"Whoa, this is why I wear boots, but that looks nasty, how did it happen?" Barb said to Poppy, after getting a message sent via bat from Branch, making her curious but a little worried, because she was beginning ti bond with Poppy feeling she was a real friend stunned the pink-haired troll in question was hurt which surprised her thinking Poppy could handle anything, like stopping her plans for world rule through rock music, seeing Branch roll his eyes at the mohawked punk-rock troll girl.
"We were having a dance party, to celebrate the start of Summer, and she got carried away, hitting her toe against a tree-trunk, but she's freaked out, we all are, plus since you're like her best friend and fellow queen, I figured you could help." he told her surprising Barb by this.
It was also a few days after the music festival which had went well, but Barb had performed with Carol and Poppy in the band they had started after the strings business which hadsurprised everybody, delighting Peppy and Thrash that their daughters were becoming friends of sorts, which some of Barb's subjects were seeing along with Poppy's friends seeing slowly, that Barb was a friend to Poppy.
"It does hurt, she was cuddling her pillow while waiting for the doctor, along with hugging Branch." Peppy said making Barb guess this was a serious injury, not just a skinned knee seeing Poppy's toe looked really bad, knowing it was fractured, deciding to let the doctor tell Poppy that, feeling bad this was happening as being hurt was not fun, like when Debbie had broken her wing, because Riff had made her dosome stupid dare, which had made her stomach bubble up in anxiety, like right now and she hated this feeling, unaware Branch was sensing it.
"You're gonna be okay and back to what you normally do in no time." she told Poppy making Poppy hug her, which helped a little with how she was feeling, making Poppy look at herconfused after the hug noticing something was off with hr friend, despite Barb stating nothing was wrong, asking Branch to find out what wasbothering Barb seeing him nod leaving her pod seeing Barb going into the forest, following her, to that cave where she and Poppyhad found Debbie, after she had been scaredat the friendship picnic, wondering if she was alright.
"It's okay Deb, go be with your friends, the anxious bubbly feeling in my stomach will go away, I hope." he heard Barb tell her pet bat.
Now he got why Barb was acting strange, she was feeling anxious, like he did sometimes, like being scared that Bergens would eat him like his grandma before the Bergens and Trolls bame friends, or that something could happen to Plppy wondering what was making somebody like Barb anxious and how could he make her feel better, without Poppy being here?, seeing her clenching her hands into fists, making sure her knuckleduster bracelets didn't poke them.
Branch saw her curled up onto a ball, like Poppy when she was sad, knowing that the power of a hug was strong, unsure if that would work for somebody like Barb when it always worked when Poppy did it with him, unaware Debbie was watching, keeping her distance for now knowing she might freak Branch out, when he was trying to help her best friend out.
"It's why you took the strings, so you could have friends, right?" Branch asked Barb gently seeing her nod.
"Yeah as it's always just been Debbie and me, and everytime I see other trolls with their friends, I want what they have, you know?" Barb replied seeing Debbie agree, knowing her friend was needing her seeing her pass out maming Branch take her to his bunker, putting her on the couch, feeling bad for her hearing Poppy call him, going up on the elevator to his front door seeing she was there with bandages on her toe.
"Barb's on my couch sleeping off an anxiety attack.
That surprised Poppy as she hoped Barb was feeling better, wondering what made her friend so anxious listening to Branch tell her making her determined to help, making Branch smile at that because that was something hd loved about her, hoping they could help Barb feel better.
Barb was surprised seeing she was there upon waking up, along with Poppy seeing her foot making her understand as she was making cupcakes while Branch was making hot cocoa surprising Barb, because it smelt good making her smile for first time that day relieving Debbie who was in her mohawk making Poppy relieved.
"That's good you're feeling better, as Branch told me why you were anxious, but you do have friends in me and Branch, along with Debbie besides when you do feel anxious, we can help you." Poppy told her makimg Barb feel better relieving Debbie because she had been worried about Barb all day seeing her eating cupcakes along with drinking hot chocolate, which was relaxing her impressing Branch.
"Plus lavender also helps you relax, when stressed, trust me." he said making Barb understand.
"Barb you okay, you've been off today, plus Poppy noticed you were off with your hug." Branch told her, seeing Debbie fly down onto Barb's shoulder nuzzling her, which Branch thought was sweet, wondering what she was telling the punk-rock queen guessing she was anxious on,y she was trying to hide it, making him hug her feeling how anxious she was, guessing it was to do with Poppy getting hurt hearing her smuffle, surprising him.
"Y-Yeah I do get anxious and it happens a lot, bubbling up inside, until it overtakes me, which my dad knows about, so I came here to try and relax, along with Debbie hanging out with her bat friends, don't tell anybody especially Poppy, she makes being queen look easy alright?" she said choked up, wiping her eyes, makimg Branch get it.
"It's okay to be anxious, and sometimes, Poppy does get freaked out which I have to help her with, so maybe I can help you along with Poppy and Debbie, plus you should tell us when you feel like this." he told her, making Barb feel a little better talking about it.