Chapter Text
Poppy had never been so alone in her life. For as long as she could remember she was surrounded by other trolls. Being the Princess– scratch that, Queen – Of possibly the friendliest creatures on earth made it hard to be by herself. Yet here she was, spending hours upon hours alone in a Diamond Prison. Day after day. Week after week. At least she thought, she wasn’t sure. Time was weird when you never saw the sun.
Being alone was better than getting all of the talent sucked out of you.
The Pop Queen glanced down at her hands, looking at the way the pink on her wrist and palm slowly faded to clear. She hated that she could see through herself. Poppy wasn’t someone who gave up, but it was getting easier and easier with every passing day.
Feeling overwhelmingly distraught, the Queen placed her head against the side of her new ‘home’. The loneliness ate away at her. She felt the tears prick her eyes. She needed to stay positive. She needed to stay positive. She needed to stay positive. It was a mantra, she said it over and over trying to make it true.
There wasn’t really a song left in Poppy’s heart, but she held on desperately. She started to sing softly. Her voice was hoarse from the succubi’s abuse, and wet with her own emotion.
Hey… I’m not giving up today
There’s nothing getting in my way…
And if… you knock, knock me over…I will get back up again
She choked back her own sobs, the tears were falling freely now. Poppy reached up and wiped at her eyes with the palm of her hand, forcing herself to continue on as she curled up, her tail wrapping around herself. She wanted to be as small as possible, she wanted to disappear. Still, she tried to sing with more confidence to trick herself.
If something goes a little wrong
You can go ahead and bring it on
‘Cause if you knock, knock me over
I will get back up agai–
“Poppy!” The pink troll stopped, a flutter of hope igniting deep in her gut. She sat up straighter and looked around, her eye’s finally landing on a troll jumping down from the vents above her, their hair fanning out like a parachute so they floated rather than fell.
“Branch!” Poppy jumped up at the sight of him, immediately crashing into the hard surface of the diamond perfume bottle. Her arms were extended out, wet cheek pressed firmly against the cool surface. She’d give anything to hug him right now– anything at all.
The faded blue troll landed on the table top, practically tripping over his feet as he hurried over to Poppy– pure relief written all over his features. He collided into the bottle himself, mimicking Poppy’s motion with his arms out wide and cheek pressed against the glass. “You–you’re okay!” He laughed, a few stray tears falling down his cheeks.
“You found me!” Poppy all but sobbed, feeling like her feet were going to give out on her. She pressed firmly against the glass, willing it to disappear so she could be in her boyfriend’s arms once more. It’d been so long since she’d held him– it’d been so long since she touched anything but this glass. “You found me…” She cried again, pulling back just slightly to look at him, hands still pressed on the glass against his. Neither of them moved.
Poppy and Branch’s eyes met, the two holding each other’s gazes for a few moments. “Of course I did.” The male spoke up, though his voice wavered as if he didn’t feel nearly as confident as the sentence suggested. “I’ll always find you.” He assured anyway. His eyes started to look over her face, the relief slowly washing off of his features. He started to frantically scan over her figure, moving left to right as he tried to examine her. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? You–” He paused, really taking her in.
Poppy could see the way he tensed. Her heart clenched as he looked her over. She knew how she looked. She saw her reflection non-stop every day. She looked dull, tired, and broken. Her vibrant magenta coloring had faded to a softer hue around most of her body. She had bags under her eyes– a combination of lack of sleep, crying, and literally getting her life force sucked out of her. Worst of all were the places she was visibly drained. Her feet, fingers, and ear tips were transparent. Stripes of white lined her hair. It was proof that she was….
She didn’t want to think about that. Stay positive.
“Oh, Poppy…” Branch placed his hand back on hers against the glass, his fingers shook. The look on his face destroyed the Queen. It was anguish.
“I’m okay.” She whispered, smiling at him softly. She suddenly remembered where they were– and while Poppy was so glad to see her boyfriend, worry overtook everything else. “You can’t be here– You have to leave! Velvet and Veneer– if they find you they’ll take you too!”
Branch swallowed thickly once more, determination clear on his face. “I’m not leaving without you. Stand back.” He said, reaching into his hair.
Poppy watched on in confusion as he pulled out a few glitter bombs. “Oh–Branch wait!” She tried to stop him but he tossed them anyway. They stuck along the side of the diamond and exploded– but other than the noise and slight shake it caused to Poppy, it didn’t do anything. He moved quickly onto the next thing and pulled out a glass cutter– of all things why did he have that? “Branch, listen to me–” Another failure. “--anch it’s not going to–” He continued trying to break her out, his motions getting more desperate and wild with each attempt. “BRANCH!” Poppy shouted, hitting the side of the glass.
He had a shovel positioned in the air, running towards the perfume bottle with a battle cry when she’d shouted like that. He stopped dead in his tracks, their eyes meeting. She pressed her hand against the crystal, motioning for him to join her. He put the shovel back into his hair and stepped forward, putting his hand against hers. “You aren’t going to be able to break it, Branch.” She told him softly, a sad smile on her features. “I’ve tried. I’ve tried to get the top off too– it won’t work. It’s made of diamond. Nothing can break diamond.” Her voice cracked, shoulders shrugging a bit.
She watched Branch’s face fall, his eyes scanning over the bottle frantically. He looked from the bottle and then around the room, then to the vents trying desperately to figure out some way of taking her away from here. “Branch you need to leave.” Poppy pressed again, tears falling from her eyes once more. She didn’t want him to leave. Muses, she didn't want him to go. She didn’t want to be torn back into that loneliness again. “They’re going to be back any minute now and you can’t get caught too. I can’t let you get caught too. There’s a way, this just isn’t it.”
His face twisted in pain, new tears starting to fall. “I don’t want to leave you.” He spoke so softly that Poppy almost missed it. He put his other hand against the glass, then his forehead, his eyes boring into her.
“I have been by your side from the moment we met, and you have been by mine.” Poppy mirrored him, a loving smile on her face as she put her forehead on his. For a moment it felt like the diamond was melting away. The world was gone, it was just her and her love. “Give yourself a little credit here. You aren’t leaving me. You’re finding a better way. We’ll find a way to break the diamond.” She had to believe the words herself, she couldn’t let Branch wallow. He already looked so faded…
Branch tensed suddenly, then sat up straight– a light in his eye. He had an idea. His tail shifted side to side with pent up energy. “Break the diamond.” He muttered. “That’s– of course! The Perfect Family Harmony!” He hit his fist lightly against the diamond bottle, a hopeful smile on his face.
“The who-with-the-what now?” The pink troll was very confused by her boyfriend’s outburst.
“But how do I find them? Where would I start? Are they even–” He started muttering quickly to himself, stepping away from Poppy and pacing. “Whatever! It doesn’t matter! Poppy!” He turned back to her, hand on hers like it was the most natural place for it to rest. “Listen– I can’t explain right now but I know what to do.”
“Branch, what are you talking about?” Poppy’s question was cut short as she heard the sound of ‘Super Pop Stars Velvet and Veneer’ down the hall. Her blood ran cold, fear clear on her face. “You need to go! Now!” She cried desperately.
“I’ll be back.” Branch pressed himself firmly against the crystal again, face scrunched up as he ‘hugged’ Poppy and she returned the gesture. “I’ll be back and I’ll get you out of here. I promise, Poppy. I’m not leaving you.” He backed up quickly, pulling a grappling hook from his hair and aiming it up to the vent he had come down from.
Poppy reached out towards him, her brows furrowing in worry and sadness. The loneliness was already creeping back on her. She could barely see Branch through her tears. “Branch,” She called to him softly, her voice cracking on his name. He had already shot off the hook, she heard it click in place. “I love you.”
He started rising to the ceiling just as the handle on the dressing room door started to turn. “I love you too, Poppy.” He said, loud enough for her to hear as he escaped into the vents undetected by the villainous duo.
Poppy watched him disappear from her world again, unsure if she had imagined the whole thing. She was brought back to her reality quite quickly.
Alone. Drained. Lost. Tired.
…Hopeful. Still hopeful.
“...oppy…Poppy? Pop-py?” The pink troll blinked a couple times when she felt a knuckle gently run up the curve of her nose. She went crossed-eyed looking at it for a moment before scrunching her face and looking at the owner of said knuckle.
Branch smiled lazily at her, looking like he’d just woken up. His hair was still tangled with hers from the night. He traced his thumb against Poppy’s arms through her pajamas. His brow was creased a bit in worry as he looked at his Queen. “You okay? You were really spacing out there.”
Poppy had been awake for a while. Really, she wasn’t sure she slept at all. It’d been a few days since they had returned to Pop Village. A few days since she’d been barely saved at Mount Rageous. Since her world was turned upside down in ways outside her wildest imagination. Learning Branch not only had four older brothers and that he was Bitty B from BroZone was enough of a shocker, but also finding out she had a long lost sister was a lot to process. Oh, and the dying.
She tried not to think about that though.
It was hard not to. That’s why she was here, laying in Branch’s arms. She found that she hated sleeping alone now and Branch was exactly who she needed to be with. He always pulled her back. Just like now. She’d been so lost in her own thoughts and memories that she hadn’t noticed when he woke up and started speaking to her until he’d physically reached in and brought her back to the surface.
“Branch, M’man.” She grinned widely, the spark of joy igniting on her face– even if she didn’t fully feel it. She snuggled close to her boyfriend and pressed a loving good morning kiss to his lips, which he bashfully returned. “I’m okay.” She spoke softly against his lips, nuzzling their noses together. “I woke up but I was so comfortable I didn’t want to move or wake you up. I was daydreaming.” She practically whispered, wanting to keep the moment between them.
They were inside of Branch’s bunker, Poppy having preferred it to her Pod since their return. Floyd and Clay were both currently staying here. JD resided with Rhonda on the surface, but was often inside of the bunker for the bathroom or kitchen or just to hang out. Bruce was back on Vacay Island, but would be arriving to visit with the brothers in a few days and planned to stay for two weeks.
“Oh yeah? What about?” Branch asked softly. He looked down at her, making no move to untangle their hair and get out of this little cuddle puddle they found themselves in. He reached his hand up, gently cupping her cheek and running his thumb over her glitter freckles.
Poppy could melt at the way he looked at her. There was so much love and adoration in his eyes. She was so happy to be right here, back in his arms. It was almost enough to make her forget what she had been remembering. She tensed for half a second– barely noticeable as she quickly brushed her way through it. “You, mostly.” Was her response. She didn’t like lying to Branch, but didn’t think that this was technically lying. She was thinking about him. “I was thinking about how happy I am to be here. With you.” She placed her hand over his and leaned into his warm touch. Also true. It was much better to be here in his arms than with a glass wall partition.
She wanted to protect Branch from how dark and twisty she felt right now. She was the happiest troll alive. It was a title she’d had since she was a baby. She couldn’t let her people, couldn’t let Branch see how much all of this had affected her. She’d worried her boyfriend enough through this whole ordeal.
“Yeah. I’m really happy about that too.” Branch said just as quietly, resting his forehead against hers. He nudged his nose against hers softly, basking in her presence. He kept his movements gentle, a slight hesitation as his hands moved up her sides and he pressed another kiss to her lips.
Poppy accepted the kiss with a happy hum, but as she pressed in for more he pulled away. It went on like this for a bit. The pink troll couldn’t help but feel a heavy weight growing in her stomach. Ever since they’d gotten back any time they had a spare moment alone it was like this. It felt as if Branch was afraid to touch her. He was so cautious, his hands constantly hovering rather than grazing. He’d peck her, but wouldn’t let it progress much more and pull away if Poppy tried to press in. You’re still recovering. He’d say, looking at her with worry… pity. Disgust? She didn’t know. It made her feel like she was broken.
It wasn’t like her and Branch had ever done anything other than kissing, cuddling, and occasional (though now more frequent) sleep overs…. But Poppy felt so powerfully in need of comfort. Comfort that she only wanted from Branch. Which is why it was so frustrating to her that he kept on denying it.
She just wanted to make out with her Boyfriend, damn it!
Poppy gave up quickly. Branch hadn’t relented yet and she frankly didn’t have the fight in her this morning. She still pouted at him though, letting her annoyance with him shine even as he dazzled her with an apologetic smile. She blew out a soft bit of air and traced her fingers over his back. “I need to get up.” She told him. “I’ve got a lot to do today and need to get back to my pod so I can take a shower before morning song.”
Branch looked at her confused. “You’re doing Morning Song?” he asked, shaking his head. “Poppy, you should really rest more. You don’t need to do Morning Song or any of your duties yet. Everyone understands, take more time to–”
“--Recover, yes I know.” Poppy interrupted him, patting lightly on his chest. She grinned brightly and hummed, her fingers dancing playfully over his collar bone. “Branch, I told you. I’m fine! I feel fine. I promise you, I slept for like two whole days and now I’m ready to get back at it! I can’t just lay around and rest, that is so boring!” She whined dramatically, wiggling in his arms. Boredom led to thinking. If she thought too much she’d get sad and she couldn’t afford to get sad. She had a kingdom to lead! A Kingdom she’d been away from for practically 2 months!
“I have so much to do today.” She pat Branch’s cheek and started to untangle their hair and tails. At first her boyfriend wouldn’t let go, but he slowly relented. “I must participate in the morning song because it has been far too long since I have sung– I have rested my voice enough thank-you-very-much!” She wiggled her finger in front of his face. At Branch’s request Poppy had not been singing and dancing. He’d been a helicopter boyfriend, following her everywhere and watching her every move. For the most part it was endearing… and a comfort. “I’m meeting with builders so that I can get plans for Viva’s pod finalized– which she will be joining of course– but I also need to go over all of the TrollsTopia plans with them too since we’ve gotten so far behind! Dad wanted to have a family lunch and Satin and Chenille need to see me for a final fitting because they made a dress for the party welcoming me back to tonight– speaking of which I’ll need to make sure the party committee has everything they need so that everyone has plenty of fun and food and music–” She continued on, managing to get out of the bed and heading towards the bathroom.
“Wha– Poppy, No! You are not going to help with the planning of the party being held in your honor!” He balked. In truth, Branch didn’t want the party at all. Poppy may have been saying she felt fine, but he knew better. She was exhausted. She wasn’t sleeping and she was still weak from what those monsters had done to her. But she was Poppy. So of course she was all smiles and bouncing around and trying to get right back at her duties. She seemed as chipper as ever, but her smiles weren’t reaching her eyes as much anymore. “Listen, I understand wanting– needing to get back to your schedule, but I think it’d be more productive and reasonable to do it at a slower pace. Like, maybe today you just do the Morning Song, Lunch, and the fitting. Viva can finalize her own plans, TrollsTopia can wait a little longer and the party is being held for you. ”
Poppy hummed as if she was thinking it over. “Naaaah.” She heard Branch sigh deeply, frustrated with her. She knew it seemed like she just wasn’t listening to him, an issue was still working on. Her shoulders slumped slightly in defeat and she walked back to the bed to kiss his forehead. “I’ll do Morning Song, lunch, and fitting…aaand approval for Viva’s pod. I promised. I’ll let the party planners do their job and I’ll worry about TrollsTopia another day.” She offered.
Branch visibly loosened up at the compromise. “Fair enough.” he took her hand and gave it a kiss. “Deal.”
Branch had followed Poppy all the way back to her pod. It was something Poppy was used to after the last couple of days. She was never left by herself unless she was in the bathroom at this point. A majority of the time it was her doting boyfriend who stayed by her side. He was close beside her everywhere they went and he was keeping a very attentive eye on her. For the most part it was endearing. He’d check up on her and easily take her hand when she reached for his. On the flip side, he constantly flinched as if he was going to have to catch her or stop her from doing something he deemed ‘dangerous’.
The other troll who took her time was, of course, Viva. Poppy was so super excited to learn she had a sister. She’d always wanted a sister! Viva was so much like her and getting to know her had been so fun–... but also so draining. Poppy wanted to talk, and sing, and braid each other’s hair and giggle about romance but… she just found herself zoning out at moments. Viva has been very much like Branch, constantly doting on her and making sure she was okay. Viva was much more visible with her anxiety than Branch was though.
And Poppy couldn’t help but feel incredibly hurt that her father had never mentioned her sister to her before.
King of Secrets, that guy. She thought sarcastically.
The two love-bugs stood at the doorway of Poppy’s pod holding each other’s hands. “You’re sure you’re going to be okay?” Branch asked quietly, nervously looking at the door of her home and back to her bright eyes.
She smiled adoringly at him. It was cute that he was so concerned. “Branch, I’m just going to take a shower and eat something, then join the morning song with Viva. I’ll be alone, in my safe, cozy pod, for less than an hour.” A pink hand reached up to gently brush against his cheek. He leaned into it. “You promised, JD. Go. Build bonds with your brothers and all that ooey gooey stuff.” She giggled and nuzzled their noses together, earning a beautiful chuckle from the troll in front her as well.
“Fine.” Branch knew he was going to have to give her independence back. He couldn’t hover over her forever. He could tell it was starting to wear on her and he understood needing a bit of space. Even if it hurt his very soul to be away from her. “I’ll find you whenever we get back.”
Poppy nodded once in understanding. “Okay. I love you.” She told him, kissing his cheek and squeezing his hands.
“I love you, too.” He replied, no hesitation. He accepted the cheek kiss graciously and let her slip into her pod. He waited a few moments before walking away to head back in the direction of his hideout to meet with his oldest brother.
Just as she had promised, Poppy stepped into her pod and immediately went to her bathroom to prepare a shower. She turned the faucet on and waited for the shower to get hot as she shed her clothes. She tried not to look at herself in the mirror. Poppy has always been very confident in herself. She knew she was a pretty troll! But ever since everything had happened her complexion was just a constant reminder.
Her skin was still pink, mostly the same hue it had been since birth, though it seemed just slightly paler in color. Her freckles had gotten notably whiter. There had always been silver, but the pinks and purples that once dotted her cheeks and shoulders were mostly gone. Her hair was the biggest change. She was no longer a solid color and now had dual-toned pink and white hair. The white fanned out from the roots, leaving the tips of her ponytail and bangs the usual magenta.
She wondered if she was still pretty.
Poppy shook the thought out of her mind. Of course she was still pretty! She was still her! So what if she had changed? People change all the time. It didn’t mean that she wasn’t still pretty. Branch still thought she was pretty. Though, now that she thought about it, he hadn’t really… ever called her pretty before.
The Queen quickly shook herself out of that train of thought. What was going on with her? She was the Most Positive Troll Alive! She was here, and she was fine. She got herself hyped up as she took her shower, repeating words of affirmation for her day. She was going to have a good day. She was going to have fun today. She was going to smile so much today!
She could do this.
Poppy went about her morning routine. Breakfast, finding the right outfit, making sure her hair was combed and pristine. Everything she used to do in the morning. Everything she usually does in the morning.
She had just fixed the crown on her head when she heard her sister's already familiar and upbeat voice fill the morning air. It was a warm, inviting presence. Viva was starting the morning song.
Since they had returned to the village Viva had been taking over the morning song routine to keep the trolls spirits up now that Poppy was back. Poppy hadn’t been participating– per Branch’s insistence– so the Queen was not surprised that Viva was unaware she wanted to join in.
“Okay! Let’s do this!” Poppy grinned at herself, pumping up to join in with the rest of her Tribe as the upbeat Pop Song began to welcome in the new day. The pink girl turned to open her pod door but just as she was about to push on it she froze. Her entire body felt like lead. It was as if every fiber of her being was pulling her back from this. She stepped back and took a deep breath. “Whoa…” She laughed nervously. “I… I didn’t think I’d be so… uwablaah.” She shook her hands in front of her to get some of her anxiety out.
Poppy listened to the trolls on the other side of the door, gleefully singling. Her stomach churned. She needed to join them. She had to join them. She quickly opened her pod door, watching the ensemble of people move further down the village square. The queen opened her mouth to start singing with her people– urging her body to run towards them.
Her throat clogged painfully. Poppy could only manage a squeak. Terror trapped the Pop Queen. She panted heavily and tried again. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t make her voice manifest. It was as if there was a wall preventing her from doing so. A hard, stone, blockade in her throat that stopped any sound, any breath from leaving her if she dared utter a note.
She clawed at her throat as the horror and realization sunk in. She couldn’t– oh muses.
Poppy couldn’t sing.