Trolls: Broppy One Shots

Branch's Diary

Taking place before World Tour

Poppy: Branch...?

The pop queen got off of Branch's elevator and looked for him in his bunker, he wasn't there. Where was he? It wasn't like him to wander off.

Poppy: Where'd he go...? He's always up to something.

She looked around his bunker, still no luck. But instead, she found a shelf which was covered up with curtains. Was he hiding something? Why would have curtains cover his shelf? She opened up the curtains, and to her surprise, she found all the invitations she had given him in the past, stored, not destroyed.

Poppy: What...?

Words couldn't even describe how stunned she was when she saw them, whenever she gave Branch an invitation, he would either shun it away or step on it. But...he saved them? After the way he reacted, he saved them? That was highly unlikely of him. Poppy knew Branch well, and this was something he never mentioned. Then again, why would he?

Poppy: Oh Branch...you have a lot to explain.

Just as she was about to keep looking for him, something caught her eye at the bottom of his shelf, some kind of book. She knelt down and picked it up, it was his diary.

Poppy: Oh no no no...I can't.

They say curiosity killed the cat, but Poppy couldn't resist just one peak in the diary, even if it meant invading Branch's privacy. She looked around making sure she was alone and opened the diary.

Dear Diary,

Today, I watched Poppy lead the village in another song and dance. She's always so full of energy and life. I've never known anyone like her. I wanted to join in, but... I couldn't. It's safer in my bunker, away from the chaos. But when I hear her laugh... everything feels a little less dark. She doesn't know it, but she's my light in this dark world. Poppy... she makes me feel things I've spent years trying to bury. I wonder if she'll ever know how much she means to me.

Poppy: B-Branch...

She couldn't believe what she was reading, her heart almost stopped like a freeze frame. She knew that Branch was still struggling to open up, but he seemed so open in this diary...and for just her. Why was he writing only about her? She flipped the pages again finding another entry.

Dear Diary,

Poppy visited me again today. She brought me cupcakes. I pretended to be annoyed, but truthfully, I cherish every moment with her. Her optimism, her smile... they've somehow become the best part of my day. But I can't tell her. What if it ruins everything? What if she doesn't feel the same?

Poppy gasped softly when she read that, she put a hand over her mouth trying to hold back her tears. Did Branch really feel this way about her?

I wish I could say it out loud: "Poppy, I love you." But I freeze every time. What if she doesn't take me seriously? I'm not the singing, dancing, carefree troll like the others. I'm just... me. But Poppy deserves someone who can make her as happy as she makes me.

Poppy: He...he loves me...?

At this point, Poppy wanted to cry, she never really saw the poetic side of Branch, aside from when they were helping Bridget get a date with Gristle. But that time, he was just helping her...right?

Poppy: I don't believe this...

She flipped through a few other pages and found another diary entry.

Dear Diary,

Today, Poppy asked me why I don't come out of the bunker more often. I lied. Told her it's because I'm busy, that I prefer my solitude. But the truth is, I'm terrified. Terrified of what happens when someone like me loves someone like her. What if I'm not enough? What if she deserves someone who isn't afraid of the world?

Was he doubting himself? Did he really think that he wasn't enough for her? That definitely sounded like him, but what made him think that? Was it because he was socially distant compared to her? Well, he definitely was pretty distant, but he was still working on coming out of his shell, he had been in the village a lot more frequently than before. Yet, he could still be kind of...stiff.

But I know one thing for certain: I can't keep hiding forever. Poppy... one day I'll tell you the truth. I just hope you'll be there when I do.

Poppy gasped covering her mouth, these words sounded so sincere and loving it was hard to believe that they were from Branch. She shut the diary and put it back on the shelf, then she hugged her knees and began to sob folding her arms on top and burying her head. She couldn't believe how blind she had been, Branch was in love with her and she was pushing him away.

Poppy: This can't be real...it just can't...

How would Branch react if he found out she read his diary? How would he react if she found out his feelings for him? Poppy didn't want to admit it, but maybe...just maybe, she felt the same way towards him.