Chapter Text
Chapter 1
To say that she was exhausted would be like describing the ocean as wet. 'Exhausted' didn't even come close, and even Queen Poppy with her seemingly boundless energy could feel the events of the last week taking their toll on her. It had been only a few short days between receiving Queen Barb's mock invitation via Debbie, and the most amazing party that Poppy could have ever imagined, where every type of troll had joined in unity and poured their hearts out together as one. Sure, all the events between were traumatic to say the least, but it had all turned out okay in the end. Just like Poppy knew it would.
Still, the morning after in Volcano Rock City had brought everyone back to reality. Queen Barb had realized the error of her ways, and the Trolls were no longer reliant upon the strings to which they had so dearly clung to for so many years, but it still wasn't as simple as just hugging it out and going their separate ways. No, in the wake of her world tour, Queen Barb and her 'Barb'arians had left a trail of destruction. Symphonyville was a smoking husk, and Pop Village had been torn to shreds in an attempt to find the missing Pop-string. The other races main hubs were considerably less damaged, but there would still be work to do. After long days of hashing out semantics, writing treaties, and negotiating reparations, it would finally be time to return home.
King Quincey and Queen Essence of the Funk Trolls had volunteered to assist with travel arrangements, seeing as their city was both mobile and there had been very limited damage done to it on the tour. They would help in bringing everyone to their respected homes, and remain hovering overtop Symphonyville to provide temporary housing to the Classical Music Trolls whilst their city was rebuilt. They also offered to deliver the Pop Trolls, bringing them home before taking care of their Classical brethren.
Poppy would normally not have accepted special treatment on account of being a queen, but when she was offered a large, private room in which to sleep whilst on their journey back home, she couldn't say no. Her subjects were happily dancing and partying in the Funk-riddled city as it slowly glided over hills and plains to take them home, but they had also not been responsible to help with all of the negotiating either. While most everyone had enjoyed the days in Volcano Rock City, making friends and recuperating and generally just having a good time, the leaders had to tend to the more tedious matters. Poppy honestly wouldn't have been able to of handled it all if not for- "..Branch!"
Despite the exhaustion that clung to her voice, she was still excited to see her dear friend as she entered into the room to which she had been escorted. Fun colors and patterns clung to the walls, illuminated by the soft glow of way too many lava lamps. A bright green shag rug was a treat for her toes as she smiled at the grey troll, who had been resting upon the bed with his eyes half open. The gentle lights in the room sent soft colors across his skin, which at the moment was grey as grey could be. She was always fascinated by how his hue fluctuated so much. There was honestly so much about him that fascinated her.
The troll in question nearly somersaulted off the edge at the sound of Poppy's voice, catching himself before tumbling to the ground and immediately trying to regain his composure. "H-hey Poppy! I ah.. sorry. Prince D brought me over a bit ago, said it'd be okay if I waited for you. I must've... must've zoned out." Branch began smoothing out the blankets which had been wrinkled by having laid on them. "I wanted to," he stifled a yawn. "...Wanted to make sure you got here okay."
He looked her over. She was sleepy, as he was, that was easy to tell. Beyond that, though, she was perfect. She had rainbow streaks in her hair now, leftover from the events at Volcano Rock City. Already one of the most colorful trolls he'd ever seen, she just managed to sparkle brighter all the time. Her kind eyes, the small smile that pulled at her lips when she saw him. Lips that he'd had the opportunity to graze with his own when they shared just the peck of a kiss on stage.
The Queen smiled and opened her mouth to speak, but a well timed 'ding' from their wrists would leave her simply plodding towards him, practically collapsing up against the larger troll for the sloppiest hug-time hug she'd ever given. Poppy didn't want to admit how tired she was, and tried to play it off like she was just being goofy, but Branch saw through the ruse easily enough. Strong arms slid beneath her own, pulling her up against him in a firm but gentle embrace, before he carefully scooped her up and laid her down on the bed to rest. He carefully removed the crown from her head, setting it on a nearby wall shelf that was littered with various brightly colored collectibles.
"Get some sleep," he whispered, smiling to her before turning away. He had been provided his own room, but just as he had stayed nearby at Volcano Rock city, he wanted to make sure that Poppy was safe. Like her own personal guard, one might say. Branch quietly headed towards one of the overstuffed armchairs that the room had to offer, thinking it looked quite comfortable. He didn't quite make it to one, however, as a small lock of fuchsia hair wrapped itself around his pinky finger and clung tight. After a moment's hesitation, he turned to look back at her. "..Poppy?"
"...Stay," the pink troll whimpered, her hair tugging gently at his finger.
He flushed slightly and cleared his throat, feeling somewhat awkward at the request. "I ah.. ehem - don't think that'd be entirely appropriate. Nearby is fine, but-"
"It's an order from your queen." At least that's what it seemed like she was trying to say. In reality it sounded more like " s'n order from yer k'een." The hair gripping Branch's finger went somewhat limp and began to retract as Poppy began to slip away into slumber, and the grey troll could only chuckle and shake his head.
"....Hard to argue with that," he chuckled, more to himself than her at this point, and began to quietly head back towards the bed. Cautiously he would slide up beside her, gently pulling up a fuzzy tie-dye blanket around the two of them. In the faint glow of the lava lamps he would watch her sleep, daring for just a moment to graze the back of his hand against her cheek. She was so beautiful, and she'd done so well handling all of this. It had been far too busy since everything happened for him to even hope to bring up their confessions on the stage. He'd finally told her he loved her... and she'd said it back to him. Busying himself with logistics and helping with peace treaties had done a lot to keep his mind from what it really wanted to focus on in those following days: Her.
"...We'll be home tomorrow," he whispered softly to the pink angel that slept soundly beside him. "...please let me make you mine." A tiny kiss on her shoulder would earn him a soft whimper from the young ruler. He was tempted to slip an arm around her, but decided against it before turning back around and facing the ceiling where a poster of a multi-colored caterpillar stared back down at him. Sleeping in the same bed with Poppy was already pushing bounds - he didn't need to go making it weird. Even if the idea of holding her perfect form against his own lead his mind down some very interesting paths.
As Branch drifted off to sleep, listening to the soft breathing of the troll he loved, he recalled the moment that he thought he had lost her forever. Barb had played the... ultimate power chord as she had called it. A bolt of red energy had fired towards Poppy... and Branch had dove in front of it. He didn't know what it was going to do - he thought, honestly, that it would kill him. But he hadn't hesitated.
He should have felt proud of what he'd done to save her. He should have felt heroic, and brave. But... ever since he'd been transformed into a mindless 'Rock zombie', even temporary as it had been, he hadn't felt like himself. It was as though something inside him had woken up and taken hold. Something he didn't quite understand. Something dark. And as sleep took hold of him, he could feel his mind slowly slipping away. As it had every night since it happened, his dreams were plagued with chaos, fuming anger... and glowing red eyes.
And while Branch didn't know it yet - these were just the beginning of his problems.