Trolls x Shrek Au

Chapter Thirteen

(Later that night, Poppy and Branch are sitting around a campfire. They gaze up into the sky as Branch points out certain star constellations to Poppy while the others are near the campfire)

Branch: And, uh, that one, that's Throwback, the only Pop Beast to ever spit over three wheat fields.

Poppy: Right. Yeah. Hey, can you tell my future from these stars?

Branch: The stars don't tell the future, Poppy. They tell stories. Look, there's Bloodnut the Flatulent. You can guess what he's famous for. (He and John chuckles)

Poppy: Alright now I know you're making this up.

Branch: No, look.

(Branch traces the constellation with his finger)

Branch: There he is, and there's the group of hunters running away from his stench.

Poppy: You know, that ain't nothing but a bunch of little dots.

Branch: You know, Poppy, sometimes things are more than they appear. Hmm?

(Branch glances over to see if Poppy understands him, but is met with a blank look)

Branch: Forget it.

Poppy: Hey, Branch, what we gonna do when we get our swamp anyway?

Branch: "Our swamp"?

Poppy: You know, when we're through rescuing the princess and all that stuff.

Branch: We? Poppy, there's no we. There's no our. There's just me, my brothers, and our swamp. And the first thing I'm gonna do is build a ten-foot wall around our land.

(He turns his back on Poppy)

Poppy: You cut me deep, Branch. You cut me real deep just now.

(Poppy walks over to face Branch)

Poppy: You know what I think? I think this whole wall thing is just a way to keep somebody out.

Branch: *sarcastic* No, do ya think?

(Branch turns away again)

Poppy: Are you hiding something?

Branch: Never mind, Poppy.

(He lies on his back. Poppy leans over him)

Poppy: Oh, this is another one of those onion things, isn't it?

Branch: No, this is one of those "drop it and leave it alone" things!

Poppy: Why don't you want to talk about it?

Branch: Why do you want to talk about it? (turns)

Poppy: Why are you blocking?

Branch: I'm not blocking! (turns)

Poppy: Oh, yes, you are.

Branch: Poppy, I'm warning you...

Poppy: Who you trying to keep out?

(Branch gets on his feet and faces Poppy)

Branch: Everyone! Okay?!

[The brothers and Viva heard his raised voice and turns to his direction.]

Poppy: Oh, now we're getting somewhere.

(Unseen by either of them, Delta was peeking around the cave door, eavesdropping on the conversation)

Branch: Oh! For the love of Pete!

(Branch walks over to the edge of the cliff and sits down)

Poppy: Hey what's your problem Branch? What you got against the whole world anyway, huh?

Branch: Look, I'm not the one with the problem, okay? It's the world that seems to have a problem with me and my brothers. People take one look at us and go "Aah! Help! Run! Some big, stupid, ugly Pop Beasts!" They judge us before they even know us. That's why I think we're better off alone.

(Hidden in the shadows of the cave, Delta's eyes were sympathetic. She closes the door. The others stares silently at Branch for a moment and then sits down beside him)

Viva: You know what? When we met, Poppy and I didn't think you guys were just big, stupid, ugly Pop Beasts.

Branch: Yeah, I know.

Viva: So, uh, are there any regular Pop Trolls up there?

Clay: Well, there's, um, Gabby...the Small...and Annoying.

Viva: Okay, okay, I see it now. The big shiny one, right there. That one there?

Clay: That's the moon.

Viva: Oh, okay.