I do not own Trolls.
This is a story plot thought up by gaara king of the sand.
Chapter Eight
"You are fantastic!" Gristle cooed after his date had slapped his hand away for a slice of pizza. He found it exciting and sexy to see a woman with such a good appetite, one she was clearly willing to fight for. He admired her for it deeply.
"Compliment him back!" Poppy encouraged Bridgette. Branch moaned behind her that it was a bad idea but she waved him off. However, she soon felt horrified after watching Bridgette struggle with what should have been a simple praise.
"Poppy, help her!" Branch whisper yelled at Poppy.
"Ooo, your eyes…" Poppy almost gagged at the idea. She tried to choose another feature, the other Trolls all attempting to throw a suggestion in, but each time any of them really looked at Gristle they found him more and more repulsive. Poppy had never really seen the disgusting side to him until this moment when she was faced with properly taking him in. She began to notice different spots and boils on his skin, she noticed the crooked teeth that had clearly seen better days. She could even smell him more clearly and it wasn't pleasant.
"Are you making fun of me?" Gristle asked, hurt flooding his eyes and face as he stood up ready to escape.
"Your eyes!" Bridgette shouted, hearing a voice in her hair guiding her. Gristle sat down as Bridgette began to talk.
"They're like two pools, so deep… I fear if I dive in I might never come up for air…" Poppy looked around to see Branch sat there, speaking to Bridgette and guiding her. Poppy sat back on her feet, listening to the beautiful words as he said them.
"And your smile… The sun itself turns jealous and refuses to come out from behind the clouds knowing it cannot shine half as bright…" Poppy smiled softly at Branch as they locked eyes, Branch's own mouth tugging up at the corners.
"I kinda do have a nice smile, don't I?" Gristle smiled at his date.
"Yes, you do," Branch spoke, but Poppy felt the words were meant for her. It made her heart beat fast and an uncontrollable smile to fill her face.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this…" Bridgette started.
"Guys, she's going rogue!" Biggie panicked.
"But being here with you today, it makes me realise that true happiness is possible," Poppy felt the Bergen's words touched her in more ways than she could describe. She had spent her life feeling like there was nothing more than darkness, but her time with Branch had started to make her think more like Bridgette. She found Branch to be over bearing and annoying, but he was sweet at heart and she could see the good in him and she had begun to see it in herself too. She found that things weren't all grey, she could start to see the colours for the first time in her life. She grinned over at Branch, wondering if maybe she should follow her own heart.
However, the grin soon fell away as the two Bergens made their way onto the skating rink, performing a fancy dance routine with each other. The magic and tingle Poppy had felt from Branch's words soon faded away as his groans and whines filled her ears. He didn't like the way Bridgette was throwing herself around, compromising their safety, he didn't like the way Poppy was sat so close to the edge and he detested the way the Trolls had no proper safety belt structure to keep them in their seats on Bridgette's head.
"Poppy, what if he sees us?" Branch hissed worriedly as him and his fellow Trolls tried to keep hold of Bridgette's hair as they felt the gushing wind pushing against them. Poppy resented ice skating in that moment.
"Branch, shut up!" Poppy growled back, before stopping and taking a deep breath.
"It'll be fine, Mr Pessimistic," Poppy tried to sound sincerer and calmer this time. She realised she was being harsh on Branch, but she couldn't cope with his permanent negativity. She had always thought she was grey and moody, but this particular Troll took it to a whole new level in her eyes. She actually felt rather optimistic and cheerful in comparison. Maybe that was why she found him growing on her more. He brought out a different side to her.
"Ooo, she told you, Branch!" The twins laughed as they held onto each other tighter, feeling the wind getting stronger. In that moment Branch's grip, and those of his people, gave way and they all began to fly away. Poppy acted quickly, grabbing Branch's hand tightly and in turn the Trolls grabbed each other until there was a long line of them, each one depending on the other. Poppy realised that this was the moment where she could capture her peoples trust, and it was an opportunity she wasn't about to let go of. Quite literally.
Poppy also couldn't help but hold her breath as she felt a tingle running through her body from Branch's touch. It was the most inappropriate time to think of Branch and the way he made her feel, but she couldn't help it. He had began sneaking into her mind, taking over all her thoughts and sometimes he left her feeling dumbfounded. It was a feeling she didn't know how to handle or work out. She wasn't sure how to act on it. Her head spoke logic, but her heart was a jumble. She felt confused with it all.
Poppy was snapped out of her thoughts by a sudden thrust as Bridgette spun Gristle, giving the Trolls time to pull themselves back down into cover. They managed it by the skin of their teeth, only just bypassing Gristle's gaze.
"Thank God for that," Branch breathed out, his heart pounding from the adrenaline. He took a deep breath, steadying himself when he noticed a hand still tightly holding onto his. He looked down at his hand to see Poppy's was still there, gripping his tightly. He allowed his gaze to follow from their clasped hands all the way up her arm to her face. She was staring out through the hair, obviously watching the Bergen couple. Branch figured she was oblivious to their grasp. He pondered for a moment whether to pull away or leave it there. He didn't want to look weak, but he somehow felt comfort and a form of warmth from her hand. He swallowed hard, his palms suddenly feeling sweaty, his heart beating fast, he could feel what felt like fluttering in his stomach. He wasn't sure if he felt sick from the feeling or something much more… unimaginable.
"Are they…" Biggie drifted off, nodding his head towards the twos clasped hands. The male Trolls looked rather shocked, however the female Trolls looked unfazed.
"It was obvious, wasn't it?" DJ whispered, the other girls nodding in return. Branch glared at the group. They giggled amongst themselves, clearly unmoved at being caught out.
"Poppy, isn't that Chef?" Branch spoke quietly, kneeling closer to Poppy as they watched Chef approach the couple. The Trolls shook in fear as they watched her quiz Bridgette.
"Shhh…" Poppy warned, motioning with her hands for the Trolls to drop down low.
"Lady Glitter-Sparkles…" Chef spoke slowly, pronouncing each syllable purposefully for effect.
"Set her a place at the table next to me, won't you?" Gristle ordered Chef, "I want her right by my… Lady Glitter Sparkles?" Gristle shouted out when he realised his love interest had suddenly vanished. He glided towards the exit where he threw the doors open, his eyes falling on his beloved Lady as she hopped away awkwardly on one skate.
"I'll see you at Trollstice!" The King yelled after her, before he gasped, grabbing her stray skate. He caressed the skate tenderly, his mind running over the events of the day. For the first time ever, he felt a strange feeling inside. He wondered if it was indigestion or just a full stomach. He sighed, spinning the wheel on the skate with his finger.
"I'll never forget you…"
XoXoXoXoX
"We did it!" Poppy squealed excitedly as they all rolled on the bed. Branch gripped the scratchy cotton blanket tightly, suddenly feeling thankful for the ground and steadiness it provided him. He never wanted to journey like that again. He still couldn't believe that there were no safety precautions taken. It aggravated him dearly, but he took a breath and calmed himself. He realised this was not the time or place to become obsessive.
"Only just…" Branch scoffed, folding his arms. He wanted to redeem his placid persona to help make the others forget his softer side that they had seen.
"What's your problem?" Poppy challenged him, standing up strong and straight in front of him, hands on hips as she eyed him. Branch stood up suddenly, not liking the way she was trying to square up to him. He narrowed his eyes at her.
"You risked their lives on a whim and a magical dream you thought up. It worked this time by the skin of our teeth, what makes you think you could pull that off again?" Poppy's arms suddenly dropped down beside her. How could he make her feel so defeated? She had worked hard to try build trust with not just him but her people, and she thought she was doing good! How could he be so harsh?
"I didn't see you coming up with anything!" Poppy spat at him, her anger getting the better of her. Suddenly a hand fell between them, pushing them apart.
"Stop fighting!" Bridgette begged them. The two Trolls sighed, stepping away from the barrier and calming themselves down. Once satisfied, the Bergen moved her hand and sat back to stare at them.
"The plan worked," Smidge reminded them.
"And the King really likes us!" Biggie was almost beaming like a school girl in love.
"Does this mean you will release the Trolls?" Branch asked finally after a few moments silence, "That was the deal, was it not?" He reminded the Bergen.
"I need you guys to help me be Lady Glitter Sparkles tomorrow at that meal!"
"Oh, the one where they're serving Trolls? Nah, I think we'll pass on that," Branch rolled his eyes at her as he jumped off the bed. Poppy watched after him before turning to Bridgette where she could see the balls of tears building in the Bergen's eyes.
"But… I can't do it without you…" Bridgette dropped her head. Poppy gently placed her hand on the large one in front of her.
"You can do anything without us. It was you he fell for, not us," Poppy tried to remind the Bergen, but Bridgette wasn't having it as she shook Poppy away.
"Fine! Just go! They're in the kitchen, get them yourselves!" Bridgette snapped angrily at the Troll before crashing her wet eyes into her hands.
"I wish I'd never gone on that stupid date!" Bridgette wailed as she threw herself into her pillow to cry, the other Trolls bouncing off the bed from the impact.
"Bridgette…"
"Just go!" Bridgette screamed at Poppy. The small grey Troll felt something painful in her stomach and heart. She felt like she couldn't breathe. There was an ache that stabbed at her. What was this feeling? She looked over at Branch, a sadness building inside of her. For the first time since meeting Branch, she felt empty and alone again. Branch was being cold with her, Bridgette hated her, and the other Trolls were unclear on their stance. She could feel all eyes on her.
"Poppy, come on, we can do this ourselves without her," Branch assured Poppy, grabbing her by her hand to pull her along. However, Poppy threw his hand away from her. She stared at him briefly, her own eyes beginning to water before she barged passed him towards the door. Poppy decided that she didn't need emotions or feelings. They were causing her hurt and trouble and she didn't want it. She decided to do what was needed, and that was to be their Queen, even if it meant she was cold hearted…
