I'm so glad you guys are liking this story so far. Snuffed was personal to me, but Ruination is too. Like, both Poppy and Branch's issues are my issues. Is that weird to say?

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Poppy absolutely loved spending time with Viva!

That being said, she was extremely tired. It wasn't a feeling she was used to, but then again, she'd never met anyone with more energy than her. It was practically unheard of in Pop Village, she was often regarded as the most hyper troll in existence. It was funny, to think her own sister had her beat! Must run in the family!

Viva must have noticed her weary expression. "Oh my gosh, I've been talking too much, haven't I? Sorry!"

Poppy waved her concern away. "No, not at all!" she assured her, stifling a yawn as she stood up. "In fact, I still have a ton of energy! We should go bother the boys in the Bunker!"

Her sister giggled. "If Mr. Clay's there, he's probably driving Branch crazy," she said. "He won't stop auditing the Bunker, says that Branch's food storage isn't up to code and all that."

A picture of Clay inspecting the Bunker and Branch glaring at him from afar popped into her head, making her laugh. "Let's go save him, then," she suggested with a wink.

The two sisters walked to the outskirts of the village in surprising silence. Between the two of them, things were rarely quiet, but Poppy didn't mind. It gave her some time to think. Why was the village acting so weird? She knew her bruises were a little ugly to look at, but it wasn't like no one had ever been hurt before! Maybe she looked worse than she thought.

"Hey Viv, do you think I look ugly?" she asked before she could stop herself. She hadn't meant to phrase it quite like that. Of course she wasn't ugly! Everyone always told her how pretty she was.

Of course, that was before Creek had hurt her.

Viva stopped in the middle of walking, looking right at her with thinly veiled anger. "Of course not," she answered. Her voice was harsher than Poppy had ever heard it. "Why would you think that? Did someone tell you that?"

Poppy held her hands out placatingly. "No," she said quickly. Had Viva noticed the village's weird behavior too? "I was just wondering." She giggled awkwardly, hoping to alleviate the sudden tension. "Like, if I'm having a bad hair day or something, I'd want you to tell me."

Viva looked at her for a long time. So long, in fact, that Poppy started fidgeting under her gaze. But the concentrated look was soon replaced with a smile. "True!" she agreed. "But for the record? You never have bad hair days! That ponytail is always poppin'!"

She smiled, blushing a little at the compliment. She loved her ponytail; not only was it super cute, but it was also how she was crowned. Her crown rested much neater on her head when it was in a ponytail, so there weren't many days that she wore it out anymore. "Thanks!"

They had reached the bunker already. Poppy grinned a little, scooching down onto the ground near the entrance and tapping on the trapdoor. "Branchifer~" she sang.

A playful scoff was her reply. "Who's there?" he grumbled, imitating the unfriendly manner he used to answer her in. It had been a game back then, to her at least. She would stand outside his bunker and bother him until he responded. Usually, it was to tell her to go away. But on super rare occasions, she could entice a conversation out of him.

Poppy giggled. "Your adorable girlfriend who's missed you all day."

The door opened and Branch popped his head up. "Ladies," he greeted, offering for them to join him on the elevator. Poppy and Viva giggled, stepping onto the lift alongside him. Branch greeted Poppy with a kiss on the cheek, which made her smile even wider than she already was.

"I'm glad you're here," he told them as they were lowered down into the Bunker. "Viva, please, you have to stop him."

Viva snorted. "Stop who?" she asked, playing dumb. They all knew exactly who.

But it was in vain because Clay was immediately waiting there for them. "Branch, when was the last time this was inspected?" he asked, writing down something on his clipboard.

Poppy began to laugh so hard that her sides began to hurt... And that made the bruises on her sides sting a little. She quickly stopped, frowning. She knew she had gotten hurt there- Creek had kicked her at one point, or something- but she hadn't thought it was that sensitive.

Her abrupt halt didn't escape Branch's notice. "Are you okay?" he asked quickly, looking her over. "Does it hurt? Did you point the ointment on this morning? Poppy, I told you-"

She huffed. "Branch," she intervened. "Of course I put the ointment on." Did he think so lowly of her? She wouldn't forget! Well, she forgot a lot of things. But not this! She was responsible. "I'm not a trolling."

He softened a little. "Of course you're not," he agreed. "Sorry, you just look like you're in pain."

Poppy blinked. "I do?" she asked, shuffling self-consciously. Maybe that was why everyone was looking at her like that? But Viva hadn't said anything.

Branch nodded, gently taking her elbow. "Come sit with me," he beckoned as he led her to the sitting area he had set up. "It's a good thing you brought her, maybe it'll get Clay off my back."

She giggled. "He can't be that bad."

He threw his hands up in the air. "He's trying to tell me about the risk of mold!" he told her, properly outraged. "Mold, Poppy! The first thing I did when I built this thing was make sure the ventilation was handled!"

Poppy kissed his hairline. "Remember when you used to badger me about the pods being too high?" she reminded him. If it wasn't the pods, it was the soil the food was growing in. If it wasn't the soil, it was the lack of defense against predators. Something that John Dory had also bugged her about when he parked Rhonda here.

He was more like his brothers than he liked to admit.

Branch flushed. "That was different!"

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Sure." She curled against him, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Her hip protested vehemently, but pain was temporary; cuddles were forever.

She had missed him so, so much.

He leaned his head on top of hers, arm wrapped gently around her waist. "You promise you're okay?" he asked lowly.

"Of course," Poppy promised. It wasn't a lie, so why did her chest feel tight when she said it? "Branch, you don't have to worry. I'm okay now. You won't lose me." She knew that was his worst fear; people leaving. Not only from his brothers walking out on him, but his grandmother dying soon after.

But that wasn't her, that wasn't them. They stuck with each other, they were always there for one another. She wouldn't leave his side, just like she knew he would never leave hers.

Branch hesitated, then nodded. "I know," he told her, pressing his forehead against hers. "I know."

She smiled. "As long as you know." Her skin tingled unpleasantly under her clothes, but Poppy didn't dare move. He needed her, needed her to be safe and happy.

And she would do that, she would do anything for Branch.

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This chapter gave me a lot of trouble. But I hope you liked it and please review!