Flying Trolls

Notes: Hey, everyone, sorry for the delay (I'm working non-stop since last week of July... and I mean... working on weekends as well), but this chapter is too important to post before one last check. I need Poppy to know more about Branch's trip to the Funk Tribe, so I took my time before posting.

Hope you like it!

And, as always, thanks for the support, for the comments, reviews, kudos, likes... they keep me sane.

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The training track was ready. The predators cut on cardboard were being ignited at the right time by the sensors. The lights went dark after the second turn and the fake trees would drop a fruit the right time to cause the pilot to steer to the left using the wheel on his or her foot.

Branch was ready to try it. With a grin of self-satisfaction, the teal troll jumped on the hover-board he had gotten from the Funk Tribe and tested the height he had on his garage. The ceiling was tall so it was enough to give it a good test before going out in the open.

The first lap was completed at a slow pace so he could test all the obstacles. On the first turn a big scrapbooked kid jumped in front of him, causing Branch to put his weight back so he could command the flying board to go up above the kid to continue. Then, a Tarantapuff slid down from a spiderweb making him turn to the right.

Even if he had been the one to build the track, it was still challenging to complete it without losing balance.

Branch hovered above the finish line with his hands on his sides. It would be a good way to teach the Fuzzlings how to piloting the hoverboards before they were ready to patrol Trollstopia for real. It was the best plan he could come up with after the accident with the kid weeks before.

"Hey there." Poppy's voice sounded from the elevator and he felt his insides melting. His girlfriend had dropped by to share something about her day and he couldn't wait to show her his plan… there is… - a small tingle of anxiety tightened his stomach - … he hoped she would approve his idea.

"Hey, Poppy." Branch turned, still on top of the hoverboard, to greet her with a proud smile. "You're just in time." He was a little surprised when she walked in wearing her rock outfit and lost his balance for a second. There was something about pink and black that stirred bubbles of excitement in him. "What have you been up to?"

"Minuet and I have been in a rock band to help Braze to impress his old bandmates." Poppy said quickly. When she first walked in, the queen was planning on telling Branch everything in detail, but seeing her boyfriend flying a few feet above the ground made her cut it short so she could see what he was doing. "I guess you have been having fun as well."

"Work and fun go together here." Branch lowered the hoverboard so he could stand next to her. He pulled Gary from his pocket to make all the obstacles return to their hiding places. "This is a training track for the Fuzzlings. They need to control the flying skills perfectly before going on patrol."

"Oh, you can tell me about that later, can I try that sweet hoverboard?!" Poppy couldn't take her eyes from the flying device. Her eyes shone like she had just gotten a new toy.

"Oh…" He should have seen that coming and immediately he went into survival mode. Poppy didn't get to be trained by Prince D like he had. Piloting that thing was way more challenging than flying a critter, but of course, if he told her that, she'd feel challenged and it could turn out nasty. "Come on up. I'll pilot us around." Branch grabbed her hand and helped her up.

His girlfriend squeezed against his back, wrapping her arms around him to hold herself in place. The familiarity of her hold made Branch relax a little. It was okay, he was the one piloting, they would have a safe round and in a couple of minutes they would be back on the ground.

She squealed with excitement as soon as he took off.

"The predators jump in front of the pilot so he or she can be prepared for any eventualities." Branch explained and Poppy tightened her grip, showing him that she was listening even if she was excited beyond words. "They must be prepared to change direction or safely stop on time to prevent an accident. It's reflex training like an obstacle course."

Just like he had said, kids and predators roughly drawn on cardboard jumped in front of them. Poppy got startled at the first ones. It was only when he was about reach the finish line that she had grown used to them.

"Can I try piloting myself?" Poppy asked, looking at his skilled feet using the wheels on the board to change directions.

"Try turning us to the left," Branch hooked his foot with her pink one, bringing her toes above the wheel. "Press here and turn."

Poppy did as she was told, but she went too fast. Not being used to the hoverboard, she nearly lost her balance and, to keep herself standing, she accidentally stepped on the speed button. Branch gasped when he realized what she was doing. He couldn't take her foot off the command and keep himself still at the same time.

They went straight and fast towards a wall. The inevitable crash was approaching fast and Branch could only think of one way to avoid the accident. Holding Poppy close in his arms before puffing up his hair, the survivalist braced himself for impact.

Both hit the wall from within the hairball. Branch felt his shoulder painfully colliding with a shelf as the hoverboard fell on the ground, intact.

With a heart beating wildly, the survivalist looked down at his girlfriend who was curled up against him in fear. He had fallen on his back and she was unscratched, on top of him.

"Are you okay?" He managed to ask, realizing that he was out of breath.

"Yes. Are you?" She answered, with her face a little pale, still trying to understand what had happened.

"Nothing serious," Branch grunted when she moved to climb off him.

"You think fast." Poppy sat up completely, looking impressed at her skilled boyfriend. Branch pushed himself with some difficulty, finally pulling his hair back to normal while carefully scanning her for any injuries.

"Thanks to years of being crazy prepared, I guess." He tried to make a joke to distract himself from the painful tingle in his arm; it so sore he knew it was going to have one big bruise.

"I'm sorry." The Queen looked down in shame. "I thought it was going to be a good game for the village if we had a race or something."

Branch figured she would eventually try to turn his surveillance into something fun, which was why he was still thinking the best way to approach the subject with her. They needed take it seriously, for once.

"Yes, I realized you'd think about something like that."

Poppy looked around the garage filled with sensors and obstacles. It looked exciting at first, but Branch was right. Trolls needed to be trained before piloting the hoverboard. They both fell on a comfortable silence, still sitting beside each other, trying to catch their breaths.

Guiltily, Poppy noticed the purple-ish bruise on Branch's arm and bit her lower lip to refrain herself from crying.

Perhaps Branch was already supposed to be used to her spontaneous outbursts, but he couldn't help himself but yelp in surprise when Poppy held him close in a big, bone-crushing hug before placing a sweet kiss on his injured arm.

"There. It'll heal faster." Poppy dusted herself after standing up, ignoring how startled her boyfriend looked. "So, what's the patrolling about?"

"Ah, well… since that day… you know…" Funny how it was still difficult to talk about the day the Mama Cuddlepuff attacked the kids. It wasn't just the fright of having the children hurt, but he also freshly remembered the pop elder's cruel words saying Poppy would eventually realize he was a difficult troll to love. Even if the multiverse travel showed that they were meant to be, statistically, Branch still felt a rush of negativity overflowing him at the memory. "... when I went to the Funk Tribe."

Poppy was quietly staring at him and she just nodded, to show him she was paying attention.

"I thought it was a good idea to have the borders patrolled by the Fuzzlings. If we had a team of highly trained trolls on hoverboards we could rescue a kid or rush to the nearest trolls in case a predator was nearby."

Usually by now, Branch would expect Poppy to diverge from his main trail of thoughts to inquire how fun would it be for the Fuzzlings or for anyone else. She had hardly agreed with expanding the trap zone before. He was expecting a comment about having the hoverboards changed to drop caramels as the borders were patrolled, but to his surprise, his girlfriend nodded in understanding.

"You are right, Branch. Trollstopia is growing and our city limits are invading unexplored parts of the forest. We could disturb predators we're not prepared to face."

Branch's jaw nearly hit the floor. Who was that girl standing right in front of him looking all serious - not to mention incredibly pretty in that rock attire- and agreeing with safety plans?

"Trollstopia must be a safe paradise if we want to keep living in harmony." Poppy went on. "Of course, I'd love it if everyone eventually could fly around..."

"You just saw how dangerous they can be." Branch pointed out. "They're not like flying critters. The bugs have their own survival instincts and you have a place to sit and hold in case of accidents, but the hoverboards are just metallic flying plates." He couldn't help himself but remember the day when Poppy had an accident with the critter and sprained her foot.

He couldn't have that happening again.

"I know and I fully agree with you."

Branch stared at her like she had grown a second head. 'I agree with you' wasn't something that would often come out of her mouth.

"Did you bump your head or something?" The survivalist approached to see if she had any marks on her, which caused Poppy to giggle.

"Honestly, Branch. You are in charge of the safety of the city. I trust you to make the best decisions."

Her words made his heart leap with joy. She was giving him full permission to do as he pleased. He already had projects with the Fuzzlings, training them as an army and placing traps whenever he could, but now… he could do what he thought best for Trollstopia's safety!

He was just about to thank her when he noticed Poppy was walking towards the elevator, humming a song to herself.

"Poppy wait!" Hurrying to catch up with her, Branch could barely say how happy he was for her words. So, he held her hand and looked straight into her magenta eyes, giving her a soft look full of gratitude. "Will you stay tonight?"

She broke into a wide smile.

"Of course."