-O-

Picturebook Romance

A Trolls fanfic

By Dreamsinger

Chapter Eight

Old Friends

Poppy began to head off into the crowd, then stopped to look back at Branch smiling and laughing with the older couple as easily as he did with their friends now. For a minute she smiled fondly at the unexpectedly homey scene, but gradually the good feeling went away and she experienced a slew of less-than-happy emotions that left her insides taut.

Since when does he know Laurel? I didn't think he even had any friends before we all bonded during our adventure with the bergens!

There's so much about his past I don't know. I was just a trolling when he withdrew from society to become a survivalist. He's spent most of the past ten years alone, full of fear and anger and loneliness…

The pink troll didn't notice her ears droop slightly, or the way her hands curled together against her chest as she gazed unseeingly down at the grass. I feel like should have done more to help him. Maybe instead of me trying to pull him out into the world, what if I'd tried to join him in his instead? Gotten him to invite me into his bunker or something. We could have bonded down there, one-on-one.

The corners of her mouth pulled downward, and she finally caught herself and fought off the despondency and regret that was trying to take hold of her. What are you always telling Branch? Look for the positives here. So maybe you don't know much about his past. That just means you'll have the fun of discovery, right? Look what you found out completely by chance: Branch knew the Whizbangs as a trolling, and they obviously still consider him a friend. That's great news, right?

She squared her shoulders and began marching determinedly through the crowd.

And…you'll make sure he's never lonely again.

The pink troll followed a winding path through the riotous assembly of wooden booths, cloth tents and open-air exhibits toward Mandy's pod for a while and then stopped. Wait. One of these displays is probably Mandy's family's. They're craftspeople, after all.

She voiced her question aloud, and several nearby trolls affirmatively answered her. A pretty young female with pale pink hair named Cherry Blossom offered to lead her to Mandy's tent. Wanting to get back to Branch as soon as possible, she accepted.

As they made their way through the festival, Poppy began to remember what she knew about the troll who walked beside her. Cherry Blossom was the teacher for grade four, the 13-15 age group, which was highest level of general education that most trolls received. Despite being only a few years older than Branch, she was mature and exceedingly intelligent; but not in an overbearing way, as Branch sometimes was, for in addition to her mental acuity, her emotional intelligence was right up there. She was as gentle and patient and understanding as any student could ask for.

Cherry Blossom was also highly curious about the world in general. She was extremely enthusiastic about learning, and she did an excellent job motivating her students to ask questions and seek out answers on their own (and then share their knowledge with her).

Her coloring was striking as well; vivid, deep ruby red skin, a pink nose and pale pink hair that was rosy-magenta at the tips. She carried her hair in a graceful style, fanned out into five flowing petals that were reminiscent of the lovely flower for which she'd been named. She wore delicately-shaped light pink eyeglasses with a touch of glitter at the temples that drew attention to her pretty bright-green eyes.

The teacher wore a scholarly pine-green pleated skirt with a delicate pattern of cherry blossom petals embroidered near the bottom hem, and a light yellow button-up blouse with a matching blossom pattern on the collar. The buttons, Poppy noticed, were actually pink beads in the shape of cherry blossom flowers. She wondered if the twins had designed such a cute outfit just for her, and if Poppy could get them to make her one. The twins could be iffy about such things, not wanting to 'repeat themselves'.

Much as Poppy had loved her own mentors, she thought a little wistfully that she would enjoy having someone so close to her own age as a teacher. Branch likes to study; maybe for fun we could take some kind of short workshop together sometime?

"Queen Poppy, I'm glad I have this opportunity to speak with you. I'd like to ask you a question, if I may?" Cherry Blossom spoke with a slight accent similar to Biggie's, her voice soft and refined.

"Of course, Cherry Blossom. Something about school? Anything I can help you with? And please, call me Poppy. We're both teachers, right?"

For she herself was in charge of teaching certain subjects such as troll history, culture, music, and how to get along with others to the first two grades, which covered the 4-6 and 7-9 age ranges. Trollings were always taught in groups that spanned three years, to help them learn to interact with trollings who were both younger and older than they.

"Thank you for the offer, but all my students are doing splendidly," said Cherry Blossom. "But if it's not too much of an imposition, may I ask how Branch is doing?"

"What?" Poppy asked, startled. I was just thinking about him. It's like she read my mind.

The ruby red troll smiled. "You and Branch have been…special friends for a while now, haven't you?"

"Wh-what makes you say that?" Cheeks heating, the pink troll turned away, staring at the displays she passed without seeing them. Just how perceptive is she? I know it's common knowledge that we're friends, but it feels like she's implying that we're - Should I admit we're dating? Is it that obvious that we're into each other and probably have been since we faced the bergens together?

"Oh, I was on my way to the festival when I happened to see the two of you emerge from your pod this morning."

"Oh." Poppy's eyes popped, and she bit her lip as her panicked brain combed her memory. What did we do this morning? Were we still holding hands when we came out? Oh! We rode together on the slide, didn't we? And we were cuddling and acting like lov- Oh my gosh!

The pink troll put her hands to her burning cheeks. "Boy, the sun sure is warm today, isn't it?"

Cherry Blossom covered her mouth with her hand and let out a soft little laugh, her gaze tender and somehow sparkling despite the fact that she was not a glitter troll. "Oh, you are adorable. So sweet. I remember how it was with Leafe and me…" She trailed off with an enchanted look on her face.

Distinctly uncomfortable now, Poppy cleared her throat and Cherry Blossom seemed to catch herself. "Sorry. I just meant that I wanted to convey how glad I am that Branch seems to be doing so well. Happy colors, and all that. So much better than how he was before."

Poppy caught that. "You sound like you knew him."

"Just a bit. Before he retreated… I mean, before he went off to create that extraordinary safety bunker. He knew my husband, Leafe, better." Cherry Blossom gave her a solemn look. "Branch was always very…intense. Very smart, highly focused. He had a lot of deep thoughts that made him a fascinating person to talk to, when you could get him to open up."

"Tell me about it." Poppy grinned wryly.

"He's a good person, though. Wonderful foresight and perseverance. That bunker of his is a marvel."

"He's definitely one of a kind. It's a challenge sometimes, but totally worth it."

Cherry Blossom smiled back and reached out to touch Poppy's arm, her forehead wrinkling in concern. "So he's doing well, then?"

"He is. He's happy." Poppy let out a contented sigh, suddenly not minding if her companion did guess the true nature of their relationship. "We're happy." Her voice had the slight huskiness that always seemed to emerge whenever she felt deeply about something.

"I see." Green eyes gazed at her contemplatively, and then the ruby troll was beaming at her warmly. "I'm so glad. For both of you." She glanced away, then back. "Would it be all right to let Leafe know? They were good friends, once. I know he'd love to hear that Branch is…in a good place now."

Poppy smiled. "Of course. I'm sure Branch would be glad to know there are trolls who are thinking about him."

Cherry Blossom gave her a friendly farewell when they reached Mandy's tent and Poppy stood for a long moment, staring thoughtfully into space before making her way inside.

-O-

"So, Branchkin – er, Branch. Heh, the old nickname just slipped out, didn't it?" Finetune had a kindly, down-to-earth way of talking that I had always found reassuring. "Sorry about that. Just remembered you didn't want us to call you that anymore. Hope I didn't embarrass you in front of the queen."

"That's all right. Actually, it felt kind of good to hear it again," I admitted. "Besides, I'm used to it. Poppy embarrasses me all the time."

I rolled my eyes and gave them my best grumpy-frown, and they laughed. That made me feel good. Unlike most trolls, they understood my sense of humor. I crossed my arms and smiled, feeling myself relax into their warm acceptance.

"Well, look at you, Branch, so big and strong…" Savvy reached out to take my hands and looked up at me. I don't know why I was surprised to realize that I was half a head taller than she was now, and probably matched Finetune in height. "But you know what?"

"What?"

"You'll always be little Branchkin to us."

Suddenly overwhelmed by what Poppy would call the warm fuzzies, I pulled away and rubbed the back of my neck. "Thanks. Really." I remembered what else about me had changed. "Um, so, do you like my new colors?"

"Sure do! Very handsome." Finetune gave me a thumb's-up, beaming at me.

"Of course, dear." Savvy's green eyes were as compassionate as ever. "They're beautiful, but not just in and of themselves. They're beautiful because of what they mean, that you're happy now. You are, aren't you?"

"Savvy, as I told Poppy just yesterday, I've never been as happy in my entire life," I reassured her, feeling the corner of my mouth go up. "Literally."

"We are so glad to hear that. And Branch, dear, we want you to know-" Savvy looked at her husband and he nodded as she continued, "-how proud we are of you."

"You - you are? Really?" Finetune nodded again as I gave the two of them a wide-eyed look, remembering how I'd treated them the last few months before I'd ducked out of troll society entirely, and felt the shadow of guilt hovering, ready to descend.

"You're such a good boy, so helpful to Queen Poppy."

"Oh, uh, you think so?"

"Right, dear, and remember what a great job he did when he sang to us all in that bergen pot?" Finetune threw a hand dramatically into the air. "There we were, the entire village, thinkin' it was lights out for all of us."

Savvy and I exchanged indulgent smiles as I recalled fondly how much Finetune loved to tell stories. I'd never really thought to wonder what the other trolls had experienced in that pot, but it looked like I was going to get the chance to find out.

"Then we hear a voice. A glorious voice I never heard before, singin' in the darkness, and who does it turn out to be but little Branchkin, and suddenly I realize this musta been how he's felt all these years, and it's the worst thing I ever felt. But you know what? He's not givin' up. Oh, no. Not him. He knows what he's doin'. He built that fantastic bunker complex all by himself and stocked it with everything the village could possibly need."

Supplies for me, not the village. I felt a sting of shame at that, but Finetune kept going.

"So here he is, singin' his heart out, tellin' the princess how much he loves her and how she can always count on him…"

I slapped myself on the forehead and groaned. "Tuney…" Savvy looked as if she was holding back an amused smile.

Undeterred, Finetune went on, "And the next thing you know the princess is glowin' like a flashbug, and we all start to realize – the game's not over yet. Where there's life, there's hope, right? And then our little gray Branchkin blooms like a flower, showin' everyone the beautiful colors he always had inside-"

"What?" I asked, startled.

"-and it makes me feel so gosh darn happy I bust out into colors myself, and so does Savvy and Laurel and everybody else. And just like that, we escape, just like we did twenty years ago, only this time it's 'cause Branch and his friends made friends with that nice Bridget bergen girl and she's the king's girlfriend, so of course now we're all friends."

Finetune threw an arm across my shoulders and gave me a rough squeeze.

"And who do we have to thank? This guy right here. Who else could've done it? Nobody, that's who. And he's got the best voice in the entire village; that's what I tell everyone."

"A wonderful voice," Savvy agreed.

"Well, thanks, I-"

"And any day now we're expecting to hear that you and the queen are making it official-"

"What?" I squawked, squirming out from Finetune's grasp. "Wait, wait, whoa! We're not…" Somehow I couldn't bring myself to lie and say we weren't together, but I wasn't ready to admit it, either.

Finetune looked perplexed. "Well, what's she waiting for? If she doesn't hurry up, some other troll might set their cap for you and you'll have to turn them down."

"Tuney!"

"Yes?"

"I – we-" What do I say? Before yesterday I could've said we were just friends, but now… I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Look, Tuney, Savvy, things between me and Poppy are…complicated. We need some time to work things out. In all honesty, I'm still getting used to being part of the village again. I'm not the Branchkin you remember."

"We know, dear." Savvy's tone was soft. "You were always so afraid to let yourself care for anyone. You didn't want to let anyone in. But somewhere along the way, you learned to. Seeing you around the village these days, singing and dancing and playing with your friends, makes our hearts light," she said gently. "Because we love you, Branchkin. You're like a son to us. And you always will be."

"Savvy…" I don't know what my face was doing right then, but suddenly I needed to clear my throat against the tightness. "I'm so sorry."

"Sorry for what, dear?"

"For avoiding you all this time. And for pretending you didn't mean anything to me, back when you both took me under your wing and taught me so much. It wasn't fair to you."

As one, both of them wrapped their arms around me. "That's all right, Branchkin, sweetheart. You needed to work things out in your own time."

"We remember how troubled you were back then," Finetune said consolingly. "You had to do what was right for you, son, even if it meant building a ginormous bunker complex to make you feel safe."

"Thanks, you guys." I hugged them extra hard before we all let go.

Finetune grinned. "I gotta admit, Branch, you did a fantastic job. Even Laurel was impressed."

"She was? I mean, is?"

"Sure is. Says she wants to have another look-see at the place sometime, now that it's not wall-to-wall trolls."

"Really?"

They both nodded and I bit my lip, then asked, "How is Laurel?"

Both of them beamed proudly and Finetune bragged, "Oh, she's doing great. As good an engineer as her mom and pop, maybe better." He winked at me. "But don't tell her that."

Savvy said, "She has a family now, did you know that?"

I lost my smile and looked at the ground, feeling my ears dip slightly. "No. I knew she was getting married, but…" I didn't want to hear anything about it. Everything was still so raw, then.

The two of them were quiet, catching my subdued mood. "You really are still catching up, aren't you, dear?" Savvy said gently. "Yes, Laurel has a family now and she's doing just fine. Would you like to meet them?" she said hopefully.

"They'll be dropping by later on," Finetune added. "I know Laurel would love to see you."

"…I'd like that." And I actually meant it, to my surprise. I guess ten years really was enough time to rub the edge off a lot of hurt. Or maybe I'd changed enough that the troll who'd been hurt seemed like a different person, whose memories were just enough offset from mine that I could finally view them objectively. A certain pink troll might just be responsible for that change…

Finetune apparently decided to a change of topic would help lighten the mood. "So… Come on, buddy, tell us. You and the queen? That's a thing, right?" Finetune elbowed me. "Right? Eh? Eh?"

I winced as he got me good right in the stomach, and stepped back to rub it with a sheepish grin. "Yeah, we're together." So much for keeping a low profile.

"Yes!"

I literally jumped as both of them whooped, victory fists thrown high in the air.

"That's our boy!" Finetune bellowed jubilantly and the next thing I knew, I was showered with confetti and the both of them broke out in a wild dance of gleeful celebration.

"Guys, hold on!" I held up my hands. "Guys!" They froze, and Finetune stepped down from the booth's zebrawood countertop. "Listen, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about this. Poppy only told me she loved me yesterday, okay?"

"Aww." They put an arm around each other's waists, and gazed at me with weirdly shimmering eyes and sappy lovely-dovey smiles.

"Stop that." I waved my hands at them. "Stop it. Stop."

They eased up a little on their intensity and I sighed. "See, we were hoping to have a little time to ourselves before telling everyone. Once we do, it's gonna be nonstop parties for like, days, right?"

"Weeks. Maybe months!" Savvy corrected me. "Oh, my, it's so exciting! A royal wedding!"

"Savvy, please!" My voice cracked. "I didn't say anything about a wedding!" Desperate now, I had to fall back on my last resort. I didn't want to do it, but I knew the time had come to turn on my charm. "Do you remember what it was like when the two of you first started dating?"

Judging by the syrupy-sweet looks they turned on each other, they did.

"Then you know it's a special time for Poppy and me right now. We need to spend some time alone together, and with Poppy as queen, that's not easy." I stepped close to the both of them and put my hands on their shoulders, drawing them close until our faces were inches apart "So can I count on you to help me keep this quiet?"

"Well." Finetune broke eye contact with me to meet Savvy's gaze, then turned his purple eyes back to me. "We're trolls, you know. We're not very good at keeping secrets…"

"Pleeese?" I tried making the same face I'd seen Poppy use on her dad, all pouty lip and big puppy-dog eyes. "For me?"

"Oh…" Savvy twisted her hands together and Finetune rubbed the back of his neck.

"All right, son. We'll try."

"Thank you!" I said briskly. What do you know? It worked. I gotta remember that.

Maybe now would be a good time to get out of there, before anything else happened.

"You know what, I'm gonna go see what's taking Poppy so long with those candy apples." I took a step back and then before I knew it they were hugging me. Again. Yep. Definitely time to go. I think I've reached my hug quota for a while. This is getting waaay too touchy-feely now.

Still, I hugged them back warmly, appreciating for the first time in a while just how generously forgiving trolls were. I doubted I'd have been able to let bygones be bygones, just like that.

After I made my escape outside, I shaded my eyes and scanned the festival for a flash of bright pink or a perky soprano voice. I wonder what she meant about going to Mandy's? Her Hug Time bracelet didn't seem to be malfunctioning to me. Or was that just a convenient excuse to get us alone together? Or set another one of her elaborate shenanigans in motion?

I debated finishing the tour of the Beadfest on my own, since Poppy had decided for some reason to take a detour into the Whizbangs' booth, but after a quick scan of my surroundings I decided we'd been just about done anyway. After watching the nearby attractions for a while, I got restless and I decided to go get the candy apples Poppy had promised to Finetune and Savvy, just in case she'd gotten sidetracked and forgotten her offer. I was feeling empty enough now to want to nibble on something if she did bring some back.

A few minutes later I dropped the tart-sweet snacks, which some enterprising troll had thought to bore holes through and thread on string to technically make them 'beads', off with the Whizbangs and went outside again to wait for Poppy.

When she didn't show up after a few minutes I wandered off, eventually making my way to a pleasant, grassy spot under the large central tree that sheltered the market square, out of the sun and away from the flow of cheerfully chatting troll traffic.

In the cool shade I began to relax. Sun-dappled foliage swished gently back and forth as a refreshing breeze greeted me, its invisible fingers playing gently with my hair in a way that reminded me of Poppy. I closed my eyes and smiled serenely as a pleasantly tingly feeling washed over me, feeling my senses heighten and extend to embrace the world around me as the same feeling of intimacy that Poppy had brought to life in me came back.

A sudden high-pitched shriek from above had me reflexively leaping forward to catch a small shape that came hurtling down before I fully realized what was going on. A small warm body hit my arms and I let out a grunt, bending my knees to absorb the force of the impact.

The trolling I'd caught didn't move. My heart lurched. Was she dead?

"Poppy!"

Author's Note:

So here's the first part of Branch's backstory, as promised, introducing a number of my OCs (original characters). For Finetune's voice, in my head I hear Danny DeVito, sort of a rough-around-the-edges well-meaning Brooklyn accent. Oh, and his name? I meant it in both senses of the word. He's a fine singer/musician and is also very skilled at working with his hands, especially with mechanical equipment. Savvy is, too, as well as being highly intuitive in general. I love it when I can have a character's name have many-layered meanings! Cherry Blossom is a delightful character inspired by Tomoyo from the anime Card Captor Sakura.