Everyone can't even believe what they saw after the performance, I mean sure the star's good at entertaining, but they never and I mean NEVER expected it to be...

.....Branch!!!

After an awkward silence, Branch whispered to Cliff, "You said this would be a good idea, but why are they so quiet?!" Cliff replied, "Wait for it..." In a countdown of his fingers from 3 to 1, the crowd started cheering for their star, whose also there smart friend. Branch smiled, then bowed and went backstage.

Though he is gonna be pounded with some questions later on...

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

The Next Day...

Poppy: *thinks* "I can't believe this, Branch, as Blue Mystor?! Ugh!!! How did this whole thing even happen?!!"

Yeah...no surprise there, as usual, Poppy's mad ,for no reason at all, that Branch is actually Blue Mystor, she and everyone didn't expect him to be the fun and outgoing star they know, but hey, it happened and he did became a better troll. Right now, she's taking a walk to find him and ask him how he became, you know, along with her friends and the party crashers, 'cuz they're wondering the same thing as well.

When they found him, it looked like he was practicing something...or having a dance party with his crew, his dancers, and some bodyguards are watching everywhere.

It was going well...until Poppy had to stop it by grabbing the speakers from the DJ table, owned by DJ Sonic (my OC) with her hair. That killed the music and their party.

Sonic: "Hey!!! What's the big idea Princess?!!!"

Poppy: "Oh, you wanna know?! I just need to ask Branch something, even if it means using the forceful way!!"

Poppy started walking to him, but not before the bodyguards spot her and came in front of her, blocking her way.

B1: "Sorry, but non-stars aren't allowed to go near him, not even royals. Just tell us your business."

Poppy: "We're hear to ask how THAT became a star, and I demand to be let in now!!!"

The stars and their crew were in a circle of red velvet rope. The only way to get in is if the guards see you're nice, if not, then you're out.

B2: "Can't let you do that. And you can't order us, you're just a princess."

Poppy: "Oh, Trolly Moly, I swear I'm gonna-AAAHHH!!!"

She was cut off by Creek grabbing her by the hair and he pulled her back, him in front of the guards now. Honestly, they really don't know why Poppy's always angry at Branch, he didn't do anything wrong!!! Maybe because she's jealous of him having all the attention.....or something like that.

Creek: "What the princess is trying to say is, we just wanna ask how our friend, Branch, became a star known as The Blue Mystor."

Guards: "Well, why didn't you say so?"

They moved to the side for Branch, who walked to the group casually.

Branch: "You really wanna know?"

Creek and the others nodded.

Poppy: "Hey how come they didn't let me in?!"

Creek: "Because you were yelling at them, I only asked nicely." *thinks* "With a calming voice."

Branch: "Anyway...here's how it happened....."

Flashback.....

Branch was in the forest, upset as ever. He can't even believe what Poppy did to him. The nerve of her ordering him around and not to mention name calling him in front of their friends. She's really the worst friend and ruler ever!!! (my words, not his...kinda)

Anyway, the blue troll kept walking until it was night time. Luckily, he had his backpack prepared before he decided to leave, and now he's wearing a black jacket under a white shirt, along with matching black pants for the cold gusts of wind. When he found a spot that seemed to be cozy enough, he started setting up camp (he has a tent) , just for tonight. Hopefully something good will happen tomorrow, Branch thought as he went into a peaceful slumber.

He didn't know, a dark figure was watching him in the dark not so far away.....

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

It was the next day and Branch woke up to the sounds of birds chirping. He wished he hadn't awoken so early in the morning. It looked to be around 8:00 AM. He felt much more energized than yesterday night. Branch stood up, packed his stuff, and started walking. For the first time, he had no idea where he was going. He thought of returning to the village, but then again, Poppy would still be angry at him, so that option's out.

He wandered around the woods, feeling as if he was going in a circle. After a while, he made it to the same spot he was in. He sat on the grass and began contemplating...aloud.

Branch: "Can't believe Poppy, the nerve of her yelling at me. I mean sure, my traps are a little inconvenient, but it's not like they're dangerous. The point is we need them, I just wish she'd see I'm right about them. And start showing me a little appreciation..."

?1: "I know how that's like..."

A voice struck Branch out of his thoughts as he stood up and looked around. There on top of a tree branch, two trolls are standing there.

?2: "Long time no see, Branch..."

Branch knew exactly who it was...it was his old friends.

Branch: "Hey Cliff...Hey Leaf..."

Leaf was a yellow troll with red eyes, a red nose, along with red hair that has a blue streak going through it and he has bangs like Cliff but mirrored. He's Cliff's twin brother and, like Satin & Chenille, their hair's conjoined together.

(Cliff's clothing is a black jacket and pants, and not wearing headgear. Same goes for Leaf, but his jacket, it's sleeves are rolled up, followed by white pants. Lastly, Cliff is voiced by Milo Manheim and Leaf is voiced by Trevor Tordjman. Oh...and they both wear wristbands on each wrists.)

They came down from the branch an greeted him, and also asked him why he's in the forest, all alone. When Branch told them what happened, they were distraught by it.

Leaf: "Can't believe it, she said that to you?! What even made her think it's right for her as queen to call you that?!"

Branch: "Probably because of what she said about true friends, that they're suppose to tell you you're crazy when you're acting crazy."

(Imagine how dump that "rule" sounds to anyone, it's stupid isn't it?😒)

When he finished, Cliff burst out laughing loudly at the "rule", thinking it's ridiculous for any friends to even believe it.

Branch: "What's with him?"

Leaf: "Oh, that? He does it every time, whenever he hears something dumb from the queen."

Cliff stopped laughing...

Cliff: "That's because they are dumb, I mean, I know for a fact she made that up to mess with everyone, including you, Branch."

Branch: "But, what she says are always right, because she's queen and she 'knows everything' about friendship."

Cliff: "Well, I know one thing she doesn't know about it, it's that true friends do what best for each other, no matter how difficult it gets."

Leaf: "Plus, we heard that Poppy's been dethroned as queen, she's back to being princess again."

Branch: "Didn't see that coming...also, what are you guys doing out here anyway?"

Leaf: "We needed a break from our dad being bossy, so we went camping..."

Cliff: "And along our walk, *reaches into his hair, pulls out a picture* I found this. It's kinda.....unusual."

He showed it to Branch, who cringed in terror at what he saw...

(Peter: "What was the picture?")

Present....

Branch: "....You don't wanna know...."

Poppy: *scoffs* "What's so wrong about looking at a picture? It can't be that ba-AAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

Poppy screamed when the same picture was shown in front of her, held by Cliff who just got here while Branch was telling the story, along with Leaf. Poppy fell back, and the others (that were behind her and Creek too) screamed as well, some fainted now that they saw the picture.

Cliff: "Knew they would react to it...*starts laughing like Archer, then stopped* You're gonna wait for them to recover, huh?"

Branch: "....Yep....as soon as you put that photo away."

After they recovered....and that Cliff put the photo away.....

Poppy: "What does the story with the twins have to do with you becoming a star? Also, what happened to the twins' (Cliff & Leaf) hair?"

Their hair was cut so now they're no longer attached to each other.

Branch: "I'm gettin' to those. Anyway, after I recovered from....the thing, we went to a bar to drink something, and that's were we met someone we didn't expect to meet......"

Flashback.....

While they were drinking, a yellow troll, wearing a hoodie and black sunglasses, was walking in the bar.

That troll walked over to the three, who were busy arguing on who should pay for their drinks, until they heard, "I got it," From the same person before.

Branch: "Oh, thanks...whoever you are."

The mysterious troll sat next to him. The twins already left for who knows what, and Branch wanted to stay longer before he leaves, so it's just the two of them now.

?: "So.....you're having problems?"

Branch: "I am not! I'm just scrambled. I want to protect everyone by putting traps everywhere for predators, but my used-to-be friend now forbids me to, *sighs* and I don't know what to do about it anymore."

?: "Well, what does this 'used-to-be' friend think or do to your things?"

Branch: "Mostly just complain about them and anything that's beyond friendly, I don't really want be near a person who acts like that."

"Well.....neither do I," The troll replied, briefly pulling down his sunglasses and his hoodie. One eye was bright red and the other was baby blue. And his hair was orange with red streak. Branch recognized this troll as Slick, the most famous and discreet Starmaker in Troll Village. He comes to any regular trolls who are having problems with something and turns them into stars with the talent they're great at.

"Of course, what I just said probably wasn't very helpful," Branch pointed out.

(Poppy: "Woah, woah, woah, wait, hold it!!!")

Present.....

Poppy: "Slick? As in 'famous Starmaker Slick'?!"

Branch: "Yes? And why are you....?"

Smidge: "Ignore her, she's been idling that troll ever since we were teens, also been practically begging him to turn her into a star so she could get more praise than what she already has right now."

Poppy: "It's not like that. I just like what he's doing, so I keep talking to him into making me more likes than ever."

Cliff: "That's exactly....."

Leaf: "What Smidge just said."

Smidge: "Told ya."

Branch: "Anyways, back to my story..."

Flashback.....

Slick: "I think you need a break from it all. Don't worry, man. I've got an idea for it to go away, and all you have to do is just ask...."

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Branch: "You're saying that I should become a startroll? How's that gonna help?!"

Slick: "Well, you said you don't want to be near a person acting like your once-friend. Also, from what I heard on my way here, You also said you want some attention or appreciation. And what better way than to turn you into a startroll? They get the praises and get what they want, when they want it. Plus, they're really nice to one another."

Branch: "Still, I'm gonna have turn that down. I can handle what I'm living through. Might as well embrace it and just, you know watch your "show" from afar."

Slick: "But, and this is just a theory, what if the life you're now living through becomes out of hand, that if one friend insulted you, then another and another, until a whole crowd starts doing it to you with a whole lotta cursing?! How would you live through that now?!"

Branch didn't think that would happen, but who knows, maybe it might. And he has no choice but to take the offer, though he doubts everyone will give him the appreciation he deserves.

Branch: *sighs* "I don't know, it seems a bit risky."

Slick: "Trust me, this will do you good. And besides, you'll need it and all it takes is to take a big leap for it....."

And that's where Slick starts singing......

(Play the song!!!)

[Slick]:
"Right here, right now
I put the offer out
I don't want to chase you down
I know you see it
You run with me
And I can cut you free
Out of the treachery and walls you keep in
So trade that typical for something colorful
And if it's crazy, live a little crazy
You can play it sensible, a king of conventional
Or you can risk it all and see...."

"Don't you wanna get away from the same old part you gotta play
'Cause I got what you need
So come with me and take the ride
It'll take you to the other ride
'Cause you can do like you do
Or you can do like me
Stay in the cage, or you'll finally take the key
Oh, damn! Suddenly you're free to fly
It'll take you to the other side."

That's were Branch starts singing as well, to prove his point.

[Branch]:
"Okay, my friend, you want to cut me in
Well I hate to tell you but it just won't happen
So thanks, but no
I think I'm good to go
'Cause I quite enjoy the life you say I'm trapped in
Now I admire you, and that whole show you do
You're onto something, really it's something
But I live among the swells, and we don't pick up peanut shells
I'll have to leave that up to you...."

"Don't you know I'm okay with this uptown part I get to play
'Cause I got what I need and I don't want to take the ride
I don't need to see the other side
So go and do like you do
I'm good to do like me
Ain't in a cage, so I don't need to take the key
Oh, damn! Can't you see I'm doing fine?
I don't need to see the other side."

[Slick]:
"Now is this really how you like to spend your days?
Whiskey and misery, and parties and plays."

[Branch]:
"If I were mixed up with you, I'd be the talk of the town
Disgraced and disowned, another one of the clowns."

[Slick]:
"But you would finally live a little, finally laugh a little
Just let me give you the freedom to dream and it'll
Wake you up and cure your aching
Take you walls and start 'em breaking
Now that's a deal that seems worth taking
But I guess I'll leave that up to you....."

That's were Branch began to think, it is a nice offer and he does need a break from one thing he's most troubled with. So he agreed, but with one condition.

[Branch]:
"Well it's intriguing, but to go would cost me greatly
So what percentage of the show would I be taking?

[Slick]:
"Fair enough, you'd want a piece of all the action
I'd give you seven, we could shake and make it happen."

[Branch, Slick]:
"I wasn't born this morning, eighteen would be just fine."
"Why not just go ahead and ask for nickels on the dime."
"Fifteen"
"I'd do eight"
"Twelve"
"Maybe nine"
"Ten"

Slick: "So Branch *holds out hand to shake* we have a deal?"

Branch: *shakes hands* "You've got a deal☺"

[Both]:
"Don't you wanna get away to a whole new part you're gonna play
'Cause I got what you need, so come with me and take the ride....."

Next thing you know, they're now at DJ Slick's mansion-like pod where all the celebrity trolls live or hang out with their friends.

"....To the other side
So if you do like I do
So if you do like me
Forget the cage, 'cause we know how to make the key
Oh, damn! Suddenly we're free to fly
We're to the other side
So if you do like I do (to the other side)
So if you do like me (we're going to the other side)
'Cause if we do we're going to the other side
We're going to the other side"

This is just the beginning of a new life....

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

A/n: The song for this is called The Other Side from the movie "The Greatest Showman". Man I love that movie. Anyways, this is just part one of Branch's story so, I'm just gonna continue this in the other chapter, it's already long (almost 3000 words) and it took me two weeks to finish it and no, the picture isn't the one above. Let's just say it's a girl whose face you can't unsee. Hint: It's not me! Okay, bye!