Seeing Floyd spending time with Creek was like hitting against a really hard surface for Branch. How was this possible? How could Floyd, a troll that was kind and compassive, be able to friend someone... well, like Creek, a two-faced troll that hides his cowardly and selfish side behind a façade of serenity and positivity?

"Wow, it would appear Floyd and Creek are really getting along" Poppy observed with a smile. "That's good. I was totally rooting for that to happen."

"Wait, they have been hanging out?" Branch asked, surprised. "And... you knew about it?!"

"Sure, Poppy and I have been seeing them together for the past two days" Viva replied.

"I'm actually surprised you didn't know about it" Poppy commented.

"Yeah, so am I..." Branch replied, crossing his arms and making a slight pout.

"Oh no, I know that look" Poppy told. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing..." Branch started, using his defensive tone that his girlfriend knew too well. "I... I better check out on John Dory and make sure he is not eaten by Demo's jello..."

"Branch, it's a jello, it doesn't actually eat trolls" Poppy told. "It doesn't even have a digestive system. I am sure he is going to be okay."

"Besides... did you just say you wanted to spend time with Floyd?" Viva asked.

"I... changed my mind" Branch replied, who just wanted to get out of there before he was spotted by Floyd. "I need..."

But just when Branch had turned his back to move away, he heard his brother's voice calling:

"Hey, Branch!"

Without any other choice, Branch sighed, took a deep breath and then put on his best fake smile (that turned out to be very obvious it was not that much sincere) and turned around, approaching:

"Hey, Floyd... Sorry, I didn't you see you there."

"What is he talking about?" Viva whispered to Poppy. "We literally just heard him say..."

"Hush, I have a feeling we are about to watch some good drama" Poppy replied.

"Oh, I do love a good drama" Viva said.

And so Poppy took out two bags of popcorn from her hair and gave one to Viva, with them starting to eat as they watched the scene.

"Yeah, I also was a little distracted" Floyd told. "I was having this amazing conversation about some of my favorite poems with my new friend. This is Creek..."

"I know who Creek is..." Branch said, trying really hard to not show his displeasure.

Creek, who was able to quickly notice Branch's discomfort in seeing him with Floyd, couldn't help but saying, using that taunting tone of his that he usually disguised as nice:

"Oh, Branch and I go way back. One could even say that we are... old friends. Isn't that right, Branch, you old champ?"

Finishing that sentence with his derisive look, Creek was able to take full advantage of Branch's unwilling to show his displeasure in seeing him with his brother.

"Right..." Branch was forced to say. "So... how did you two... meet?"

"Well, I went to explore Trollstopia and I discovered that they had a place for performance poetry" Floyd told. "So... that's where we met. And, while you and John Dory have been repairing your bond, I have been spending time with Creek. We do have some things in common."

Hearing that, Branch couldn't help but feeling responsible for the fact that Floyd had befriended Creek... Could it be that, if he hadn't spent too much time with John Dory, Floyd wouldn't have met and become friends with the one troll that truly annoyed him in all senses of the word?

"I have to say, Branch, I got quite surprised to learn that you and Floyd were brothers" Creek told. "I mean, he is so sensitive and empathic... Not to mention that his poetry is just so enjoyable to hear... while you... well, you're you..."

That last statement made Branch release a grunt, as he could see how much Creek was reveling on that moment.

"Actually, Branch used to help me with my poetry back when we were kids" Floyd told Creek. "He was actually quite good... and he was still a baby back then."

"You don't say..." Creek replied, with interest.

"Floyd!" Branch exclaimed, blushing out of embarrassment, especially because Creek was the one hearing that. "You don't have to share everything about me!"

Floyd chuckled and said:

"Sorry, bro, I just couldn't resist."

"Please, Floyd, you don't have to stop" Creek told. "I would love to know more about baby Branch... Tell me... has Branch always been grumpy and negative when he was a baby?"

Branch couldn't help but roll his eyes, thinking that situation couldn't get even more humiliating. Floyd was able to notice his younger brother's discomfort and told Creek:

"Sorry, but those are stories for another time. Besides, we need to hurry if we want to get to the yoga session in time. We don't want to keep the others waiting."

"Oh, you are so right" Creek said. "That is actually quite thoughtful... You know, Branch, your brother is also quite the yoga lover. I even learned a few poses that he learned during his travels."

That only made Branch to make some more grunts as Creek and Floyd got up and prepared to go way.

"See you later at the bunker, bro" Floyd said to Branch.

"Yeah, he will see you later at bunker, Branch" Creek said, with a tone that really set Branch to do his best to not burst out.

After they were gone, Branch finally let out his bottled frustration:

"I can't believe this?! Out all the trolls Floyd could have befriended... out all the trolls from any tribe... it had to be Creek?! What is this? Some kind of prank?! An act of karma?! I haven't anything bad enough to deserve this! And did you see how Creek acted? He was clearly taking a great enjoyment in this! Of course, he is! I could see that creepy smile of his... I bet that he just befriended Floyd just to get to me!"

After all that venting, Branch stopped to catch his breath, while Poppy and Viva approached him, both eating popcorn. The former asked his boyfriend:

"Are you done venting?"

"Pretty much..." Branch replied, turning to them and crossing his arms. "Are you done taking enjoyment on my emotional outburst?"

"Wait a moment..." Poppy said, as both her and Viva took one last popcorn before the former took the two bags and put them back inside her hair. "Now we are done. And let me the first to tell you this, Branch... I think you are overreacting."

"Overreacting?!" Branch asked. "Poppy, you saw how Creep was smirking, right?"

"Floyd just found a troll he has a lot in common with" Poppy said. "And it so happens that troll is..."

"The most annoying and cowardly troll in all the Trollstopia?" Branch asked. "The one that takes every chance to get to me?"

"Oh, Branch, don't you think you are exaggerating a little bit?" Viva asked. "I mean, Creek does look to be a very nice Troll. I like how zen he looks."

"You wouldn't think that if you were there when he sold us..." Branch started.

But before he could finish, Poppy covered his mouth with her hands, before finishing what he was about to say with a nervous laugh:

"The most amazing scrapbook ever! Actually, that's another thing for Branch dislike Creek... because he is better than him at scrapbooking. I know, right? Totally insecure... Hey, Viva, will you give me a moment with Branch?"

"Sure..." Viva replied.

And so Poppy used her hair to create a cocoon around her and Branch so they could talk with privacy. After that, she took her hands from Branch's mouth and said:

"Okay, Branch, we need to talk about something."

"Yeah... maybe about how to wash your hands better?" Branch asked, as he brushed the back of his hand on his mouth. "I can still smell the glue you use on your scrapbooking. And what was all that about? A scrapbook?"

"That's what I want to talk with you about" Poppy said. "So... you know how Viva has this... thing about the Bergens, right?"

"You mean how she and the other trolls were almost caught by the Bergens during the escape from the Troll Tree and separated from the rest of the tribe, including her father and sister, and live in fear and toxic positivity for two decades? Yeah, I think I know about the thing she has with Bergens. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well..." Poppy said, with a tone that Branch quickly recognize as being the one that Poppy did something she shouldn't have done, but she did think it was the right thing to do.

"Poppy, what did you do?" Branch asked.

"What?!" Poppy asked, nervously. "What makes you think I did something?"

But Branch's stern look caused her to admit:

"Okay... it's not what I did, but what I didn't. Or better... what I didn't say. You see... Viva and I normally go to Creek's yoga sessions. You know, so Viva can learn how to let go of her trauma. I mean, yeah, she is friends with Bridget and Gristle... but she still gets a bit upset whenever she thinks about Bergens in general. And of course... she got to meet Creek... He is the yoga instructor, after all. And... I may... have not told her about... the all betrayal thing..."

"You... what?!" Branch asked. "You mean your sister doesn't know Creek sold us out to the Bergens?! That, because of him, the entire village was almost eaten by the Bergens?"

"Come on, it was not all bad..." Poppy said, a little nervously. "I mean, we all got to learn important lessons... and you were able to get your colors back. Not to mention we were able to bring Bridget and Gristle togther and..."

But seeing that Branch didn't look amused by what Poppy was seeing, the queen just sighed and said:

"Okay, you're right, Creek was really a coward backstabber back then... But it's not like he is that now... Besides, if I told Viva about him, who knows what would happen. She probably would do far worse than trying to choke Creek like I did when he betrayed us."

She was expecting Branch to have some sort of reaction, but he remained impassive and then said:

"Sorry, I'm still trying to think how that is a bad thing."

"Branch..." Poppy said. "Viva just came out of a two decade-long total isolation lifestyle that she spent fearing that the Bergens would go after them. The least I can do is to give her some peace where she doesn't have to relive it. So, please, could you at least... not mention the all betrayal thing?"

Despite feeling it was a bad idea, Branch simply couldn't deny when Poppy made a request like that one, especially when she really thought that it was for the sake of someone she cared about.

"Fine... I won't tell her" Branch said. "But, just for you to know, she will eventually know the truth."

"Oh, thank you so much!" Poppy exclaimed, happily, as she went to hug her boyfriend, who just made an awkward smile, while blushing a little. "You're the best!"

After they finished the hug, she said:

"Okay, back to your thing."

And Branch rolled his eyes, as Poppy recalled her hair, so Viva could once again participate in the talk.

"Like I was saying... Branch, you can't expect Floyd to not interact with other trolls besides you and your brothers" Poppy said.

"I have no problem with Floyd having other friends" Branch told. "In fact, I am very happy for him. It's just..."

"It's because he is friends with Creek?" Viva asked.

"Exactly!" Branch replied. "I don't want them to be friends... because that means I have to be friends with Creek... and simply can't do it..."

"Come on, Branch, that is not true" Poppy said. "I mean, I am friends with Creek and I never forced you to be friends with him."

"Okay, first, that's a lie" Branch replied. "You tried many times to force a friendship between me and Creek... including tying our hairs together."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that one..." Poppy commented, chuckling. "But that was more to subside your constant bickering."

"Befriending bow?" Viva asked her little sister.

"Of course" she replied.

"Nice..." Viva replied, as the two sisters fist bumped.

"And second... with you, things are different" Branch told. "You were already friends with Creek, remember?"

After a pause where the two sisters shared a look, Poppy approached Branch and said, while taking his hand:

"Come on, Branch, you know that you will always be Floyd's favorite" Poppy said. "It's just... you can't always be together. And you can't always expect him to be available... And the same thing goes for Floyd. But I bet that, when you finally spend time together, you will be able to truly connect like you used to."

It was then that, hearing Poppy saying that, an idea came to Branch. How he had never thought in doing that as soon he saw Floyd and Creek together? It was so simple.

"That's it!" he exclaimed, turning to Poppy and giving her a hug. "Oh, you are a genius, Poppy!"

"Wow, thanks, Branch" Poppy thanked, while blushing a little on her cheeks, as Branch ended the hug. "Honestly, I thought that you would just roll your eyes and complain."

"Well, you are right" Branch told her. "All I need is to spend some good quality time with Floyd. That way, his friendship with Creek won't bother me anymore."

"That's it!" Poppy exclaimed with a big smile. "Oh, I am so glad that you agree with me and didn't end up coming up with some complicated plan that will for certain backfire against you."

"His friendship with Creek won't bother me anymore... because I will make certain that Floyd spends enough time with me so that he doesn't see the need to spend it with Creek!"

"Exactly!" Poppy said, still yet to process what Branch had just said. "That's all you need... Wait... What?! No, Branch, that's not..."

"Hold that thought" Branch said. "I have a brotherly bond to save. I never thought I would ever say this... but it's yoga time... with Creek."

Having said that, Branch got out with acrobatics. After that, Viva said, with a disconcerted face:

"Wow... Sis, your boyfriend is really something else..."

"I know... but he's so cute when he obsesses over something" Poppy sighed. "Still, we must make sure he doesn't do something that he shouldn't."

As soon Poppy said that, John Dory arrived, with pieces of jelly on his face and hair. He had a very satisfied look, having just ate the Hard Rock tribe's jello.

"Now that was the best jello I ever ate!" he exclaimed, as he took pieces of jello stuck on him and ate them. "Sweet, but with a tinge of spice... and I'm not talking just about the fact it tried to eat me. And that troll that was selling them was really a nice guy. And... Wait, where's Branch?"

"Well..." Poppy said, while she tried to come up with the right words that could explain what had just happened.