Crystal Facets

Trolls

Poppy, the princess of the trolls that lived in Troll village, hummed a chipper tune as she skipped through the village, greeting any troll she passed. She could feel the heavy crystal necklace her father had given her thumping against her chest, reminding her constantly of her station in the village. She'd always been known for a bright smile and a carefree attitude, and she prided herself on that. After all, trolls just loved to have fun!

Well, most trolls anyway. She was on her way to visit the only troll in the village who just seemed to refuse to be happy. Branch had always been the odd one out ever since she could remember, and while most trolls her own age simply tried to work around his bummer attitude, the elders in her village always gave Branch a sad look when he wasn't looking.

She had tried to ask the older trolls what his story was, but they said they wouldn't speak of it without Branch's permission, and so none of the younger trolls knew either. So she had hatched a plan, go straight to the source! She'd been trying for years now to include Branch in her parties, or at least get him out of his bunker for more than foraging.

Poppy came to a stop in front of a large boulder with a 'welcome' mat in front that said "Go away". She sighed and rolled her eyes, smiling a bit. "I gotta get him a new mat, one that actually IS welcoming!"

"I don't want a mat, Poppy. That one works just fine, for Trolls who care about what it says anyway." She turned around to see Branch stepping out from the surrounding plantlife. She grinned and bounced over to him.

"Branch! Long-time no see! So you know how tomorrow is the BIG 20 year anniversary of our escape from the Bergens?" She didn't see his small wince, continuing on as she dug a card out of her back pocket. "Well, I'm throwing the biggest party ever! And I want YOU to be there!"

He gave her a look she didn't often see on other trolls, but she'd come to learn that on him, it was sort of like he stepped in a mud puddle. "Poppy, you know I don't party. Besides, that's way too dangerous! Your parties are already way too loud, you're going to draw the Bergens right to us!" His ears twitched slightly in his anxiety.

She sighed, shaking her head. "Branch don't be so uptight! Learn to relax a little, alright? We haven't seen a Bergen in 20 years, we'll be fine! There's no way they'll find us!"

"No, they won't find me, because I'll be in my Bergen proof survival Bunker. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some preparations to make." He moved to step past her to get to his Bunker door, but she stepped out to block his path, holding an invite out to him.

"Come on Branch, at least consider? Maybe you can help with planning; I'll even let you make it safer!" She smiled hopefully, watching as he looked to the side, deep in thought.

A moment later, he snatched the card out of her hand, stuffing it into his pocket with a surprisingly gentle movement. "Alright, alright. I'll help you make the Party safer, if only to keep a Bergen from coming." He continued past her, and stood on his go away mat. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm busy." He stepped on a hidden button, and began to descend into the Bunker below.

She ran forward, leaning over the hole and yelling down to him. "Meet me at the pond outside of town! In an hour!" And with that, she ran off.

Branch stared up at the ever shrinking opening, watching as Poppy's face disappeared again. As the entrance slid shut, he sighed, returning his focus to the task at hand, which would need to be getting ready for the party... One he would make sure was safe for the other trolls.

He pulled the card Poppy had given him gently out of his pocket, and flipped it open. He wasn't surprised to be greeted with a small cut out of himself, barely managing to dodge the spray of glitter. He groaned, rolling his eyes as he stared at the pile of glitter on his lift. "Great... that stuffs so hard to get out..."