Trolls: Broppy One Shots

Post Trauma

Taking place after Across The Galaxy

Branch noticed Poppy's sad demeanor as they strolled the village together hand in hand. She looked cheerful, but he could tell that she was kind of holding back, something was bothering her.

Branch: Poppy, everything okay?

Poppy: Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm good.

But Branch wasn't buying it, it was clear she was trying to hide her demeanor.

Branch: Wanna talk about it?

Poppy: Branch, I'm fine, really.

Branch suddenly stopped in his tracks and cupped Poppy's face with his hands.

Branch: Poppy...we've been together for over a year, I know when something's bothering you.

Poppy looked up at her fiancé then looked back down. She pulled him into a tight hug and buried her face in his chest.

Poppy: I was so scared...

That was all Branch needed to hear, he knew exactly what she was talking about as soon as she said that. He sat down on a log and tapped his lap twice.

Branch: Come sit, sweetie.

Poppy nodded and crawled onto Branch's lap feeling his arms wrap around her small body. She rested her head on his shoulder and just stayed quiet milking this little moment with him.

Poppy: I still can't believe I was kidnapped by aliens...

Branch: I don't think any of us can, I didn't even know about them until your dad said something.

Poppy's eyes widened when Branch said that, she looked up at Branch in disbelief.

Poppy: My dad?!

Branch: Apparently, he had an encounter with them once. He never said anything until recently.

Poppy couldn't believe her ears. First the existence of other types of Trolls, then her long lost sister, now a past encounter with the Nebulon? What else was her father hiding? She looked away and crossed her arms.

Branch: Poppy?

Poppy: So my dad knew about them and he did nothing to try and save me?!

Branch: Babe, you know that's not-

Poppy: Some king he turned out to be! The only good thing he's ever done was save the Trolls from the Bergens! But that was when I was a baby, he's been hiding all these secrets from me ever since, Branch!

Branch: Poppy, don't say that about your dad, he'd never-

Poppy: He knew about them and did nothing! They took me away from everything I knew and loved! Right on my birthday, they snatched me like I was a trophy! They tried to kill me, Branch, just to get attention! And what does Dad do?! He stays behind and lets it happen!

Poppy suddenly fell off of Branch's lap and right onto the grass, she began to cry silently. It was pretty obvious to Branch that she was still traumatized from her ordeal, it's not everyday that you get abducted by space people who attempt to extract your color.

Branch: Babe...

Poppy: I had never been so scared in my life...! They took me to their planet where there was no music, no color. It was like...like I was locked in my own head. And even when I knew you'd come for me, there were moments when I thought...that maybe I'd be stuck there forever.

Branch knelt down beside Poppy and helped her sit up, he gave her a light kiss on her forehead and wiped away her tears.

Branch: You know I'd never leave you hanging, butterfly.

Poppy: I know, but...I just felt so...lost, Branch, so alone. They didn't care about me...they just cared about using me to get what they want. My dad didn't even try to save me...he just let it happen.

Branch: Poppy, look at me.

Poppy looked over at Branch, tears still pouring from her magenta eyes.

Branch: You're right, your dad kept a lot of secrets over the years, and it's bothering me too. You know he loved you, and he wouldn't let anything happen to you. I know I wouldn't.

Poppy: But...his motto was No Troll Left Behind, he wasn't living up to his principles! He left my sister behind and never told me I had one, his only concern was hiding away from the Bergens when they took our friends, and he didn't even bother trying to rescue me when I was captured by those aliens! He's a full on hypocrite, Branch!!! He had principles but didn't follow them! There were so many Trolls left behind...including me.

Branch: Babe...

Poppy gasped a little when Branch picked her up and sat her back down on his lap.

Branch: He's your father, don't talk about him like that.

Poppy: But it's true...

Branch: I know, and you have every right to be mad at him, but you shouldn't look at just one side of these things. He's still your dad, he loves you very much, buttercup.

Poppy looked down and wiped away her tears.

Poppy: Does he? He didn't travel the entire galaxy to save me...you did.

Branch: Yeah, I know.

Poppy: He didn't support me when I wanted to go after the other Troll tribes, and he never even bothered to mention that I had an older sister out there. I never got to grow up with Viva...

Branch: Poppy, hold on, do you really think your dad's that heartless?

Poppy looked up at her fiancé and then looked back down.

Branch: I don't think those happened because he didn't care, I think all that happened because he was scared. I can relate...

Poppy: Really...?

Branch: Why else do you think I built a bunker?

Poppy: Oh...

Branch: Everyone has their weak points, sweetheart, I'm sure he had his. Maybe he was scared, he wasn't sure how to handle those situations because they're very unlikely. I'm sure you would've felt the same way.

Poppy: I guess...

Branch: Besides...think about it, he was separated from Viva and you became his priority. I'm sure he was scared for you because he didn't wanna lose you too. I know I would be.

Branch then placed a hand on his fiancée's cheek and gave her a quick kiss on her lips. Poppy blushed and looked away.

Poppy: Oh Branch...

Branch: You mean a lot to me and the other Trolls, Poppy, you've done amazing things. No one would ever leave you behind, not our friends, not your dad...and definitely not me.

Poppy blushed again and rested her head on Branch's chest listening to the sound of his beating heart. She knew deep down that he was right, maybe all the ordeals she had been through got to her head. She still loved her dad and she knew he meant well. She felt like a lucky Troll to have someone like Branch to remind her of the good things that came out of the situations they had been through. He was right, she had to stop looking at one side of things and look at the other side. She knew that her dad loved her...and she knew that Branch loved her too.

Poppy: I can't thank you enough, Branch...you always have my back right when I need you...

Branch: And I always will, my love. Always.