One year later...

"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy."

Branch stared down at the rocks he had gathered and picked each one up individually, examining their every detail, their color, their scent. He found rocks and nature in general to be an intriguing thing in life. He studied plants and flowers and streams all day, usually not hanging out with the other kids, although he did that sometimes too.

Right now, many of them were running around and squealing with delight as if there were no problems. The kids seemed to be the only Trolls who could forget about the Bergens lurking around their home, eating them every year on Trollstice, their rather gruesome and terrifying holiday.

Branch had a sudden flashback of his parents being snatched right out of their pod by the evil purple Bergen named Chef. She prepared the Trolls every year and she was quite scary to him.

"Hey, Branch, come play!"

He looked up as a little purple Troll girl with darker hair called to him. She was with a few other kids, her bright green eyes holding excitement. "We're playing tag!"

Branch perked up a little, his earlier thoughts of his parents' tragic death melting from his mind. His brain had tired to block out most of the moment as it had been quite traumatizing for his young age. He was only ten years old but when they'd died, he had been eight.

Branch, are you coming or not?" the girl called once again.

He suddenly remembered that her name was Lavender. They hung out sometimes but it was rare. The young blue Troll really did not have any close friends, just a few other kids he would play with every so often.

He scrambled up to his feet, abandoning his rocks and running in her direction. "Of course I'm coming!" he called. "I love tag!" He leaped over a stick in his path and landed beside Lavender, smiling at her.

"Okay, one, two, three, not it!" An orange boy called, running away from the group.

The other three kids, including Lavender, screamed "not it" right after him.

Annoyance filled Branch as he realized he'd have to be the one chasing everyone around. "Ugh! Fine!" he grumbled.

The three other Trolls giggled wildly and ran off.

Branch aimed for Lavender, running after her with excitement suddenly bustling through his veins. His heart quickened as he pumped his legs faster, getting closer and closer to Lavender with every step he took. "I'm coming for you!" he giggled loudly, stretching out his arms as he reached for the purple Troll.

"No you're not!" Lavender retorted, swerving off to the side and kicking up dust in Branch's face.

The bright blue Troll coughed wildly, halting and brushing the dirt off his face. A few grains of it flew up his nostrils, causing him to sneeze. He felt a little dizzy afterwards and looked around for Lavender, seeing her running a long way's off now. "Clever, but ow! My nose..." He grabbed it with his hand, rubbing it. That had been a hard sneeze there.

Suddenly, the sensation of something tightening around his leg made him yelp in surprise, glancing downwards and seeing something that legitimately shocked him. It was a little baby Troll...but not just any baby Troll.

"Poppy?" Branch muttered, backing up and lifting his ankle from her grasp.

She squeaked in protest and rose to her rather wobbly toddler legs. She was the Princess of Troll Tree. What was she doing here? Where was King Peppy.

"Hey, you need to go home," Branch muttered. "Where's your dad?" He found himself caught in the beautiful pink shade that made up her skin. Ever since she'd been born two years ago, Branch stared at her constantly. Was that bad? Oh, she was an interesting little one. He grabbed her hand to help her not fall and glanced around for Peppy. But he could not see him.

"Poppy, seriously. Where's your dad??" Branch muttered more harshly.

"Dadda!" she squeaked, releasing herself from his grip and waddling off, only to stumble and fall down. She whimpered slightly and suddenly broke out crying.

"No! No, stop!" He ran over and scooped her up, holding her against him. His heart sped up dramatically and heat creeped across his face. "Don't cry. Please..."

"What's going on here?"

He turned around, his breath hitching in his throat as he caught sight of King Peppy, staring at Branch with a suspicious glare. "Are you hurting my daughter?"

"What? No, sir! I would never!" Branch replied, walking over and handing the Princess to her father.

The orange Troll smiled down at Branch. "Thank you, my boy. Why is she crying though?"

"She fell," Branch told him.

Peppy's eyes widened with shock and he glanced down at Poppy who was held against his chest. "What do you mean 'she fell'? How did she fall? Is she hurt?" The King began examining the Princess with a fearful, concerned gaze, checking every spot of her small pink body to scope out any sign of injury.

"Don't worry, King Peppy. She just fell back while walking. She isn't hurt," Branch reassured him.

Peppy sighed, hugging his daughter close to him. "Well, thank you for picking her up, Branch." With that, he turned and walked back towards his pod, nuzzling and kissing Poppy affectionately as he walked.

Branch could hear the little Princess giggling happily from her father's gentle touch and sighed, turning away. There was a strange longing ache in his chest and he stared down at his feet, clenching his jaw and closing his bright blue eyes.

"Branch, what are you doing??" Lavender's voice sounded from nearby and he looked up, his eyes snapping open, and locking on the pale purple Troll who was running in bus direction.

"Why did you stop playing?" asked a red female next to Lavender. "We were having fun!"

"If you don't wanna play, just tell us, Branch," said the orange boy. "Come on, guys. Let's leave Branch alone. He doesn't have time for us, I see." The four Troll kids walked away, leaving Branch by himself. He was about to call after them and apologize, telling them he would return to the game. But he stopped himself. He really did not feel like playing anymore.

Instead, he turned and walked back towards his and his grandma's pod, his feet trudging against the ground. That little moment with Poppy would be something that would stay trapped in his mind forever.