Trolls: I'm In Love With A Mertroll

~Chapter 4~

Poppy went over to the spot they met yesterday and saw Branch there slightly hiding, just in case anyone saw him.

"Hey Branch!" Poppy exclaimed excitedly.

"Shhh! Do you want everybody to know I'm here?!" Branch whispered.

Poppy lowered her voice. "Sorry I'm just super excited" She giggled.

"Really? I didn't notice" Branch replied sarcastically.

Poppy playfully rolled her eyes and noticed he was holding the seaweed. "Is that the seaweed?" Poppy asked.

"Yes, just wrap it around your chest and it should help you breathe underwater" Branch replied.

Poppy grabbed the seaweed and wrapped it around her chest over her blue dress and hopped into the water.

"Do you think this will work?" Poppy asked.

"Only one way to find out" Branch replied gesturing to the water.

Poppy counted from 3 in her head and went under the water holding her breath just in case.

Branch followed her down and saw she was still holding her breath. "You know if you want to see if it works you have to breathe" Branch said dryly.

Poppy took a deep breath and the seaweed glowed brightly for a second and she started to breathe underwater.

"It works! Yay!" Poppy exclaimed.

Branch sighed in relief, she was able to breathe underwater.

"Ok let's go to your village and I'll convince your family to have a party so we can all be friends again" Poppy said determinedly.

"Poppy you really have to think of a better plan that's just a wish list, first it's not just my family, there are the other tribes too, we're together as a community so it's more of a royal council. Second, it's not that easy to convince them because of the history and we really hold a grudge. And finally, if it fails which it probably will, we'll both be in trouble and it could be making the situation way worse" Branch explained.

"Ok um... how about we go somewhere to think of a good plan and then we'll go to your village?" Poppy asked.

Branch thought for a moment, this girl was really determined and deep down Branch wanted the same too, he thought of a good place to hide until they had a proper plan.

"I know exactly where we can go" Branch replied.

Branch started to swim to his bunker but then realised that Poppy wasn't gonna swim as fast as him because she didn't have fins or a tail.

Branch held her hand so she could keep up with him.

"You're not gonna able to keep up with me so just hold onto me until we get there" Branch said.

Poppy smiled and agreed, he started to swim to his underwater bunker with her.

Once they went inside the underwater bunker Poppy instantly was curious about all the stuff inside, he had rations, weapons and lots of books that were made of kelp?

"So is this your doomsday cave where you keep your stuff? Or is it more like your cave to store land troll items like Ariel? Poppy asked.

"It's a heavily fortified Seazite-proof survival bunker, I have no idea who Ariel is" Branch replied.

"Wait- Seazite? What is that?" Poppy asked curiously.

"Seazites are dangerous sea creatures that poison and eat mertrolls and the only thing that keeps them away are lights, more specifically crystallites, it's why the village is very protective of them, it's what keeps us safe and warm" Branch explained.

Poppy finally realised that's why they were so protective of the crystallites, they kept them safe from a predator and freezing to death.

"Oh... I didn't know that" Poppy said feeling bad for his village.

"None of the land trolls did, that's why we got into the huge disagreement 20 years ago" Branch replied.

"I promise I'll make things right again, now we know what the problem is we can finally work this out" Poppy said determinedly.

"Ok so the plan is that you're gonna bring me into the village as a truce, I try to make peace with them, I can try to help with any problems you guys have, we convince them that it was a huge misunderstanding all those years ago, and finally we celebrate together in harmony" Poppy explained.

Branch was surprised by her plan that was still crazy and probably isn't gonna end well but making one friendship to start with and the land trolls helping with the seazite problem could be a good idea.

"Well it was more detailed but the ending isn't that simple, you can't expect us all to get over it like that, maybe we just start with bringing you to the village and convince them to try to let you stay for a little bit?" Branch suggested.

"Hmm, that's a great idea!" Poppy exclaimed.

"What have I gotten myself into?" Branch thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Branch's parents and all the other council members were gathered for a meeting.

"So everybody knows why we're here today?" Branch's mom, Queen Alyssa asked.

"To discuss the sea cheese shortage?" Queen Barb's assistant Riff guessed.

"No! Well yes, that too but the more important thing!" Branch's Dad, King Aquatis replied.

"It's the Seazites right?" Barb asked.

"Yes, they have been spotted outside of their territory and we need to make sure they don't try to interfere with the Sea Gala in a few days not to mention Tahlia has recently been spotted so we need more guards on the lookout" Queen Alyssa explained.

"My rock guards will be on the lookout" Barb replied.

"Maybe we could get more help, we could befriend the land trolls agai-" Trollex tried suggesting but got cut off by Branch's dad, King Aquatis.

"Don't mention those horrible monsters! I know your tribe wasn't there all those years ago but please don't resort to asking those things for help" King Aquatis yelled.

"Trollex does have a point Aquatis, I personally think it's time we try friendship again" Trollzart said.

"Hmmm... I don't know" Queen Alyssa replied.

Suddenly the alarms were going off and they immediately went to see what the threat was and it was their son, next to a land troll?