Love. What is love?
Love of food, love of family, love of friends? Or true love that could only be held for one other troll?
Branch was freaking out over this point. Him and Poppy had been together for so long, he knew in his heart he wanted to take the next step.
And what was that?
Maaaarriage, it was marriage.
He was freaking out on the inside as he tried his best to clean his bunker and make it spotless. Make it perfect for the queen.
And then, the time came.
He wiped sweat off his brow and hurried over to the small lift, standing on it and ascending slowly to the outside world.
He saw her, dressed in a beautiful sparkly blue dress. It wasn't just the proposal he was worried about. It was their two year anniversary and everything had to be perfect, go perfect.
For him, Poppy was his true love. And he only hoped deep down in his heart that he, he was hers.
A small smile slipped up one side of her face as she took Branch's dark blue hands and they to embraced in a hug.
"I've been waiting for this day for months," Branch said, looking into her twinkling pink eyes.
"Yeah..?" She replied, a small grin appearing now in replacement of her smile, "It is a big day for sure."
"C'mon, c'mon." Branch said quickly, waving her to his lift that would return them both to his bunker, "Let's get this thing started."
Poppy began to bounce excitedly on her toes as she clapped her pink hands together and looked at him so excited, "Actually," She began and Branch's body nearly fell forward in exasperation, "I was hoping we could watch the sun set tonight."
"Oh," He replied, holding his hands behind his back as he felt the ring case and put it anxiously into his back pocket, "If you really want that-"
"Yep!" Poppy said, over the moon with the thought. She suddenly grabbed Branch's hand and pulled him along as the two headed for the top of the city to see the sun set that would create a perfect pink, orange and red sky.
Branch bit his lip nervously as they quickly reached the top of Pop Village and Poppy just stared on ahead at the warm colourful sunset.
Branch hadn't expected the anniversary to go this way, but with Poppy, trolls always had to go with the punches, the spontaneous plans and ideas.
"Er, Poppy..." Branch uttered nervously, putting his hand behind his head in a worried expression.
"Yes, Branch?" Poppy said back in return and he smiled awkwardly about to get on his knees as he reached back to his pocket that held the precious ring, "I just wanted to ask you something."
"Actually, Branch," Poppy quickly replied and stepped away from him quietly, "First, can I ask you something?"
"..." He didn't know how to respond. He guessed with, "Er, sure... sure."
"Close your eyes."
Branch smirked weakly and did as he was told.
In a few seconds he said slightly irritated, "Can I open them now, Poppy?"
"Yes."
He peeped opened on of his eyes, then quickly the other when he saw what was before him.
There was Poppy on one of her knees, holding up a case with a beautiful green diamond ring glittering for the world to see. But it was only for Branch's eyes.
"Poppy, I-"
"Branch... will you do me the honour of being my king-"
"YES!" He blurted out without control and quickly stuck his hand in his own pocket, pulling out the ring he had planned on proposing with, "I was gonna ask you the same thing!" He laughed.
"What?" Poppy smirked, her eyes full of pure joy, "For me to be king?"
"No," He laughed at her and she held out her hand, her ring finger poking in the air and she continued.
"Yes, Branch, I will marry you."
Branch's heart was beating so fast he thought it would explode from his chest.
"And I you."
The two both exchanged rings before hugging and Poppy was bouncing about in glee as she held out her hand and gazed in excitement of the beautiful shiny pink ring.
"I am never taking this off."
"Me neither."
"C'mon..." Poppy said with sparkling excited eyes, and nudged her head back down to the city, "We have to tell my dad."
"We should tell the world!" Branch shouted in pure excitement, and Poppy giggled at his enthusiasm.
"One thing at a time, party boy."
"Hey..." Branch laughed awkwardly, but it wasn't too later that the two arrived at Poppy's father King Peppy's home.
"Dad! Dad!" Poppy called as she ran in and gave him a welcoming hug, "Dad! Me and Branch have something we have to tell you."
"Actually, Poppy." King Peppy said back with a small nervous smile, "I have something I need to actually tell you."
"What?" Poppy asked back instantly and looked at Branch who was by her side, "It can't be as important as what we've got to say."
"Well... you see... it's time you were married off."
"Married... what-?" Poppy snapped, surprised to hear this and quickly showed her diamond ring to her dad, "Dad, that's what me and Branch wanted to tell you. We're engaged!"
She gave the biggest smile that had ever been seen but Branch was reading the scene completely differently.
"Er, Poppy..." He said, and she turned back to him with warm eyes, replying.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Did you even hear what your father said?"
"Yeah, he wants us to be married off."
"No."
"No." Peppy echoed Branch's words quickly, "Not you two." Poppy blinked puzzled at her father's words, "To King Waylon."
"King Waylon...?" She replied confused, "...what?"
"You see, he wants to combine our lands and kingdoms."
"Well, that's NOT going to happen." Poppy retorted quickly and held Branch's hand tightly in her own, "I am in love with Branch. Case closed."
"Yes... but you see, Poppy..." Peppy continued on with a faint voice, "If we don't combine the kingdoms through marriage... he said,"
"Yeah?"
Peppy gulped, clearing his throat and continued, "He'll take it by force."
Poppy's cheery exterior suddenly dropped and she and Branch looked between each other than back at her father.
"...what?"
"He'll take it... BY WAR."