Chapter Text
"Branch come on!" his mother called from just outside the family's pod "It's dinner time."
The young blue troll's ears perked up when he heard his name being called, he had playing in the fresh mud puddle.
"Oh Branch," his mother sighed when she saw her son covered from head to toe in mud.
"He's just being a young boy," Grandma Rosiepuff chuckled "so much like his father when he was that age."
"I know," Daffodil smiled as she gently took her son by the hand "Do mind taking over dinner? I have to go give someone a bath."
Branch laughed as his mom tickled him..."Go right ahead my dear," Rosiepuff smiled and waved her daughter in-law away "don't you worry about a thing."
"Thank you," Daffodil replied before she scooped up the small troll in her arms "Now, let's get you clean up."
"Okay mommy," Branch smiled nuzzling his head into his mother's chest "I'm sorry I got so dirty."
"Don't be sorry sweetie," she replied placing him down in the stream close to their home and started rinsing the thick mud out Branch's hair.
"When is Daddy coming back?" he asked
Daffodil stopped for a second she did know how to explain to such a young child that their dad had disappeared without a trace. "Daddy's on a mission," she lied.
"What kind of mission?"
"A secret one," she whispered
Branch smiled at her and answered "Cool, someday I want to go on a secret mission too."
Daffodil just smiled and let Branch finish cleaning himself up as she got his clean outfit ready. "You know tomorrow is a very special day," she told him handing him his new outfit.
"Why?" he asked tilting his head to the side.
"You see our king and queen are welcoming their baby girl into the world and the whole kingdom is invited to meet her," she explained taking his hand and walking back to their pod.
Grandma Rosiepuff had the table all set by the time they returned. Acorn soup with a hint of ginger was Branch's favorite.
"So, tomorrow we are going to meet the new princess," Rosiepuff smiled.
"Do you think she will want to play?" Branch asked before taking a big sip of his soup.
The two older trolls looked at each other and smiled "She's too little for that right now," his grandma explained
"But maybe some day," his mother added giving him a quick wink.
The young blue troll did not understand what they meant or why the princess would not want to play a game or two. When it was time for bed Branch's mother would tuck him in while his grandma would sing.
"But I'm not sleepy," Branch protested as he yawned.
"Sleeping makes you grow up to be a big and strong troll," Grandma Rosiepuff explained as she bent down and gave her grandson a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Can you sing the song again?" he asked as he snuggled down deeper into the covers.
"Anything for you Sweetheart," his grandma replied
"Now it's time to say good night
Good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you."
Branch could feel his eyes starting to get heavy as his mother walked over and sat next to him on the bed. She smiled at him before she joined in singing.
"Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you."
"Goodnight Branch," his mother whispered as the song finished the young troll was now fast asleep.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo The Next Day xoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"But why do I have to wear this?" Branch asked frowning and tugging at his fancy new outfit his mother was making him wear.
"Because we have to look our best when we meet the king and queen," his mother explained
"That's right," Grandma Rosiepuff added "and you are a fine looking young troll."
Branch did not know what she meant by that, all he knew was how much he hated the outfit because of how uncomfortable it was.
The three trolls arrived at the royal palace and were greeted by a very long line. "Is everyone here to see the new princess?" Branch asked with wide eyes. He had never seen this many trolls in his entire life gathered around.
"I believe so," his mother replied giving her son a smile before kneeling down and fixing his hair to stand up even taller than normal.
Standing in line for a while Branch started to get bored and he tried his best to entertain himself but with no luck. Finally it was their turn to greet the royal family and Grandma Rosiepuff being the eldest stepped forward followed by his mother.
"And who is this strapping young troll?" The King chuckled bending forward giving Branch a quick wink.
It was at that moment Branch became very shy and hid behind his mother and grandma. "Sorry King Peppy," Daffodil smiled "Branch has never been in a big crowd before."
King Peppy just smiled and waved it off "I bet I know why you are here," he said as the young blue troll peaked out from behind his mother. "I bet you are here to meet my daughter."
Branch looked up at this mom than over too King Peppy and nodded.
King Peppy nodded back as looked over to his wife who smiled as she slowly lowered the bundle that was wrapped up in her arms. Branch was a amazed at what he saw in the bundle, it was bright pink tiny troll. "Hello Princess," he said waving at her.
"Poppy," The Queen added
Branch looked up at The Queen "Poppy." he repeated.
The Queen nodded "That's right," she said "Princess Poppy."
"Oh what a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl," Grandma Rosiepuff said bowing slightly to the King and Queen.
"Thank you for allowing us to meet Princess Poppy," Branch heard his mother say as she too gave a small bow.
"Yes thank you very much," he said as he copied his mom and grandma in bowing.
"You are very welcome," King Peppy replied "Please stay for our celebration in the Great hall."
The family of three walked towards the Great hall where it was set up in a buffet style. The very first thing that Branch noticed was the wall of cupcakes. "Can I have one?" he asked pointing at the tiny cakes.
"Go on," his mother replied as she allowed her son to go over and pick out his own flavored cupcake. After finding the perfect one the young troll hurried back to family where he took his time eating the yummy cake.
"Branch," his grandma whispered "why don't you go join the other kids just outside."
Branch looked back at the other kids who looked like they were playing some sort of chasing game "I don't want to," he mumbled.
"Just give it a try sweetie," his mom said softly as she playfully poked him in the side to make him laugh.
"Fine," he sighed.
The little blue troll made his way out to where the other troll kids were playing "Can I join in?" he asked
The troll kids all stopped what they were doing and just looked at him. Branch was starting to feel uncomfortable as he slowly began backing away from them. "Who are you?" a troll girl asked
"My name is Branch," he replied
The girl smiled before holding out her hand "I'm Lily and you can be on my team."
Branch was confused but he took her hand "Team for what?"
Lily giggled "We're playing team capture."
"Yeah," a boy troll added "and we are avoiding Creek and his team."
"Who's Creek?" Branch asked
"I am," a purple troll spoke up "so you better run."
The three trolls ran in all directions and it wasn't long before Branch was laughing and having fun. That fun came to a complete halt when a dark green troll stepped out in the field. "This is how the lower trolls play?" he smirked "Such losers."
"Excuse me friend," Creek said stepping forward "but you are kind of in the middle of our game.
"Don't you know who I am?" he asked as he crossed arms over his chest.
All the troll kids shook their head 'no'.
The green troll sighed and rolled his eyes "I'm Spruce...and I am going to be your future king."
"Yeah, sure." Lily laughed
"I am!" he snapped "Then you'll be my servants."
Branch and the others went back to playing their game and having fun. When it was time leave Branch waved goodbye to his new friends and thanked them for allowing him to play with them.
"Did you have fun?" his mother asked as they walked home
"Yes," he replied "tons!"
His mother smiled "That's good, I'm glad."
-xo-
Not long after Princess Poppy was welcomed into the world did her mother suddenly grow very ill, King Peppy sent for the the best doctors in the kingdom but found no one who knew what was wrong with his wife. King Peppy was heartbroken and the rest of the kingdom felt his grief. After losing Queen Violet something strange seemed to happen to King Peppy, he was no longer himself anymore. Just a few short years later he remarried a well to do troll named Lady Abilene.
One of the first laws she put into affect was her kingdom had to be perfect, which meant no un-troll like colors were allowed. The kingdom did have a few grey trolls that still mourning the loss of their kind queen and once Lady Abilene found out she had them arrested and taken away never to be seen or heard from again. This never really sat well with some trolls, Branch's mom and Grandma were a few of them.
"Why doesn't King Peppy do something about this?" Daffodil asked out loud as she prepared dinner one night.
"Because he is still hurting from the loss of Queen Violet," Rosiepuff sighed.
"Well it's not right," Daffodil replied "those trolls were just days away from being happy again."
"I know,"
Branch overheard them even though he knew they would not want him to listen in on their conversations. He let out a sigh as he looked at the palace off in the distance.
Everything changed for the blue troll when his little family were yanked away for no reason. He was all alone and sad. On the day they were taken away he turned grey, no longer his bright blue color. The village rejected him like he was an outsider, they did not want him in their village.