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Furry Fury
Before first movie: Troll Liberation Day does not go as expected.
If Princess Poppy was going to host the biggest, loudest, craziest party ever, she needed the right music.
She expected to find Suki goofing off with her woofer bug towards the back of the troll tree. What she didn't expect was the adorable tail ornament slipped over the golden end of Suki's tail. Its shiny bangles matched the ones Suki wore on her arms.
"Awww Suki! You're bonded! That's so sweet," Poppy said.
"Yeah. Hazel made it for me. I got it yesterday." Suki sighed happily and lapsed into a faraway daydream… one that lasted long enough for Poppy to go around, ask Smidge about handling glitter, and then come back.
"Oh! Uh…" Suki snapped out of it. "How's things with Branch?"
"Really great! Look what he brought me." She enthusiastically pulled an irregularly shaped fragment from her hair. It fit across her palms, its hard surface wild with orange color.
Suki wrinkled her nose at the curious object. "Huh. What is it?"
"It's a seashell! They grow to be even bigger than a troll. The decorations we could make out of them would be insane but Branch won't tell me where he got it. Not any place in Troll Village, that's for sure."
Suki's normally sleepy gaze widened. "He went outside the village?"
"I know, right? Who does that." She deflected with a nervous giggle. "Anyway look, I'm planning Troll Liberation Day, and since it's the 20th anniversary I was hoping you could make it super special by being in charge of the music?"
x x x
Poppy set her seashell on her table so she could admire it while she packed invitations into a basket. Branch's voice from the pod doorway startled her.
"You really like that thing, huh?"
"Branch, um hi! Hi. Yes, I do. Did you want your card? It's ready."
The gray troll nodded from the doorway, mutely taking in all the stuff in her home. Oh, sugar, she didn't realize how much pink she had everywhere until he started looking. She suddenly felt self-conscious about the colors, the pictures of her friends, the picture of him—he'd let her take one a long time ago and she'd framed it recently, it was right there, grumpy scowl and all.
They hadn't in words declared their courtship but she had a picture of him in her pod. She needed to fix that. The declaration, not the picture.
Poppy brought Branch's custom card to the doorway. What she wanted to say smothered under his flat expression. Normally he went into hiding this time of year—she knew now, to grieve. He must be hurting. "Here," she said, handing him the envelope.
"Thanks."
He stood there.
She rocked on her toes, holding back a hug.
"I'm not coming to the party," he said without opening it.
"Okay."
What could she say to convince him to come? Celebrating freedom might help him get through what was clearly a tough time of year. It sure beat being alone in a hole in the ground.
He moved to leave.
"Branch, wait." Without thinking she caught his hand. Oh, wow. She stared at how much gray fuzz remained uncovered by her grasp. He could probably cup her entire hand in his.
Poppy freed him. His large hand hovered there almost, she imagined, on the verge of reaching out to be held. But it drifted back to his side.
"I'll miss you," she said.
Branch gnawed his lower lip. Stress lines on his face deepened. "You're the princess, couldn't you tone the party down even a little?"
"It's the 20th anniversary. It's kind of a big deal."
He exhaled in defeat.
"It'll be fine. They're not gonna find us," she said.
"I hope so," he grumbled and stalked off, tail held low. As usual when he went he tugged away an invisible piece of her. Sometimes it hurt. It hurt now.
She struggled with how much she wanted to be around Branch. She'd become attached. Meanwhile he stormed off like she was any other troll. Whatever he felt about her wasn't on the same level at all. That was hard not to be disappointed about. Sigh.
Well… time to just… host the biggest party of her entire life. No big deal.
x x x
The late night celebration started fantastic. Of course it did. They had lights, glitter, music, fireworks, food, dancing, more glitter. Enough distractions that she (mostly) did not think about Branch.
Once party energy filled her up it was time for a little breather. Cooper led her dad up onto the mushroom stage. Suki turned the music down as Smidge began setting up the fireworks finale to top off the night.
Poppy strolled forward, the mushroom trembling slightly under her feet. Huh... Far below she could see the whole party spread out in the forest. She started her speech.
At first she thought the rumbling was a fallen tree. Or a growlbeast stampede. At night?
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Sounds of plants splitting. Leaves being crushed. Up above pods jangled on their strings. The mushroom stage shook, and her dad looked around with a worried energy she'd never felt from him before.
The creature that emerged from the depths of the woods was enormous. It looked just like the scrapbooks. Big and gnarly and, to be honest, not that nice.
For a fleeting second Poppy marveled. Branch was right.
The bergen came right up to the stage. Even as high up off the ground as Poppy was, the being towered above her. Nobody knew what to do. It hadn't attacked, or anything. It was just standing there.
Maybe bergens wanted to party too? "Umm. Cupcake?"
Wrong.
The bergen's hand shot forward. Its sheer size shut out the moonlight and everything went dark.
An immense force punched the air out of Poppy's lungs. Her guts burned as she tried to breathe and couldn't. No air. In the pitch black a secondary impact of the squeezing fist slammed into her, scorching empty lungs with fire. Her skull cracked. Consciousness shriveled out for a second and came back with a shrill whine. She couldn't see. Dying, she was dying.
Panic took control. Her body tried to thrash and nothing happened. She was trapped inside her own self, paralyzed, being crushed to death. Around her the trolls screamed. The world screamed.
Suddenly the darkness lifted. Air roared into her lungs. Her mind whirled with confusion as she stared at the sea of gray fur. Open vest flaps dragged across her chest. The hard surface at her back wasn't a bergen fist. It was dirt. She lay on the forest floor. She'd been knocked off stage.
Terrified screeching continued to tear the night.
Even past the body blocking her vision she could feel the bergen's looming presence. It was as if the open sky, the woods, everything disappeared where it stood. Sounds muted. Air fell motionless and dark as grasping claws descended.
An awful sound directly above Poppy drowned out everything. It was full of air, hideous and alien, loud enough to make her heart clench in fear. Fur puffed into her face.
ssssSSSSSSS!
Branch leapt off her, hissing and spitting. SSSSSSSS! KKK!
All rational thought vanished. She had to get away from that noise.
Poppy suddenly found herself able to move. She scrambled away, glancing back only long enough to see Branch's steely fur bristling beneath the massive immobile hand.
She fled. Her mind screamed to turn around but her legs absolutely refused to take her anywhere near the hissing troll. His name balled up in her throat until it burst. "Branch!"
As the crowd tried to escape her shoulder bumped into another troll and sent them careening into the ground. Automatically she reached down to help them up.
The trolls were completely out in the open. "Blend in! Blend in!" she shouted, desperately scanning for Branch in the mass of running bodies.
He hadn't moved. In the distance he prickled against the giant's silhouette, still threatening its hand with that bone-chilling noise.
The bergen reached down. Queasiness gripped Poppy's stomach. Why him, why him, why the one troll who'd spent his life trying to avoid this exact situation?
A stream of frazzled maroon hair grappled Branch's leg. Dad?
Branch was yanked to the ground right as the bergen's fingers clipped the space he'd been. He snarled and clawed the dirt, foam specking the corners of his mouth, his back fur raised so much it pushed his vest up to his neck. Dark stripes crested his spine. He thrashed insanely as her dad's hair dragged him out of sight.
Without a noisy aggressive troll to capture, the bergen turned to the rest of them.
And then.
Well.
It took the easy prey and left.
x x x
Giant crashing steps disappeared into the forest. No critters sang, no music played, no one spoke. It would've been silent except for echoing scrapes and scuffs. Sounds of a struggle crackled over by the mushroom stage.
Her dad's voice came strained, unseen. "Poppy, where's Poppy?"
"I'm over here dad!" She darted out of the plants.
"Hurry."
Poppy thundered over the field and skidded under the mushroom cap. She turned the stem in time to see her dad using all his hair power to hold Branch down. It wasn't enough. Clawed furrows scarred the ground. The gray troll had gone absolutely mad, rounded teeth gripped around a band of magenta hair, eyes wild with fury. Desperate frothy growls replaced functions of speech.
He wasn't fully there.
It was scary.
"Branch, it's okay," her dad said in a low, calm voice. "She is alright, see?"
Rabid electric blue eyes flicked all around. Branch couldn't focus and he was panicked. Poppy felt her hands cover her mouth as dread took hold. What was happening to him?
"I'm sorry," dad told her. "I should've told you about what happened to his grandmother."
"No, he told me, I just didn't think…" Didn't think they'd ever see a bergen. Didn't think Branch was capable of such aggression. Didn't think it'd be drawn out of him for her sake.
Slowly Branch's gaze started to settle on her presence. He panted, flurried with sweat, a man held hostage by an intricate network of hair. The prison tied down in several places to sturdy roots and rocks. Dad had done this before, Poppy realized. Not to Branch but to others.
"If you weren't here he would've chased after that bergen without a second thought," dad sighed.
The hair holding Branch relaxed. He pooled onto the ground. Bit by bit he curled into himself, small and broken. His eyes closed and he seemed to be focusing on breathing. Gray fur trembled.
The urge to touch him overwhelmed Poppy to the point it hurt.
Her dad knew what she was thinking. "It's alright."
"He doesn't like being touched."
"Hmm. Branch has always been a little different. Watch him while I get a doctor?"
"Okay."
With a groan her dad heaved himself to his feet with his cane. He left the mushroom. Outside indistinct conversation began as the trolls came out of hiding. They had to plan what to do next. How to rescue those taken.
Poppy told Branch, "I'm going to sit next to you, okay?" She scooted over until she was almost butted up against his curled form. Without thinking her tail gathered his. Oops, he didn't want—
His tail squeezed hers so hard there would be no letting go. She squeaked in surprise. The piercing grip loosened a fraction.
He looked so lonely and tortured balled up on the ground like that. She didn't know how to handle whatever this was.
Poppy watched Branch breathing. His fur rose and fell with the occasional shudder. Was he cold? Or in shock? Hopefully the doctors didn't flee too far away.
In all the commotion his vest had skewed and no longer fully covered his pelt. The bottom stripe stuck out a little. She tugged on the leaves to cover it up, keep him a bit warmer.
Branch whimpered and bumped up against her.
Maybe she was crazy and wrong, but it really seemed like he wanted affection.
She petted his arm. The muscles underneath were frighteningly tense. He didn't react.
"Oh, Branch." How was it possible to feel this much hurt for someone? Her heart squeezed at the sight of him, usually so cranky and stubborn, reduced to a shivering heap. She saw his tail spiraled around hers with that much obvious trauma. Physical pain gripped her chest.
She needed to touch him, for her sake. She brushed her fingers along his arm again. And again. Watched for any negative reaction. Under her fingertips strained muscles faded somewhat. The amount of shivering decreased.
Petting him soothed the hurt twisting her insides.
Poppy sat with Branch, holding his tail and stroking his fur while she waited for the world to do whatever it was going to do.
Dad came back under the mushroom cap with Doctor Moonbloom. "He had a hissy fit," her dad was explaining.
"Hm. I have not seen one of those since I was in school," Moonbloom said. She approached where Branch curled tightly against Poppy. As soon as Moonbloom got close, a warning growl began rumbling from deep within Branch.
Moonbloom took a step back. The growling ceased. She gave up on any sort of physical examination.
"He needs to know his family is safe," Moonbloom said. "Do you know where they are?"
"He lives by himself," Poppy said.
"Any siblings?"
Poppy shook her head.
"Parents?" Um. Also no. "Grandparents?" Poppy could feel her heart breaking. No family that the doctor was asking for. Would Branch be okay? He'd get better on his own like he always did, right?
Moonbloom leaned back a bit, thinking. "He needs to stay with someone for the next few days, and he needs to be able to see them to confirm they're okay. A hissy fit is a protective behavior. It's a traumatic experience, but it gives loved ones a chance to escape.
"After an attack, trolls who see their family safe recover much quicker. Normally I'd prescribe double hug times as well, but I'm told Branch is touch-averse?"
"Yeah." Poppy said, feeling the upset bundle of fur digging into her side. "This isn't normal for him."
"Would you be willing to take care of him until he regains his senses? He'll be fully aware within an hour."
Poppy flopped their twirled tails. She smiled weakly. "I don't think I have much of a choice."
"If it's uncomfortable we can separate him."
A surge of protectiveness rippled her fur. "It's okay. I got it."
"Alright. Make sure he chooses someone to stay close to once he comes around. Have him see me if he has questions."
Moonbloom explained more of what to expect before she left to treat others. Poppy's dad left too, but not before giving her and Branch a thoughtful look and saying, "We're lucky he was here."
She was so glad she wasn't queen right now. If she were, how would she handle the village? She couldn't leave Branch. She'd have to delegate someone to speak on her behalf.
Since Branch wasn't going anywhere she tried to relax. There'd be no rescue mission until he was back on his feet. He'd have to stay behind so he could get better, but she wasn't walking away until he was taken care of.
After a while he started to stir. It took a couple false starts before his raspy voice cleared.
Branch spoke.
"Put everyone in the bunker."
x x x
For the first time Branch took Poppy into his home.
She questioned every single fascinating item. He answered with monosyllables. Yes. No. Hmph.
He handed her a travel kit.
"Thanks," she said. "I… wait, why do you have one too?"
Branch shrugged on his rucksack. "I'm coming with you."
"You can't! You have to stay so someone can look after you, you heard what Moonbloom said."
His annoyance increased. "Yeah. So I'm coming with you."
"But."
"Do I have to spell it out for you? Let's go." He brushed past her and got on the elevator.
Now she was irritated too. Why was he so upset? She wasn't a mind reader!
They left the village together. At night they slept across the campfire from each other. She rolled fitfully in her leaf with insomnia. She'd never been separated from the trolls. It was lonely out here. No pods hung nearby. Her blanket ruffled with every movement.
"Poppy."
"I can't sleep," she complained. It sucked. "I might need to sing again."
"Again. Really? Four times."
"Uh-huh."
Branch sat straight up, twisting to stare at her grumpily. He opened his mouth. Shut it. Thudded back to his side, facing away from her.
She wasn't sure where they stood after everything. Maybe after almost getting himself smashed by a bergen to save her tail, he was having second thoughts.
She hugged her knees.
"I'm lonely," she whispered.
"Then come over here," he grumped.
Poppy dragged the bedroll closer. Better. She lay down.
Branch sighed like he was at wit's end, got up, moved his bedroll so it touched hers, and flopped down with his back turned.
Oh. He lay so close. The fire in front of him illuminated his back profile. She could see the slight rise and fall of his blanket as he breathed. Further down a hint of black tuft pepped from beneath the blanket. His tail stuck out the tiniest bit and the urge to grab it made her forget about singing.
It would be easy to reach out and touch him. Wind her hair with his. Pet the contours of his blanket. Play with the length of his tail and the cute soft tip. He'd growl in annoyance and probably push away. Her heart beat, considering the possibilities.
He was sleeping next to her. He'd chosen this.
Maybe she'd underestimated his feelings. Was that why he was mad?
She could find out. Her pulse rose. He might reject her. He might not.
Deliberately she slid her hand across the bedroll so he'd hear it coming. No reaction. She slowly touched her fingers to the blanket shrouding his back. Pressed until she felt him, the solid Branch beneath.
"Hrm," he kinda grunted. A contented sound, she thought. Not angry.
For a while she stared at her firelit hand. He didn't flinch.
Poppy sucked in a breath. She dared to massage circles into the fabric like a back rub. Her heart was starting to pound. Any moment he'd pull away or say no. The hint of tail zipped under his blanket. She wanted to chase it. Oh, fur, she wanted to snuggle.
Branch's stiffness slowly melted. He was letting her give the back rub.
Thudding in her chest reminded her of the risk. There was no certainty any more would be okay. She scooted closer. It wasn't like she was going under his blanket. All she wanted was a little more closeness, a little more.
Poppy rested her forehead to his back. Well-worn homemade fabric touched her face. Wispy pink bangs flattened. He was warm and sturdy.
Other than another grumble of acknowledgement Branch didn't flee, or turn around, or snuggle into her.
Her heart hammered. She dared not push her luck any further. The day had been rough. They had friends to rescue, and she didn't want Branch to turn her away. Curled behind him touching this small way gave the comfort she needed.
Branch seemed to relax, so maybe it made him better too.
x x x
Branch wasn't as prickly the next day. He stalked through the foliage ahead of her, his tail held low, and his ears alert. She pranced and hummed to make up for missing the morning routine. Everything out here was so fascinating. The plants drooped with muddy colors. They must be getting close to Bergentown!
A million questions for Branch occupied her thoughts. Could she hug him now? Could they cuddle on the way home? Or would that be weird for him with the others around? She wanted a tour of the bunker. She wanted to be invited to play at the lookout and nap in the cotton fluff nest.
The intense focus of Branch's body language told her to save the questions for later. Oooh, but she wanted to talk so bad!
With help from a funny cloud they made it to the old tree. Poppy peered out behind one of the deadened tree forks. It took no effort to notice how miserable the bergens were. She'd never seen such unhappy creatures. Even at his saddest Branch still had soulful eyes. These people just looked… defeated. Devoid of hope.
"Poppy," Branch whispered. "I don't… something's wrong."
He backed away from the view. Gray fur began to spike.
She'd been fine until the waves of anxiety rolling off Branch crashed into her. He stared fixedly at one of the empty tree limbs. Fright filled his eyes. His chest heaved harder and harder and he sank to a crouch. Shaking hands touched the tree floor. "I can't feel my arms," he said, breathless.
Seeing Branch scared was terrifying. She wanted to panic. This… they'd been told this could happen.
He huffed for breath, black hair losing its spring and sagging. "Can't… breathe…" All his fur flared out. He whimpered. Then growled, his whole body quivering.
Poppy hurried to Branch's side, horror curdling her insides. Outwardly she remained bizarrely calm. She pressed up against Branch and wrapped his tail with hers. "It's the hissy fit," she said.
"I know." He tried to sound angry but it came out breathy.
Branch panted so hard she could feel it. He clenched his teeth, wincing. Leaf vest quaked against her side as he snarled and shook. Then he went limp. A torturous whine mewled out of him before he tensed again. This went on and on. Alternating growls and whimpers racked her partner. Not even Branch could control the emotional nakedness, to the point Poppy felt indecent smushed against him, forced to witness the raw hurt he no doubt wanted to keep private. She thought he might cry.
"I hate this," he whimpered before his fur prickled into her and he vibrated with an uncontrolled growl.
She couldn't do anything to help. It killed her.
Eventually his shivering subsided. Weakly Branch reached into his hair and removed a container of trail mix. He made himself nibble some. He didn't move away from her or let go of her tail hold.
This was beginning to feel less like a fun adventure and more a nightmare. She could barely think about how to rescue their friends with worries about Branch swirling around. If he attacked a bergen… she couldn't think about what the bergens would do to him. She couldn't lose him. Could. Not.
It wouldn't happen.
She should have convinced him to stay home. But he was here, she was glad for it anyway, and she'd make the best of it.
"Let's get out of this tree," she said.
He grumbled an agreement.
x x x
Everything fell apart. The metal cage scraped cold on raw feet. Captured trolls huddled to the back.
Outside the bars the bergen lowered something in its hand. Poppy covered Branch's eyes with her hair. "Don't look. Don't look."
Creek's still-alive body was mangled beyond recognition. It croaked, "I told them… about the bell…"
Giant claws pierced Poppy's hair. The weight of the cowbell vanished.
x x x
The entire village poured into the cooking pot.
Dazed and confused, trolls got to their feet. Found their families. Looked around. Slowly they converged, forming a hopeful ring around their would-be queen.
Poppy saw her friends waiting to see what she would do. Branch stood among them. Stress lines scratched his face. The black tip of his tail rested low and uncertain.
Most of all she'd wanted to keep him happy, and safe, as if they'd someday share their lives together. Way to go Poppy—she'd dragged him into the jaws of his trauma on this stupid rescue mission. Now there wouldn't be a life to share. For anybody.
If only she'd been a better ruler. Like her dad.
She turned away.
Around her the fuzzed rainbow looked for reassurance. Fur and tails prickled with anxiety. The princess would help, right? Poppy always knew what to do. Multicolored eyes sought her for guidance in the dim light.
But there was nothing to be done. Not this time. She'd sealed the fate of her entire species.
Poppy sank down and hugged her knees to her chest. Her tail wrapped around her feet. Fur fell flat and emotionless as light from above faded. It took with it all the color in the world.
It was easier this way.
Music vanished. Feelings disappeared. Silence.
Her eyes closed. Further into nothingness she sank.
She sensed the wilting spirits around her. Deeper and deeper into a dormant state they fell. This colorless peace was the last thing they'd know. It was the least she could do.
She rested her forehead to her knees and waited for the end.
"Poppy…"
A gentle nudge brushed her head. When she didn't respond Branch tried again, nuzzling his nose to her cheek briefly. Admitting their feelings now wouldn't change anything…
He circled and knelt beside her like all the other pairs who'd sought each other out. Colorless furs mingled. A gray ear tickled through her bangs as he pressed close and settled in. Nestled together he'd wait for the end with her, if that's what she wanted.
In the center of the pot time silently sifted away.
Branch… A squeeze of feeling emerged from the emptiness in her chest. He deserved more than this ending. They all did.
Royal depression drug her and everyone around down, but she could feel Branch resisting it. By some scrap of willfulness he held on. He would not submit.
The music started as a low hum. It vibrated softly through Branch into her.
And then, he sang. Quietly. Only to her.
Just call me up
'Cause I will always be there
In all their trysts they'd never had a chance to sing together. Was he singing to her now?
He was.
Rather than be dragged down, Branch took hold of her heart and pulled her up. The world started to breathe again. Turquoise and rose lit up the dark.
Fuzzy fingers lifted hers.
He wanted to dance. If this was their last chance, so be it. Unaware of the world around them they finally took the time to touch, and twirl, and sway through the slow steps of a very promising future.
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
They cuddled into each other in a long lasting hug. Poppy didn't let go. Branch let her stay.
Yeah.
If there was a way to go out this was it.
But it didn't end. Of course it didn't. They went free. They made new friends. They found the world was bigger than they'd ever known. And Branch was beside her for it all.
