A/N: Decided to continue this one. My imagination was really at work after I wrote the first chapter, so thank you for encouraging me to continue the story. Took me a long time though to finish it because school and other stuff. Anyway, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just my imagination working
Branch POV:
I had that dream again. The exact dream that I've been having for almost twenty years now. Those painful memories that I tried so hard to restrain at the back of my head keeps on popping out as I sleep. Each of it: my fears, my regrets and my loneliness…they all show up and it goes on and on until it started to be a cycle. I used to think that I'd somehow get used to it. That I'd soon forgive myself or at least grow numb from the pain that bugs me each time I sleep. That somehow, the salt in the wounds in my heart would stop burning.
So, here I was in my daily foraging. I can't really remember when I started doing this, but I need a lot of supplies for my bunker just in case the Bergens come and attack the Troll village. Every day, I monitor my supplies—checking if I have enough firewood or if the food that I stored is starting to go bad. I need to be crazy prepared for the worst-case scenario. Some of the other Trolls call me crazy, but I think they're the ones who are crazy, with their obnoxious party. They may not attract a Bergen, but they can surely attract other predators with their noise. I've tried to warn them…many times, but they chose to laugh at me. So, when the time comes, I'll show them who's laughing.
As I walk down the path at the outskirts of the village, I could clearly hear their music. "Just let them be, Branch" I thought to myself as I peek from behind the grass. "If a Bergen or a huge predator attacks, don't mind them" I thought again. I wanted to stop caring because the last time I cared about them, they thought I was crazy…although I did act crazy that time. How can I not? I thought the silhouette I saw was a Bergen, felt really embarrassed when I flipped over that cake and started running around and screaming like a maniac. Luckily, King Peppy helped me snap out of it. I could still remember how they laughed at me when we found out that it was just a trunk of a fallen tree which really looks like a Bergen from a certain angle.
Few minutes later, the noise started to grow faint. "They got tired already?" I mused as I shook my head. Soon, the village was silent, well not silent "silent" just the normal silent. I followed the path and collected the sticks that littered along it. I already have a lot, but I still need more wood...just to be sure. I continued walking until I heard some Trolls talking from the other side of the blades of grass.
"Are you excited for biggest, loudest and craziest party ever" an orange Troll asked, by the looks of it he's a about six years old.
"Of course, Princess Poppy said that it will be extra fun too!" the other purple Troll, the same age as the first one, said.
Big? Loud? Crazy? Have they gone nuts? As if their parties are not big, loud and crazy enough. What were they thinking? They will surely get into a huge trouble with what they are planning. Poppy, why do you keep on encouraging them?
"But first, we are going to celebrate Princess Poppy's birthday! It's next week, I'm really excited!" the purple troll squealed.
"Yes! And we're going to give her the best present ever" the other Troll replied.
My ears went up with those last exchanges of words. Poppy's birthday? How could I forget about that? Of course…few days before King Peppy led us to freedom, Poppy celebrated her birthday. That means…Grandma…
"It's gone now." The blue troll said as he tried to comfort the other kids from crying. Creek also tried to stop them from crying. As much as Branch hated his company, he just let it pass, since their friends are still trembling in fear. That Bergen took another Troll again. Nothing was new about it, but being almost caught was not so great for them. "It's not gonna get us anymore"
The children continued to cry though as if they did not hear what their friend said. They all trembled in fear, they all know what will happen to that Troll. "Hey, stop crying. See, we won a Hide 'n Seek game with that Bergen. It didn't find us! We should be happy about it!" Branch tried to sound enthusiastic, although he was a bit afraid himself. Poppy, however was unaware of what just happened, but seeing her friends cry made her want to hug them—and so she did. Somehow her hug stopped the other kids from crying. Seeing her smile also made them smile. Branch watched carefully and he himself can't take off the smile on his face as the princess giggled.
"Breathe slowly and let some positivity back inside you" Creek instructed. Branch rolled his eyes.
"We better get back home. They're probably worrying about us" Branch said. Creek nodded in agreement. The two of them helped their friends get on the branches of the Troll Tree. They helped them get to their houses as well because they were still distraught about the incident earlier. Their parents quickly ran to them and hugged them really tight, pulling them inside their pods as quick as they can. Creek headed back to his house, leaving Branch to bring Poppy back to his Grandma Rosiepuff.
Poppy hugged Branch's arm tightly as they walked along the branch of the Tree. She began to giggle as she played with Branch's arm. She had no idea what happened earlier that day that left her friends scared and traumatized. Branch played along and the two of them started laughing as they came nearer to his and his Grandma's pod. To his surprise, King Peppy is outside along with his Grandma.
"Branch! Thank goodness you two are safe" Rosiepuff said as she ran towards the two kids, King Peppy following close behind. "Where did the two of you go? You two had me worried sick. Good thing that Bergen didn't see you"
"Branchy and I played Hide 'n Seek" Poppy babbled with a giggle before Branch could answer. King Peppy took her in his arms and smiled at how innocent his daughter was.
"We were just playing, when the Bergen came. I told my friend to hide when it went close to the tree" Branch said looking sincerely at the adults around him. "Grandma, is the Bergen going to eat that Troll? Do you know who that Troll is? Does he have a family?"
"I—it doesn't matter…Branch" Rosiepuff replied with a worried look on her face. How could she tell everything to his grandson? That that Troll named "Barry" has a wife and a son. That his poor family would no longer see him ever again. King Peppy noticed the distress in Rosiepuff's face as she thought of a great diversion from the topic.
"You did a good job Branch. Thank you for watching over my Poppy" King Peppy interrupted as he ruffled the hair of the little Troll. Branch looked at the king with a big smile on his face. He somehow instantly forgot about that Troll the Bergen took. "Now if you excuse us, I'm sure the little princess has gone tired. She had a lot of adventure for today" He said as he nuzzled his princess.
"Bye-bye Branchy" the little pink troll said as her Dad walked away from the pod.
"Oh, before I forget. Poppy's birthday is next week. Branch, I am hoping to see you there" King Peppy said before continuing to walk away.
"Princess Poppy's birthday is next week already?" Branch glanced up to his Grandma with his eyes wide. She nodded with a smile on her face. How could he forget such important day? "I don't have any gift for her Grandma"
"Oh, that's fine, you still have one week to think of a great present for Princess Poppy" his grandma said. As she took his hand and led him back to their pod. "And you know the best part about it?"
"What is it Grandma?" Branch asked eagerly
"I'm going to help you find the best present for her" Rosiepuff replied making Branch even more excited.
Three days passed and Branch made a list of the possible "best gifts" for the princess. With the help from his Grandma, they were able to make it shorter. Until he only had one option left, make a scrapbook for the princess.
"Do you think the princess would like it, Grandma?" the blue troll asked as he crossed out the other options from his list.
"I'm sure she will. Just make sure that you put lots of colors in it because Princess Poppy likes colorful things, remember?" Rosiepuff said. Branch's face lit up with the idea.
"Yes! Will you help me, Grandma?" Branch said, hope filled his big blue eyes. When his Grandma nodded, he started to squeal because of too much joy.
"But you must promise me that you'll help Grandma with the laundry after the princess's party, okay?" the old troll asked. Branch nodded in agreement and even raised his hand and crossed above his heart about the promise. Rosiepuff smiled at her grandson and ruffled his hair. There was silence after Grandma Rosiepuff spoke, not an awkward silence, but a sudden weird feeling filled the room.
"Branch, promise Grandma that you'll watch over the princess, okay? When you two get older, promise me that you'll protect her and keep her safe, will that be alright?" she suddenly asked.
"Yes grandma, I will always protect Princess Poppy." The little blue troll replied with too much excitement. "I will build a big house under the ground with lots of traps and locks so when danger comes, I'll bring the Princess there." Branch said with pride in his voice.
"But what about food?" his grandma asked with a chuckle.
"Ooh! I will get lots of food for the Princess and…sticks so we will have fire! Princess Poppy doesn't like dark places, so we need fire" the blue troll responded with a huge grin on his face. Rosiepuff smiled at her grandson. She stood up and took a box from the shelf. It has some arts and crafts materials for her grandson's scrapbook.
"Okay, let's get that scrapbook started" and the two of them started cutting out shapes, letters and some other forms for Branch's gift.
It took them three days to complete the gift, it was just a simple scrapbook with cutouts of what looks like Poppy, Branch, Rosiepuff and even some of their friends. They even took the extra mile of adding lots of glitters on it. Most of the contents of the scrapbook show the adventures of Branch and Poppy. Branch made sure that all of the most fun moments of the two of them as well as with their friends are included. Starting from the day King Peppy asked Grandma Rosiepuff to babysit his daughter.
"There, all done" Rosiepuff said as she added a few glitters to the scrapbook. Branch, however, doesn't look satisfied with their work. He felt something was still missing. "Do you like it Branch?" the elderly troll asked, which Branch responded with a nod "Then what's the matter? Why do you look sad?"
"I don't know, what if someone will give her a better present?" he grumbled. His grandma could feel the worry in his tone.
"I'm sure she'll love it, Branch" she chuckled. "And who do you think would give her a better present than this?" she asked eagerly
"Creek…" Branch mumbled. Rosiepuff chuckled again. Her grandson is getting jealous to other trolls.
"You've put a lot of work and effort for your gift, so I'm sure the princess would love this" she said.
"Really?" Branch asked with hope in his eyes. His grandma nodded, and he gave her the biggest smile he could give. He wants his present for Poppy to be the best. And with his grandma believing that it's the best, then he was sure to himself that it was the best. He stood up and gave his grandma a very tight hug. "Thanks Grandma" he said as he snuggled. Rosiepuff smiled and kissed him on the top of his head before she returned the hug.
"You better go to sleep now, tomorrow is going to be a big day for all of us." Rosiepuff said as she led Branch to his room in the pod. Branch held the scrapbook tightly and carefully placed it on the nightstand before jumping into his bed and crawled under the covers. Rosiepuff tucked him in and watched as he yawned. He's been working hard these past three days for his present. And knowing that he'll be really happy when he gave the present to the princess, filled her heart with awe.
"Grandma, could you sing me a lullaby?" he asked as he yawned. His grandma smiled before saying "Of course"
Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong wait and see
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Branch's eyes slowly closed as his Grandma caressed the top of his head. "Good night Grandma" he murmured before slowly dozing off. His Grandma hummed the rest of the song, so he'd fall asleep faster. The elderly Troll kissed the top of her grandson's head before turning the lights off.
"Good night, Branch" she said before leaving him alone with his dreams.
A/N: Aaand done. I have to cut the story for now, I will try my best to update as soon as my schedule will allow me. I just can't get enough of this movie. Kept singing "Can't Stop the Feeling" and "True Colors" for days after that, so who knows what else I'd have in mind after a few days. But please tell me what do you think of this chapter. Reviews are much much appreciated! Or if you have any suggestions, please feel free to tell 'em!