A ruined universe

Notes:

So... before you read on I suggest you go back and read chapter 29: The Last Drop since there are strong references to the events in that chapter here.

Chapter Text

His eyes cracked open. Confusion made him slowly look to the side. His neck was stiff and the smallest movement demanded a great effort. There were intravenous needles all over his arms, connected to tubes filled with transparent liquid.

Wrongness alerted him that he shouldn't be there. His chest seemed to be filled with a mass of anguish that swallowed him, taking the place of the air that was supposed to be filling his lungs.

He was being saved. Someone had rescued him. He was sure the trapdoor had been locked. It was supposed to be just silence. Emptiness. Not waking up in an aseptic place. Being saved.

His fingers were moving. Slowly. He tried to reach the needles to pull them away.

"No, Branch. You won't do that." A warm hand on his forehead was felt. He tried to see who was there next to him.

Nothing.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Are you ever going to talk to me?"

Branch bit his lower lip, nearly draining blood. He stared at what once had been the Pop Village from the hospital window. Nothing remained. A couple of gray trolls left the last pods with backpacks to never return.

"We didn't want for that to happen, did we?" The Funk Troll sat down next to him, watching what remained of the happiest creatures. "You guys have a connection no other tribe has."

"Had." Branch said quietly.

"Parson me?"

"We HAD a connection. The link was broken." Branch explained, grumpy and with little patience.

"Ah, yes. I'm sorry. These universes are quite tricky." He adjusted his glasses. "Our emotions and thoughts start mixing with our personalities from each universe we're visiting. It can get quite confusing, baby."

Branch's ears slowly raised.

"These universes?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I guess you Pop Trolls aren't familiar with the Multiverse." He chuckled. "Since you decided to talk to me, allow me to introduce myself: I'm Lownote Jones."

"I wasn't aware there were other tribes, much less, other universes." Branch was still frowning, but this time, with a wisp of interest.

"Infinite universes to be precise." Lownote allowed himself to breathe out in relief, seeing the progress of his friend. "I, myself, am from universe 234."

Branch once again looked out at the destroyed village. Broken trees and red dirt covered the ground that used to be bright green and covered with flowers.

"I want to visit her." Branch tried to push himself up from the wheelchair. He made an effort. His knuckles turned white with the strong grip, but his lower body wouldn't stand on its own.

"Don't force it." Lownote Jones walked behind him, pulling the wheelchair away from the window. "You've been unconscious for a long time. You lost weight. Physiotherapy will be required before you can walk again."

Branch didn't answer. So, Lownote pushed him towards the exit and ticked his tongue.

"I'll take you to her, c'mon."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Out of every place in the troll village, the stupid daisy field was chosen to be her resting place.

The mass of anguish swirled in his chest. His eyes burned with tears. His breathing was shallow, suffocating.

It was his fault she had that fate. All of that happened because he was afraid he'd disappoint her. Because he didn't dare to open up and be her friend.

Because he stopped himself from opening the trapdoor when she came to say goodbye.

Paralyzing fear, they called it.

"It was my fault." Branch's voice wavered. Eyes fixed on the glittery name on the cold stone. Lownote didn't say a word. "I'm supposed to be there with her." His anger increased, "why did you save me?"

"The beauty of the universe is in its mysteries," Lownote explained.

Branch didn't ask if trolls knew the funk tribe. He only felt sinking deeper into despair to know that not only was the Queen's death his fault, but he was also the reason the Pop tribe was ruined. Close to extinction.

He should have known Poppy was connected to everyone. The Pop Trolls mirrored their queen's feelings when they were trapped inside the pan.

But how could he know that deep sadness could be fatal to a troll? He had been gray for so many years and he never came close to being deadly sad.

Maybe he was different? Maybe he wasn't happy, but he had a purpose of learning about the Bergens. Perhaps his obsession somehow became his salvation?

If only he could have saved Poppy… if only he knew her sadness would suck the life out of her like a mold sucking out the freshness of a berry.

"You mentioned other universes." Branch wiped his tears with the back of his hand. "Is she alive somewhere else, then?"

Reluctantly, Lownote nodded.

"There are universes where she's alive and well. Others she never existed…" The funk troll pulled the wheelchair away, taking Branch for a small walk around the field to refresh his mind. "In mine, she is tracing a similar fate as your Poppy, as far as my research went. But she's happy and in a loving relationship with you in 99% of them."

"A familiar fate…?" Branch felt a lump in his throat. "Do I disappoint her in your universe as well?"

"I don't think this conversation will do you good, Branch." Lownote quickly shook his head.

"Is it my fault as well?" The teal troll insisted.

"Well…" Lownote pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. "Yes. And partially mine."

Branch quietly stared at the horizon. The wind was chilly and a couple of flowers were ripped from their roots.

"Why do you visit these universes?"

"It's my job to keep everything in balance." Lownote sighed loudly. "I know what you're thinking," the funk troll looked at Branch, serious and speaking as clearly as he could. "You won't redeem yourself by saving another Poppy. Yours is still…"

"Can I communicate with other realities as well?" Branch cut him off, desperate for an answer.

"Rule number one of multiverse trips: don't interfere in another reality." Lownote raised one finger but got interrupted before he could raise the second.

"Can I?"

It was useless. Lownote Jones realized there wouldn't be an alternative other than speaking the truth.

"You cannot interfere in another reality… but you could give them a nudge to… persuade the right choices."

Hair help them.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Pink-feet hesitantly stepped out of the wormhole and into the red dusty floor. Dry white petals flew with the breeze that also waved her hair.

Magenta eyes were fixed on the tombstone in front of her. Her name was written in glitter that was almost entirely gone. Soon it would be a nameless tomb, just like Pop Village seemed to be only a ghost city. Rotten pods were falling from the trees. Some were already on the ground surrounded by flies.

A metallic sound followed by two steps alerted her that she wasn't alone.

Gasping, Poppy turned around to see Branch standing several feet away from her. He had a cane in one hand, he looked young, worn out, and tired, but about the same age as he originally had in her dimension.

"Branch…?" She asked, not daring to step closer.

"Yes." He nodded. The phantom of a smile tucked his lips upwards. He looked relieved to see her.

"What happened here?" Poppy asked, taking a tentative step towards him.

"I disappointed you." Branch struggled to keep his voice from failing. "It looks like things aren't well in your universe either." He pointed the cane at her gray arms.

As instinct, she tried to hide her arms, but it was useless, after all, her sleeveless blue dress didn't leave her many options. Poppy looked away, although a gray Branch pulled her attention back to him with colorless nostalgia.

"I'm glad you came." Branch took another painful step forward, but Poppy immediately shortened the distance between them so he wouldn't trouble himself in his condition. She stood directly in front of him, noticing that he had the same green apple scent as her own Branch. And it seemed he was surprised because he barely breathed. "Poppy…"

"What happened to you?" Poppy lifted one hand, not sure if she was supposed to touch him, but his face, full of frown lines, looked welcoming and his eyes seemed to beg for a small contact, betraying the rest of his body language.

"Consequences… of me disappointing you." He chose his words carefully.

Her warm hand touched his cheek. Branch closed his eyes. Allowing himself to lean against her palm and enjoy the proximity for a few seconds. A single tear escaped the corner of his eyes and, scared, she tried to retreat, but he held her hand there with his.

"I never wanted to hurt you, Poppy." He explained, sniffing quietly. He was supposed to say it to his own Poppy. "I'm sorry." He intertwined their fingers, taking her hands down. Poppy quietly watched him. "You need to know that you don't have to be strong to spare me." He brushed his thumb over her gray hand, showing that her actions had terrible consequences for her. "I'm not the lonely kid I used to be. I can take some disappointments."

Poppy licked her lips and took a step back.

"It's important we - you and your Branch - talk and set things right."

Poppy looked away. Branch knew she understood his point and still, it seemed what she was going through was too much to bear.

"My Branch… I don't understand why he..." The grayness moved down, engulfing her legs to her knees.

Branch had so many things to deal with. He lost the only family he had when he was such a young trolling. He lived on his own, learned how to survive, and made plans to save the entire village even when he was laughed at. He tried to protect everyone even when he was seen as crazy.

He was kind, he was gentle. He treated her as the most important troll in the world.

And, yet…

"Poppy, don't hold the sadness within." Branch said, urgently.

Hair! Hold the sadness! As if she had the strength to do it! She wished nothing more than to find Branch, yell to him that she couldn't understand how he enjoyed dreaming about Rock Poppy after what she witnessed, that she was confused, that her trust was broken, that she feared he would forever compare her to a wild version of herself and that she was at the turning point of leaving him for good. And then, another side of her held those thoughts as a wild adorabull that needed to be tamed.

She couldn't tell Branch those things. She couldn't hurt him.

Those thoughts were her insecurities. They weren't his fault.

She could deal with her sadness. She could find a way out of it on her own… After all, Branch was as confused as she, wasn't he? It wasn't fair to blame her troubling feelings on him…

But, would they ever be the same?

"I could forgive my Branch… but..." would she ever forget it?

Alarmed, Branch looked down at his beloved, seeing how bad her state was. He seemed to change gears. The urgency was speaking louder.

Poppy looked down. Her feet were completely gray by then. The tears she had been fighting seemed stronger than her will to hold them back. They blurred her sight, turning Branch into a watery paint.

"Regardless of what I decide, I'll always protect you…"

"I promised to save you," exasperated, Branch stepped forward again. Forgetting his cane, he put his weight on the bad knee. He noticed he was falling and that he'd crash painfully to the ground. He closed his eyes, preparing for the impact, only to find a soft embrace holding him up.

If she ever forgives Branch… It wasn't going to be full double-rainbow forgiveness - she could understand that stupid cloud whale now.

"Poppy," Branch tightened the hug, burying his nose in her strawberry-scented hair. "Please laugh, play, and have fun. I want you to be truly and deeply happy."

A loud rumbling made them break apart. Poppy looked over her shoulder at the wormhole.

"It's getting unstable. Go back before you're locked here." Branch urged her forward.

"What about you?" She asked before she could stop herself. Leaving this Branch, looking so sad and fragile, seemed cruel.

"Go now!" Branch said, more firmly.

What would happen to her Branch if she got locked there? Would he be lonely with his demons and become gray again? Like this one? The thought itself was enough to give her acute chest pain and in a second, she knew the grayness was complete.

Poppy gave him another quick hug and sprung toward the wormhole, running as fast as she could before the sadness sucked away the remaining energy. The spaceship on the other side seemed to flick a couple of times.

"Be happy!"

She heard Branch yelling just before the portal closed behind her.

Poppy collapsed into the spaceship, sobbing and curling up into a ball.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Branch breathed in relief, seeing Poppy disappearing into her own universe. He noticed he was sweaty and took a small handkerchief to dry his forehead.

"That was intense." Lownote Jones walked into view, offering a hand to his friend. "But it seemed to work."

"Work? Lownote, she's completely gray." Branch pointed out, he shook his head, indignantly. "And I didn't tell her about the effects of multiverse traveling. The most important detail and I skipped it!"

Would he fail to save another Poppy? It was too much to bear.

"Cybil got the message too late."

"Have a little faith, baby."