Don't get used to these fast updates. I'm just using writing as an excuse to not talk to my family. Anyway, please enjoy!

OoOoOo

Poppy was nearly blinded passing by the clearing where the "biggest, loudest, and craziest party" was being held. Bright, colorful lights were being shone in every direction and the music was so loud that she could feel the vibrations coming up through her feet. Forget the Bergens, they were going to attract every creature that resided in the forest.

"You'll be careful, huh, Branch?" she muttered bitterly. Though, in the back of her head she knew that it probably wasn't Branch's fault. Those friends of his were hard to control and Branch was a particularly quiet troll. Shaking her head, Poppy retreated back to her royal pod, trying to drown out the noise. Once inside, she lowered herself down to the bunkers.

There was one for each family of trolls in the village. She made sure that no family would be torn apart again, not like hers was. Her own bunker was away from everyone else's, the closest one being the one she had assigned to Branch and his grandmother, Rosiepuff.

The corners of her mouth twitched as she thought of the elder troll. Rosiepuff had been the only one in the village looking out for her as she was growing up. Most older trolls only talked to her when a) they needed her to tend to their problems or b) they were trying to get their sons on the throne. She was the only troll to take an interest in her wellbeing. For that, she would always hold a special place in her heart.

Finally making it to her own bunker, Poppy picked up one of the two pictures from her dresser. The picture showed an orange troll smiling widely while holding a bright, pink trolling. "I'm trying, Dad," she promised. "They're just making it so hard."

Poppy flopped onto her bed, holding the frame to her chest. Most recollection of her father had been lost as she had gotten older, but she could still remember his strong hold, his loving smile, and his gentle words. Those were things that she'd never forget.

She glanced to the side, coming face-to-face with another picture frame. This frame held a picture of a troll that she had no memory of, but still hurt over the loss. "Hey, Mom," she greeted softly. Her mother was a beautiful, vibrant pink. The color she herself had been before she turned gray. She could never hope to be as regal or beautiful as the former queen.

Tears rolled down Poppy's eyes without her consent. "I miss you guys," she admitted. "Like, a lot. I really wish you were here with me." She sighed, turning onto her back. "Everyone's already talking about marriage and I'm not even queen yet!"

She grimaced. "I know Creek is a... smart decision," she continued. "He's just so... 'above everyone.' No trolls in the village really interest me." Silence. "Okay, maybe I am a little into Branch, but he isn't interested in becoming king. Why would he ever want someone so... colorless?"

Poppy knew that delving too deeply into her feelings always ended up making her feel even worse, so she decided to scrapbook. As positive and happy as that sounded for a gray troll, scrapbooking in times of distress always helped to calm her down.

Suddenly, a loud banging could be heard. "Poppy, Poppy, Poppy!"

She jumped, sending her supplies everywhere. She glanced at the clock, surprised that it had been almost an hour since she came down here. Poppy scrambled to stuff her materials away before making her way to the surface.

The banging hadn't stopped. "Poppy, are you in there?!" Now that she was closer, she could recognize the voice. "It's me, Branch! We have an emergency!"

Poppy opened the door. "Branch, what's wrong?" she demanded, looking around for any sort of danger. When she saw none, she turned to him. "Shouldn't you be at your party?"

"The party's over!" Branch told her. "We all got attacked by a Bergen!"

Poppy gasped. She had been right, after all! The Bergens were still after them! "Oh my god..." was all she could say.

She had no idea what to do. After all that planning, all those years of preparing, she was still at a loss. She knew it was coming, but had failed at protecting her subjects anyway. Yet another reason she'd never be as great as her parents.

"Poppy?"

She snapped out of her stupor to look at the teal troll across from her. "Was... Was anyone hurt?" she managed to ask.

"I don't think so," answered Branch. "But it took all of our friends! Suki, Biggie, Smidge, Fuzzbert, Guy Diamond, the twins, Cooper, and even Creek!"

Poppy resisted the urge to rolls her eyes at the mention of the purple troll, focusing on the matter at hand. She didn't even bother correcting him on incorrectly referring to the Snack Pack as their friends. "Gather everyone in the center of town," she instructed him.

Branch nodded, running off to do as she said. She sighed. She might not be the brave King Peppy or the elegant Queen Lily, but she was going to protect her subjects no matter what it took.

OoOoOo

"Princess Poppy, what are we going to do now?"

"Is Trollstice coming back?"

"We can't stay here!"

"Everyone, QUIET!" snapped Poppy loudly after a million questions had been thrown her way. If everyone hadn't been shouting at her for the past five minutes, she could have said she what had to. Immediately, every single troll was silent. "Thank you." She sighed, preparing herself to give the biggest speech of her life.

"For some time now, I have been suspecting this day would arrive," she began strongly. "So, in case we would come to be under attack by a Bergen, I constructed secret, underground bunkers for each and every family. They are located underneath the royal pod and are supplied with food, water, and all other necessary essentials. They should last for at least a year, two if we're lucky. There is a lever disguised as a branch located on the trunk of the royal pod's tree. Use that to reveal the entrance. I ask that you start making your way there in an orderly fashion."

The trolls immediately obeyed, making their way towards the pod. Poppy released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding and followed her subjects.

Once they had entered the bunkers, Poppy announced, "Your bunker is labeled with your names. Please, let's make sure all the children are with their parents." She nodded in satisfaction as everyone did as she said. Perhaps things would go smoothly from here.

"Poppy."

She turned to see Branch standing in front of her. "What is it?" she questioned, wondering what could be the problem. It couldn't be that he couldn't find his own bunker; they were only a few feet away from it.

"What are we going to about Biggie, Cooper, Suki, and the others?" he asked, fidgeting slightly.

Poppy didn't know how to respond. What could they do? That Bergen could have taken them halfway to Bergen Town by now. Heck, they could be being eaten as they spoke. But looking at Branch's face, she couldn't tell him that. He cherished each and every one of his friends. On the other hand, she couldn't send someone out to recuse them. Trolls weren't adventurous creatures. By sending a troll to Bergen Town, she was risking the life of one of her subjects, something she couldn't afford to due as a ruler.

She was about to tell him this when a familiar voice sounded in her head, "No troll left behind."

Poppy tensed. She knew that voice. It was the voice of her father, the great King Peppy. That had been his motto when he had been alive, that was what had gotten all the trolls out of Bergen Town. If she was to honor all that he stood for, she could not abandon any of her people. She could not leave them to be eaten by the Bergens.

So, she said the only thing she could, "I'll go to Bergen Town. I'll get them back."

Branch's eyes went wide. "By yourself?" he asked, astonished. "Poppy, you'll get eaten!"

Poppy shook her head. "No troll left behind," she repeated her father's mantra. "I have to at least try, Branch."

"Then... Then I'm going with you!" decided Branch boldly.

She glanced at him in mild surprise. "You don't have to do that..."

"They're my friends," Branch said firmly. "And I can't let the princess go to Bergen Town by herself. If something happens to you, there'll be no one to rule. We need you alive."

"What about you?" Poppy shot back. "Your grandmother needs you, you're all she has left!"

"He's going." Both trolls turned to see Branch's grandmother standing there. She hadn't aged much in the last twenty years, simply acquiring a few wrinkles and grays along the way.

"But Miss Rosiepuff-" protested Poppy. As much as she respected the elder troll, she wasn't about to let Branch risk his life. Besides, who sent their grandson on a perilous journey that could result in death?

Rosiepuff silenced her with a raised hand. "I'd be disappointed if he didn't go with you, Princess. I raised nothing less of a gentleman. I don't know how other trolls raise their boys, but my grandson will not let the princess go to Bergen Town unaccompanied."

Poppy really wanted to argue, but how could she? It must have been hard letting your grandson go on a journey from which he couldn't return. Her arguing was bound to make it even more painful. She couldn't help but admire the woman even more. She had lost her son and his wife to the Bergens, yet was willing to let her only son go to the heart of their enemies just to keep her safe.

"I... alright," she finally agreed. "We'll leave in an hour. Get everything you'll need together."

OoOoOo

As Poppy packed her backpack with food, water, and other things she would need, she couldn't help but doubt herself. Was she really going to be able to do this? She knew the basic outlay of the forest, but even with that knowledge, she wasn't particularly strong. Was she setting herself - and Branch - up for death? She banished those thoughts from her mind.

No matter the dire situation, she couldn't give up hope. She would never rescue everyone if she didn't believe she could. Looking around to see if anyone was near, she began to sing softly, hoping to assure herself.

I really hope I can do it,
Cause they're all depending on me

I know that I must leave the only home I've ever known,
And brave the dangers of the forest,
Saving them before they're eaten

I mean, how hard can that be?

Poppy opened her mouth to continue, but thought better of it. It was embarrassing enough singing that much in private. It was easy for her to get lost in song when she was alone. Now that she wasn't alone, now neighbors with every single troll in the village, there could be listening ears. What if someone were to walk in on her singing? It would be disastrous.

"You have a really nice voice."

Poppy jumped, nearly letting out a scream as she spun around to face the teal troll. "Branch!" she yelped, her cheeks flushing. God, had he been standing there the whole time? Had he heard everything?

"Why don't you sing more?" he asked softly, slowly approaching her.

After a good ten seconds of staring at him, Poppy found her voice. "I... I only sing when I'm alone," she told him, not able to meet his eyes. "I'm not very good at it, anyway."

"I like it when you sing," confessed Branch. She didn't - couldn't - answer, so he continued, "Thanks for doing this. I know they aren't your favorite people in the world..."

"They're my subjects," she interjected, glad for the change of subject. "Therefore, they're my responsibility. I can't just let them die."

He looked like he wanted to say more, but didn't push her. "Alright then," he accepted. "Should we head out soon?"

Poppy nodded. "Yeah, we should get going."

The two headed out to the main area of the conjoined bunkers, where the entire village was gathered. "Branch and I will be traveling to Bergen Town to rescue the kidnapped trolls," she announced. "While we are gone, I leave Miss Rosiepuff in charge in my stead. Everyone, please do as she says. If I am not back within the next two days or so, then I probably won't be coming back. Leaving will probably be the most logical move to make since they know our location."

There were murmurs of agreements as she and Branch began to leave. "Are you ready?" she asked him.

Branch pursed his lips. "Nope," he answered, glancing at her. "Are you?"

Poppy's head tilted. "Not even close," she replied. She looked towards the exit, determination etched across her face. "Let's do it."

OoOoOo

So, since Poppy didn't lose anyone from singing as Branch did in the movie, I figured she wouldn't be as sensitive to it as he was. Just shy and self-conscious about singing in front of people. Also, I'll admit to getting a little lazy with this chapter. It's raining and everyone seems to want to get on my nerves today. Feel free to tell me how much it sucked in a review. See you all next time!