I do not own Trolls.

AN: I would like to apologise for delays in updates. Life is busy as we all know and I'm trying to get back on track. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Chapter Seven

Poppy watched as the selected Trolls sang, each one dancing around as they gathered materials for Bridgett's make over. They all looked happy and vibrant, they sounded harmonious. Poppy wondered what it would be like to sing. It was something she had never tried. Singing had been more of a myth amongst the Bergens. It was known, but never heard or seen. She always wondered what it would sound like, and she had to admit that it was beautiful. It made her question whether she would sound as good as them. It was something she had never tried. Poppy sighed. She looked around the room, taking in everything until her eyes fell onto Branch. He was stood on the window sill, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He, too, was observing the other Trolls. However, instead of being fascinated like herself, he looked pained. He looked like he was relieving a past experience. Something was clearly bothering him, and she decided to take it upon herself to investigate.

She approached Branch cautiously, not wanting him to close off. She had found that Branch can be odd at times. Sometimes he would share things about himself, but the second he realised you were getting closer to him he pushed you away. He locked you out. Poppy didn't want to be locked out. She found herself dying to learn more about him, she wanted to be close to him and while it baffled her as to whys he felt this way, she knew it was something she needed to do. Wanted to do.

"Branch?" Poppy spoke softly, not wanting to startle him. Branch looked at her, his body language softening as she came closer. He even managed a small smile, one that Poppy was sure he didn't even release was happening.

"Hey, you alright?" Branch asked, Poppy nodded as she stood beside him.

"You look deep in thought?" Poppy probed lightly. Branch nodded, unsure of what to say.

"I was… thinking," He admitted. His voice sounded hoarse like the emotions were getting the best of him.

"About what?" Poppy probed gently. She watched as Branch bit his lip before sighing. He sat down on the sill and patted the space near him. Poppy couldn't help but feel excited. He was involving her. It was what she had been hoping for, but what she couldn't figure out was why she wanted it so badly… What was this feeling he caused her?

"I was thinking about my grandma," Branch started, taking a deep breath. Poppy could tell this subject was close to his heart, and she could see how it was affecting him. She stayed quiet, allowing him to have his moment before carrying on.

Branch took a deep breath, gave one last agonised look at the Trolls singing and dancing, then turned to Poppy. He felt braced and ready to share his story. He had hoarded this emotion for so long and no one knew what had happened except him. He realised he needed this, he needed to tell someone. The guilt was eating away at him and over his life it had made him sour and angry. He didn't want to feel like that anymore…

"When I was five I lived with my grandma, she cared for me, encouraged me. She protected me best she could, and she made these amazing pies," Branch smiled fondly.

"She was my rock," Poppy could see a small smile forming on Branch's face as he spoke about her, and she found it brought a strange feeling to her own heart. The more she watched him speak, she could see flickers of blue in his skin and it made her sit up, suddenly taking notice. She found it mesmerising and strange, then, suddenly, they fell flat. The usual grey seeping in. She could see from Branch's face that his emotions had changed.

"Then one day I was singing, I was so lost in the song…" Branch looked scarred and she could feel that something bad was going to happen next in his story.

"I didn't hear my grandma shouting. She was warning me… There was a Bergen who was going to grab me. My grandma though, she sacrificed herself. She pushed me out of the way. She let the Bergen take her…" Branch stopped, trying to swallow the hard lump in his throat. It was hard enough for him to even think about it but having to sit there and force himself to relive the situation over again. It really pained him. He still felt guilty over it all.

"Oh, Branch, is that when…" Poppy fell silent, motioning towards Branch's dull colouring. He nodded, suddenly lost for words. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He felt like he was there again, sat on that floor with the rain pelting at him like punishment as his colours drained from him. He held back his sob as he stood up, moving to the window where he placed his hand on the window, staring out into the distance.

Poppy approached behind him, she desperately wanted to touch him, do something, but she worried about how he would react.

"Branch, I'm… I'm so sorry," She whispered, reaching a cautious hand out to touch his shoulder comfortingly. He accepted the small affection, the contact making his heart feel lighter. He turned to look at Poppy, her eyes staring into his. Poppy offered him a small smile before hugging him tightly, almost out of instinct. Branch held her back automatically. His head suddenly felt clear and empty, his heart at ease being there with her in that moment. However, soon enough he pulled back, not wanting to seem weak, much to Poppy's disappointment.

"Bran-"

"Just drop it, Poppy," Branch's voice was suddenly stern and shut off. It made Poppy feel something she was all too familiar with… she felt sad…

XoXoXoXoX

The following day had arrived, and Bridgett was fully made over. She was stood in front of a shop, staring at the reflection of herself, but she couldn't recognise herself. She looked different. However, she knew different was better.

"Are you ready?" Poppy whispered down to her. Bridgett nodded, her heart pounding with worry and anxiety. She could feel a panic attack starting.

"No, I don't think I can do this…" Bridgett stepped away from the shop window, she couldn't breathe.

"Bridgett, you are beautiful, you can do this," Poppy tried to reassure her. Poppy didn't trust the Bergens and she wasn't sure whether her plan would even work, but she couldn't give up on her own people. She had to save her people. They came first. She owed them that much. The Bergens… well, they were a different story for her. She didn't know how to feel with them, she certainly didn't feel the same way as she did before about them. Poppy, while she had had her wires crossed, is now completely straight. She knew what the Bergens were, and it was something she didn't want to be involved with…

Bridgett nodded, taking a deep breath before entering the building where she could see the King trying on different bibs. He looked powerful, confident and something about him seemed dark…

"I think you look phat," Bridgett mimicked Poppy's words.

"What?" The King challenged through gritted teeth, his anger rising rapidly at the suggestion.

"P-H- Phat," Bridgett clarified, striking a seductive pose.

"Poppy, do you really think this will work? He's dangerous!" Branch hissed in her ear. Poppy waved him off.

"I know Gristle like the back of my hand. Bridgett is exactly his type and he's a sucker for a flirt. She can get him on board and then we get what we want. Freedom." Poppy felt powerful in her own rights and she knew she could do this for the Trolls. She was the one who put them here, she was the one who was going to fix this. She was the one who needed to save Creek and give the Trolls hope.

She was their future Queen.