Disclaimer: I do not own Trolls, all rights go to Dreamworks and along with any music that may be used will be given the proper ownership to whomever originally sang and wrote the song used. I just want to make a few things clear before we get started. This is an original fanfic but it will be based on the three movies. This is not canon to my last Trolls Fanfic. This is a completely new story. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter and let me know in the comments what you think, but please keep it clean and don't trash on this. If you don't like it, give me a real critique, but don't just dump it because you can be mean on the internet. We already have to accept that the world is a cruel and mean place but we do not have to add to it. With that being said. Hope y'all enjoy it!
When Poppy looked towards the slow clapping she saw that it was Branch. Before either girl could say anything Suki and Keith hopped off of Cooper and ran towards their mom. Branch was not going to make a public display about them singing, but she was going to talk to Poppy about all the noise. The last few years they grew more apart than they had ever been before and Poppy would grow tired of Branch's constant worrying, but never gave up on trying to get the troll who was the closest thing she had to a sister to smile and be forever HAPPY! "Wow, that was great, Poppy. Really great. I could hear you from a mile away!" Branch hissed. Keith did not like when his mom and aunt would fight so he crawled into his sister's hair and hid. Suki was just hiding behind her mom. "Great, I was worried we weren't projecting enough." Poppy said without a care in the world. Branch just sighed and turned towards Suki. "You two go home. I will be there in a minute." Suki did not hesitate and dashed off towards the bunker. When Branch knew Suki was out of ear shot she turned back to Poppy. Branch did not want her kids to hear this.
"Poppy, if I can hear you so can the Bergans." Branch whispered. She was only met with a bunch of groans. "Branch not again." She heard one of the twins say. "We haven't heard or seen a Bergan in years. You're just being paranoid." Guy Diamond said with no sympathy for the grey troll. Not that she needed any. Before anyone else could say another word Creek flew in with a little glow bug holding him by his hair as he looked to be meditating. When he had reached his destination he thanked the bug and sent it on its way. "Now thank you Branch for your advice. Again." Creek said, causing the Snack Pack except Cooper and Poppy to snicker and giggle. "How about you try a little positivity? It might go well with Suki's vest." Branch had given her vest to Suki on her fifth birthday; it was a very special vest. "Ok I am positive you all are going to be caught dead at tonight's party but I won't be and niether will my kids." This had caught Poppy's attention. "Wait, you three aren't coming? Come on, it will be Suki and Keith's first time coming to the anniversary party!"
"No Poppy. We are not coming. Not if it is loud, bright, and crazy. It will just lead the Bergans straight to us. What don't you see about that? You're going to be Queen, you need to think about these kinds of things." Branch said, making Poppy second guess herself. "Are you sure you want to invite this party pooper to poop on your party?" Biggie said a little snarky. Cooper just frowned at his friends. "Yes, I believe everyone deserves to be happy." Poppy said, holding out a handmade invite. Even though Branch had wanted to destory it she also knew that it would hurt Poppy and she wasn't going to do that to her sister, so after whipping off all the glitter they had spraid in her face she placed the invite under her arm with the rest of the other sticks. Branch gave one more sigh before turning back to Poppy. "You know when you're Queen I really do hope the answers to life are singing, dancing, and hugging because that is all you know how to do or even seem to care about." Branch said disappointed. She was about to walk home when Biggy shouted back at Branch. "She also knows how to scrapbook." Poppy just cringed at that. Branch just turned around and headed home. She mumbled one last thing under her breath. Not expecting anyone to hear her but Poppy heard.
"I can't believe you're gonna be Queen." Branch did not mean this in a mean way. Growing up in the Troll Tree she had always expected Viva to become Queen and after the escape Branch had expected Poppy to take her royal duties seriously, but she didn't. But at the end of the day Branch had to remind herself that Poppy wasn't Viva and she couldn't make her be Viva. She had to let Poppy Make her own mistakes and learn from them. But Poppy didn't know any of this. All she knew was that the troll who was the closest thing she had to a sister didn't think she was going to be a good Queen and that hurt. Upon seeing the sad smile on Poppy's face, Creek tries to cheer up his royal girlfriend. "Don't listen to her and her negativity. It is just toxic. I honestly don't know why the two of you are friends. You both are completely different." He said with a grin before booping her nose. "I guess you're right." Poppy said defeated. The couple walked off to get ready for the night's celebrations. Cooper however was still staring off to the direction Branch had walked off to. Cooper never liked Creek and he knew that Branch could be a bit much, but she just cared and didn't want anyone to get hurt or worse. He never thought that she should be mistreated because of that. He quickly ran to his friends catching up with them. Worry still fills his mind.
When Branch made it back to the bunker she set her supplies down and was met with two little faces that were not happy. "You are too hard on Aunt Poppy sometimes. She only wants to have fun." Suki said, not understanding why her mom was the way she was. "I know but life isn't always glitterballs and funtimes. Sometimes it hardwork and deadlines. Your Aunt forgets that sometimes." Branch said a little sad. Suki was still a little confused as to why that was a bad thing but was distracted at the glittery mess that was now on thier kitchen table. It was an invite for the party tonight. "Can we please go tonight?" Suki begged her mother knowing full well what her answer would be. "No." Suki just groaned. "Why not? Everyone else is going. I hate having to hear about the fun parties the next day in class. I get made fun of for being the only one who didn't go." Suik snapped back. Branchw as getting a little frustrated. "I said no and that's final. We can do something fun here." Branch said trying to compromise, but Suki wasn't having it.
"You know everyone is right about you. You are a party pooper and you suck the life out of everyone." Suki shouted at her mom, but then quickly covered her mouth. She had not meant to say that last part and she could see how hurt her mom was by it, but before she got a chance to apoligize Branch snapped back. "Go to your room. Now! You're grounded. I did not raise you to be disrespectful." Suki was so upset. It wasn't fair. "Just because you don't have a life doesn't mean you can make me not have one too. Gah I hate you!." Suki cried as she went to her room. Branch was holding back tears. She felt like she was doing everything wrong. When she went to pick up Keith to put him down for a nap he just ran from her too and went straight to his sister's room. Branch plopped down on the sofa feeling completely defeated. She cried softly into the side of the arm rest until she had no energy left and just fell asleep. Today was a lot for her. To everyone it was to celebrate being free from the Bergans, but to her it was the day she lost her best friend. She still blamed herself.
Suki was so mad at her mom that she decided to do something she had never done before: she was going to sneak out and go to the party. She was going to wait until her mom was asleep before she left and she made sure that Keith was in her hair the whole time. She couldn't have him ratting her out. When all the noise stopped and everything became quiet Suki grabbed Keith by the hand and was leading him towards the lift. That was until she felt him stop. When she turned back around she saw him staring at their mom. Suki could see the tear stains on her cheek. She had felt bad for what she said but it wasn't fair of her mom to keep her from living her life like others trolls got to do. "Keith what are you doing?" She said as she tried to pick him up. "Watching mom as she sleeps." He said with his eerie voice. Only a handful of trolls found that voice cute while everyone else thought it was creepy. "Well stop that, you need to get in my hair so we can go." With that Keith crawled into his sister's hair and they left for the best night of their young lives.
At the party it was a complete rager. Glitter bombs being shot everywhere. Lazers going all over the place. Confetti filled the sky with fireworks. Suki couldn't believe her mom was against all of this. It was awesome! She could also feel her little brother dancing around in her hair. She couldn't help but laugh. Suki then spotted a Glitter Troll working the DJ booth. It has always been Suki's dream to be a DJ, but with her mom she didn't think that would ever happen. Her mom hated music. Suki just rolled her eyes at the thought. She was going to try to make her way to the DJ Booth before she felt a paw on her shoulder. When she turned around it was her Uncle Cooper. "What are you two doing here? Where is your mom?" Cooper said, worried knowing full well that Branch did not know that they were here. "Get on my back, I am taking you home." Cooper said. Suki was a little sad that her fun Uncle was now being the party pooper. "Come on Uncle Coop. Five more minutes. Please?" Cooper looked worried. He knew that he had to get these two home, but he could not help but give in. "Fine we can stay until after Poppy's speech, but after that we are going home. Until then you have to stay on my back." Suki smiled at that. She knew that Poppy's speech was going to be soon but it still meant she gotta stay even if it meant she was on her Uncle's back.
She could feel Keith starting to get tired and curling up in her hair. Soon enough Poppy took the stage. "Hey, that's Poppy. She's my friend. I know her." Biggie said excitedly causing most of the Snack Pack to shush him. Cooper walked over with Suki and Keith on his back. When Poppy looked at Cooper she was really surprised that they were here and the look on Cooper's face said that Branch didn't know. She needed to get on with her speech since everyone's eyes were on her. "I-I-I um. I just want to take a moment to get a little real." Poppy stuttered out. "I want to say that yes we are so happy that we get to celebrate twenty years being free from the Bergans, but we can not forget to remember those who didn't make it. Who sacrificed their lives so we can be here today and I want to thank my Dad. The man who led us to freedom. I hope I am only as good a Queen and he is our King. To have saved us from the…" It was at that moment when a giant shadow loomed over them. "...Bergans."
Chef was going mad, twenty years. Twenty Years! Twenty years she has been out in the woods looking for the exact trolls that had escaped from the Troll Tree. She was so close to giving up. That was until she heard a loud sound. BOOM. The sound of fireworks. She rushed as quickly as she could to get her spyglass. It took her a moment to figure out where the sound came from but thankful for her there was another firework that went off. And just her luck it went off in the shape of a troll. She found them! She grabbed her bag and ran as fast as her malnourished body would take her. She was so close she could taste them. The closer she got the louder the music got. Stupid trolls. Didn't they know that they were being hunted for two decades. Would have thought that they would have been a bit more. Quiet. Chef stood infront of the trolls that had ruined her life and she knew that they were the right ones. They were just as she remembered, but before she could grab them the pink pest yelled. "RUN!"
The trolls scattered so fast that Cheff was having difficulty grabbing hold of them. No. She could not go back empty handed not after all this time. Not after everything she went through! She grabbed Smidge, then Biggie who was going ofter his pet worm. Chef hooked the twins Satin and Chenille by their locked hair. She grabbed Leggsie by her long legs and Fuzzbert byhis hair. She grabbed Harper, Milton, and Guy Diamond in one fell swoop. "Blend in. Blend in." Poppy kept shouting to everyone. She then saw her dad try to fight the Bergan. Chef went to grab him but Poppy had managed to tackle her father out of the way and camouflage them just in time so Chef couldn't find them. Cooper was running as fast as he could with Suki and Keith on his back and he tried to find a safe place for them to hide. His hair wasn't like the other trolls. He couldn't hide them and unfortunately for Cooper he stuck out like a sore thumb. Chef grabbed him by the neck. This caused Suki to fall off Cooper and hold her hair to make sure Keith was safe. Poppy saw Suki and Keith fall and went to try and catch them but Chef beat her to it. Poppy watched as her niece and nephew were taken along with her friends andher brother. "Poppy!"
Poppy heard her name be called and turned around to see that Chef had grabbed Creek. She tried to save him but failed once again. She looked around and saw the wreckage. "You made it very easy for me to find you. So thank you for throwing the biggest, craziest, and loudest party ever." With that Chef zipped up her bag and walked away. This was her fault. Branch was right. Branch, what was she going to tell her? When the Bergan was good and gone everyone came out of hiding. "Is it going to come back?" Someone asked. "What are we going to do now?" Another said. "What will happen next?" Someone else spoke. If Poppy was being honest she felt a little numb. Not only had she caused this and gotten her friends and family captured, but also two kids. Not just any kids. Her niece and nephew. Branch trusted her to keep them safe and she didn't. Poppy was only snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her father say that they needed to leave. "What? What about no troll left behind? She has Suki, Keith, and Cooper. Along with all my friends. I can't just leave them." Poppy said. King Peppy just sighed. "I'm sorry Poppy, but I am not the King I used to be." He couldn't bear the thought of losing Poppy like he had lost Viva. "Then I'll go. I'll go save them." Poppy said, determined. "No Poppy, it's too dangerous to go by yourself." Peppy pleaded, but Poppy wasn't going to take no for an answer. "But I won't be alone."
Branch was exhausted from the day's events. She had only woken up when Poppy started to nudge her awake. Poppy knew how to get into the bunker courtesy of Suki who wanted to spend more time with her Aunt Poppy. "What? Poppy? What are you doing? Is your party over?" Branch said, rubbing her eyes. Poppy took a second to truly look at Branch and see a tired single mom. How was she going to tell her? "The party is over. We got attacked by a Bergan and she took several trolls with her. "I knew it." Branch whispered to herself and she lept from the sofa to go check on Suki's room assuming that both of her kids had fallin asleep in there. When she didn't see either of them she rushed to Keith's room then her own. She could not find her kids. Poppy watched this feeling even more guilty. "I can't find them." Branch said to herself but Poppy heard. "Did you not know they weren't here?" Poppy asked, wondering how Branch didn't know her kids were missing. "We got into a fight earlier and I must have fallin asleep. They must have snuck out." It was at that moment Branch knew where her kids were. "They were taken, weren't they?" Branch said with tears in her eyes. "Weren't they?" They had to have been taken by the Bergan why else would Poppy be here only. If they weren't taken Poppy would have brought them back here with her. Poppy just nodded her head.
Branch tried her best not to break down in tears. "Branch I am so sorry. Cooper found them and trid to get them to safety but Chef got to him first." Branch could not believe what she was hearing. This couldn't be happening. "At least one of you is responsible." Branch said bitterly. Poppy was taken back by this. "What is that supposed to mean?" Branch looked straight at Poppy not caring anymore if her tears fell. "I mean I warned you that this could happen. I told you to think about the consequences. But you just brushed me off and now Suki and Keith are paying for it along with Cooper and whoever else that Bergan took." Poppy didn't fight back because she knew that Branch was right. "I know. I know I messed up but I have to ask you. Will you go to Bergan Town to save everyone?" Branch was taken back by this. She was planning to go anyway. Her kids were in danger. She was offended that Poppy thought she was just not going to do anything. She was surprised that Poppy was also planning on going to try and fix her mistake. "I'm going. You know I'm going." Poppy smiled at the older girl. "Well we better get going, but before we leave I have to ask for a little favor."
Branch looked at the princess suspiciously. "What?" Poppy didn't say anything, she just went to the lift and pulled the lever which was like a valve release, because every troll that was left in the kingdom came piling into the bunker. "Poppy what are you doing? This is my home." Branch said a little panicked. "Well they need to borrow your bunker until we get back. It is to keep them safe." Branch couldn't really say no at this point she could only growl. "Fine let's go!" Peppy ran after the two girls and pulled them into a hug. "You both stay safe. That means you too Branch. I mean it." He looked sincer into the grey troll's eyes. Branch smiled back at the King. "We will." Branch said before walking to the lift. Poppy first had to wave goodbye to every troll that was now in the bunker. "Bye everybody." She shouted. "Bye. Be back soon. Stay safe." Everyone hollard back. This only caused Branch to roll her eyes as Poppy made her way onto the lift. With that Branch pulled the lever and they were on their way.
Poppy and Branch had their bags packed and were following the Bergan's large footsteps hoping that they would catch up with it soon. They were not. There have been many dangerous creatures on their journey so far. Turranchalapuffs, a fire spitting whooze flower, a mouth mound rockz, and some lovely glow bugs. Poppy had tried to sing with the glow bugs but was repeatedly denied by Branch. "Do you have to be singing?" Branch snarked at Poppy. Not happy at the fact that she was not taking any of this seriously. "I always sing when I am happy." Poppy answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Do you have to be happy?" Branch asked, still brooding. "Why wouldn't I be happy? By this time tomorrow we will have rescued everybody and be on our way back home safe and sound." Branch then realized something. She stopped in her tracks forcing Poppy to also stop with her being right behind Branch. Branch turned towards the princess. "What exactly is your plan?" Branch was really hoping that she didn't already know the answer. "I just told you. To rescue everybody and make it home safely."
"Ok That's not a plan. That's a wish list that's gonna turn into a death wish really quick if you do not stop messing around." Branch said a little aggressive. Poppy frowned at her. "You know what. You don't have to be so mean all the time. You never sing or dance and you are so grey all of the time. What exactly happened to you?" Poppy asked. Branch clenched her fists before shushing Poppy. "What? Is it a Bergan?" Poppy asked concerned. "Maybe." Branch said before she started to walk forward again. Poppy then realized that Branch was probably messing with her. "There is no Bergan is there? You only said that just to get me to stop talking?" Poppy said. "Maybe." Branch repeated. Poppy wasn't exactly sure, rather to be annoyed or proud that Branch was messing around with her. Even if it is at her own expense. This was impervment.
Before either of them knew it night had fallen once again and even though Branch wanted to keep going into she had both of her kids safe in her arms again. They couldn't. They could barely see an inch in front of thier noses. So Branch and Poppy made camp and ate. Branch may or definitely may have ignored several if not all of Poppy's hug time alarms. It just hurt Branch. Peppy had given Viva's hug time bracelet to Poppy. Even though it was no one's fault it hurt everytime that thing went off. Just another reminder that Viva wasn't here.
Branch was getting ready for bed and told Poppy to do the same. They needed to get themselves up bright and early. If they stood a chance at getting to the captured trolls alive. Branch was about to doze off to sleep despite the anxiety running through her head and mother's worry beating in her chest. She heard Poppy start to sing. "Really? Singing now?" Branch asked, annoyed. "Yes, now singing helps me relax. You should try it." Branch groaned. "I don't sing. I don't relax. That's how I am and I like it." Poppy couldn't believe her ears. "No wonder Suki and Keith snuck out." Poppy knew it was a low blow and when she saw the look on Branch's face she knew she made a mistake.
"Branch. I'm sorry. I know you are a great mom. I just don't understand why you refuse to like music." Branch remained silent. It was heard on Branch. She kept losing people during this time of year. First her parents, then Gramma, then Viva. Branch didn't know if she would survive if she lost her kids too. She didn't trust herself to speak but that did not stop Poppy from trying. "Branch, please talk to me." Poppy waited once more for Branch to answer. When she still didn't get an answer Poppy started to get more frustrated. Poppy usually was great at keeping her cool but Branch always seemed to know how to push her buttons. "You are the one to usually seek me out. You know that? You seek me out to criticize me and that hurts. But you are the closest thing I have to a sister. Why are you so mean to me?"
That's what broke Branch. Poppy heard her start to cry. Poppy was not quite sure what to do. She wanted to hug Branch but she also didn't want to get hit either. "I'm sorry. I made a promise to someone important to me that I would look out for you. Be there for you, but I guess I didn't do a very good job huh?" Branch said, wiping her tears away. She really hated crying. Poppy on the other hand was taken back by this. Was it her father? "Who did you promise?" Poppy asked but her voice faltered, betraying her nerves. "I used to have a best friend before the escape. She along with about a third of the tribe didn't make it out of the tunnels."
Poppy was taken back. She thought everyone made it out of the tunnels. No troll left behind. That was their motto. "I thought everyone made it." Branch just shook her head no. "I was the one who saw the cave in. I was five and I tried digging them out. If it wasn't for your dad I wouldn't be here either." Poppy needed a moment to digest everything. "My friend went back to help some trapped trolls and at that moment I was more scared than I ever had been before. I should have ran after her and helped. Maybe they would still be here if I hadn't hesitated." Branch said curling in on herself. Poppy looked at her. "You were five even if you did go after her you could have died too. It's not your fault." Branch gave her a weak smile. She also realized just how tired she was. Normally she would not be spilling her guts like this.
"I have one more question?" Poppy asked timidly. Branch sighed really just wanting to go to bed. "Alright fine but after that. I would like some silence ok." Branch said to Poppy who just nodded back at Branch. "Why was it so important to your friend that I was taken care of?" It really did not make any sense to Poppy. Why her of all people? Was it because she was the princess? Poppy snapped herself out of her own thoughts when she noticed how still Branch was. Branch was debating whether or not to break her promise to King Peppy. Branch looked once more at Poppy and had her answer. "Because she was your sister."
Poppy did not know how to process this. She had a SISTER!!! Why didn't her dad ever tell her she was going to ask Branch that but saw the look on her face. It was then she understood. Her dad and Branch were both still grieving over her. Poppy never had to go through that. They were trying to protect her. She still wished she had known, but she understands the pain that they must be going through. "Thank you for telling me. When this is all over I would love to heard more about her." Branch just nodded back numbly giving a weak smile. "It's time for us to go to sleep. We really do need to but up early tomorrow." Branch said turning her back to where it was facing Poppy. The pink princess just gave an understanding smile towards the grey troll. As if she was finally starting to see her for the first time. Poppy nuzzled into her sleeping bag and was apart to fall asleep but spoke one last time. "Branch." All Poppy heard was a groan. "What?" Branch answered back tired. "I think Viva would be proud of the person you are and what you've done. Night." With that Poppy fell right to sleep. This time leaving Branch stunned. She was truly touched by her words. She barely mustered out a "night" before crying herself to sleep praying that Poppy did not have to witness her having any nightmares tonight.
Ok So I had originally wanted to type more but not only is it getting late but I have been up since Friday @3AM it is now Sunday @12AM. I have not slept and my body and mind are not letting me sleep despite me trying all day. I know I feel like I am speeding through all of this but with the changes in some scenes I did have to take some other scenes out and without the songs this is just flying by. Next chapter I plan on writing about the catpured trolls and Suki is starting to feel bad about disobeying her mom and Creek is going to be a little putts. I am hoping to end the next chapter with some big reveals. So there is a little spoiler for you we will see. I know this chapter is a bit shorter than the last one but like I said I have been up for almost 48 Hours straight. I am tired. And even though I want to keep writing I need to try one more time to sleep. I do hope y'all enjoyed this last chapter. Until the next time. Bye-bye for now.