“Okay, Branch, you can do this."

“Do what?" Willow asked, interrupting his train of thought.

“I'm gonna ask Poppy to be my date to the Heartwarming Homecoming," Branch answered. Heartwarming Week was the most romantic time of year in Troll Village. It was a time to find someone special to be with. And at the end of the week, a Troll would take his or her sweetheart to a dance called the Heartwarming Homecoming.

“I did that, too, but she tried to hook me up with Cooper," Willow said. “And even he knows I'm a... What was it, again?"

“A lesbian," Branch answered. The Trolls didn't know what a lesbian was until the Bergens explained same-sex romance. How could they know? Willow was the only one in Troll Village.

“Yeah, that," Willow remembered. “Good luck getting with Poppy. Usually, she goes alone to help others fall in love. But since her coronation, most guys, and me once, have been interested in her, so competition is tight. Plus, Creek wants to get back together with her."

“Oh, please!" Branch scoffed. “Like she'd choose that lousy rain child over someone as reliable as myself."

“You could try asking her, first," Willow pointed out. “I better get my camera ready, if I'm gonna make and sell videos of all the couples tonight."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Branch headed for the village square with the upmost confidence in himself... and charged right in like a mad bull. Not paying attention to where he was going, he crashed and landed on the last Troll he wanted to see.

“Creek."

“Branch."

“How are you?" Branch asked bitterly.

“Can't complain," Creek responded mutually. “I assume you're here to court Poppy?"

Branch nodded. “I assume the same about you?"

“Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

“Because she rejected you," Branch pointed out. “She said you can be ‘a bit much.'"

“I can tone it down," Creek insisted. “Besides, I think she can do better than a reclusive hermit who lives underground."

“It's because of her, I've improved."

“So, you think all your problems got solved because someone cute showed up?"

“It's what angels do!" Branch growled.

“You might as well give up, Branch," Creek suggested. “You have no chance."

“Apparently, neither do you," Branch said, and pointed at a group of male Trolls swarming Poppy like a flock of robins in a meadow early in the morning.

“Please go with me, Queen Poppy!" one of them begged.

“What about me?!"

“I was gonna ask her!"

“Can you sign my butt?!"

“This is... r-really sweet of– of you all, but- but- but..." Poppy began to stammer. She didn't want to turn anyone down, but she wasn't sure if she even wanted a date. “Who wants to get me a cupcake?"

With that, the crowd scrambled off.

“Okay, that buys me time," Poppy said to herself, and rushed into her pod, closing the door and windows.

“That was weird," Branch said. “You still considering asking her—"

“Watch and learn!" Creek interrupted, holding a lotus flower and approaching Poppy's pod. “Poppy? Are you home, love?"

Poppy cracked the door open and saw the Zen Troll standing there with a charming grin on his face.

“What do you want?" she asked glumly.

Oblivious to her sadness, Creek gave her the flower and answered, “Tonight's the Heartwarming Homecoming, and I was wondering if you would give me the honor of being your escort. There is no other Troll in the village I could imagine going with."

Poppy sighed. “I appreciate the offer, Creek, but I'm not going this year."

“What? But Pop–"

Before Creek could finish his sentence, Poppy closed the door. He walked away to face Branch.

“What did she say?" he asked nervously.

Creek smirked and said, “Yes."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“No."

“Come on, Willow," Satin begged.

“It will only take a minute!" Chenille insisted.

“One minute? One minute, hmm..." Willow thought about this for a second before answering. “One minute is enough time... for you guys to start arguing."

“The theme this year is ‘Magical Garden,'" Chenille pointed out. “And who better to grow a magical garden than a magical Troll?"

“She's got a point," Satin said.

“Of course I do, I'm the smarter twin," Chenille bragged, and turned to Willow. “Please?"

“Fine," she groaned. Willow rolled up her sleeves and began growing flowers with her magic. “Wait, what kind of flowers did you want?"

“Roses."

“Lilies."

“What?!" Chenille exclaimed. “Roses are too generic!"

“Lilies are aromatic!" Satin argued. “Roses just scream ‘I love you!'"

“Lilies are exotic!" Chenille spat. “This is the wardrobe malfunction all over again!"

“I didn't know the tiara would rip her hair off in front of everybody!"

“Exactly! You never know anything!"

“Oh, you are such a drama queen!"

“FORGET IT!" Willow screamed, causing all the surrounding plants to wither and turn black. The fashion twins backed away nervously. Once Willow snapped out of it, she saw the fear in their eyes, spread her wings and flew off.

“What have we done?" Chenille whispered.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Can't believe Poppy," Branch grumbled, eating a box of chocolate strawberries. “After what he did to us, she's actually going out with him?! How can she be so–"

Branch's anger was interrupted by a knocking at the door. He opened the hatch to his bunker and found a Troll wearing a dark purple cloak and white gloves, their face completely hidden. The mystery Troll gave him a note and ran off. Branch was confused, but opened the note nonetheless.

“Meet me at my pod before sunset! Happy Heartwarming!" the card said, and sprayed glitter in his face.

“Why would she send for me?" Branch wondered. He shrugged it off and headed for her pod.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Willow?" DJ Suki shouted. “Willow?!"

“Willow!" Satin cried out.

“Willow, where are you?!" Chenille called.

“Can you see her Mr. Dinkles?" Biggie asked his pet worm.

“Meep!" he answered. Cooper just whistled.

“We're looking for Willow, not Marmaduke," Guy Diamond pointed out.

“Go away," they heard a voice mutter.

“Okay, later!" Cooper said as he began to walk off, but Smidge grabbed him with her hair. The twins approached an abandoned burrow underneath a tree stump and peeked inside. They couldn't see anything, but that didn't mean it was empty.

“Willow, we're really sorry our fighting scared you," Satin apologized.

“Yeah, we didn't realize how sensitive you were around fights," Chenille added. “Can you please come out?"

They heard leaves crunching and Willow appeared out of thin air. She sighed sadly.

“It wasn't your fault," Willow reassured them. “It's just... Ever since the whole thing, with my birthday, my mother, the Rattlecobra, all these powers, this Darkness inside me... I feel like I can't be the Troll I used to be. I was created to destroy the Trolls, who's going to stop me from doing just that? My Darkness is driven by my anger, what if I just explode and take my rage out on everyone? I don't want to hurt you guys..."

“Willow, the Darkness has no affect on us," Smidge pointed out. “You can't hurt us with it."

“But I killed her with my magic," Willow sobbed. “I can still... I might..."

“Willow, maybe you were created for an evil purpose, but you were still born a good Troll," Biggie said, comforting her. “And even after her death, you've still done good things."

“Yeah, you reconnected our hair when the Rattlecobra split it in half," Satin pointed out.

“And you saved Branch and Creek from that parachute accident in the Valley of Serenity," Guy Diamond added.

“You even stopped Poppy from falling after the flying potion wore off on her," DJ said. “I gotta have some of that stuff."

“Yeah, I guess I did," Willow said, feeling a little better. “But what are we gonna do about the rose-lily situation?"

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Inside her pod, Poppy was looking in a mirror, wearing the beautiful gown she planned to wear to the dance. It was crimson and glittery with white lace across the sleeves and neckline. On her head, was a white crown with pink fuzzy hearts. She heard someone at the door and put on a jacket, hiding the top of the dress.

“Come in," she called out. Branch entered the pod and stared at the beautiful queen before snapping back to reality.

“Why did you tell me to come here?" he asked. “You're clearly already busy getting ready for the Homecoming."

“I'm not going this year," Poppy replied.

“What? But Creek said he was your escort," Branch pointed out... and his eyes widened in realization. “Creek!"

“It's not that I don't want to go, but I'm feeling very uncomfortable with the attention I've been getting lately," Poppy explained. “I still have eighty-six boxes of chocolate to eat!"

“That's a lot of antioxidants," Branch mumbled under his breath.

“I know you never ask anyone out, and you don't like parties too much, so I was wondering... Could I spend the night with you in the bunker?" Poppy asked. “I understand if you have other plans, though."

“No, I'm free," Branch assured her.

“Okay, good," Poppy sighed, taking off the jacket. “You don't mind if I keep the dress on, do you?"

“It's fine," Branch shrugged it off. “It looks really nice on you."

“Thanks," Poppy said, blushing. “No one will notice me, right? I don't wanna draw in another crowd."

“In that case, we better take the shortcut. Come on."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Thanks for letting me stay here, Branch," Poppy said as he gave her a cup of tea.

“After all the time you spent helping me become a better Troll, it's the least I could do," he insisted. “But I don't get why you don't like being noticed by those other guys."

Poppy sighed. “I know this sounds out of character for me, but I'm worried. I spent every year making sure everyone had someone special to be with on Heartwarming Week, and I forgot one day, someone would be interested in me. I don't know if they actually like me, or if it's just because I'm queen. Not that I'm not happy being queen, but how do I know if someone is in love with the real me?"

“Maybe someone is, but he's afraid to tell you," Branch hinted, but blushed when he heard the words come out.

“But how do I know?" Poppy asked. “How do I know he sees the real me?"

“Well... I know a guy, and.... and– and– and–" Branch trailed off nervously. Poppy raised an eyebrow. “He said... he said... there's nothing like your smile. Sort of subtle and perfect and real. And– and he said that..."

You never knew how wonderful

That smile could make someone feel

And he knew

Whenever you'd get bored on rainy days

You'd always find something to do

And he noticed

That you would always bring a warm smile

To someone who felt cold and blue

But he kept it all inside his head

What he saw, he left unsaid

And though he wanted to

He couldn't talk to you

He couldn't find a way

But he would always say...

“Say what?" Poppy asked curiously.

“If I could tell her, tell her everything I see

“If I could tell her how she's everything to me

“But we're a million worlds apart

“And I don't know how I would even start

“If I could tell her

If I could tell her..."

“Did he... say anything else?" Poppy wondered. “Never mind, it's not important."

“No, no, no, no!" Branch said nervously. “He just said so many things, it's hard to remember all of them!"

He thought you looked really pretty–

Er, I mean, it looked pretty cool

When you put red and black streaks in your hair

“He did?" Poppy giggled. Branch nodded.

And he wondered how you learned to dance

Like all the rest of the world isn't there

But he kept it all inside his head

What he saw, he left unsaid...

“If I could tell her, tell her everything I see

“If I could tell her how she's everything to me

“But we're a million worlds apart

“And I don't know how I would even start

“If I could tell her

“If I could tell her

But what do you do when there's this great divide?"

He just seemed so far away

“And what do you do when the distance is too wide?"

It's like I don't know anything

“And how do you say, ‘I love you?'

“‘I love you?'"

“I love you!"

I love you...

But we're a million worlds apart

And I don't know how I would even start

If I could tell her

If I could...

Poppy wiped tears away from her eyes. “Thank you, Branch. I needed to hear that."

Branch just looked away shyly before Poppy held his face and looked into his eyes. They stared at each other for a few minutes, rosy orbs locked on blue, before closing as they pressed their lips together.

Branch considered pulling away, feeling like he crossed a line, but Poppy just pulled him closer and each kiss became deeper and more intense than the last. She dug her fingers into his hair and he tenderly caressed every part of her body. Much to his surprise, Poppy seemed to moan in pleasure when Branch moved his lips across her cheek to gently nibble on her ear. He pulled away and stared at her in shock.

“Why'd you stop?" Poppy asked.

“Uh– I, uh–"

Branch could see the lust in her eyes as she pushed his vest off of his shoulders and it fell to the floor. She grabbed his wrists and placed his large hands on the zipper of her gown. After Poppy gave him a nod, he unzipped it and slowly lowered it down to her knees, revealing a yellow corset and briefs underneath.

“Poppy, you're kidding me," he panted, his voice unusually deep.

Poppy giggled flirtatiously. “You want more, you'll have to come with me."

With that, she pulled him to his room and had him sit down on his bed. After tossing off her crown, Poppy reached for the buttons on the back of the corset and proceeded to unsnap them, but Branch grabbed her by the waist, pulled her down on the bed, and rolled over so he'd be on top of her. As he unfastened each button, he kissed every inch of her face and nibbled her neckline. Poppy couldn't stop moaning, she found herself completely lost in the passion and heat of the night.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“You sure about this, guys?" Willow asked warily.

“Willow, the party starts in one minute!" Satin pointed out.

“Yeah, what do we have to lose?" Chenille added.

Willow nodded with determination and proceeded to make the flowers grow. They had the fragrance of a rose and the glamour of a lily. And, as a bonus of Willow's powers, they had glittery petals that made them look truly magical.

“Yay!" cheered the Snack Pack.

“Let's get this Heartwarming Homecoming started!" DJ shouted, and turned up the music. Guy Diamond grabbed the nearest tree branch with his hair and spun around like a disco ball. Hundreds of Trolls showed up and began dancing with their sweethearts.

“Smidge?" a familiar voice said softly. Smidge turned around to find...

“Milton Moss..."

While everyone else was getting down, Willow turned on her camera and began filming. She noticed Creek over by the concessions.

“Hey, Creeky, how's my Zen master tonight?" she said, holding the camera up to his face.

“Splendid, thanks for asking," he answered.

“Hmm, you're not taking Poppy's rejection as hard as I thought," Willow noticed.

“Yes, she decided not to come, sadly," Creek pointed out. “But I'm sure she had her reasons. Branch, on the other hand, is probably heartbroken. This stays between us, but he, too, wanted to come with Queen Poppy. I wouldn't be surprised if he was lying in bed, wallowing in his own despair."

Willow paused the camera, walked away, and replayed the tape. “Should probably cut that part out..."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Creek was right about one thing: Branch was lying in bed, but not out of misery. He was still in a daze after his steamy encounter with Poppy, who now slept close to him with a hand on his chest and her nose to his neck. Branch gently kissed her forehead before drifting off to sleep himself.

With Poppy and Branch now secretly friends with benefits, Branch is doing a little better than Creek. But their feud isn't over yet.

This was originally for Valentine's Day, but I guess it's a little late for that. Sorry guys.

Until next time. 🌈