It was a day like any other, apparently. The profoundly happy Queen woke up early to join a party which she was invited to two weeks prior.
The innocent and sophisticated Queen always attended the parties she had RSVP-ed even if it was a party at the evil tribe that plays misleading songs. Songs that seem like a balad, but speak of the sadness of life and end with infinite minutes of brilliant guitar solos.
"Meep!"
"Oh, c'mon, Mr. Dinkles, I'm just trying to build up a thriller atmosphere. I know Hard Rock Trolls aren't evil." Biggie looked slightly offended that his adored pet would have to correct him.
They both had to duck into a shrub as Poppy passed by, walking happily while humming a song on her way to the Rock Hollow.
As I was saying, the beautiful Queen went straight to the trap. Her heart was so filled with joy at all times that she was incapable of thinking badly of another living creature.
All the trolls were happy when she walked by. Flowers bloomed, critters chirped and children begged for scrapbook classes. She lightened the darkness in any heart.
The source of her endless happiness was no one other than a rebel troll who had saved her from the evil Bergens a couple of years before.
In a courageous act, Branch, the survivalist, sang a song that saved all the community and planted the seed of love in the young pink heart. Unbeknownst, he planted the same seed within his own frozen heart.
The ice melted day by day, as he joined the pink queen in her daily adventures. Even when she didn't know, he was around, looking after her without being noticed, like a true hero.
"There, Mr. Dinkles. I told you Branch would come out today." Biggie shrieked in happiness, but kept his hiding place, when the trap door opened and the survivalist stepped outside, looking a bit unsure before walking towards Poppy's pod.
Looking for his loved one, avoiding getting side-tracked by over-socializing friends, the rebel troll kept his quest. The search came to a dead-end when he didn't find her in the royal pod. He quickly panicked, raising the hands to his hair and searching around for clues to where his beloved might be.
It was when he knelt down and found a piece of black jeans and a skully belt. With wide eyes, Branch, the courageous knight, left the pod as fast as he could towards the evil tribe of Hard Rock trolls.
Persistent and with his mind set on finding his lovely queen, Branch marched straight into the rock neighborhood when a chilly breeze ruffled his hair and froze his bones.
He didn't have to walk long before he walked right into Demo, the wise agent, who knew everything about hard rock jams and parties.
"Let's try to hear what they are saying, Mr. Dinkles. Shh…" Biggie said and dunked behind a dumpster to hear the conversation and adapt it to his own imaginative tale.
"Hey there, Demo. Have you seen Poppy?" Branch asked. Indeed, he sounded a bit frantic, almost in character for Biggie's story.
"Ah, yes. She's participating in a guitar contest. Val is oddly sticking with Poppy since that plant bloomed. Go figure." Demo pointed at a big mushroom where music was playing so loud the walls were reverberating the beats.
Surprised and a little upset, the grumpy knight steadied himself and went towards the big mushroom where the party was going wild.
Peeking inside, he gasped, completely taken aback to see his queen having fun like never before. She was playing the guitar along with Val Thundershock, a rock girl with a questionable personality, both pairing up to score more points at the karaoke machine.
The survivalist frowned and gathered his courage to get his sword and save his lov- wait.
"Why is Branch going away, Mr. Dinkles? Did I miss something?"
Biggie followed his friend with genuine curiosity.
Branch had stiffened when he saw Poppy wearing rock clothes and after a moment to overcome his initial shock he rehearsed a few attempts to walk inside, only to give up and turn around at the last minute.
Flabbergasted, Biggie picked Mr. Dinkles up and proceeded to follow his friend to where he was going. The story was forgotten, after all the unusual change of plans made reality much more intriguing than any chronicle.
It was only after a couple of minutes following Branch that Biggie realized his friend was hyperventilating. He stopped near a tree and bent down, putting his head between his knees and almost losing his balance.
"Branch!" Story and discretion completely forgotten, Biggie showed himself, not being able to hide his concern. "Are you feeling well?"
"Leave-" Branch started saying, interrupting his sentence to take gulps of air. "-me alone."
"That's not what a responsible friend would do." Biggie looked offended that Branch might have thought he was going to ignore the evidence of a panic attack right in front of him. "Should I escort you to the hospital pod?"
"No." Branch quickly answered, trying to stand up, stubbornly, but sitting back down at a sudden and evident faint spell. "Bunker. I'll get better there."
The teal troll tried to fight Biggie's attempt to hold him up, but the lack of proper inhalation made his sight spin and the help ended up being necessary, although not welcomed.
Not sure if it was okay to talk, Biggie offered a hand all the way to the bunker in silence. The wheezing sound of the stiff airpipe was the only proof that Branch was slowly regaining control of his breathing.
It was only when both arrived at the trapdoor that Biggie wondered if he should leave or get inside to make sure Branch was safe and sound.
It was tricky. With his lalent empathy, the tall blue troll could feel it wasn't proper for him to get inside without being invited, but with Branch's spiraling negativity he didn't feel comfortable leaving him by himself.
It wasn't prudent leaving Branch alone, even if being alone was what he wished at the moment.
"I'm getting inside and preparing you a cup of tea." Biggie said to test the waters and when Branch didn't protest, he felt comfortable enough to step on the elevator with his friend.
Biggie concentrated on the tea, watching Branch the corner of his eyes while he sat down on a chair, slowly regaining control of his body.
"Are you feeling better?" The tea was poured in two cups. Branch blew the steam and took a sip, grimacing at the taste of chamomile tea, as Biggie had expected.
"Thank you." Branch replied, drinking more of the warm liquid. "I'm getting better."
"Do you want to talk?"
"Not really."
Silence fell between them once again. It was Mr. Dinkles who decided to hop close to Branch and offer a small comfort meep.
"I just got surprised by Poppy in a rock outfit. It's no big deal." Branch replied to the curious worm.
"Well, not blaming you there. Poppy looks pretty wild in rock clothes." Biggie recalled at the World Tour, when he was truly terrified that their queen would hurt them before noticing she was faking it all.
"Yes." Branch quietly stared at his empty cup. The ceramic was still hot. "She does."
"If you're fine I'll be on my way." It was clear Biggie had intruded enough. He felt how uncomfortable Branch was. "But if you need a friend, you can always talk to me."
"I know. Thank you, Biggie." Branch smiled wearily, having his energy suddenly drained. "You're a great friend."
"So are you."
Biggie didn't have much time to think about Branch's surprising reaction to Poppy's outfit. As soon as he stepped out of the bunker, he came face to face with Poppy. Now, looking sweet in her ordinary blue dress, and holding a basket of cupcakes.
"Oh, what a surprise." The queen smiled widely, "is Branch having friends over?"
"Oh, no." Biggie returned the smile. "I just came to help him with something. I'm leaving now."
"Oh, okay." Poppy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and Biggie spotted a skully hair clip she was still wearing.
"The hair clip," Biggie pointed at it, afraid that even the smallest things could trigger Branch's panic again.
Poppy immediately removed it.
"Thank you. I missed this one."
"Anytime."
Biggie walked away slowly, still watching with the corner of his eyes as Poppy took a deep breath before descending into the bunker.
It was unknown to the couple, but it seemed the queen needed to rescue her knight that day.
Sometimes, the roles can be inverted, and it was perfectly fine.