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UNSPOKEN
A Dreamworks Trolls Fanfic by C. Prince
Forgot to mention last week: an older version of CH 23 displayed for the first hour or so. The only difference is two paragraphs about Poppy's Trolls World Tour crown. All you need to know is she's thinking about wearing it but hasn't done so yet.
Rainbow Fireflies
Poppy checked her hands. She wasn't glowing, but everyone kept looking at her like she was. It wasn't until she stood in front of the mirror to don the gem day ceremonial dress that she saw it: a dusting of glitter on her face, a thick band of it around her back, and, most incriminating of all, a distinct sparkling lip print on one shoulder.
Branch! He let her skip off like that! She smeared out the shape before she got on stage.
The next day dragged on and on. She wanted to spend time with people, yes, but she kept hoping to see that flash of cerulean and moody aquamarine moving against forest greens. A list of romantic places in the village rolled through the back of her mind. She couldn't pick. No big. They'd just visit all of them.
"Poppy, are you sure it's okay to take this many flyer bugs to Trollberg?" Creek asked. He was concerned about upsetting the natural balance.
"It'll be fine. Besides, everyone needs to be able to come back to the village whenever they want. Our neighbors don't like noise, glitter cannons, flashing lights, so all those emergency parties have to happen here." Again she thought of Branch's need for solitude. She couldn't live at the bunker. She couldn't. Could she?
"In that case we are prepared to depart," Creek said.
The trolls were excited to begin their new adventure. They had everything they needed: places to stay, bergen-friendly party supplies, and each other. She cued the start of the song on her ukulele, its flower blooming when she sang.
The village joined the chorus, bouncing and waving flags, dancing and cheering from the treetops. Flyer bugs took to the air. Today Trollberg was getting its very first residents. Tug's Bus Ride to Bergentown would include a stop at the new location. Soon Trollberg would be ready for longer stays as a home-away-from-home. She could visit Bridget for longer, get to know more bergens, and have a safe spot to go at night.
It didn't matter how excited she was about Trollberg. Time continued to crawl like a worm.
He should've been at the send-off. It was unlike him to skip an event she personally organized, not unless he was sick or depressed or tracking some critter.
"Cooper, have you seen Branch today?"
"Yep! Right over there." Cooper pointed up at an empty tree limb.
"No, Cooper, I mean Branch."
"Ohhhh. You mean that branch." He pointed to a bough.
"The troll."
"Ok now I'm just confused. That's a branch, not a troll. Or am I standing on my head again?"
Cooper was, in fact, standing on his head. Poppy grabbed a scrapbook, turned it upside down, and pointed out the teal papercraft inside.
"Good old dunkle Branch. He's working on that underground hole, says it needs more space."
What in the world did he need more room for? He had everything a troll could possibly not want, like endless solitude, confined spaces, canned creamy swamp moss, and Monopoly. Her mood sank. There really was no way she could live there. She'd be so far away from everyone.
"That's a weird looking smile," Cooper observed.
Cooper was right. She should be having fun, not worrying about this. Surely there was a way for both her and Branch to get what they needed. Surely.
Poppy unfolded the plain note from her hair, its creases already soft from being opened so many times. Smack dab in the center of the parchment deep navy ink scrawled a single phrase. I'll be there.
She squeaked and put the good luck charm back. Finally they'd get proper together time. It was for a generous cause, although she had an ulterior motive that involved a visit to a certain spot. She wouldn't have dared share the hidden piece of fantasy until now.
The closer she got to her date with him, the more excited she became. Ok technically not a date but close enough. She wouldn't have been able to sleep at all, except for the fact she was still tired from the solo camping trip. The anticipation was killing her.
What should she wear today? She pawed through the closet. Plum blazer with black tie and dark slacks: too professional. Rainbow t-shirt and shorts: too casual. Floor-length gown with ruffled train down the back: too elegant. The leaf cape: too soon. That was special.
"Smidge, what do you think?" She held up two of her favorite occasion dresses, both comfortable but clearly different than her day-to-day outfits. One was a cheerful yellow with a top secured by straps that gathered into a cute bow at the back. Its skirts flared out from the waist and reached her knees. The other option was a deep royal purple gown, form-fitting and flexible, satiny soft. It hugged her hips and dropped to her toes, where the color dipped to star flecked midnight. It was completely strapless.
"Isn't this more a question for the twins?" Smidge asked.
Poppy ran along the troll tree, hangers in hand, shouting, "Satin! Chenille!"
"Uh-oh. Fashion emergency," Satin said when Poppy jumped into the pod and thrust the options up.
"Purple or yellow?" Poppy panted.
The twin sisters looked at each other, sharing some kind of invisible conversation. Then they regarded the dresses. "Yellow," both said.
Poppy wasn't quite expecting that, let alone for them to agree. "Really? Don't you think the dark one is more—"
"Poppy," Chenille interrupted with a hand on her hip. "How much do you want Branch to have his hands all over you?"
Her cheeks burned. She hadn't said anything about what they'd been up to. But yeah, now that she looked at it, the midnight gown was… inviting.
Poppy felt Satin clip a sunflower where her felted crown should be. Chenille circled around with a critical eye. "We should really do something about her hair. It needs a trim."
"And she should wear it loose," Satin added.
"Maybe some eyeshadow." Chenille dug through an extensive makeup kit.
"No!" Satin said. "No makeup. Not his type."
Chenille scoffed and rolled her eyes, plucking a powder brush from the kit. "Yeah sis, I'm pretty sure his 'type' is just Poppy. Let me do her face."
Satin waved her arms to keep the makeup at bay. "Chenille, hurry and book an appointment at the salon," she whined.
That was how Poppy ended up accomplishing her morning queen tasks with a fresh haircut and a yellow dress stashed inside so it didn't get covered in frosting, glitter, paint, glue, or anything else. Chenille never managed to get around Satin for makeup duty.
Poppy changed and waited for Branch to arrive, the last of a tangy hard candy dissolving on her tongue. Giddy excitement had her vibrating in place.
Apparently she wasn't the only one who decided to dress up.
Branch wore his town outfit from before, the vest with embroidered leaves along the opening. His evergreen shorts complimented the decoration in his hair: a pine cone nestled in a pair of leaves and blueberries. A forked twig pinned the ornament in place.
"Someone's looking very handsome today," she said.
Her honest opinion was rewarded with a big, fluffy Branch smile. "Any chance the lovely troll queen would care to share what today's adventure is?"
This was fun. She could get used to this. "Location scouting! We need to pick the best spot for a starlight picnic."
"Scouting during the day for a night picnic."
"Shush. Now's when I have time. We have a lot to get through, so we better hurry."
Branch followed her through a whirlwind tour of Picnic Plains, Butterfly Hills, a secluded nook alongside the river, the place where two trees' roots adjoined in an arc to make a cozy cove, the grove of semitransparent mushrooms, a hidden moss circle inside a ring of boulders, the rainbow pools, and more.
"I thought I knew the village but I had no idea some of these places existed. How many more are there?" Branch asked.
"Another twenty or so."
"Twenty?! Let me see that list." Branch scanned the paper. "Can we eliminate some of these?"
"You… don't want to see them with me?"
"I do, but a little slower. Okay a lot slower. We did the first half at your pace. Let's do a few at mine."
Fair enough. Even though it worried her they'd skip the ideal spot, she helped Branch narrow down what was left to the top three possibilities.
Now that they weren't running, he strolled alongside as close as a troll could get without touching. Everyone they passed greeted them both, together. It was exhilarating. But what amazed her was she wasn't the only one returning pleasantries. Every time Branch returned a greeting, every time he initiated one, the fizzy feeling inside expanded until she thought she might burst.
"Oooooo~" Keith called at them from the group of kids playing on the mushroom bounce. All the little heads turned to look.
"Just ignore him," Branch said.
Poppy thought Keith had the right idea. She brushed her pinky over Branch's hand. Without hesitation he twined his fingers with hers. The children giggled.
Hand in hand the queen and her escort traveled into Black Rock, the ominous skull-shaped cavern on the far reaches of the village. Poppy guided Branch straight down the main tunnel, made a left at the offshoot, and stepped along an increasingly lichen-covered stone shaft.
They emerged outside in nature's private garden. Rich green moss blanketed the intimate clearing and the tumble of stones around it. Pastel flowers speckled mossy stones, attracting tiny butterflies that floated from petal to petal. A dense curtain of leaves and vines draped around the ringed garden. Overhead a patch of blue sky shone light into the circle: bright spots contrasting with deep forest shade.
The air here was thicker, heavier. Poppy's feet sank into the spongy moss and Branch's hand was hot in hers. He let go as she moved to the center of the circle, folds of the yellow dress rippling over her legs and the bow tickling the back of her neck. The ukulele was at her fingertips. There was a wordless song rising within. This feeling...
Her eyes closed and she let that emotion flow from the strings, tender, sweet, soothing. Even from the dark she knew the world around was waking up. Butterflies fanned their wings in wavy patterns. Chh chh of rustling vines brushed the music. Critters hummed. Her song grew wider with each creature that joined, and then, rising beneath it, came the deep sound of another instrument.
The flute gave voice to words she didn't have, creating a melody for her harmony. It surged below the bright ukulele chords, then started to push up, up, bumping against her notes, dancing above them, swirling around and around encouraging her to play. So she did. She plucked out a melody on top of the chords, the flute dropping to a low, supportive thrum. It came back with a response when her solo ended, and she rose to the challenge, each time more passionate than the last.
Strumming, she opened her view to the sight of Branch on the other side of the glen, his eyes closed, all his attention poured into playing. His face was serene. Fingers flicked over the vertical handcrafted flute. Branch never played this instrument except for call and response. The only other time she'd heard it was in rare flashes as a whisper from somewhere deep within the woods, always alone.
He opened his eyes and held her gaze with intent. They were playing for nobody but each other, now. Hearing the outpouring of emotion from Branch's music and seeing him make it while looking at her, into her, was almost too intense.
They riffed off each other, each time the improvisation getting closer to the other until they were playing the same melody together, a rising blend of high and low. Poppy couldn't tear her gaze away. The music swelled.
As one they landed on an amorous, sustained note.
All the butterflies flared their wings open in a riot of color and pattern. Budding flowers burst into full bloom and the moss sparkled. Musical accompaniment critters fell into a graceful diminuendo.
Into the quiet she played the melody with him one more time, slower, softer. The final sounds draped over the garden in an emerald glow.
Pinpricks on her skin wouldn't settle down. Whatever they'd just done felt exhilarating, raw, maybe even a little… naughty.
She wanted to do it again.
Poppy idly strummed happy chords, feeling the sun's heat shimmer over her hair. Branch was watching her with a look she couldn't quite place. Relaxed and open, a hint of dreaminess in his eyes and smile, but there was something hard and focused about it too. Like he wanted something.
"Do you want to try the next place?" she asked.
"Mmm." Branch looked up at the circle of sky. "I was thinking this one."
It didn't sound like he was talking about location scouting at all.
They better skip right to the last spot. "We can come back," she said, crossing the moss to reach him. "I want to show you one more option."
She coaxed him to follow. Branch was in no rush to leave, and since she wanted to hold his hand she was forced to enjoy a pleasant stroll to the grove with plenty of time to think and look. The pine cone hair flair was adorable.
"Guy Diamond's idea," Branch said.
"I like it."
Poppy wanted to kiss that pleased smile. She couldn't wait any longer. She let go of Branch and raced ahead, hoping he'd follow. He did.
"Poppy! Wait—"
"We're here! Firefly Grove."
There wasn't much to see at this hour. Clear sunlight, grass, and a rocky gray cliff rambled along the backside of the grove. A couple of bushes and shrubs grew against the cliff. There were no fireflies.
"Gotta say, the fireflies really sell this place," Branch said.
"Where do you think they go during the day?" she shot back.
Poppy traversed the field over to a weeping mulberry by the rocks. Its drooping boughs were thick with leaves, green waterfalls spouting from the tree's trunk and spilling onto the ground. She wedged her hair into the curtain and pulled back so Branch had enough space to enter.
The leaves closed behind them.
Cool evernight air touched her skin under the shroud of darkness. In the low light it was possible to see Branch circle the mulberry trunk, taking it all in. The cush of his footsteps ruffled quiet ambiance.
All around them rainbow fireflies glowed and faded, luminous lights twinkling in grass and along leaves. Colors came and went in lazy, drifting paths through the air.
She sunk down to the midnight green and sat. Fireflies bloomed like hug watches in the dark, enclosed space. "This reminds me of then," she said.
Branch brushed his hand along the mulberry bark as he came around to look at her. There was that expression again, sleepy heat. Firefly light played over teal skin and blue waves above.
"Your true colors are beautiful, Branch. I'm glad I get to see them."
He came to her then. Bent down, scooped up her hands, lifted her to her feet without a word. The look in his eyes was nothing like the wide, clear shine on that night. This was hooded and soft. She felt herself responding to it in kind, time slowing down in the dance of fireflies.
Branch brushed aside the pink bang that only ever answered to his touch. His fingers kept going, trailing along the side of her face. Her eyes were drifting shut. All she wanted to feel was that stroke, the fingers tracing out the curve in her cheek on their way down.
"I've thought it many times but never told you," Branch said, soft and close. The tip of his nose brushed hers slowly, back and forth, a gentle signal for what he was about to do. "You're beautiful, Poppy."
His lips were against hers, tender and loving. Delicate fingers became the full sweep of his hand supporting the kiss. She leaned into him, wanting it, needing it. He felt so good. He released her lips only to kiss her again, his plush nose pressing into her skin, the hand holding hers squeezing tighter. Passion blossomed in her chest and she shared it with soft, gentle touches.
With every kiss they grew closer. Her hands were on his shoulders, then over. Her fingers swept through cerulean silk, caressing, rubbing, holding. She could hear the pine cone combing through her hair. Zippy mint flavor inspired her to taste again and again the sweet softness of the troll so dear to her. How long? How long had they waited for this kind of connection? It felt right. It was unafraid.
The current sweeping them both away began to turn fiery, and Branch didn't resist. He wanted this too. Firm hands flowed down to her hips. He brought her close.
Poppy couldn't stop. She felt all of him now, his mouth moving against her own, the puffs of warm breath between kisses, a hot hand splayed over her lower back pressing her into an equally burning body. She lavished attention along his neck while he breathily groaned. Excitement surged.
Branch's free hand shot up and plunged through the back of her hair. She broke the kiss with an involuntary gasp, but this only made Branch strengthen his hold and capture her lips with fierce passion. The intensity rolled through her and awakened a sleeping beast.
Desire.
An arousing wet smack licked the air as they parted. Poppy considered pulling her partner down into the grass. His grip loosened and there were no more kisses. She opened her eyes.
Branch was glowing. His head was tipped down, eyes closed, mouth slightly open while he breathed. Brilliant sparkles glimmered against lavender flushed cheeks. His aquamarine color was so bright she could clearly make out the black pepper flecks that characterized his skin. The purple-teal gradient over the bridge of his nose was fascinating and she gave in to the urge to slowly rub a finger along the smooth, fine flocking. Branch closed his mouth and hummed with pleasure.
Satisfaction glowed on his face, so maybe he'd backed off because kisses were all he desired, or all he was comfortable with. Probably the latter. His affection tolerance was low. If she wanted more she'd have to warm him up to the idea over time.
Her fingers were exploring the pepper spots on his cheek when his eyes drifted open. Both her guesses were wrong. So, so wrong.
His half-lidded gaze was a carefully contained fire.
He was trying to control himself.
"Let's stay here for a bit," Branch said, stepping back. "I definitely don't need every troll in the village seeing… this." He circled a finger at his luminescent body and glanced up at shining hair.
"I could keep that going for you," she suggested.
Those two blue rings of fire trained on her were hot, hot. If she kept poking would she get burned? Somehow she doubted it. She was glowing too. Fire on fire just meant more fire.
Branch chose to ignore her tease. He went to the mulberry tree and sat in the grass, resting his back against the bark. Another new expression graced his face when he gazed at her. It was irresistibly cute: ears quirked up a tiny bit, a hopeful smile, and attentive eyes. Stay with me?
She joined and he pressed close to her side, his pulse thrumming against her skin with the aftershocks of what they'd just done. It was comforting to remain connected, riding the waves together. Rosy teal glow settled beneath the mulberry canopy. Rainbow fireflies floated and flickered, looking for romance of their own.
Branch's hushed voice matched the quiet atmosphere. "Do you have your gem?"
"Yep. Keep it right here in my hair." She removed the small pink jewel.
"You probably already tried planting it in the woods where the dust scattered, right?"
She had. She wasn't giving up. "If a troll can grow a second gem flower, they can grow a second heart flower. It has to be true. The feeling's there. I know it."
Branch studied the grass at his feet, a light blush playing over the tips of his ears. "It might take time, but the other thing that helped heal hearts was happiness from the owner's gem. So…"
His hand hovered over her lap, fingers cupped around the turquoise gem he strove so hard to gain.
"Maybe try planting them together?"
"Branch, you can't give me your gem!" she piped, startled.
A sly undercurrent tickled his words. "I'm not giving it to you; I'm sharing it with you."
Now she had no choice but to take it. The rectangular gem radiated heat in her palm. It was a scrapbook moment, holding both seeds of happiness in her hands like two felted trolls, except with real warmth and weight. She placed the treasures in her hair. "I'll return it by Keith's gem day."
"If it doesn't work we can try something else."
Poppy nibbled her lower lip, the words to tell him how important he was sticking huskily in her throat. Today almost didn't feel real. They lounged in their private little world and discussed which spot would be best for her picnic plan.
She made sure Branch didn't leave without a souvenir. Chenille had been more than happy to lend the Poppy-pink lipstick. Poppy snuck it on as they left the mulberry shade and gave Branch a big smooch on the cheek.
When she was on her own again she made a stop at the ice cream stand. "One scoop of revenge, please."
Mmm. Yep. Sweet as always.