Chapter Text
“We can't keep this up King Peppy! I know Branch went through something indescribable, but we have a trolling of our own. We can't keep running after him everytime he runs to the woods to dig!” Skypper voices looking ready to pull her own teal hair out, her husband beside her nodding resolutely.
“Really Skypper, you work with trollings and you are telling me you can't handle one that is clearly traumatized?”
“That trolling is more than traumatized! There is no helping him! It has been a year and the boy still has no color and goes yelling about Bergans at a leaf falling!”
“Skypper.” King Poppy said in a reproachful tone looking at his fellow troll in disappointment. “That trolling watched that blasted Chef take his own grandmother, he lost his brothers and has no clue where they are. I will not have you treating him as a burden! I think it's best if you take some time off as a teacher, it's clear you are struggling to handle two trollings.”
“King Peppy you can't!” Skypper gasped in shock, unable to believe that her career was ending because of a gray trolling.
“I can and I will.” Tidal moved in front of his wife pushing her away from their King gently.
“Namaste, Skypper, namaste.” He muttered to calm her down knowing they were toeing the line by refusing to care for Branch any longer. If his wife overstepped the King they might be banished no matter how caring their King is. The loss of his oldest daughter had left the man very protective of the trollings that were orphaned.
“Young Branch, come here please.” King Peppy called over, smiling gently to the gray trolling. “You two are dismissed.” He said, giving them a sharp look when Skypper roughly took Creek out of Branch's arms. The two didn't say anything as they left and didn't spare Branch a second look.
Branch couldn't bring himself to look up at King Peppy, knowing he'd chased another attempt at a family away. King Peppy crouched down tilting Branch's head up so he could meet the trollings gaze.
“I'm sorry Branch, all this bouncing around is unfair to you and we have failed you. I promise Branch you will always have a place with Poppy, Cooper, Charmst, and I. Come along, dinner is almost ready, I will show you your room after, then tomorrow you can show me the bunker you're making, okay?” Branch's eyes widened and he nodded, taking the King's hand after the troll had stood up. “Good, I can't wait to see it!” King Peppy said with a kind smile as they walked.
“Are you sure about this King Peppy? I've chased everyone away, I'm a bad luck troll not a pop troll.” Branch voiced his thoughts out loud, looking ahead and unable to see the pain in the King’s eyes.
“No Branch, You are without a doubt a pop troll, I remember watching you and your brothers sing. You were amazing, all of you together and separate…you are a pop troll Branch never forget that. Never listen to anyone that tells you otherwise.” King Peppy stopped walking only to pick Branch up, carrying him. “I owe you and your brothers an apology, I never should've pushed you all to work so hard towards Family Harmony. You were all so young, that shouldn't have been on your shoulders even with the terrible times we were experiencing. One day I will get my chance to make it up to your brothers, but until then I will do everything in my power to make it up to you Branch.” Branch looked at him in wonder before smiling awkwardly and patting King Peppy's shoulder.
“It's okay King Peppy. Grandma always said that being a leader was the hardest job anyone could have, because you weren't allowed to have bad days. I think that's silly though because every troll has bad days and just because you're a King doesn't make you any less troll.” King Peppy chuckled using his hair to lift them into the pod.
“That is very insightful Branch, and very true. Underneath everything I am still a troll like everyone else. Unfortunately that doesn't mean my mistakes don't lead to much bigger outcomes.” Branched hummed nodding as he leaned against Peppy's chest relishing being held again after so long. “Let's not worry about the dealings of a King any longer, in this pod I am just Peppy, Uncle, and Dad. I hope we can make this a home for you Branch, a place you'll always feel safe.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Peppy said determinedly gently combing through Branch's hair. “You will always be welcome with us Branch, no matter what. Now let’s officially introduce you to my family.”
“Daddy!!”
“Unc’ Pep!”
Poppy and Cooper called out excitedly rushing towards Peppy and Branch while Charmst continued setting the table.
“Poppy, Cooper, Charmst, you all know Branch, he will be staying with us from now on.” Charmst looked up, pink eyes widening in surprise as he took in Branch. He turned grabbing an extra plate and silverware from the cabinets adding them to the table.
“Hi!” Poppy giggled, waving up at the older trolling while Cooper ran circles around Peppy, occasionally stopping to bounce in front of the man.
“Hi.” Branch nervously, pulling his leaf vest tighter around him. Poppy just giggled, stopping Cooper from bouncing around.
“I'm Poppy, and this is my cousin Cooper!”
“Hi!!” Cooper said laughing as he swayed back and forth.
“I'm Branch, nice to meet you Princess Poppy, Cooper.” Poppy giggled more, shaking her head.
“No, no! Just Poppy here! Princess outside the pod!” Branch nodded and thanked Peppy as he set him down.
“Okay Just Poppy.” Branch said, smiling slightly as his fellow trolling burst into giggles and Charmst snorted.
“Oh I like you Branch.” Charmst said with a grin as he moved the pot into the middle of the table. “Now come on all trolls wash your hands, supper is ready. Poppy, Cooper, show Branch the bathroom.” The two nodded and Poppy moved forward grabbing Branch's hand pulling him down the hall. Charmst watching them go waiting for them to be out of sight. “Little Branch is growing fast. I wish Rosiepuff was here to see it.” Peppy nodded, moving over and washing his hands in the kitchen sink.
“I wish his brothers were here to see it as well.” Charmst turned to Peppy with a sad look in his eyes. He had been the King's main guard practically since birth and knew the troll's regrets better than any other.
“Peppy, we were in a situation we never imagined. Could you have pushed a little gentler, yes, but you like a lot of us latched on to the fact that the siblings could achieve harmony. The thought of having that power against the Bergens made all of us pressure on them. You cannot take the blame fully.”
“I still am responsible for a bigger part of it. John Dory pushed himself beyond the limits to make them perfect, and it just caused them to fracture. Had we not pushed, I have no doubt they'd have achieved Family Harmony, and we'd all have escaped much sooner.” He dried his hands smiling when Chatmst grabbed his wrist squeezing it.
“Dwell not Peppy, dwell not. We must live in the present or the future will be messy.” Peppy chuckled, nodding as he turned to Charmst.
“Very true. Come let's join the trollings, you know how mess Cooper can get.” Charmst groaned at the mess his funky little trolling could make.
“Trust me, I don't need a reminder.”
“We're all washed up.” Branch called out walking up to them holding Cooper in his arms. Peppy looked around with a raised eyebrow knowing his daughter was not one to be left behind.
“Where is Poppy?” Branch blushed bringing a blue hue to his skin before turning around showing a giggling Poppy hanging on to his back.
“She insisted I carry them cause I'm bigger.”
“Poppy.”
“It's okay Ki-Peppy, I caved rather fast. She's a cute trolling, Cooper too.” Branch was quick to interject earning a fond smile from both Peppy and Charmst.
“Ah we have a fellow troll that's weak to the dreaded trolling eyes.” Charmst said with a chuckle earning a grumpy look from Branch.
“You don't have to point it out.” He mumbled, setting Cooper down in a chair as Peppy pulled Poppy off him. Charmst snorted, placing a hand on Branch's shoulder and leading him to a chair. He was careful to not get too close to the trolling, since Rosiepuff's death he had been more averse to touch. So much so he usually avoided hug time, which Charmst could understand. He felt overwhelmed sometimes when hug time happened.
“I hope you like Sweet berry Stew Branch, cause that's what I made for dinner. Cooper and Poppy love it so it's a regular at our table.” Charmst sat down as Peppy started dishing out bowls starting with Charmst and ending with himself.
“Sweet berry stew is nice. Floyd loved making it so we…we used to have it a lot.” Branch said softly, shaking his head to look back up at Charmst. “Thank you for the food.” Two more thank yous following him from Cooper and Poppy. Peppy chuckled, thanking Charmst himself while looking at his youngest daughter.
“We should've brought Branch here long ago, that's the first time we haven't needed to remind them to say thank you.” Peppy announced, causing Branch to look at him in surprise. “Looks like these two are looking up to you, what a good role model to have. One of our best singers and already a very intelligent troll at such a young age.”
“Are you sure I'm a good role model?”
“Positive.”