Before we begin, I thought I should say something. Branch's body has always kinda reminded me of Taylor Lautner in Scream Queens (but only Scream Queens, nothing else he's been in). A little pudgy around the middle, but not exactly fat, you know? If you don't know, let me show you the one time we see Branch shirtless.

Lemme warn you, this is a spoiler for Trolls World Tour, so skip to the actual story if you don't wanna see.

I just realized, his hands are huge. Enjoy the final chapter!

Branch couldn't believe his ears. But here he was, hearing his mother was dead.

“She went into cardiac arrest because she inhaled a lot of smoke," DJ Suki explained. “The doctors couldn't save her in time."

“Branch, I'm really sorry," Poppy said sadly, reaching for his shoulder. He just gently brushed her hand off and left the pod.

Flashback

“Branch?! Branch!" Cyan called out through the crowd. “Has anyone seen my son?!"

Everyone was running as far away from Bergen Town as possible while she searched for her little boy. He was only six, how was he supposed to keep up?!

“Mom!" a familiar voice cried. Cyan followed it to find Branch against a giant boot, holding his scraped knee.

“Branch, there you are!" she said, feeling relieved. She picked him up and kissed his cheek. “Don't scare me like that! What were you thinking?!"

“I thought I could do it myself," he sobbed. “I have to, I'm a big boy."

“Branch, just because you're a big boy doesn't mean you have to do everything on your own," Cyan assured her son. “You can always come to me for help."

“But what if I lose you?" Branch asked tearfully. “Like Dad and Grandma?"

“Branch, Daddy and Grandma were eaten by the creatures we just escaped from," Cyan explained. “That's never gonna happen to me. I assure you, I'll be around for a long time. Someone's gotta plan your future wedding."

“Mom, you're being weird," Branch pointed out. Cyan just laughed.

“Mrs. Birchwood, is everything okay?" King Peppy called out. The rest of the Trolls had already headed into the forest.

“We're fine," Cyan assured him. “Just a little shaken."

“Let's go, the further we get from Bergen Town, the safer we'll be from the Bergens," King Peppy said as they escaped into the forest with their children.

End flashback

It had been three days since Cyan's death, no one had heard from Branch. Poppy was getting worried, what if he didn't show up to his own mother's funeral?

While the Snack Pack was getting dressed in her pod, Poppy was brushing Flower's indigo hair and Willow sang a strange song to the baby princess.

Dive down deep into her sound

But not too far, or you'll be drowned

“Will, don't you think that's kinda scary for her?" Poppy asked.

“Not as scary as the things I've seen my parents do," she pointed out.

“Guys, check this out!" DJ Suki said, holding up a newspaper that read “Troll Leaves Her Cat Large Inheritance."

“Pretty stupid move," Willow replied, adjusting her cufflinks. “The cat'll probably buy a cow and drink herself to death."

“I dunno," Biggie said. “If anything happened to me, I'd make sure Mr. Dinkles was secure."

“You think Mrs. Birchwood left anything for her pet?" Smidge asked.

“Let's go find out," Cooper suggested. “Hey, Poppy! What did you find in the will?"

“Sorry, guys, it's a personal matter," Poppy explained, putting a black dress on Flower. “I can only talk about it to the Trolls mentioned. Which reminds me, I gotta talk to Branch about that. Have you seen him?"

The Snack Pack shook their heads.

“He's probably still in his bunker," Satin figured.

“Hiding because he's scared of the Bergens," Chenille added.

“You know how he is," Guy Diamond scoffed.

“I'll go get him," Willow volunteered and left the pod.

“Thanks, Will!" Poppy replied, adjusting her daughter's bonnet.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Knock, knock, knock-knock, knock!

Branch woke up to the sound of someone at the door. He got out of bed, put on a robe, went up the elevator, and opened the eye slot on his doormat. He saw a familiar, large purple eye staring at him.

“May I come in?"

Branch groaned. “No, you can't come into my bunker."

“Not even if I wipe my feet on the mat?" Willow asked, wiping her feet where his eyes were, getting dirt in them.

“Stop that and tell me what you want," he said angrily, wiping the dirt off his face.

“Poppy's worried about you," she answered. “Said you haven't come out of your bunker in three days, and your mom's funeral is at four-thirty. They can't preserve her forever, you know."

“I'm not going," Branch replied.

“Why, did she beat and insult you, too?" Willow asked. “I mean, uh, were you guys not that close?"

Branch was confused by her first question, but decided to worry about it later.

“I lost everything to the Bergens twenty years ago," he explained. “My whole family was taken from me, she was all I had left. The moment I heard she died, I didn't want to believe it. I had just talked to her, she said she was fine."

“Maybe she just didn't want to worry you," Willow figured. “Branch, not every Troll is lucky enough to have a mother who loves him or her. A lot of them lost their moms to the Bergens, Poppy's mom got sick shortly before the escape, and..."

Branch heard Willow mumbling under her breath, but couldn't quite hear what she was saying.

“Besides," she continued, “she's not the only family you had left. You still have the rest of the Trolls, especially your daughter. You're not alone, Branch."

“I guess you're right," Branch admitted. “You know, this is the first time you haven't made fun of my stomach."

“It only works when I can actually see it," Willow pointed out.

“Of course it does," Branch grumbled, and prepared to lock the door.

“Wait! Just one question before you cut off the outside world," Willow said.

“What?" he asked.

“May I come in?"

“No!" he shouted, putting his bunker on lockdown.

“Chubby and rude," Willow said to herself as she went back to Poppy's house. “What did Poppy see in him?"

🌺🌼🌸🌺🌼🌸🌺🌼🌸🌺🌼🌸

It had been three months since Cyan's death, and Branch had barely spoken to anyone. The only times he left his bunker were to gather more supplies and warn other Trolls about the Bergens. Other than that, he would just spend his time sitting around his bunker. Often looking at photos of his family. The father he never got to meet, his grandma who died because of him, and his mom... killed by reckless teenagers.

Speaking of recklessness, he could hear loud music coming all the way from Troll Village as he was gathering wood. He decided to go straight to Poppy and the Snack Pack to tell them off, but none of them listened, and he just ended up getting glitter in his face and caught in a group hug. Nerve of these Trolls, right? Once he broke free, he warned Poppy about how once the Bergens found them, the entire Troll race's fate would be in her hands.

Later that evening, Poppy decided to go talk to Branch herself. Willow offered to go with her, but it was something he had to do herself. Carrying two bags, she found him just on the outskirts of the village, picking something up and stuffing it in his hair. He picked up his sticks and prepared to walk away when a soft hand grabbed his shoulder. He turned to find the princess staring at him.

“I'm not going to invite you to my party again," she assured him. “I just wanna talk."

Branch nodded as he put down his sticks. “Alright, let's talk."

“Branch, you're barely around anymore," Poppy began. “You said you'd watch Flower whenever I threw a party, but it's been three months. You were never there, I had to keep walking out!"

“Well, maybe you should stop throwing parties," he suggested.

“Never mind," Poppy said angrily, giving him one of the bags. “Your mom left you a few things, but you never claimed them."

“Oh, thanks," Branch muttered, looking through them. “Whatever happened to the daycare?"

“It got rebuilt, and a nice girl named Gia Grooves took over," Poppy answered. “You were lucky I held onto these for ya, Cooper was hoping he'd add the ring box to his empty box collection."

“Did he know my mother's engagement ring was inside of it?" Branch asked, pulling it out of the box. It was beautiful, a gold band with a pink diamond surrounded by tiny white diamonds.

“Probably not," Poppy answered. “Why would she leave it to you, though?"

“Well," Branch said, “despite my loneliness, pessimism, and burning hatred towards the rest of the Trolls, she kept hoping I'd get married someday."

“Oh, really?" Poppy wondered with a smirk on her face. “Anyone special on your mind?"

“No," he lied, feeling annoyed. “I don't get crushes. I'm not a school girl."

Poppy laughed. “Well, have you ever been with anyone?"

“Not romantically," Branch admitted. “To be honest... you're the only Troll I've ever been with."

Poppy's eyes widened and she looked away in surprise. “Oh..."

“Doesn't count, though, it was a one night stand," Branch pointed out.

“Yeah, that's true," Poppy agreed. “Although, to be honest, you're my only, too."

“Really?" Branch asked. “Not even your soulmate, Creek?"

Poppy sighed. “No. But I was kinda hoping he'd be my first."

Branch was curious. “Then why were you with me?"

“I was nineteen, it was the heat of the moment, you just seemed so... What are we talking about?!" Poppy said in exasperation. “I just came to give you what your mom left you, and ask you to watch Flower. I don't have time to talk about this, it's making me uncomfortable!"

Branch was about to ask how it made her uncomfortable, but didn't want to cross a line. Plus, if he went too deep, he'd probably get her pregnant again.

“Poppy, I'm really sorry," Branch said apologetically, looking down at his feet. “I should've been there to watch Flower whenever you threw a party. I promised I'd always be there for her, and I broke it. I regret that, and I'm sorry."

“That's sweet of you, Branch," Poppy said, “but I'm not the one you should apologize to."

As Branch looked up, Poppy opened up her hair to reveal Flower inside, waking up from a nap. She reached out for her father and smiled eagerly as he grabbed her.

“Hi, Flower," he said in a soft voice. “Did you miss Daddy? I missed you, too. If I could turn back time, I would've spent more time with you. I have no excuse for not being there for the past three months. I don't expect you to forgive–"

“Dada."

Both Poppy and Branch's eyes widened as they heard their daughter say her first word. Flower giggled as tears fell from her dad's eyes.

“Branch, are you crying?" Poppy asked as he wiped the tears off his cheeks.

“No, I just have sweaty eyes," he lied, holding Flower closer.

Poppy giggled. “I take it that's a yes, then. On watching her tonight. Unless, perhaps, you change your mind about coming to tonight's party?"

“Poppy, I'm not changing my mind," Branch replied. “And yes, I'll watch Flower tonight."

“Oh, thank you!" Poppy sighed in relief, giving him the other bag full of baby stuff. “I didn't wanna have to miss another party. Especially the biggest party ever!"

“Well, have fun getting eaten," Branch said sarcastically, tucking Flower into his black hair.

“Have fun living underground," Poppy replied, smirking.

“Oh, I will," Branch finished, headed into the forest with the bags and his sticks.

That night, he watched the Trolls party in town square. Although happy to see Poppy enjoying herself, he still thought it was foolish of them to party this much when the Bergens were still a threat. He just scoffed and went home.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Branch didn't know why, but Flower couldn't stop crying. He was just trying to get her to sleep.

“That's right, I don't have your music box," Branch realized. Poppy must've forgot to give it to him. “Sorry, sweetie, but your daddy doesn't sing."

Flower just cried louder. Despite not liking her mother's parties, she still carried the undying love of music every Troll had. Except Branch, of course.

Groaning in frustration, Branch tried readjusting Flower in his arms. She pressed her ear against his chest and just like that, she stopped crying. Branch couldn't believe it, that could get her to calm down? No matter, once Flower was sound asleep, he placed her in a makeshift crib and kissed her forehead.

“Goodnight, my little sprout," he whispered, and headed for his desk. He pulled out the invitation to the party Poppy gave him and looked at it thoughtfully as it continued singing to him.

“Celebrate freedom from the Bergens!"

“Celebrate freedom from the Bergens!"

There were dozens more on a nearby shelf usually covered by a curtain. Branch didn't know why, but he couldn't find it in his heart to just destroy them. There was something about Poppy's blind optimism and her stubborn drive to make him happy again that he somehow found attractive. He immediately cleared those thoughts out of his head. Even if he did have feelings for her, she was the princess and he was just a paranoid hermit. They could never be together.

Branch's thoughts were interrupted by someone pounding on the door. He closed up to card and attempted to hide it with the others, but this just resulted in most of them falling out and saying things like, “Branch, come to my party! Branch, your invited!"

“No, no, no! Shush, shush, shush, shush!" he pleaded before just shoving them all in, closing the curtain. Once they were all quiet, he heard a familiar voice calling for him as she knocked on the door.

“Branch! Branch! Branch!" Poppy shouted, losing her patience. “Branch, are you in there?!"

Much to Poppy's surprise, the door was actually the mat! Then again, Poppy hadn't been in the bunker in a while, Branch had to have made some changes since her last visit.

“I'm not going to your party!" he spat.

“The party's over! We just got attacked by a Bergen!"

Well, this is it. I've completed my rewrite of Poppy's Secret. But you'll see Flower again. Just check out my version of Trolls World Tour she's in.

Speaking of which, if you actually saw the movie, you'll understand why Flower likes listening to Branch's heartbeat so much.

Live long and prosper. 🖖