On the road back to Pop Village, Branch and his brother catch up on lost time, and the two sisters get to know each other. While BroZone share their laughs and banter, Poppy and Viva open up to each other.

"After that, I just stopped myself from talking about it," Viva admitted, her voice tinged with guilt.

"Dad's not going to believe I'm still alive," Viva said nervously.

Poppy chuckled and hugged her tightly. "He won't believe it—but trust me, he'll be ecstatic! Like, 'confetti-popping-out-of-his-ears' happy!"

The sisters sat together, watching the brothers exchange jokes. Branch caught Poppy's eye, and with a playful grin, he blew her a kiss. She blushed and blew one back, their silent communication filled with sweetness. Viva watched with a mix of awe and envy.

"You guys are so disgustingly cute," Viva teased. "So, how long have you and Branch been together? Three years? Four?"

"A month," Poppy said casually.

"A month?!" Viva's jaw dropped. "No way! I could've sworn you were married or something. You've got that old married couple vibe—except with less bickering and more... mush."

Poppy laughed, turning red. "No, just a month. We were best friends forever, so I thought my feelings for him were friendship. But nope!"

Viva raised a brow. "And he just... confessed out of nowhere?"

"Well, after the tour. He told me he'd been trying for months to say something but kept chickening out. Can you believe that? I could've saved us so much time if I'd known!"

"So, how did you know you loved him?" Viva asked curiously.

Poppy's face softened, her voice quieter now. "I think I've always known. Since I was a Trollling, really. But I thought... I don't know that he didn't feel the same. Maybe because I'm royalty, I figured he thought I was stuck up or too... much. But then he risked everything to save me during the Hard Rock tour. That's when I knew."

Viva noticed her sister's eyes shift as she spoke, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "Poppy," she said gently, "are you okay?"

"What? Of course, I'm okay! Why wouldn't I be?" Poppy's tone was light, but her forced smile betrayed her.

"Because you've clearly been through a lot. And sometimes, those things stick with you, even if you think you're fine."

"Oh, you mean the time I almost got blasted into a Hard Rock zombie and almost lost the love of my life?" Poppy said with a sarcastic laugh, tears welling up in her eyes. "That tiny, insignificant thing? Totally fine!"

BroZone's laughter abruptly stopped. Branch glanced over, immediately sensing something was wrong. "Hey, Poppy, babe," he said, walking over to her. "What's going on?"

Poppy tried to wave him off, but her voice cracked. "I'm fine, really."

Branch sat beside her, holding her hand. "Poppy, talk to me."

She exhaled shakily. "It's been a month since the Hard Rock tour, and I'm still trying to... process everything. The danger, the close calls... thinking I might lose you." Her voice wavered. "It's just... a lot."

Branch kissed her forehead. "I'm here, beautiful. You're safe. We're safe."

"Okay, this is awkward now," Tiny muttered, retreating into Bruce's hair.

Poppy giggled through her tears. "Tiny, you're staying. No escaping the emotions!"

"I second that," Branch added. "Good luck explaining that to Dad if you run off."

Ronda screeched to a halt, saving Tiny from more emotional exposure.

"We're here!" John Dory announced dramatically. "BroZone, let's dazzle the fans!"

The brothers groaned in unison, but Poppy stayed seated, holding Branch close as the others piled out.

"Poppy," Branch said softly, "are you sure you're okay? My brothers now know, and they're not exactly the most discreet trolls..."

Poppy smiled at him, squeezing his hand. "You're sweet. I'll be okay... especially as long as I have you."

Branch blushed. "I love you too, Poppy."

They stepped out of Ronda and were met by the sight of Peppy and Viva in tears, hugging each other.

Peppy turned to Poppy with watery eyes. "Poppy, I'm so sorry for not telling you about Viva. I was just so angry with myself for losing her. Can you forgive me?"

Poppy hugged her dad tightly. "It's okay, Dad. We have each other now, and that's all that matters! And you know what this calls for?"

Branch groaned. "Oh no..."

"A welcome-back party!" Poppy declared, already dashing off to find supplies.

"She ever not want to throw a party?" Viva asked.

"Nope," Branch and Peppy said in unison.

Viva laughed, shaking her head. "Well, at least I know where I get it from."

Branch sighed with a smile. "She's exhausting. But I wouldn't have her any other way."

As Poppy darted away to gather party supplies, her vibrant energy seemed dimmed, like a flickering light struggling to stay bright. Viva and Branch, exchanging worried looks, followed her at a distance. The once-bubbly queen, known for her unbreakable positivity, now moved with a heaviness in her step that neither could ignore.

Poppy walked through the Troll village, nodding at cheerful greetings and waving half-heartedly. Every smile she forced felt like a crack in her facade. Trolls complimented her return, leadership, and unwavering spirit, but their words only tightened the knot in her chest. Her hands trembled as she reached her Pod door, the weight of her emotions threatening to spill over.

The moment the door closed behind her, she collapsed against it, her breath hitching. The tears she'd held back streamed freely now, her sobs echoing in the quiet space. Her crown slipped off her head and clattered to the floor, but she didn't care. For once, she let herself fall apart.

Outside, her friends huddled around the Pod, whispering excitedly as they set up the surprise welcome-back party. Balloons were inflated, confetti was ready, and a glitter cannon stood poised for the grand reveal.

"Surprise!" they all shouted, bursting through the door.

Poppy yelped, stumbling backward, her hand flying to her chest. Her tear-streaked face turned pale as she fought to regain composure. "OMT, you guys scared me!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. She wiped at her cheeks hastily, forcing a wobbly smile. "I... I wasn't expecting this!"

The trolls froze. For a moment, the room was silent, save for the faint sniffles Poppy tried to suppress.

Guy Diamond stepped closer, his glitter dimming slightly in concern. "Uh, Poppy, are you okay? Your mascara's running, and... your eyes are super puffy. Like, crying puffy."

"Guy!" Smidge huffed, her tiny hands on her hips. "She's obviously just overwhelmed! She has a sister now. Duh."

The group nodded, murmuring agreement and surrounding Poppy in a warm hug. She smiled weakly, her heart aching. She loved them dearly but felt suffocated by their well-meaning gestures. She wanted to cry, to scream, to be alone—but she couldn't bring herself to push them away.

As if on cue, a soft knock interrupted the moment.

"Poppy? It's us—your sister and your boyfriend," Viva called, her voice laced with worry. "Are you okay in there?"

Poppy froze, her breath catching. Slowly, she opened the door. The moment her eyes met Branch's, her resolve shattered. Without a word, she collapsed into his arms, her sobs spilling out unchecked.

Branch held her tightly, his arms a fortress around her trembling frame. "It's okay," he whispered, his voice steady and calming. "I've got you. Let it out. I'm here."

The trolls exchanged wide-eyed glances. Their ever-optimistic queen, crying openly? It was something none of them had seen in years—if ever.

Cooper tilted his head, breaking the silence. "Uh... so, should we join in? Or, like... wait out here?"

Everyone turned to him with exasperated looks.

"Let's leave them be," Viva sighed, stepping forward to herd the trolls toward the door. She paused dramatically, flashing a confident smile. "By the way, I'm Viva—Poppy's long-lost sister and leader of the Putput Trolls."

The trolls shuffled out, casting worried glances back at Poppy's door before reluctantly leaving.

Inside, Branch guided Poppy to sit on her bed, his hand never leaving hers. She wiped at her face, hiccupping softly.

"Branch," she whispered, her voice cracking, "I can't do this. Everyone expects me to be perfect all the time. To smile, to lead, to... to never fall apart. But I can't. I'm scared."

Branch cupped her face gently, his blue eyes steady as they met hers. "You don't have to be perfect, Poppy. Nobody's expecting that from you—not the trolls, not me. You're allowed to feel scared. You're allowed to be vulnerable. And you don't have to go through it alone. I'm here. Always."

Her lip quivered, but a small, genuine smile broke through this time. "You're too good at this, you know."

"At what?" he teased, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

"At making me believe it's okay to not be okay," she replied, laughing softly through her tears; the two love birds share a kiss.

From outside, Cooper's muffled voice broke the tender moment. "So, Viva, do Putput Trolls have, like, superpowers? Or are you just regular trolls with cooler hair?"

Branch and Poppy exchanged amused glances.

"You've got an interesting sister," Branch said with a chuckle.

Poppy sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Yeah. Chaos must run in the family."

For the first time that day, Poppy felt lighter—like the heavyweight she'd been carrying had somehow shifted. It wasn't just relief; it was the feeling of being seen and not having to take the burden alone. Branch's presence beside her felt like the warmest embrace, pulling her closer and making her feel safe and wanted. She didn't want to leave his side. Every part of her ached to stay wrapped up in his arms, to feel the steady rhythm of his heart against hers, to let him fill the emptiness she'd been drowning in. It wasn't just comfort she craved—it was him in every way possible.

"Poppy, don't you wanna go to the party?" Branch's voice cut through the quiet, his words low but curious, the sound of his breath just as intimate as the question.

She tilted her head back, her fingers grazing the warmth of his skin. She felt the pull of his body, the energy between them crackling with unspoken things. "I don't think I do. Is that weird?" she asked, her voice thick with vulnerability, yet there was something more beneath it—a yearning she couldn't fully put into words.

"No," Branch answered quickly, his hand sliding to the small of her back, pulling her closer. "It's not weird. I've been there, too."

Her heart skipped a beat at the softness of his voice, but the way his touch held her sent heat racing through her. She felt every inch of him—his body against hers, the scent of his skin, the quiet intensity in his eyes. It was almost too much, yet she didn't want him to pull away.

"How do you live with it?" Her voice trembled slightly, but she wasn't ashamed of it. She wanted to hear his answer and know how he made sense of the darkness.

Branch's gaze softened, and everything around them faded for a moment. He took her hand in his, his thumb brushing across her knuckles, sending a pulse of warmth through her entire body. "I did things I'm not proud of," he murmured, his voice hushed but intense. "But back then, I didn't have you in my life. I didn't have the kind of love that could heal me. I didn't have the support I needed to make it through. Now... I'm not alone, and neither are you, Poppy."

Her chest tightened as she looked up at him, her heart complete with a rush of emotion she couldn't explain. "What did I do to deserve someone as sweet as you?" Her words were barely a whisper but heavy with the depth of her feelings. She kissed his hand tenderly, her lips lingering on his skin as if she could pour everything she was into that one simple touch.

Branch's chuckle rumbled deep in his chest, and for a moment, it sounded like a promise. But when he spoke again, his voice was softer, but a layer of longing there made her pulse quicken. "You didn't have to do anything, Poppy. Just being yourself is enough."

Her breath caught as he gazed into her eyes, his look more intense than it had ever been. His hand traced the line of her jaw, his thumb brushing her lips in a movement so slow, it was almost painful. Her pulse raced, and every inch of her was hyperaware of him, of the way he was making her feel—wanted, cherished, desired.

At that moment, everything shifted. The space between them seemed to disappear, and she felt the magnetic pull of his body, the unspoken hunger in the air. She couldn't hold back any longer. She closed the distance between them with a sharp breath, her lips crashing into his with a heat that ignited something wild.

The kiss was fierce and desperate as if they were both trying to pour all their emotions and feelings into each other in that single, electric connection. Her hands found their way to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart and the strength beneath his shirt. She pulled him closer, needing and wanting him in a way beyond words. He responded in kind, his hands sliding under her shirt, his touch burning against her skin, sending sparks of desire straight through her.

Every kiss deepened, every caress igniting a fire she didn't know she had. He was everywhere—his lips on her neck, his hands on her body, his breath ragged against her ear. She couldn't think straight, could only feel the rush of blood through her veins, the heat of his body against hers. She needed him—now.

Branch's hands slid down to her hips, pulling her flush against him. She could feel the undeniable evidence of his desire pressing against her, and it only made her want him more. The way he kissed her—slow, deliberate, like he was savoring every second—drove her wild. She tried to lose herself in him, wanting to drown in the passion between them, the raw, unfiltered, tender, and intense connection.

His lips found hers again, but this time, they were even hungrier, more urgent, as if they both knew they were on the verge of something that couldn't be stopped. The air between them was thick with lust, but beneath it, there was something more—something more profound. It wasn't just desire. It was the raw, aching need to be closer, feel more, and lose themselves in each other entirely.

She pressed her body into his, feeling the overwhelming heat of him, the way his hands moved over her as if he couldn't get enough. She kissed him back with the same intensity, matching his urgency. There was nothing else in the world but him, nothing else but this moment where everything felt right, where the world outside ceased to exist.

They didn't speak anymore—there was no need for words. Every touch, every kiss, every gasp told the story of how much they needed each other, how much they had both been holding back, only to let it all pour out in a desperate, passionate rush. Time didn't matter. All that mattered was them, here and now, in each other's arms.