the eggs hatch, but the eggs can still live if there is someone or something to keep them warm.

Also I plan to write more stories in the future that elaborate further on these back stories, specifically one for Poppy's Birthday :) I hope this helps explain my idea and helps the story flow better let me know in the reviews if it makes sense!)

Most of Poppy's memories were gained during their peaceful time in the Troll Village. So how could he blame her for not understanding him? It was also his own fault for never being able to open up to anyone about his reason for being grey. As he walked away from her, too upset to face her right now, his statement actually caused Poppy to pause and remain still and silent for a moment.

"Hey, I know it's not all cupcakes and rainbows… but I'd rather go through life thinking that it mostly is instead of being like you." She began to retort, just as he thought, she couldn't understand him, but in the same aspect, he couldn't understand her either, there is no way he'd ever want to live so obliviously and naïve again in a world filled with so much danger.

"You don't sing, you don't dance… so grey all the time. What happened to yo…"

"Sh!" Branch silenced her with his finger before she could go on any further. This conversation was starting down a road he wasn't ready to explain or share with her right now, it had already began to dig up painful memories that he'd much rather not relive right now, and this certainly was not the time or place for such a conversation either.

"A bergen?!" The princess questioned with fear, making her own assumptions on Branch's actions. He decided to take advantage this and roll with it.

"Maybe." He whispered dramatically before continuing forward once again. Poppy was slow to follow as she glanced around her anxiously in search of a creature that wasn't actually there. It didn't take long for before she realized what he was doing though.

"There's no Bergen is there… You just said that so I'd stop talking!" She stated accusingly, clearly annoyed.

"Maybe…" He whispered again, giving her no inclination that he'd explain himself any further, and had intention on continuing their conversation from earlier. His tactic worked in ending that unwanted conversation and the troll princess actually remained silent for a short period of time afterward, but this was most likely because she was annoyed and frustrated with the grumpy grey toll, and not because she was trying to honor to his wishes. It wasn't long before she was chipper again and she resumed her singing once again. Branch rolled his eyes, but decided not to stop her this time. He just did the best he could to remain aware of their surroundings, with what he had to work with.

The night sky now created a sparkling blanket over the forest, right as the day turned to dusk Branch had insisted they stopped moving forward to set up camp and rest for the night. Poppy seemed reluctant at first; anxious to reach Bergen Town and save her friends before anything really did happen to them. He reasoned with the princess explaining that it was much more dangerous for the troll pair to travel at night, more dangerous creatures lurked in the night and with limited visibility Branch was not confident that he could keep them safe if they kept moving.

Branch was actually surprised that the troll princess hadn't put up much more of a fight then that, but after observing her while they set up camp he could tell she was only putting on a brave face. The all positive and happy-go-lucky princess who believed nothing bad could ever happen to her, must actually be worried about being in an unfamiliar place and must not be completely comfortable with sleeping in the middle of the forest for the night. Branch laid out his sleeping bag, and located a large, dry, durable and comfortable leaf that the princess could wrap herself in for the night, he quickly set up a fire and the two of them slipped into their beds to rest for the night barely speaking a word to each other. As he closed his eyes, he became hyper aware of the silence surrounding them, soon he could hear Poppy begin to toss and turn anxiously within her sleeping bag, and it began to worry him every time an uncomfortable sigh escaped her lips. Branch's eyes cracked open a little bit filled with worry for the pink troll, maybe this whole situation was taking a larger toll on the her then he had expected. Before he could say anything though he heard her begin to speak.

"So special…" she whispered. What was she…

"Good night Cooper, Good night Smidge…" Branch silenced the annoyed groan that threatened to escape his lips. She was saying good night to her friends? Really?

"Good night Fuzzbert, Goodnight Satin, Goodnight Chenille." Branch rolled his eyes at her before closing them again to rest, no longer feeling the desire to say something to her to ease her anxiety. Deep down though, he was secretly hoping Poppy would wish him good night too when she was finished… but, he highly doubted that would happen. Soon after he squashed those thoughts, he heard her speak someone's name in a tone that made his skin crawl.

"Good night Creek… Boop!" By this point he could no longer contain his irritation, and dare he admit it… jealousy?

"And good night Poppy!" He snapped, before turning his head to face away from her again. Once he began to relax, and thought silence would be welcoming them again, he heard the familiar chime of Poppy's hug time bracelet going off before hearing the princess shoot up into a sitting position within her sleeping bag. Once again he contained a groan that threatened to escape, knowing that she was going to target him for this particular hug time.

"Don't… even…. Think about it." He growled, still irritated. Branch knew the princess was anxious and probably could have used the comfort right now, but he really was not in the mood… not that he ever was. Right now Branch was also very uncomfortable with his surroundings even though he knew that he was fully prepared, then there was the fact the Poppy was lying right beside him on the other side of the fire. Not once had they ever been in this close of proximity to each other, alone… at night, and regardless of how hard he had tried to ignore it over this years, Creek and Poppy's relationship, whether there was a romantic one or not, just did not sit right with him.

"Stars shinning bright above you…"

"Really?" He rolled back over and rested his weight on his arm as soon as he heard the pink troll start to sing.

"Seriously? More singing?!" he complained.

"Yes seriously! Singing helps me relax…" Ah so she's finally admitting to her discomfort.

"Maybe you ought a try it." He grinded his teeth again with this comment from her, here she is again saying things and trying to get him to do things without fully understanding him…

"I DON'T sing, and I DON'T relax! This is the way I am! And I like it! I'd also like a little silence!" he snapped at her before throwing himself back down in his sleeping bag and turning away from her again. What he said was only half true, while he did enjoy silence sometimes, especially in times like these, he was only content with the way he was because it was all he has known now for twenty years. No one, not even himself had ever tried to change anything all this time and it felt like it was impossible for him to return to being a happy, singing and dancing troll again. Deep down though, he wished he could know what happiness truly felt like once again… He sighed as these thoughts passed through his head, there was no way he could ever admit something like that to the princess, it was just impossible for him to break down that wall he built to keep everyone out, so this is how things would have to remain…

Branch's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he head the sound of a guitar playing? What the heck? There was only one possible person who it could be and he couldn't help but wonder where in the world she had gotten it from. Rolling back over to sit up and face her once again, he watched her in disbelief.

"Hello darkness my old friend." Poppy angelic voice began, she had been standing within close proximity to him before backing up slowly, watching him mockingly.

"I've come to talk with you again."

"Hello." As Poppy continued several creatures of the night began to sing along with her as if they had been lured in by her beautiful voice. A spider of much smaller scale then what they had encountered earlier that day had even dared to crawl up onto his shoulder, he quickly flicked the spider away, but continued to watch the Troll Princess in awe and disbelief as she continued, luring him in with her voice and beauty as well, it was as if she was putting on a concert just for him, even it is was initially an attempt to annoy him.

"Because a vision softly creeping.
Left it's seeds while I was sleeping.
In the vision that was planted in my brain…
Still remains."

Seriously though where were all these creatures coming from? He had no idea there had been so many of them in the surrounding area and it freaked him out a little bit. Thankfully it seemed none of them had intended to harm the troll pair at all.

"Within the sound…
Of Silence…"

Poppy finished her little number and approached Branch, who watched her with an unimpressed look, as all of the creatures of the night disappeared behind her. As much as he enjoyed listening to her in that moment, Poppy was watching him with a smug look on her face, almost seeming triumphant. It actually was impressive, she had used his harsh statement from earlier as twisted it into a form of a song, an action she assumed he would grow irritated with.

'Solid burn Poppy.' He thought to himself as he pushed himself up to stand back on his feet, pride began to take over and he found himself not wanting to admit to her that he had been impressed and rather enjoyed her little concert. Instead, he held his hands out to her, wanting to make sure he could get his point across from earlier.

"May I?" he asked softly, showing no signs of evil intent. A little surprised, and assuming she had gotten through to him, she easily handed the little guitar over to him, she almost appeared as if she were pleased with his actions. But that didn't last long, after holding it for a short moment; he held a straight face with a fake smile plastered on it before tossing the instrument into the nearby campfire. The strings of the guitar made a noise as the caught fire, and not another word was spoken as Branch climbed back into his sleeping bag, and the princess remained still for a while as if trying to piece together the events that had just occurred.

'Solid burn, returned.' Branch thought to himself as he heard Poppy sigh sadly behind him before finally climbing back into her sleeping bag. Branch listened as Poppy soon began to toss and turn uncomfortably again, but this time made no motion to speak or sing. He could tell she was attempting to be as silent as possible now and it was making his heart feel heavy. As he recalled the decisions he had just made earlier, he realized that what he had done was pretty mean… He knew it wasn't what she needed right now, and she was only attempting to calm herself down with the only thing she knew could calm her down. But because they both could never understand each other, he ended up acting on poor decisions and possibly hurting her in an attempt to get his own point across… No matter how hard he tried, he could never find it within himself to be the troll she needed, especially in difficult situations like these.

After a while, he could hear that her breathing had finally begun to settle down, signaling that the princess had finally fallen asleep. Quietly, he rolled himself back over to face the kind hearted troll princess and was a bit surprised to find that she was also facing him, he could feel his face flush a bit with embarrassment and just assumed she had rolled over because she had preferred to feel the warmth of the fire on her face as she slept. The light from the campfire danced across the pink trolls beautiful features, and he could see that she wasn't having a restful sleep, her brows were knitted with worry, her lips formed slightly in a pout and her eyelids flickered as if she were fighting a bad dream. He could feel his heart twist within his chest as he watched her, and held back the strong urge he felt to reach out to her and hold her hand in an attempt to provide her some comfort.

"I'm sorry Poppy…" he mumbled softly as he continued to watch her with worry, he had no right to touch her, especially when he was partially to blame for her feeling this way right now.

"I can't… comfort you…" he added, it was an apology for his actions from before, as well as an apology for never being able to be the troll she wanted him to be. All of which should be said in person, while she was awake, but never would.

"But… I can promise you this…" He continued as he spoke a little more confidently, watching her with determined eyes.

"I will protect you… No harm will ever come to you while you're with me…" He declared quietly, knowing well that for her sake, he would not sleep a wink tonight so he could keep watch; he would guard her until morning, just as he promised. Poppy's expression seemed to relax slightly, almost as if she had heard every word he had said. He smiled slightly as she relaxed, it may not have been much, but it was all he could do and it seemed it was enough for her right now.

(AN: Chapter four complete! Please review and let me know what you think!)