Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Poppy wonders why she is here. 

Her father, ruler of the Pop Kingdom bore two daughters: her eldest sister, Viva, and herself. Their mother was killed in an assassination by a neighboring kingdom which means Viva is heir to the crown. Poppy, however, is merely next in line should her father and Viva fall. She is not interested in claiming the crown nor does she care for the politics of the other kingdoms. And yet, she is kept behind the stone walls of the castle. 

"It's for your own good." Viva once said to her.

"The world is not a safe place." Her father would agree with Viva.  

She sighs. 

It is a dark thought for contemplating her existence but she can't help it. Is life worth living if she cannot control it on her own terms? It's absurd. It had been two decades since the assassination, and not only had they killed those responsible, but they also made peace with the neighboring kingdom. It's not fair that she has to accept this fate.

During the day, she is constantly surrounded by watchful eyes - her father's guards, her personal handmaiden, and even her own thoughts are a barrier against her freedom. There have been times where she does manage to slip by only for Viva and her personal guards to swiftly catch her. 

So now it's why she's here.

On dark nights where the castle is quiet, Poppy finds herself sneaking out of her bedroom and heading back towards the library of the castle where she can pretend that she is not a princess. Gone are the guards, Viva, the King who was once a hero in the Pop Kingdom, and anyone else keeping a watchful eye on her. Here, she is free to move about as she pleases. 

Her soft purring fills the air as she gracefully glides out from between a maze of bookshelves, her nightgown trailing behind her. Her delicate paw gently caresses the spines of the books as she playfully hops along the aisle. The familiar touch and scent of the worn pages brings a sense of peace and tranquility, even in the quiet darkness of the night. Every step she takes seems to be in harmony with a soothing melody that she hums to herself, a tune that was once sung to her by her mother.

A cold wind blows around her as she makes her way towards the back. Poppy instantly stops moving, why would there be a cold wind in the library? A chill goes down to her spine and her eyes widen with surprise. 

Someone is here.

Before she realizes it, the shadows move and a paw suddenly darts out of the darkness, grabbing her and slamming her against the bookshelf.

A sharp, startled squeak escapes her lips as the intruder forcefully pins her. His heavy paws rough against her skin, covering her mouth to silence any cries for help. His thick, dark hair bounds over her ponytail, preventing any movement of her own hair. With a single digit pressed to his lips, he signals for silence.

Ignoring, she attempts a scream, thrashing against the intruder's paws. It is no use, she couldn't get free. A voice whispers close to her ear, startling her.

"Shh," the voice commands. Her ear twitches at the unexpected gentleness of the command.

Poppy obliges for now. 

She lifts her gaze and sees a figure in a black robe standing over her. The hood obscures his face, making it blend into the darkness, but his turquoise eyes stand out. Piercing and cold. 

His aura exudes a dangerous presence. 

Poppy's throat tightens as the intruder leans closer, pressing his second paw above her head. Their faces are inches apart, close enough for her to feel his breath on her cheek. Her skin prickles and she reflexively shuts her eyes. Her father and sister were right; the world isn't all cupcakes and rainbows like she had imagined. Thoughts of her loved ones races through her mind as she comes to the realization that this may be her last few minutes alive, at the hands of this intruder. A fate she once pondered but came to regret. She wonders if this is what her life has boiled down to after all this time.

A lifetime of reading books and attending to her family's needs, each day the same with the lack of excitement and fun. Though she is often frustrated with their overprotectiveness - if it could even be called that - she cares deeply for them. She envisions the aftermath of her death, and how her family will react when they see her lifeless figure on the ground. The thought of their grief and pain is something she never wants to burden them with. An intense desire to survive surges through her, her eyes open, and she quickly takes hold of his paw from her mouth. Her claws pierce into his skin, causing him to flinch for a moment - his hair and grip loosening as a result. In a swift movement, she uses her hair to deliver a punch and create distance between them. She attempts to run with the momentary distraction before she tries to yell for help. She is damned if she dies here without fighting back.

But just as quickly, the intruder bounces back and retaliates by using his own hair to wrap around her mouth, muffling her sounds. He pulls her closer and pinning her down the ground instead. His body is indecently pushing against her as he binds her wrist with his paws, his legs pressing between her own. His hood falls as he growls in annoyance. Poppy looks back up to his blue gaze and notice the color of his skin: dulled, blue as the night sky, and marked with many scars.

"I ask once more." He says, glaring down at her. "Be quiet."

She stays still. She couldn't fight back even if she tried in this position. 

He studies her carefully, wondering if she will cooperate. He pauses, loosening his hold on her wrists to avoid causing any bruises, but still keeping her restrained.

"I have no intention of harming you," He says simply. "Do you understand?"

Their exchange is silent; he will release her if she remains quiet. It could be a trap, but she believes that if he wanted to kill her, he would have done so by now. Her option seems limited regardless so she nods slowly to show she understands.

The intruder watches her for a moment before he relaxes his grip, then slowly removes his hair and stands up from her. He places his hood back up, masking his face and expression. Poppy rubs at her wrist, takes in a breath, and stands before him. Under the moonlight peering through the window, she notices she's slightly taller than him. She opens her mouth to ask the questions that's plaguing her mind but he lifts his hand, reminding her of the deal that just took place.

Staying quiet. Right.

She shuts her mouth and trails behind him as he glides through the library. His cloak swishes behind him as she matches his pace, watching curiously as he pores over the enchanted books. She hears him muttering incantations under his breath to break the spells protecting the pages before enchanting them once again. It doesn't take long for her to realize that he is a mage, but she can't help wondering what he is searching for.

"I could help." Poppy speaks up without really knowing why. She's offering help to a complete stranger, someone she does not know but something about his demeanor— frantic, worried, and exudes urgency— that compels her to reach out. He is looking for help. Suddenly, he stops and looks over at the princess, seeming unsure if he should ask. After a moment of contemplation, he shakes his head and jumps onto the window ledge, disappearing into the darkness of the night. 

She starts to follow, but then realizes he has put up the same enchantment that her family place to prevent her from following him.

A groan escapes her mouth before she returns to her room. Poppy wonders if she should tell her sister or her father about the intruder but decides against it. It's not like she would see him again.

Chapter Text

As the youngest, Branch often finds himself comparing his capabilities to his brothers.

He's not a natural leader like his eldest brother, nor as charming and charismatic as Bruce. He may not be as intelligent and fun as Clay or as creative and compassionate as Floyd. So it comes as a shock to him when he discovers that he is the only one in the family that can wield magic.

The ability to use sorcery is a rare gift among trolls. Although they are inherently magical creatures, not many possess the power to wield it. Their hair may have the ability to camouflage, stretch for defense or attack, and even change into different forms, but these are limited abilities. Using incantations, detecting, and harnessing magic is a different matter entirely. It is believed to be a gift bestowed by the muses themselves. Only a select few have the power to create from nothing.

Some say only those of royal blood possess this gift.

Branch knows he's living proof that wasn't true but he doesn't question it. He knows to not look at a gift horse in the mouth. 

That is why he is standing here in the dead of night, sneaking his way into the fortress of the Pop Kingdom. Only he can break through the magical force field. Only he can get through the enchanted books. It's essential that he does so in order to save his brother, Floyd. The giants had placed a curse on his brother, trapping him into a crystal and slowly draining his life force. It was a robbery gone wrong and Floyd paid the price.

Somewhere within the royal's books there must be an answer to break the curse and release him.

He does find information of a stone with the power to shatter crystals. When he told his eldest brother the information, JD expressed discontent over him breaking into one of the most heavily guarded locations in the whole kingdom. But it must be him. For Floyd's life, he must.

It has been a week since his initial break-in. He wonders if the troll had reported him and and prompted an increase the security, but there have been no signs of activity. Maybe she was genuine about wanting to help him. He shakes his head as he continues to the library.

No, that's not relevant.

Muttering to himself, he murmurs a spell to lower the magical barrier surrounding the library before silently entering through the window as he had done previously. Not sensing anyone present, he drops his hood, retrieves a small lamp from his hair, and whispers an incantation to ignite it. However, the light reveals the troll he encountered before. Her face appears out of nowhere from the light. He accidentally drops the lamp to the ground as a result. It clangs as it hits the stone floor.

Speak of the devil.

"Fuck." Branch curses as he picks up the lamp from the ground. How can she sneak up on him like that? He had experienced this before, the first time he broke in. He was aware of her humming before he noticed her presence. It is strange that there is no trace of magic, especially since he could usually detect any magical beings, even trolls. The pink troll grins mischievously at him.

"Hey, you're back," she says nonchalantly, her hands hiding behind her back as she rocks on her heels. Does she not fear that he could harm her at any moment? He looks over at her and the pink troll humors him by placing a single digit over her mouth, indicating she would be quiet. 

A lie for sure but he has no time for this. 

He pays her no attention as he strolls down the aisle of bookshelves. She hums a tune as she follows him, skipping along. It does not look like she would be alerting the guards.

Perhaps, she is not meant to be here as well. This works out for him as he goes through his routine of removing the barriers and reading through the books before putting the barrier back up. The last thing he would want is to alert the royal guards that the books have been compromised. The pink troll would pop in and out, observing him as he moved through the library like a phantom. He blends into the shadows with his cloak and she often wonders if he is gone at times. However, she can hear his frustrated grunts as he searches through the books.

Nothing.

Nothing here as well.

Almost an hour has passed and he still hasn't found anything. His brothers would be disappointed if he returned with nothing to show for his efforts.

He sighs.

Floyd. He can't let Floyd down. 

Irritation creeps across his face, and he slams a book back into place before rubbing his temples in exasperation. The unwanted companion slips his mind until she chimes in.

"What are you searching for?" She asks, tilting her head to the side and carefully examining him with his hood down. "Maybe I can help." 

Branch scoffs, crossing his arms. She can't be serious.

"I sneak into the library and tackle you to the ground, making sure you stay quiet so I don't get caught. You must be insane." He asks with a hint of sarcasm. "Why would you want to help me?"

He can see the annoyance in her expression, and it brings him a sense of satisfaction.  

"And, what, you're just going to check every book in this library until the end of time? Thought mages are suppose to be smart." She mimics his stance, jutting her chin up defiantly.

He growls. She has a point. 

Biting back his frustration, Branch grinds out the word "fine" through gritted teeth. Every instinct in him screams that this could be a trap, but he has nothing to go on. He reluctantly drops his tense arms to his sides, defeated by her smug grin of victory. 

"I'm looking for a cure for a curse," he reveals, hesitating before adding, "A crystal. Supposedly, achieving perfect harmony would break the crystal, but I also need a stone. I need to know where the stone might be."

He doesn't feel the need to disclose all the details to her. She thinks for a moment, then shrugs and starts browsing through the books on her own. He notices that the books respond differently to her, as she is able to view their contents without having to reveal them first.

"So, are you the librarian or something?" Branch asks as he grabs one of the books in this aisle. He pretends to be nonchalant about it but his curiousity on why she's helping him grows stronger. 

She is surprised by his unexpected question. 

"Oh no, I'm," Her sudden stop is followed by a nervous laugh before continuing. "Yeah, I am."

Branch stares at her and his eyebrows furrow as he tries to read her intentions but decides to focus on the task at hand. As they continue searching through the library together, she continues to hum softly. He feels he should know the melody from somewhere but his thought is interrupted when she tries to make conversation.

"Any chance I get your name?" she asks, with a hopeful tone. He responds with a pointed glare and a dramatic eye roll, not bothering to give an answer. She lets out a defeated sigh and returns her focus to the book in front of her, but her eyes widen as she reads the words on the page. He sees her reaction and reaches out to take the book from her, but it resists his grasp and sends a shock through his paw, causing him to drop it in surprise.

She playfully sticks out her tongue at him, teasingly taunting him.

"Looks like someone needs my assistance now," she says with a smirk before she picks up the book. He mutters to himself, extending his paw towards her but she pulls away.

"Not so fast." She says smugly. "Your name."

He considers lying to her, but she looks at him with an unwavering gaze. He gives in. "Branch." 

She beams at him, then flips open the book. The words light up as she reads the words on the page.

"According to this, the crystal stone is in Volcano Valley, guarded by a fortress surrounded by molten lava. To reach it, you must cross over the troll forest, and make your way to the right of the slippery slope and fearsome forest." He waits as she flips through more of the book. 

"There is a spell that you must sing to get through the valley and retrieve the stone." She turns the book to him as he looks but he sees nothing on the page. What? 

"I don't see it." He frowns. She turns the book back to herself, tilting her head in confusion.  

"I can see it here but it's pretty long." She murmurs something in a different language under her breath, causing the book to react before she can stop it. He recognizes it as ancient magic, only known by those with ties to the royal family. 

"Who are you?" He demands. She quickly shuts the book and stumbles back, nervously avoiding his gaze. She did not give an answer so he looks over at the book she's carrying. He moves closer to her once again. He asks with force, "I need that book." 

"Take it." she says, trying to shove the book into his chest but it sends out another shock, causing him to drop it. There is a protection around the book that he cannot decipher or remove. As they both look down at the book and then back at each other, their tense expressions reveal one thing. 

Shit, he needs her.  

Chapter Text

It doesn't take Poppy long to start running. 

She is aware of the situation. Though she may be naive, she is far from foolish. The damned book only responds to her, and she and the stranger is well aware of this fact. She knows the troll named Branch cannot leave without her and the book so she takes refuge in the shadows of the moonless night while he searches for her relentlessly. 

Curse her heart. 

Despite her better judgement, she couldn't resist the urge to help him. Curiosity got the best of her and Poppy has never seen another mage other than her sister. Whether it is by pure boredom or interest, her decision to try and help led her to this situation. She spots the exit to the library and realizes all she has to do is escape and alert the guards. 

Silently, she moves among the bookshelves, her footsteps barely audible. She can hear the flutter of Branch's cloak and the clink of his swinging lamp as he searches the library. She knows he is nearby with the light from the lamp shining by. Spotting an opening between shelves, Poppy slips behind them, hoping to avoid being seen. She holds her breath as she hears Branch's footsteps approach, pause, and then continue past her hiding spot. Despite his hood covering his face, she can tell from his worried expression that he senses something is amiss. Taking a deep breath, she makes a dash for the exit.

Almost.

Just a little bit. 

However, as she nears the door, fate has other plans as she finds herself in a familiar scenario. Pinned down by Branch with a smug smile on his face. The light from the flickering lamp casts a glow, revealing her irritation at being discovered.

"Gotcha." He says triumphantly. She huffs her hair out of her face. 

Drat. 

"Is this really necessary?" She questions Branch, a hint of annoyance in her voice. Branch looks over at her: hair tied in knots, handcuffed, and the book tied to her like it's a lifeline. She glances at the morning sky; this is the first she's been outside of the castle. But despite the change in scenery, she still feels trapped, as if she has simply traded one prison for another. 

He grunts a yes in response. 

"Where are we going anyways?" She asks, temporarily taking in at least the cool morning air. No reply. Of course, what did she expect? As they venture deeper into the forest, they hear the sound of guards' footsteps close by. Before she can make a sound, he covers her mouth with his hair and pulls her up into the branches, blending in with the spring foliage. The soldiers below continue on their patrol, unaware that the youngest princess has gone missing. 

Her sister and father immediately come to mind, and she makes a face. They are not going to be happy about this.

She looks over at her... new unwanted traveling companion. Technically, her captor but that word doesn't sound fun as it reminds her of the situation. The morning light shows more of his skin, less dull and the blue of his skin shines closer to his eyes. She notices more of his scars now, a small scratch above his eye and faint lines trailing from his cheek to his chin.

Noticing her gaze, he pulls up his hood and waits until the soldiers have passed by before swinging down to the lowest branch with Poppy. They both land on their feet, and he unravels his hair from her as she sighs.

"Look, I will help you." Poppy offers. He stops in front of her, his ears twitching at her words. She thinks about the predicament she's in and tries to strike a deal. She doesn't want to keep going like this especially when it gets harder to hide, "I promise I'll come with you without all of this."

Poppy gestures to all of herself in her chained paws. She throws an unflattering stare at his way and he rolls his eyes. He crosses his arms and says, "What's in it for you? I doubt you're doing this out of the kindness of your heart."

"Sometimes, people do things out of the goodness of their heart." She replies as a matter of fact. He raises an eyebrow, giving her an unimpressed look. Honestly, she just wants out of these chains already but she knows he doesn't trust her. While she knows nothing of this troll, she senses everything that he does is transactional. That's okay; she can work with that.

"How about you teach me some magic?" Poppy suggests with a sly grin. She knows her family's history with magic but her family claims she has none of her own. She never bothered to learn why - whether it was due to their intense efforts to protect her, or some other reason. But when she watched Branch perform it so casually, her curiosity and desire to learn grows stronger. The book's reaction confirms her suspicion that her family was not being entirely truthful. But that is a matter she will have to address at another time.

His arms fall to the sides as she surprises him with her proposition. "You don't know magic?"

She scoffs. "If I knew, I wouldn't be in this position."

"But." He starts to say but he blinks and looks at her to see if she is being truthful. 

"If you want, I'll even make it," she says, pondering, "a pinky promise."

"No, no pinky promise." Branch says shortly. "If you try anything..."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it, now can we get on with it?" Poppy taps her paw impatiently, urging him to continue. He hesitates and looks at her with uncertainty before finally reaching into his hair for the key to unlock her handcuffs. Poppy quickly rubs her sore wrists before and then unties her hair back into a ponytail. She places the book inside instead and she finally takes a breath. 

"Alright! Lead the way, my man." She grins at him. All she has to do is just get this stone for him, learn some magic, and she can prove to her family that she is more than capable of taking care of herself. What can go wrong?

"You-!" He mutters angrily. The flopper hooper takes off and disappears into the meadows. It has been an hour since they ventured deeper into the forest. Exhausted, Poppy suggests taking a break, but she didn't expect Branch to start hunting friendly critters! He looks at her with frustration before putting away his crossbow. "I can't believe you let my dinner get away."

"Not just your dinner." Poppy corrects, then scolds her new travel partner. "But killing a critter? There are other ways to get food. Can't you, like, conjure something up?" 

He glares at her, his tone sharp.

"That's not how it works," he insists but sighs. She casually shrugs her shoulders before using her hair to propel herself towards the tree. With a confident grab, she plucks an apple from the branches and takes a bite. Smirking at him, she declares, "See? No need to harm a critter for food."

He follows her up the tree, leaning back against it once they reach a comfortable spot. He gazes at her, then finally poses the question that has been on his mind. "I don't believe I caught your name,"

"Oh." Poppy takes another bite into the apple, pondering. "You can call me Poppy." 

He sends out a hum. "Poppy."

A chill runs down her spine as she realizes that Viva and her father are the only ones who call her Poppy. Everyone else addresses her as Princess or Your Highness. Oddly, she finds this refreshing. Despite their rocky start, she wants to learn more about her companion since the stone clearly holds great significance to him. Her thoughts get interrupted as Branch drops down from the tree. She was about to follow until she hears a voice.

"You there!" She freezes. A royal guard stands before Branch. How did they not notice? She glances down at Branch who shoots her a quick look that serves a reminder: remember your promise. She stays quiet as she watches the scene unfolds. 

"Have you seen a pink troll pass through here? Ponytail?" The royal guard questions. Poppy internally panics. Her family must have realized that she's gone. Branch shakes his head as he remains silent. 

The guard stares down at him before firmly grasping his cloak, his tone menacing as he says, "I'll ask again and I hope you'll actually speak with some respect."

Branch meets his gaze with a defiant glare, but remains stubbornly silent.

"Did the Princess named Poppy pass through here?" The guard asks firmly. A surprise look flash upon on Branch's face and he resists the urge to look up. He instead replies through gritted teeth,

"No. I haven't seen her. You may have just ruined my chance at dinner. I was hunting for floppers in this area." He looks directly into the troll's eyes, his chin high and his back straight. The guard tempts to pull out his sword and Poppy can see Branch reaching something in his cloak. Before the situation escalates, the guard hears someone calling for his name and he drops Branch as a result. 

"Some other time." The guard coldly says before he steps away from Branch. When the guard disappears from his sight, he waits and checks for other magical presence. He brushes off the dirt from his clothes and calls to Poppy,

"You can come down now." 

Poppy swings down to the ground as she lands onto her feet.

"What was that?" She hisses at him, gesturing towards something hidden in his cloak. It looks like he was planning to harm the guard. He responds by crossing his arms and giving her a glare.

"I don't have to explain anything to you." He says in a cold tone before adding. "Princess."

Oh, right. She never did tell him that.

Chapter Text

Branch is sure the fates are laughing at him. Or whatever muses up there is playing with him. 

A princess. 

He harbors no love for monarchies. To him, Princesses, kings, queens - they are not leaders. Not when they get to live in big shiny castles. Not when they abandon their people in times of need. His grandmother's face briefly crosses his mind before he pushes the thought away. He must stay focused on the task at hand. 

His gaze shifts towards the princess. He still requires her assistance, despite any reservations he may have with the royal family. It finally clicked why the book had responded to her, but it only left him with more questions. Was she intentionally hiding her magic? Whenever he scanned for magical beings, hers remained completely undetected. She claims she knows no magic and it surprised him at the time since she knows the language of ancient magic. Something doesn't add up.

Poppy forces out a nervous laugh while playing with her paws, "Yep, that's me. Princess Poppy." 

He lets out an exasperated sigh. They're wasting valuable time, and the faster they retrieve the stone, the sooner he can be done with her. 

"Let's just go," he grumbles before sweeping his cloak aside and striding past her.

"Wha, hey!" she protests as she chases after him. "Are we going to talk about what happened back there?"

Branch remains quiet, keeping a steady pace. He is aware that the guard was itching to attack him, like so many others before. His grey years may be long gone but the scars still remain. He self-consciously touches the scar on his cheek before walking a little bit faster. 

"Nothing to talk about." After a long pause, he finally says. Poppy steps in front of him, forcing him to stop. She scolds him, demanding, "Seriously? I need to know if you are planning to harm anyone."

He rolls his eyes. This princess, he swears. 

"No." He retorts. "If the guard had made the first move, I would have defended myself."

"Unless, you're somehow fine with the guard doing what he wants." Branch adds with a hint of disdain. He pushes forward, determined to end the conversation.

Poppy's mouth falls open in shock and she instinctively takes a step back. 

"Obviously not, but I doubt the guards would act without reason." she responds with conviction. She catches up to him again and Branch gives her a disapproving look. She blinks in confusion and he wonders if she's truly naive or stubbornly determined to maintain the status quo. Either way, he doesn't have time to argue with her.

"Whatever, princess. Let's just leave before we draw any unwanted attention." he says swiftly, not wanting to attract the other creatures in the forest. They still have a lot of daylight left before they need to set up camp for the night. She bristles at his use of the term "princess." 

"Poppy." she states with a strong tone in her voice. 

"Princess." He counters, matching her assertiveness. He takes pleasure as he sees the annoyance that crosses her face. She fixes him with a glare, her lips pressed tight in a rare moment of silence. It's the first time there has been silence between them during this journey.

It suits Branch this way.

Branch should have known the moment wouldn't last long.

"Are we going the right way?" 

"Yes."

"Aww what a cute— hey! You scared it off!"

"No."

"You're no fun."

"Are you sure about those berries?"

"Yes."

"Ooh I see a river down there!"

"No, princess. No!"

As night falls, the growling of their stomachs prompts them to make camp. Frankly, Branch is also exhausted from trying to keep up with the princess' boundless energy. If he didn't know any better, he might think she was a wood nymph rather than a troll. 

Poppy pointedly asks, "You never said where we're headed." Branch tosses a handful of kindling onto the ground before starting to set up camp. He quickly rolls out a makeshift bed for himself on the forest floor. Without facing her, he responds, "There's an inn nearby. I know the owner. We'll stay there and then head to the valley tomorrow. We need to restock on supplies."

Branch sings out an incantation and with a flick of his paw, conjures up a campfire. 

Her eyes light up with excitement as she asks, "So, when can you teach me that?"

She tries to copy Branch’s movements, but nothing happens. With a frown, she looks down at her paw. Branch ignores her and begins to take out the mushrooms, carrots, and berries they collected.

Annoyed, Poppy walks over to him and says, "You promised to show me."

Branch rolls his eyes in response. 

"How about you make yourself useful and get some water? If you do that, I might consider showing you something," Branch commands, slicing the carrots into smaller chunks with his knife. He pushes a canteen towards her, and she responds by sticking her tongue out in defiance. 

"Fine." With a grumble, Poppy storms off towards the nearby river. Branch can't help but shake his head when he hears her mocking him in the distance. She's going to be the death of him. He sets up a small pot and some wooden bowls on the side as he prepares the mushrooms while checking the rest of their food supplies. It should be enough to last them until they reach his brother's inn. 

The thought of meeting up with his brothers again makes him frown; he knows they won't be happy. 

Well, they don't need to know all the details. This is one step closer to finding a cure for the curse, and maybe with some convincing, Poppy might agree to play along. For Floyd's sake, they would surely understand.

His thoughts are interrupted by a loud yell coming from the nearby river. Branch quickly stands up, his instincts on high alert before he darts towards the river. When he reaches the edge, he sees a lone zapperwolf closing in on Poppy. She swiftly moves out of its way before it lunges at her again. The wolf stands in between Poppy and Branch, blocking off the path. As Poppy looks at Branch, he can see the fear in her eyes, knowing that the wolf is about to attack again.

Shit. He can't risk using his magic and accidentally hurting her. 

The wolf snarls. Without thinking, Branch uses his hair to snatch a nearby branch and launching himself onto the wolf, pressing the knife onto the wolf's neck. He wraps his hair around the wolf, pressing the wound deeper into the wolf. The wolf lets out a yelp as Poppy cries out his name.

"Branch!" The creature retaliates by sinking its teeth into him and he lets go of his hair. 

Okay, that hurt. 

Trying to ignore the searing pain in his side, Branch takes another stab at the wolf before he manages to wrestle the zapperwolf off of him and fling it into the river. He stumbles back, clutching his wound as blood seeps through his paws. The zapperwolf sends out another yelp and Poppy rushes to his side, her paws trembling as she notices his injury.

Branch's ears are filled with the sound of his own blood pounding, drowning out everything else. He can barely make out Poppy's panicked voice over the rush in his head. "Branch, you're bleeding," she says with a hint of fear. Branch grunts in response, his vision fading at the edges from the throbbing pain. He watches as the wolf limps away, leaving them alone for now.

Not the smartest plan.

The last thing he sees are Poppy's bright magenta eyes before darkness overtakes him. 

He startles upright, gasping for air with short, rough breaths.

Where is he?

The warm glow of the campfire illuminates his surroundings. The aroma of the cooking stew wafts through the air as he remembers the events.

"Branch, you're awake!" Poppy says with concern in her voice. He notices that his cloak has been torn to create a makeshift bandage for his wound.

Damn, it still hurts.

He attempts to sit up, but Poppy hovers over him.

"You need to rest," she urges. He groans but insists on staying upright. Thankfully, the bleeding has stopped and zapperwolves are not venomous. He observes as Poppy serves the stew into wooden bowls and cautiously offers one to him.

"Can you eat?" she asks. He grabs it from her, nodding as he lifts it to his lips.

It has been a while since he's eaten and the soup revives his energy more than enough.

He lets out a contented sigh and notices Poppy fiddling with her paws, wanting to express her gratitude. He raises an eyebrow quizzically before she speaks up.

"Thank you for saving me," she says, looking down at the ground with guilt in her expression.

"It was nothing," Branch mumbles dismissively. She turns to look at him and his eyes scan the ground before meeting Poppy's gaze. She looks at him so appreciatively, a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth, and for some reason, it bothers him. He quickly frowns. 

"Let's just get some rest, your highness. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow," Branch says, settling back down with his back turned away from her. Poppy's ears droop at his words. 

"Oh. Goodnight, Branch." she says softly before making her way to her makeshift sleeping spot.

As he closes his eyes, he drifts into another night of dreamless sleep. 

Chapter Text

Poppy watches the light filter through the canopy of trees. The sun is about to rise, and she glances at her companion who is still peacefully asleep.

Slowly, she rises and stretches, brushing off any dirt or grass that clung to her hair and clothes. She reaches the top of her hair since she cut it. It doesn't seem too bad and she doubts it's noticeable. The memories from last night replay in her mind, and she's determined to find a way to repay Branch. She glances at the canteen and knife lying nearby, quickly grabbing them before heading towards the river. Hopefully, there aren't any dangerous creatures lurking nearby, but she can't take any chances after what happened.

Poppy fills her canteen with water, her mind wandering as she does so. She has some knowledge of hair defense, but this is the first time she's been caught off guard and frozen in a situation. She lets out a heavy sigh. She also needs another way to defend herself since she can't fully extend her hair. She wants to prove to her family that she can take care of herself and the first night without them, she needed someone to come to her rescue! And now she doesn't have her hair-jitsu!

As she waits for the canteen to fill up, she hums a tune absentmindedly, calming her mind. Once the cap is closed, she takes a moment to survey her surroundings. Poppy recognizes the nearby berries and quickly gathers them.

She hears the sound of rustling leaves and Poppy turns, hoping it isn't the wolf again. She tightens her grip on the knife and cautiously watches as a small creature emerges from the foliage. Letting out a sigh of relief, Poppy shakes her head and continues back to their campsite.

Branch stirs awake, and she can't help but let out a squeak as his eyes meet hers. Rushing over to his side, she asks with concern, "Branch, Are you feeling okay? Did your wound open up? Did you get enough rest? I brought some water and some berries and I thought I heard the wolf again but it was just a small critter and I almost-" 

A paw rises up, interrupting her, as he lets out a groan. "Princess."

Poppy's frown deepens as he addresses her. She can't understand why he's so stubborn.

"I'm fine. It still hurts, but it's not infected and you managed to stop the bleeding," he mutters, glancing at the bandage made of a torn cloak around his shoulder. He blinks as he finally notices in the morning light that pink strand hairs were used to tightly wrap the cloak onto the wound. His paw brushes over them before he looks at her hair. Poppy feels embarassed. She didn't know what else to do. 

A look of appreciation flashes on Branch's face before he coughs into his paw. 

"Look, it happens when you're out here. Wolves, lynxes, spiders. They all want to eat you." He says, trying to shrug it off.

"Is that how you got those scars?" Poppy reaches out to touch the marks on his face, but he pulls away before she can.

"No, that's, no," Branch says firmly, his paw pushing away hers. "That's something else."

Poppy pulls back her paw as Branch slowly stands up, grabbing some berries to snack on as he brushes the dirt off his clothes. He glances at the canteen, then at the morning sky, trying to calculate. "We have a bit of time before we need to hit the road. We should reach the inn by nightfall."

He looks over at Poppy, hesitating before asking, "So... magic?"

Poppy's ears perk up. "Really? But you're injured. Are you sure about this?"

"I made a promise and this would be the only chance, so if you don't want to then..." He trails off. Poppy should seize this chance before he takes it back.

"No, no! I do!" She nods eagerly, reaching out to hold his paws.

"H-Hey," he stammers, pulling away from her touch. She quickly apologizes, "Oops, sorry."

"Let's do this!" Poppy says excitedly. Finally! 

They hadn't made much progress.

Poppy releases an annoyed sigh, while Branch rubs his temples in frustration. Poppy gazes down at her paws, a frown tugging at her lips. She mimics every move he makes, from the flick of his wrist to the recitation of spells, but nothing seems to be working.

Branch decides to change his approach.

"You know how we can hear music inside ourselves?" he says. "That's what makes us trolls."

Poppy looks at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

"Magic is..." Branch struggles to gesture with his paws, but grumbles. "Okay."

Poppy wonders if he will give up since it seems he's never done this before. A determined expression crosses his face as he makes another attempt, muttering under his breath. "Come stand over here."

Poppy moves in front of him and watches as he clears his throat before continuing.

"Magic is just the same," Branch explains. "It's drawn from everything around us - the flight of glowflies, the water from the river, the warmth of the sun. It can't just appear out of thin air. So the music inside of us and the energy around us are intertwined."

Branch sings and snaps his fingers, creating a small fire in the palm on his paw. Poppy stares in awe at the flickering flames, feeling their warmth relax her tense muscles. She gazes back into Branch's eyes as he nods slowly and beckons her to try.

She thinks, humming.  

A tune comes to mind.

The one that always soothes her.

The one that her mother and Viva used to sing to her when she was just a trolling.

Poppy focuses on the warmth of the fire before singing softly, and suddenly a small fire is created in the palm of her paw.

"Woah!" Poppy can't contain her excitement as she squeals, "I did it. Oh my, I actually did it! Branch, look!" 

With a huge grin on her face, she jumps up and down in excitement. He can't help but smile slightly and let out a relieved sigh that it worked. As she continues to dance around, the fire grows bigger and brighter. Poppy pays no attention to it, too caught up in her happiness. Branch's eyes widen as he watches, trying to figure out how to control it.

"Okay Princess, it's," he starts, attempting to explain.

Poppy groans and gives him a sharp look.

"Why do you keep calling me that?" she snaps.

And just like that, the fire disappears and Branch blinks in surprise.

He coughs awkwardly before speaking again, "Because."

He stops suddenly, a frown forming on his face as if a thought has just occurred to him. She can see his expression steels and he quietly states, "That's what you are."

Poppy feels herself deflate at his words.

A reminder of their positions. 

A reminder of how this partnership came to be.

The tension between them palpable before he quickly changes the subject.

"We should go now." 

As they make their way to their destination, Poppy listens intently to her traveling companion. Despite their previous exchange, Branch is willing to teach her the different spells and incantations for various situations. She can hear the excitement in his voice as he explains each one, and she can't help but wonder how he learned them all. As they walk, she tries out some of the simpler spells along the way—  the flight of the glowflies for one— made her lift her off the ground momentarily and she almost flew off into a tree. 

Branch had to grab her with his hair.

The pain in his shoulder causes him to flinch, and she turns to him with concern. He clenches his jaw and nods, saying, "it's nothing. Once we reach our destination, my brother can check on me."

The mention of his brother piques her curiosity. "Your brother?"

She sees the realization dawn on his face as he realizes he may have revealed too much. He awkwardly confirms, "Yeah, he runs the inn where we're headed. His name is Bruce."

He remains silent about his brother, not offering any further details. 

Poppy decides to hold off on trying any more spells for the time being.

Branch suggests taking a final break, and Poppy readily agrees as her feet have been aching. Times like these, she wishes she had those riding critters the royal guards and Viva have, but she is glad being able to fully experience the surroundings. It's been a while since she's felt the soft grass beneath her feet and breathed in the crisp air. As Branch prepares their lunch of fruits and berries, Poppy takes in the peaceful scenery around them.

With her eyes closed, Poppy sings softly to herself.

Her melody blends with the rustle of leaves on the ground and she feels a tingle beneath her paw. She can't help but smile as she continues singing.

Suddenly, a voice interrupts her thoughts and she opens her eyes to see Branch staring at something below her. It's a patch of flowers, created by accident. Poppy lets out a nervous laugh and says, "Oops."

Branch furrows his brow, clearly confused. Poppy can tell he wants to say something, but he dismisses the thought and begins cutting up some fruits and berries with his knife.

Poppy decides to make conversation.

"So, the stone," she brings up the reason they're here in the first place.

He visibly tenses but then sends out a hum, indicating for her to continue.

"Who is it for?"

He hands her some fruit. He hesitates before answering,

"I mentioned my brother earlier," he plays with his knife. The lines on his forehead deepen as his eyebrows furrow together, creating a crease of worry between them. The corners of his mouth turn downward, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Is it for him?" Poppy asks. It would explain how far he's willing to go for this stone. 

"No, it's for my other brother," he clarifies.

Another brother? Poppy's eyes widen.

"I come from a family of five," he reveals. He fiddles with his paw and Poppy can see he wants to hold back on saying more.

"And one of them is in trouble. So," he stumbles over his words, "yeah. You'll meet some of them later and we can go from there."

He pauses before popping a berry into his mouth. He looks at his wound before looking back at her. 

"So, something has been bothering me," Branch continues.

Poppy looks at him curiously, prompting him to explain further.

"Every time I scan for magical beings-"

"Wait, you can do that?" Poppy interrupts. Wait, can she do that? 

"Yes, and so can you. But you don't have any presence at all. It's like-" he seems frustrated, "a strange block. And even now, I still don't feel anything."

Poppy shrugs, not having any knowledge or experience with it herself.

"I don't know what to tell you buddy, today was the first time I've tried anything." she says, popping a berry into her own mouth.

Branch scans her face and she meets his gaze firmly. He relaxes slightly before asking another question,

"Your family."

Poppy blinks in surprise.

"Your sister is Viva, right?"

She nods in confirmation.

"She's one of the most powerful sorceresses out there."

Is she? News to her.

"At first, I thought the protection barrier around the castle was because of the royal library," Branch has a realization. "But you tried to follow me and failed that first night. So it was meant to keep you in."

Poppy nods in agreement.

"Why?" he asks. Poppy wonders this herself. Ever since she was young, her sister and father have always been overprotective of her. But now she remembers an idyllic memory of blue skies and music before everything changed after the assassination of the previous queen.

"My mother," Poppy blurts out without thinking.

Branch raises an eyebrow.

She looks at him, correcting herself. She doesn't want to reveal much about her mother especially when she doesn't know herself. "I don't actually know. They were probably afraid of, you know, someone kidnapping me for ransom."

A small smile plays on Poppy's face and Branch scoffs playfully in response.

"Alright your majesty. You sure look very kidnapped," he teases, throwing fruit at her. She catches one in her mouth and giggles.

"Don't worry, I'll be back before they even know it!" she proclaims with confidence.

As they approached Vaycay Village, they were bombarded by posters featuring her face drawn with the word "MISSING" emblazoned across it in bold letters. A large bounty is offered for her return.

Next to her, Branch lets out a groan. But Poppy can't help but laugh as she plucks one of the posters off the wall.

"Look, it's me!" She holds up the poster next to her face. "It's actually a pretty good likeness, don't you think?"

This only seems to increase her amusement as she watches Branch's irritation grow.

Chapter Text

Branch is sure his brothers will kill him.

Arrangements will be made for both his and Floyd's funeral.

If not by the hands of his brothers, caught and dead is what will happen to all of them. Well, he has to hand it to the poster. The drawing is pretty close to the princess unlike the other posters they have in the past. John Dory would complain they never could get his face right on those wanted posters. 

He rolls his eyes as he snatches the poster from her paw, crumples it, and tosses it into a nearby trash can. He grabs Poppy's arms, trying to pull her into an alleyway.

"Hey," she protests, pulling away. "No need to be so rough."

His gaze lands on her, flat and unimpressed. He crosses his arms. She throws back the same stare and throws her arms up in the air before asking, "What now."

Branch warns, "Isn't it obvious? disguise, cover, now."

Poppy laughs off his concern. "It'll be fineeeee. I doubt the vacaytioners care about little ol' me."

He gives her a deadpanned look. "You're worth three million gems."

She sends out a low whistle in response, smiling playfully at him. Branch then takes off his cloak and drapes it over Poppy's shoulders, pulling the hood up to cover her head despite her protests. He reaches into his hair and takes out a pair of glasses, shoving them to her.

Surprised, she asks him, "You wear glasses?" 

Ignoring her question, Branch tug at the cloak around Poppy until it sits snug against her shoulders. He pauses before lifting a paw adorned with a fake mustache, which he carefully positions under her nose.

"Don't you have an invisibility spell or something this is so silly." Poppy groans while changing her hair color to match Branch's dark hair. She tugs around the cloak.

"Well, how do I look?" she asks with a hint of frustration. Stepping away from her, his gaze travels up and down her form. He absently plays with the vibrant pink strands of hair still clung onto his shoulder. "Hm, the pink looks better on you," he mutters, almost unintended. A sudden rush of warmth floods Poppy's cheeks, intensifying the hue of her usual pink.

Branch freezes, realizing what he just said. Abruptly, he turns on his heel, putting distance between them.

What was that about?

"Wh-what, hey," she stammers out a response before putting on the glasses and rushing to catch up with him. They walk awkwardly as the giant residents of the village pay no mind to them. Several of the villagers even send them a friendly wave. Branch's eyes quickly make out the familiar sight of his brother’s inn among the other buildings, the sign brightly states Bruce and Sons & One Daughter Inn. Laughter bubbles from a group of giants lounging nearby, drawing his attention towards the front of the inn where he recognizes his brother's wife. Poppy trails slightly behind, she stares in awe at her surroundings. Reaching the counter first, Branch knocks on the wood of the counter.

"Brandy," Branch says, trying to get her attention. Surprised by his presence she bends down to meet him at eye level.

"Branch! You're here." Brandy excitedly says, smiling at him. Without missing a beat, Branch cuts into the reunion, "Seen Bruce around?"

"He's in the back talking to some customers," Brandy replies before yelling over her shoulder, "Sweetie! Your brother is here!"

"Which one!" a voice shouts back, and Brandy laughs softly, "the youngest one!"

The small door explodes open and out comes Bruce at breakneck speed nearly colliding with Branch as he scoops him up in a hug. Pain flares across Branch’s wounded shoulder causing him to wince but not enough for him to break contact with Bruce until finally released from his grip.

"Bitty B! You're safe!" Bruce exclaims happily before noticing his bandaged wound. "Well not in one piece! What happened?" 

Branch quickly shifts his gaze to Poppy, who stands behind him, before refocusing on his brother. 

"Zapperwolf. Out of nowhere." He says plainly.

Bruce looks surprised. It's not a very good lie but thankfully he moves on without asking any further questions.

"And who is this lovely troll?" Bruce directs a smile towards Poppy, capturing her attention. But before she can speak, Branch interrupts, his voice urgent, "Actually Bruce, can we talk alone?" 

Bruce lets out a laugh and replies, "Sure but can we make it quick? I got some customers that I gotta get back to."

"Oh, don't worry dear, I'll handle them." Brandy interjects with a wink to her husband before opening the other door leading to the back room. As Branch glances towards the door, he notices one of the customers is the royal guard from earlier—The one from the forest.

Oh. 

That is not good. 

Branch's blood runs cold as he tightly grips Poppy's paw, causing her to squeak. He then grabs his brother's paw and swiftly pulls them both towards a nearby closet. He shuts the door tightly before anyone can notice their disappearance. In the dark closet, the flame flickers on and hangs above them, casting light onto the three trolls.

"Hey, Bitty," Bruce grumbles, annoyed. "What was that about?"

"Why are the royal guards here?" He hisses. Poppy's eyes widen at the news. Branch turns to his brother, desperation filling his voice. "You—no—we—I mean... you never had..." he couldn't formulate the words.

"Woah, calm down Branch," Bruce responds. "What's the big deal? It's not like they know about brozone. Those days are long gone, am I right?"

Branch stares at him in disbelief. Did John Dory never tell Bruce about how Floyd got captured in the first place? He needs to have another conversation with his eldest brother. Bruce chuckles, but Branch can't bring himself to join in. A throbbing headache is starting to form between his temples and he covers his face with his paws.

This can't be happening.

"Brozone?" Poppy scrunches up her nose in bewilderment. Branch momentarily forgot about the other problem in the room.

Okay Branch, deep breaths. 

He turns to Bruce. "Have you seen John Dory?"

"No, he went to see Floyd. He said he'll be back," Bruce reports, casting a wary glance towards Poppy before redirecting his attention to Branch.

Branch frowns, calculating out loud. "If John Dory took Rhonda to Mount Rageous... That's at least a two day trip. So he's not going to be back tomorrow."

Bruce nods in agreement. "You know he doesn't go anywhere without Rhonda."

"Can somebody explain what's happening?" Poppy whines, removing her disguise and returning to her natural hair color. 

Branch turns to face Poppy. "Princess, I—" 

"Princess? What are you talking about?" Bruce interrupts.

"Okay, Bruce, let me—" Branch attempts to clarify.

"What is Brozone? And who is John Dory? Who is Rhonda?" Poppy jumps back into the conversation.

"Just give me—" Branch tries to explain again.

Bruce chokes on his words, eyebrows shooting up. "Wait a minute," he sputters incredulously, "are you saying that you're the missing Princess Poppy?"

"Enough!" Branch yells, silencing the two of them. He takes a deep breath before continuing. He clasps his paws together and grits his teeth. 

"Bruce. This is...she's..." He starts, his paws gesturing over at her. His eyes lock with Poppy's, her stance assertive – paws on hips, foot impatiently tapping.

Lie.

Just lie.

But just like this entire journey, he couldn't deny who she is. He swallows hard, and after what feels like an eternity he speaks again. "This... this is..." The words barely escape his lips. "This is the youngest princess of Pop Kingdom."

"Branch!" At Bruce's exclamation, Branch winces. Bruce says, "are you telling me you took the princess? Was this JD's idea?" 

"Well." Branch tries to object but Poppy decides to interject, smiling.  

"Hi, nice to meet you, you can call me Poppy. I am, of course, Branch's friend and yes he did kidnap me but it's okay. Water under the bridge." Poppy reaches out to shake Bruce's paw. Bruce turns to Branch, eyes wide in shock at the revelation. 

He grimaces, running a paw through his fur after shaking hands with the princess. "JD is going to skin you alive for this."

Branch groans as if he knows already. 

"Not unless the royal guards beat him to it," Branch grinds out, glancing nervously at the door. "Why, Bruce? Why are they here?"

Bruce nervously chuckles, "Well, they're staying here for the night."

Branch's expression turns to one of shock as he exclaims, "What?!"

"That was before I found out you have the missing princess. What were you thinking, Branch?" Bruce argues back in frustration.

"We can't stay here with guards surrounding us!" Branch gestures wildly with his paws, trying to make a point.

"It's nighttime, Branch. You also need to recover from your wound," Bruce reminds him, with Poppy nodding in agreement.

He knows he will have grey hairs again by the end of the week and lets out a sigh as he rubs his face with his paws, trying to come up with a plan.

"Please tell me you have some rooms for us to stay in until the guards are gone." Branch asks his brother. Bruce nods and says, "yeah, I always save one just in case. But with all the trolls here, it's really the only one."

Branch dismissively waves his paw. "That's fine, she and I can hide out until they're gone and then we can meet up with JD."

Bruce looks between Branch and Poppy before speaking up, "Well, there is just one thing."

"What is it?" Branch asks curiously. After pausing for a moment, Bruce chuckles and says, "Nevermind, not important."

Branch stares at his brother for a moment before shrugging and turning to Poppy. "We'll figure it out later. Let's focus on other things for now."

Poppy raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms. "Like explaining the whole 'Brozone' thing?" 

"Yes, well, just," Branch glances at his brother who gives him a strange look. "Later." 

Poppy shrugs and says, "alright, lead the way." 

"I'll try to distract the guards for a while. Just go up the stairs to your left and at the end of the hallway, you'll find a hidden door. You have to feel for a loose brick in the wall and it will unlock." Bruce winks at Branch before leaving the closet. He shakes his head. Bruce is always an odd one. 

With a heavy sigh, Poppy puts on her disguise again.

Branch stands by, his paw outstretched as he says, "Come on, let's go."

She gazes down at it before reaching out to grasp it firmly in hers.

Branch is surprised by the sudden warmth of her small paw against his, but he quickly dismisses the thought from his mind.

His heart pounds in his chest.

Surely, it's from the adrenaline. Branch takes a deep breath and tries to calm his racing heart. He scans their surroundings, following Bruce's instructions to their destination. Poppy stands behind him, her paw still in his. He lets go of her and reaches out to feel for the loose brick that Bruce had mentioned. With a satisfying click, the door opens to reveal their new room.

Excitedly, Poppy rushes inside while Branch closes the door behind them, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Finally, they can freshen up, grab some food, and—

But as he turns around, Branch's thoughts come to an abrupt halt as he stares at the room.

The room has a bed, and Poppy is already on it with a wide grin on her face, unaware of the current situation.

It's the only bed in the room.

Forget about the arrangement of his funeral. He's going to murder Bruce. 

Chapter Text

Poppy collapses onto the bed, her body sinking into the soft mattress. 

A bed!

A bath! 

She doesn't have to worry about creatures in the night or walking for hours. Her heart flutters with the thought of sinking into a steaming bath, the first one in what felt like forever since this journey started. She turns to Branch. 

"Branch, this is sooo nice. Props to your brother." Poppy exclaims, trying to lighten the mood. But his expression tells her that something is bothering him again. She can't help but mirror his frown. 

"What's wrong now?" Poppy asks. She observes Branch restlessly walking back and forth. He pauses, glances at her, then continues pacing. Finally, he stops and clears his throat before asking,

"What do you notice in this room?" His tone sounds tense. Poppy's ears twitch before she looks around quickly - it's a small room with nothing but a desk with a lamp and a door leading to the bathroom. The moonlight shines through the window, casting shadows on their faces.

"Um, not much?" she says with confusion. Branch fidgets with his paws and Poppy scans the room once more, trying to figure out the reason for his reaction.

Sure, it looks nice. It's not as luxurious as her room back home with all its trinkets, drawers, and a big bed.

Poppy blinks and sits up, looking down at the bed. It's a full size bed with two sets of pillows. 

"I mean, what's the big deal?" Poppy laughs nervously, trying to hide her desire for the cozy bed. "You can just take the bed and I will just, you know, sleep on the floor?" 

She suggests, but looking down at the hard wood makes her shudder. Branch gives her a look of disbelief.

"Or, you could take the bed and I can sleep in the tub." He counters. 

Her brows furrow in concern as she argues, "Branch, you're hurt. You need to rest."

His eyes dart away from her to the ground, possibly thinking this is a better alternative. Crossing her arms, she lets out a huff. "This is ridiculous, the bed is large enough we can just share." 

She notices a pink flush creeping up on his cheeks and is taken aback by his unexpected reaction. His eyes snaps back to her. "We—I mean—What—You," Branch stammers, the tips of his ears turn the same shade of pink as his face.

"You're a princess," he finally manages to choke out.

Her eyes roll with an all-too-familiar annoyance; she's very tired of hearing those words.

"So what, Branch. You saved my life, I saved yours. I think we can be big trolls about this and just sleep together." The blush on his cheeks deepens, and she feels her own face heating up in response. She hurriedly clarifies, "Next. Each other." 

Great, she's no better than him.  

"I'm going to go wash up." Poppy says quickly before running to the bathroom and closing the door. Leaning against the door, she lets out an exasperated sigh. 

He's making it a bigger deal than it is. 

Nothing is going to happen. 

But.. that...

Nope. No. Nuh-uh. 

Poppy turns on the water, watching it fills up the tub.

The steam of the bath did little to cool the heat from her face as she tries to forget how pink looks good on him too. 

Poppy emerges from the bathroom, feeling refreshed. She still needs to borrow some new clothes from Bruce but hopefully he has some spare ones. While drying her hair, she stops when she stares at Branch sitting on the bed, his back facing her. His bare back. No garment, no vest. Really broad shoulders. Has she never noticed those before? Trying to distract herself, she glances around the room and sees a jar of ointment on the desk. He must be applying it to his wound. Poppy clears her throat to let him know of her presence, and Branch quickly turns around and puts on his vest.

"Bruce was just here, he got us some food and, um, yeah." He says in a rush. Branch hops off the bed and plays with his paws before pointing them to the bathroom and heading in, "my turn." 

He shuts the door and she can hear the sound of the bath running. 

Poppy looks at the bathroom door.

Is this the same troll who looked at her with annoyance a few days ago? 

She frowns at the thought before she turns her attention on the desk. Her eyes brighten at the sight of actual food, thank the muses! Bread, cheese, soup, sweet, sweet cakes, and-

Wine? 

Hesitantly, she looks at it, opens, and sniffs it. The smell burns her nose before she closes it. Her nose scrunches up. She's never had wine before. 

A wide grin split Poppy's face as she eagerly reaches for a slice of bread and some cheese. She continues to munch on her food as she hears the bathroom door open and sees Branch emerge with a towel draped around his neck, dressed in his typical vest and brown pants. From the looks of it, he must have made sure not to get any water on the wound where he applied ointment earlier.

He seems rejuvenated from his bath, letting out a contented sigh before noticing her eating. 

"Wha, hey save me some," he says as he tosses the towel into the bathroom and helps himself to some cakes. She giggles, and points to the wine. Branch shakes his head. 

"I don't drink, no. Bruce thinks you might since you're part of the royal family." He states matter-of-factly before taking a bite of bread. She gives him a pointed look and he defensively raises his paws, "Not me this time." 

A small smile appears on Branch's face and she returns it, as the tense and awkward air between them seems to vanish. Her gaze traces the scars on his skin, wondering about the stories behind each one.

"So 'Brozone'?" She asks, nibbling on a sweet cake and studying him. "Sounds like a corny band name." 

He tenses as her words hit him, a grimace momentarily flashing across his face before he responds, "Yeah, Brozone was a long time ago. Like. Twenty some years ago." 

Her eyebrow raises up in curiosity and he continues. "Until my eldest brother John Dory brought it back up again recently." 

"And what is exactly is 'brozone'?" She inquires with interest.

"Well...." He takes a bite of one of the cakes and begins to explain. "You have to understand, we were orphans. Our way of making money was not..." 

He trails off and Poppy realizes. "Wait, did you steal from other trolls?" 

"No! Not from trolls but there were rare exceptions." He clarifies. "Only if they deserved it." 

Poppy gives him a stern look. "Then what?"

Branch's mouth hangs opens before he admits, "the Bergens." 

Poppy's eyes widen. "The Bergens? You stole from the Bergens? Do you know how crazy that is?"

 "Look." he fiddles with his paws. "It wasn't fair. They had everything while we were scraping by. And no one cared about us until we became a problem. Especially not the royals-" 

Branch cuts himself off as Poppy takes a step back, her ears droop down. He tightens his jaw before continuing, "JD would come up with the plans and we would carry them out. Bruce gave us a hideout. Floyd knew how to disguise us. And.."

He hesitates before continuing, "when my brothers found out I knew magic, I joined the group too. It made things easier. The Brozone Bandits. JD's idea of a name."

"But one robbery went wrong and we all went our separate ways," he explains. "My grandmother took me in while I learned more about magic. And I thought it was all over until JD found me and Floyd to do one last job together. These giants." Branch answered. "From Mount Rageous." 

"Yeah, you mentioned them before?" She prompts him. Branch fidgets with his paws. "We wanted to steal these diamonds and we thought it would be an easy heist, but Floyd got caught. So it's why I need your help now to save him." 

Poppy goes quiet, processing the new information. They were bandits. Outside of the law. She has no obligations to assist them and she could just easily turn them in to the guards now. But when she meets Branch's gaze, filled with vulnerability and desperation, she couldn't just abandon him now. With a soft voice, she nods and says, "okay." 

She didn't anticipate the warmth of his embrace, feeling his chin rest on her shoulder as he held her tightly. He lets out a quiet shudder before whispering, "thank you, Poppy."

She beams at him, eyes sparkling with tears of joy. Without hesitation, she wraps her arms around him in a return embrace, feeling her heart race with happiness. 

"You called me Poppy," she exclaims with joy. Branch lets go, realizing a second later, and takes a small step back, a blush creeping onto his cheeks as he looks away. And wow, she can't help but stare at him with a smile so big, it reveals her overbite.

Cute.

"I'm. I'm just going to go to the bathroom and— yeah we should—" Branch runs off to the bathroom, closing the door suddenly. The suddenness of his departure makes her laugh and she decides it's time for bed. She settles in on the edge of the bed as she turns her body to face the window, feeling the exhaustion from the day creeping up on her. Just as she starts to drift off, she hears Branch return from the bathroom.

Her back was facing towards him and she wonders if he plans on sleeping in the bed or not. Then she feels the bed dip as he settles in next to her. Barely, inches apart, she can feel his body heat radiating towards her.  For a moment, she considers turning over to face him, but then she feels his paw brush against her hair and hears him whisper "good night."

She wonders if he can hear how fast her heart is beating.

But the room is silent except for his soft breathing, and she realizes that he must be asleep by now. Only then does she release the breath she was holding and allow herself to drift off to sleep.

The last thought remains before she drifts off. 

Didn't he say he came from a family of five?

Chapter Text

'my sister wouldn't like that.' a smile. a touch so warm.

various voices blend together in an indistinguishable mess. 

'he's my brother!'

'he's grey!' who was that

'aren't we friends' was that.. 

'clay you don't understand.' clay? 

'viva what did you just do'

'would you come back' 

Branch jerks awake, startled by the vividness of his dream.

What was that all about?

It had been years since he'd had a dream. What a weird one that was. He rubs his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering images. What was he dreaming again? Just as he tried to think, it slipped away from his mind just as quickly as it had come. 

Suddenly, a moan beside him breaks his thought, and Branch's body tenses as he remembers. 

The princess. 

His breath hitches when he feels her wrapping her arms around his neck, clinging onto him in her sleep without a care in the world. He could still feel traces of their last night's hug and he feels a pull to embrace her again, but he lies there instead. He looks at her sleeping form; the youngest princess of Pop Kingdom, privileged and shielded from harsh realities. Everything that the kingdom stood for Branch usually despises. And yet, her kindness. She could have left him to the wolves. She could just easily turn him in now. 

There's something in his heart that tells him she wouldn't betray him.

Not when she smiled at him so brightly like that last night. As he thinks about it, his gaze drifts to her parted lips and almost instinctively, he jerks his head back up, his pulse quickening.

A slight color rushes to his cheeks as he quickly pushes away that lingering thought.

"Princess." He whispers softly, gently shaking her awake. She stirs but her eyes remain shut, speaking in little murmurs.

The title he refers to her sounds foreign in his mouth now.

Gently, Branch nudges Poppy's shoulder a little more urgently this time. "Poppy." She stirs again, this time blinking her eyes open slowly. When she sees him, her face softens and her smile is so bright that it catches him off guard. 

Just like the sun itself.

After she releases him, he turns away and sits up on the bed. He stretches before examining his injury; the ointment and rest have greatly improved its condition.

"Morning, Branch," Poppy murmurs sleepily, stretching her arms above her head. "Did you sleep well?"

Branch nods and informs, "Bruce should be here soon. We can check if the guards have left yet." With this news, Poppy sits up wide awake and asks eagerly, "Oh oh you mentioned before that you can scan for magical beings. Can I try too? How do you do it?"

Branch looks at her with hesitation, realizing how difficult it is to say no to her at this point. Reluctantly, he sits up on the bed as she mimics his posture. He extends his paws, facing upwards, and clears his throat. "Close your eyes," he instructs. 

Without hesitation, Poppy shuts her eyes, a bright smile on her face. As Branch tries to sense the air around them, he quietly says, "show me your true colors." 

Poppy echoes his words and Branch wonders if she sees what he sees.

He gets his answer when he hears Poppy excitedly awes. 

In his mind, he sees vibrant hues surrounding him - dark purple for his brother, fiery red for some of the guards, bright yellow for some of the residents, but nothing for the one in front of him no matter how hard he tries. He can see his brother approaching the room as he goes up the stairs.

Branch opens his eyes at the same time as Poppy's, getting lost in her vibrant magenta irises. If he's not careful, he may never come up from them again.

He clears his throat awkwardly and shifts his gaze, asking curiously, "So what did you see for me?"

Poppy paused, humming in thought before responding, "Midnight blue? And there were so many other colors too! Red, green, purple, yellow... I'm assuming those were the other trolls at the inn."

The mention of green surprises him; he didn't notice any green at all. 

Thinking nothing of it, Branch nods in confirmation. "The range isn't very wide, just around us. But it means they're still here." 

As he prepares to mention his brother, he hears him from outside. "Knock, knock."

Branch's ears perk up and he rises from the bed with Poppy by his side. "Come in,"

"Okaaaay little bro we miiiight have some more problems." Bruce strides into the room, placing his paws on his hips in a familiar stance. Branch and Poppy exchange a knowing look before facing him. Branch's shoulders droop as he asks, "what is it now?" 

Bruce's eyes dart around before revealing, "They plan to stay here longer than originally expected. Possibly a week." 

Shit, Floyd can't wait that long. Branch rubs his face in frustration upon hearing this news, "Can't you get them out? You own this place."

Bruce shakes his head, no. "Branch, the other issue is, well," he glances at Poppy before looking back at his brother, "You should come with me. Alone." 

Branch furrows his eyebrows in concern. He doesn't want to leave Poppy alone in case anything happens, but perhaps she will be safe as long as the guards don't find the room. As far as they are concerned, Branch has done nothing wrong. He turns to Poppy and says, "Okay, just stay here and focus on what we discussed earlier. I'll be back soon." 

Poppy looks from Bruce to Branch apprehensively. Before Branch leaves with his brother, she grabs his paw and tells him, "hey," 

Branch looks back at her and she says with worry in her voice, "Be careful." 

He squeezes her paw reassuringly and nods at her with a warm smile. They let go and Branch follows his brother out the door. It pains him to leave her behind, but he trusts that she can take care of herself. Bruce speaks up, "so you and the princess?" 

Branch could sense the hidden meaning behind his brother's words and responds, "Bruce, it's not like that. I just need her help with Floyd." Bruce laughs, "I know how she looks at you, little bro. Guess I'm not the only charmer in the family."

Branch scowls. Bruce is mistaken. This is strictly a partnership, born out of necessity. She needs him to teach her magic, and he needs her help with Floyd. After that, they will go their separate ways and never see each other again.

He pushes aside the slight twinge in his chest and moves on. 

As he turns the corner to follow his brother into the kitchen, his heart sinks at the sound of a familiar voice.

"Branch."

He knows he should be happy to see his brother, but anger and hurt bubble up inside him. Clay, with his lime green hair and golden armor, stands before him. Branch's jaw clenches as he addresses him, his former brother and now leader of Viva's personal army.

"Clay," he says through gritted teeth, unable to mask the hurt in his voice. 

Branch sees that Clay wants to hug him, to reconcile their broken relationship, but Branch can't bring himself to do it. He should have realized that with the other guards present, Viva would task him with finding Poppy. Bruce embraces them both and lets out a jolly chuckle, "Us bros again, isn't this nice?"

"What are you doing here, Clay?" His voice tenses and Clay's eyes show hurt at Branch's reaction.

"Bruce told me you were here and I just wanted to see you again. I heard Floyd's in trouble?" Branch's eyes flicker over at Bruce. He feels a sense of betrayal but he knows Bruce only wants reconcilation between them again. He hopes Bruce didn't say anything more. 

"Branch, I want to help. Viva and I can help." Clay speaks with reassurance, but Branch snaps, pushing Clay away from him. "Help? You don't want to help. You left to join the very people who were hunting us, Clay. How could you?"

"Not this again Branch, I just want what's best for our family. You can't possibly think that what we were doing was okay." Clay grinds out the words, his patience obviously worn thin.

"What's best for you. We had to-" Branch's paws cut through the air, his gestures jagged and frantic.

"We didn't have to do anything. Look at where we are now! Bruce runs a successful inn and I-" Clay tries to argue.

Branch retorts, "You're nothing but a lapdog for Viva." Clay's paws immediately grabs onto his vest, almost in frustration.

"Don't." The word slips out of Clay's mouth - a warning barely louder than a whisper before he lets go. A heavy silence hangs between them and Bruce attempts to break the tension.

"Branch, look. Clay can help us. With Viva, she can help free Floyd right? So shouldn't we get all the resources we can?" Branch knows he makes a valid point but he's still hesitant to trust him again after being treated like an outcast for so many years.

He blinks, deep in thought, before looking down at his paws. He couldn't remember how he got his colors back. When he tries to recall it, his mind draws a blank. Shaking off the confusion, he refocuses on the task at hand: saving Floyd.

"I know a way to save Floyd," Branch declares. "I can do it myself and I don't need you Clay or Viva." 

Clay's face darkens as realization dawns on him. He turns to Bruce and demands, "Where is she, Bruce?"

Branch blinks at Clay’s sudden shift in tone. Bruce nervously responds, "what do you mean, Clay?"

"I know she's here," Clay continues, his tone becoming more urgent. "Princess Poppy needs to come back with us."

Branch feels a chill run down his spine. He watches as Clay looks between them before Bruce shakes his head. "You're mistaken. Branch came here for help. JD will be here tomorrow and we all need to work together to save Floyd."

"I promise, Viva and I can help you. But Princess Poppy must return home," Clay insists, his jaw set in determination.

Branch steps forward, blocking Clay's path. "No, you can't take Poppy. We need her," he argues, his eyes flashing with intensity.

"So she is here," Clay states bluntly, causing a wave of panic to wash over Branch.

Shit.

"She's the only one who can do this," Branch continues to argue, his voice growing more desperate.

"She needs to go home Branch. Viva won't stop until she does," Clay persists, every word weighing heavily on Branch's heart. A moment of clarity suddenly shoots through Branch's mind, taking him back to the first night he had arrived at the castle. Poppy was kept under lock and key. Did they ever let her leave?

"Have you ever asked what Poppy wanted?" Branch speaks up quietly but with conviction.

Clay turns to face him, his eyes tense as he firmly responds, "she can't be out here. This is for her own good and yours."

Branch feels his anger rise at Clay's words, "we're not- we're not kids anymore, Clay. Don't tell me what's for my own good." 

But Clay remains unfazed and turns to their other brother Bruce, asking nonchalantly, "You still have that hidden room, right?"

Bruce's eyes widen as he realizes the implication of Clay's question. Branch pleads desperately, "Clay, please don't..."

"I'm sorry Branch," Clay says before summoning the other guards to pin both Branch and Bruce down. Branch's heart drops as he realizes what has just happened. He looks at Bruce, who looks just as shocked and betrayed as he feels. They lock eyes for a brief moment before Bruce shakes his head and mutters, "I'm sorry too."

Branch watches helplessly as Clay disappears up the stairs, a sinking feeling of dread settling in his veins.

Chapter Text

With a heavy sigh, Poppy drops to the bed, her gaze aimlessly drifting along the worn ceiling. It hasn't been long since Branch left, but something doesn't feel right. She turns to her side and looks towards the hidden door.

She closes her eyes, picturing his warm embrace, gentle paws, and the last lingering look he gave her. She focuses on that feeling and hums.

And the world lights up in her mind. 

Startled, she sees Branch's and Bruce's color with the other colors in the inn surrounding them. 

Oh no.

She shoots up right from the bed. The color, green, is just a few moments away from the door, and she quickly scans the room. An apology was made in her head to Bruce as she goes to grab the lamp from the desk and breaks the window. She checks her hair and it looks like she's able to extend it normally now.

Click. 

The door opens.

A familiar voice stops her in her tracks, echoing within the room's silence. "Your highness." Poppy turns to see someone she considers a friend. 

"Mr. Clay," she says politely. Mr. Clay used to be able to find her whenever she would try to sneak out. One of the reasons she never made it very far was he seemed to know every exit of that castle. 

"You have to head back home," he says in a steady tone. She could see the concern in his eyes as he continues, "Your sister and dad are worried sick." She looks away, her paws fidgeting with the frayed edge of the cloak. A reminder. She mutters, "I, I can't. I made a promise." Mr. Clay shakes his head firmly, his brow furrows in frustration.

"If you're talking about my brothers, Viva and I will find a way to help Floyd." He tries to reassure. Her eyes widen as shock shows onto her face.

He pauses, "did you not...?" 

Mr. Clay and Branch are brothers? 

"No. But, I have to help Branch. Where is he now?" Her voice trembles with worry.

Mr. Clay tries to reassure her, "he's safe don't worry. I won't do anything to hurt my brothers. You need to come back home where it's safe." 

The image of Branch being surrounded didn't exactly set her at ease. 

She shakes her head, "No, I can't." The thought of returning to the castle, after experiencing life beyond its walls, is unbearable. Especially now that she has the ability to help other trolls. What is the point of power when you can't use it for good?

"Your majesty, your family misses you. Don't you want to see them again?" He says as Mr. Clay's eyes were avoiding hers. His paws hover in the air as he cautiously takes a step forward like approaching a skittish animal. However, Poppy suddenly bolts towards the open window and flings herself out into the air. 

"Princess!" She hears his voice crying out before Poppy sings about the flight of the glowflies, making her fly off.

Holy sprinkles. 

She sure wishes Branch was here to see this.

As she struggles to control the flight, she feels strands of hair wrapping around her waist. When she turns to look, she sees Mr. Clay's lime green hair and his grip on the window as he tries to pull her back. She can't seem to shake off his hair, so she mentally apologizes before summoning the fire on her paws. Touching down where his hair is wrapped around her, the flames quickly burn away the hair. In shock, Mr. Clay retreats his hair, then swiftly cuts off the extended strands with his sword.

She almost tumbles onto the ground, but landing safely. 

She looks up at him as he peers down from the window. His hair is slightly more wild and appears to be a bit burnt, but she is relieved that he wasn't injured.

"You're- you're using magic." Mr. Clay's eyes widen in disbelief as he stammers out his words. Poppy decides to dismiss him with a quick two-finger salute.

"Mr. Clay, I'm afraid the only one who can catch me is your brother," she says playfully before taking off. Her ears twitch when she hears Mr. Clay summoning the other guards to go find her. 

Poppy enters the village and immediately alters her appearance by running her fingers through her hair, changing its color and pulling up her hood as a disguise. The other trolls in the village don't pay her any attention, and the large residents makes ample cover for her to hide among them for the time being.

She needs to save Branch but the inn is crawling with guards. She knows she can't just brute force in there and she's not much of a planner. Times like these, she wishes there's some invisibility spell. 

Lost in thought, she ponders why Branch never mentioned that Mr. Clay was his brother. She hums to herself in hopes of finding answers when she sees Branch once more. There seems to be something else that happened between Mr. Clay and Branch, which could possibly explain Branch's initial coldness towards her. She pushes the thought aside for now.

First, she needs to find a way to get back into the inn without getting caught.

She looks back at the inn. The midnight blue and bright purple color in the distance looks to be with the green and she can see a giant bright yellow approaching the trio. 

Poppy blinks in confusion. 

She can see the auras now? She looks down at her paws and notices a bright pink, glowing, covering the fuzz of her fur. 

This is new. 

A thought pops into her mind and a smile spreads across her face: Operation Save Branch and Bruce and all will be rainbows again. 

The name could use some work, though.

Her ability to see auras now allows her to avoid the guards and slip past them undetected, using camouflage if necessary as she makes her way back to the inn. The giant, glowing yellow aura drifts to the back of the inn and Poppy silently follows suit.

Bruce's wife. Brandy. Maybe she can help! Luckily, Brandy is alone in the back where the trash cans are.

Poppy tries to get Brandy's attention with a soft "pst!" Thankfully, Brandy turns around and recognizes her. "Oh, you're the troll from earlier who was with my husband," she says.

Poppy nods and whispers, "Do you know what's going on? Did you see Bruce and Branch?"

Brandy smiles with a terrifying grin and replies, "I wasn't happy with how they treated my husband, so I made sure to let them know." 

Poppy can only imagine the fear in their eyes as Brandy continues, "They ended up letting my husband go, but I'm not sure about Branch - Clay took him somewhere." Poppy checks back at the inn and ponders. She finally speaks up again, saying, "Brandy, I need your help."

In response, Brandy bends down to Poppy's eye level and answers, "Of course. Anything for Branch's boo." Brandy places a hand over her heart.

A faint blush appears on Poppy's cheeks as she stammers out, "We're not- I mean, I'm not..." before trailing off into silence. Brandy grins knowingly before Poppy changes the subject. "I need a distraction."

Poppy couldn't help but laugh at the sight of thirteen kids running around the inn, with guards trying to corral them like cattle. But she quickly refocuses on her task at hand. She silently thanks Brandy before spotting Bruce on the other side of the room, watching his kids with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Bruce!" Poppy exclaims, happy to see him again. Bruce's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he embraces Poppy in a hug.

"Princess Poppy! You're here. Why?" Bruce asks, curious about her sudden appearance. Poppy scans the room, hoping to find Branch, but he is nowhere to be found.

"Where's Branch?" Poppy questions, growing more worried by the minute.

Bruce let out a sigh before responding, "He's with Clay. Clay was looking for you and thought Branch might know where you were, so he took him. But Branch has been adamant in convincing to let you two go. Last I saw them, they were heading towards the forest."

Things are getting more complicated by the second, and Poppy asks if Bruce could help. He apologizes instead, saying that he needs to be with his wife and kids. 

"But, I do have one thing that might help you."

Bruce's riding critter was useful in helping her track down Branch and giving her the mobility to catch up. She spots their distinct colors in the distance - Branch, now handcuffed, is being led towards the forest by Clay and a group of guards.

Not much of a plan but she hopes to use herself as bait. 

Poppy's voice echoes across the field as she calls out to Mr. Clay, her paws forming a makeshift megaphone around her mouth. As she approaches, the other trolls and Branch all seem to have their eyes grow wider in surprise.

"Why are you here, Poppy?" Branch asks in a panicked tone. Poppy stops the critter in its tracks and declares, "Come and get me!" Her diversion works temporarily as the trolls, including Clay, run off to chase her.

Branch is now left alone with the other guard, the one she remembers from their previous encounter.

This could work.

The critter grows tired as they rapidly approach from behind. Drawing on the spells she learned in Branch's training, she conjures a thick cloud of smoke to cover the entire area. As Mr. Clay and the other trolls struggle to breathe through the smoke, they close in on the exhausted critter. The rider is nowhere to be found, and Poppy swiftly flies back to where Branch is.

She really needs another lesson on flying but her focus shifts as she sees Branch. 

Branch's eyes widen in shock as he and Poppy lock gazes with each other, silently communicating. Without hesitation, Branch charges towards the other guard, knocking him off of its critter and onto the ground. Meanwhile, Poppy quickly uses her hair to reach out and Branch, using his own extended hair as a lifeline to connect before pulling him up.

Unfortunately, Poppy's flight didn't last as long as she had hoped and she ends up falling to the ground with Branch. She takes a moment to catch her breath before checking on Branch.

She exclaims, "Branch!" and embraces him tightly. Poppy's face lights up with joy at the sight of him. Branch's expression softens as he asks, "what are you doing here?"

Poppy lets out a disbelieving scoff, saying, "you honestly didn't think I would just leave you, did you?"

Her face lights up with a smile, but her expression quickly turns to surprise when she sees the tears in his eyes. "Everyone else usually does," he mutters quietly. She looks at him with concern, but then notices the lone guard behind them slowly getting up and others approaching from a distance.

Ah, sugar. 

Their brief moment of relief is cut short as Poppy urgently grabs Branch's paw and starts running towards the safety of the forest. They might be able to hide there. As they draw nearer to the trees, Poppy grabs onto a low-hanging branch with her hair, ready to pull Branch up with her. But then, a groan from behind makes them freeze in their tracks.

She gasps when she notices the arrow lodged in Branch's leg, her eyes widening with fear.

"Branch!" Poppy hovers anxiously over him, watching as the guard with a crossbow takes aim at them, getting closer and closer.

"Creek, what are you doing? That's my brother!" Poppy can hear Mr. Clay shouting, but the guard remains firm.

"Poppy, you have to go," Branch tells her desperately, but she refuses to leave his side, watching blood trickle down from his leg once again. 

It's the second time he's gotten hurt because of her. 

Poppy's paws tremble as she raises them in surrender. "Okay, okay, I give up," she says with panic in her voice. But Branch pleads with her not to give in. Ignoring him, Poppy turns to Clay and desperately asks, "You and Viva know how to save Floyd, right?"

Clay nods slowly and Poppy tearfully adds, "I'll come with you, but you have to let Branch go. Heal him and let him leave." Clay remains silent for a moment before looking at his brother and then back at Poppy. Reluctant, he eventually nods in agreement.

"Let's go,"

Branch urges once more, trying to convince Poppy to flee from here. She plants a kiss on his cheek before leaving, unable to bear the heartbroken look on his face. "It'll be okay, Branch. Go save your brother," she tells him as she walks towards Clay and the other soldiers. 

After all, the only one who could catch Poppy is Branch.

Chapter Text

His late grandmother used to say he was truly blessed. Blessed with the gift of magic that flowed through him. Blessed to have siblings who love him. Blessed to be alive in this world full of wonder and endless possibilities. The warmth of her words still linger in his heart, a reminder to never take his blessings for granted.

Branch looks down at his paws. 

Every blessing now feels like a curse. His breath catches as he watches the only troll who came back for him leave. She sacrificed her own freedom for him, and all he can do is just watch. All he ever did in his life was watch them walk away.

Clay stays true to his word and unlocks the handcuffs, leading him to the infirmary to tend to his wounds. But Branch couldn't care less about his injuries or Clay's words. All he could focus on was the lingering kiss on his cheek from Poppy, a painful reminder of what had happened. 

Now it is just the two of them in the room, feeling more suffocating than ever before.

"Branch," Clay breaks the silence, but Branch remains fixated on his injured leg, refusing to acknowledge him. "I'm sorry you got hurt. That was never supposed to happen. I promise he will be dealt with for hurting you and for putting the princess at risk," Clay tries again, but Branch has no energy to spare for him. 

A moment hangs in the air as Clay searches for words, "Branch, about you and the princess..." He reaches out with his paws, but Branch pulls away, sensing the ulterior motive behind the gesture.

"I know how you feel, Branch." 

Branch finally raises his head, the blue of his eyes locking with Clay's. His jaw tightens and his claws bare unintentionally. Through gritted teeth, he responds, "You know nothing about how I feel, Clay. Just because the crown princess you've been chasing for a decade doesn't love you back doesn't mean you understand my feelings." 

Clay clenches his fist in frustration before he answers, "Branch, this is the good for the kingdom and for your own sake. Pop kingdom needs Poppy, and you should stay out of it before you get hurt."

Branch retorts with anger, "Isn't it a little late for that, Clay? You keep talking about what's best for the kingdom and for me, but you won't give us any reasons. Why is Poppy so important? And why won't her family allow her to use magic?"

Clay is about to reply when a knock at the door interrupts them. One of Clay's guards informs him that the princess is secure and transportation has been arranged. Clay tries to maintain a composed expression as he stands up. Branch reaches out and grabs his wrist, "let me see her."

His mouth opens and then closes again as he looks down at Branch's clutching hand on his wrist, "I don't think that's a good idea, Branch."

Branch responds with a blunt statement, "You owe me this much at the very least, Clay. I can barely walk right now."

Clay and the guard exchange a wary glance before Branch locks eyes with Clay, "I promise I won't do anything if you just let me see her now." Clay takes in a long breath, his hesitant gaze moves from the guard to Branch. His nod is reluctant but firm.

"Fine, but be quick."

He helps steady Branch on his one good foot and they share a heavy silence as they make their way to the princess.

"Branch!" Poppy's face lights up when she sees Branch, and she immediately rushes to hug him. There is a sense of relief on both their faces as they embrace, but it quickly fades as they pull away. The cool night air feels colder now that they are surrounded by Clay and the guards. Despite any plans he may have had, Branch knows there is no chance of escape. He couldn't risk putting Poppy in harm's way, especially after seeing what they did to him.

Poppy's voice is barely a whisper as she speaks, "I never thought I'd see you again." Branch holds her paws gently in his own and replies with a heavy heart, "We don't have much time left."

Poppy lets out a soft sigh before glancing down at his injured leg and asking, "How is your leg feeling?" Branch shrugs nonchalantly, not wanting to worry her.

"I can barely feel the pain," he lies. 

She looks at him with sadness in her eyes before reaching up to trace the scars on his face with her paw. Her familiar humming fills him with warmth, and he covers her paw with his own, gazing deeply into her eyes. 

"Poppy, you can't let them do this to you," he says earnestly. But she shakes her head, resigned. "What else can I do, Branch? Besides, you don't need me." A nervous laugh escapes her lips.

"You said it yourself, Viva is the one of the most powerful sorceresses out there. She and Clay can help you free Floyd." she says. His jaw tightens as he whispers the truth, "But I do need you."

Poppy smiles fondly at him before reluctantly letting go of his paws. She fidgets nervously with her own paws before suddenly remembering something. 

"Oh! Uhm here, your cloak." 

She unclasps the cloak from around her neck and hands it back to him. The scent of strawberries overwhelms him as he holds it tightly in his paws. Clay interrupts their moment by clearing his throat and signaling that it's time to go. Branch moves away as Clay leads Poppy into the carriage. Branch watch as they disappear into the distance, Poppy looking back at him through the window of the carriage, her bright eyes filled with sadness.

The other guards lead Branch back to the inn, his heavy steps echoing through the quiet inn as they approach his room. He drops to the bed, looking up at the ceiling. The warmth of Poppy's paws still lingers on his skin, her beautiful smile still fresh in his mind, and the scent of strawberries from the cloak remains lingering in the air.

But try as he might, he can't shake the image of Poppy's sad expression from his mind.

A loud voice echoes through his mind,

'would you come back'

Branch sits up abruptly, confused. Warmth washes over him as he tries to process the words. Was that Poppy's voice? It couldn't be, he's never heard her say that before. Has he? He heads to the bathroom to try and clear his thoughts. However, before he can do so, something catches his eye in the mirror. He stares at the reflection looking back at him and reaches up to touch his face. 

His scars.

They're no longer there. 

Suddenly, a light of understanding dawns on his face.

Poppy.

She must have healed him. But how? He carefully unwraps the bandages around his leg and is amazed to see the wound closing up before his eyes. Though he can still feel some pain, he can see that it's slowly healing. He glances towards the window, knowing he won't reach them before they return to the castle.

His eyes scans the room around him. Empty. No plan, no resources. But a burning determination ignites in his chest.

He couldn't let her go.

He hurls himself down the stairs, heart pounding as he scans for Bruce. Instead, he crashes into a wall of solid mass—another troll.

"Sheesh watch where you're going!" A well-known grumble echoes off the inn. Branch would recognize that voice anywhere—it belongs to his eldest brother, John Dory. "John!"

"Bitty B!" JD exclaims. "Hey, did you get the stone?"

"Don't call me Bitty B," Branch grumbles. His brows furrow for a moment before his eyes sparkle with sudden realization.

"JD, I need Rhonda," he says urgently.

Confused, JD responds, "Rhonda? She's in the shed but-" Branch cuts him off and explains, "I'll fill you in later. Or Bruce might, I don't know. But I have to go!" 

He hears his eldest brother yelling for him but Branch hurries off with the cloak in hand and sees Rhonda, JD's trusty riding critter. She glows brightly in beige and red with a saddle on her back. When she sees Branch, she lights up and he gives her a pat before climbing onto the saddle. His grip tightens on Rhonda's reins.

Enough watching.

It's time to act.

Chapter Text

Poppy gazes out of the carriage window at the night sky, admiring the beauty of the moon and stars. 

She recalls memories of her mother singing songs about them, calling Poppy her 'little sunlight'. 

She wonders if Branch is looking up at the same sky. The thought brings a bittersweet feeling to her heart; a cold certainty settles in her heart—she would never see Branch again.

It's for the best. 

"Princess." Clay’s voice echoes in the carriage, jolting Poppy from her thoughts. Only he is there while the others are protecting the carriage outside. 

"Clay." Poppy drops the formalities and calls him by his first name, their relationship has changed ever since Branch's injury and their broken promise.

Clay swallows hard, "Did my brother... did he teach you anything?" He sounds wary. Apprehensive. Not that Poppy cares. 

Poppy simply shrugs. To her, it's all basic knowledge. Smoke clouds, flying, fire, water, and she is surprised that she can now see auras without any incantations or songs. Not that she would tell Clay any of that.

A shadow crosses Clay’s face, his lips pressing into a thin line as he gathers his thoughts before letting it go,

"Okay. And your relationship with Branch..." Clay trails off. Poppy's face displays a hint of irritation. Why does that even matter at this point? 

"He rescued me. End of story," she says, brushing it off. She shouldn't have to justify anything, and she certainly doesn't want Branch to face any additional consequences. Besides, nothing happened. Her heart feels heavy and her ears droop in disappointment; nothing will ever happen. Clay's disbelief is clear on his face, and he opens his mouth to ask another question.

"Why didn't Branch ever talk about you?" Poppy rushes out, not wanting to entertain any more of his inquiries. Clay winces at her question before hesitating to answer. He finally responds with a question of his own: "Isn't it obvious?"

Clay's fingers nervously toy with the hem of his uniform and sighs, "I'm guessing you know about Brozone." 

Poppy nods slowly. Clay stares at her, wary once more. "What else do you know?" 

A frown creases Poppy’s forehead, her eyes narrowing with confusion. "What do you mean?"

Clay takes a moment before answering, treading carefully with his words. "Living that way was no way to live. Always on the run, bounties on our heads but we were good at it. John was always the leader; he would scope out the targets and we'd have inside information on the traveling merchants."

Clay continues, "My role was planning our escape routes. Branch was our backup in case anything goes wrong but that one robbery ruined everything."

Clay hesitates before adding, "John thought it was a good idea to go after the late King Gristle Senior as he was traveling for the first time."

The bergen king himself? The trolls living in the bergen kingdom would never dare. He shakes his head, "Everything fell apart. John acted too hastily, and we almost got caught. An argument erupted among us, and we went our separate ways afterwards. That's it. I only wanted what was best for our family. John chose a life on the run, I wanted Branch and I to live an honest life. but Branch could never forgive me for it. Claims I joined the enemy."

Clay scoffs at the thought. Poppy studies Clay, noting the guarded look in his eyes and the reluctance lacing his tone. He was withholding something. Not the full information, something Clay and her sister have in common. Poppy must have another discussion with Viva, desperately hoping she will finally grant her freedom. She's been through so much and managed to outsmart the guards, but Poppy knows better than to get her hopes up. Life in the castle is all she has ever known. A mournful sigh escapes her as Clay redirects the conversation, "we have a long night ahead of us. Let's rest up and meet with your sister in the morning."

Clay shifts his body to face the window, crossing his arms as he gazes outside. Poppy realizes that she won't be able to gather any more information. She leans her head on her arm and gazes up at the night sky, counting the stars above before drifting to sleep.

'i've never met someone like you before' she looks down to her friend with a curious look from the window of her bedroom. Friend? He looks up at her, but she can't see his face. 

He doesn't answer.

'are you hiding from someone?' she asks

'my brother.'  he finally answers.

'why? i would never hide from viva!' 

'i dont want to be part of his little club. they're mean'

'do you want to be part of my club?' 

'no' 

'aww how come'

'i just want to go home.' he gets up to leave.

'would you come back' 

she thinks he's looking back at her but provides no answer.

As she blinks herself awake, she realizes the carriage has come to a stop. Clay is sound asleep. She peers out of the window and sees the guards settling in for camp, their auras glowing in the darkness. Some wander off into the forest while others rest on the side. It shouldn't be much longer until they reach the castle.

Poppy tightens her grip on the carriage handle as she reflects on Branch's last words. She glances at Clay again, who is peacefully asleep, and looks if she can formulate a plan. The whole area is lit up with the different auras of the other guards. Poppy was about to lean back on her seat when out of the corner of her eye, she catches a glimpse of a bright midnight blue light in the distance. Her eyes widen in surprise. It can't be... Could it?

Her heart races.

She attempts to push the door open but only then does she realize that it's locked from the outside. She should have known better. She glances over at Clay, making sure he is still sound asleep. The window was too small for her to squeeze through, and blowing up the door would put both herself and Clay in danger. 

Lock picking would be an option if she had any knowledge of how to do it. Branch had mentioned he used to do it when he was a bandit. She huffs, pushing her hair out of her face in frustration.

All she could do now was wait.

Poppy settles back in her seat, her gaze fixated on the distant light. To her, it is like a beacon of hope. Her very own sunlight. 

Chapter Text

Branch knows these woods like the back of his paws. He's spent years hiding in them; he knows every creature, every plant, and every inch of the landscape. With a gentle pull on the reins and a click of his tongue, he signals for Rhonda, one of the fastest riding critters around, to come to a stop. 

Her hustle is unmatched but even Branch didn't expect to catch up so quickly. He rummages through the saddlebag and grabs some of JD's supplies - ropes, hairpins, bombs, handkerchiefs - knowing that he'll need to repay him when they get back. But first things first, his gaze lands on what he's been looking for - the carriage.

Unfortunately, Branch's face is all too recognizable. In moments like this, he wishes he could summon Floyd to help him disguise himself as one of the guards. He ties Rhonda to a tree, keeping her hidden in the foliage and gives her a treat. Instead of getting the treat, she licks his cheek. Branch quickly wipes away the drool with disgust. Ugh. 

Then he climbs up into the trees, surveying his surroundings before closing his eyes and starts muttering under his breath. With a mental map of each troll's location in the forest memorized, he knows Clay and Poppy must be in that carriage but doesn't have them in sight yet.  

A group is gathered by the river, another is stationed outside the carriage, and a few appear to be resting while scattered throughout the woods

His mind races; he needs to create a distraction.

He throws one of JD's bombs into the water, causing a small explosion.As he watches from above, he sees the other trolls react and investigate the source of the noise. Like a phantom, he slips through the shadows of the trees with practiced ease, getting closer to the carriage. 

Not many now. So he waits until one is walking aimlessly before grabbing him from behind and muffling his sounds with his own hair. The guard tries to struggle but his sounds were muffled.

Branch ties up the guard with some rope and uses a handkerchief to cover his mouth before tying the other end of the rope to a tree branch, suspending the troll in mid-air. He drops the handkerchief, causing the guard to call for help as Branch makes his way back to the carriage by skillfully maneuvering through the tree branches. He waits for the remaining guards to check on the troll before continuing his plan.  

Only one guard remained, the same one who had shot him with an arrow during their last encounter. He couldn't remember the guard's name, but it didn't matter to him at this point. He quickly wraps his hair around the purple guard's neck, squeezing until he falls unconscious. The guard struggles and curses, trying to break free from Branch's grip. Desperate, he tries to reason with Branch. "Come on, mate. She's not worth all this trouble. Just. turn her in and collect the bounty."

He maintains a steady, unwavering glare as the troll crumples to the ground, completely unconscious. Branch's mind races as he calculates how much time he has left before backup arrives. He rushes towards the carriage where he sees Poppy through the window, her face lighting up when she sees him.

"Branch!"

"Poppy! We don't have much time." Branch urgently pulls out hairpins as he struggles to catch his breath. Finally unlocking the door, Poppy flies out and immediately embraces him.

"You came." She sighs with relief. "What happened to your leg? And your scars?"

Branch takes her paws in his before answering, "I'll explain later, but right now we need to-"

Clay's voice cut into their moment like a sharp knife and Branch quickly pulls Poppy out of the way as he sees Clay in the carriage, alert and rushing to grab onto his wrist.

"Branch, what are you doing here? Are you crazy?" Clay asks angrily. "Weren't you...?"

Branch positions himself between Poppy and Clay as Clay's grip on Branch's wrist tightens. 

"Clay, you have to let me go. You can't let them do this to Poppy." Branch tries to reason with him.

"Branch, you don't understand. Everyone will be after her. She's..." Clay stammers. "She's special. Her magic is much stronger than Viva's."

Branch looks down at his wrist and back up at Clay before saying firmly, "Clay, let go."

"I'm just trying to protect you, Branch, why can't you understand that?" Clay says through gritted teeth, tightening his hold on Branch's wrist. But Branch has had enough. He unsheathes the claws on his left paw and digs them into Clay's paws, causing him to recoil in pain and release the grip. As blood drips from his hand, Clay’s stare on Branch became distant and filled with a deep sorrow.

"Clay, this isn't protection. This is fear. Hiding like this... I would have understood it twenty years ago, but I've grown up now. It's time for both you and the crown princess to understand that." With that, Branch steps away and holds onto Poppy's waist. Poppy looks apologetically at him and mouths a sorry before they both use their hair to climb up into the trees.

Clay can only watch as they disappear into the shadows of the night. Clay’s stare lingers on his injured paw, his eyes pooling with regret.

Finally reaching where Rhonda is, Poppy wraps her arms tightly around Branch in a hug, afraid he might disappear if she lets go.

"Ack Poppy, too tight. We gotta go soon before they catch up." Branch says, trying to break free from her embrace. But Poppy holds on, burying her face into his neck.

"I'm just so happy you're here," she whispers, nuzzling against him. He breathes out in relief and feels a rush of emotion as his heart beats rapidly against his chest. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he replies, "me too."

Branch's ears twitch at the sound of rustling leaves in the distance.

"We really need to go now," he declares, clicking his tongue to get Rhonda's attention. Rhonda shakes off the foliage and purrs happily at the sight of him. Poppy runs over and coos over her. "Awww, is this the famous Rhonda?" she asks with a giggle as the beige and red critter licks her.

Branch unties Rhonda from the tree and jumps onto the saddle. "JD says that usually means she likes you."

Branch extends his paw out. 

"Usually?" Poppy questions playfully as she takes his paw to hop onto the saddle behind him. She wraps her arms around his waist as he holds onto the reins.

"Or you're prey," Branch teases before clicking his heels together and prompting Rhonda to start running back to her owner.

"Wooo hoo!" Poppy cheers loudly, feeling a sense of exhilaration as they ride through the forest.

Branch knows he will have to explain to John Dory how the whole country is looking for him; it won't be an easy conversation. But with Poppy holding on tightly from behind and her infectious laughter filling the air, he can't help but smile.

The blue of his skin seem to shine brighter under the starry night sky. 

Chapter Text

John Dory wasn't one to ask for much. He used to, but not anymore. In the past, he believed that life revolved around money— money for food, for a home, money to live. His parents would say that's what matters most. But he doesn't like to talk about them. Growing up in the harsh Bergen Kingdom was tough for most trolls, so he doesn't blame his parents entirely. It's not like he's any better. He spent his days plotting heists and robbing unsuspecting travelers just to get by. The stolen money would often be used for food and a place to stay at hotels and inns.

Living in the glorious Pop Kingdom was also not a privilege granted to everyone. The king of their kingdom held a deep dislike for outsiders, particularly those from the Bergen Kingdom. John Dory didn't entirely blame him for this animosity; thoughts of his parents briefly cross his mind again. The pain of their departure from this world still lingers, leaving him with the sole responsibility of caring for his four younger brothers.

He pushes the thought away, knowing there is no use in dwelling on the past. The ties were cut when the world has forgotten what they did, so he should too. He lifts the cool bottle to his lips, the bitter taste of beer spreading across his tongue. The condensation drips down the side of the bottle, leaving wet rings on the wooden table. Bruce joins him with his wife as they wait for their little brother to return.

"Do you know where Bitty B went?" John Dory casually asks, only to receive a scoff from Bruce in response.

"Probably chasing after that princess of his." Bruce replies.

He nearly spits out his beer in shock, "excuse me, what?" 

Bruce turns towards his wife with a wistful expression. "Do you remember when we were young and in love like that?"

Brandy affectionately rubs her nose against his. "My little man is still undefeated in those bar fights."

JD scoffs.

Surely, Bruce must be exaggerating. There's no way that Branch, of all trolls, would be involved in any of that. Especially with a princess. He's made that stance quite clear when John Dory warned him about going after the royal library. In their last conversation, Branch had complained about why important knowledge that could benefit other trolls was being kept hidden. John didn't have a good answer for that question.

He takes another sip of his beer and looks back at Bruce, "you're kidding, right?" But Bruce leans closer, a glint in his eye.

"I'm serious! I didn't know Bitty B had it in him to kidnap a princess." Bruce's laughter echoes around them as he spins his tall tale, but JD merely rolls his eyes in response. He talks about Bitty B as if he would ever put himself in a dangerous situation like that.

Before he can respond, Rhonda bursts through the door and tackles John at full speed, causing him to spill his beer.

"Easy there, girl," he says with a chuckle as he pats her head. He looks around and notices his brother is still missing. Rhonda is a sweet little critter, found her when he was on the run.

"Where's Branch?" Rhonda gets excited at the mention of John's younger brother and nudges him towards the door. "Come on, let's go find him." She leads him to the shed where Bitty B is hiding in the corner.

"Bitty B! Hey, you got some explaining to do." John said, approaching. But when he sees Branch's expression and notices that he's not alone, he stops abruptly.

His eyes widen as he takes in the scene. Was Bruce was telling the truth? The millions of posters plaster everywhere were a clear enough indication, but he is fully aware that his baby brother is standing next to none other than the youngest princess of Pop Kingdom. The joke they're sharing must be hilarious because John feels he's having a heart attack right now. JD urgently hisses at Branch, who jumps in surprise upon realizing that he is in the shed. Branch quickly composes himself and nonchalantly responds, "yeah?" 

"what, what, what is this?" JD asks, gesturing wildly at their interlocked paws. They quickly let go, their faces turning red with embarrassment. JD wants to comment on that but there's more pressing issues at hand. 

"Sooooo this is Poppy." Branch’s paws waver in the air as he gesture towards the princess, a shaky smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. John gives her a quick smile and wave out of politeness before turning back to Branch.

"Branch, I am fully aware that she is the youngest princess of Pop Kingdom. But why is she here?" He grits his teeth and Branch’s fingers twist together, knotting and unknotting themselves as he tries to find the right words to explain.

"Well, it's for Floyd."

John Dory splutters, "what do you mean it's for Floyd? You said you would bring back a magical stone, not a freakin' princess." Oh, it's happening. The heart attack he can feel it. He's going to see his parents in ol' pearly gates. Or down below? And speaking of their parents... He shakes his head as the princess steps forward and extends her paw for him to shake.

"Hi! Oh! You must be John Dory!! Branch has told me so much about you. You can call me Poppy!" She says happily, seemingly unaware of John's meltdown. As if she didn't get kidnapped.

Wait.

"Branch! Was Bruce right? Did you kidnap a princess?" John turns to his brother with disbelief in his voice. Poppy snorts and playfully waves a paw, "That was, like, ages ago,"

"Actually, it was only four days ago," Branch tries to be helpful while JD stares at him as if he has two heads. Oh, they're so dead. Forget about a heart attack, the king will do it for him. 

Branch quickly realizes and clarifies, "She's willing to help us free Floyd. She knows where the stone is and how we can get it." 

His shoulders slump as tension uncoils in his chest like a released spring. He gives out a sigh of relief. Not kidnapped. Okay. This is good news. Having a member of the royal family with them would make their travels much smoother. "Fantastic! It's great to have you on board, Princess Poppy."

His grin spreads wide and she mirrors it with a beaming smile. Branch lets out a sigh of relief, the two exchanging a love-struck gaze before refocusing on JD. He makes a mental note to have a talk with Branch about that later. 

"Is your sister going to meet us too or oh Clay! Bruce told me he was here earlier but gosh darn it, it seems we just missed him." John grumbles but then he notices a nervous expression on Branch's face and stops in his tracks. "Branch," he says, narrowing his eyes. 

Branch was never good at hiding the truth, so it didn't take long for him to confess, "Yeah! Um. Clay isn't going to help us. And neither is the Crown Princess. In fact! We should probably leave now." 

Nervous laughter escapes from both the princess and Branch, indicating that Branch is not the only terrible liar. John Dory inhales deeply, "why not?"

"Welllllll," Branch drags out his response, drawing the word out for emphasis. "It's not like I kidnapped her. It's more like I'm... helping her escape? So they, yeah, uh. There's a three million bounty on her head still." 

John Dory nods slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation. This means that every bounty hunter, every royal member, everyone in the country will be searching for her. Great. Since the day everything went wrong, his brothers' shouts echoing in his mind as he was the only one that walked away, he had hoped to escape this life and be done with it all. He felt a strong urge to shout but once he notices the expression of guilt on his younger brother's face, he stops. What was the point of getting mad now? He'll figure it out, he always does. He grasps Branch's shoulders, takes a deep breath, and responds with a simple "okay."

Branch gives him a skeptical look and asks, "okay?"

"Just like the good old days, huh Branch?" JD says, resigning himself to the situation. This is nothing new- running from the law, sleeping in cold rain with good ol' Rhonda, being hunted by former bounty hunters (he hopes he doesn't run into one of his ex-lovers again)- all for the sake of saving Floyd this time. Not for money.  

"You're not... angry?" Branch asks, and John Dory lets out a sigh. "Oh Branch, sweet ol' Branch. It's time you understand what it's like to be in my shoes when they were hunting me. But don't worry little bro, John Dory's got this under control." He pats Branch on the back with a weak smile, while Branch squints at him.

Meanwhile, Poppy remains unfazed and declares, "Yay, let's go! Operation find the mystical stone, save Floyd, and hide from my family is a go!" 

Both brothers stare at her incredulously while Poppy looks back expectantly, "No good?" 

"We'll keep working on the name," Branch reassures. John Dory pats Rhonda and addresses the two of them, "Unfortunately, Rhonda can't carry all three of us at once, so we'll have to borrow Bruce's. Let's get moving."

Branch nods in agreement and they quickly set off. John Dory watches them leave with a hint of sadness. There is another matter concerning the princess but they need to focus on Floyd.

There's no use in dwelling in the past. 

Chapter Text

Poppy can't remember the last time she experienced such pure joy. Her face lights up with a wide grin, cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkle with excitement. The thrill of the wind in her hair, the rush of adrenaline through her veins, and the pure joy of being alive fill her with an exuberance she hadn't felt in years. For years, her choices were always dictated by either her sister, father, or the needs of their kingdom. But in this moment, she lets go and allows herself to truly have fun.

Stretching her arms wide, a jubilant cry escapes her lips as she races past Branch and his critter.

A competitive glint appears in his eye, and he clicks his tongue, his body crouches low on his critter as he prepares to chase after Poppy. She senses his determination and giggles, weaving through the trees with a skillful finesse that matches his own. They race neck and neck through the forest.

"You wouldn't want to be beaten by a princess, would you?" Poppy taunts, sticking her tongue out at him. She clicks her heels and her critter takes off, leaving Branch in the dust. Branch clicks his heels, attempting to catch up to Poppy but without warning, a blur of beige and red dart past them. Their riding critters pause mid-stride, their bodies tensing as they slow down.

"I told you! No one can beat Rhonda, y'all!" From far off, JD's laughter rattles through the forest, his voice booming with triumph. Poppy and Branch chuckle together as their critters walk side by side. After stocking up on supplies and getting new clothes from Bruce, the trio sets off towards Volcano Valley in the Rock Kingdom. JD suggests stopping at a midway point at a clearing before completing the rest of the trip. During their discussion about Floyd's well-being, John Dory mentions that he is managing to stay afloat for now. Poppy's gaze flickers towards Branch with questions churning in her mind.

After a long silence, she speaks up. "You never mentioned Clay before."

She observes the way Branch's hand tightens around the reins of his creature and how his body tenses up at the name of his brother. 

"I didn't think he was worth mentioning," Branch responds curtly. His lips curve into a forced smile, as if he's trying to hold back an array of emotions. "After my grandmother passed away, I lived by myself for a while. I built a shelter on the outskirts of Pop Kingdom, but... I still needed food and money. So, I resorted to the only way I knew how to survive." 

Poppy's eyebrows lift before slowly knitting together as understanding dawns on her. "Stealing," she whispers.

Branch's face hardens and he responds with bitterness, "And can you guess who caught me?"

"Clay," Poppy replies with a tinge of sorrow in her voice.

A sarcastic laugh escapes Branch's lips. "Well, at least I didn't end up behind bars," he mutters.

Poppy tilts her head and asks, "But Branch, you can do magic. Surely, there was another solution?" 

In any kingdom, having magical abilities is highly prized and coveted. It can greatly elevate one's social standing, as the ability to summon fire out of thin air would greatly benefit blacksmiths, or the power to conjure water could aid in watering crops for the farmers.

However, sadness clouds Branch's expression as he meets Poppy's gaze. "I was grey at the time. My powers were rendered useless."

Poppy's shock is apparent as she pulls back slightly on the reins, causing her creature to slow down. "You... turned grey?"

Branch keeps his gaze fixed on the road in front of him. He admits, "Clay is the only one who knows I used to be grey. And to be honest, he tried to help me but..."

He trails off, not wanting to say any more. Poppy studies him, wondering how he regained his colors. The cure for greyness was a mystery; it rarely occurred among trolls in Pop Kingdom. However, she had overheard multiple discussions during dignitary meetings where other kingdoms faced this issue under harsh conditions, often treating those affected as inferior. Even the ancestors have tried to look for a cure. Noticing her expression, Branch confesses, "If you're wondering how I got my colors back, I don't know."

Poppy blinks in surprise. "You don't?"

He runs a hand through his dull-colored hair, a look of perplexity crossing his features. "As much as I would like to remember, I can't." 

He casts a quick glance at Poppy before clicking his tongue, motioning for his creature to move forward. She studies his back intently as she absorbs all the details of his past. It's no surprise that he had a standoffish attitude towards her when they first met. She bites her low lip as she gives a signal for her own creature to follow suit. Maybe it's best to avoid asking him those questions.

As they near their destination, the sun begins to set and the trees start to thin out, revealing a beautiful clearing with a crystal clear lake in the center. Rhonda can be seen lounging contentedly, tied up next to a tree. Across the clearing, John Dory calls out, "Finally, there you two are! Took you both long enough!"

Dismounting from their riding animals, the duo secure them to a nearby tree. JD furrows his brow, glancing uncertainly as his brother and the princess approach. He bites his lip and opens his mouth slightly as if to speak but then changes his mind, looking away instead. John Dory points towards the lake, asking, "Hey, how many fish do you reckon I can catch before nightfall?"

Rhonda's eyes sparkle at the mention of fish. Her paw reaches out to touch JD's arm in anticipation and he turns to her and reassures, "Don't worry girl, you'll get ya share." 

Branch rolls his eyes, a wry smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Wasn't the record like ten fish?" 

"Please. Twelve." The gleam in JD's eyes intensifies as he dashes towards the lake. Shaking his head at his brother's antics, Branch opts to set up camp with Poppy instead. He crouches down on the lush grass and begins laying out a green tarp as their base. Meanwhile, Poppy scours the forest floor for sticks and branches, constructing a circle of stones for their future fire. They finish quickly and have some time to spare. Glancing over at John Dory struggling in the water, trying to catch fish for dinner, they turn to each other with a smile.

An idea sparks in Poppy's mind—her eyes shine with excitement. She eagerly asks, "Hey, can you teach me how to lockpick? It might come in handy."

Branch raises an eyebrow while the corners of his mouth twitch upwards in amusement. After a moment of contemplation, he nods. "Alright, I'll teach you," he agrees. Poppy's smile grows wider, her heart racing with anticipation. She watches intently as Branch pulls out one of the locks from his bag, the metal glinting in the warm sunlight. He retrieves hairpins from his own hair and deftly inserts one into the lock. He places his ear against it, carefully listening and manipulating the tumblers until with ease he successfully unlocks it.

Poppy’s eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat as Branch nonchalantly shrugs his shoulders, a sense of pride evident on his face. He smirks confidently and says, "Your turn." 

He throws a lock at her, and she catches it gracefully in one paw. She sends him a confused look. Then, he hands her a hairpin. "Listen carefully as you maneuver around. The clicking sounds will guide you."

Poppy sticks out her tongue in concentration as she fiddles with the lock, her ears straining for any telltale clicks. A hairpin snaps under the strain of Poppy's concentrated efforts. A groan slips past her clenched teeth as her paw clenches around the broken tool. Branch reassures her, "I didn't get it on my first try either." He hands her another hairpin to continue their attempt at picking the lock.

Minutes tick by, the only sound in the secluded clearing being the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds. Poppy's brow furrows in concentration, her lips pressed into a thin line as she continues to work on the stubborn lock. Branch remains silent, allowing her to immerse herself fully in the task at hand.

Despite her perseverance, the lock remains steadfast, refusing to yield to Poppy's attempts. Another hairpin bends under pressure, causing her to exhale a frustrated sigh. She looks up at Branch, a mixture of disappointment and determination flashing in her eyes. He lets out a deep breath before coming up behind her and enveloping her in his arms, gently holding her paw as he brings the lock up to her ears. Poppy's heart races at their proximity, feeling the warmth emanating from his body. She can't help but let out a small squeak as his breath tickles her ears. "Now, when you hear the first click, like this..." He demonstrates by inserting a hairpin into the lock. In that moment, all Poppy can hear is the thumping of her own heart. 

Poppy's paw trembles as Branch gently places his paw over hers, guiding their movements together. The electricity between them is palpable, causing shivers to run down her spine. As the lock finally clicks open, their eyes meet and they both become intensely aware of the closeness between their faces. Without breaking eye contact, his face inches closer, his breath mingling with hers before—

"Hey!" At John Dory's call, Poppy and Branch jolt apart. Their eyes dart to anywhere but each other's faces. He frowns at the sight of them. Poppy drops the lock in that moment, swallowing nervously. What just happened? 

Their attention shifts to John Dory, who looks like he's caught enough fish for dinner. He glances between the two of them before placing the collection of fish down by the ring of stones. Clearing his throat, he turns to his little brother and says, "Branch, can I have a quick word with you?"

"Yeah." Branch's voice crackles as he speaks, and he clears his throat before turning to Poppy. "Just... work on this," he says, handing her some more hairpins for lockpicking. "We'll be back."

Poppy picks up the lock from the ground and watches as the two brothers walk off into the distance. They were about to...

No, that couldn't be possible.

Yes, she had kissed him on the cheeks before as a farewell and they had shared some close moments together but he wouldn't. Would he? Poppy takes a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

He doesn't like princesses, and he definitely doesn't like her in that way.

She takes a shuddering breath as an unwanted question floats to the surface of her mind – what about her own feelings?

As she gnaws at her lip, her paw instinctively reaches up to touch her cheeks, surprised by their unusual warmth.

Forget it. Focus. 

She tries practicing once more, pushing aside the moment they just had. She listens carefully as the tumblers click into place, thinking of the instructions Branch provided during—

Nope.

The hairpin breaks. She tries once more. Time seems to stand still as Poppy's perseverance pays off—the lock finally clicks open in her paw. A mixture of joy and relief washes over her, a triumphant smile gracing her lips. She let out a small squeal before running off to show Branch her success. She sees the midnight and cyan blue colors in the distance. As she approaches, she hears their conversation and pauses, unsure if she should interrupt or not. 

"Branch, you need to stop," JD's voice echoes through the trees. Branch lets out a nervous laugh, "I already told you, nothing happened."

"What's your plan after we rescue Floyd? You and her ride off into the sunset, roasting marshmallows and singing songs and live happily ever after?" JD presses on, ignoring his previous statement. Poppy holds her breath, straining to not miss a single word. He stutters, "JD, nothing happened and even if something did, what's so wrong with that? She doesn't want to return home." 

"Do you think a life on the run is good for her, Branch? I've experienced it first-hand," JD counters.

"And do you think I haven't? After our grandma passed away?" Branch retorts.

"Branch," JD says firmly. 

"No, I'm tired of both you and Clay trying to dictate my life," Branch snaps back. 

"I'm not trying to—" John Dory's words trails off and he takes a deep, shaky breath before trying again. "Can you just listen?"

He rakes a paw through his hair, his face twists in irritation. "You can't be with her, Branch. I didn't want to have to tell you this." 

Branch's defenses rise as he retorts, "Tell me what?" He gestures wildly with his arms.

"That I'm not good enough for her because I'm a thief? That she comes from a royal family and I don't stand a chance? Trust me, I know all of that," he adds with a hint of bitterness.

Poppy's ears sink as she hears his words; has he always felt like this? Well, that won't have to do. She just needs to find a way to prove to him that their different social standings mean nothing. 

JD huffs with frustration before speaking again, "If you can't see the way she looks at you, then you must be blind. We've only been traveling together for less than a day, and even I can see it. But that's not what I wanted to say, Branch. Our parents killed—"

The nearby birds chirp loudly, causing her to jump as they turn their attention towards her in the rustling forest leaves. 

"Poppy!" Branch's voice exclaims, breaking through the quietness of the woods. JD quickly averts her gaze. Poppy rushes towards them with the lock in her hands, pretending not to have heard their conversation. "Branch, look!" 

"I did it!" She gleefully shows him the lock and he gives her a warm smile. 

"That's great, Poppy." He glances back at his brother and motions towards their campsite. "Let's start heading back, it's getting late."

JD dismissively waves his paw. "It's fine, Branch. Just remember what we discussed."

Branch's face tense before he nods and turns to Poppy. "So, want to show me one more time?"

Her face lights up with pure joy as she exclaims, "Yes!" They walk back in contented silence, only the sounds of nature and their soft footsteps on the forest floor accompanying them. She proudly demonstrates her lockpicking skills to him along the way. Once they reach the campsite, they start a fire and cook the fish JD caught earlier. JD relaxes as he pets Rhonda, while Branch lies down, exhausted from the day's adventures. Poppy finds herself drawn to the mesmerizing dance of the fire's glow, its warmth seeping on her fur as she sits close.

She shakes off those thoughts of their previous conversation and focuses solely on the crackling flames before her. No matter what their parents did or didn't do, it won't affect her now.

All that matters is her own choice.

Chapter Text

Despite the late hour, Branch had fallen asleep without any dreams. The first hints of morning light were just starting to peek through the trees when Branch's eyes flutter open. He rubs his eyes to clear his vision. He notices his brother sleeping peacefully with Rhonda curled up beside him and Poppy on the other side of the extinguished campfire. As he sits up, he considers whether to do some training or gather berries for the rest of their journey through the forest.

Deciding it has been a while since he last trained, Branch quietly slips away from the campsite, careful not to disturb his brother or the princess. He finds a small clearing in the woods where he can practice without any distractions. The air is cool and crisp, with only the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze as background noise. He starts with some basic stretches, feeling the tension in his muscles ease with each movement. Push-ups. Sit-ups. Then he uses his hair to whip around his namesake around the forest.

The physical exertion helps clear his mind, allowing him to focus on what his brother had said to him the night before.

His parents killed what? They were hunters for the Bergens, so of course that they would have killed animals for money. When he tries to picture his parents, all that came were vague shadows, contour-less faces paired with muffled voices. Their names are even unknown to him. Even their pod in the Bergen Kingdom is a distant memory; all he knows is that they fled after their parents' deaths. He vaguely remembers asking their grandmother about them once.

'My son, your father, was quite stubborn,' she had chuckled. 'Didn't want anyone's help. Said if he can't provide for his family, then what good is he?' 

'JD said you were a big mama's boy,' she had added. 'you used to hide in her hair all the time and no one could find you.'

Reflecting on it now, Branch realizes that this was the first time JD had ever mentioned their parents. Even when they were younger, any conversation about them would be instantly shut down. Their deaths had clearly affected JD deeply, and it was a topic that was never brought up again. Maybe when they have a chance, Branch will talk to his brother about it. In the meantime, he continues with his training, his mind wandering once more.

Poppy. 

She continues to be a mystery to him. He hasn't inquired about her ability to heal or the reasoning behind her family's insistence on staying in the castle; she might not even know. As he swings his hair over another tree branch, he realizes that he has climbed higher than intended and feels a bit out of breath. This is not good; he needs more practice. He pauses at the top of the branch and closes his eyes, bringing his fingers against his lips.

He couldn't stop replaying yesterday's events in his mind.

Her face was inches from his, and it seemed like she was leaning in too. Was he just imagining it? What would have happened if they weren't interrupted by John Dory? What would Poppy taste like? A frustrated growl rumbles in his throat; his fingers claw through his hair as if they could scrape away those thoughts. Why did that pop in his head? Would she taste like strawberries? Stop. Stop thinking about it. What would it feel like to run his paws through her hair? 

Stop. 

Shit. 

He grinds his teeth as he leaps to the next tree branch, trying to catch his breath. Stop picturing her smile, her laughter ringing in his ears. The way the sun illuminated her sparkly freckles. How she stuck out her tongue when she was concentrating on something. The way her cheeks would flush a deeper shade of pink when she blushed. How effortlessly beautiful she looked at any time of day. The way her ears would perk up whenever she spotted him nearby.

Stop. It.

He gasps for breath, resting his paws on his knees. It can't happen. John Dory is right. What will happen after Floyd? They'll have to part ways and probably never see each other again. His heart pounds against his chest like a jackhammer as he places a paw over it. Princess. He clings to that thought amidst the chaos of his racing mind. She's a princess and he's just a thief. He grits his teeth and clenches his jaw, his eyes scanning for another tree branch as he jumps up before he hears the same voice that had been occupying his thoughts moments before calling out from below. 

"Branch?" 

Oh, fuck. 

His attempt to grab the branch with his hair fails, and he tumbles down from the tree, crashing onto the forest floor with a resounding thud. Poppy rushes over, her expression filled with worry as she kneels beside him. Branch groans in pain, trying to shake off the impact of the fall as he slowly sits up. Heat floods his face and neck, painting them a distinct shade of embarrassment as he realizes he may have popped something in his shoulder. 

"Are you alright?" Poppy asks, reaching out for his arm. He flinches away from her touch. 

"I'm, I'm fine. I think I dislocated my shoulder," he admits, wincing in pain as he tries to move it. Poppy's eyes widen with concern and she apologizes profusely, "I'm so sorry Branch, I didn't mean to--" 

Her paws pick at each other underneath her downcast gaze. "It seems like you always get hurt around me," she says softly. 

Branch remembers that night when she asked about his scar and leg and how they miraculously healed afterwards. Perhaps now is a good time to test if she really has healing abilities. He lets out a deep sigh as he gingerly touches her shoulder with his left paw. "Can you heal me?"

Poppy stares back at him, incredulous. "What?" Guess she didn't know.

He explains, "That night you asked about my scar and leg, I was healed. By you."

Her eyes widen in shock. "But how? I didn't do anything."

She steps back, looking down at her paws. "Are you sure?"

He can't quite explain it either, but he knows it was her doing. "Yeah. Want to give it a try?"

Hesitantly, she reaches out with her paws and touches his injured shoulder, causing him to flinch in pain. She starts singing an incantation, but it doesn't seem to work.

"Maybe try humming that lullaby you sang?" Branch suggests. But even after she tries, there is no familiar warmth or healing sensation.

Huh.

Maybe he was wrong. 

"Okay." He sighs. 

Branch grumbles, "We'll have to do this the old-fashioned way," as he hobbles over to a tree and leans against it. Poppy rushes after him, asking anxiously, "Can I help you? What can I do?"

He nods, wincing in pain as he replies, "I just need you to hold onto my arm."

Poppy nods determinedly and carefully grips Branch's injured arm. He braces himself for the inevitable pain that will come when he tries to reset his dislocated shoulder. With a deep breath, he signals to Poppy that he's ready. She tightens her grip on his arm as he grabs his wrist with his other hand.

One..

Two...

In one quick movement, he twists and pushes, feeling a sharp surge of agony shoot through him as his shoulder pops back into place.

Branch lets out a pained groan, his forehead covered in sweat from the effort. Poppy looks on with worry etched on her face. As the initial shock of pain subsides, Branch leans back against the tree, relief flooding through him now that his shoulder is back in place. 

"Is that better now?" Poppy asks. 

"Yes, I," he wheezes out. "Just need a minute." 

His eyes stray down to where warmth seeps into his fur - she is still holding on his arm. She notices as well and after a brief pause, starts moving her paws down to his, causing a pleasurable shiver to run through his body.

"Poppy," he whispers, feeling his heart race at her touch. She moves closer until her body is pressed against his, and he freezes in place. Her breath is hot against his face as she takes a shaky inhale and covers his paws with her much smaller ones. As she lingers, her touch radiating through his fur, Poppy leans in slowly to bridge the distance between them. Branch's heart thuds loudly. He knows he shouldn't let this happen. He can't. 

Panicking, he jerks upright and pushes her away, breaking their embrace. "OKAY!" he blurts out, "I think I'm okay now."

Poppy steps back, her cheeks flushed and eyes wide with confusion. Branch's eyes dart everywhere but towards her, finding sudden interest in the surrounding foliage. He feels his fur flush with heat as he clears his throat awkwardly. "Let's get back to camp, JD is probably wondering where we are." 

Despite his rejection, she smiles wide and nods as they head back to camp. The usual hum of the forest is replaced by an unsettling quiet, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves. In an attempt to shatter the thick veil of silence, Poppy starts pointing out different animals they encounter, but Branch simply nods along without much response. 

As they approach their campsite, JD begins preparing their critters for whatever lies ahead. He squints at the sight of his brother strolling with the princess and flashes a pointed look to Branch who meets it with an equal intensity, silently communicating that he has everything under control. With a squeal of delight, Poppy dashes towards her critter, her arms flung wide in joyful greeting. She hops around her critter, patting its head and speaking words lost in the wind.

Watching from afar, Branch can't help the smile tugging at his lips as his eyes follow her every move until JD interrupts by shoving his backpack into his chest. With an eye roll, JD remarks, "Could you be any more obvious?" 

Branch scoffs and pushes his brother away, asserting, "I already told you. I can handle this." JD raises an eyebrow but doesn't press further.

He mounts his critter and nods at JD before turning his attention to Poppy, who is already mounted and waiting for them. JD swings his leg over Rhonda's back with practiced ease and clicks his tongue, saying, "Alright y'all. We should be able to pass through Slippery Slope and Fearsome Forest and reach the inn in Volcano Rock Kingdom before we get to the valley. Sound good?"

Poppy's eyes light up.

"I've never been to Volcano Rock Kingdom before!" she exclaims. JD gives out a hearty chuckle which warms up the chilly atmosphere, "Well, let's just say they're not the friendliest bunch there, but I have an old friend who owes me a favor and will let us stay there."

Branch's eyes narrow at this, suspicion briefly flickering across his face. Last he heard, all of JD's 'friends' were trying to kill him. But he shrugs it off and says, "Alright, lead the way." 

"Yee-haw!" JD clicks his heels and the three critters start running off towards Slippery Slope and Fearsome Forest. The memory of that intimate moment with Poppy seems to hang over him, a warmth spreading through him that distracts from the journey ahead. He steals glances at her riding gracefully ahead with JD, her hair catching the sunlight and her laughter ringing in the air.

He can handle this. 

A strange fluttering sensation takes hold in the pit of his stomach, making him gulp involuntarily. He breathes out slowly, steadying himself and reaffirming his resolve.

He clings onto that hope he can.

Chapter Text

When he was younger, John Dory had complete trust in his parents. He believed that it was a parent's duty to protect and provide for their children at all costs. So when they asked him to take care of his younger siblings while they went on hunting trips that could last for days or even weeks, he never thought twice about it. After all, their return always brought gifts or money for the family before they set out again on another excursion. But now, when he looks back, a burn of regret ignites in his chest as he recalls the signs he should have seen.

'This winter has been especially harsh. We have caught nothing,' his mother fretted, biting the edge of her finger. 'How are we going to pay our debts? The boys. The Bergens will—'

'We will find a way,' his father argued. 'We always do. Chef wants to meet us for a job so let's get going.'

'John Dory, you're in charge,' his father didn't even look at him in the eye. 'don't answer the door unless you know it's us. Hide if you have to.'

How foolish he was. He took that title his whole life, clinging on it as if he knew better as a teenaged troll.

As they continue their journey through Slippery Slope on their mounted animals, he attempts to push away the haunting memories. John Dory gazes at the princess and his brother, riding side by side as if they were completely carefree. The trio maneuvers carefully through the dangerous mountains, making sure not to make any mistakes that could result in a fatal fall into the caverns below.

The princess points to the glowflies dancing around them and exclaims, "Look, Branch!" Branch gazes at her giggling face, the green glowfly in stark contrast to her pink skin. His eyes soften with each laugh that escapes her lips. John Dory sighs, fully aware of his brother's and the princess's strong feelings for each other. But they are both ignoring the grave danger they're in. The princess's family is still pursuing them, and if caught, Branch and John would both be executed. They can't keep running forever; John Dory knows that all too well from his own experiences. He can't let the princess and his brother go through that too.

In this moment, his priority is to save Floyd. John Dory's conscience weighs him down as he gazes at Poppy. What cruel fate has brought them all together?

When Clay decided to join the royal guards, he claimed it was to absolve the sins of their parents and start fresh, free from the burdens of their past. He wanted Branch to do the same. John and Clay would often argue about it, worried for Clay's fate if the royal family ever knew about their lineage but years had passed and Viva trusts him with her life, proving his loyalty time and time again. 

And now, Branch.

He glances over at Branch, who remains oblivious. John almost let it slip out in a moment of frustration, trying to dissuade Branch from pursuing the princess, but now he realizes it was a selfish act on his part. Maybe it's best to keep this secret buried until his dying breath. If the princess were to find out, it would break her heart, and Branch would never forgive John. It was a mistake to bring up their parents like that; the past should stay buried.

As the group approaches the end of Slippery Slope, the ground beneath them begins to shake violently. Large boulders come crashing down from above and the trio realizes they are in danger of being trapped.

Branch's eyes dart up at the cracking cliffside; a large boulder teetering on the edge. "Run!" He yells out commands over the roar of the crumbling cliff. The three quickly urge their riding critters to move faster. Poppy takes the lead with Branch following close behind and John Dory bringing up the rear. Just as a boulder is about to hit him, Branch uses his powers to summon a gust of air and deflect it towards a nearby cavern below. The ground still trembles beneath them as they push forward, hoping to outrun the chaos behind them. John Dory can hear the princess urging her critter to go faster, her voice filled with determination. Branch's powers continue to shield them from the falling debris, but the sheer magnitude of the landslide threatens to overwhelm even his abilities. Poppy glances back in an attempt to help, but Branch insists she keep riding ahead.

Poppy’s creature skids to a halt at the cliff edge; its eyes wide and trembling as it peers down into the abyss. In a panic, Branch shouts, "Poppy, fly! Now!"

Thinking quickly, Poppy taps into her ability to fly and takes a leap off the edge of the cliff, her hair wrapped securely around her frightened critter. They land safely at the entrance of the Fearsome Forest. Meanwhile, Branch and John Dory are running out of time as debris rapidly closes in on them. Desperately trying to pick up speed, Branch's critter slips and causes him to fall off his mount. The creature lets out a cry as it regains its footing and runs off without Branch.

Poppy's voice echoes through the chaos as she cries out for Branch. Rhonda and John Dory rush to his side, helping Branch up from the ground. As debris hits JD in the head, he starts to bleed, but he soldiers on, determined to save both of them. 

"Hurry, Rhonda!" John Dory urges, knowing their only hope of survival is to make a daring leap across the ravine. The mount sprints forward, its powerful legs propelling them through the air just as the ledge crumbles behind them. Branch clings onto the creature, his heart racing with fear and relief as they land safely on the other side.

Breathless and trembling from the rush of adrenaline, they take a moment to catch their breath. Branch's eyes are wide with gratitude as he gazes at John Dory and Rhonda. They made it. They're safe. John Dory's heart pounds in his chest, icy adrenaline warming as relief flooded him. He did it. He had saved Branch.  Poppy runs over to them, embracing Branch tightly and fighting back tears. He hears snippets of her grateful words, but she also voices her concern about this happening again. He watches as his brother holds her close before letting go and noticing John Dory's injury.

"JD, you're bleeding." Branch rushes to his side as John Dory dismounts. Despite feeling woozy and unsteady, John Dory tries to brush it off casually "This? Please. It's just a scratch." But his vision starts to blur and he struggles to keep his balance. The bleeding won't stop. He just needs a moment to find something in Rhonda's sack that can help stop it - a handkerchief or bandage perhaps. But then he trips and falls to the ground with a groan.

"Poppy," Branch turns to her urgently, but she jumps in surprise at his reaction. He can't see what his brother is doing; all he hears are muffled voices like cotton in his ears. He closes his eyes, surrendering to the darkness taking over.

In his recurring dreams, he relives that fateful night. It was the night his father set their pod ablaze. The intense heat still lingers in his memory as they flee to their grandmother's pod, leaving their home in flames. His father's harsh words continue to replay in his mind, disowning and shaming them: "You are no longer my sons." He can see his mother pushing Baby Branch into his arms, the infant covered in specks of blood as she desperately tells them to never return.

Blood?

Why was there blood?

"JD!" Branch exclaims his name in surprise as he rubs at his eyes. John reaches up to touch his head, expecting to find blood and painful tenderness. Instead, all he finds is smooth skin. How did this happen? It's almost as if it never occurred in the first place. His brother and the princess rush over to embrace him, their faces filled with concern. 

"You're okay! It actually worked! I was so scared!" The princess exclaims with joy. John Dory's puzzled expression is evident as he inquires, "What worked?"

"I healed you. Can you believe it? I can actually heal trolls! This is amazing!" Poppy exclaims with glee, while JD's expression turns to shock and Branch breathes a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Poppy. I always knew you had it in you," Branch says. John is completely bewildered by the fact that the princess just saved him by using her healing powers. It's the first time he's ever heard of such an ability in all his twenty years. His brother offers him a paw to help him up, and JD gratefully takes it.

"We should keep moving," Branch suggests, and Poppy eagerly chimes in, asking, "What else do you think I can do? Do you think I could create a protective shield like Viva does? Or maybe I can teleport trolls or..."

She continues to ramble excitedly as John blinks and makes his way over to Rhonda, who nuzzles him with concern.

He assures her with a quiet whisper, "Don't worry, I'm fine now." He hoists himself onto Rhonda and joins Branch and Poppy walking with their creatures instead.

John Dory's chest tightens with unease as they make their way through the ominous Fearsome Forest. Why was it even given this name again? JD catches sight of Poppy, her nose twitching slightly as she deliberately brushes her paw against Branch's. She leans in closer to Branch, faint whispers floating from her lips. Branch shifts uncomfortably and with a swift leap, distances himself by hopping onto his critter and venturing further into the forest. Poppy's playful smirk fades into a thin line, her bright eyes dimming. After a moment’s pause, Poppy takes a deep breath, her shoulders setting back with resolve, before she vaults onto her critter. She chases after Branch.

A twinge of guilt pricks at him. She had saved him, and yet he finds his thoughts drifting towards ending their relationship. Was it even right for him to become involved in the first place? Maybe he should have let them handle things on their own. All he wanted was to protect them, no matter what it cost.

Echoes from the past resonate with him – his parents had thought the same way once.

He motions for Rhonda to hurry up as they travel on, but he sees his brother and the princess abruptly stop. As he catches up to them, John Dory glances in the direction they are looking. In a far-off spot, someone stands on top of a hill, glowing with an ethereal light.

It is none other than Viva, the Crown Princess of Pop Kingdom.

Chapter Text

Poppy always felt like her sister was her best friend, an inseparable bond that she cherished. They would spend hours together, braiding hair or singing songs, making it easy for them to understand each other. Poppy once viewed her sister's protectiveness as a sign of love, and even now, she still loves her dearly. But, she wishes her sister would see her as capable and strong, able to use magic just like her.

Everytime Poppy moved a step, Viva or her guards were right there, a constant shadow with watchful eyes that never seemed to blink. Over time, her persistent vigilance started to feel like a noose around Poppy's neck.

She would often press her forehead against the cool glass of her bedroom window, eyes drinking in the sight of distant horizons and unknown territories, her mind swirling with wonder and questions. The books did little to satisfy her need as she looked out of her bedroom window. The only place where Poppy could find solitude was the library late at night. Even with Viva's magical barrier humming softly around it, the library remained a place where Poppy felt a strange sense of freedom. It's funny how everything began because of that library. 

And now, her sister appears in front of her with a white aura emanating from her. How? Panic starts to set in. The only option is to move forward, but Viva is blocking their path.

"Viva!" Poppy says nervously, trying to think of a plan. Her sister starts to approach them, and Branch whispers to Poppy, "Is this really a good idea?"

"I'll just talk to her and explain everything," Poppy whispers back. But behind her, John Dory realizes something is wrong. "Guys, wait."

Poppy dismounts from her critter and approaches Viva, ready to reason with her. "Viva, I can explain."

Viva's mouth begins to warp, distort, her lips stretching into an unrecognizable form. Sharp fangs slide out amidst a nest of teeth glowing faintly in the dim light. Poppy stumbles back in shock, her heart pounding in her chest. She gasps as the creature lunges towards her. Without thinking, Poppy raises her paw and a fireball strikes it, knocking the creature back. Viva's illusion shatters, revealing her true form behind it. But Poppy realizes now it isn't her sister standing before her. It issues a guttural hiss, its body crumpling backward and retreating.

"What was that?" Poppy exclaims, still trying to catch her breath as Branch and John Dory rush over to her with concerned looks on their faces.

"It's one of the creatures that live in Fearsome Forest," John Dory explains with a wince. "It takes the form of our biggest fears. Hence, well. The name." He gestures around at the dark and foreboding forest surrounding them.

"I'm afraid of Viva? That doesn't make sense," Poppy says anxiously, brushing off dirt and leaves from her clothes. But John Dory looks at Poppy with keen speculation simmering in his eyes. "You're not afraid of Viva herself. You're afraid of confronting her and we're trying not to get caught by her so.... That's probably why the creature took her form." 

Branch throws his paws up in exasperation. "You're just telling us this now?"

John Dory quickly raises his paws in a defensive gesture. "Hey, I don't usually go through this path. It slipped my mind. I take the longer route as you could see with Slippery Slope almost killing us too, but this way would be the fastest path to reach Volcano Rock Kingdom."

"So all we have to do is stick together and keep an eye out for these monsters," Poppy summarizes, to which John Dory nods in agreement.

"Viva's actually not here, so as long as we stay together, we should be safe," John Dory reassures them. 

The trio moves cautiously through the dense trees of Fearsome Forest, riding on their critters. The path ahead is engulfed in a cloak of darkness, but the two mages use their power to cast flickering flames from their palms, lighting the way.

Breaking the short-lived silence, Branch with a wavering voice asks, "John Dory, what else should we be on the lookout for?"

After a moment of contemplation, John Dory responds with, "I've heard rumors about illusions in the forest. Some say that if you walk through without fear, they won't bother you. And since you two have magic, you should be able to see through any illusions, right?"

Poppy's eyes widen as she takes in the swirling colors around them. She moves closer to John Dory and Branch, a puzzled expression on her face. "Earlier that thing had a white aura, and there are some colors surrounding us."

Branch's eyebrows shoot up, his mouth dropping open slightly in surprise and asks, "You don't have to scan?"

Did she not mention this to Branch before?

"No, I don't," she admits. 

Branch squints at her, confusion clouding his normally sharp eyes. "You also didn't use any incantations earlier when you hit that creature," he comments after a beat.

A light of realization sparks in her eyes and she gasps in astonishment, "You're right! Hey, maybe I should teach you now."

She teasingly winks at him and Branch rolls his eyes with a smile. "Okay, princess," he chuckles. His gently teasing gaze sends a familiar flutter through her heart. She smiles wide back at him but then he frowns and turns away, urging his critter deeper into the forest. She inwardly groans while Poppy clicks her tongue to signal her own critter to follow him, with John Dory bringing up the rear with Rhonda.

Poppy catches up to Branch as they ride side by side. They travel in silence for a few moments, with John Dory humming a tune from the back.

As his midnight blue aura envelopes her, memories flood her mind, each one showing him drawing back, away from her touch, away from her words. A pang of insecurity winds tightly around her thoughts that maybe she misread his feelings. The flame in her palm flickers slightly, growing smaller. Out of the corner of her eye, a movement catches her attention—Branch, swiftly averting his gaze as if caught.

No, she didn't misread it.

She recalls the conversation he had with his older brother. She needs to let him know. 

Staring at the road ahead, she whispers to Branch. "Branch. Hey." 

Branch's eyes briefly turns to her before looking back on the road. "What is it?"

She tries to muster up the courage. "Hey, you know, you can be real with me." 

Branch stays quiet. She doesn't want to face him just yet and her heart pounds an erratic beat against her ribs; her fear spirals outwards, pooling in her paws and feet, "Like. You know. Um."

Poppy feels a lump in her throat, her heart pounding against her chest as she struggles to find the right words. She never had this type of feeling towards another troll before. She may be sheltered but she understands in her heart how she feels. She knows he feels the same way, she just needs to convince him.

"I know we've only been traveling together for a short time but it feels like we've known each other our whole lives and..." Poppy starts as she closes her eyes and lets out a deep breath, her paws fiddling with the hem of her dress. She chuckles nervously, "And I might be a 'princess', but I...I want to be with you."

There.

She said it.

Silence stretches between them, every tick of the seconds echoing in Poppy's ears. Her heart thunders in her chest as she turns to the side.

"Branch?"

The sight that greets her sends a chill down her spine - she is alone in the darkness. Her critter is gone and even the flame in her hand has extinguished.

When? She looks around. When did they disappear? 

Is this the illusion JD was talking about?

She shouts, "Branch? JD!" Her voice echoes through the darkness, sending shivers down her spine. She attempts to use her magic to illuminate the area, but it fails. A cold sweat breaks across her brow and her breaths come in short, ragged gasps—the unmistakable signs of panic setting in as she frantically searches for them. Was Viva right about her? Is this more than she can take? 

She takes in a breath. 

No. She can do this.

JD's words echo in her mind as she prepares to swallow down her fear. When she's feeling low, she tells herself to get back up again so she takes another deep breath. She lets it out slowly, and hums the lullaby that her mother and Viva used to sing to her, bringing her a sense of peace. 

Poppy's lips move gently, a soft melody weaving through her breath, carried into the air as she catches a faint glimmer of light in the distance. A sense of hope fills her veins, pumping with each beat of her racing heart as she sprints towards the gentle glow, her feet carrying her closer and closer to its source. Finally, she breaks through the forest's edge, basking in the warm sunlight above. A sense of relief washes over her as she places a paw over her chest. But when she looks around, she realizes that Branch and John Dory are nowhere to be seen. She turns back to the dark forest, tilting her head to see if she can spot them amidst the different colors surrounding her. However, there is no sign of their familiar midnight or cyan blue hues. 

"Branch? JD?" Her voice echoes into the dense forest, each succeeding call more desperate than the last. Her lower lip feels sore from biting it, so she smacks her face with her paws to snap out of it. She can't afford to be afraid; she needs to find them. Gathering all of her courage, she conjures up the fire once more and heads back into the dark forest. As she walks, she absentmindedly hums a calming tune to steady her heart rate. It works like a charm.

Looking around, she spots a familiar combination of midnight and cyan blue in the distance and feels a surge of hope in her chest. She runs towards it and discovers both Branch and John Dory lying on the ground with their creatures curled up beside them. Rhonda whines as she nudges John Dory with her head, trying to wake him up.

"Branch!" Poppy exclaims, rushing over to him. He appears to be sleeping. She shakes him awake, her hands trembling but then she calms herself down in the forest. The first priority is getting them out of the forest safely with all the creatures lurking about. She clicks her tongue to get the critters over and they help lift Branch and John Dory onto their backs to carry them out of the forest. They make it to an open clearing where sunlight streams down, casting a warm glow over their bodies. Poppy crouches next to Branch, her heart racing with concern as she examines him for any signs of harm. To her relief, she finds none. She also checks on John Dory and sees that he is sleeping peacefully. She sits by their side, patiently waiting for them to awaken.

She sings a song that she used to sing with Viva when they were kids.

A low groan rumbles from Branch's throat as he stirs awake. Blinking, he sits up slowly, eyes clouded with confusion. "What...what happened?" he mumbles, rubbing his head as he tries to piece together their current situation. With an impulsive energy, Poppy springs to her feet and envelopes him in a tight embrace.

"Branch, you're okay!" A sigh of pure relief escapes her lips as she speaks. A jolt of surprise flickers in Branch's eyes before the recognition of their location dawns on him. 

"Poppy, you're alive!" His voice chokes with emotion as he wraps his arms around her just as tightly. Her exclamation echoes his sentiment, "I'm alive!"

Laughter echoing between them, their lips stretch into wide grins. Their eyes meet and before she can react, an unexpected sensation—the warm, soft brush of his lips against hers. Caught off guard, her heart pounds in her chest as she recoils sharply, a surprised gasp escaping her parted lips. Branch stammers out an apology, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I-I didn't mean to–"

Gradually, her lips curve upwards into an intimate smile, warmth radiating from her gaze like the soft glow of a sunset. She gently tugs on his cloak, drawing him closer for another kiss. Her grip on his cloak tightens, fingers twisting into the fabric as if holding onto a lifeline. His paws tremble as they explore every inch of her body. Every touch sends sparks racing underneath her skin, setting off tiny fireworks under her skin that pull them closer together until their tongues hesitantly touch. Their lips remain locked as the world blurs around them, each second of their lingering kiss feels like an eternity.

Chapter Text

Branch used to suffer from nightmares, haunted by his grandmother's death.

The nightmares that once haunted Branch have evaporated like morning mist. His nights are now a void, empty of dreams. If he had any dreams, they were forgotten very quickly. But with those terror-filled nights gone, so too were fragments of his past. The details of his grandmother's passing are foggy at best, lost in a haze just as the memories of reclaiming his colors have faded.

And so, standing in the darkness of the Fearsome Forest, he didn't even consider that it could be a nightmare. When that same creature from earlier lunged forward, he watched helplessly as Princess Poppy threw herself between danger and him. His blood ran icy as she collapsed into his arms; the warmth and vibrancy that usually radiated from her had vanished. His fear coming to life. 

He was lost in an imagined nightmare until the gentle melody of her voice enveloped him, sparking a familiar warmth within him, tugging him back to reality. He pulled her close, craving the comforting heat of her body melding with his. A tsunami of emotions crashed over him — relief, joy, shock — leaving him breathless and unable to do anything else but lean in and kiss her. When she returned his kiss, a thrill surged through him – a joy so profound he thought his heart might burst.

As they pull apart, Branch gently places his rough, padded paws against the soft warmth of her face, affirming to himself that Poppy was indeed there in front of him. Her last words before he faded into unconsciousness echo in his mind, so he leans into her ear, whispering softly, "I want to be with you too."

A bright, bashful smile blooms on her face, revealing an endearing overbite that to him only enhances her charm. He savors the moment, oblivious to the world around them. The reunion, however, is suddenly shattered when a groan reverberates through the air beside them - his eldest brother stirs from his slumber.

Startled by the sound, Branch and Princess Poppy quickly break apart, their moment of intimacy is shattered by the sudden intrusion. John Dory slowly sits up, rubbing his eyes in confusion as Rhonda comes to lick him in excitement. "Ok, ok girl, settle down," he chuckles, gently pushing her away. His eyes fix on Branch and Poppy, his brows furrowing in concern. "What happened? Are you two alright? Did you get the same dream as I did?"

Branch takes a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart as he glances over at Princess Poppy. Her eyes meet his, filled with unspoken understanding and a shared sense of relief.

"I can see why you avoid this route, JD. Let's keep moving." He remarks, gesturing towards their mounts as they make their way towards them. John Dory looks at him with a raised eyebrow, and Branch knows they will have to have another conversation about the princess later. JD may disapprove, but Branch doesn't care. The fear from that memory still lingers in his mind, and he is determined not to have any regrets about his feelings anymore.

"Alright yall, the inn should be up ahead." John Dory announces, standing up and brushing off the grass and dirt from his clothes. He shakes his head, as if he was trying to rid himself of any lingering thoughts of the Fearsome Forest, before climbing back onto Rhonda.

As they continue their journey towards the inn, the dense cover of trees gradually gives way to a clearing basked in warm sunlight. The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of wildflowers, promising a much-needed break and safety. John Dory leads the way confidently, keeping his sharp eyes peeled for any potential dangers. He hums a tune as they make their way forward.

Branch maneuvers his critter closer to Princess Poppy's. Their shoulders brush occasionally, sending tingles down his spine. His eyes dart to her face, momentarily pausing on her features – a lingering disbelief etched in his gaze that still couldn't grapple with the earlier events. His feelings for her are returned. Her bright eyes meet his gaze, corners crinkling as a knowing smile plays on her lips. Branch looks over at John Dory, who is focused on the path ahead, and decides to take Poppy's hand in his own, relishing in her warmth. A delicate laugh escapes from her lips and whispers to him, "Is this okay?"

"Only if you want it to be." Branch's voice lowers to a whisper, his thumb tracing absent patterns onto the soft pad of her paw. Poppy returns his sentiment with a playful tilt of her lips, a spark of mischief dancing in her eyes. She offers no protest as he continues to hold her hand; their shared warmth a steady comfort as they journey onward.

As the inn comes into view, Branch's gaze lingers on it. It is not what he had envisioned. Instead of a charming and inviting place like Bruce's inn, it appears to be worn down. He furrows his brow before speaking up to his older brother.

"Are you sure this is the right place, John Dory?" Branch's eyebrows shoot up as he asks, but John Dory just laughs heartily. "Yep, welcome to the Rock Hollow Inn!" 

"Rock Hollow Inn?" Branch echoes, skepticism creeping into his voice as he surveys the weathered building. The inn's wooden sign creaks in the wind, its paint faded and peeling.

John Dory dismounts Rhonda, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he gestures for Branch and Princess Poppy to follow suit. "Trust me, lil' brother, this place may look rough around the edges, but it's got character," he says with a wink.

Branch exchanges a wary glance with Princess Poppy before reluctantly dismounting his critter. The three tether their individual critters at the front of the inn where they plan to stay. As they approach the inn, a cold wind sends a chill down Branch's spine. The door creaks open on rusty hinges, revealing a dimly lit interior with worn wooden tables and chairs scattered about. A fire crackles in the hearth, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Branch hesitates at the threshold, his instincts warning him of danger. Princess Poppy squeezes his paw reassuringly, sensing his unease. John Dory, however, strides in confidently, his feet thudding against the creaky floorboards.

A voice echoes from the shadows, "Well, well, what do we have here?" A figure with deep blue skin and dark wings emerges, a scar etched across his rugged face. His gaze narrows as he assesses the newcomers.

John Dory grins and slaps his supposed friend on the back. "Demo! It's been too long, my friend. We're looking for a place to rest tonight."

"John Dory, my man! Hey!" The troll called Demo embraces him before flashing a smile. "I think you forgot, JD, you're not supposed to be here! You're a wanted troll!"

He lets out a hearty laugh and Branch steps back, stunned. "What?"

John Dory's laugh comes out more like a strangled cough and says, "Whaaaaat. Come on, Demo. You're joking right? We've been through a lot together."

"Oh, the time you got us into trouble by waking up a frickin' dragon?" Demo laughs, patting John Dory on the back. Branch tenses and hisses at his brother, "A dragon?"

"It wasn't a real dragon," John Dory admits sheepishly. "They were more like... little lizards."

Demo then turns to the princess and says, "Hey, you look familiar! Don't I know you from somewhere?" 

Poppy darts away from him and says, "Uh, nope! Never been here before. Nice place you got."

With subtle movements, Branch slides between Poppy and Demo. His casual stance contradicts the alertness in his eyes. "So, how much would it take to stay the night?" he interjects, hoping to diffuse the tension. Demo eyes them suspiciously before letting out a hearty laugh. "I'm just messin' with ya, a friend of John Dory is a friend of mine." he says, ushering them upstairs and further into the inn. Branch and Princess Poppy lock eyes, their shared unease lingering unspoken in the air.

They enter a simple room with two squeaky beds, a worn sofa, a door that leads to the bathroom, and a small window that reveals the moonlit forest. With a dramatic bow, Demo flaps his wings before leaving. "Here you go!" As the door closes behind Demo with a creak, silence descends on the room, leaving Branch, Princess Poppy, and John Dory staring at each other in the dim light.

"See? I told you not to worry." John Dory drops his bag on one of the beds. "We'll stay the night and then head to the valley in the morning. We'll get the stone and boom, save Floyd at Mount Rageous."

"I guess I'll take the couch," Branch mutters, throwing his bag onto the ground.

"Muses, I need a bath," Poppy stretches her limbs and rummages through her bag for clean clothes provided by Bruce before heading into the bathroom. The sound of running water fills the room as Princess Poppy disappears from sight, leaving Branch and John Dory alone. Branch lets out a weary sigh and slumps onto the couch, his eyes fixed on the small window offering a glimpse of the moonlit forest outside. 

John Dory glances towards the bathroom before settling his gaze on Branch. "Hey, Branch. I've been wanting to talk to you about the princess." 

Branch stiffens, instinctively on guard when it comes to Poppy. "What is it?" he asks cautiously.

A silence falls between them as John Dory stares off into the distance, fingertips drumming against his leg—an old tic when he's gathering his thoughts. "I know you said you can handle it, but," JD pauses and runs his paws through his hair, considering his words carefully.

"You know I'm only trying to keep you safe, right? I don't want to hurt you or the princess."

The corners of Branch's mouth turn downward and he crosses his arms defensively upon hearing John Dory's words. "You, Clay, and Bruce always feel the need to protect me," he retorts. "But have you ever thought that I can take care of myself? That I managed just fine for twenty years without your help? Or is this all just a way for you to ease your own guilt for leaving me alone?"

John Dory's expression softens, a flicker of regret crossing his features, "It's not like that at all Branch. You have to consider the bigger picture. We rescue Floyd, but then what?"

Branch’s paw clenches, knuckles whitening. His grip eases moments later only to tighten again. After a moment of silence, he responds in a gentler tone. "I understand where you're coming from, JD. But this isn't just about protecting me or Poppy. It's about trusting us to handle whatever comes our way together. We'll save Floyd, and then I'll leave the decision to Poppy. You can't understand what she's been through, and you certainly don't understand what I went through either. But we'll figure it out."

Branch fixes JD with an intense gaze, his jaw set firm and steady; his resolve radiates from him like heat. "Fine," John Dory concedes, but his furrowed brows and uneasy shifts betray his lingering anxieties.

Branch's shoulders slump, his breath releasing in a lengthy sigh – a signal of the wave of relief washing over him. The sound of running water in the background serves as a calming soundtrack as they sit together in silence. However, as time passes, the unease creeps up on Branch, a knot twisting in his stomach. He begins to tap his foot on the ground, a nervous rhythm that echoes his worry. "Poppy has been inside for quite some time now," he notes with concern.

JD hums and leans back on the wall. "She likely just needs some extra time. Being a princess and all, she has to maintain her appearance." he reassures Branch. But Branch can't shake off the feeling that something is wrong. He stands up and walks towards the bathroom door, his mind racing with worry. He hesitates before knocking, not wanting to intrude on Poppy's privacy. Instead, he calls out softly, "Poppy, are you okay?"

The room remains silent save for the running water in the bathroom. The seconds tick by - slow, heart-pounding. Branch exchanges a nervous glance with John Dory before reaching for the doorknob, his worry escalating with each passing second of silence. Scanning for Poppy's aura doesn't work - her presence always remains undetectable for Branch. Despite the odds, he tries and yet again, nothing.

As he turns the handle and pushes open the door, his eyes widen at the sight before him. The bathtub is empty, the water still warm and rippling slightly. The window stands open, the moonlight streaming in casting an ethereal glow over the room.

But Princess Poppy is nowhere to be seen.

Chapter Text

John Dory's expression is one of utter disbelief as he takes in the scene before him. The princess had been here only moments ago. How could no one have heard a thing? 

The memory of the Fearsome Forest begins to seep into his thoughts, but he quickly brushes it away.

He glances at his brother briefly, wanting to offer comfort or support, but Branch is already darting towards the open window, desperately searching for any trace of the missing princess in the darkness of the forest. “Poppy!” Branch shouts, cupping his paws around his mouth in a futile attempt to call her back. But John Dory knows it's no use.

"Hey, hey Branch, maybe we should—" John Dory starts, but his words are lost in the night. Branch has already jumped agilely from the window, landing in the soft grass below with cat-like grace. John Dory sighs. He grunts and pulls himself up onto the windowsill, dropping clumsily down after Branch. He lands with a thud that sends jolts of pain shooting up through his ancient knees.

"Too old for this," he mutters under his breath, dusting off his waistcoat.

He watches as his brother runs towards Rhonda and the rest of the critters placed in front of the inn. 

"Wait up, Branch," John Dory calls out. "It's dark out, we can't just blindly search for her in the forest."

With hushed focus, Branch sifts through the bag, his eyes scanning for any of the princess’s belonging. His fingers close around a familiar object - the lock that the princess had once fiddled with.

John Dory extends a paw towards his shoulder, but Branch recoils, a clear boundary drawn between them. Finally, he finds his voice piercing through their tension. "She could be in danger, JD. She saved our lives, or do you not remember that?"

"Of course, but rushing headlong into danger won’t find her any quicker," JD replies. He lets out a sigh, glances over to his brother whose paws are trembling visibly, and lowers his voice. The moon glimmers overhead, casting long shadows over the fields and forests surrounding the inn. He turns to Rhonda who perks up at the sound of her name. "Rhonda," he murmured, fingers deftly working to untie her. “Can you catch her scent?"

Rhonda sniffs the lock and then the air, her ears perked, eyes sharp. She moves around the area, tracing back and forth, her nose nearly glued to the ground. Time seems still as they both wait for the results of Rhonda's search. She stops and looks at John Dory, her head turning to the inn. 

Branch casts a worried glance at John Dory. “What does it mean?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. John Dory shakes his head slowly, the furrow in his brow deepening. "We might have been wrong about the princess's disappearance," he utters, his eyes mirroring the same concern as his brother's. "She could still be somewhere within the inn."

All eyes dart to the solitary inn standing in the middle of the vast field. It seems to loom larger now, shadows dancing across its facade under the mercurial light of the moon. The princess might still be inside. Branch and John Dory exchange a glance before sprinting back towards the inn, their breath fogging in the chilly air as Rhonda trots from behind.

"John Dory!" Demo exclaims, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. He steps away from the front desk, approaching the two. "What are you doing here?"

"Demo," John Dory starts, pausing to clear his throat before continuing, "Have you seen the troll we were traveling with?"

In his usual carefree manner, Demo responds, "Ah. No, why?"

"She's missing, have you noticed anything strange tonight?" John Dory replies, a tinge of worry coloring his tone.

Demo rubs his chin thoughtfully before he replies with a casual shrug, "I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary. Maybe, the princess took a walk."

At Demo's words, John Dory’s eyes go wide and he exchanges a startled glance with Branch. A rush of embarrassment sweeps over Demo as he catches their surprised looks and realizes he let slip something he wasn't supposed to, "Oof, right. You didn't know that I knew that she's the princess."

John Dory stiffens, disbelief flickering in his eyes. "When did you know?"

A smile tugs at the corners of Demo's lips as he confidently replies, "We knew it was her the moment you walked in with her. But of course, you'd sooner lose a paw than share that bounty. Just like the John Dory we know and love."

Demo scoffs, his wings twitching slightly behind him. 

"We?" John Dory questions, possibly already knowing the answer. 

"Yes, we," Demo says casually, leaning against the door frame. "Sorry, John." 

A bead of sweat trickles down John Dory's forehead, his heart pounds in his chest as the realization hits him. A brutal force slams into him from behind, sending a white-hot lance of pain through his skull. His vision fractures, splintering into fragments as if seen through a shattered lens. Through the chaos, he catches a glimpse of Branch - a blur of motion, sprinting towards him with shouts that echo in his ears.

And then, his senses are swallowed by an enveloping darkness.

He is getting too old for this.

A wave of nausea reminds John Dory of the promise he'd made to himself — stop blacking out.

When consciousness returns, it is led by a cloying sweetness – the suffocating scent of rotting apples. He groans, lifting a paw to his throbbing head before he forces his eyes open. A lone lantern hangs on the wall, its feeble light struggling to penetrate the oppressive gloom. John Dory takes a moment to scan the room, wincing at the unpleasant sight. Coarse rope grinds against his wrists pulled tight behind him; cold iron shackles clamp down on his ankles. Pain shoots through his body as he tries to adjust his position. Even in the dim light, it's clear that his brother and Rhonda are nowhere to be seen.

Time stretches out in tense silence before the door creaks open. Light spills in, momentarily blinding John Dory. Demo's heavy footsteps echo in the room. John Dory scans the doorway, expecting more figures but only Demo stands in front of him.

"Heeeey JD. Hope we didn't hurt ya too much." He begins. John Dory grunts, pushing himself up from the cold, hard floor. He squints at Demo, feeling a pang of betrayal searing through him. He strains against his bonds, the ropes biting into his fur-covered wrists.

"Darn it, Demo," he growls. "I thought we were friends. What d'ya want with us? With her?"

The rock troll lifts his shoulders in an effortless shrug, leaning against the door frame. "She's worth a lot of coins, JD," he says simply. His eyes gleam in the half-light as he lazily flits his dark wings. "And you know how Queen Barb has never been one to forget a debt, especially one to the crown princess. So all the rock trolls have been on the lookout for her. Imagine my surprise when you come walkin' in with her."

"What? Why?" John stammers, struggling to connect the dots. Why would the queen of the rock trolls be working with the crown princess?

"Beats me, but I'm not gonna question Queen Barb." Demo rubs the back of his neck anxiously and shifts his gaze to JD, "Don't worry, JD, we didn't do anything to her. She's safe, her sister will be here at dawn." 

John Dory's eyes narrow, his voice straining as he questions, "Where is she hidden? She hasn't left this inn, has she?"

Demo pauses, his brow furrowing as he considers the question. "Well not like you can do anything about it but Val and Blaze got her upstairs ya. You remember the old storage room where we kept all that junk for all those bounty hunters?" 

"And my brother?" John Dory's voice cracks as he asks. An uncomfortable churn coils up inside his stomach, his gut twisting and turning as if trying to wring itself out.

"Hickory and Dickory are on the lookout for him. Didn't know you had a mage brother. Thought only royals had magic. Full of surprises ain't you John," Demo says. John Dory rolls his eyes, a cynical smile tugging at his lips. Figures those two would be involved.

John Dory speaks up, "What's your game, Demo? Are you planning on keeping me cooped up here till dawn, like some kind of caged animal?"

A shrug lifts Demo's shoulders. "I mean, ya. Looks that way. We're still old friends, I'll let ya out before the princess rounds you up. Though she's more concerned about her sister of hers anyways." 

He swivels and reaches for the door handle, casting a final glance over his shoulder. "Stay comfy John. Thanks again!"

John Dory tenses his muscles as Demo exits the dimly lit room, leaving him alone to contemplate his hopeless predicament. The restraints on his wrists and ankles feel unbearably heavy as he struggles against them, frantically searching for a way out. But his attempts are futile; the ropes and shackles are secured tightly with no room for escape.

With a deep sense of defeat, John Dory accepts the reality of his captivity. He knows that dwelling on it will only lead to despair. Branch and Rhonda are still out there somewhere, giving him a glimmer of hope, but as he looks around at the bare walls and flickering lantern light, he lets out a heavy sigh. This cold and empty room offers no solace or distraction from his bleak situation.

He has lost all sense of time, with each passing minute feeling like an eternity. His eyelids grew heavy, fluttering closed against his will. The dim lights begin to blur as he falls into a restless slumber.

He squints as a harsh beam of light reflects off something up ahead.

A cold dread seizes his chest as ahead, his worst fears are splayed out across the cobblestones – the lifeless bodies of the princess and his brother.

A figure looms over them; as he draws nearer, he recognizes it as his father. He turns towards John Dory, whose eyes hold a stormy frown directed downwards where his paws are. His gaze drops to his paws; they glisten darkly with sticky scarlet liquid making him choke on a gasp. Underneath the relentless light, his father’s stern figure wavers, fading and reshaping until John Dory’s face emerges from the illusion.

His heart thumps against his ribcage, his body jolted out of sleep. Images of his father invade his thoughts. He clenches his fist, reminding himself of the solid reality around him. He closes his eyes, drawing in slow, labored breaths. But each inhale trembles, refusing to steady. He opens his eyes, scans the room, still locked up — nothing more than a dream. 

A sudden sound—sharp, persistent scratching from behind the walls—jolts him out of his thoughts.

"Rhonda?" His voice is a low rasp breaking the silence in the room, yet holds an edge of desperate hope. The scratching halts for a moment, as if considering his plea, and then continues more fervently than before. Tears spring to John Dory’s eyes. "JD?" comes the hushed reply from his brother. It’s tinged with worry and panic, but hearing it is like a breath of fresh air for John Dory.

"Muses, Branch. You're okay?" The words slip from his lips in a shaky exhale, his knuckles whitening as he clings to the hope kindled by his brother’s voice.

"I'm fine. Took me a while to lose them and scan for you. Where are you?"

"Locked up somewhere, don't know where exactly," his voice chokes slightly as he confesses, awkwardly shifting his footing to confront the wall from which his voice bounces back in echoes. An engulfing quiet looms over them until Branch finally breaks it with his words, "JD. Don't uh be alarmed but I'm going to blow this wall up."

"Blow it up?" He stammers, his voice weak with incredulity, "Have you lost your mind, Branch?"

Before he gets a chance to voice his objections, the murmur of his brother's incantations prickle his ears, soon followed by the disturbingly familiar sound of homemade explosives detonating. "Brace yourself, JD," Branch warns.

John Dory flattens himself against the far wall as much as his bonds will allow, squeezing his eyes shut. A wave of scorching heat sweeps through the room followed by a deafening roar so intense that it reverberates off the stone walls. Dust and debris rain down on him causing him to cough.

As the dust settles, JD blinks through stinging eyes at the gaping maw in the wall, the dim lantern light carving out a silhouette. Recognition dawns on him as he discerns Branch, his scowl amidst the dust and debris.

"You've got quite a flair for the dramatic," John Dory rasps out, the words scraping against his raw throat.

"Not drama, just strategy," retorts Branch. With a hairpin in his paws, he works on the rusted shackle around his ankle. The metallic click of the lock giving way sends a thrill of victory through him. John Dory watches as a sharp blade slices through the rough rope binding him. As the tension in the rope gives way, relief floods his features. 

"You ready?" Branch gruffs out, standing and offering a paw to his brother.

John Dory takes the rugged, fur-covered paw offered to him, hauling himself up unsteadily. He grits his teeth, muscles tensing as a sharp jolt of pain flashes through his raw, chafed wrists. His legs wobble beneath him, but he stays standing with fierce determination. He takes a deep breath, feeling the energy returning to his body. "Ready as I'll ever be. I know where the princess is. She's safe."

Demo always did have a big mouth.

A new light kindles in Branch's eyes - a brightness replacing the shadows of worry and fear. Exhausted, John Dory slumps over Rhonda's neck, wrapping his arms around her as best he can. Rhonda makes a noise softly, turning to nuzzle his shoulder with a wet, comforting lick. He refuses to let the dream become a reality; the princess will be saved, they get the stone, they save Floyd but—

He is genuinely getting too old for this.

Chapter Text

Poppy could hardly understand her own misfortune as, once more, she found herself captured.

In an instant, chaos interrupted her peaceful bath preparations. Her back was turned when figures slipped from the window's shadows with a predator's quiet grace. A rough paw slapped over her mouth, smothering her startled cry; another bound her paws together with a rope that cut into her soft fur. Each move they made was swift and calculated, leaving no room for Poppy to use her magical abilities or her hair.

In the cold glow of moonlight, wings flexed, reflecting slivers of light off what looked like granite-chiseled feathers. One troll ran his fingers through hair that echoed twilight - purple with blue highlights - while his goatee twitched. The other's hair was a deep black, as dark as a moonless night, styled into two pigtails streaked with white. Poppy tried to recall if she had ever seen a rock troll with such defining features. Her skin bore an intriguing shade of grey that was never seen on any other rock troll before.

A smile seeped onto her face, slow and chilling as winter frost as the grey rock troll approached with slow, deliberate steps. "Well, that was easy,” she taunted.

That was hours ago. 

Poppy’s eyes narrow, her brows knitting together in a clear display of annoyance. This is becoming far too familiar of a situation for her liking. Underneath the faint flicker of a single light bulb, the larger troll sprawls across an old faded couch. Every bone-rattling snore echoes off the walls. In stark contrast, at the room’s far corner, another troll crouches over her claws, methodically sharpening them with a blade. 

With her paws bound behind her back of the chair, hair tied in knots, and a rough gag cutting into the corners of her mouth, Poppy stares at the grey rock troll who takes notice and rolls her eyes.

"Take a picture princess why don't you?" Her words come out as a low grumble, resonant of a defensive animal. Displaying an air of arrogance, she crosses her arms tightly against her chest. Her chin lifts high as a silent declaration of defiance before she dismissively turns away from Poppy.

A flare of frustration sears through Poppy. Looking around the room, she struggles against her bindings, but the rope bites deeper into her fur. The pain is a sharp reminder of her predicament; she can't afford to waste energy on futile attempts.

"Hey," the grey troll snaps, furrowing her brows and glaring at Poppy, "quit your squirming. You'll only make it worse."

Poppy halts mid-step, pivoting to face the grey troll. The grey troll's gaze on Poppy is inscrutable, a flicker of something unreadable in her steel-grey eyes.

"You don't want to go home do you?" her voice echoes with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Poppy whips her head from side to side, her eyes wide with disbelief. Seeing Poppy's incredulous response, the grey troll's lips curl up in disdain.

"You left your home on purpose? Your family, a big castle, all the money and food you can have. Why." Her irritation fades, replaced by a gentleness that softens each word she utters, "why would you just throw that away. I don't get you."

Poppy tilts her head, caught off guard. Was there a deeper meaning behind those words? The larger troll grumbles awake, rubbing his gritty eyes with a massive fist before blurting out, "Wha, Val, what time is it?"

The one named Val turns to face the troll on the couch with an exasperated sigh. "Look who is finally awake Blaze."

"Now I need my sleep." She glances disdainfully at Poppy, her eyes narrowing with evident contempt. She yawns and stretches her arms wide. With one last piercing glare directed at Poppy, she spins on her heels. Darting towards the door, her wings expand and fold in a clear display of her simmering frustration. Blaze's eyes follow her retreating figure until she disappears through the door. A low chuckle escapes his lips. "Eh, pay her no mind. Her bark may be fierce, but it's all bluff."

Poppy cannot help the instinctual incline of her head in agreement as she watches Val's retreating figure. Once she's out of sight, Blaze pushes himself off the couch with a loud groan. His weighty steps reverberate through the room, bringing him closer and closer to Poppy. His wings flex and unflex as if in rhythm with his thoughts. The quiet that settles is punctuated only by the barely audible swish of his wings, amplifying the intensity of the moment. He positions himself directly in her line of sight, a thoughtful tilt to his head. 

"Hardly see why you're considered dangerous," he muses aloud, "wonder why Queen Barb wants all the precaution."

Poppy’s forehead connects with the troll's nose before he has a chance to react. "Ow!" he grunts through gritted teeth, touching a hand to his throbbing nose. "Nevermind."

Pride swells in her chest for landing that hit, but it's swiftly followed by the throbbing pain that pulses in her forehead. With a nonchalant turn, he plops back onto the weathered couch, yawning expansively. "It'll be over anyways. The Crown Princess of Pop is coming soon." 

At the mention of her sister, her heart skids to a halt. Viva is coming here instead? Her gaze flits frantically around the room like a trapped bird, desperate for an escape but there's nothing in this room. She attempts to whisper an incantation – a song meant to summon fire and burn away her bindings – but the gag prevents her from doing so. Blaze catches sight of her struggling against the rope and his voice hardens. "Hey, careful there. We don't want to hurt you."

A crash outside echos through the room, causing Blaze to leap up from the couch, his muscles tensing. His eyes shoot open wide, drawn to the chaotic scene unfolding outside; a sudden clatter and yells from outside filtering into their conversation. His brows lift in surprise as he hurries towards the door, peering out into the hallway.

He turns back to Poppy, visibly agitated.

"Stay here," his voice rattles like gravel against a tin can, a firm command hanging in the air as he darts towards the door. In response, her eyes perform an involuntary roll, a silent sigh echoing in her mind. She watches as Blaze's vibrant purple aura dimmed and disappeared into the distance. She scans the area, her senses reaching out for any sign of other auras on this floor. Finding none, confusion furrows her brow. What could have caused such alarm? Left alone for once, she shifts her focus to trying to break free and escape.

Forget about conserving strength. Poppy contorts her body violently, every muscle straining until she topples over.

Oof. A muffled grunt escapes her lips as she tastes the cold wooden floor beneath her cheek. The harsh ropes binding her to the chair bite into her flesh. A glint in the corner of her eye catches her attention—the blade left carelessly by the grey troll while sharpening her claws. It shimmers menacingly under dim lights. Biting back a gasp of pain behind her gag, she begins to inch her way towards it, the rough ground scraping against her cheek with each painstakingly slow move. If she could get a little bit closer...

Poppy's heart hammers against her ribcage; each beat resonating in her ears as she strains against her bindings. The chair grates across the cold floor, every agonizing inch amplifying suspense. Desperation lingers heavily in the stagnate air of the dim room, with the blade's presence serving as her only solace.

With a sudden, consuming urgency spurring her actions, Poppy grits her teeth against the raw abrasion of her restraints, pushing her body beyond its threshold. Her back muscles burn in protest against the unnatural arching, yet she remains relentless—her mind hones in on one singular purpose.

She was close—almost there—just another stretch...

Suddenly, a pair of grey feet blocks her vision, separated only by the gleaming edge of the blade. A sigh builds up in Poppy's chest, longing for escape as her eyes rise up to meet those of Val, the grey troll from before. She looms over her, one heavy brow arching in a silent challenge.

"Impressive, princess," she drawls without a hint of sincerity. Val nonchalantly picks up her blade, twirling it with a bored expression before dropping her gaze back to the princess. The smoky grey troll bends down, easily hoisting Poppy and the chair upright once more. Their eyes lock - cold, unyielding ice met with the blaze of unwavering determination in Poppy's eyes. Despite the odds, there is a spark in Poppy that refuses to be extinguished.

A strangely amused smirk tugs at Val's lips. She casually circles around Poppy, her wings fluttering slightly in an unwitting display of her power. "You're a stubborn one," she finally says, her tone edged with surprise rather than annoyance.

Poppy's eyes narrow at the strange compliment. Val stops behind her, standing tall. The silence stretches between them like a taut rope, ready to snap at any moment. Without warning, the relentless grip of the rope on Poppy's wrists slackens; realization dawns - Val is releasing her binds. With a surprised blink, she hesitantly flexes her paws, relief washing over her as they respond. As Poppy rises to her full height, the gag still feels rough against Poppy's skin. A cold touch traces along her back - Val's blade. 

"Your friends are closer than we'd like. We need to move you," she states in a flat, detached voice. A grimace flickers across Poppy's face - fudge and sprinkles. Images of Branch and John Dory flicker in her mind, stirring up a whirlpool of concern.

"You try anything and I'll make sure you regret it. Understand?"

Poppy nods. The chilling touch of the blade tracing her skin is enough incentive to comply. They said they didn't want to hurt her, but Poppy can't afford to take any risks. In moments like these, she wishes to conjure a silent incantation that could whisk her away from here.

Val's command cuts through the silence, "Move." The single word, a harsh whisper, sends Poppy stumbling forward the door. As she steps across the threshold, she catches movement out of the corner of her eye – near the stairs. The distinctive sound of footsteps grows louder with each passing moment. In the corner by the stairs, Branch battles his breath, each exhale sounding like an effort. She strains against her gag, willing a warning scream that dissolves into muffled whimpering.

"Poppy!" He shouts desperately, his voice echoing through the night air. A smokescreen ambushes them before Val can react, soaking up all the light. Val coughs and swipes her other arm in front of her face, attempting to clear her vision. Poppy slips away from Val, warmth spreading through her as she recognizes a familiar strategy; she would recognize Branch's quick thinking anywhere. A streak of midnight blue color pierces through the smoky haze; she propels herself towards it — towards him. Shaking off her momentary blindness, Val unfurls her wings, darting through the smoke-shrouded hallway in futile pursuit of Poppy. Instead, she slams into Branch; they tumble out of the smog together, immediately locked in a fierce scuffle.

With chaos swirling around her, Poppy seizes her opportunity. She pulls the gag from her mouth with a sharp intake of breath. The thick smoke stinging her eyes begins to disperse, revealing the end of the fight. Branch stands triumphant, one grip on her tunic, the other paw poised in mid-air over a groaning Val. Poppy's eyes widen as she takes in the scene, her voice echoing with urgency as she yells out, "No! Branch don't!"

Branch’s paw stalls; his half-formed incantation hanging in the tense atmosphere. His brow furrows, eyes blinking rapidly as he tries to make sense of the situation. Val's brows knit together, a silent question in her gaze as she looks from Poppy to the fight she had stopped.

Poppy gives a firm nod towards the stairs, her voice barely a whisper, "let's just go."

Branch shifts his focus from Val to Poppy, his stormy blue eyes a mirror of both relief and bewilderment. He steals one last glance at the confused Val before giving Poppy a curt nod. He extends his paw towards her. Her fingers curl around it, holding on tightly as they slip away. The light from the sun peers through the window as they look to escape out of the inn.

She can feel the pounding of his heart vibrating through his palm—the rush of adrenaline still lingering. They slip across the hallway, heading for the emergency exit on their left. As they stumble into the sunlight, its warmth caressing their skin, they allow their tensed shoulders to drop ever so slightly; their breaths start to sync with the gentle wind — their silent symphony of relief. Her eyes dart around the silent clearing. No auras. "JD," Branch gasps between breaths, "Our meeting point is beyond the forest's edge. But—"

His words halt abruptly when Poppy springs forward, her arms wrapping around him in a tight embrace. Her whisper tickles his ear – "Thank you, Branch."

Once again, he rescued her. Each time danger loomed, his presence was a constant; assuring and dependable.

"Of course, Poppy." His voice is raspy from the fight and his arms shake slightly as he returns her embrace, but his hold is firm. Branch pulls back, the concern in his eyes softening as he studies her. "Are you okay?" His gaze roves over her, taking in the scrapes on her knees and the bruises forming on her wrists. He sighs, a sound heavy with worry overshadowed by relief, and brushes a stray lock of hair from her face.

Poppy forces a fierce, unyielding smile, "I'm fine, Branch." Her fingers subtly shift around Branch's paw, seeking relief from the dull ache pulsating through her wrists. She leans in, brushing her lips across his rough cheek—a contact that sends a shudder down his spine, making his fur prick up involuntarily. Branch gives a small, almost shy smile. His gaze strays to her lips for an unreadable moment before snapping back up to meet hers.

Flustered by the intimate moment they just shared, he quickly clears his throat, a faint blush staining his cheeks. "Okay," he manages to say, seemingly lost for words. Her lips curve upwards into another smile just as she starts leaning in again when a sudden rustling in the undergrowth grabs their attention.

Their heads pivot simultaneously towards the direction of the noise as a silhouette emerges from the forest edge, stepping into a sunlit clearing. The real Crown Princess strides forth closer to the pair, authority wrapped around her like a cloak. Deep furrows form on her brow, her face darkened by shadows drawn from her frown. Her voice cuts through the silence, sharp and final as she utters a single word, "Poppy."

As her name spills from her sister's lips, a long-held breath escapes from Poppy, whispering out in a soft surrender, "Viva."