So I never actually answered questions from the last update. I was just sooo tired. It was a long day and I just had to update since I was done a long time ago. Since I did stopped for the last a month and a half.
This chapter is actually just a breather. About 3726 words in total. Short (for me) but a little bit sweet for Broppy because I love them and I want every chapter to be filled with Broppy. Oh! Yeah Suki... Just remembered... Hm! What? I didn't say anything...
Now!
Tomboy friend: thank you actually for calling me a great writer. And your questions will be answered very soon. But not here though. I think by the next chapter I think.
Mine craft dude 1: Wow! Your actually 11?... I thought you were like 13 or something. Hmm... Interesting. Thanks for loving it though! The truth about Branchs death will be told here actually.
Mlpfanceline1: You didn't? I got nothing to worry about then. And yeah it was AO3. My mind blew away when I realized it was him/her. Broke my heart to smithereens.
Guest from chapter 5: uh dude or girl. I'm really sorry if it's confusing. But I'll try my best more later on.
TheSnackPack: Hahaha XD I thought no one would fall for that one but hey thanks loving the chapter though. Appreciate it a lot.
Chapter 14
"Branch?" She whimpered as she sob uncontrollably. His face covered by his mask. 'Was it all just a dream?' She didn't think of any other thougt and hugged him tight. Branch was frozen but hesitantly reciprocated the hug. "Poppy are you alright? What happened?" He asked her again but she didn't move an inch and just cried on the crook of his neck. Branch slowly sat on the bed and leaned on the wall to get her feel comfortable.
Poppy didn't mind and just followed where he was. They both stayed like that for a while until Branch broke the silence again "Look Poppy. If there's any problem you got in your head, you know you can tell it to me and I'll understand. I-I won't judge you if that's what you're thi-" he was silenced once more when Poppy just shook her head in denial.
After a few more minutes, Nor walked in with the rest of Poppy's friends. Branch waved nervously "Hi?" Poppy didn't move still and just made her embrace tighter. "Uh... I see that she's finally awake-" Nor replied but his voice was overlapped by the sudden screams of delight from the group beside him. "Poppy!" They all exclaimed.
The snack pack crowded around the two of them blurting out all sort of questions. Poppy tried to comprehend their words but she kept silent throughout the ordeal. It made them all worried that maybe something happened to her they didn't know about even more worse that she's gray. They all tried getting Branch off of her but she only tightened her embrace more until Branch started to choke and told them to stop tugging. It was hopeless.
Poppy hid her face to his torso so they couldn't really know or observe if she's scared, sad or anything. Guy Diamond suddenly went out of the house and bolted, much to their surprise. After a few talks on wether or not Branch did something to her while they were gone, GD came back with a basket in hand and took out a cupcake which is Poppy's favorite. Suki smacked him on the back of his head "You can't just bribe her with a cupcake!" So the idea was discarded.
After a few more failed attempts, Branch was forced to stay on the bed with her. Probably until she opens up. Poppy fell asleep when everyone left. Branch took his chance to look at herself. She was still taking short sudden breaths unintentionally but other than that she looked scared. Her eyes furrowed as she slept. One of her bangs was in the way and he placed them behind her ear.
Getting bored he just thought that maybe he should take a shut eye for a while as well and he slid slowly and laid down on his back as not to wake her up in the process and fell asleep.
Poppy woke up on the cold ground and sat up. "W-where am I?" She asked herself. She looked around for anyone there but she was alone. She woke up on the forest. The breeze was cold and she shivered. She then suddenly heard screams of people in pain behind her. She turned and felt her stomach drop. Houses were in flames and smoke towered the sky.
Amidst the blazing homes she could see shadows of trolls, chased and killed as their cries grew. A shadow suddenly towered in front of her, closing in with a hideous laugh.
Poppy opened her eyes in sweat. Her breathing was hard and felt her head would break. Out of the chaos inside her, she then heard a beat. Slow and steady. Following the same beat, her breathing slowed down as she closed her eyes to calm herself. She found the source of this and saw Branch asleep. She must've fell asleep somehow and he went along with it.
Poppy observed his quiet self. She felt her face turn hot when she realized the reason why he's here with her. She face palmed herself and sigh. 'What am I doing?!' She thought. Her heart almost stopped when Branch shifted and started to open his eyes. She quickly sat up out of embarrassment for being so close to him, after all they were just friends. Only friends. The thought made her a bit bitter but tried not to show it as she watched him sat up.
The room wasn't that very lit and the light of the moon was the only light they got in the room. Nonetheless she could still see him scratching the back of his head with half lid eyes. He slowly smiled a little when he saw her sitting and not really hugging him like its the end of the world.
"You okay? You really got us worried, you know? With all the 'not waking up thing' and... Yeah! Uh... You're gray! I know it's not really the time though but..." He paused as he looked at her expectantly "Can I ask why you're... Gray?" He added. Poppy could feel herself shrink. She can't just tell him 'Oh! You confessed to me that you love me and died in my arms because you got stabbed to your liver and that I also confessed that I love you too!' Yeah... Not really a good idea.
She let out a long sigh and looked down the blanket she was sitting on. "It's just that... I..." She trailed off. The feeling when he died in her arms, it just felt so real. The thought of him dying just made her cry and she quickly wiped her tears away as her sobs came back again. Branch thought that maybe her crying was his doing and frantically blurted out "I-I'm sorry! I never should have asked and I-" he was stopped with his stammering when Poppy hugged him and hid her face again to his torso "I saw you die and *sniff* I...*hiccup* I thought you were just gone forever" she said in between her sobs and hiccups, almost muffled.
Branch was taken aback. He died?! His curiosity took over as his mind wandered. She's gray because he died. She's crying because she thought he was gone forever. She's hugging him because she doesn't want him to leave. Fortunately for him, Poppy couldn't see him blushing like crazy. "How did... I die exactly?" He asked.
Poppy let go of him and wiped her eyes away. "You tried to save me and you... You got injured. Are you really okay? Or are we dead and this is heaven?" She asked deliriously. Branch felt like he wants to laugh but urged himself not to. "No we're not dead, Poppy. It's okay" he chuckled "And I'm really fine. No injuries. No nothing" he added as he spread out his arms showing nothing that would consider as a sever and dangerous wound.
Branchs proof calmed her down a bit. She looked around her and finally realized "Who's house is this anyway?" She asked him as she rubbed her left arm where the arrow hit her. No wound "My... House actually" he answered nervously. She looked back at him in bafflement "How did I get here?"
"Your friends brought you to me. They found me buying stuff in the market and told me you weren't breathing. I brought Nor along and he confirmed that you were breathing but... Your heart was just too slow and he almost thought you were dead" he replied "We brought you here since Nor said he needs to keep a close eye on you in case anything happens. He also confirmed yesterday that you're going to sleep like... Forever. If you won't wake up today" he added.
"You mean I would be in a coma?" She asked as she tried to grasp his words "Yeah pretty much" he answered as he placed a hand at the back of his neck. Poppy bit her lower lip hard. So their confessions... His confession. Was all just a dream? A fantasy? Her heart ached as she thought of how it all was just that. A dream. That she knows that'll never come true.
Accompanied with the thought of her not waking up actually scared the wits out of her. She tried to believe the fact that everyone is alive. Safe and sound. No raider attacks. But everything that happened felt so real. She shivered in fear as she remembered Mucronate and his soldiers doing. What they did to everyone. What they almost did to her.
Branch could see her getting tenser and offered "You wanna... Walk up to the village? See if everyone's fine? Or are you going to get paranoid like me that raiders are gonna come here?" He joked but Poppy took it way too seriously and thought of the many possibilities that could happen if they do something wrong. Branch noticed his mistake when Poppy started to get teary eyed again and tried to patch it up quickly "I mean like that's probably not gonna happen anyway. We are far, far away from the kingdoms borders so...'*ahem* y-yeah. I bet that won't come anytime soon anyway"
Poppy calmed down a bit. Maybe they won't get attacked after all. That nagging sensation at the back of her mind was now long gone same as the other sensations that she felt before. The night was much more real and oddly enough it was calming her loudly beating heart. She then ran a hand through her hair. Why is everything so confusing? It's fine. Everything is fine. Yes.
But...
No everything is alright...
He's...
He's fine. He's right in front of her. Alive and well.
Branch was getting nervous by the second. Maybe he shouldn't have said that. Finally after a while his almost forgotten offer was answered "Yeah... I'd like that"
They both silently walked out of the house. Branch locked his door and placed his keys in his hair when he thought of maybe he should at least do something for her to feel better. He took a quick glance at her and it ached to see her like that. Being so sad and vulnerable. Who knew the happiest troll of the village was now so distraught and afraid.
He should at least do something before her suitors are gonna arrive tomorrow. Tomorrow. The starting of the three day celebration all about love. Should he dare tell her about his mask? Maybe he shouldn't. It doesn't matter anymore. She probably forgot about it anway too. He then forcibly showed a small smile as he took her by the hand "So you ready to go?"
Poppy looked at their entwined hands and shakily nodded.
The walk to the village was... Interesting. When Branch made a u-turn to the meadow Poppy halted in her tracks. He asked her what was wrong but she only shook her head as tears glistened from her eyes. Branch quickly told her it was fine not using this road to the village and led her to a different route.
They both had now arrived and Poppy's tense shoulders softened. Everyone was walking about, carrying and lifting boxes and beams for the stages while others helped in the decoration. Poppy bit her lip as she saw Little Almond running away with his brother trying to catch him up ahead.
It's like everything that happened was nothing but a sick joke. A prank. It made her anger burst her adrenaline to full. Her breathing was hard and she could only contain herself for a while when she stormed off. Branch, afraid of what she might do to herself, followed behind her. He watched her walk away from the village to the road back again to the meadow.
This only makes everything to him so confusing but as she walked she suddenly turned to the right, to the unpaved road. Branch jogged back to her side and asked "Where're you going? What- Whoa! Poppy what are you doing?" He could only watch as she climbed a tall tree and sat on the highest branches skillfully like she already knows the place better than him.
She could get eaten by a giant bird or even a Ralven if she doesn't get down soon. He started to climb and almost fell off quite a few times. "It's been a while with the tree climbing. Why couldn't she just *grunt* went to her house or to her friends and tell them all that happened why she's like this. But no... She had to leave *groaned* and climbed a tree-whoa!- for pete's sake. Why didn't she just chose a different tree! You know one with the more proper places where I can grab and climb" he grumbled in between his grunts as he climbed the tall tree.
With another heave upwards he finally made it to the branch where she was. He sat down tiredly and calmed his racing heart from the climb. Branch massaged a bit his aching muscles and stared at her frown. She was hugging her legs and just stared into oblivion. He shifted uncomfortably to her side and gazed at where she's looking.
Shockingly it was the village. Because of the height he could see everything. The town center, the marketplaces, and all the houses that were built around the area, filled with lights, bringing light to the dark. He stared back at her questioningly. She was just... Looking at the village with tearful eyes.
He has to do something but what? He thought for a whole minute but came out empty handed. Headed? He joked to himself which brought a small smile to his face. 'There's no time for jokes!' He scolded himself and went back to thinking. He then snapped his fingers in realization. Maybe he could make her laugh but then... How's he supposed to do that? The question irritated him as it wandered around his mind.
"Hmm..." He mused as he put a hand under his chin. His frown turned to a deepened grimace when nothing came up to his mind. He sighed, utterly defeated. He brought back his gaze to her. She was still quiet and would frequently bit her lip from time to time. He should say something and just blurted out without thinking "How'd you know about this place? You never mentioned anything about this place before"
He looked at her expectantly if she was going to answer. She was silent for a while until finally she did "I used to come here... When I was thirteen. You know how it is with... You know! Puberty?... And -I don't know- I kind of just forgot about this place when I met someone a year after" she answered without tearing her eyes from the view.
Someone? Branch stiffened when he heard her say that. And who would that be? He frowned a bit but realized it was four years ago. Branch looked back at her again and observed her quiet demeanor. She noticed his eyes watching her and gazed towards him as well. "What?" She asked him. He only shook his head and looked away from her back to the village "Nothing" he said quietly. Poppy couldn't help herself but smile a bit at him and looked back to the view again.
They both stayed like that for a while until Branch broke the silence once more "So why did you walk out like that and come here?" Honestly, she didn't know as well. All her mind could only mention without giving a hurtful memory was this place. The place where she spent without the partying, singing, the dancing... She sighed and answered "I... Don't really know. Maybe because this is the only place where no one died in my dream, I guess"
"And?" He asked her one more time. This time she tore her eyes away from the view to him as she crossed her arms atop on her knees "And what?" She raised a brow as she said this. Branch shrugged as he said nothing and pouted tiredly. It made her chuckle a bit at his visage and she mumbled "You're so weird sometimes"
"Guilty" he added which made her chuckle under her breath. It made his heart ever lighter to hear her like that. Poppy's smile didn't last long as she frowned once more "I'm sorry... I know you probably don't want to hear me being like this. Why are you still here even? When it seems like all I could do is drag everyone down" she said full of disdain to herself.
Poppy covered her teary eyes with her hand as she ran the other to her hair and ducked, covering her face to her knees. Her heart nearly stopped when she felt two arms wrapped around her. She could hear his steady beating heart again and closed her eyes as she leaned to his warmth. Branch placed a hand on her hair and stroked gently.
He was silent as he did this until he finally spoke up "Life may be hard but that doesn't mean you can't have cupcakes and rainbows too" he told her "And you're not dragging anyone down at all. So stop beating yourself up" he added as his little smile never wavered.
"And I'm actually only doing this to return the favor" she looked up in bafflement without breaking the hug "What? What favor?" She asked him. Branch smirked at her way and answered "You mean you don't remember when I had a nightmare and you tried to calm me down in my sleep?" That's when it clicked, her mouth agape as her eyes went like saucers.
"H-how did you know it was me?" She asked nervously. Branchs smile grew ever wider "Well you couldn't have just teleported and I know your much more braver than be afraid just because you heard something outside and Poppy..." he paused making her even more nervous.
"What?" Poppy could remember her words that night. Burning through the back of her mind. She focused once more to him when she heard him speak again "You are a horrible liar and I've already known that all my life so..." He shrugged involuntarily as she punched him lightly.
"But your secret is safe with me... Princess" he said as he gave a wink. The nickname made her heart flutter with the accompany of an explosion of butterflies in her stomach. She covered her face to his torso and punched him again and again "I hate you" she told him which is a sarcastic comment but Branch took it seriously as his smile fell and replaced by sadness as his heart felt broken. Pricked and torn.
He pulled himself away from her and cleared his throat "We should uh... Get moving. I bet everyone is getting worried where we are now" he suggested much to Poppy's shock and she realized her words to him. She didn't get up but eyed him "Did you really believe what I said? Don't you know anything about sarcasm?" she said with a smirk.
"O-of course I knew that!" He answered as he looked away from her. Poppy gave a wave of giggles as he realized his mistake. After a while Poppy accepted Branchs request of heading home and went down the tall tree. Branch looked up to it and saw it was one of the tallest trees in the area. They both walked down the road back to the village. The village was silently peaceful and they made a beeline to Poppy's house.
They both stopped at her doorstep. Each not knowing what to say. "Uh... You know you can sleep here if you want" she suggested as Branch nodded "Okay"
Branch laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. They already discussed of telling everyone they slept here before they get worried and find them and Poppy showed him to the guest room where he should have slept last time he was here and not on the living room.
He thought of the day's events and sighed tiredly. Is she going to be fine? What will the villagers think if they'll see her like this? Will they blame him? Or someone else? He thought long and hard but he knows he shouldn't ponder on it for long. Tomorrow is going to be a long day and he needs all the sleep he can get before the celebration. That's right. He's coming to the celebration and he needs his energy until then. He closed his eyes as his soul brimming with determination and fell asleep.
Poppy, on the other hand, had trouble sleeping. The turn of events today had her on edge for tomorrow. People will question what happened to her and her colors. She sighed tiredly and sat up from her bed. She looked at the heap of mess on her desk, filled with papers and letters. She stood up and sat down on her chair. She took one letter from the mess and read it. It says...
"Dear Poppy,
I know I haven't been seeing you very much lately but your wait will come to an end soon. Just know that I'm not only doing this for me but also for you and that I love you very much. You are all that I have left. My pride and joy. I'll see you soon.
Love, Your father, Peppy"
Her father sent this letter two years ago and she was still waiting. Waiting for him to come back to her life again. She missed him so much. She brought the letter down and rubbed her temple. The headache may be gone but the stress took its toll on her today. The pressure. She inhaled sharply as she tried to calm herself.
'Maybe I should just get some sleep' she thought to herself as she stood up and collapsed tiredly on her bed. She grabbed one of her softest of pillows and closed her eyes. Tomorrow night her suitors are going to come and request again for her hand in marriage. Her thoughts came again to the king who visited her before and never came back but collided with the thought of Branch. She shook her head. No. Not tonight. She tried to forget those thoughts and let sleep overtake her until finally she fell into a deep sleep.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii*I am now using this for the separation thing. Why? Well because chapter thirteen was edited not on my phone but on a different one. From my sisters actually and remember what I said about my gadget where I update got broken? Yeah it was that one and it literally died so... That happened from just a week after updating chapter 11, while I was making chapter 12 actually. That's why chapter 12 is kind of... Ehhh... And noooo... Kind of thing.
I have a new phone but this one I can't put line breakers. It actually took me about a week to download and plan where I should put everything in. I downoaded fan fiction. Net and a word document editor. It was fine at first until my document editor is actually quite a... A... A bastard! It deleted one of the future scenes that I wanted to put and did you know that I woke up 11 in the evening and wrote it until 4 am?! I had class the next day after that and I was like a walking zombie since our class starts at 7. It was made filled with care and hard work. I'm pissed. A lot of incidents have already happened of deletion over the last month and a half and I don't know what to do. I guess all I could do is save everything first here and move on. Save and move on. Vice versa.
I'm so tired of the deletion. It already happened four times this week which led to the loss of my sanity for over 10 minutes inside the car while my parents were buying stuff. Fortunately they didn't noticed my seething glare and poor cushions from the incident that took place while they were gone and we went back home safely.
Other than that about the story, I'll still have fun writing it despite the deletion (actually no that's why some parts right here on this chapter are quite fast and full of narration because of deletion)
Thank you and I don't know what happens next time actually since I'm doing the chapters on the spot with no proper plot and climax. But I know the ending I just don't know how I'll point it to that ending yet. I will... Somehow... I guess that's what Branch meant about having a wish list and not a plan. I called it at first a plan but then I realized no it's not a plan it's a wish list. To my utter amazement.
Anyway Next time! On! Drum roll please! Dum dum dum dum dum DUUUUUMMMM...
Hahahaha XD its sounds ridiculous if you say it out loud. I'm sorry! Can't help it XD
Love you all! bye!