Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hi, I know I owe you chapters of other stories and I'm sorry, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm sorry, but I have to write it.

This first chapter is set during the first movie.

Thoughts in italics

Monologue in normal text

() sounds in normal text, extra singers in songs

"" dialog

"abcd" thoughts / songs / songs during normal dialogues.

[abcd] Sounds in songs.

WARNING:

This is not a Poppy x Branch fic, it's Poppy x OC, and worst, a reincarnated OC. So, if you don't like this kind of content, let's not do each other a favor and don't read it, why read something that doesn't interest you.

Also, due to the little real information I have (I only saw the movies) some things are based more on conjecture than fact.

If I'm wrong about something, please tell me so I can change it and improve it.

In the dark of the night in the Troll Forest, in a large tree, a greyish troll could be found, he was a medium tall troll (for a troll's height), with a skinny build and long but tousled hair.

His clothing was simple, a brown shirt and green pants along with a blue vest and black shoes, his materials were made in different ways but predominantly the leaves of the tree where he is, plus some linen which he extracted.

Unlike other trolls who decided to live in a kind of house hanging on the branch of a tree, our troll protagonist lived inside the tree, in the only hole formed in the tree.

Near him was a guitar made of leaves, sticks and also some flax, with the strings made of spider silk.

The troll was asleep until the first rays of the sun came up and glimpsed his face, which irritated him and he tried to cover his face with the sheet, that worked... for about 5 minutes, until the sun rose higher and became too annoying for the troll to ignore.

"(grunt) another day, another dollar" said the troll to himself, even though he didn't need to earn money like he did before.

That's right, as you just heard (or rather read), our dear nameless troll is a being who has been reincarnated numerous times.

Our nameless guy "Call me Sylvan." Who can also break the fourth wall for some reason, is a reincarnated A-5 type, a reincarnate who will continue to be reborn as long as he still has unfulfilled sorrows.

Said penalties are…

"A secret you don't need to know, storyteller." Sylvan said in a whisper, as if his voice hadn't been used in a long time, as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Rudo, well, let's go with our protagonist's perspective.

(Sylvan's Pov.)

(Sip) ah~ what a nice coffee, I smiled slightly to myself only to have my face return to its base state of indifference.

I contemplated my house for a few minutes, the house that I managed to build from scratch, thanks to my past experiences.

It was a simple house but it had what I needed, a bedroom (with a bed, a desk for notes, a window) and a kitchen. Because I live in a tree, if I need to burn something I do it outside but carefully, I don't want a Bergen to find me naked.

The entrance to my house, the hole, was remodeled and I built a door, to make it more like a tree house.

I sit in one of the chairs in the dining room while enjoying my coffee, listening to the birds singing their morning melody, all is peace and quiet...

(Music playing loudly)

And... there goes the peace, I can hear the sound of the fluttering birds speeding away from my house.

"Another party" I thought to myself as I sighed, leaving the coffee cup on my table.

I open the door and I can hear the music more clearly now, and voices, many voices singing, laughing and playing music.

Enjoying life in their own way.

I take a deep breath as I shake my head. "I already walked away from that life; it doesn't make sense about thinking things over." I mutter as I sat back down in the dining room but left the door open.

I took a sip of my coffee then stretched my hair and pulled my guitar towards me, leaving it sitting in my lap.

I ran my fingers across it, feeling the wood, the strings, the fabric – everything that made up my guitar – with a small smile.

Suddenly the music stopped, it seemed they were done with their little party of... whatever it was.

I let out another sigh as I stopped stroking the guitar.

I built this guitar because, although I didn't sing, I couldn't leave aside my "musical side" that every troll has, I usually play it during the parties that happen in the troll village to mask the sound... although that's just an excuse.

Truth be told, a part of me wants to go back to Troll Village, to be part of those trolls' lives, even if it means having to put up with the loud music, their parties and everything else they do in troll village.

But I don't, and for one simple reason, I don't want to get attached to people again.

I've lived several lives – some good, some bad, and some... meh – but if there's one thing I've learned with each new reboot, each new life, it's that getting attached to people just brings pain.

Eventually they're going to die, they're going to go somewhere else, somewhere better (or worse, depending on how your life was) while I'm left with the memories, I'm still living, I'm still here.

I exhale through my nose slowly and take another sip from my cup, this time emptying it, I take it to wash it and leave it in the scullery maid to dry and go back to the dining room, grab the chair and put it by the door, pull my guitar back to me with my hair and start playing.

( I'm still here - treasure planet) (look for an acoustic version of the song and that's what he's playing, not singing)

I let my fingers guide me and close my eyes while memories – no, not memories – sensations, echoes, fragments go through my head, from different lives.

A duel with a katana, steel against steel, honor against honor.

The immensity of outer space and the loneliness of an aimless ship.

School corridors, shouts of joy, laughter, tears.

As I played, a thousand sensations filled my being.

Then the sensations went back to this life.

Escaping from the Bergens.

Arrival at the clearing, which would later be known as Troll village.

Parties, music, too much noise.

Getting away, building, growing, forging a home, a sanctuary.

My soul, my being, begged me to sing what I felt, to let out these bottled-up emotions, but I didn't give in, because once the tide is open, there is no way to close it.

When I finished playing, I opened my eyes again and then looked at the guitar, the color of my body (fur?) briefly glowed green and then returned to a dull gray.

A reminder of something... but of what, I don't know what.

The air is heavy in my chest, as if the sensations, the memories, leave a feeling from which I cannot recover.

I fix my eyes on the troll village.

I remember what I once heard someone mention "A troll who doesn't sing is basically a freak, an outcast, even trolls being the cheerful creatures they have their prejudices, several prejudices.

The Troll Village is beautiful from here.

My house is not too far from the troll village, but it's still far enough away that I can't quite make out the figures jumping over the leaves.

I wouldn't be too surprised if they didn't know I was here, after all my house is at the top of a tree and I can see the village only if I look down.

I lean back against the chair, putting the guitar aside as I contemplate the horizon.

That is until I hear the sound of branches rustling and footsteps approaching.

Living alone for a long time made my hearing sharpen to sudden sounds that shouldn't be there – that and I have a sound system implanted for safety – and footsteps definitely shouldn't be something I usually hear around here.

I listen carefully to distinguish the approaching footsteps, they were not heavy, they were light, rhythmic.

I let out a sigh of relief, it wasn't a Bergen, it was a troll, a troll happy for the sound of his footsteps.

I blinked, "Oh no." I muttered with a frown.

"Hello~?" said a soft voice from under me tree.

I push the chair away and peek out from the doorway, there she was: pink hair, pink skin, a tiara, bluish clothes, a bright smile – brighter than the sun – and the energy of a glitter hurricane.

Shit, wait, maybe she didn't see me. Maybe if I stood still, completely motionless, I'd think it was a sugar-induced hallucination or a bad dream in the shape of cotton candy.

"I'm craving sugar, sue me."

(Twig noises)

"Hello?! is anyone there? I saw a silhouette when I was handing out invitations and... I think you're real! Are you real? Hello?" said the voice, sounding closer than I'm comfortable with.

"...I have no luck in any life."

I turned away from the open door, while releasing air from my chest and waiting in front of it, even if I close the door, the door itself is evidence that I am here and that I exist, so I might as well confront the pink menace in front of me.

I saw her suddenly peek out and then fully emerge from under the branch with glee. She didn't look tired at all, which is not surprising, trolls have an almost inexhaustible source of energy.

"Wow! Hi! hey, this place looks amazing, do you live here? You're... the mystery troll Branch mentioned, what's your name?" said Poppy cheerfully and energetically.

"Sylvan." I said softly as I stared into her eyes.

Huh, her eyes are pink too, how curious.

She just stared at me as if she hadn't heard me, then blinked and said, "Sylvan huh, nice to meet you, my name is Poppy and I came to invite you to the biggest, craziest, loudest party ever!" she exclaimed excitedly as she pulled out an invitation and some sheets of paper and scissors.

And with precision and honestly amazing speed he made an invitation that had a picture of me cut out of it, with my name and even a little tune that said, "Celebrate freedom from the Bergens" and then glitter started coming out of the eyes, which hit me directly in the face.

I'm pretty sure that my face is the most expressionless face you can expect from a troll who lives isolated from the world. I wiped the glitter off my face and saw her giving me a smile, "What do you say, Sylvan?" she said as she extended me the invitation.

"No thanks" I said as I returned the invitation and bowed in thanks – something that stuck with me from my life as a samurai – and then added "such a noisy party is sure to attract predators, are you sure you want to deal with that?"

Hearing my words, mostly because of what I just added, she frowned, "Not you too, first Branch and now you, the Bergens haven't been able to find us in 20 years, they're not going to find us, we're safe." She said as she snorted and folded her arms.

To which, I just arched an eyebrow. "You're thinking of throwing the biggest party ever, that will definitely draw unwanted attention, how could they not have thought of that, is King Peppy still..." I start to say only to stop myself as I noticed the similarities between their names. "...You're his daughter, aren't you? The Princess of the village." I said, more of a statement than a question.

At the mention of her father's name and her rank in the village, she only nods but thoughtfully, probably reflecting on my words.

"Look, Princess, I'm not going to tell you what you can't do, but you have to be very attentive to the consequences what could provoke your party, a party like this will definitely not go unnoticed, if you are determined to continue with your party, you have to be prepared for the worst." I said as I put a hand on her shoulder.

She looked down for a second, just one. Then she looked me straight in the eye with a determined look. There was stubbornness and a rather fierce determination in her eyes.

"You can't live in fear all your life," she replied, her voice no longer the same cheerful, singsong voice she had come with, but firmer, something I would expect from someone of royalty. "We've been in hiding for too long. And if the Bergens were to come... at least we'll know what we lived through a little before then."

"And there it was... that kind of answer I was hoping for."

Not the kind of answer a Princess would give.

But the kind of answer given by someone who hasn't experienced what it's like to lose everything.

I didn't say anything, I just took my hand off her shoulder and stared into her eyes, there was no doubt or hesitation in her gaze, only conviction.

"Besides," she said as her tone of voice returned to what it was before, "It's not every day that it's 20 years since we ran away! We have to celebrate with the best party we can throw! And you should come!"

"I already answered that." I said in a dry tone of voice.

"How about I take it as a maybe?" she replied smiling sideways.

I just gave her a blank stare and walked into my house, closing the door.

"Don't worry, we'll be waiting for you if you change your mind!" she shouted from the doorway. "And just so you know, I like your house, it's very well built! See you, Sylvan!" she said as her voice trailed off, probably because she was walking away.

Great, now I know what if they know of my existence, at least now.

I closed my eyes and moved a little away from the door.

The small peace after her retreat only lasted about 4 seconds, a sheet of paper slipped under the door. A second invitation, this time with a silhouette of me... playing guitar. So, he noticed the guitar.

I ignored the glitter splashing on my face, again, and left the invitation in the dining room.

I didn't tear it up or throw it away, I just left it there.

I closed my eyes again, who knows for how many times this day, as I sat back down in the chair near the door.

Yes, throwing the party was definitely a bad idea, a very bad one of that there is no doubt. But I'm not going to just tell them not to do it, as an outsider it's not my place to tell them what they can and can't do, the best I can do is warn them and hope they take as many concerns as possible.

"You can't live in fear all your life," her words echoed through my mind.

"But fear keeps you alive." I whispered as I picked up my guitar.

Her presence brought back memories; of something I am actively trying to forget.

In one of my past lives, this life was a movie I enjoyed watching, I don't remember the whole plot, only that Poppy ended up falling in love with a grumpy troll who lived in a bunker, who made friends with his enemies and who sang, a lot.

I try not to think about it too much – a bit because of the existential crisis of being part of a movie – mainly because it's none of my business.

My presence here is unnecessary, I shouldn't exist but yet I'm here. What does that mean? I don't know, but I don't want to find out.

The presence of an anomaly like me tends to change things, the butterfly effect as some would say, so I moved away as well so as not to affect the history of the people who live here.

Which worked perfectly.

I sighed as I shook my head, I should just stay away.

I looked at the invitation, which was sitting in the same place where I left it, mocking me as if to say that my presence alone was already changing things.

I should destroy it... but I simply couldn't, because I knew it was a reminder.

Things don't always turn out the way you want them to.

So, I just grabbed my guitar and started to play, that would help me relax.

"That party is too extravagant."

I couldn't help but think as I watched, and listened, from a distance to the party they were having at troll village.

I live a considerable distance away, but not that considerable. And yet you can see, feel, and hear the party they are having.

The lights, the music, the glitter – god, the glitter, I didn't know it could be used like that – It was very noticeable.

I was sitting in my chair.

"I can't hear you" I heard Poppy's voice at full volume in the middle of the celebration.

I shook my head as I leaned back in my living room chair – yes, I have a living room too – my guitar forgotten in my lap.

I had just returned not long ago from collecting materials to repair some furniture that is already past its expiration date, when I decided to sit on my couch to practice some music.

I decided to sit down to practice some music, until, suddenly, the loudest music I have heard in 20 years exploded into the air.

Lights, glitter and multicolored chaos began to vibrate even in the leaves of my tree.

I had lost the will to play.

Listening to music that loud doesn't allow me to hear my own music, so there's no point.

So, I just sat there, enjoying the visual spectacle and gazing up at the night sky.

Until suddenly.

(Footstep)

(Footstep)

Some footsteps caught my attention.

They are not troll.

The only trolls who live nearby are from the troll village and they're all partying, besides, with the loud music playing, the footsteps wouldn't sound as loud or as deep.

"Bergen."

The thought chilled my blood.

I walked out my front door and peered down from the top of my branch.

There it is, a Bergen with the grayish skin, white hair, a chef's uniform, long fingers with sharp nails.

I couldn't see his face from where I was but I bet he's ugly just like the... her? Whatever.

She/he walked in a menacing manner, like a predator who has found her/his prey,

Which in this case...

My gaze is directed towards the troll village, which has stopped playing music, but that doesn't stop the Bergen's pace, in fact, it accelerates it.

As if it was afraid of losing its target that it has been looking for so long.

I stood there frozen, watching the Bergen march to her destination with determination.

"Not my problem," was the first thought that came to my mind.

If my memories don't lie to me, things will work out well for Poppy and her people.

The bad thing about trusting my memory is that I don't remember what happened in the movie, I only remember that things turned out well in the end.

That should be enough, right?

I turn around and my gaze for some reason fixes on the invitation Poppy gave me.

"Destiny is not forged in stone."

That thought was enough.

I launch myself from the top of my tree, then tangle my hair in the branch of another tree and swing off in the direction of the troll village.

I hope I'm not too late.

The end

Here's the first chapter, hope you guys enjoyed it.

Chapter Text

Hi, I know I owe you chapters of other stories and I'm sorry, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm sorry, but I have to write it.

This chapters are set during the first movie.

"I'm almost late for the party."

It was a passing thought once I approached the troll village.

The lights were out, the trolls hidden in the branches or in the bushes.

I drop to the ground, and there I see him.

The, her or him, Bergen crouched down looking under a very large mushroom.

He/she seemed to be about to catch some troll.

I quickly grab some pebbles from the ground and hook my hair on the branch above me, lifting me halfway up.

Without thinking too much, I let out a whistle, the loudest sound that has come out of my mouth in decades.

(whistling)

That caught the attention of the Bergen, who stood up from where he was crouching and fixed his gaze on me.

Wow, I was right, her face is ugly.

And the smile that threw me further, he quickly lunged towards me with an open hand.

I immediately propelled myself into the air and launched myself at his hand, passing through her fingers and landing on her arm.

Quickly, I threw the pebbles I had grabbed at her face, which fortunately resulted in one hitting her in the eye.

At which, the Bergen grunted and staggered a bit, bringing her other hand to her face.

I managed to buy myself a second.

Time enough.

I throw myself off her arm and snag myself back on a branch, putting myself at a safe distance.

I could almost swear I heard my name.

I landed on a branch, fortunately empty, and saw that the Bergen was looking for me, which made me let out another whistle.

(whistle)

That made her face fix on me, with a look of annoyance.

A troll – is it even a troll – with a long neck came out of the fanny pack saying "Wow, that was impressive!"

She – yes, I'm going to assume it's her – nudged it with a finger back and closed the fanny pack with a thud.

Shit, rescue won't be possible right now.

Not yet.

I have to get her away from the village.

I make a mocking gesture with my hand, saying "come and get me," which she took seriously, as she started to run after me.

I launched myself back into swinging.

Bergen's hand brushed past my foot.

Once.

Again.

Like a frustrated predator who can't catch his dinner because his dinner knows how to do parkour with his hair.

I kept moving, leading her out of the village, away from the center.

I don't know how much time passed, it must not have been much, but I managed to reach a tall tree and perch on one of its branches, panting.

Annoyed. Breathing as if I was going to set the forest on fire with my breath.

But also confused.

Because the prey got away from her.

The Bergen gave a frustrated cry, but quickly decided it wasn't worth it, as she turned and walked away.

This time not back to the village, but in another direction.

Most likely in the direction of Bergen Town.

"Shit" I cursed under my breath, watching the Bergen walk away.

I took her away from the troll village, my main objective, so my mission was a success.

But I couldn't save any of the trolls trapped by the Bergen.

I know you can't save them all, I'm not a hero and I have no superpowers, but not being able to save them leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

I could try... but it would be a suicide mission.

Besides, I don't know them, so... why should I care?

Why should I even risk it for a village I don't care about?

"Because deep down you care about them."

Shut up brain.

I growled under my breath and clenched my fists but didn't try to rescue the trolls, I knew I couldn't do it alone and I had no one to ask for help.

With a resigned sigh, I jumped up and swung back to my house.

1234

Inside my home, I sit at a table with tea served in front of me and my guitar next to me.

Tea, coffee... I didn't think I could ever taste these drinks again in this world, especially considering my race.

Considering my race is about 5 inches tall (I am exactly 6.5 inches tall), then I didn't think it could be easy to even find cocoa.

It wasn't easy, that thing is at least twice as tall as I am, but with some perseverance – and unusual strength for my size – I managed to transport it home.

Thanks to that, I have a good supply of cocoa to make me a good coffee for a long time, it was easier for you, I just needed some leaves, water and other things to make the tea.

But it was a success.

I take a sip of the tea and take a moment to savor it.

Yeah... this doesn't work.

With a sigh, I leave my tea on the table and pick up my guitar.

I can't let go of the guilt I feel in me, even if I shouldn't be feeling guilty.

Logically I know that, but logic doesn't usually go well with emotions.

Maybe if I had tried harder, if I had been more insistent... or maybe if I had just joined their damn party to make sure everyone could escape.

Now a group of who knows how many trolls are in the hands of a Bergen.

They were so close to me... now they are probably in the middle of the Bergen city about to be devoured.

I know it's not my fault, it's more Poppy's fault than mine. I know that and I understand that but still I was so close to saving them.

I could try to rescue them... but going to Bergen City on my own is suicide.

So, I try to forget my problems by drinking! And since I don't have any beer, I replaced it with tea.

Obviously, it didn't work, so now I'll try coffee.

I don't think I'll be able to sleep soon, and it's probably already dawn, so a cup of coffee wouldn't be bad to get me through the day.

(sound of frantic knocking)

"Sylvan! Sylvan! I'm pretty sure you're in there, I can see the lights on!" said a very familiar voice.

Poppy.

I stand up, putting my guitar on my back and adjusting its strap.

My gaze goes to the invitation Poppy just gave me, and I don't know why I felt a little embarrassed, so I quickly put it away behind the couch.

(sounds of frantic knocking)

"Sylvan, are you really not here? Please don't tell me that you were also capture by the Bergen..." Poppy's voice said, what sounded frantic before but now sounded pleading.

That made me unconsciously hurry my pace and open the door.

Seeing me, Poppy's face lit up.

"You're okay!" and before I could react, she pounced on me and gave me a tight hug.

At which I froze, not knowing how to react to the sudden display of affection.

Slowly, I raised my arms and hugged her back, just a little.

It had been too long since I had received a hug...

I had forgotten the feeling.

"I'm glad you're okay." She murmured into my shoulder

I didn't say anything, I just stood still, waiting.

She broke away and I got a good look at her.

She looked the same as last time, except for the look in her eyes. Her eyes spelled guilt and determination, as well as joy and fear.

"I saw you; you know?" began Poppy, looking into my eyes. "If it hadn't been for you, the Bergen would have captured both me and my dad."

At that, my eyes widened slightly in surprise. So, she was the one the Bergen had her and her father in her sights.

"I'm glad I intervened," I said sincerely.

At my words, it seemed that Poppy's pent-up enthusiasm decided to burst right then and there.

"It wasn't just me who saw you, but the other trolls too! The others thought you were Branch at first until they realized you didn't look similar." Poppy began, with much enthusiasm as she pranced around. "Also, the way you moved, how you glided through the trees, practically flying, was amazing!"

Poppy's words and enthusiasm made a small treacherous smile rise on my face, until the trolls captured by the Bergen came to my mind, which made my smile disappear and I ducked my head a little.

"I couldn't save them all." I mumbled but because of Poppy's closeness she could hear me clearly.

"But you saved me! You saved the rest by driving the Bergen away! Without you... I fear what the Bergen would have done." Poppy said with a soft look. "It doesn't matter if you couldn't save everyone, what you did was brave, it was amazing."

My gaze was on the ground.

I didn't want her gratitude, not her admiration either.

Not when all I felt like was a failure.

"Is that all you came here for? To congratulate me?" I said, looking up and into her eyes as I pulled away from her.

She was too close to me for my compliance.

Poppy blinked, as if she wasn't expecting that question.

"No... well, yes. But I also wanted to know if you were okay. And... I wanted to ask you something," Poppy said with an unsure look.

"Ask me something?" I repeated the last thing Poppy said.

"Yes," she nodded, and then her expression changed to a determined one. "I'm going to go rescue them."

Silence.

For a moment I stared blankly at her.

"Of course you are."

Part of me thought, or rather hoped, what she would hide, along with her people.

After all, her duty as Princess is to see to the safety of her people.

But, of course Poppy wouldn't be that kind of Princess.

She would look out for the safety of all her people.

"Poppy... that's suicide." I said as I folded my arms. "The Bergen most likely took them to Bergen Town, and going alone is basically handing you over on a silver platter for their hungry mouths."

"I'm not going alone."

"Oh, no? And who are you dragging with you? Who's crazy enough to help you?"

She looks straight at me with a sly grin.

Silence.

...

Oh no, brother.

...

"Eenop." I shook my head, quickly. "Nope, don't even think about it. Not a chance, not even if you drag me with you. Not even if you ask me nicely."

"Sylvan."

"Nope."

"Please."

"Nope."

"They need you; I need you."

...

That was cheating.

The way she said it...

Not trying to manipulate me, not extort me. Just the truth.

I sighed.

Again.

"...Okay, I accept." I said and as soon as the words were out of my mouth, Poppy squealed with joy and gave me another hug.

I'm going to regret this.

The end

Part 2

Chapter Text

Hi, I know I owe you chapters of other stories and I'm sorry, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm sorry, but I have to write it.

This chapters are set during the first movie.

Once on the ground under the tree where I live, I checked once again the things I had with me for this rescue mission.

I didn't have much with me, besides my clothes, the only thing I had with me was my guitar and a stick I had picked up.

The stick probably won't do me any good but it's better to be safe.

When I look at Poppy, I see her with... a scrapbook? She's scrapbooking at full speed until she's finished.

Satisfied with her work, she got up and came over to me, where she showed me the pictures she had put in her book and began to narrate our "adventure."

"With her friends safely hidden, Princess Poppy and her faithful companion Sylvan set out to rescue their other friends, confident that they would make it to Bergen City without help..." She said as she animated mine and her paper figures moving through the forest.

All well and good, until our figures ran into a Bergen that tore off our heads and ate them.

"...convinced they would make it to Bergen City." She said and then gave a sigh for what she had just drawn – and narrated – while she gave me an unsure look and then turned her gaze to the road ahead.

The Bergen's tracks were quite clear, an obvious sign of where she was headed.

"Pretty sure they'd make it to Bergen City." Poppy said, trying to convince herself as well.

I just gave her a silent glance, then put a hand on her shoulder. "100% sure." I said as my gaze drifted back the same way.

She gave me a surprised look which then turned into a small smile.

Then she looked straight ahead again, took a deep breath and we started walking.

It was obvious that Poppy had never been out of the woods, if every little sound startled her.

Clenching her fists, Poppy started singing for some reason.

( Get back up again )

I really hope we can do it.

I gave her a skeptical look. Is she really singing now?

Cause they're all depending on us.

Yes, she is.

I know that we must leave the only home we've ever known.

Only you, I have left my house, besides, we should get out of here, it's not safe.

And brave the dangers of the forest.

And of course she doesn't listen to me, she's in full song mode right now.

Saving them before they're eaten

I mean, how hard can that be?

Famous last words

...And down we go

Looking up at a sunny sky

So shiny and blue and there's a butterfly

Well, isn't that a super fantastic sign?

Wow, Poppy, you like to invoke karma, don't you?

...I'm going to have to make sure I keep her alive from now on, right?

Great.

It's gonna be a fantastic day.

Less singing more getting away from it.

Such marvelousness it's gonna bring

Got a pocket full of songs that I'm going to sing

And I'm ready to take on anything.

Hooray!

And... there she goes, fuck.

Some super fun surprise around each corner

Just riding on a Rainbow

We're gonna be okay

Hey! I'm not giving up today.

Neither you should be.

I didn't sign for this

There's nothing getting on our way.

And if you knock, knock us over

We will get back up again

[SQUAWKING]

Oh! If something goes a little wrong

Well, you can go ahead and bring it on

Cause if you knock, knock me over

I will get back up again

[BOTH CHIRPING]

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Here, let me help you.

[PUNCHING]

Oh, get back up again.

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Oh, ahh!

Oof, that must have really hurt.

I'm marching along, with some good company

I've got confidence In our abilities.

And I don't.

We're cooler than a pack of peppermints.

And I haven't been this excited since... I can't remember when.

We're off on this remarkable adventure

Just riding on a Rainbow.

But what if it's all a big mistake?

What if it's more than we can take?

Don't give up on me now, you have already bring me on this.

[STAB]

No, I can't think that way.

Cause I know that we're really, really, really gonna be okay.

Poppy... you're really unlucky. Geronimo!

Hey! I'm not giving up today.

Neither you should be

There's nothing getting on our way

And if you knock, knock me over.

I will get back up again.

Hey, don't eat that!

Oh, if something goes a little wrong

Of course she didn't listen to me.

Well, you can go ahead and bring it on.

Cause if you knock, knock me over.

I will get back up again.

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Oh, get back up again.

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

I'm okay

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Oh

Oh

And if you knock, knock me over

You knock, knock me over

I will get back up again.

( )

Well, that was entertaining.

Let's not do that again.

Going down the same path as her, I ignore the spiders as I approach her.

Shit... I have to revive her.

And... of course the problems don't end.

From the sky, the same spiders I had ignored descended to feast on the one that had ruined her webs.

And with me too.

What are you getting me into, Poppy?

As I prepare to fight the spiders, a golden hair snags my waist while a black one latches onto Poppy's hood and drags us away from the spiders.

They were two trolls.

One was a boy who was about 5 inches tall, blue-gray skin, spiky black hair, a moss green vest and brown shorts.

The other – or rather the other – is a 5.2-inch troll, peach skin, giant fuchsia hair with some DJ headphones, rather extravagant clothes.

Seeing them, I can only blink in surprise, not expecting anyone to arrive to rescue – literally – our butts.

But the danger was not over, as the spiders did not give up and started heading towards us with an obvious desire to eat us.

At that, the grayish guy gets in front of us and throws a... frying pan?

At a spider.

Spoiler alert: it didn't work.

But it didn't end there, because the DJ girl decided to take matters into her own hands and stand next to him, and then stretch her hair out and use it as a whip to drive the spiders away, to which the guy followed suit.

Wow, that's great, I have to admit.

But I have more important things to worry about, like making sure Poppy is alive.

With my stick, I quickly open the cocoon that was holding Poppy and put my ear to her chest.

No pulse.

My blood chills, so I quickly run to some fireflies, rub them together and put them on her chest.

"Clear." I say mentally as the fireflies did their job and discharge an electric current through his chest.

I step away for a second.

"Get back up again."

Ah, it worked like a charm.

I smiled in relief, as Poppy turns to look at me.

"Sylvan! What took you so long?" she says and before I can answer, she looks over my shoulder, "Branch, my man! DJ Suki? Good to see you, you're just in time."

The grizzled troll, Branch, replies. "Oh right, like you knew we were coming." He said sarcastically standing behind me, next to him the DJ.

Once she stood up, Poppy replied. "Yeah, I was waiting for you. I figured by the third hug, being Bergen food wouldn't be so bad." She said giving a half-mean smile, then fixed her gaze on the DJ, "I wasn't expecting to see you here though, Suki."

The DJ smiled as if to say, "do you even have to ask?".

"Are you kidding Popsicle? I'm not going to let some Bergens eat our friends, so when I saw Branch sneak out, I followed him."

"And I figured you could never do this alone." Branch said and then looked at me. "Looks like we were both right."

Poppy just made an "hmph" and then turned and started walking. "Go ahead, let's do this! Soon we'll rescue everyone in Bergen Town and go home."

Immediately, we all started following her as Branch said. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, what's your plan?" he said as he also looked at me.

I just shrugged, being around more people made me uncomfortable.

I'm still amazed I could survive Poppy.

"I told you, rescue everyone and go home," Poppy said turning to look at us then kept walking.

"Okay, that's not a plan, that's a bucket list." Branch said stopping as he folded his arms.

"I hate to say it Pops, but Branch is right." Said DJ as she stopped as well, next to Branch.

"Oh, I guess you guys do have a plan." Said Poppy stopping and turning around to look at him.

I just stood in between, watching the 2 groups, then walking a bit and standing next to Poppy.

She just gave me a smile, then turned back to look seriously at her two friends.

Branch just gave her a smug look, then cleared his throat and started telling his plan. "First, we'll get to the edge of Bergen city without being seen, then we'll infiltrate through the escape tunnels that lead to their troll tree... just so we get caught and suffer a horrible death at the hands of a horrific and heartless Bergen!" said Branch, He paused for a second to take a breath... and realized that Poppy was barely paying attention to him.

"Wait a second, are you scrapbooking my plan?" said Branch incredulously.

"Uh-huh, yeah, almost there... done!" said Poppy finishing her last clippings then standing up and showing off her clippings.

What was of us, the trolls which I imagine are the kidnapped, a little voice that says, "we did it!" along with a little sign and... more glitter.

Branch gave her an annoyed look, then gave me an incredulous look.

Why are you looking at me, I just shrug as DJ Suki laughs and pats Branch on the shoulder, "You'll get used to it."

"There will be no more scrapbooking," Branch said with a good dead look on his face as he wiped his face.

Then we started walking, only before we got too far, I stopped Poppy by putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Poppy..."

"Yes, Sylvan?" said Poppy turning to look at me, stopping her humming.

"No singing, no more songs. At least for today."

She blinked, "Not even a little chorus of…?"

"Poppy."

"...Okay, okay. But only because I almost died and it gave you temporary moral authority."

Snort, temporary, aha.

We headed back down the road, picking up our pace to meet up with the other 2.

"By the way... you're going to introduce us to our mysterious bran." DJ Suki said with a smile.

This is going to be a long day.

And of course, the silence wouldn't last long.

At least Poppy kept her promise: she's not the one singing, she's just humming.

The one singing is DJ Suki.

"Do you have to sing?" said Branch as we walked.

We were currently walking down a fallen tree, using it as a ramp while the girls were singing – or in Poppy's case, humming – and dancing.

"Sure, why not?" replied DJ Suki, doing a little spin on her hair like a skate, "music lifts the mood, baby!"

"It also attracts predators," Branch growled, looking all around, expecting a surprise attack from some dangerous animal or worse, a Bergen.

"At least they're not singing about how we're going to die, or another one where they put themselves in danger." I said, mostly to try to regain the relative peace what was there before.

"Yet," Branch said in a dry tone.

Poppy kept humming as she walked, pulling a leaf out of her backpack, folding it as if preparing something.

I looked at her curiously but suspiciously, "What are you doing now?"

"Motivational Origami!" she replied, showing me a flower made of multicolored leaves which read, "We can make it!"

I just gave her a look that said, "I won't bother answering."

Poppy laughed as she continued to hum and dance, "Cheer up, this time tomorrow we'll be meeting all our friends."

"Your friends." Branch replied dryly,

"I wonder what they're doing now." Poppy continued, not having heard – or rather ignoring – what Branch said.

"I'm sure they're digesting them." Branch said in a cynical tone.

"They're alive, Branch. I'm sure of it!" said Poppy giving Branch an annoyed look.

"You're not sure of anything, Poppy." Branch replied as he walked ahead of the group only to stop and turn to look at Poppy. "And I can't wait to see your face when you realize it's not all cupcakes and rainbows."

"Okay, this conversation is getting out of hand." I said, stepping between the two of us. "Let's just be on our way, you want to hurry up and save the others, don't you Poppy?"

She snorted at my words, but stopped arguing with Branch, which was an improvement.

Branch simply muttered something under his breath, then kept walking again, with me behind him and Poppy and DJ Suki behind us.

We continued for a while, until it got dark and we couldn't continue on our way, due to the danger of the night, so we had to stop.

Unlike the others, I didn't bring anything else than my guitar with me, so I didn't have a sleeping bag.

But nothing that a couple of sheets couldn't solve.

Or so I thought, until Poppy decided to take matters into her own hands and use the leaves to forge me a sleeping bag.

And in the end we lay down in pairs with the campfire in the middle, me and Branch on the right and Poppy with DJ Suki on the left.

It's a beautiful night for sleeping outdoors, and I haven't slept for about... 36 hours.

I should be sleepy

And I am.

But not as sleepy as one would imagine.

Is it normal?

Most likely not.

And once I do fall asleep who knows how long it will take to wake up.

But it's interesting, to say the least.

"So special..." I heard Poppy say, so I turned to look at her and noticed she had several pictures in front of her, with one of DJ Suki in it and others with other trolls, including that long-necked troll I saw among the abductees.

Her friends?

"Good evening, Cooper." Poppy started to say, "Good night, Smidge. Good night, Fuzzbert. Good night, Satin. Good night, Chenille. Good night, Biggie. Good night, Guy Diamond. Good night, DJ." She said as she gave a smile to her friend who was with her.

"Good night, Poppy." She said giving her a soft smile, "Good night, Cooper. Good night, Smidge. Good night, Fuzzbert. Good night, Satin. Good night, Chenille. Good night, Biggie. Good night, Guy Diamond. Good night, Creek."

"(Giggles) Good night, Creek. Boop," she said as he tapped Creek's picture.

"And good night, Poppy." Branch interrupted the moment, grumpily.

...

Well, that was awkward.

"Good night, Poppy. Good night, Branch. Good night, DJ Suki." I said after a moment of silence.

"Good night, Sylvan/Good night, Sylvan!/whatever." Were the responses from my three traveling companions.

After that, the silence returned.

That is, until Poppy's bracelet and DJ Suki's beeped at the same time.

"Hug time." As soon as that alarm sounded, both Poppy and Suki stood up at the same time and gave each other a hug, then gave us an expectant smile.

"Don't even think about it." Branch said without turning from his sleeping position.

"No thanks." I said as I settled into my sleeping bag.

"Come on guys, it's Hug time." DJ Suki said as she pulled away from Poppy.

"What's Hug time for?" I asked

"Oh no, you shouldn't have asked that question." I heard Branch mutter, and judging by Poppy and DJ Suki's beady eyes, I'm starting to believe him.

"Hug time is a special time where all us trolls stop and give each other a hug." Poppy began to explain to me as she pointed to her bracelet. "Every time the bracelet beeps, it indicates what time it is to give each other a hug." Poppy finished saying with a smile.

That...sounds like a living nightmare.

Jesus, I knew trolls liked hugs but I didn't imagine how much they would like that.

I just gave them a blank stare, then settled back into my sleeping bag.

The girls just laughed and went to bed.

Looks like it's finally time to rest.

"Stars Shining bright above you."

Well, it looks like I was wrong again.

"Seriously? Seriously? More songs." Branch seemed to mirror my thoughts perfectly.

"Poppy, I thought we agreed no more songs for the rest of the day." I grumbled as I also turned to look at her.

"Yeah, seriously, singing helps me relax. Besides, Sylvan, technically speaking the day is already done." Poppy said as she frowned.

"I'm with you Pops, singing helps relax the soul." DJ Suki said as she pulled out a guitar behind her, my guitar.

"What-? How? When?" I asked looking to my side where my guitar was supposed to be, which obviously wasn't there anymore.

"Maybe you should try that too." Poppy said as she got out of bed.

"I don't sing." We said in perfect sync as Branch added something else, "and I don't relax."

"That's me, and I like it." Branch said and then lay back down.

"Not every song needs to be sung, but every song needs music. I'd rather play that music than sing it." I said as I held out my arm, hoping to get my guitar back. "I would also appreciate my guitar back."

"And some silence." Branch added lying down.

But instead of giving it back to me, Poppy motioned to DJ Suki and she started playing my guitar.

" Hello darkness, my old friend."

Poppy began to sing as she approached us, much to my and Branch's annoyance.

"I've come to talk with you again."

She sang as she walked away a bit and the... plants or whatever they were "I never understood what they were" came closer and sang too, with DJ playing the guitar.

I just stared in disbelief, and I won't admit I was a little startled when a little spider to my right just said "hello."

Nope, whatever, that was Branch.

"Because a vision softly creeping."

They kept singing as more animals came up to chorus, DJ Suki joining in while I just watched in disbelief.

"Left its seed while I was sleeping, and the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains."

this is...

"Within the sound... of silence."

...what the fuck was that.

I just watched in disbelief as Poppy and DJ Suki walked over and handed my guitar to Branch.

Sensing what Branch would do something stupid, I stared at him intently, waiting for him to give me my guitar back.

He senses my stare – judging by the shivers on his body – turned to look at me and handed me back my guitar.

He then proceeded to lie back down and pretend none of the song even happened.

I slept hugging my guitar, hoping that this time no one would steal it from me.

And peace reigned...

At least until the hour passed and the clock rang again.

Even asleep, Poppy and DJ Suki's bodies move to embrace each other on autopilot.

"This is going to be a long night." I muttered.

"No shit." Branch said growling.

The end

Part 3

Chapter Text

Hi, I know I owe you chapters of other stories and I'm sorry, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm sorry, but I have to write it.

This chapters are set during the first movie.

Finally, after much travel, we arrived.

Some sort of mountain – or whatever – loomed in front of us, with several holes in it.

"So, one of these tunnels leads to the troll tree?" said Poppy as we were getting closer to the tunnels.

"That's right." Branch said.

"Woah, that's too many." Said DJ Suki looking around at all the tunnels with a worried frown. "This screams trap."

Once what we approached a tunnel, Branch knelt down leaving his backpack to the side, Poppy and DJ Suki poked their heads out of the sides and I stood behind Branch.

"I wonder which one it is." Poppy said looking inside the tunnel.

"I don't know," Branch said as he did...something.

"Choose wisely." Said a deep voice, we turned around but there was no one behind us. "Because one leads to Bergen City and the others to certain death."

"Well, that's not scary at all." I muttered looking around.

"Who said that?" said Branch paranoid.

"I was..." said the shadowy voice until out of one of the trees emerged some sort of clouds with legs and arms. "...me."

"Hey, guys, what's up? Welcome to the root tunnels." Said the cloud as it approached us, "ah, just wanted to warn you. One of these tunnels leads to the troll tree and the others to certain, certain, certain death..." he said as he echoed his last words.

"Now I'm disappointed in myself." I muttered as I folded my arms, disappointed in myself. I was expecting someone more threatening... not some guy who looks like cotton candy.

"(Chuckles)" it seems my muttering wasn't low enough, judging by DJ Suki's laughter.

"Could you tell us which one is the right one?" said Poppy with a hopeful look.

"Of course." Said the cloud raising almost everyone's moods.
"Great!"
"Awesome."
"At least it saves us time, and certain death."
"No, that's not necessary. Thanks." We all said at the same time.

With the last comment, we all turned to look at Branch, who had stepped in front of us and was leading us away from the cloud guy.

"Branch?" said/asked Poppy with a nervous chuckle. "He's trying to help us."

"Not cool, dude." Said DJ Suki, "Let the man talk."

I didn't say anything, just gave him a scowl as I waited for Branch to explain himself.

"I don't like the look on his face." Branch said quietly. "I mean, who wears socks without shoes." He said as we all turned to look at the talking cloud.

He didn't seem like a bad guy, just really weird... and kind of stupid.

"He seems to know what he's talking about." Poppy said, also quietly.

"It's better if we trust him than try to go in blind." I said quietly as I looked at the talking cloud.

"Sometimes it's better to trust blindly... than go blindly." said DJ Suki in a thoughtful tone. "Uh. That sounded profound. I'm going to write that down somewhere."

"Okay!" said Branch, bowing to group pressure.

Then we all turned and approached the cloud guy. "Which one should we take?" said Branch, the voice of the group apparently.

"First, you and the other guy should give me some high-fives and then I'll tell you." Said the talking cloud and raised his hand, which made my hair stand up.

I didn't like that, and judging by Branch's face, neither did he.

"What?" he said in confusion.

"Oh, I love high fives! I'll do it!" said Poppy enthusiastically as she raised her hand.

"Oh, I know you would." He said leaving Poppy hanging, F.

"And so would the other girl, but what about them?" he said pointing at the two of us.

"Okay, dumpy diapers, up high." He said looking at both Branch and me as he raised his left hand again.

"Nope, I don't high five anything." Branch said, frowning as he locked his arms.

I stood still, watching his raised arm like it was something toxic.

"Slap it, dudes." He said, bringing his hand closer, at which I unconsciously recoiled.

"I don't do physical contact, sorry." I said as I gave him a distrustful look.

In a past life, I literally died from high fiving someone.

Yeah... I don't repeat that mistake again.

"Not a chance." Branch said, more stubborn seeing as how I wasn't planning on it either.
"Party on the top floor."
"Nope."
"Little slappy? Make daddy happy?"

"That's weird."

"Come on! Just give me a high five." Said the cloud boy with his hand raised.

"Oh, no, thanks. I'm good." Branch said.

"I'll pass." That's all I said.

"You just have to do this." Said the cotton head as he gave himself a high five. "But with your hands."

"Thanks for the demonstration." Branch said sarcastically. "It was pretty clear what we're not going to do."

I didn't say anything, I just stayed silent as I looked at that hand like it was going to kill someone.

How well it could do that.

"Branch, Sylvan! It's just a high-five! The other conduits could lead to certain death, think about it!" said Poppy, desperate for us to take heed.

Her words made me and Branch think, for a few moments.

Until finally, someone had to give in.

"One high-five and you'll tell us which tunnel is the right one, right?" said Branch, giving in.

"Just like that." Said the fluffy boy with a smirk.

I frowned and let out a deep sigh. "Let's get this over with." I said as I approached the cloud.

But instead of immediately high fiving him, I grabbed his arm and gave him the high-five he wanted so badly.

"Here, happy." I murmured as I let go of his hand.

"Very much." Said the talking cloud as he rubbed his wrist, then raised it again for Branch.

"Ugh, good." Said Branch as he tried to give him a high five, but the cloud started to play with Branch, taking his hand away.

"Oops, too slow."

"Too slow!" said Branch in disbelief.

"Pff, a classic." Said Poppy laughing.

"Dude, he totally left you hanging," DJ Suki said, clutching her stomach as she laughed

I just frowned, that's why I grabbed his hand, so he couldn't do anything funny.

Shit, maybe I should have held his arm until Branch high-fived him too.

"No, no. It's okay." Cloud Boy said, amused. "I'll let you trade it for a fist bump." And just as Branch was about to fist bump him, the cloud withdrew his fist again and instead grabbed Branch's hand saying, "Shark."

"What?" said Branch in confusion.

"Jellyfish, hand sandwich, turkey, snowman, dolphin, helicopter, Last super monkey in a zoo, Gear shift!" the annoyance began, doing a bunch of different hand signs, leaving me and Branch annoyed while what girls looked amused.

DJ Suki squealed with laughter. "This is art, man, I'm crying!"

Then the cloud started laughing, at which the girls started laughing too, which only made Branch give him withering looks which made them stop laughing while I folded my arms, frustrated by so much playfulness.

"Okay, Okay, Okay, Okay, Okay, now I'm thinking we hug." Said the cloud as it opened its arms.

Which was the last straw for Branch's patience, as he grabbed a stick on the ground and snapped it in half, showing the sharp ends to the cloud, while I just grabbed the stick I brought with me and held it with my two arms.

"You know, they say patience is a virtue... too bad I don't have it." I say as I let out a deep breath.

That scared the cloud, which practically peed itself and started running away from the two of us.

This started with a chase, the cloud running away from Branch and me – Branch annoyed by the humiliation of the cloud and me annoyed by so much play – while the girls chased me and Branch trying to prevent us from killing the cloud.

The chase continued until we entered a cave, and before we knew it, we were on the other side of the cave.

"Ta - dah! We're here!" said the cloud, stopping suddenly, at which the whole group stopped, realizing that we had reached our destination.

"Phew, you guys are so much fun. You know, I gotta go." Said the cloud as it walked among us heading back towards the tunnel. "got some cloud stuff to take care of, catch you on your way back?" he said as he walked into the tunnel.

"Unless... you die- Ahh." He started saying but I was tired of his game. So, I threw my stick at him, which made him leave faster.

Then, we all looked around while Poppy muttered. "The troll tree."

To which Branch added. "Bergen Town."

"We've arrived." I said as I clenched my fists.

"Oh boy." DJ Suki said nervously.

We slowly approached the edge of the tree, before which a song obviously had to play.

( )

I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad.

I got sunshine's in a bag, I'm useless

But not for long, the future is coming on

I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad

I got sunshine's in a bag, I'm useless

But not for long, the future is coming on.

Is coming on

Is coming on.

( )

I've never heard such a depressing song before in my life.

Well, at least in this life.

"Wow, those guys are as bitter as the 2 of you!" said Poppy quietly, to which DJ Suki nodded.

Branch just gave her an annoyed look as I shrugged.

"Which means they haven't eaten any trolls, yet." I said quietly, frowning. "Or there weren't enough trolls to go around." Said my brain.

At that, Poppy perked up. "Quick, let's go save our friends."

"Your friends." Branch said.

"Our friends, don't deny it." Poppy reiterated.

DJ Suki stepped forward. "Come on, guys. Time to kick ass in style."

"Cool" I mumble, unwilling and not knowing what to expect from what's ahead.

The end

Part 4

Chapter Text

Hi, I know I owe you chapters of other stories and I'm sorry, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm sorry, but I have to write it.

This chapters are set during the first movie.

"Chad."

"Todd."

Hearing the guards walk by, we took that as a sign.

Emerging from our super-secret hiding place (from a chandelier), the 4 of us jumped out, and quickly snagged a light, where we quickly jumped and staggered to another surface, all arriving safe and sound.

"I can't believe I'm doing this." I thought, regretting my decisions a bit.

"Where do you think our friends are?" asked Poppy quietly.

"They could be anywhere." I said as we walked along hoping to find them.

"If I had to guess, in the stomach of a Bergen." Branch said, deep in concentration.

"Branch!" gently scolded DJ Suki. "Try to stay positive, we're so close to rescuing them." She said quietly, clearly worried about her friends.

"Okay," Branch began, turning to look at DJ Suki. "I'm sure what they are and what they'll hand them to us on a silver platter."

"See, that wasn't so hard." DJ Suki said smiling.

At that, Branch looked at her incredulously, unable to understand how she didn't notice his obvious sarcasm.

Just then, Poppy and DJ Suki's bracelets beeped at the same time.

Seeing that, both Poppy's and DJ Suki's eyes sparkled.

"Branch, Sylvan!" said Poppy coming closer.

"No hugs." I said simply, putting my arms in X's.

"Hug time? Really?" said Branch

Before we could say more, both Poppy and DJ Suki shushed us.

"Shh, dudes, you hear that?" said DJ Suki as she put a hand to her ear to hear better.

A light at the end of the hallway shimmered, and a familiar tone sounded down said hallway.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

"It can't be," I muttered under my breath.

Quickly, we tied our hair to the ceiling and stepped into them, running in the direction the sound was coming from.

Until we reached the top of a chandelier, where we leaned out to see.

Quickly, we climbed down the chandelier to get a better view.

"Branch, Sylvan, DJ Suki look." Poppy said pointing in a specific direction.

And there they were, Poppy's kidnapped friends, locked in a cage.

"They're alive?" said Branch incredulously.

"And about to be served in soup, so you were both somewhat right about their fates." I said quietly, not wanting them to start an argument right now.

"And to mark the occasion, your highness, look. I found your old troll bib." Said the Bergen chef as she held out a bib to a boy with a crown, probably the Prince of the Bergens.

"Oh, wow, I bet it still fits." He said as he tried to put it on, which he obviously couldn't because that seemed to be for a child much younger than him, "like a glove." He said, obviously being suffocated by his bib.

Until the inevitable happened and it broke.

And one of Poppy's friends – the one with the long neck – laughed at the scene, and the others silenced him.

But still the Prince heard him, as he began to approach the cell in annoyance. "Oh, you think that's funny?" the boy said menacingly.

Well, as menacingly as a "boy" can say.

Although now I'm beginning to doubt what a kid is, he's probably a teenager.

Or do Bergens just age differently?

"Let's see who laughs when I bite your head off." Said the Bergen, rather annoyed. "When I bite everyone's heads off!" he said only to stop and look closely at the cell.

"Wait a minute... chef, there aren't enough heads to feed the entire Bergen city." Started the young royal, "How will there be Trollstice if there aren't enough trolls?"

The chef approached, somewhat flustered by the sudden interrogation, "oh, um, there are plenty more where these came from, sire." The chef began to say and my blood ran cold at her words.

As did the others, judging by their little exclamations of surprise.

"Are you sure? I promised them all a troll." Said the Prince, now looking doubtful.

"No, no, no, sire! Everything will be fine. If I were worried... would I be willing to do this?" said the chef then opening the cell and grabbing a troll, and judging by his appearance and if my memory serves me correctly, that troll is...

"Creek!" shouted Poppy softly and I had to grab her, cover her mouth and then hide us all in the chandelier, as Poppy's little scream definitely attracted attention.

Oh, so that's his name, I was just to say the crush of Poppy.

"Oh, my first troll." I heard the little prince say.

"Go ahead and eat, King Grisel." I heard the chef say.

Uh, so it's the king, not the prince.

"Enjoy the taste of true happiness." At that, we all looked up again, alarmed and, a little, worried.

And just when it looked like Creek was going to be the snack.

"We shouldn't wait for the Trollstice." Said the king suddenly, to our collective relief.

"Sire, every day is Trollstice when you have trolls." The chef began to say, my knuckles starting to turn white from all the squeezing, and more so watching her put Creek on a cue.

I may not know him, or any of the trolls in captivity, but being eaten alive is not a pleasant experience.

I wouldn't wish it to my worst enemy.

"Yeah, I guess." Said the king as he grabbed the taco, and again, when it looked like he was about to eat Creek, to everyone's fear, the king stopped again.

"But my dad said the first one should be special." Said the king, looking at a picture on the wall.

He has doubts. I thought, the little king had doubts, which gave me hope that Creek wouldn't be eaten alive.

"Now you are the king." Said the chef, motivating the king again.

"Yes, I am the king." He said to try to eat the taco again, but this time, I knew he wouldn't do it.

And he was right, "But I should share this moment with the whole kingdom." Said the king, again refusing to eat.

This gave me a lot of hope, that maybe we won't get lost in this mission.

That is... until the chef intervened again. "Just eat it." She said as she basically shoved the taco into the king's mouth.

And at that moment, all the trolls screamed, and the king's eyes went up in... ecstasy?

No, that didn't look like ecstasy, he wasn't even chewing.

Wait... didn't the chef spice up the taco?

Did the king get burned by the chili?

I kept my eyes fixed on the little king as he was basically forced to celebrate and "be happy" but he didn't look happy.

He didn't seem to have reached happiness nirvana.

"Branch, Sylvan, DJ Suki, we have to save him." Poppy said in desperation.

"Save him from what? From his stomach?" stopped Branch stopped Poppy.

"We didn't see him chew or swallow!" said Poppy, desperate.

"Face it, Poppy. Sometimes a person goes into another person's mouth and never comes out. If we go after Creek, they'll eat all of us." Branch said, a little harshly but he was right.

Even if the chili intervened to keep Creek from eating Creek, and the king's own insecurities intervened against him, with the chef on his side, insisting as she does.

Maybe if we go alone we'll get to see him get eaten.

Still.

"Sorry, it's too late for him now." Branch said as Poppy looked in the direction where the king went with his friend/loved one/whatever.

"Sorry, Poppy." DJ Suki said as she put her hand on Poppy's shoulder, pain in her eyes.

"Poppy," I started, she turned to look at me with kicked puppy eyes, which hurt a little to see. "I know this hurts, believe me, I get it. But right now, staying right here mourning Creek isn't going to save him...or the others." I said as I pointed towards the Bergen who was transporting the cell where the trolls were being held captive.

"Maybe Creek has a chance, maybe not, but they…" I said as I turned to look at her, seeing what both she and Branch and Suki were watching the prison slowly drift away, "they still do. And they need you, they need you strong, they need you now."

I took a breath of air and put a hand on her shoulder, to which she looked me in the eyes.

"We can go back for Creek if there's a chance. But if we lose everyone else by not acting, then there will be nothing left to go back for." I said as I took my hand off her shoulder.

She looked at me in silence for a few seconds, until she nodded with resigned determination.

The four of us peered through the chandelier to see where the Bergen was headed.

Then Poppy did something stupid.

Suddenly, and without warning, she launched herself off the chandelier and started sliding down the chandelier in the direction of the Bergen.

I quickly jumped behind her, the difference being that I used my hair to follow her closely through the air.

She crossed the table and made her way to the Bergen, getting on her back.

She was soon joined by Branch and DJ Suki and the three of them were tight on the strings of the tablecloth the Bergen is wearing – with Poppy on the left and DJ Suki and Branch on the right – so I decided to follow them through the air.

Which was a little difficult, and more difficult to pass unnoticed, and more so when the Bergen started to go down some stairs but I managed.

Once the Bergen entered through a door, I quickly jumped behind her, landing on the ground.

Just in time, as the others got off her as well.

Together, the four of us hide behind a cart and peek out – somehow – through a wheel.

"Scullery maid." We heard the chef's voice from above, probably some speaker system, and from above the Bergen several pots and pans plummeted down on top of the Bergen. "Wash these pots and pans for the Trollstice!"

I didn't have time to think much about the "poor" Bergen's situation, as Poppy ran off in the direction of another cart – closer to the cell – and we decided to follow her.

"The king will invite everyone, except you." The chef finished and the Bergen began to cry.

I never thought I could feel the least bit bad for a Bergen, you learn things in life.

Eventually we hid behind another tire, but seeing the Bergen crying, Poppy moved a little closer, where we saw the Bergen crying on her bed.

Is this her room? Oh my gosh...

We saw the Bergen going through a small bookshelf next to her, where there were several magazines with pictures of the king.

She grabbed a picture and – of course – started to sing.

( hello - trolls (2016))

I've been alone with you inside my mind

The Bergen began to sing as she started cutting the image, I don't know why thought.

And in my dreams I've kissed your lips.

Oh, looks like someone is in love with kingy.

A thousand times.

Only a thousand times?

I sometimes see you pass outside my door.

Hello,

Hello, Bergen.

It is me you're looking for?

Maybe he is...

I can see it in your eyes,

The Bergen stood up but she didn't see us – more concentrated on singing – and went straight to where the pots were.

I can see it in your smile,

As she cleaned a plate, she hugged it, probably imagining it was the kingy.

And my arms are open wide,

Then she stopped cleaning and went back to her bed.

Cause you know just what to say,

And grabbed a pillow with probably and image of the kingy, idk I can't see it from here

And you know just what to do,

He doesn't know everything, he's still very young... maybe.

And I want to tell you so much,

I love you.

Three truly powerful words...

()

And then she cried again, hugging the pillow.

It was a nice song; I'm not going to lie.

And... she fell asleep.

"Oh, she's in love with the king." Poppy said, touched by the song.

"What are you talking about? Bergens don't have feelings." Said Branch, confused by his pink companion's words.

"Really, Branch, did you just hear the same thing I did? That girl just sang like she was crying for her soul mate. That's not lack of feelings, that's excess!" DJ Suki said, practically screaming, her perspective on the Bergens changed.

"All living things feel, the Bergens just haven't managed to figure out how, but she has." I said as I felt a little uncomfortable.

Even the Bergens sings...

"Maybe you just don't know everything about the Bergens." Said Poppy irritated by Branch's comment, "Now, come on!" she said giving a signal for us to follow her and so we do.

We passed by the Bergen's bed, listening to her snoring as we approached the cage where Poppy's friends were.

We finally managed to climb up to where they were, and after making sure no one was there, we removed the blanket that covered them.

"Guys!" said Poppy in a low, happy voice.

"Poppy!" all of Poppy's friends said loudly.

"Celebrate Good times, come on."

And of course, what did they have to start singing, if what they wanted to make sure they woke up the Bergen.

"It's a celebration"

Poppy... you don't help either.

"It's a happy occasion"

...you know what, I give up.

"Shh!" hush everyone quickly Branch, thank you Branch.

"There's a party going on right here"

...you guys aren't helping your rescue any easier either, although I appreciate you turning down the volume.

"This is no time for parties." I said flatly, already tired and we haven't even gotten through the hard part.

I decided to act, grabbed a pair of scissors – the ones Bergen was using – and quickly placed it in the lock and after fiddling with it a bit, managed to open it.

I discard the scissors and set the lock aside.

"It's time to act, the sooner we get them out of here…" Poppy interrupted me.

"The sooner we can save Creek." Poppy said cheerfully.

"What!" said Branch incredulously, and unfortunately it was too loud.

The Bergen woke up, because of all the noise, with a "hello". Which made everyone let out gasps of surprise.

It is me you're looking for?

chanted the Bergen in her sleep and then went back to sleep, to everyone's relief.

We slowly approached the cell with our backs turned but our eyes fixed on Bergen.

"I know you're looking for cupcakes and rainbows but face it, Creek got eaten." Branch said as he opened the cell, oh no.

"They put him on a taco." You don't help big guy.

"It was horrible, oh hey you're the cool guy who did that juggling." Not the lanky moment, looks like he understood my look as he moved on.

"Sorry, Poppy. Creek is gone." Said the glitter troll.

DJ Suki put a hand on Poppy's shoulder, looking to give her support.

She gave me a look, as if waiting for me to say that Creek was dead too.

I didn't want to tell her...but I didn't want to lie to her either.

A harmless lie hurts more than the truth.

So, I'll tell her the truth.

"Look Poppy... the chances that the king hasn't eaten him are low, very low, and even if he hasn't eaten him, he must be in custody and guarded by the king himself, his rescue will be basically impossible, don't you think we should focus on finishing the rescue of the trolls we have here?" I said while I pointed to the freed trolls.

She didn't answer right away. She blinked, once, twice.

Then, with that stubbornness so much her own, she spoke:

"Impossible? So what?" her voice was soft but firm. "Sylvan, if there's even the slightest chance that Creek is alive...I can't just leave him behind."

"Poppy..." I tried to say something, but she cut me off.

"I know it sounds crazy, I know it sounds silly," she continued, "but I'm not saying that I think he's still alive. I'm saying that I hope he's still alive. And that hope, however small, is enough for me."

Branch clicked his tongue. "Are you listening to yourself, Poppy? That's not a mission, that's a fantasy."

She ignored him, turning to me. Her eyes shone with more than stubbornness: they shone with conviction.

"A rescue mission isn't complete until everyone is safe. Even if I have to go alone, I'm going to rescue him."

And in that moment I understood...

It wasn't just stubbornness. It was faithfulness. It was love, or something very much like it. Not for Creek, perhaps, but for what he represented to her.

I remained silent. I couldn't contradict that without betraying something in myself.

Because in another world...in another life...I would have wanted someone to believe in me like that, too.

I shake my head, trying to get those unnecessary thoughts out of my head and ignoring what's going on around me.

To be honest, if Creek is alive it can only be because of two variables.

1- Why the king decided not to eat Creek because of his own doubts or to do it in public, which is unlikely considering that the chef was with him and basically forced him to eat Creek.

Or 2-...keep him alive for information, the chef needs more trolls to feed everyone in Bergen city and the best way to get them is with the help of another troll.

If it's the latter, I hope Creek sticks to his values and doesn't decide to reveal any information or worse... reveal the other trolls.

Because if he does, it will tear Poppy apart.

My train of thought is stopped by a light that illuminates us and a voice that makes my blood run cold.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" said the troll in love, shining a flashlight at us.

At that, all the trolls screamed in fright and I only managed to say in a loud voice. "Hide."

The trolls quickly took heed and scattered, quickly looking for hiding places.

The glitter troll approached the Bergen and let out glitter and then ran back to hide.

"No! Go back to the cage!" said the Bergen as it started chasing everyone, I had hidden on the roof, so I could see everything clearly.

"The chef will be so furious." Said the Bergen in desperation as she tried to grab the trolls, then she found the big guy with her pet and started chasing him.

Then Branch came out of hiding... grabbing a spoon with his hand.

To which, the Bergen got angry and grabbed a frying pan to crush him.

Before he could do anything, DJ Suki came out of hiding and pulled Branch out of harm's way.

Phew.

"Oh god, Branch, you're as suicidal as Poppy is," I grumbled under my breath as I continued to stare at the Bergen, preparing to jump at anything.

"Bridget, stop!" said Poppy's voice, as I looked up.

"You're in love with King Grisel." Poppy said pointing at the one called Bridget.

At her words, the Bergen let out a gasp of surprise and hugged the pan to her body, "Um, I don't know what you're talking about." Said the Bergen in an unsure voice.

Hearing that, Poppy opened the curtain which covered something on the dresser.

Which concealed a bunch of pictures of the king – probably from different magazines – with various words cut and pasted, the most obvious of them being "romance."

"Excuse me!"

Seeing her secret discovered, the Bergen dropped the frying pan she was holding and went running in Poppy's direction.

Fearful of a possible aggressive retaliation, I lunged forward, landing right next to Poppy.

I was prepared to run and rescue Poppy, but I didn't expect the Bergen to be non-aggressive at all and just close the curtain to try to keep her secret hidden.

Oops, looks like my prejudices won out.

And... my instincts too.

Oh no, now I'm suicidal too.

"That's not mine," said the Bergen, looking everywhere but at Poppy.

Only for Poppy to relieve an image of a couple holding each other, with the King and the Bergen's faces stuck together.

The Bergen could no longer hide her secret, so with a resigned sigh, she spoke.

"It doesn't matter anyway." Said the Bergen – no, Bridget – resigned. "He doesn't even know I exist." Bridget said despondently.

"Bridget, I can help you!" said Poppy cheerfully.

Wait, what?

"What if there's a way we both get what we want." Poppy said with a mischievous smile.

"You love king Grisel too?" said Bridget, suddenly approaching Poppy, which made my body tense up. "You better back off, girlfriend!" she said as she waved "Back off."

And hissed, for some reason.

Poppy, confused, continued. "No. Bridget, no. The troll the king put in his mouth is Creek." She said pulling a picture of the sweaty said out of her hair. "And I'd do anything to save him. The only problem is we can't get near the king without him eating us."

"Ohh," said the Bergen realizing the problem of the troll in front of her.

"But you can." Poppy said cheerfully pointing at Bridget. "You can go up to him and tell him how you feel."

"Of course not," said the Bergen, who first looked encouraged but then discouraged by Poppy's words. "I can't just walk up to the king like that. His royal genius would never talk to a scullery maid like me."

"What if he didn't know what a scullery maid you are?" said Poppy as an idea came to her mind, a dangerous one. "What if he thought what a total babe you are?" she said and now all the trolls were approaching Bridget, probably about to start a musical number.

And Branch and DJ Suki were approaching the two of us.

"What kind of hottie would dress up as a scullery maid?" said Bridget, unsure and pointing to her clothes. "I smell like chorizo."

"How about we make you a new outfit?" said one of the trolls who had her hair hooked up with another troll.

"I can think of..." she said as the two girls gasped at the same time. "A jumpsuit!"

Twins?

"What's the point of a jumping suit if I still have this hair?" she said now pointing to her hair.

"Oh, we can fix that." Poppy said as the other trolls nodded.

"What good is a new outfit and hairstyle if I don't know what a total babe should say?" said Bridget, her insecurity showing.

My, how things had progressed from running from her to helping her win the love of her life.

"We'll help you with that too!" said Poppy approaching the troll, with DJ Suki at her side.

"Really?" said the Bergen coming dangerously close to Poppy, to which my body tensed up again.

"What do you say, Bridget? Help us with Creek and we'll get you a date with the king." Poppy said encouragingly.

"Date of the year." Added DJ Suki with a smile.

Bridget looked over to the other trolls on her bed, with them nodding, and looked back at Poppy. She then put a hand on her scrapbooking mural and then looked back, unsure.

"Let's do it?."

And that set Poppy off, "A Five, six, seven, eight!"

( )

When you look in the mirror.

You know what? I'm used to this now, so I will just sit here.

Let it disappear.

All your insecurities.

( )

"Wait!" said the Bergen, stopping everyone in their tracks.

Now what?

"Why aren't these two singing?" she said pointing at us, me who had already settled into my seat and was tuning my guitar and Branch leaning against the mural.

"Come on. Branch, mystery troll! Sing with us!" said the lanky guy looking at us with a smile.

"Yeah. Branch, mystery troll! Sing with us!" said the other trolls.

"No thanks, I'd rather play guitar." I said as I sat there with my guitar in my lap.

"No, that's okay." Branch said, dismissing the attempts to get me to sing.

"You don't think this will work?" said Bridget approaching the two of us, which made my body tense up again.

"No, no. It's not that. I just don't sing. Branch said trying to calm the anxiety that was growing in Bridget.

"We don't all need to sing for this." I added as I stood up.

"Branch! Sylvan!" said Poppy annoyed.

"No, they're right. It's a dumb idea." Bridget said despondently and crying. "King Grisel will never love me."

Then she vowed to her bed crying.

The other trolls came over to comfort her.

Branch walked away in annoyance.

Poppy tried to follow him but I stopped her.

"Let me talk to him, sometimes you need someone who has been through something similar to talk to." I said as I started to follow Branch.

"Sylvan, you're part of the problem too." I decided to ignore that.

I followed Branch upstairs to Bridget's dresser, which had a window facing out.

I walked over to his side, where he was facing out, and sat down.

"What, you're going to tell me what I need to sing?" said Branch incredulously.

"No, that would be very hypocritical of me." I said looking outside as well.

We were silent for several seconds.

I know Poppy and DJ Suki are probably eavesdropping, so I need them to understand why we don't sing.

But for that, I need Branch to talk about his past.

And there's only one way to do that...

"You were there when we trolls were still living in the troll tree." I said suddenly, with my gaze fixed outward.

Branch snorted, "no, what does that have to do with anything." Branch said annoyed.

So, he's younger than me, at least by a few years. "Because I was."

I suddenly felt very conscious of the stares on my person.

I continued, "I was born on a Trollstice, a bad time to be born. I was too young to understand everything." I told a half lie, for although I had a young body, my soul and mind were old enough and capable of understanding everything. "My parents used to sing to me all the time, with the intention of cheering me up. I think that made them appetize to the Bergens."

"On my first birthday, they ate my mom. On my second, they ate my dad." I said with my eyes fixed on the horizon. "I had some fear that if I sang, by my third birthday I would be next, so I stopped singing, moved away from the hustle and bustle of the trolls, hoping to make myself less appetizing." I said as I scoffed at my last words.

"Luckily on my third birthday was when King Peppy decided to organize the escape, so I never had to be left with that uncertainty, but one thought kept plaguing my mind." I said and exhaled deeply.

"Singing killed my parents."

Silence, that's all I could hear, so I looked sideways at Branch.

Branch was silent, thoughtful and reflective.

It seems that my words had the desired effect, so it's only a matter of time...

"Singing also killed my grandmother."

Now my gaze was fixed on him, who had his gaze forward, sad as if he was remembering something painful.

"I was the one who sang." Branch began his story, "that day, I was so engrossed in singing that I didn't hear my grandmother's warning." He said as he put his hand against the window, as if reaching for something.

"There were light in their life.

But now there's only love in the dark

Nothing they can say

A total eclipse in the heart."

Okay, even though that song was totally unnecessary, it was a good song.

"I haven't sung since," Branch said, looking at me.

"I hear you; I haven't sung since then either." I said, looking at my hand.

The same hand that my mother held before my first birthday, the same hand that my father held on my second birthday...

The same hand I play guitar with.

"I'm so sorry, Branch, Sylvan." Poppy's voice said behind us, which didn't surprise me, I knew I would be followed.

Plus, it was all too obvious when the other trolls – and Bridget – started singing.

"I had no idea."

"Yeah, Bros, we're so sorry." DJ Suki said with a lowered gaze.

"I figured you just had a horrible voice." Okay, that did offend me.

I don't know what my singing voice sounds like, it might be true, but it still offended me.

"No, no, I sang like angels." Branch replied, also not surprised why Poppy and the others were here, "at least that's what my grandmother used to tell me."

"The guitar is my way of singing; it allows me to... remember things." I said without much explanation, also without responding to Poppy's mild insult.

Branch and I stood up from our seated position and looked back, both Poppy and DJ Suki were behind us and the other trolls to the side.

And for some reason, they both gave us a hug – a group hug between the four – at the same time.

Which made my body tense up.

"Whoa, whoa! What are you doing? It's not hug time!" Branch said, not returning the hug.

"Sometimes they do that, they like to hug even when it's not hugging time," I said resisting the urge to hug back.

It's been too many years since I've had a hug, the first one I've had in a long time was from Poppy at my house.

"We thought you could use one." DJ Suki said with a smile, with Poppy nodding.

And of course, all the other trolls joined in the hug.

Even the- I mean Bridget joined in the hug.

Branch was the first to break away.

"Okay, Okay," Branch said pulling everyone away, "I'll help, but I'm not going to count."

The others looked at me, waiting for my response.

"I never said what I wasn't going to help, just what I wasn't going to sing." I said with a shrug, "but I can play my guitar." I added even though I didn't feel like I would.

I rarely play my guitar, and I felt that what we were going to do was going to be too dangerous.

Poppy just smiled and said. "Ready, guys? Let your hair down!"

The end

Part 5

Chapter Text

Hi, I know I owe you chapters of other stories and I'm sorry, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm sorry, but I have to write it.

This chapters are set during the first movie.

(I'm coming out - trolls movie 1 )

You,

You,

You,

oh, she mean in the literal sense of the word

You,

You gotta let it show.

I'm coming, yay!

I'm coming!

Well, I wasn't expecting this. Using their hair to make Bridget a new hair is brilliant.

Now, I will sit here and let this chaos happen.

Oh, Branch sat down next to me.

It's nice to have company thought this craziness.

All right, out!

I'm coming.

Out.

I'm coming.

Yo! I'm coming out like the sun after rain.

Ready to shine.

No time to be playing, feeling good.

I have to say, this Bergen sings pretty good.

Gonna get, get what I, what I want.

Gonna show every-everybody

How I, how I flaunt

Look at me now, my confidence is soaring.

Dudes be impressed with the points I'm scoring like.

That ain't boring.

And it just don't quit.
Watch the king drop his jaw

When I'm shaking my hips
I'm saying

She's coming out

She's coming

I'm not surprised anymore to they sing on dangerous situations.

What I'm more impressed is that no one is hearing them singing.

I guess their voices are too low to be heard, or they can't hear them because Bridget voice overlap theirs.

Or they are just deaf

It's time to take a stand, hey!

And show the world that I'm coming out.

She's coming out.

( )

"No, no, no! It's all wrong!" I hear a familiar voice from outside, looks like we found our king.

"I'm the king who's bringing back the Trollstice! I need a bib to match!" ...you know, I still can't help but wonder, what does he want a bib for?

Isn't it too big for that?

"Yes, sire!" replied poor hardworking Bergen.

"I look like a child in this one!" you already are for wearing a bib, what's the difference?

Bridget let out a little gasp of excitement at the sight of her male.

"Oh, sire!" the Bergen said in a wailing voice.

"I need something elegant, sophisticated...you know, a man's bib!" said the king, and if he could see me, he'd see that I was patting me on the head.

"Oh, he's so beautiful!" said Bridget, probably looking up at the king from a far from safe distance.

"And so, you are." Poppy said from an obviously unsafe position.

And me here, close to her, for safety's sake.

Branch and DJ Suki also came for safety reasons.

"Oh, he'll know what I'm just a scullery maid!" said Bridget, panicking.

"No, no, no!" said Poppy, trying to calm her new friend.

"I have to get out of here!" said Bridget in a panic.

"I'm here to support you, Bridget." Poppy said, reaching into the fake wig and moving to another position, to stick her head back out. "We all will."

"You'll tell me what to say?" said Bridget, calmer.

"Of course, I will," Poppy replied.

"Of course ,I will," replied Bridget, repeating what Poppy had just said.

"Just wait until we get inside." Poppy said, turning back inside the wig.

"Oh, Sire, I believe I have the perfect bib!" said the hard-working Bergen.

"it better be! The Trollstice is tomorrow night!" said the king in annoyance. "I mean, I look good, but I have to look great."

"Right," said the working Bergen.

"Ah, it's got a wing-dingle on it!" ...I'll say no better than that.

"Ah, your majesty, look at that! He's a big, big boy!" said the working Bergen in a proud voice.

"I love it," said the king, and I heard applause.

"Say, "That's a phat,"" said Poppy to Bridget.

"I think you look fat." Bridget said.

...oh, Bridget.

"What?" said the king in annoyance.

"P-H, phat. Then strike that pose," said Poppy, correcting her friend.

"Hot lunch." Said the king and I could have sworn I heard a trumpet. "Complete honesty from a complete babe." Closer now and Bridget let out a nervous laugh.

"And who might be?" said the king.

"Your name is..." said Poppy, running out of ideas and looking at all of us.

"Lady." Said the big boy.

"Glitter." Said the glitter boy.

"Sparkles" added the little troll with a deep voice

"Seriously?" said Branch incredulously.

"We should have thought of the name before going out the streets." I whispered with a deadpan look.

"My name is Lady Glittersparkles, seriously." Bridget said, giving her fake name, luckily she didn't hear what I said.

There's no way the king is going to believe it.

"Well, my Lady Brillantina." And he bought it. "Do you want to go with me to Captain Starfunkle's skating rink and video games?

"Would I!" replied Bridget, "Would I?" said Bridget again.

"Yes! You'd be delighted!" Poppy said.

"Yes! You'd be delighted." Oh no.

"Oh, indeed, I would." Replied the king.

God, it's a good thing the king isn't the smartest piece in the market.

"When are you going to ask him about Creek?" said Branch, into the wig.

"we have to warm him up first, don't you know anything about romance?" said Poppy, a little defensively.

"Besides, asking that question out of the blue would be very suspicious. Since Bridget isn't supposed to know that the king has a troll with him." Oh, that he ate one added my brain.

"Well, yeah... that makes sense." muttered Branch, though I could tell he didn't like having to wait. Or maybe it was the wig. Or Poppy. Or life in general.

"Easy, grumpy," I said quietly. "If Bridget can act like a noblewoman, you can act like a pile of hair with attitude."

He didn't answer me. Although I could have sworn he gave me a look that said, "I hate you a little bit more every day." How cute.

"I'll take one of each, Bibbly." Said the king, so the working Bergen was a Bergen Bibbly.

I didn't even know there was such a job.

"Things are going to get messy." Said the king as Bridget started to move, I could feel it.

Maybe I should stop refusing to see through the wig, it would give me a clearer view of what they were doing.

(1234)

"Enjoy your pizza. Here are your tokens." Said a Bergen pizza maker – or whatever – attending to the two lovers.

"Oh, how fancy," said Bridget and I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her.

If pizza was fancy for her...I can't imagine what she ate.

Oh, is pizza a rich person's food in this kingdom?

"Good thing I brought my appetite" said Bridget with a smile, I think, and the king looked pretty happy too.

And just as they were both going to take a slice, they both – by some strange coincidence – take the same slice.

And they just stare at each other.

And they started getting closer.

Oh no, don't tell me they're going to kiss.

Youth these days.

And then... Bridget punched the king and snatched the piece from the king.

Okay... I wasn't expecting that.

And this could be very bad.

And Bridget devoured the piece of pizza right away.

Judging by the look on the king's face, he's horrified.

"You're fantastic!" oh no, maybe I'm wrong.

Bergens romance is pretty weird.

"Bridget! Compliment him back!" said Poppy, I peek over to her side, Branch was on the other side along with DJ Suki.

"I like your back." Oh god, she doesn't know how to give compliments.

I don't know either but still.

"No! I mean say something nice about him." Poppy said, a little frustrated.

"But I do like his back." Bridget said with a shrug.

The king just looked confused.

Bridget tried to throw in a compliment but nothing was coming out.

"Poppy, help her!" said Branch.

"Ah... your eyes are... are... your ears" said Poppy trying to look for a compliment.

"Your eyes...ears..." began Bridget repeating.

"Nose!/Skin/Hair/Neck/Neck/your teeth" started to give suggestions from the trolls in the back.

"What's going on? Are you making fun of me?" said the king getting up from his seat.

I looked over at Branch, who looked like he was about to say something, but was hesitating for some reason.

Sigh, time to improvise.

"What I wanted to say is... I like your eyes. I like them because... your eyes have a strange way of seeing the world." I started to say out loud, so Bridget would repeat.

Which she did, a little nervously but firmly.

I swear I could feel several eyes on me.

"Your eyes have a strange way of seeing the world... as if you're looking for something that others can't see." Continue, to which Bridget repeated.

The king was frozen in place, with a puzzled expression.

"And when you smile... I feel like everything bad becomes a little more bearable. As if that smile, just by being there... makes everything better." I said finishing the compliment, looking at no one.

Bridget repeated it and the king was stunned for a few moments before sitting back down.

"I kinda do have a nice smile, don't I?" the king said blushing but smiling.

"Yes you do, the prettiest smile of all." I said looking at no one in particular but feeling many stares on me.

"That was corny." Branch said but still smiled.

I just shrug, that was so awkward.

Only now I realize that Bridget didn't repeat what I said, which made me panic a little.

"I can't believe I'm going to say this..." Bridget started to say, and I blinked in surprise.

"Guys, she's going rouge!" Said one of the wig trolls.

"...But being here with you today, it makes me realize what true happiness is possible." Bridget said.

That was so cute.

"It is," said the king nodding, "true happiness is much closer than you imagine." Said the king approaching Bridget, sitting down nearby.

"It's right over here," and just when I thought he was going to touch his heart, his hand goes to something on his cloak, a locket.

"Oh, I guess it's nice." Bridget said, without thinking much.

"What do you think now?" he said opening the locket and inside was the troll we were looking for, Creek.

"Creek?" said Branch impossibly.

"So, miracles do exist," I muttered, though inside I wondered how on earth he survived.

"I knew he was alive." Poppy said happily.

"Yoo-hoo!" quietly celebrated DJ Suki.

"Mr. Dinkles, he's alive!" said a voice from the wig trolls, then I heard gasps of surprise and murmurs.

"I've been guarding this little guy..." began the king.

"Help!" said Creek to nowhere, looking toward Bridget.

Which is suspicious, very suspicious.

Does he know we're here? But how?

This rescue mission is getting more dangerous with every moment that passes.

"Mercy!" he said once what was put away again.

"Tell me Lady Glittersparkles, will I see you at the Trollstice banquet?" said the king, leaning against the table.

"Why of course, I'll be working." Bridget blurted out offhandedly.

"it." I blurted out without thinking.

"it, working it. You know..." said Bridget, correcting her mistake.

She then proceeded to get up and do-little dance steps.

"Working it." She repeated.

"Yeah! You're not kidding!" said the king happily. "Because you will be there as my plus one!" He exclaimed as he approached Bridget.

"Really?" asked Bridget happily.

"Assuming you'll say yes?" Said the king, getting nervous.

"Yes!" Bridget agreed without complaint.

"Yes!" celebrated the king.

"Yes!" celebrated those in the back.

"Meantime's, maybe we should find some other way to work up an appetite." Said the king giving Bridget a flirtatious look.

"Oh yeah? What did you have in mind?" said Bridget shaking her "hair."

(1234)

(They don't know - Ariana Grande )

Now we were at a skating rink, still performing as a wig for "Lady Glittersparkles."

I don't know how they're skating, as I'm hiding inside the wig again, but I hope it's okay.

From the sounds of it, it sounds like it is.

Oh, now we're spinning

I feel like I'm gonna throw up.

Oh no.

The spinning made everyone dizzy, and with the continuous movement, we almost flew away.

Like a troll chain of survival: Poppy grabbed Bridget's hair, grabbed my arm, I grabbed Branch, Branch grabbed DJ Suki, and Suki dragged the rest like a rescue DJ.

Before the king could turn around, Bridget thought fast and spun him around.

He probably sees us, but since he's going so fast he must be getting confused.

With a little force, Poppy pushed us all back into Bridget's hair, so we could become her wig again.

Luckily, Poppy caught me as Princess, and Branch caught DJ Suki.

So, we're good.

The others went down better.

That was a close one.

And the king didn't seem to notice, so it was all good.

Their dancing and alone time continued for a while, until we heard a voice.

"Your Majesty." The chef... "You seem to be having fun." She said saying that last word oddly.

"Oh, that's right! May I present to you the beautiful Lady Glittersparkles." Said the king introducing his queen.

The chef let out a confused sound, as she seemed to be analyzing Bridget.

"You remind me of someone." The chef finally said, which made me tense up.

The same thing happened with Bridget, while the other trolls were trembling.

Except Branch, and me.

"She's, uh, going to be my plus one." Said the king, unconsciously saving us.

"Oh, I see." Said the chef, as if she didn't care. "For a moment I was concerned you were changing the plan."

The king let out a laugh, so did the lanky one, but everyone quickly silenced him.

"Well, this won't be a problem at all, your highness. I'll have the worthless scullery maid to get an extra place setting ready for the lovely Lady Glittersparkles." Said the chef and said her name with a hiss.

"Put her place next to mine, I want her right by my side." Said the king, saving the tense moment, but his voice sounded distant.

But the chef definitely knows.

How on earth did she figure it out?

Luckily, Bridget fled the scene.

Although I could have sworn the king shouted something.

Bridget ran back to her skate and jumped onto her bed with a happy sigh.

We all fell into bed, undoing her wig and bringing an end to "Lady Glittersparkles."

"I think the king really likes us!" said the lanky guy – I should learn their names – to the happy big guy.

"I know, right?" replied the excited big guy.

"That was the greatest day of my life!" said Bridget happily and turning to look at Poppy, "thank you, Poppy."

Poppy nodded happily.

"Thank you all!" she said looking at all the trolls then turning and looking at me, sitting next to Branch. "Even you, I think."

I just gave her a thumbs up as Branch pouted at not being included in the thank you's.

"I never thought something like this could happen to me!" said Bridget, she looked so happy.

"And it happened to me! I'm so excited I could scream!" she said very happy, and shaking, and moving around a lot.

And letting out a little scream.

"Oh, I could scream too, Creek is alive!" said Poppy happily.

And all the happy trolls started celebrating.

I just smiled slightly, only getting up to stretch.

Suddenly Branch lets out a scream, for some reason.

It only stops when he realizes what everyone is staring at him.

"Branch, what's up dude?" said DJ Suki with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing, I thought we were celebrating." Branch said with a shrug.

"That's your happy shout?" said the lanky dude in confusion.

"It's been a while." Said Branch, back to being grumpy.

"Well, you're gonna have plenty of practice soon enough. We'll save Creek and life will be cupcakes and rainbows again." Said Poppy putting herself in the middle of the 2 groups – the happy troll group and the grumpy little troll group.

"Up top." Said Branch holding up his hand and Poppy tried to high five them but he pushed her out of the way. "Too slow."

Well, I'm glad Branch is happy.

And the closeness of the two of them seems just right.

So… why does it hurt?

I guess it doesn't matter.

"Well, let's go save Creek." Poppy said and we all started running for the open door.

"No! You can't leave! Lady Glittersparkles will be the king 's plus one at dinner tomorrow," said Bridget closing the door and putting her body so we couldn't open it.

"The dinner where they're serving trolls? Yeah, I think we're have to skit that one." Branch said flatly.

"No! You have to help me be Lady Glittersparkles." Bridget said desperately and got down on the floor to talk us down to our size. "I need you."

"You don't wanna pretend to be someone you're not forever!" Poppy said, a little annoyed.

"A prolonged lie will only do more harm than good in the long run." I said quietly, but still everyone heard me.

"Then how about just for tomorrow?" said Bridget in a last attempt to convince us.

"Bridget, you don't need us anymore. You and the king can make each other happy together." Poppy said approaching Bridget.

"That's impossible! Only eating a troll can make you happy. Everyone knows that!" said Bridget in denial. "I wish I'd never gone on this stupid date!" she said as she ran over to one of her posters and tore it down, then started crying.

"Bridget..." said Poppy trying to get closer to her new friend.

"Just go! Get out of my room, leave me alone." Said the scullery maid sadly and upset and then cried again.

"Please listen..." started Poppy only to be interrupted by a voice.

"Bridget!" shouted the chef from her speakerphone.

"We've gotta go." Branch said, but all the other trolls had already run off, leaving only me, Branch, DJ Suki and Poppy behind.

"Bridget..." said Poppy in a last attempt to support her friend.

"What's going on down there?" said the chef, her voice all ugly.

Luckily, we were already at the door, but I still turned to look at her.

To the Bergen what changed my perspective of the other Bergens.

"Bridget, scrub that dish! The king will bring a plus one." She said as she threw a plate – which surprisingly didn't break – at the poor Bergen.

"Yes, chef." Bridget whispered, in a devastated tone, as she continued to cry.

The end

Part 6

part 6

Chapter Text

Hi, I know I owe you chapters of other stories and I'm sorry, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm sorry, but I have to write it.

This chapters are set during the first movie.

After some time navigating the castle, we managed to find the room where the king stays.

We opened the door and found him... exercising?

And in an ugly uniform.

No matter, we eventually make a troll ladder – with Poppy on the head – to find where the locket is.

"There it is." Poppy said pointing towards the bed where the king's cloak and his locket lay.

We all ran quickly and silently – thank goodness – to the location of the locket, ignoring the king who started singing the song he was listening to through his headphones.

We quickly reach the bed and climb up the sheet, sliding down it until we manage to reach the locket.

Branch hurries over and tries to open it, without much success.

"Creek, we'll have you out in a second." Poppy said quietly.

"Quick," said the little troll in a deep voice.

"It's stuck." Branch said, trying to open the locket.

Through the glass, the image of some sort of crocodile is reflected, and we look behind to find said creature.

Which roars at the sight of us.

"Run!" shouted Poppy – luckily, the king had his headphones on – and we started running, with me and Branch carrying the locket.

The chase was hard, the lizard was following us everywhere, but luckily he wasn't very fast.

But it was persistent, no matter where we went it followed us, opening and closing its jaw, as we smashed the king's room in the process.

And we even caused a small explosion.

"Hey! Over here!" someone shouted, I didn't pay attention to who, but it didn't matter.

Because just in the direction we were going, the crocodile appeared, which made us start running again.

Luckily, the lanky guy – whose name is Cooper – found our way out of here.

The skate which "Lady Glittersparkles" lost earlier, during the date.

As we climbed up, I said to Branch, "quick take it!" in a low voice, as he had already climbed onto the wheel and luckily I get on in time just before the crocodile lunged and flung us to our freedom.

"Hold on tight!" someone shouted, as we headed for the door.

But of course, it wasn't going to be that easy, as we started to be followed by that fucking lizard.

I stay on the sole of the skate along with Branch holding the locket.

"This is what my life has come down to..." I thought with some resignation.

"Get a grip, buddy!" someone said, again. "I really should learn their names and differentiate their voices." I thought to myself.

I don't know who took control of the skate, but he handles it well.

"Satin! Chenille! To the right!" said Poppy quickly, said twins jumped out of the skate and one of them jumped in the direction they were told to go.

"Let's do it!" said one of them before jumping.

The twin who jumped clung to the wall so we could turn around, with the crocodile stepping on our soles.

This bastard is stubborn.

"Guy Diamond! Glitter!" commanded Poppy once again.

"Eat glitter," he said in his weird voice, as he pushed his butt against the wheel and expelled glitter.

That's... weird and gross at the same time.

But it worked, because it got him right in the face, which made him crash and finally stop chasing us.

Everyone cheered on.

"Look!" but of course, the threats weren't over.

There was a "Watch out! Wet floor!" sign in front of us.

"Hold on!" said Poppy from her position inside the skate, so we heeded.

We slid down the sign, but because of the climb the locket slipped out of our hands and went straight into the crocodile's mouth.

"Creek!" let out a little cry of distress Poppy as we got out of a window.

And I don't know what happened in there, but the croc hit the wall and ended up spitting the locket out the window shortly thereafter as well.

Branch and I jumped inside the skate and Poppy got up from where she was and jumped towards the locket to catch it.

"Sylvan!" she shouted my name suddenly as she stretched her hair out towards me.

I understood immediately and stretched out my hair, holding hers tightly, and dragging her towards us, which made her come back inside the skate.

"We got you!" said one of the trolls once Poppy was back inside the skate.

But we still had to make a landing.

And we were heading for a window.

Which made everyone scream as I just held the locket tight and braced for impact.

We went through a lot of things in a short time – the window, a lamp, the floor, etc. – until we finally hit a hard floor and we all fell to the ground.

And of course, the locket slipped out of my hands again.

Stupid arms.

Luckily, Branch and DJ Suki caught it before it hit the ground.

We all approached, most of us running and me walking fast, while Branch and DJ Suki put the locket on the ground, with Poppy being the most excited to open it.

They got it open but no one was in there.

Oh no, this gives me the baddest of bad feelings.

As the others let out gasps and horrified screams, I tensed up.

"No!" said Poppy torn, "He can't be gone."

"Sorry Pops, we're late." DJ Suki said sadly.

"Actually..." said a voice that made my veins freeze.

We looked up and saw her.

The chef.

Smiling with all her ugly teeth.

"You're just in time." Said the chef as she locked us in a cage.

She took us with her to who knows where, I think her kitchen and left us sitting at a cutting table.

The big guy – Biggie I think his name was – was crying since we were captured.

Which is a bit annoying but his reason for crying is understandable.

"I'm sorry, I won't let them leave before dinner tomorrow." Said the chef with a satisfied smile as she brought her ugly face closer to the prison. "Dinner you're all invited to."

I threw my guitar at her – mostly out of desperation and to try to wipe that grin off her face – but she caught it before it hit her and smashed it.

Which smashed me too.

"And I mean all the trolls in troll Ville." Said the chef wiping her hand of the debris from the remains of my guitar and turned to leave.

"You'll never find them where they hide!" said Poppy fiercely, stopping the chef who was already at the door.

And she's right, there's only one way to find them and that's with the help of a...

Troll.

My body tenses even more as I realize what happened.

And the chef seems to want to confirm my theory.

"Oh, you're right. I wouldn't find them. But I could find them with someone they know," said the chef, as she walked back over to us, "someone they trust." She said nodding her head.

"Someone..." she started as she opens her fanny pack. "Like this little guy" she said as she pulled Creek out of her fanny pack.

Said troll was in Zen pose inside said fanny pack.

I clenched my fist in fury.

I seemed to have severely overestimated him.

"Creek! You're alive!" said Poppy blissfully unaware, unaware of the depths of Creek's treachery.

But she wasn't the only one, the other trolls – except for me, Branch and surprisingly DJ Suki – looked just as cheerful.

The chef left Creek in front of us.

"That's great / Yeah!" said other happy trolls.

Soon, the happy atmosphere was shut down by Creek silences.

"He's going to betray us." I said quietly, but because the earlier hubbub quieted down, everyone heard it.

And it seems that triggered something, as Branch went at Creek, using his hair to strangle him.

"Branch, wait! There must be an explanation. At least give him a chance." Poppy said, faithful defender of her lover.

I wish I'd had someone like that in my past life...

He's guilty, he planned it all, I was just his unwitting accomplice!

Let's get him!

I shake my head of the bad memories and turn my attention back to the present.

"Thanks, Poppy." Creek said as he rubbed his neck. "I'm going to betray you." She said flatly.

And then, Poppy started to strangle him.

"No, wait! Stop!" said one of the trolls as they stopped Poppy from killing Creek.

They finally managed to get him to stop strangling him, although it looks like he was pretty strong.

"You better have an explanation, Creek!" said Poppy angrily.

Creek, getting up and catching his breath, began his narration. "When I was about to accept my fate I had what can only be called a spiritual awakening."

He said as he plunged us into a flashback, where basically in order to survive, he was willing to do anything.

"No! Creek, please don't do this!" Poppy said in desperation, finally seeing the extent of Creek's betrayal.

"Believe me, I wish there was another way I wouldn't get eaten." Creek said, leaning closer to Poppy.

"But there isn't." Added the chef, sharpening her knifes.

"And now I have to live with this for the rest of my life." Creek said, using the "unfortunate victim" card. "At least you'll die with a clear conscience."

"So, in a way, I'm doing this for you." He said as he stroked Poppy's cheek, then moved his hand up to Poppy's hair, where he found an instrument, a sort of type of bell instrument, and a hammer.

He then used the hammer to give Poppy a boop.

Which made my boundaries break down.

Before I knew it, I had approached the edge of the cell and punched Creek in the face.

He fell to the ground, groaning in pain as the instrument fell to the floor.

The silence that followed the blow was so thick that even the chef stopped to sharp his knifes for a few seconds. Everyone's jaws dropped. Poppy was looking at me with a mixture of surprise, pent-up rage and...something else. Creek was rolling around on the floor holding her nose, which was now bleeding glistening.

"You...you hit me!" shrieked Creek in a nasal voice.

"Boop that, you son of a bitch," I spat, shaking my fist as I backed away. "You did it for us...what the fuck."

"Sylvan!" yelled Poppy, still confused. But she didn't stop me. No one did.

The chef, meanwhile, started laughing like a smoked hyena. "Ahh, what a tasty drama-I love ingredients with emotional tension!"

Branch looked at me, and for the first time...nodded. Not with his head. With his eyes. As if to say, "It's about time."

Creek sat up awkwardly, adjusted his bangs a bit, and said, "Still, the deal's done. The Trollstice will be a success. And when it's over, maybe you'll forgive me for saving my life."

"Saving your life?" DJ Suki said through her teeth, crossing her arms. "You betrayed everyone who ever loved you, and you expect sympathy?"

Creek shrugged. "Yeah, well, spiritual enlightenment doesn't guarantee morality, only survival."

I was about to blurt out another one to him, but I restrained myself. It wasn't worth it. Not now.

That and also because he was already out of my reach.

The chef came over, picked up Creek who had already picked up the instrument, put it in her fanny pack and left.

That was that.

The mission failed.

The end

Part 7

Part 7

Chapter Text

Hi, I know I owe you chapters of other stories and I'm sorry, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm sorry, but I have to write it.

This chapters are set during the first movie.

I don't know how much time had passed, but it was long.

They had changed our cell.

Now, we were in some kind of a pot, we had been transported somewhere and we just waited.

We couldn't escape.

This thing is made of metal.

Suddenly they opened the lid and there she was, the chef, along with other chefs.

"Let's prepare the main course." Said the chef to her colleague, and in unison, they opened their chutes and dropped in a bunch of trolls "The trolls!"

Shortly thereafter they locked the lid shut.

And then silence.

Normally I enjoy silence, but not before my impending death.

Funny thing is... this isn't the youngest death I'll ever die.

"Poppy?" said King Peppy getting up after being pulled, to see his daughter's back to him.

"Poppy! Thank goodness you're okay." He said as he ran to hug her.

"I'm wonderful." Poppy said sarcastically. "I put all my loved ones in a pot. Thanks for asking." She said dejectedly.

"Poppy, that was... sarcasm," Biggie said uncertainly.

"Yes!" said Poppy cracking up, surprising everyone.

Even the little girl with the gravelly voice squeaked out an "Oh my god."

"I'm sorry," apologized Poppy, "I don't know why I thought I could save them. I just wanted to make everyone safe, like you, Dad. But I couldn't." She said as her voice cracked at the end.

"Poppy..." said King Peppy softly.

But Poppy didn't say anything, she just turned around and started to move.

"I let everyone down," she said as she walked, then knelt down in the middle of everyone.

"But Poppy..." wanted to say something Branch, but Poppy interrupted him.

"You were right, Branch." Poppy said, looking sideways at him. "not everything in the world is cupcakes and rainbows." She said sadly then looked at me, "I'm sorry Sylvan, sorry for getting you involved in all this."

Then she hung her head sadly.

And then it happened...

She started to lose her color.

In front of everyone's stunned gaze.

There were several small gasps.

"Poppy..." whispered Biggie, holding his pet.

And one by one, all the trolls began to lose their color, discouraged by the loss of their Princess.

DJ Suki also fell to her knees next to Branch, losing her color.

It seemed to be the end; all was lost.

But... I wasn't going to give up so easily.

Not after all of this.

With a determined look, I approached Poppy.

For the first time, I was going to do something I didn't plan to and I hope I don't regret

And something I had never done before.

Give a pep talk.

I hope.

I knelt down in front of her. Poppy didn't even look up; it was as if her inner fire had been put out.

"Poppy," I said, in a firm but calm voice, "Don't look at me, don't talk to me, just...listen."

I swallowed saliva, mentally preparing myself.

"I know how you feel," I began, in a lonely voice. "That's how I felt, many years ago, lost, alone, helpless."

Poppy didn't respond, but I could see her raise her eyes slightly.

I took a deep breath, the words weighed on me, as if they had been lodged in my chest for a long time and wanted to come out.

"I've been like this most of my life, and yet..."

I swallowed hard. I was already there, there was no turning back.

"...I kept going. No clear purpose, no rainbows, no hourly hugs. Just... living, following my existence."

Silence answered me, my voice echoing throughout the pot.

"But you, Poppy... you are a beacon. A bright and annoying chaos, yes, but a lighthouse, nonetheless. You dragged me out of the cave where I was hiding, without even realizing it."

I saw her blink. Slowly, hesitantly. But she was listening to me, what did it matter.

"You didn't fail because you failed. You failed because you thought you had to do it alone. Because you thought you were the color of the world. And you're not."

Several trolls looked up, surprised.

"Color... color is in all of us. Even if we don't see it. Even if we don't feel it. And sometimes – sometimes – it only takes a spark to remember it."

I slowly stood up, I could see Branch and DJ Suki's gaze following me, both surprised.

It looked like DJ Suki was already recovering a bit, and it looked like Branch was supporting her.

I could feel something inside me, the same thing I feel every time I play the guitar, the same thing I feel every time I think of a song.

The same as always, asking for his release, after years of confinement.

And this time, I was willing to let it out.

(True colors - trolls (2016) )

(idk about the voice, just imagine one.)

You, with the sad eyes.

I started singing, my voice broke.

Suddenly, I could feel the stares of every troll here.

I swallowed hard. My legs were shaking, but I stood my ground.

Okay, Sylvan, don't panic, just... let it flow.

Don't be discouraged

I could see that Poppy stopped looking at me, so I knelt in front of her.

I raised her gaze, forcing her to look at me.

Empty. Sad. Dull.

Oh, I realize

It's hard to take courage

More than it meets the eye.

In a world full of people.

You can loose sight of it all.

The darkness inside of you.

Can make you feel so small

The bracelet of Poppy sound, it's hug time.

I opened my arms, inviting her to hug me.

But she just turned it off.

I lowered my arms.

Then other bracelet sounded, then another one, and another one.

It continued until all the bracelets of all the trolls around us sounded indicating it's hug time.

Then, someone, joined me on singing.

Show us a smile.

I looked away and found Branch lifting with him DJ Suki.

Don't be unhappy, can't remember when.

Continued DJ Suki, leaning on Branch.

I just extended my hand, but Poppy didn't want to take it.

DJ Suki stopped singing, uncertain about continuing.

So, my voice joined with Branch, uncertain, as if I still didn't know if I deserved to be part of it.

I last saw you laughing.

This worlds make you crazy.

I have to say, Branch sings pretty well.

And you've taken all you can bear

It's look like the song is working, since she's smiling again.

Just call me up

It was DJ Suki, who joined to the song completely.

Because I will always be there.

And I see your true colors

DJ Suki and Branch approaches to us.

Poppy finally took my hand and I helped her to be on her feet's again

And a faint pink glow illuminated her skin.

Shining through.

I see your true colors.

Poppy looked at me – at us – surprised.

Then smiled softly

Not as a Princess, not as a leader.

But someone who come back to life.

And that's why I love you.

That was only singed for me, for some reason.

My body tensed completely.

I wasn't planning to sing that.

I was planning to sing something more like "everyone value you"

Or sing it that line with Branch and DJ Suki.

Poppy looked at me, without saying anything.

But her eyes...

As if she had heard something she didn't expect.

As if I had said more than I thought I had.

Her hand was still touching mine, which made my hand bright too.

And Poppy started to sing too

So don't be afraid.

To let them show.

Then, for some miracle, I started to gain color too

And continued singing, joining Poppy.

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful

I couldn't stop looking at me.

The color of my body, my hand, it was a bright red.

I wonder what is the color of my hair.

Then Poppy took my other hand, and we started dancing while singing.

I see your true colors.

Shining through (true colors)

I could see Branch and DJ Suki dancing and singing too, both of them with their color returned.

Branch color is green and have a blue-black hair.

I see your true colors

As we dance, every troll slowly recover their color.

That's why I love you.

So don't be afraid

To let them show.

Your true colors

True colors

Are beautiful

Like a Rainbow.

Oh, oh, oh, oh...

Like a Rainbow.

Then Cooper come closer, playing an harmonica.

Then everyone got their color back

And came closer to us.

( )

Then Poppy gave me a hug, which I finally returned with all my might.

Once we parted, Poppy took my hands.

"Thank you," she said honestly.

"Don't just thank me, thank Branch and DJ Suki too." I said pointing to the two of them with my head, who had hugged each other as well. "Besides, should be me thanking you, you showed me more than I could ever imagine... you taught me how to be happy."

Poppy pulled away from the hug excitedly. "Really? You're finally happy?" she said happily only to look confused, "Now?"

"I think so," I shrug, "Happiness is found within all of us...it just takes some people a while to find it."

I said looking at Branch and DJ Suki, Branch had also regained his color, which meant... that he was happy too.

Or at least, I hope so.

"Sometimes, we just need someone to help us find it." I said, wondering internally when both DJ Suki and Branch became closer.

There was a silence, and Branch and DJ Suki approached us.

"Nice song, Sylvan." Branch said, showing me his fist.

I look at him in surprise, then bump them together.

"Thanks, it was just born out of me." I said honestly, I really didn't know where that song came from.

I don't remember hearing it, nor had I composed it.

It just felt... right to sing it.

"What happens now, Princess Poppy?" said a troll boy who had approached us.

"I don't know." Said Poppy crouching down next to the troll boy, "But I know we won't give up."

She said and then stood up and looked at us, to which I nodded with a smile.

Feeling this excitement after so long... it's intoxicating, in a way.

It will take me a while to get used to it.

Then, the pot started to shake.

Someone was opening the locks.

All the trolls acted scared, knowing that it could only mean one thing.

Time to eat.

"No," said Diamond Guy fearfully.

"It's time, Mr. Dinkles." Said Biggie hugging his pet.

Then the lid popped open revealing...

Bridget.

"Poppy!" said Bridget, I never thought I'd be so happy to see her.

Or happy, in general.

"Bridget?" asked a confused Poppy.

I could hear shouting in the background.

"Trolls! Trolls! Trolls!"

Bridget heard them too, as she panicked and reached her hand towards Poppy.

"What are you doing?" said Poppy climbing onto her hand, to the disbelief of almost all the trolls.

"I can't let them eat you." Said Bridget pulling Poppy closer.

"But..." said Poppy, trying to stop her friend from doing something foolish.

"Quick!" she said, flipping the pot over, making us all jump out of it. "Quick! Go! Get out of here!" said Bridget leaving Poppy with the others.

The other trolls fled, but me, Branch and DJ Suki stayed behind, both for Poppy and Bridget.

"No! If you go in there without us, you know what they'll do!" Poppy said in desperation for her friend.

"I know." Said Bridget, who also looked desperate, but insisting of us going out.

"But Bridget." Said Poppy heartbroken.

"It's okay," said Bridget stopping Poppy, "it doesn't matter, Poppy. You showed me what it feels like to be happy. I would never have felt it without you, and I love you for that."

"I love you too, Bridget." Poppy said stunned by her friend's confession.

She had taught a Bergen how to be happy.

Then, shouts rang out outside.

"Bridget!" sounded the chef's voice, annoyed.

Bridget stood up in desperation, backed slowly away, and began to run.

Poppy followed her in desperation.

"Go now. Hurry!" said Bridget trying to push Poppy away, without using physical force.

"Come with us!" said Poppy in a last desperate attempt.

"So, they can find you faster?" said Bridget, even now, worrying about us, about Poppy. "Forget it! You must go. now!" she said running out, running.

"Bridget!" cried Poppy in desperation, fearful for her friend's fate, stopping her from closing the door.

Bridget, with all the gentleness in the world, pushed Poppy toward us.

But Poppy gave her finger one last hug.

Until Bridget pulled her finger away.

"Goodbye, Poppy." She said finally closing the door.

We were running through the troll tree tunnel, heading for the exit, with everyone yelling "trolls!" for some reason.

"Let's go! Hurry! Everybody! Let's go!" said Poppy wanting to hurry everyone along.

Branch, myself and DJ Suki were making sure no one tripped or pushed anyone else.

"No troll gets left behind!" said Poppy, mimicking her dad's phrase.

"Careful." Branch said.

"No pushing." I added softly.

"Let's go home," said DJ Suki, with a soft smile.

Once what everyone left, I turn to see Poppy...only to see what she's heading back.

"Poppy?" I said exchanging glances with Branch and DJ Suki, then approaching her, she was looking at Bergen Castle.

She turned to look at us.

"Bridget ruined her life to save ours. It's not right." Poppy said, with that determined look of hers. "She deserves to be happy as much as we do."

Branch and DJ Suki came up beside me.

Poppy turned around, looking back at the castle.

"They all deserve it!" she said with conviction.

We ended up going back inside the castle.

The same way we almost got out once.

With Lady Glittersparkles other skate, through a window.

We move fast, sliding down the tail of the pet crocodile that almost ate us earlier.

And in the air, we all jump towards Bridget.

Once on her head, the skate is back on her foot, and this time we all use our hair to make her wig.

By the way, my hair is dark purple, I couldn't be happier about it.

I hear gasps all over the place.

But the most noticeable one, is from King Grisel.

"Lady Glittersparkles." Said the king, sounding closer.

"What?" she said incredulously, it seems she didn't know in the end.

In the end, we pulled back from being her fake hair.

"But how? Why?" said the king incredulously as Bridget extended her hands towards us, which made us jump towards it. "Why did you do this?"

She gently set us down on the table.

"Because she thought you wouldn't want to be with someone like her." Poppy explained, being the voice of the group.

"I mean, please, am I the one you're looking for with love?" said Bridget with her low self-esteem showing. "I don't think so."

"Guards, finish her!" said the chef, her patience wearing thin.

"No!" cried the king fearfully.

Bridget let out a frightened little scream.

And we all gasped in surprise.

"Wait!" said Poppy suddenly, "King Grisel, when you were with Bridget, you felt something, didn't you?"

"Yes, but I thought it was from eating too much pizza." Replied the king to Poppy's question.

"Me too." Bridget said enthusiastically.

"That feeling... that was happiness." Said Poppy happily.

There were gasps all around.

"But you have to eat a troll to be happy." Said a Bergen, I think it was the owner of the nursery store. "Everyone knows that don't you?"

"But King Grisel has never eaten a troll, has he?" said Poppy looking at the king.

"No, never." Said the king looking at his beloved, "and yet, look at me." He said as he knelt down in front of Bridget, offering her the forgotten skate.

She smiled, looking at his bare foot.

"My stomach empty and my heart full." Grisel said, putting the skate on Bridget and then getting up to hold hands.

I smiled, happy that they had found love.

"Don't listen to her!" said the chef, desperate. "There's only one way to be happy! Mine!" she exclaimed as she approached the king and queen.

She forcibly separated them.

"No!" exclaimed anguished Bridget as Grisel stumbled.

"With me in charge...!" she slammed the table, which sent Branch flying off, caught him and put him back on the table, near the end.

"...I will serve you trolls every day of the year!" she said as she grabbed the king, set him upright and put his head against the table, forcing his mouth open, tongue out.

"With me as queen life will be a feast of eternal bliss!" the chef said angrily, Branch tried to escape but the chef cornered him with her knife, which made him recoil and fall on the king's tongue.

"Eat! Now!" said the chef and the king's tongue began to slip into his mouth, bringing Branch with it.

"I've had enough of this." I said as I used my hair to push Branch away from the king's mouth. "And I'm tired of you too." I said as I used my hair to slap the chef in the eye.

The chef squealed, clutching her eye.

"That was for my guitar, bitch." I said, growling a little.

Then, I straighten up and start talking. "Happiness isn't something you can introduce, because it's already there."

"Sometimes we need someone to help us find it." Poppy added, stepping up beside me.

"Can I really be happy," asked an incredulous Bergen.

"I want to be happy too!"

"Me too!"

One by one, the Bergens began declaring their intention to be happy.

"What about me?" asked one of the guards.

"Do you really think I can be happy?" said the nursery troll.

"Of course you can!" said Poppy enthusiastically. "It's inside of you! It's inside of all of us!"

"And I don't think so, I feel so." Poppy added before starting to sing.

(Can't stop this feeling - trolls (2016) )

I got this feeling

Inside my bones

It goes electric wavy when I turn it on.

I decide to join Poppy, to show that even a troll who planned to never sing, could sing too.

Happiness is reachable.

And if you want it

Inside your soul

Then Branch and DJ Suki joined too.

And the four of us started singing together.

Just open up your heart

Let music take control

I've got a sunshine in my pocket

I never imagined myself dancing, less singing... and yet, here I am.

Got that good soul in my feet

I feel that hot blood in my body

When it drops.

While we dance in the table, I couldn't stop looking to Poppy.

All of this... is thanks to her

Maybe... there's something worth to live in this life.

Ooh.

I can't take my eyes up off it.

Moving so phenomally.

The room on lock

The way we rock it

Soon, we all were dancing around all the dining room, in front of the Bergens.

So, don't stop.

The group of friends of Poppy, and I guess mine too, maybe?

Started singing too.

Under the lights, when everything goes

Nowhere to hide when I'm getting you close.

(can't stop, won't stop)

When we move well you already know

Let's go, let's work

So, juts imagine, just imagine, just imagine.

And then, every troll of troll village jumped down from the ceiling

Nothing I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance.

Feel the good-good-good creeping up on you.

So just dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, come one.

All those things I shouldn't do.

Then, the Bergens starts to dance.

But you dance, dance, dance, dance.

And ain't nobody leaving soon

So, keep dancing.

Then Poppy grabbed a Bergen's finger with her hair and make him and spun him around.

I can't stop the feeling.

Which caused a chain reaction

So just dance, dance, dance, dance.

Then DJ Suki grabbed the finger of another and moved it, causing a wave to start between the Bergens.

I can't stop the feeling

So just dance, dance, dance, dance.

Branch is enjoying this.

I can't stop the feeling.

So just dance, dance, dance, dance.

I can't stop the feeling.

Now, everyone is dancing!

Everyone is happy.

So, keep dancing, come on.

[CHEERING]

[GRUNTS]

The chef came to us, with knifes on her hands and screaming.

Poppy gasped and I prepared myself to jump to her.

But it wasn't necessary, because Bridget threw her a wooden spoon.

And then some trolls ejected some lemon on her eyes.

I smiled, nice work.

"Let's do it" shouted the twins and they tripped the chef toward the pot.

I can't stop the feeling

And it began to slide out.

Then cooper lit a match and threw to the chef.

That made the pot caught it in fire.

And that's how the chef got out here.

Probably the last time we will see her.

And Creek to, I guess, I don't know where he is.

But the last time I saw him was inside the fanny pack of the chef.

He got lucky; I would have smashed his face again.

I can't stop the feeling

Then we come back to dancing, Poppy to the right, I beside her, Branch to the left and DJ Suki at his side.

And the Bergen behind us.

Nothing I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance.

I can't stop the feeling

Then we go down the stairs.

Feel the good creeping up on you

So just dance, dance, dance, dance.

I can't stop the feeling.

All those things I shouldn't do

But you dance, dance, dance, dance.

I can't stop the feeling.

And ain't nobody leaving soon so keep dancing.

And, as if by magic, the entire city of Bergen comes to life.

I can't stop the feeling

Until it converge on the troll tree.

Got this feeling in my body.

I can't stop the feeling.

Got this feeling in my body.

And the troll tree gets his life back again.

I can't stop the feeling

Now we are on a mushroom that serves as a platform.

And dancing, of course.

How the fuck do we have so much energy?

Wanna see you move your body.

I can't stop the feeling

Got this feeling in my body, come on.

Then King Peppy come closer and put a crown on Poppy's head.

Poppy smiled.

And then, King Peppy took Poppy's hand and raised it

"Our new queen!" exclaimed and everyone started clapping and cheering.

Poppy seemed so happy.

"Go, queen Poppy! Way to go, Poppy!" exclaimed Bridget with a big smile and holding some trolls.

"You did it!" exclaimed Poppy's friends excited.

"Alright, queen Poppy!" exclaimed the kids.

So just dance, dance, dance.

I was keeping my distances, since it's not my moment, it's hers.

But somebody pushed me toward her.

"She's my friend!"

"I know her!"

I can't stop the feeling

Even with everyone voices, Poppy turned to see me – stumbling – with a soft smile.

And then she took my hands to hold me, preventing me from failing.

We looked at each other eyes.

So just dance, dance, dance.

Then the platform shacked, and it got elevated to the sky.

I can't stop the feeling

So, keep dancing, come on!

At it stopped, she looked back at me.

Nervous, I didn't know what to say.

So, she got ahead of me.

"Thanks, Sylvan." Said Poppy, smiling softly. "For not giving up."

"Thank you, you got me out of my comfort zone, I would have never done any of this if it wasn't for you." I told her the pure true.

She smiled and then I got the urges to hug her, but I doubt it.

So, instead.

"I know it's not yet hug time, but..." nervous, I just opened my arms timidly.

She smiled and then she put her left hand on her chest, declaring. "Now that I am the queen, I decree hug time is all the time." Then she opened her arms.

And then we hugged.

Yeah... this is a nice feeling.

Something worth to protect.

I can't stop the

The moment was ruined, because someone else joined the hug.

We separated and saw the cloud guy here, somehow.

I can't stop the

"Up high" he said, lifting both hands.

I frowned, exchanged glazes with Poppy.

And we give him exactly what he wanted.

A dual high-five, that got him out of the platform.

I can't stop the feeling

He wasn't even mad, he just laughed as he fell.

And I just smiled, feeling something, I never knew I would fell again

Happiness.

The end

And this is the end.

After who knows how long it took me to write this, but I finished it.

I hope you enjoy it and if you don't, I'm sorry.

I did enjoy writing it.