What if Poppy had a different personality?

Chapter 2

"This was the outfit I planned for her to wear at the party, but I changed my mind. Now, I feel like it's something she'd wear after becoming friends with Branch, so she'll just wear the same thing as before."

After crashing for a solid hour post-invite duty, I dragged myself out of bed, hoodie still clinging to me like a safety blanket. I mean, it was party planning time, but I was so not in the mood to go full-on "extra" with it. But hey, someone's gotta keep this village vibing, and if it's gotta be me, might as well make it lit.

First up, I hit up DJ Suki's pod. "Yo, Suki! We need tracks that slap. Think bass drops, glow bugs, and that one remix that gets everyone wildin'."

Suki gave me a thumbs up, already bopping to some beat only she could hear. "On it, Poppy! This party's gonna be fire."

"Bet," I nodded, before moving on to the next task. I threw some glitter bombs into the trees, making sure they were rigged just right to go off at the peak of the party. I wasn't about to let this shindig be anything less than iconic.

As the sun dipped low, the Forest came alive with neon colors, the glow bugs lighting up the scene like a rave. Trolls started pouring in, their vibes all positive, which was honestly kinda nice. I posted up near Suki's DJ booth, keeping an eye on the crowd.

Suki dropped the beat, and the party kicked off. The glitter bombs went off right on cue, showering everyone in sparkling colors. Smidge, always the wild card, got nailed by one and immediately shouted, "YOLO!"—which, of course, amped everyone up even more.

"More glitter!" I yelled over the bass, and Smidge was all too happy to oblige, pulling a rope that unleashed a cascade of sparkling flower petals. The scene was pure aesthetic goals. For a second, I thought I saw something move in the trees, but I brushed it off. Probably just a shadow or something.

The music pounded through the Forest, and I could feel the energy pulsing around us. But just as I was getting into the groove, Dad showed up with Cooper by his side. Dad looked serious, which was a whole vibe-killer.

"Okay, everyone, let's get a little real," I called out, trying to bring the party down to a manageable level. The crowd quieted, and Biggie, bless his heart, couldn't help but shout, "That's my friend, Poppy!"

I rolled my eyes but gave him a quick smile before turning back to the crowd. "So, like, twenty years ago, my dad—aka King Peppy—saved our butts from a major Bergen disaster. Props to him, right?"

But before I could go any further, a massive foot slammed down near us, shaking the ground like a bass drop gone wrong. Everyone turned to see this towering Bergen chick with mint-green hair and a chef's outfit. She looked down at us with this wicked grin, and I felt my stomach drop.

"Bergen," Dad muttered, as the whole village went dead silent.

The Bergen took a step forward, and Cooper, always the jokester, let out a few cupcakes from his behind. I grabbed them, trying to think fast. "Uh, cupcake?" I offered, holding them out like that would somehow save us. Spoiler alert: it didn't.

The Bergen chick just smiled wider and unzipped her fanny pack—a literal troll trap. I didn't even have time to think before shouting, "RUN!" And just like that, chaos erupted.

DJ Suki and Guy Diamond got snatched up first, and I took off, darting through the trees. "Mr. Dinkles!" I heard Biggie cry out, but the poor guy didn't even realize Mr. Dinkles was on his back the whole time.

The Bergen swooped down and grabbed Biggie, Mr. Dinkles, and Satin and Chenille like they were party favors. I skidded to a stop, spotting a group of scared Troll kids. "Blend in!" I shouted, trying to get them to hide. But Cooper was too tall to blend anywhere, and the Bergen snagged him next.

I ran toward Creek, hoping he'd have some kind of plan, but of course, he was all about his aura. "Minimize your auras, everyone!" he called out, just as the Bergen's hand closed around him.

"Creek!" I screamed, throwing my hair out like a lifeline. He grabbed it, but the Bergen was too strong, and he slipped away, disappearing into the fanny pack. I felt something inside me snap. This was so not the vibe I planned.

"Noo!" I yelled, frustration boiling over. This was all wrong.

Dad tried to hit the Bergen with his cane, but she just reached down to grab him too. I wasn't about to let that happen. I rushed over, pulling Dad to safety, and we hid under some rocks. My hair transformed into a plant disguise, and we waited, breath held, as she stomped around, looking for more Trolls.

"Thanks for throwing the biggest, loudest, craziest party ever!" Cooper's voice called out from inside the fanny pack, totally clueless.

The Bergen zipped it shut, looking satisfied as she stomped away. My hair turned back to normal, and I stood up, looking around at the shocked and scared faces of the Trolls. The weight of what just happened hit me hard. This was on me.

"Is it coming back?" a female Troll asked, her voice trembling.

"What are we gonna do now?" Harper, a little kid, whimpered.

Dad jumped in with his usual "we need to leave" speech, but I wasn't having it. I grabbed his hand, forcing him to look at me.

Dad, we can't just bail on them! We've gotta go save our friends!"

"No, Poppy," he said, shaking his head, looking older and more tired than ever. "It's too dangerous."

"What happened to 'No Troll left behind'? We can't just leave them to get eaten!" I argued, feeling desperate. My dad just sighed, looking at me with sad eyes.

"Poppy, it's not safe. I'm not the king I used to be. We need to protect the village."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "Then I'll go. I'll save them."

"No," my dad sighed, sounding resigned. "You can't go there by yourself."

I looked at the direction of Branch's bunker, a plan forming in my mind. If anyone could help, it was Branch. He was grumpy as heck and didn't care much for parties, but he was also smart, careful, and always had some weird trick up his sleeve. I remembered all the times he'd warned me about being too loud or attracting trouble—how he always seemed to be prepared for the worst. Maybe, just maybe, he'd have a plan.

"I won't be alone," I said firmly. "I'm taking Branch with me."

Dad hesitated, knowing Branch wasn't exactly the hero type, but he also knew I wouldn't back down. "Be careful, Poppy," he finally said, his voice filled with concern.

I nodded, already thinking of how to convince Branch to come along. I just had to hope he was in the mood to save a bunch of Trolls who had probably ruined his night.

Branch's bunker wasn't far, and I knew he'd be my best shot at pulling off a rescue. Sure, he was grumpy as heck, but he was also smart. If I could convince him to help, maybe—just maybe—we could get our friends back.