What Am I?

chapter 7: Branch, you're--

Branch didn't want to disappoint anybody. His voice cracked when he said the next words. "I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN!!!!"

"Come on, Branch," Poppy said. "Yes you can. I'm sure you're prince worthy. We just need to find a way to get that prince out. I know we can." She knew that Branch wasn't buying it. He feared too much that he would fail.

"Well, that's easy for you to say. You've been royalty all of your life. I just found out last night." He sighed and buried his head in his knees. "I don't know, Poppy." A little more of his hair turned black. Poppy worried.

Poppy didn't know what to do but only what she knew best.

Don't worry about a thing.
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing don't worry about a thing.
'Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.

Branch smiled a little. Poppy always knew a way to make him smile. He only hoped that she could help him find a way out of this one. Poppy continued.

Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my morning doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Sayin',(this is my message to you)

Poppy grabbed Branch's hands and lifted him up to his feet. She brought him out of the tunnels and into the morning sunlight shining on Bergen town. Everyone in the town saw Poppy sing and joined in.

Singin' don't worry 'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singin' don't worry (don't worry)'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright.

Branch couldn't help but sing along. The tips of his hair received a little color. He joined in.

Singin' don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh
Every little thing gonna be alright, don't worry
Singin' don't worry about a thing, I won't worry
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright.

Branch was all smiles now. His hair was full of color now. "Thanks, Poppy. I needed that." His smile faded. "Do you really think I can do this? What if I mess up?"

"Branch, everybody makes mistakes. We royalties are far from perfect. You got this. If you need help, I'm here for you. We all are."
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Branch sat on the branch that he was on last night. He needed time to think. He couldn't face his parents because he was afraid they might talk to him about it. He didn't want to deal with all this royalty stuff. Ever since his colors, he just wanted to be with Poppy and spend time with the Snack Pack. He guessed God had other plans. He just hoped he had enough faith and an open ear to listen.

"Hi, Branch." Branch recognized that voice. It was King Gristle. He noticed the unhappiness on the small Troll. "What's wrong?"

"I just figured out something big in my life. Something that I fear I can't handle." King Gristle was confused. "I just found out that I'm prince."

"Whoa, really?!" Branch didn't get it. What was the big whoop about all this? Do they really think he's capable of ruling? "That's amazing, Branch." King Gristle noticed that there was no excitement going on in Branch.

Branch sighed. "I don't know if I want to be, or if I'm capable. What if I rule so wrongly? I'm not prince worthy."

"Well, it may not seem like you're capable now because you just found out, but it will get better. When I first started becoming king, I didn't know what to do. I was a wreck, ask anybody."

Branch wasn't buying it. "King Gristle, you and Poppy have been royalty your whole lives. Turns out that I have been too, but I just never knew about it. I don't know."

Branch could feel his hands shaking. He looked down on his hands to calm them down, but what he saw panicked him. He looked at King Gristle and kindly said,"Thanks for the little talk, but I have to go now." Before the king could say anything, he left the Troll Tree and hid behind a building where no one could see him.

All this talk had been stressing him out and it worried him. It may not seem like you're capable now because you just found out, but it will get better. Those words calmed him down a little, but not enough to calm his shaking hands. He heard voices near him.

"Hey, King Gristle." He heard Poppy's voice. "Have you seen Branch anywhere?" Branch's heart raced.

"I don't know," said King Gristle. "I was just talking to him. He seemed panicky and just ran off."

"Okay, thanks anyways," Poppy said.

After a few minutes of searching, Poppy found movement behind a building. The figure was the size of a troll. She moved closer to it. "Branch?" As she moved closer, she saw him. His sight brought a big smile on her face, but when she saw closely, her smile faded and her heart dropped. "BRANCH, YOU'RE-"