...

Soon enough, Clay had saved Branch from drowning and everyone had go back to the party.

Even if it was his birthday, Branch stayed distanced from the crowd. He prefered his quiet table that his friends had the good idea to set up for him.. it was away from the bright lights and loud music and he could close the curtains around it at any moment to get some deserved silence, but he liked to watch his brothers singing on stage again, it brought back... bittersweet memories. At the moment they were singing "Stayin' Alive" which was, he knew well, one of Satin and Chenille's favorite. Many times before the SnackPack knew he had a bunch of older siblings, they would invite him to slumber parties and blast Brozone's album in their pod.

At the same time, Branch was focused on using the best way to stim he had think of possible; scrapbooking. He had get better at it since the first album he had made for Poppy but he still needed so practice before he was able to craft volume 2.

It helped him to clear his thoughts to cut paper and glue things on the pages, to just occupy his hands. He could use this form of art to let out his feelings like Poppy had advised to him.. sure, his scrapbooks weren't always as bright and detailed as hers, but she liked every of them with all of her heart. Sometimes the couple would spend the night at her pod or the bunker and would just talk about the new pages of their "vent scrapbooks". It made Branch feel good. It made him feel happy.

It was when he was struggling with a piece of blue felt that Poppy pushed the curtain open to walk in. She laughed at the view of her boyfriend; hair still wet and frowning as he tried to get the right shape out of a piece of paper. The blue brozone vest and the stars on his cheek did suit him pretty well;

- Need help ? She asked, bringing him a plate full of chocolate cupcakes and other snacks that the pink troll knew he liked.

He raised his gaze toward her, his stomach filling up with butterflies. He moved to let her some space next to him. She sat down and looked at his scrapbook with interest;

- What are you representing? She asked.

- I call that one "Reunion", he explained.

He had indeed scrapbooked the first group hug he had get from his brothers.. well almost everyone. John Dory was missing; he was still in Branch's hands.

- I can't cut a square, he grumbled, talking about his brother's body type.

Poppy opened her hand so he would pass her the scissors. He smiled back and let her do it for him.

She carefully made a John out of paper while Branch took a cupcake to start eat it. The party was still going on in the background but they didn't mind it more than this.

Poppy looked at Branch in the corner of her eye; the bluish troll was looking at his family on stage with mixed emotions. Concerned she gently caressed the back of his hand;

- Everything okay ? She asked.

Poppy was giving him the first shape for a perfect made Square John. Branch shook out of it and blushed, looking at their hands then at her pink eyes. She could have swear he had looked at her lips for a second... he grabbed the piece of paper and a tube of glue, letting his cupcake aside to team up to finish this scrapbook ;

- Huh ? Uh.. I was just listening to the song, he said, giggling akwardly.

She gave him that look that meant "Are you sure ?", she was cutting John's hair at the moment.

He sighed;

- I just... it's just strange I thought I would never see them again, and now that they are back I can't.. it's complicated to connect with them.

She quickly came to understanding;

- Is it because of the surf accident ? She guessed easily and she knew she pulled the string because she saw that purple tongue of his pulled out, Branch, it was the first time ! She giggled gently, I'm sure you should let them a chance, I understand it can feel weird that they suddenly come back in your life but you shouldn't run away from them, right ? Spruce was sincerely trying to have fun.

Branch looked down at the scrapbook pieces waiting to be glued together; he picked up Paper-Branch.

- Does that guy really deserves... this ?

He showed all the pages that he had made... hugs and dances with the snackpack, Poppy, and most recently their adventure to save Floyd. So many colors, songs and mostly, happiness.

- He does, Poppy told him, I know where his place is.

She gently took paper Branch and went back to the Reunion page. There she placed Branch in all the older brothers' arms. He looked very happy to be there, now that John had finally joined the group.

- With Brozone? Branch guessed, confused.

Poppy shook her head;

- With the people you love, idiot. It will take time, Poppy continued, but if you just let them a chance, you will see it just like I do... they love their little brother so much, Branch.

It made him tear up, he giggled and chased the tears. She gently placed a kiss on his cheek, rubbing it with her thumb.

- Why don't you try go and sing a song with them? She proposed, it might make you feel better.

- You're only saying that to see a real Brozone full comeback, Branch argued playfully.

- Maybeeeee, she shrugged, but I also want the love of my life to be happy ! She playfully pushed him off his chair so he would get up, Cmon, you have the outfit ready on !! She urged him.

Branch laughed, about to go.. but he hesitated. He turned back to look at Poppy.

Poppy gave him a gaze filled with love; she got up and placed the vest right, clean. She hummed a lullaby for him to relax, one song he had told her his grandma would sing to him;

You're okay,
You're alright,
I'll never ever leave your side
I will stay,
I will fight,
With youuuu...

Aahhh..aaah..

Branch looked at the lights around them reflecting in her angel eyes, smiling, they were glowing with her voice reaching the notes. He loved that song it always made him happy.

You're okay
You're alright
I'll stay here through the darkness night...
All the way,
I will fight
With you...~

He placed a kiss on her lips, she giggled;

- Thanks.. he said, See you later, gator !

He then walked toward the stage, letting go of her hand slowly, Poppy giggling behind him.

He moved toward the stage, and to the backstage. John Dory saw him there and rushed to speak with him;

- Branch ? Anything you need ? He asked him, closing his micro so trolls wouldn't hear the conversation.

- Hey JD, he used the nickname his brother was called, I was wondering if uh... we could sing something ?

- All of us together ? His blue eyes lit up, removing those googles.

- Yeah? If possible ? Branch comfirmed, hesitating.

- What do you mean "If" ??? John giggled, Of course you can, it's your birthday, Bitty B ! He ruffled his hair, come on !!

He grabbed his arm and guided him behind the curtains. He knew that one choreography by heart; Floyd and Clay would move out of the way to reveal him doing the best break dance of the boyband known to this day... and the most complicated.

- This one ?? He gasped, it seemed a lot, geez it's been years !

- You got this ! John hugged him, ready ?

Branch hesitated but decided to at least try; he nodded.

...

- THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE ! Clay said to the crowd, Now I think is the time to bring the birthday boy to sing with us !!

Hearing this the crowd went wild. The music started playing right now that John had understood how to use the technologic material. Spruce had taken the main micro as singer 1 and winked to the group of trolls, some fainted.

... I've never met nobody like you !

Had friends, and I've had buddies, it's true,
But they don't turn my tummy the way you do !
I've never met nobody like you~
Oh, yeah
Yeah !

Poppy had got the SnackPack to join the group and encourage the brothers too. Everyone was having a great time.

Meanwhile, a fluffly green troll which you could only see his orange legs walked away from the party. Fuzzbert needed a little break from the loud music and a bit of fresh air; he had been dancing for the last hour.

He sat down on a log next to lagoon, looking at the stars with his practically non-existent eyes, covered by his mask of facial hair.

A strong breeze of cold wind suddendly shaked the branches of the tree, making the poor little ball of fuzz shiver from it. The fuzzling turned around, and jumped, letting out a loud screech.

There, a few meters above the ground, a flash of light disturbed the night; a swirl of yellow, blue and pink glitters and sparkles formed a portal to another world. A wormhole to another universe. Another dimension...

Fuzzbert tried to approach the strange phenomenon, being careful of where he was placing his feet on the felt ground. The portal was made of a kind of energy he never witnessed before.

Suddendly, the portal turned to pure black neon light; a scary figure emerged from it, it had a strange, yet familiar form.

Afraid, Fuzzbert runned away to the party to warn the other trolls. Meanwhile the sky was being filled with the heartless creatures.