Branch's Perspective

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

"Celebrate freedom from the bergens! Celebrate freedom from the bergens!" Branch gazed longingly at the invitation he had just pieced back together as he sat alone in his bunker. The invitation brought warm thoughts of Poppy into his mind as her invitations always did, and as the warm thoughts flooded his mind he couldn't stop the small smile that crept onto his face. Glancing to his right, he could see his collection that had grown over the years. He kept every invitation he received from Poppy, each one holding a special memory of her determination and kindness towards him that no other troll, other than her father, had ever expressed.

-Flashback-

"Branch! Branch! Wait up!" called a younger Poppy about five years in age now. He sighed as he stopped walking, not yet wanting to lead her in the direction of his bunker. He desired to keep the location a secret from the rest of the Troll community, especially the noisy princess. He heard her steps land right behind him as she caught up and he turned around to acknowledge her with an uninterested look on his face. She completely ignored his expression and showed him a bright smile after catching her breath.

"What is it Princess Poppy." He addressed her formally, sounding slightly annoyed.

"Oh please just Poppy, we've known each other much too long for you to address me that way!" She insisted, Branch only rolled his eyes in response.

"You need something? I'm kind of busy here." He continued, motioning to the bag of supplies for his newly dug bunker he had gathered and was carrying on his back.

"Oh yes! Right!" She fumbled around a little bit seemingly embarrassed, before reaching into her hair to grab what looked like a folded up sheet of paper. Branch eyed her curiously.

"Well I just learned how to scrapbook, and well... we are having a Birthday celebration tomorrow for my Dad and I wanted to make sure you got an invitation." Branch cocked an eyebrow as the clumsily made invitation popped open in front of him, the writing within the invitation read 'Come celebrate King Peppy's Birthday!'. It was very simple and he could clearly see she was still learning, but he could also tell she had put a lot of hard work and effort into the invitation. He looked at the young princess, surprised. Usually she only asked him with a verbal invitation. Why was she suddenly determined to start handing out physical invitations?

"You... made this... for me?" He asked cautiously, the shock from her statement rendering him temporarily unable to respond with his usual brashness. Poppy's smile brightened.

"Mhmm!" She chirped.

"I made them for all of my closest friends." Making reference to the Snack Pack.

"And that includes you! I hope one day I'll be good enough at making them that I will be able to make one for everyone in Troll Village!" Branch hadn't really registered anything else she had said after she commented 'and that includes you!' Why in the world would she consider him one of her closest friends? He was always mean to her, but even if he couldn't understand her reasoning, he could not deny that she had touched his heart a little bit.

"So... will you come?" She asked impatiently after not receiving any response from him. He gently took the invitation she so graciously offered to him and responded.

"I... I don't think I can." He declined her invitation with a heavy heart causing the young Princess to pout. This time, he couldn't find it in himself to be harsh with her; her invitation was filled with love and kindness toward him and her father that she adored. She considered him a friend, and she worked diligently to make sure she was able to ensure her father had a wonderful celebration for his birthday, right down to the handmade invitations. He tucked the homemade invitation into his hair before turning around to make his leave.