Chapter Text
A year and a half ago you would have never guessed that Branch, The Village Grump, Paranoid Freak, The Grey Troll would be married to Poppy. Queen Poppy to be exact. His coronation had been the same day as the wedding, so he now held the title as King of the Pop Trolls.
Branch himself never thought he would ever get his Colors back, although they were a bit muted now, they were still there. Poppy had brought them back, she was his happiness.
He had been on so many adventures with Poppy in such a little amount of time, but to him it seemed like years.
He had been by her side when they had made peace with the Bergens. Helped her bring back music during the Rock-Apocalypse and she had helped him find his brothers to save Floyd and had found her lost sister along the way.
Now here he was happily married to Poppy for two weeks already. They had just gotten back from their honeymoon, which was more like an extended vacation.
Poppy, the ever excited, happy to do anything troll, was extremely shy in the bedroom. The furtherest they had gotten was groping each other in their undergarments before Poppy got flustered and locked herself in the bathroom, apologizing.
Branch was a patient troll, he didn't want to push Poppy into doing anything she didn't want to do. He waited for her to take the lead and stopped when she asked.
Poppy had been patient with him his whole miserable life, always making sure to give him an invite to every party. Which he always refused, but she always had a kind, patient smile on her face. So he could do the same for her. He was in no hurry, he'd wait until the end of time for her.
So they had come back from their honeymoon without getting intimate. Poppy had apologized profusely, but he had told her that they didn't have to rush things. It would happen when the time was right.
Right now they were sitting in her pod, well their pod now, he still lived in his bunker part time, going through all their mail that had piled up while they had been gone.
Poppy was sitting on the floor, humming a tune to herself as she read a letter. Branch was sitting at Poppy's desk, going through his own stack of mail they had separated.
Branch picked up an official looking letter that looked almost burnt around the edges.
Must be from Barb. He opened it and read.
__________________________________________
'Yo,
Popsqueak and King Boytoy,
First off congratulations on finally getting married. You guys are so puke together it's nauseating.
So listen, my father, the righteous and former King Thrash has informed me that he just remembered we have a dungeon below Volcano Rock City. Full of prisoners from other genres. From like years ago. He figured since we are now in harmony with the other tribes, now would be a good time to let them go.
First, I want to apologize, I literally had no idea we even had a dungeon, let alone prisoners.
Second, I have moved them all to a covered stadium and provided them with food, water, clothes, and comfortable beds.
I've taken a census of all the Pop Trolls here, there's nine all together. I had them write down all relatives that could possibly still be with your tribe. I've included it on a separate paper. If you could bring a caterbus to transport them back to your village that would be awesome.
Again sorry man,
Queen Barb 🤘
__________________________________________
"Not totally surprising that they would have prisoners." Branch grumbled to himself.
He pulled the paper from behind and shuffled it on top of the letter and looked at the list of names of the newly released prisoners.
__________________________________________
Atlas Moss, gender: male. Age: 57
Rainbow Troll
Held prisoner for 21 years
Known Relatives:
-Milton Moss, son. Last known age: 5
Bream, gender: female. Age: 52
Guru Troll
Held prisoner 20 years
Known Relatives:
-Brook, wife. Last known age: 30
-River, son. Last known age: 6
-Spring, daughter. Last known age: 6
-Creek, son. Last known age: 4
Cedar, gender: male. Age: 58
Teaspoon Troll
Held prisoner 22 years
Known Relatives:
-Trixie, wife. Last known age: 35
-Egg, name and gender unknown
Fern, gender: male. Age: 40
Rainbow Troll
Held prisoner 15 years
Known Relatives
-Juniper, husband, also held in captivity.
-Zephyr, son, born in captivity age: 11
Juniper, gender: male. Age: 42
Rainbow Troll
Held prisoner 15 years
Known Relatives: see Fern
Leaf, gender: male. Age: 73
Glitter Troll
Held prisoner 35 years
Known Relatives
-None
Magnolia, gender: female. Age: 55
Rainbow Troll
Held prisoner 22 years
Known Relatives
-Zeke, husband, also held in captivity
-Rosiepuff, mother. Last known age: 55
-John Dory, son. Last known age: 13
-Spruce, son. Last known age: 11
-Clay, son. Last known age: 10
-Floyd, son. Last known age: 9
-Egg, name and gender unknown
-Zuri, daughter, born in captivity, age:13
Toronto, gender: male. Age: 75
Glitter Troll
Held prisoner 20 years
Known Relatives:
-Sky Toronto, son. Last known age: 35
-Blair, daughter. Last known age: 29
-Boom, grandson. Last known age: newly hatched.
Zeke, gender: male. Age: 56
Rainbow Troll
Held prisoner 22 years
Known Relatives: see Magnolia.
Zuri, gender: female. Age: 13
Rainbow Troll
Known Relatives: see Magnolia.
Born in captivity
Zephyr, gender male. Age: 11
Rainbow Troll
Known Relatives: see Fern
Born in captivity
__________________________________________
Branch's eyes widened as he shot to his feet.
"Jeez Branch!" Poppy exclaimed, clutching her chest. "Did something bite you or something."
"I need to find John Dory!" Branch exclaimed and ran out of their pod, ignoring the shouts of concern coming from his wife.
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Branch's thoughts were all over the place as he hurried towards his bunker. His parents were alive. They've been prisoners this whole time. He knew what they looked like and knew their names, but he had no idea who they were. What did they sound like? Were their voices just as beautiful as Grandma described them? He had a freaking little sister!!!
"Branch slow down!" Poppy's voice cut through his thoughts as she grabbed his arm. "What was in that letter that made you go all speed demon on me?"
Branch stopped abruptly causing Poppy to tumble into him. She caught herself and straightened up.
"Branch? What's wrong?" Poppy asked cupping his face and looking into his eyes. Hers were full of concern. He hadn't realized he was shaking until he had stopped running.
"My parents are alive...I think." Branch said his voice cracking.
"What!?" Poppy gasped, her eyes widening in surprise. She looked down at the letter still clutched in his hand.
"Can I see?" Poppy asked looking back up at him.
Branch nodded and let her take the letter. He watched her eyes read quickly and then watched as her eyes widened with every name she read.
"Branch, this is....incredible!" Poppy said looking back at him with a wide smile. She looked back down and was rereading the names.
Branch didn't think it was incredible. It brought up weird feelings. He didn't know his parents, he didn't know how he should feel about it. He grew up without them. Plus he had a little sister that had most likely been raised in a cage her whole life. He felt a swell of protectiveness, that was usually only reserved for Poppy, Floyd, or Tiny.
Since she had grew up in a prison, did she even know music? Were they even allowed to sing?
"Poppy." Branch said quietly, wringing his hands together. He had so many feelings at the moment and didn't know how to express them.
Poppy looked up at him and her smile turned worried.
"Branch? Are you ok?" Poppy asked reaching out and taking his hands, making him stop gripping onto them so tight.
"I don't know." Branch admitted. "I need to talk to John Dory. He knew our parents better than anybody. All my life I was told they had gotten eaten by a Bergen, and now to find out they're alive...."
"Hey. We'll get through this together, ok." Poppy said giving him a small hug. "We'll help everyone reunite. From what I read we have to find Smidge, Milton, Sky Toronto, Boom, Creek and Brook."
"Can we talk to JD first?" Branch asked. "I really need to talk to him."
"Yeah, we can do that." Poppy said grabbing one hand and interlocking their fingers. She pulled him in the direction of the bunker and he followed, falling into step beside her.
"Later we can find everyone and tell them the good news." Poppy said tucking the letter into her hair.
Branch just nodded thoughts still swirling in his head. He just needed to talk to John Dory, hopefully he was with Rhonda or in the bunker.
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They arrived to the bunker after what seemed like the longest walk of his life. Branch saw Rhonda laying stretched out in the sun beside the boulder that marked his bunker.
She gave a happy trill when she heard them approaching. She got up and trotted over to them.
"Hey Rhonda girl." Branch said letting go of Poppy's hand to scratch at Rhonda's face plate. He nuzzed his face against hers, his thoughts momentarily stilled.
"Is John in the bunker or with you taking a nap?" Branch asked stepping back and patting her head.
Rhonda trilled as she scampered over to his welcome mat and did sort of a bounce.
"Thanks girl." Branch said giving her one more scratch before opening the hidden hatch.
"You're almost as bad as JD when it comes to Rhonda." Poppy snickered as she stepped onto the platform next to him.
"Hush." Branch said while he pulled the lever. "She's a good girl."
Poppy giggles and grabs his free hand. They desend down into the lowest level of the bunker.
As they reach the bottom they can hear soft singing from the kitchen. They recognize the voice as John Dory, singing an unfamiliar song for both Poppy and Branch. Was that a country song he was singing?
'-of emerald green
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you
Jolene'
Branch and Poppy slowly make their way to the doorway of the kitchen and peek in. John Dory is swaying to the music in his head as he makes himself lunch.
'He talks about you in his sleep
And there's nothing I can do to keep
From crying when he calls your name
Jolene
And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don't know what he means to me
Jolene'
Branch can't help but smile as John Dory gets lost in his song. Poppy covers her mouth to stifle a laugh, not wanting to interrupt his performance.
'Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene~
I'm begging of you please don't take my-GAH!'
John Dory had turned around to do a twirl and spotted Branch and Poppy. He stumbled into the counter, knocking a spoon into the sink, the sound of metal on metal clinking loudly. His eyes were blown wide in surprise. Branch and Poppy burst out laughing.
"You can't just sneak up on me like that!" John said taking deep breaths. "I'm getting old, man!"
That made Branch and Poppy laugh even harder, clutching at each other.
"Alright you two." John Dory said with a pout while retrieving his spoon from the sink.
"Sorry." Branch said with a snicker. "That was just an unexpected song coming from you. Since when do you know country?"
"Hey, I dabbled here and there." John Dory said then pointing his spoon at Branch. "I know you do too, mister blend in with every genre slash sub-genre like it's second nature."
Branch held up his hands in surrender. "Guilty. What are you making anyway?"
"I was reheating some of that soup you made last night." John Dory said picking up a bowl and taking it to the table. "You want me to heat some up for you?"
"Nah. Poppy and I already ate. Make sure to save some for Floyd though." Branch said going to the fridge and pulling out some apple juice.
"Already did." John said sitting down.
Branch gestured the jug to Poppy and she nodded, and sat next to John Dory. He got down two glasses and filled them up and put the juice back in the fridge. He brought the glasses over and sat across from John Dory after handing Poppy her glass.
Branch took a sip of juice and set it back down. His thoughts were going crazy again. If his parents were alive than why had he been told they had gotten eaten? Would they even know who he was since he was still an egg when they left? Would they want to live in a pod or his bunker when they got back? How much did John Dory know?
"-llo? Earth to Branch."
Branch jumped at John Dory's loud voice.
"What?" Branch asked blinking at him.
"You've been staring at your glass for like ten minutes." John Dory said looking at him with a questioning look. "Something on your mind Bits?"
Poppy looked at him concerned. Her brow furrowed. It wasn't a good look on her. He really needed to get out of his head.
"Well..." Branch started not really knowing how to start. "I was wondering about our parents. All I know about them are their names and I've only seen a handful of pictures. And don't just tell me they got eaten."
John Dory was silent as he looked down at his bowl of soup, pushing some vegetables around with his spoon.
"That's what we assumed happened." John Dory said. He sighed and looked up at Branch, his eyes held sadness. "After your egg detached, Dad was going stir crazy. He wanted to get us all out of the Tree. It was impossible with three adults, four trollings and an egg.
So they made a plan. They would leave and find a safe place, come back, and take us two at a time. The night they left was the last time we saw them. We assumed they never made it out of Bergen Town. So....naturally eaten by a Bergen."
Branch was shocked. His parents had tried to get them out. He looked down at his table, his fingernails scratching at a small crack in the wood that was there.
"I have something to show you." Branch said looking up at Poppy. She pulled the letter out and handed it to John Dory.
He looked at it curiously. He read it and then just looked confused.
"What does this have to do with our parents?" John Dory asked looking up at them. Poppy handed him the other half of the letter.
As he read, Branch saw the moment he read their parent's names. John Dory gasped loudly.
"They're alive?!" John Dory shouted, standing up quickly and starting to pace as he reread the names. "I can't believe this! We have to go get them right away! Wait.....they've been where this whole time?!"
"Volcano Rock City." Poppy supplied.
"Why are we shouting?"
Everyone turned towards the kitchen door and saw a sleepy looking Floyd leaning heavily against his cane.
"Floyd!" John Dory cried running up to him. "Mom and Dad are alive!"
Floyd just stared at him.
"That's not something to joke about Johnny." Floyd said his face contorting into anger.
"No they are, look." John Dory said pressing the letter into his hand.
Floyd read the letter and the list of names. His eyes filled with tears.
"What?" He whispered. "This can't be true. Can it?"
Floyd's legs wobbled and John Dory guided him to the chair beside Branch.
"Yeah, it's true. That's Queen Barb's official Royal stationary." Poppy said taking back the letter portion and looking it over.
"So we're going to bring them home right?" Floyd said his voice full of hope.
"Would you even be up for the journey?" Branch asked his frail brother. "You're still healing."
"I'll be fine. As long as I rest, I can walk, most of the time." Floyd said rolling his eyes.
Although it had been almost six months since they had rescued Floyd from Velvet and Veneer, he was still on the long road to recovery.
For the most part his hair had turned almost back to normal with just the roots were still white, but fading everyday. He was able to sing again without feeling faint or passing out. Floyd did that in the beginning of his healing, when he insisted that he was well enough to sing.
Though he did tire out easily. Especially lately, somedays it seemed like his healing was going backwards instead of forward. Floyd slept a lot, taking many naps throughout the day.
The only major thing that was still occurring, was his legs giving out if he stood for too long or walked too much. Then he wouldn't be able to move for a while, which irritated the magenta hair troll immensely. From what Floyd had told them, his legs were the first thing to crystallize, so it made sense they would give him the most problems.
"You promise to rest?" Branch asked crossing his arms. He had been Floyd's main caretaker since the moment they got back from Mount Rageous.
"Yes Branch. I promise." Floyd said with a smirk placing a hand over his heart.
"First we need to round up Clay and Bruce." John Dory said starting up his pacing again.
"Well Bruce is due to arrive tomorrow. " Branch said, turning to Poppy. "Do you think you can wait until tomorrow to gather everyone else? That way we can all travel together."
"I can do that." Poppy said. "That will give me some time to write personal notes to everyone involved. That way it's more private than announcing it to the whole tribe. Plus I need to send Barb a response, tell her we will be there tomorrow afternoon after we tell everyone."
"We can still go tell Clay. But I'm not sure how he'll react though." Floyd said, eyes looking downcast.
"What do you mean?" Branch asked looking back and forth between Floyd and John Dory. He started bouncing his legs, anxious about what the answer could be.
"Clay took Mom and Dad leaving really hard." John Dory said taking his seat again. "He was a big Mama's boy. He slept in their bed for a long time after they left. Refused to eat, go to school, or even read."
"I remember he got really sick too." Floyd said looking at John Dory for confirmation.
"Yeah, he did. His colors were so dull. Grandma was afraid he was going to turn grey. We all did everything we could to get him out of bed or at least eat something. " John Dory explained. "Grandma went to Dr. Oak to see if he would make an emergency house visit. King Peppy, Queen Lily, and Viva all showed up with the doctor and Grandma."
"Oh yeah." Floyd said recalling the memory. "Viva was the one that finally got him to get out of bed, she basically nursed him back to health. They were inseparable after that."
"Well he still has Viva, so maybe he'll be happy about the news." Branch said feeling hopeful.
"Come on. Viva and Clay should be at the Putt-Putt House." Poppy said standing up. "Viva said something about setting up for a holiday they celebrated on the course and it's in three days. I asked to help, but she said I wouldn't understand the holiday."
Poppy pouted a little and Branch laughed then stood up, downing his apple juice and taking his and Poppy's glasses to the sink.
Branch took the letter off the table and stashed it in his hair. He helped Floyd out of his chair and they all walked to the elevator.
Branch's thoughts wandered again once they reached the surface and started walking to the village.
He couldn't believe Clay had almost turned grey. Clay would have been about ten or so around then. A few years older than Branch when he himself had went grey. The fact that Clay was really attached to their mother was surprising. Clay always seemed to be super independent and wanted to be left alone. At least that's what Branch remembered from before the band breakup.
This reunion was going to be so awkward. Branch could already feel his anxiety rising just thinking about it.