On a cold winter's night, four little Trolls settled down in front of an open fire with mugs filled with tasty hot cocoa topped with whipped cream.

“Hello, boys and girls," said Willow, sitting in a comfy chair with an open book. “I am here to tell you a story about... danger! Treachery! The falling of nations!"

“Uh, baby, you're scaring them," Ash pointed out as Princess Flower, Manta Rave, Dusty Bluegrass, and Tiny Diamond shook in terror. “And I think you got the wrong book."

Willow closed the book and looked at the cover, which read “The Hunger Games."

“Hmm, must've grabbed the wrong one," Willow said to herself. “Well, now what do I do?"

“Tell them about the holiday in harmony," Ash suggested. The kids perked up. “They all love that one and you know I do, too."

Willow blushed as her Alternative girlfriend kissed her cheek.

“Since I misplaced The Trollar Express, I'll tell you kids a different story," she said, taking out a scrapbook. “The holidays were around the corner and for the first time, all of the Trolls of all the tribes were to celebrate together... So, this all started last week."

🎁❄️🎀❄️🎁❄️🎀❄️🎁❄️🎀❄️

Deep underground, Branch was putting on his best outfit and rubbing gel through his hair. With a tiny hammer, he broke a glass case with a sign that said “BREAK IN CASE OF FIRST DATE" and inside was a red bow, which he tied around his neck. Once he was ready, Branch pulled the lever, was lifted out of the bunker and into the outside world.

“'Tis the season," he said with confidence, and put on a fluffy pair of earmuffs. A glowbug flew over his head and handed him a bouquet of Mitten-Settas. Up above, he saw Sheila B the flower balloon floating towards him with his beloved Queen Poppy and their little Flower riding in the basket. Sheila swooped down, Poppy grabbed Branch and pulled him up as they took to the sky once again.

“Hi, Daddy!" Flower said cheerfully.

“Hey, sprout," Branch replied, rubbing her little head. “How's your bubble machine coming along?"

“I'm cwose to bweakthwough," she answered. “I'm gonna make chocowate bubbles!"

“That's my girl!"

“Buckle up, kids!" Shelia shouted as Poppy noticed how nice Branch looked.

“Hey! Love the bowtie," she said, slightly adjusting it.

“Well, you know, it is the holiday season," he reminded her, holding up the flowers. “Which is why I brought you these."

“Mitten-Settas! My favorite!" Poppy said happily. After one sniff, however... “Achoo! It's too bad I'm allergic. Achoo!"

“Yeah, too bad," Branch huffed with petals all over his face. Right before Poppy could sneeze again, he grabbed the flowers and tossed them overboard. “And we're done with that!"

“Bye-bye, fwowers!" Flower called out. Branch wiped the petals off his face and noticed the many baskets behind Poppy.

“Uh, Poppy, I know we're going on a picnic, but do we really need this much food?" he asked.

Poppy scoffed. “It's not food, they're invitations that we're going to deliver for the First Annual Trolls Kingdom Secret Holiday Gift Swap!"

“First Annual what?" Branch asked, confused. “What happened to the whole balloon-ride-over-Trolls-Kingdom-family-hangout kinda thing?"

“Branch, we're still doing that," Poppy assured him. “We're just multitasking."

“Multitasking. Right."

“Hooway for multi-gwasping!" Flower cheered.

“Alright, here's the deal," Poppy explained, showing Branch an invitation. “I put a name inside each of these invitations. Whoever gets your name is your secret person."

Branch tried to look at the name, but Poppy slapped his wrist and put her finger on his lips.

“Secret!" she whispered as Flower made a shushing sound. “Then in three days, we all meet back in Pop Village and let the gift-giving commence! You on board, Branchifur?"

“No?" Branch replied, but Poppy threw him a basket anyway.

“That's what I like to hear!" she said, holding up two baskets. “Now, help me dump these overboard!"

Like a fool, I went and stayed too long

Now, I'm wondering if your love's still strong

Ooh baby, here I am

Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours

First stop was Symphonyville, where the Classical Music Trolls were having a fancy brunch. Trollzart lifted the lid of a golden platter and the invitations flew out, landing on everyone's plates. While everyone else read them, however, one Troll decided to eat theirs.

Next was Techno Reef. Poppy tied an anchor to the basket so it would sink once it hit the water. Unfortunately, the other end of the rope was tied around Branch's foot and he sank with it. Once he got to the bottom of the ocean, he noticed King Trollex setting up holiday lights. Branch opened up the basket and the Techno Trolls each grabbed a card.

In Lonesome Flats, two Country Music Trolls were about to kiss under the mistletoe when a card blocked their lips. As Mayor Delta Dawn gave her tumbleweed Troll a carrot nose, an invitation landed in the straw hair and she pulled it out. Somehow, the tumbleweed Troll smiled when it got another one.

In Volcano Rock City, Sid Fret was about to take a picture of the Hard Rock Trolls' former (and very old) king Thrash alongside his two teenage daughters, Queen Barb and Princess Ash, and their friend Val Thundershock. When the three girls did the sign of the horns, however, Thrash made the wrong hand symbol and just when they all noticed, Poppy's invitations landed on them, so all the picture caught was their hands.

Due to the lack of gravity, Poppy and Branch had to dump the invitations for Vibe City with the balloon upside down so they could float upwards into the spaceship. Inside, all of the Funk Trolls caught their cards while roller blading with Prince D and his twin brother Cooper.

Finally, Poppy, Branch, and Flower returned home to Pop Village and dumped out the last of the invitations to their fellow Pop Trolls. Getting a little too excited, Flower jumped out of the balloon but just before she could hit the ground...

“Hold on there, squirt!" Willow said, grabbing her from up above. Willow was one of the most powerful Trolls in Trolls Kingdom and the only Pop Troll who could fly. They both grabbed an invitation and opened them up to see who their secret person was. “So, who'd you get?"

“How thould I know? I can't wead," Flower pointed out.

“Oh, right," Willow remembered, and took Flower's card to read it for her. “It says... Man-tae Ra-vé."

“Manta Wave!" Flower cheered. “I'll give her my chocowate bubble machine! Once I'm finished building it!"

“Good luck, kid!" Willow said as Flower ran off. Then, she looked inside of her card to see who she got. “Yes!"

“Ooh! Invitaaaaaaations!" Guy Diamond sang out loud.

“Me next! Me next!" Tiny shouted, running through the crowd and pushing other Trolls over. “I want one! Gimme one!"

“Don't push, son!" Guy Diamond warned him. “Be polite!"

Unfortunately, Tiny was too, well, tiny to reach for them, so he decided to get some help.

“Excuse me!" he said, tugging at a jingly anklet. “Little bit of help, please?"

“Come on, Tiny!" said Legsly, picking him up. She stretched her legs out high enough so Tiny could grab a card of his own. He reached into the name pocket and found...

“I got my daddy!" he said excitedly. “I know the perfect gift: a holiday rhyme!"

It's the holiday season

That special time of year

Poppy's rolling out the gifts

And she's bringing lots of cheer

My gift is for my daddy

None other than Guy Diamond

Gonna give him something special

That'll really blow his mimond!

“Mimond?" Tiny repeated, feeling confused. “Hold up, is that even a word? I can't think of a rhyme! What's happening to me?"

“Sounds like you lost your flow," Legsly figured.

Tiny couldn't believe what he was hearing. “I've lost my flow? What am I gonna do for my dad's holiday gift if I can't rhyme?"

“You know, you should see my friend, Rhyme-a-saurus," Legsly suggested. “He'll help you get your flow back!"

“Of course!" Tiny replied. “Good looking out, Legsly!"

“And to you, tiny baby, sir!" Legsly called out as Tiny ran off.

Flower, meanwhile was testing out her bubble machine with a special chocolate syrup. With the push of a button, there were chocolate bubbles everywhere! Too many bubbles. Flower shut it off and they slowly popped, leaving a sticky, bittersweet mess.

“I thinks I need to adjust the speed," she said to herself.

“Flower! Flower!" Tiny Diamond shouted, running towards her.

“Hey, Tiny!" Flower greeted. “What's da haps?"

“I'm gonna go see Rhyme-a-saurus to get my flow back!" he answered. “Wanna come?"

“Okay!"

Once Shelia landed, Poppy and Branch stepped out, but not before Poppy could grab the last basket with only two cards left.

“We almost forgot to grab our own invitations," she said, giving Branch one. “Oh, man. Gift swaps are so my jam!"

“Yeah, you do give the best gifts," Branch reminded her, and himself. “It's super intimidating."

Simultaneously, the young couple opened their invitations and pulled out the names of the Trolls they would give gifts to. Poppy's read “Branch" and she felt pure excitement. Branch's read “Poppy" and he felt... nothing but worry.

“Well, better get to work on a present for... whoever this is," Poppy said, trying to sound chill.

“Yeah, same here," Branch replied, trying to relax. “Gotta take care of this... this person's gift."

“Okay," Poppy said, struggling to hold back. “Catch up with you later, Branch. Bye!"

Once Poppy was gone, Branch went into panic mode. How do you give a gift to the ultimate gift giver?

This special was just the cutest thing. I was gonna make this my last fanfic, but now that they're making a Trolls 3, I just don't know anymore. I'll probably figure something out eventually. Movie doesn't come out for another two years anyhow.

Until next time. 🌈