-O-
Picturebook Romance
A Trolls fanfic
By Dreamsinger
Chapter Forty-Five
Poppy's First Crush
*Note: I added a short scene to chapter 42 about halfway down, to have Branch put some antiseptic salve on the scratch on Poppy's leg (which I keep forgetting about).
As she meandered through the village in the vague direction of home, the teenage princess thought long and hard about her recent conversation with her friends. I shouldn't have said they were being melodramatic. I know they're just looking out for me because they care about me, and they don't want to see me get hurt. But I hurt them instead. She hung her head in shame, staring down at the lavender-and-mint grassfronds slowly passing under her pink feet, then decided, I'm gonna bake some cupcakes to make it up to everyone.
That made her feel a little better, but there was still the fact that she and her friends had such different opinions about Branch. Oh, why can't I make them understand that they have nothing to be concerned about?
Creek, Branch does want friends. He may not even realize it himself, but he's really lonely. You should see how much he's starting to open up to me since I started hanging with him. All of you should, too.
I know it might be hard to understand why. It's hard to explain, too… It's like, I feel like there's something different about him lately. Like he's more…confident, more sure of himself. More relaxed, in some ways. It's kind of cool. I never really understood why he decided to move away from the village and live on his own, but if this new, more mature Branch is the result, maybe he made the right choice after all.
Smidge, I don't think he's a bad influence on me. Yes, he's different than other trolls, but that's not a bad thing. Every troll is unique and special in their own way, after all. And that's okay.
Satin, Branch and I are friends. Good friends. I like him a lot, and I'm pretty sure he likes me, too.
I want to see him every day. The time I spend with him feels special, somehow. The more attention he gives me, the more attention I want. I want him to think of me all the time, the way I think of him. I want him to think I'm cool, too.
A wide smile of affection spread over the young teen's face, and her steps slowed to a saunter.
When I'm near Branch, I want to hug him all the time. I really like being close to him. I want to hold his big, strong hand in mine. Maybe run my fingers through his thick, midnight-black hair, and hold his handsome face in my hands, and look deep into his beautiful sky-blue eyes.
I want to hear all his secrets.
I want to make him smile. He looks so wonderful when he smiles.
I'd love to kiss his smile, and-
Poppy stopped short as a peppermint shiver of shock and exhilaration shot like cool fire down her spine. Her magenta hair briefly flared into a giant question mark-exclamation point. Whaaaat? Kiss him? Kiss Branch? Mister 'Safety Nerd'? Why would I think about doing something like that?
Suddenly she remembered a random comment she'd made about kisses during a picnic with Branch a while back, and how he'd overreacted and embarrassed her. Maybe because of that, she'd blocked out the memory, but now that the idea was in her head again, she couldn't help but follow it. She pictured herself leaning in toward a warmly smiling Branch, her lips puckered. When he closed his eyes and began to lean toward her, too, puckering his own lips, the flare of excitement in her belly jolted her out of her fantasy.
"Wh – what am I thinking? It sounds like- Oh my gosh, it sounds like…"
She shook her head and slapped her own cheeks. "Come on, Poppy, that's crazy."
"But it all fits!" she protested to herself.
"What fits?" asked a nearby trolling, a pale pink girl with pretty sky-blue hair, a light raspberry-pink nose, and dreamy violet eyes, whose name meant 'music of the stars'.
"Oh, n-nothing, Celesta. Oh, look, there's Acorn. Why don't you go play with him?"
"Okay, Princess Poppy."
Poppy hurried away. As usual, the village was full of fun, interesting-looking activities, but for once, nothing called to her. All she wanted was a little peace and quiet so she could think. She picked up the pace, not really watching where her feet went but somehow not surprised to soon find herself outside the village, on the now-familiar path to Branch's bunker. Listening to the gentle sounds of nature calmed her, and her racing thoughts – and feet - slowed.
It's crazy, but…it feels like something's pulling me toward him. And it's not because he's in distress, or because he needs my help with anything; I want to be with him just because. Because it feels good to be around him. I feel good when I'm around my other friends, too, but this…feels…different. He's different, from anyone I've ever met. I can't stop thinking about him.
All that sounds a lot like what we were taught in class about crushes. The way I keep wanting to see him all the time, how only hugging him at Hug Time isn't enough, how I think his black hair is beautiful, and I want to touch it and stroke it… The way my heart flutters and my palms get sweaty and I get all flustered when his gorgeous blue eyes look deeply into mine. They're the same eyes he's always had; why are they suddenly gorgeous now, unless it's because I see him differently? Because I'm in love?
Her eyes widened. That's it. I'm in love. Something off-balance seemed to settle inside her, and she beamed so brightly the air around her seemed to sparkle. I have a crush on Branch. I have a crush! Poppy stopped walking, placing both hands over her soaring heart. So this is what it feels like!
"I'm in loooove!"
Her joyous cry echoed to the treetops, and a roosting tumbler bug fell off its perch and flew crookedly away. The young troll twirled joyously around on her toes, her arms outspread to the beautiful blue sky.
Then her head began to tingle, and a stream of tiny iridescent sparkles made a magical trail through the air around her as she danced. Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. With her hands on her cheeks, she gazed in blissful awe at the precious sight above her. "Oooo…"
It was then that Poppy Rainbow knew for sure that something extraordinary was happening. Despite all the fun things trolls did, hairblooms didn't happen every day. She herself had only experienced them a handful of times. They were rare and beautiful, and everyone knew that when they happened to trolls in love, it meant they were destined for each other. Especially if they had matching hairbloom displays.
Do we? she thought eagerly, starting to walk to the bunker. She honestly couldn't remember if she'd ever seen Branch's hairbloom before, but a mystery like that only made her more hyped up. Won't it be awesome if we match? She hugged herself in delirious glee. Oh my gosh, I've gotta tell him. How should I confess my feelings? Ooo! I should ask him out on a date! Her steps slowed as a dreamy smile spread over her face. Our first date…
Delightful memories of other trolls sharing romantic rendezvous around the village flowed through her mind in sugary waves. She imagined herself and Branch sharing candlelit dinners; feeding each other succulent delicacies, a romantic violin in the background. Or slow dancing together, with sweet, sentimental tunes guiding their feet. Hugging and kissing to warm, gentle melodies. The pink troll lost herself in a world of soft words and loving sighs, of hairblooms, hand holding and hair entwined.
How her heart fluttered! There's just something so magical about being in love… It made her want to reach out and share this beautiful feeling with everyone in the world. Especially Branch. He needs someone to love and encourage him, to bring out the best in him. The other trolls don't understand him, but I do. He needs someone to share how special he is with the world.
And I want him to know how special he is to me.
Just then Poppy passed a flowering bush she recognized but had never paid much attention to. Now she stopped and went back to it, staring in fascination at its distinctive tri-colored blossoms. It had five lovely heart-shaped petals that were aqua-blue in the flower's center, shading through lavender to pink at the rounded, notched edges. In a few weeks, a very special tri-colored berry would form in the center of each blossom, signaling an even more special time in every troll's life.
Merrymaking month. Along with Dally-dance month, they were the two months out of the year when frolicking with a partner could lead to creating trollings.
One of the first rhymes she had ever been taught came back to her:
The time has come for making merry
When we eat the heartflower berry
To frolic without any worries
Make sure you eat your heartflower berries
It wasn't the best poem she'd ever heard – a little too repetitive - but it got its point across. Like all trollings, Poppy had been taught that the sweet berries from the plentiful heartflower bushes prevented trollings from being made accidentally during the twice-a-year Frolic Festival seasons, although that information had never been of much interest to her until now. Trollings didn't frolic or have baby trolls, after all. But it was expected that trolls in her age range would want to do it at some point, when their bodies were grown-up enough, and they had found someone they wanted to frolic with.
And I finally have, she thought wonderingly. I really think I'd like to try it, if it's with Branch. I could invite him to go with me to the Frolic Festival next month. Then she blushed hotly. Frolicking is supposed to feel really good. Even Branch wouldn't say no to that invitation, would he?
She reached out a gentle hand and traced the delicate edge of a softly glowing flower petal. It'll be my first time. Shivery nerves made her tummy jump and she bit her lip, grinning bashfully at the ground. Gosh, I'm more nervous than I expected to be. I don't know if…
Then she closed her eyes, imagining a strong gray hand extending gently toward her, offering her his considerable support and expertise, and she felt a surge of relief. Oh, that's right; Branch is older than me. I'm sure he knows the score. I bet he'll love teaching me all about the ins and outs of- Her eyes popped at her unintentional double entendre. With a dizzy giggle-squeal, she clapped her hands to her flaming cheeks. "Eeeee! My first time!"
Poppy started hopping up and down as sheer elation lent springs to her feet. Assuming I can get him to focus on something other than work for a change, we might not even have to wait for the Festival! We could frolic tonight!
"Oh, this is so exciting!" she screeched, her voice so high-pitched it could have shattered glass. She flung out her hair and began swooping her body through the branches of the nearby trees, so full of hyperactive energy she had to do something to work it off or she'd burst!
And burst she did, into song.
***O***
Tonight's the night we're gonna make it happen
Tonight we'll put all other things aside
Give in this time and show me some affection
We're goin' for those pleasures in the night (Sweet troll)
I want to love you, feel you
Wrap myself around you
I want to squeeze you, please you
I just can't get enough
And if you move real slow, I'll let it go
I'm so excited, I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you
We shouldn't even think about tomorrow
Sweet memories will last a long, long time
We'll have a good time, Branchie, don't you worry
And if we're still playin' around, boy, that's just fine
Let's get excited! (Whoo!)
We just can't hide it (No no no)
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it (No no no)
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you
I want you!
Oh, yes I do!
***O***
The lovesick pink princess exuberantly bounced off a tree limb, did a rolling spin in midair and caught herself with her hair, slinging herself toward her handsome survivalist. Her joyful heart soared higher than the treetops. What if it's more than a crush? My hair actually bloomed over him! Gosh, what if I've met my true love? What if we're destined to get married someday? Oh, man, I've gotta find Branch. I've got to declare my love for him right now! I can't wait!
I wonder what he'll say? She pictured him giving her a huge smile and throwing his arms around her, bending her backward and leaning down to give her a big, romantic smooch right on the lips. "'Poppy, my darling. How I've longed for this day,'" he would declare in a soft, sexy voice. "'You are my one true love. You're the sweetest, cutest, coolest girl in the village, and I want to marry you. Right now. No, on the top of the highest tree in the forest. No, let's go skydiving, and get married on the way down!'"
She imagined them plummeting in the air, but the Branch in her mind took one look at the ground coming up at them and started screaming. She laughed to herself. Yeah, right. Even in her imagination he was way too safety-conscious to do something like that. Plus, Branch is the least romantic troll in the entire village. He hates it when other trolls get all 'lovey-dovey'. I'm probably gonna terrify him when I tell him I love him.
Oh.
Right.
Suddenly all her energy left her, and she swung to a stop, slowly lowering herself down to the ground. Maybe telling Branch isn't such a good idea just yet.
But MerryMonth is coming up soon! I have to do something. She bit down gently on her knuckles as she thought, and then sighed. Maybe I should go talk to my dad first. I don't want to freak Branch out, or he'll probably lock himself in his bunker for ever and ever!
And then I'd never get to see that sweet little smile of his again.
-O-
"Wow. So you were actually going to ask me to the Frolic Festival?" Branch said in awe.
"Yeah." She reached out to where his hand rested on the bed between them and swirled her fingers gently against his palm, then met his eyes. "Do you think you'd have gone with me, if I had?"
"…I don't know," he said quietly. "Maybe. You can be pretty persuasive." He clasped her hand in his, smiling proudly.
Both of them lay still for a minute, wondering how the course of their lives would have changed if her younger self had followed through on her first impulse.
"But more than likely, I'd have freaked out," Branch eventually admitted with a shrug of the shoulder he wasn't lying on. "At least at first. You know now that I didn't have the experience you assumed I did. Today I told Cherry Blossom about that time, back when I first suspected you might have a crush on me. You were right; I was scared. Scared enough to start avoiding you. Cheery suggested that you could tell I wasn't ready for a romantic relationship, so you backed off. But I wonder now what would have happened if you'd courted me instead, and I'd had time to get used to the idea?"
"I hope you'd have been able to let go of your fear and let yourself fall hair over heels for me," Poppy said sincerely.
"Maybe." He grinned. "Or maybe I'd have thought you were crazy."
-O-
That night, at home with her father, Poppy approached the stout orange troll. "Hey, Dad, can I ask you for some advice? I think I have a crush on someone."
The king pulled a party tube from his hair and blew into it, filling the air with confetti and raucous noise. "Congratulations! My little girl has her first crush! What a wonderful occasion!"
"Thanks, Dad." She bounced in place, and then threw her arms around her father, blurting out, "Yeah, I think I've found The One! I really do! I'm so happy!"
He father didn't answer, and his hug felt oddly stiff. When she stepped back, he seemed confused, maybe even stunned.
Poppy felt her inner unease return. "Dad? What's wrong?"
He hesitated, then shook his riotous magenta mane and said in his normal glad bellow, "Well, then, if you're getting married, this definitely calls for a party! The biggest, loudest, craziest party ever! The entire village will be one giant party for days! Weeks! Maybe months! Who's the lucky troll?"
Branch hates parties.
Just like that, her fantasy bubble popped. It was as if a great big lake of cold water had been dumped on her head, and then a giant fan had blasted her in the face, drying her off while at the same time metaphorically blowing the love-induced fog from her brain.
Her friends' issues about Branch's lack of fun came back to her, and her confidence faltered.Awkwardly she rubbed the back of her head. "Ummm, actually, Dad, that's what I wanted to ask you about. You see… The troll I'm interested in is…" she trailed off, her mind whirling.
"Is…" her father said encouragingly.
"Not… Well, it's like…" Her friends' worried faces seemed to swim in front of her eyes. How to explain that the princess of Troll Village wanted to date the unsociable bunker-dwelling recluse? Seen through her friends' eyes, it made no sense. It's crazy, but I feel such a strong tie to him. I don't get it, either.
Her father's happy smile was gradually replaced by a look of worry. "Poppy?"
She tried again, and again, attempting for the first time to reconcile the troll she loved with the world she lived in, but no matter how she tried, they just wouldn't mesh.
In the end, Poppy decided to just express precisely what she was feeling. "I'm confused. I don't know what to do," she said in a small voice.
"Oh, Poppy…" Her father hugged her and she relaxed against him, letting herself be comforted by his familiar bulky warmth and daddy-scent. "Feeling nervous?" he said understandingly. "Well, don't worry. Feeling attracted to other trolls is perfectly normal, and okay. It's a natural part of choosing your lifelong partner."
"Thanks for the advice, but I actually knew that already," she told him as she released him.
"Oh." He looked disappointed, and she smiled. Her dad was so lovable.
"But it was still reassuring to hear it," she added honestly. She hesitated, but she had to know. "Listen, Dad, can you ever feel this way toward someone who is…well…something of a challenge?"
Her dad nodded, stroking his thick mustache. "A challenge, eh? What kind of challenge? You mean, someone who's not your typical troll? Someone who might even be, er, inappropriate? I mean, incompatible?"
Poppy stared at her father, stunned speechless. Inappropriate? Her mind reeled. I tell him I have a crush and he immediately assumes it's on the wrong person, even though he doesn't know who it is? When did my dad get so negative?
My friends at least had some idea of the situation. But they couldn't even see the point of being friends with Branch. All they could see were the parts of him they didn't like. Will Dad feel the same way? What if he thinks that Branch is 'inappropriate' for me as a boyfriend? Or that he and I are 'incompatible'?
Another thought surfaced, and she immediately tried to suppress it. What if he's right?
The turmoil in her heart must have shown on her face, as her father's expression softened with compassion. "I see." He was quiet for a minute, then said consolingly, "Poppy, my darling, it's all right. Love happens where it happens. There's no shame in that. And it's okay to admire this troll, to love them, even, since everyone in this village is special and deserves to be loved."
That should have comforted her, but something about his phrasing irked her. What about someone not in the village? She just about stopped herself from saying that, realizing that that was as good as announcing to her father that his daughter the princess had a crush on the gray outsider. She answered her own question. Branch needs love most of all.
"Dad." She looked her father in the eye. "I never said this troll was inappropriate, or incompatible."
"But-" Her father paused. "May I ask who it is?"
She lifted her chin in defiance, and her dad held up his hands. "All right, you don't have to tell me. Far be it from me to stand in the way of another troll's search for romance." He gave her a moment to calm down, then said gently but firmly, "That's what I'd like to say. But unfortunately, as king I also have a duty to remind you that as the princess, your actions carry far more weight than those of the average troll."
She blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"If you're not serious about this troll, who, let's be honest, would be totally flattered that he's caught the eye of the future queen- May I assume it is a 'he', dear?"
She hesitated, then nodded, allowing that much.
"If you're not fully committed to him, he might feel certain emotions that are, shall we say, the opposite of happy."
Puzzled now, she asked, "Why would I not be committed to him?"
"Well, my dear, there are two kinds of romances: carefree, casual, fun flings, and steady, dedicated, long-term relationships based on feelings of love and trust."
"Right." She nodded and quoted what they'd learned in Romance 101. "'Flings are for fun. They're a great way to get to know someone better. Sometimes they lead to long-term relationships'." She tipped her head to the side as something she'd never thought about occurred to her. "How do you know whether it's a fling or not?"
"Well, you... You just know, after…um." He looked uncomfortable. That didn't happen unless she'd caught him in a mistake.
She narrowed her eyes. "After what?"
He sighed. "Well, the truth is, dear, I had a few partners before I married your mother. They didn't last. Each time, I thought they would. I thought…but I was wrong. It turned out that each of them was…an inappropriate choice. I had to break up each of them, for everyone's sake. Including theirs. But in doing so, I broke their hearts."
"Oh, Daddy. I'm sorry." She put a hand over her heart, hurting with him as he sighed again. Then she saw that his soft amber-brown eyes shone with unshed tears.
Poppy was shaken. She'd rarely seen her bold father looking so shamefaced, so vulnerable. If even someone as great as her dad could make such terrible mistakes, and hurt himself and the trolls he'd loved, that made it all the more important for her to do the right thing with Branch.
For the first time, her heart wavered. We are really different from each other, but does that mean we're…incompatible? She bit her lip and her belly started to twist with indecision, but the memory of Branch's clever blue eyes and kind smile made her straighten up determinedly. That can't be. True love is always compatible.
Her dad continued, "You see, it took me quite a while to realize the sort of troll I needed, to make both myself and the village happy."
"The village?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes. As you know, when you are queen you will be in charge of taking care of the entire village. That means you must be a highly responsible person. Anyone you marry will have to be okay with that. He'll have to accept that sometimes he'll have to put his own needs and desire for your company aside when others need you."
He paused to let her absorb that, then continued, "Furthermore, he will also be expected to contribute toward the wellbeing of the village in some way. So you see, my darling, being the life partner of the future queen will require a considerable amount of time and dedication. It's just not a role many trolls are comfortable with – or capable of - taking on full-time. I learned that the hard way. So you must choose wisely," he said gravely.
Her forehead scrunched. "I…hadn't thought of it like that."
"Poppy, dear, are you sure this troll even wants to be king?"
She was astonished. "Of course! Who wouldn't want to be king?"
Her father looked surprised, too. "He said that?"
"Well…no. I haven't told him I love him yet. But I'm sure he'll want to- I'm sure he'll…" Poppy faltered. He'll what? Want to dedicate his life to helping others? Try as she might, she couldn't picture the grumpy hermit even being comfortable around the other trolls, let alone enjoying serving the needs of his people, as she did. All Branch wanted was to be left in peace to do his own thing. There was nothing wrong with that, but…
But a king can't ignore his people. A foreboding shadow passed over her heart, chilling her. Oh, Branch… Am I going to lose you before I've even had the chance to love you?
She tried to shake off such pessimistic thoughts. Her father had often tested her in the past, giving her difficult problems to teach her how to figure out solutions, but she had always known she could ask him for advice. This is just another test, right? Another problem I can't see an answer to. Give me a hint, Daddy. Heart pounding, she gave her father a pleading look. Please!
But he didn't.
What he did give her was a sorrowful look as he explained seriously, "It is vital that we choose our life partners with the utmost care, Poppy. It's one of the few drawbacks to being a member of the royal family, I'm afraid. Unlike our fellow trolls, we lack the freedom to indulge in all but the lightest of flings, lest we break the hearts of those trolls we care about. Trolls who love us dearly but who ultimately prove, uh, unqualified for the position - even though they are all worthy individuals who deserve to be happy in love."
He looked down and put a hand over his heart. "I made that mistake, several times, and I still regret the pain I caused to this day. That's why I don't want the same thing to happen to you." His low voice was a shadow of its usual confident boom.
Something broke inside her. It might have been her heart. "Oh. I see." Her voice was husky, betraying her own helpless anguish, and her dad put an understanding hand on her slumping shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Do you want to talk about it?"
Numbly, she shook her head. There was no reason to bring Branch into this.
After a long moment, her father sighed and gave her a kindly look. "You really love this troll a lot, don't you?"
"Uh huh," she said in a little voice. "I thought he was The One. See, when I realized I was in love with him, my hair bloomed."
His mouth dropped open. "It did?"
"Yes. As trollings, we're taught that hairblooms are a sign that something special is happening, Dad. Isn't that right?"
Surprise turned to wonder, and then a look of loving tenderness passed over her father's broad face. "Yes, my dear. Your mother and I had matching hairblooms."
"Aww." Poppy was touched. "I didn't know that." She was always glad to hear more about the mother who had left when Poppy was not even a month old to confront the bergens and demand the return of the missing trolls. She had never come back, but her brave sacrifice had been just what her people needed to spur them take action and escape. So in a way, they all owed their happiness to Daisy. Thinking of the pink troll whose colors she shared always inspired Poppy to do her best to take care of her people. Just like her mom.
Looking thoughtful, as if he was lost in memories of happy times, her father smiled. "Well, in that case, my dear, maybe it's a sign that you shouldn't give up on this troll completely. Don't forget, there's still plenty of time before you need to worry about finding a spouse. Maybe someday the troll you love will grow into a fine leader who could do a lot of good as king. Who knows?" He playfully ruffled her hair, and she ducked away from him, smiling a little as she adjusted her crooked headband.
"Maybe."
"In the meantime, there's nothing stopping you from enjoying everything the next Frolic Festival has to offer with this troll, provided you keep it light and fun. Every troll has physical needs, after all, and a good frolic once in a while helps keep both you and your partners happy and healthy." His bushy magenta mustache widened in a cheeky grin. "Believe me, you feel so much better after a good romp."
She wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, I know, but please don't tell me about yours, okay? I reeeally don't need to imagine that. No offense, Dad."
Her father teased, "Why, I'll have you know that I'm a very popular fellow during frolic seasons. Always have been."
"Daaad, please!"
He chuckled heartily, then quieted, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Don't give up hope."
"Thanks, Dad," she said with a small, sad smile. She gave him a quick hug and wandered off.
Enjoy the Frolic Festivals, huh? If I can't have Branch, I don't know if I want to. I don't know if I even should.
Even though the teen princess was a natural risk-taker, the one thing she had never wanted to risk was causing harm to any of her people. She was there to help and guide them, not hurt them by breaking hearts. Especially Branch's, after everything he'd already been through.
Should I confess my feelings to him? Or just invite him to frolic with me? What should I do?
Confused and discouraged, she roamed around for a while, avoiding everyone. Eventually, yielding to her desire to be in his familiar, comforting presence, she ended up on the path to Branch's bunker. But could the gray troll possibly say anything that might make her feel better?
-O-
"You know, I wouldn't be surprised if your dad knew who you had a crush on the whole time," Branch commented.
"Oh, he did. He told me while I was at Doctor Plum's pod."
"Ha. I knew it, too," Branch said smugly. "I guess some trolls really can't keep a secret." Then his arrogance faded as he added seriously, "And I couldn't handle the idea, to be honest. I had a hard enough time accepting affection at Hug Time; the idea of being the sole focus on someone's attention – especially someone who had the hots for me – triggered every instinct I had to run away and hide. But you wouldn't let me avoid you forever." He reached out to lovingly stroke her silky magenta hair. "You have no idea how thankful I am for that."
As he withdrew his hand, Poppy caught it and brought it to her mouth, kissing his palm. "Then I'm glad I kept trying."
"Oh, it was flattering, don't get me wrong. But you caught me completely off-guard, and I had no idea what to do with an amorous princess who was being even more pushy and huggy than usual." He gave her a sly glance. "So I came up with an ingenious plan to turn you off instead. And it worked, didn't it?"
"What do you mean-" Her mouth dropped open. "Oh, you didn't!"
He laughed. "I did. It was pretty easy, as I recall. And all it involved was copious amounts of slime."
"Ewww." Poppy wrinkled her cute pink nose. "I remember that."
-O-
"Hey, Poppy," a familiar voice called.
Surprised, the teen princess looked up to see Branch coming toward her, carrying a bucket containing several bottles, a towel, and a washcloth. He was absolutely covered from hair to toes in some kind of sticky green goo that smelled stupendously appalling. Quickly she pinched her nose shut. "Ugh! Whad 'appened to you?"
"I had to chase off an entire pack of slime-sliders that tried to make a nest in one of my ventilation ducts. It was leaking slime right down into my bunker. I'm gonna have to build some kind of trap to keep 'em from coming back…"
Trying not to gag, she stayed upwind of him all the way down to the river. He got undressed and scrubbed his clothes, and then himself, grousing the entire time. With her mind on her recent conversation with her dad, she kept quiet even as her eyes eagerly took in the sight of his strong, limber nude body. Her gaze was frankly admiring as her fussy friend, ever thorough, pushed and twisted, stretched and strained, making absolutely sure to scour every inch of himself. He was definitely one good-looking troll!
When he was done washing, she kept him company as he walked back home, carrying his clothes in the bucket and letting the warm sun dry his damp hair and skin. Part of her felt sorry for his mishap, but mostly she was just glad to be with him. She listened to him talk, paying more attention to the open, friendly way he spoke to her than to his actual words. Branch rarely talked to other trolls like this. She wondered if it was because he somehow sensed her love and appreciation for him.
Under the trees, she watched leafy shadow-patterns play across his bare gray skin, reminding her of pretty water ripples smoothly running over the gray stones at the bottom of a stream. Speaking of bottoms, his reminded her of those stones, round and smooth and very appealing, somehow. She felt a sudden impulse to be like the water and run her hand over his bottom. She was about to put her hand out when he said suddenly, "Is something wrong, Poppy?"
Poppy snapped into awareness. What am I doing?
She flushed. "No, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."
"You sure? You've been awfully quiet today."
Surprised that he had noticed, she focused on the concerned blue eyes gazing into her own. "Yeah, I'm good." What would you do if I told you I was in love with you?
He waited a beat more, then said, "Okay. Well, anyway, thanks for listening to me complain, Poppy. You're the only one I feel I can talk to. You're like the little sister I never had."
"Sister?" She blinked, surprised at the unsolicited acknowledgment of a special connection between them. Somehow, it made her feel better.
If Branch ever suspected how she felt about him, she knew he would do his best to avoid her, forever. He would never look at her the way he was now, so warm and caring, so unlike the indifferent, unfriendly, sometimes even confrontational way he regarded most of the other trolls. Poppy knew that Branch needed at least one friend, one person with whom he could let his guard down and share his burdens. He had no one else but her.
The young princess sighed heavily, regretfully letting go of the idea of romance between her and the village rebel. Branch was her friend, too, but no one could come to him with their problems. He wasn't what the village needed. He wasn't who she needed.
Even if it was fun to think about sneaking a kiss from him while he slept, maybe after a big meal at a picnic, or when they lay together on a big hanging leaf, looking up at the clouds…
-O-
Eight years went by. I moved on and had other crushes, including one on Creek. Branch became less and less sociable as the years passed. Most of the time he was rational and emotionally stable, if somewhat grumpy. But there were other times, especially around the Trollstice anniversary, when he got highly agitated over safety issues and village defense. He was impatient, short-tempered, apprehensive, and untrusting - even paranoid at times. He caused more than a few panics and commotion with his fearmongering.
I had to admit that making Branch my life partner probably wouldn't have worked out very well, even though I still cared about him on a personal level. It was a good thing my dad had made my duty clear before I made the wrong choice and caused anyone any pain. My own disappointment was bad enough; the last thing I wanted was to break another troll's heart, too.
Every now and then I'd remember how my first crush had felt, and how my joy had made my hair bloom. Sometimes when Branch was especially kind to me, I'd feel bad because I couldn't be with him, but I tried to put it out of my mind. I never did get the chance to show off my totally awesome, black-streaked hair.
Even without the lingering fondness from my crush, Branch's many unique talents and knowledge motivated me to stay on good terms with him, despite my frequent exasperation with his quirks. I needed his skills, and so did the village. Whether the other trolls realized it or not, the troll who lived outside the village was a valuable asset for all of us. And whether Branch realized it or not, he needed us, too.
I contented myself with being like a sister to my favorite grump; doing my best to let go of the inconvenient, unwelcome amorous feelings and just embrace the rare gift of his friendship. We had some good times, once in a while, especially once he finally got his colors back.
I kept my dad's advice in mind during all my other crushes, looking for a troll with character, the troll who would be the perfect choice to stand at my side and help lead the village. But although many trolls were brave or smart or highly skilled in some way, none of the unmarried trolls near my age had the type of life-long dedication my dad had described. Well, except for Biggie, but he was devoted pretty exclusively to Mister Dinkles. Maybe if our adventure with the bergens hadn't happened I might have chosen Creek eventually, although I hope I would have seen the faults in his character when his mettle was tested.
Sometimes I got a little discouraged, but I told myself that my parents hadn't married each other until they were well into adulthood, so maybe character was just something that took time to develop. Dad had even said that there was plenty of time before I had to worry about finding a spouse. So I made a point of spending time with every troll in the village, but only a few truly attracted me.
I think maybe I knew all along that Branch already had most of the qualities I needed. Maybe that was why I kept pushing so hard for him to learn to be happy.
-O-
Branch had been quiet too, processing his own thoughts, but now his concerned voice broke through her reverie. "Poppy, am I the reason you've never frolicked? I was wondering about that earlier. Was it because your dad warned you off me?" he asked in concern. "Because you were afraid that you'd have to break the heart of any troll who fell for you?"
"Something like that, yeah."
His gaze fell. "Oh. I'm really sorry, Poppy."
"Oh, no, it's not your fault, Branch. You didn't make me queen." She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Besides, no matter who my first crush might have been, my dad raised some good points. Stuff I hadn't even thought about. Holding off from frolicking just seemed like the best choice, for me and everyone else."
He sighed. "I'm sorry you felt like that, but I understand your choice, and I respect it. And you know, I truly admire your compassion, Sunshine. It's one of the things I love most about you." He smiled, then made a small noise of amusement through his nose.
"What?"
"So you were carrying a torch for me this whole time, the way I was for you. I used to wonder about that. No matter how bad I felt about myself, I could look at your invitations and feel better. It made me happy to know that you cared."
"You weren't wrong," she said softly, drawing his hand to her face so she could kiss it. "I did care."
"Poppy," he said lovingly, leaning toward her for a long, slow, sweet kiss. "I cared about you, too."
"Mmm…" She let her lips linger tenderly on his until he lay back on the pillow they shared. "So, tell me more about this torch you carried for me, Branch. When did it happen?" she asked brightly.
Strangely, his eyes dimmed from light sky-blue to overcast gray. "Oh, years ago."
She waited for him to say more, but he was silent. "Something wrong, Branch?"
He sighed. "No…it's just, it's hard to talk about. I don't like to think about that time in my life. I was going through a lot back then. You really don't want to know."
"Oh." That's all the more reason for me to understand, sweetie. Tactfully, she asked aloud, "Um, if you don't want to talk about it, did you write about it in your journal? If it's all right with you, maybe I could…"
The light came back into his eyes. "No, that's all right. You told me; it's only fair I tell you."
"Only if you want to, Branch. Believe it or not, I do understand privacy. I have my secret scrapbooks, don't I?"
"Oh, right. Yeah, I still want to see those…" That seemed to break through his somberness, as he smiled slyly back at her. "Although it may not be necessary. I've always known there's more to you than the average troll gets to see."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You see, I started having feelings for you not long after you graduated from school, and-"
"…That long ago?" she blurted out. "Wait a minute. I remember that. It was around that time when you started acting even weirder than usual."
Branch grinned. "Well, you started it. You had a crush on me first. You have no idea how good it felt to have someone treat me as if I were really special to them. To have them seek me out, to want to be in my company even when they didn't have to be. I may not have been interested in you at first, but then you grew up, and made me notice you…"
Author's Note:
The song Poppy sings when she imagines romancing a slightly-reluctant Branch is a shorter version of "I'm so Excited" by The Pointer Sisters, with some edits to make it less repetitive and to include cute references to our favorite boy.
Yes, I made the heartflowers/berries in Broppy colors 😉 They're a natural contraceptive plant that I'll explain more fully when I give some background info on the Frolic Festivals in a later chapter. There won't be an actual Frolic Festival during this story, as I'm only covering the first four days of Branch and Poppy's dating life. I might use the idea in Taming Branch or another of my Broppy fics, though.
Note that teenage Poppy decided on her own that she and Branch were a true-love couple without it even crossing her mind that he might feel differently, lol. She did understand that he probably wouldn't have just fallen into her arms (or her bed), but she had optimistically figured she could win him over. And well she might have, if not for the discouraging talks she had with her friends and her dad.
King Peppy was aware of Poppy's crush long before she was, but he diplomatically decided not to say anything about it, since he knew that openly opposing the idea of them dating would most likely push her into it, and she'd make Branch go along with it whether he loved her back or not. But Peppy knew his daughter was both headstrong and compassionate. So instead he tactfully chose to point out all the trolls who would be affected by her choice, and offered her the benefit of wisdom from his own painful experiences, and then let her make her own decision.
Maybe King Peppy didn't give Branch enough credit. Maybe our favorite grump might have gotten his colors back a lot sooner than he did, if he'd had teen Poppy's loving support (and physical affection) but that's how it had to play out, since this story is set six months after the first movie.
I got curious and looked up the phrase "[he] knows the score". I had assumed 'score' referred to points, as in sports, or maybe when a person 'scores' a date with someone, or has a successful romantic encounter, especially one involving sex. But actually, the phrase originated because of music. 'Knowing the score' refers to the music score of sheet music. That pleased me - I liked the idea that our musical trolls would compare being an expert in frolicking to understanding a piece of sheet music well. 😊
Celesta is the girl that Poppy learned Acorn has a crush on. She was named after a lovely instrument that sounds like a cross between a piano and a glockenspiel. It has a magical, delicate, bell-like sound. One of the clips I found on YouTube is actually of someone playing one of the themes from a magic-based series, Harry Potter. watch?v=tgGGNUCSWM0
If you can't see the link, look up 'Harry Potter theme on a Celesta'. AKA a bell-piano.
*** [Mild spoilers ahead] ***
So I recently watched this seven-minute short that Disney made (it was shown in theaters before Raya and the Last Dragon) and from the first moment, it felt like I was watching Branch and Poppy as elderly people. (We are not told their names, so I'm just going to refer to them as Old-Branch and Old-Poppy)
They still loved one another dearly. Old-Branch was still grumpy and introverted, and Old-Poppy was still bright and happy and did her best to encourage him to look on the bright side, and come out and play with her. They even dressed the way I would imagine Branch and Poppy would dress in their golden years.
This short was deeply heartwarming. It actually brought me close to tears quite a few times. I could see our beloved trolls so clearly in these two people. It helped that the man had kind of a big nose, and that the story ended up being mostly about dancing.
When Old-Branch saw Old-Poppy walk away from him, choosing to be happy instead of miring herself in negativity, he had the exact same expression on his face that Branch has in World Tour when Poppy refers to him as her "associate". Shock, dismay, betrayal. Her reaction makes him start to question his stubborn choice.
Later on, when the two of them are hugging oh-so-tenderly while sitting on a bench, I got tears in my eyes. It was beautiful and touching. It was love, it was support, it was our two wonderful trolls, still best friends after all these years. If you can, I highly recommend you watch it. I saw it on Disney Plus, but you might be able to watch it elsewhere.
