- And why are we watching that stupid egg?

The brothers were all sitting around the living room, staring at the egg in the middle of their circle. It was a sunny day, they could have been playing outside !! But Grandma Rosiepuff smiled to them gently;

- Branch will hatch soon, she told them, Eggs always hatch around 9 months old, don't you wanna meet him when he hatches ? Legends says baby trolls get attached the most to first troll they see...

John Dory, Spruce and Clay just stared at the shell annoyingnly; and to thought they had wanted a sister ! Now there was another boy that would follow them everywhere without saying anything, just like Floyd--

Only Floyd, 3 years old at the time, was staring quietly at the blue shell. He curiously gently petted the blue hair comimg from the top. He wasn't annoyed that much, Floyd never got annoyed by anything as it seemed. His 3 older brothers just rolled their eyes at how quiet he was, which Floyd noticed and nervously placed with his fingers;

- I got more interesting things to do ! Clay left the room, I'm going in the yard to prepare my next prank.

- Clay you know very well that that material isn't for your age, let me help !! Spruce followed

John Dory looked over at Floyd;

- Aren't you gonna follow us ? He asked, surprised.

Floyd shook his head; he never talked this much. Maybe it was because he had hatched alone like Grandma had said Branch would need all their love ? He had not really any troll to which he ever told anything...

The pink haired toddler looked at John and back at the egg, then back at him.

- Well... okay, see you later Flo.

He left the room as well. Rosiepuff sat down next to the toddler, gently petting his hair;

- You wanna stay with Branch ?

He nodded.

- That's okay, we can wait together.

Floyd smiled to her and hugged her side, but he took Branch's egg and walked away with it. He always prefered to stay alone because, even if he tried to, he really did felt like he did not fit in... his older brothers already had something which he couldn't really be part of.

He placed the egg on the ground in his bedroom, he stared at it for a while, waiting... but the egg didn't even moved a single bit. Hadn't Grandma said Branch would hatch soon?? He didn't seemed excited to be born.

- ... I-I...I know the world sounds scary, Floyd told the egg.

Hearing his own voice felt unnatural. He just hugged the soft shell, giving his future baby brother all the love he could. He would make sure Branch was happy, he wanted to be the best brother to him ! If that meant waiting all night long he wouldn't let Branch hatch alone.

- Take your time, Floyd rassured him.

So he just went to his occupations, playing with his dolls with the egg next to him. Time to time Grandma walked in the room to make sure everything was okay, and John Dory was throwing rocks at Clay and Spruce in the yard-- a normal day.

Only Floyd slowly got more comfortable just staying with the egg; he felt important as he took care of it. Eventually Rosiepuff walked in the room again with his midday snack.

- There you go, angel, I made some apples, she gave him the plate, how is Branch doing?

Floyd just quietly took the plate and ate; he looked over at Branch's shell, still not moving. He started to tear up, saddened. Rosiepuff immediately comforted him;

- Aww, sweetie.. why so sad ?

Floyd said something so quietly any normal troll wouldn't even understand what he had said. Rosiepuff knew;

- ...Hate you ? Rosiepuff was shocked, I don't think that-- Floyd, she gently chuckled, I don't think your hugs can choke him, she chased his tears away, trust me, Branch will hatch soon enough and I'm pretty sure he will adore you, you are very sweet to him !

Of course she couldn't predict the baby's personality but they were usually very sweet. Floyd felt rassured by this and nodded; he was nice to Branch, he hoped Branch would appreciate it.

...

Later in the day, Floyd had carry Branch back to the living room, playing with favorite pony doll. John Dory, Spruce and Clay crashed in [by the freaking window] playing some pirates roleplay.

- Okay, Clay, something's wrong... We gotta find a way to get rid of this ! He pointed to his hand, Captain Hook doesn't have a hand !!

- But I cannot get rid of my hand ! Clay protested, Ask Spruce to be captain Hook then !!

- NO WAY, I'm the crocodile ! He pointed to the clock he had placed inside of his hair, Huh??

Floyd was pulling on his clothes to get his attention.

- What do you want, Floyd ?? Oh I know !! Floyd could be Captain Hook !

The 3 year old shook his head no, then shyly gestured to the doll he was playing with earlier; a princess doll. The older brothers found themselves dumbfounded.

-.... You wanna be a princess ? John Dory guessed, Floyd clapped his little hands in agreement.

- I don't think there's any princesses in pirates... Spruce thought out loud, is there ?

- There is actually, Clay had picked up a book about pirates, Captain Hook captured Wendy after all.

- But is Wendy really a princess ? Spruce teased.

- Well, if Floyd wants Wendy to be a princess, she can be a princess ! John Dory agreed, and it will bring some action to our game !

- What type of action ? Spruce asked, not so sure anymore.

....

Floyd was now tied up to a chair, with a crown on his head and a tutu around his waist.

Captain John Dory had capture him and Peter Clay, with his loyal crocodile friend named Tick-Spruce-Tock had to free him from the evil pirate.

Floyd was not annoyed by this at all, at least, he was part of the game for once !

- I CAME TO FREE...UHH....What's his name again?? Clay leaned toward Spruce.

- ᴾʳⁱⁿᶜᵉˢˢ ˢᵘᵍᵃʳ ᴾⁱᵉ !! Spruce reminded him the name Floyd had choose for his character.

- ... PRINCESS SUGAR PIE !! Clay lifted his little fake sword made from fuzzy felt, LET THEM GO RIGHT NOW, CAPTAIN JOHN, OR YOU WILL TASTE MY SWORD !!

- NEVER !! Captain John Dory replaced his way too big pirate hat on his head, I needed them to.... uh... I don't know actually, he realized, Doesn't matter ! LET'S FIGHT !!

The three older siblings started to fight with their fake swords, only the game was getting a bit too rough; Floyd actually got scared when two of the swords almost hit his legs.

- G-Guys... he tried to speak up, but he was afraid that if he said anything, they would not want to play with him anymore.

Only, on the couch was Branch's shell. And without noticing, the boys were getting pretty close to it... Floyd felt his heart jump in his little rib cage; oh no ! If they kept going, they would hit Branch !

He tried to get free from the chair, struggling, biting unto the jump rope that had served to tied him up to the chair. The pirate fight was still going on and maybe if he just moved Branch to a safer place and went back to his chair, this would be fine !!

He used all of his might to get free, and as he ran to the couch to get Branch to a safe place, Tick-Spruce-Tock stopped him;

- I'M ACTUALLY AN EVIL CROCODILE, RAAAAHHH!!!

He playfully lifted Floyd in his arms, which the toddler tried to get free... but since he did not used his big voice Spruce thought his little hits were part of the game.

Until, Clay's sword acidentelly touched the egg.

TOC! The egg fell from the couch rolled on the ground.

Floyd used his big voice;

- ...NO BRANCH !! Floyd screamed in fear and finally got free from Spruce's hold, GUYS CAREFUL!! YOU HURTED BRANCH !!

He pushed them away from the egg and checked on it, looking at every angle to make sure nothing was damaged. The three young pirates looked shocked, but were not feeling bad at all;

- Wait, you can talk? Clay asked, I thought you were mute this whole time...

- Oh cmon, why was he even on the couch ?? Spruce asked, Pirates aren't careful !!

- Yeah ! You should have let him in the bedroom, John Dory rolled his eyesm

- PLUS, I barely hit it !! Clay gestured to the egg.

CRACK !

-.....oh-

The little shell started to shake, Floyd still holding it gasped in surprise.

- GRANDMA !! The three older boys ran to go get help, thinking they broke it.

Floyd's pupils dilated in interest as he sat down on the ground, removing the little crown on his head. He had no idea how to describe what he feeling right now; impatient ? Amazed ?

For sure, love filled his heart when he saw the little hands percing the shell, and a little head break it open in half.

Branch was born !!

His little blue eyes opened and looked at Floyd, remembering who was the first troll he had seen. Whimpering, the baby reached his little hands toward him before he closed his eyes again since the light was too bright for him to handle. The pink toddler removed the top of the shell, smiling widely;

- H-Hai Branch, he greeted him, wait, let me get you a blanket !!

- WHAT THE HAIR DO YOU MEAN BY YOU BR- Ooooh ! He hatched !! Grandma Rosiepuff noticed what had trully happened.

Floyd had wrapped Branch in a blanket on the couch and was crying in joy; he couldn't believe that his baby brother was finally here !! And he was the first to meet him !!

- Awe man, it is really a boy ! John Dory pouted, dissapointed.

Everyone approached the newborn that was holding into Floyd's hand.... until...

..

- snif... I HAVE A LITTLE BROTHER, Floyd sobbed suddendly.

- Yeah you do, Rosiepuff chuckled, surprised to hear Floyd speaking that loud.

- AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH ALREADY, He kept sobbing.

- Yeah, we can see that, Spruce raised an eyebrow.

- I CAN BE HIS BEST FRIEND !!

- Yeah, sure you keep him! I wanted a sister anyway-- Clay crossed his arms.

- AND WE ARE GONNA BE BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, Floyd hugged the baby, THANK YOU BRANCHHHH!!!

- WHY ARE YOU THANKING THE BABY---

The End.