High School AU/Fanasty AU

The Cheerleader listened carefully as she watched her Poppy explained everything. She sits on the couch farer away from the troll she declared an impostor. The way he spoke calmed her down and gave her some comfort as well since she was able recognise him through it. Branch could look past the fact that he was pink instead of grey. Before Branch would hope that he would be happy again but, she didn't think she would see be pink again like this. It felt bittersweet.

" Okay. Is that everything?", Branch says simply.

" I think so...", the pink troll replies honestly.

The Poppy in the mirror couldn't remember anything else to add so he ended it there. He can't remember the last time he talked so much in one day but, today took the award for it. The teenage troll is honestly surprised that he didn't feel drained like he normally would. Poppy didn't admit it out loud but, hearing his Branch's voice was comforting. He missed her.

" When and how are you going to come back? You can't stay there forever. ", blue Branch asks caringly.

That's when both Poppies shared a nervous reaction. The one on the couch chuckled nervously as the one in the mirror broke eye contact and was only saying "Hmmm" completely unsure of what to say. The blue female turns her head to the troll sitting near her than back to more the socially awkward troll in the mirror.

" You do know how to get back,right?", Branch says concerned.

Neither of the two Poppies wanted to answer her. The person who made them switch places wasn't giving many details on when or how they would go back home as mentioned before. It wasn't their fault that they weren't given such information but, still they wished that did know. Both Poppies did miss their own world and home.

"Well actually -...", the Pink troll says awkwardly.

" Give that!", an certain female voice said annoyed.

An grey hand grabs and yanks the mirror out of the awkward teen's hand. When both Branches saw each other for first time they weren't surprised to see each other but, didn't expect how different they looked. The grey Branch didn't think the other her would actually have the type of look she always believed she could never have. To her she looked like almost prefect version of what she wished she looked like. Grey Branch hated how she would look in the mirror cause she could easily see every imperfection she had.

The blue Branch immediately took note of how the other her was both grey and still had the physical traits that her aunt deemed unacceptiable on her to have. They were the pimples, ears still looking deformed and not having the " perfectly bright blue" skin.  The amount of skincare products she uses to look nice in her aunt's eyes is very time consuming. It's why she always has to wake an hour early. The blue troll never was even insecure about her appearance until her aunt started pointing out every little detail like she was a doll that could easily be perfected.

" Apparently the mirror will start glowing and become a portal when the Trairy decides to let them go home but, they don't know when that will happen. For all we know this could last from days into weeks! ", Grey Branch says annoyed.

" First of all, there are couple leaves in your hair and second, why are we even in this situation?", The Blue Branch says calmly then annoyed.

Grey Branch notices the leaves in the hair so she quickly takes them out as the other her expressed how annoyed she was. Both Poppies were quiet. The awkward one didn't know what to say to get back into conversation. His conversation skills weren't the best. The other Poppy however was still a bit scared of the blue troll who was ready to send him to hospital earlier.  Then the blue troll turns her head back to him.

" How did you get the Trairy's attention in the first place?", Blue Branch asks.

" Well... I was just walking home and I made an wish out loud then suddenly I was sucked into a wormhole. ", Grey Poppy admits.

" Same here...", the pink Poppy says lowly from the mirror.

" Was that really how this whole thing started?", Grey Branch questions from the mirror.

The two grey trolls could easily see each other since Blue Branch wasn't holding the mirror only towards her. Grey Branch honestly didn't like seeing her Poppy as a grey troll. Never in her life did she think that he would end up like her. She knew that he wasn't grey for the same reasons as her but, still she didn't like how he looked so unhappy. He smiles at her like he always does but, this time Branch actually let her lips form a subtle smile. At least he was safe there at the moment instead of facing hell.

The next day, nothing had changed. The Positive Poppy wokeup in an depressing and dark bedroom while the Negative Poppy woke up in his bedroom. The only option they had was to wait. The Branches had decided to help them by keeping them out of trouble and to make sure nobody got suspicious of them. The group didn't need everyone knowing their situation.

Grey Branch walks with unhappy Pink troll into their school. Most trolls tried to talk to him and would ask if he was okay or what happened to him. It poked at his anixity more than he would like but, Branch helped by answering for him every now and then. She played off as if she was tired of hearing him explain everything detail of story she heard many times. It worked well.

" Has it started yet?", Branch whispers.

The two teens are sitting at the back of the class as the teacher contuines to explain how stars were born. Poppy checks the mirror which is in his bright jacket pocket. It didn't seem to glowing. The light from the window shines onto the frame making it seem extra golden.  He leaves it back in his pocket as he turned his head to Branch. He shakes his head disappointedly. Today feels  like it might be long day.

Later in the other world, Blue Branch was keeping her tag along close as she walks through the halls. She had done this before with her Poppy so nobody would find this out of the ordinary. Everyone just ignored Poppy but, noticed Branch and tried to talk to her as usual. A few boys were even flirting with her. Today she didn't feel like talking to any of them so she remained quiet.

Once they reached Poppy's locker which was not too far away from Branch's locker, Poppy decided to check his mirror. It seemed to look more golden than usual but, it wasn't glowing. He let's a sigh to himself as Branch looked at the mirror feeling a little disappointed.

" Maybe it will start to glow later... ", Branch says lowly and hopeful.

Unfortunately for the rest of the school day the mirrors didn't even sparkle like it was going to start glowing. Sure the frames were more golden in appearence but, that could easily be the light reflecting on it. In the world with the two unhappy trolls, Branch was taking her new pal home. They barely talked as on their walk and when they entered the house. It was just silence. Branch still wasn't used to how quiet he was. It made everything feel more awkward.

" You know that it's okay to talk more during an conversation or to voice the fact that you don't like something, right? You are more quiet than me. ", Branch says honestly and softly.

Poppy was sinking his back into the couch staring up at the ceiling when he heard Branch speak. The only time he had spoken earlier was when he had to tell everyone that he was fine and that "nothing was wrong". In reality a lot was going on with him. He also lacked a backbone. Branch joins him on the couch as he finally made his voice again.

" I'm pretty sure talking only causes me problems... Listening is just easier than saying the wrong thing or trying to talk like a chatterbox. ", Poppy says blankly.

" I'm not saying that you have to talk as much as my Poppy but, you should at least speakup when you have something to say or someone did something to you that your not okay with. You didn't even complain when that idiot jumped scared you. You generally thought that he was gonna hurt you!", Branch replies caringly.

" Sure it wasn't fun for me but, what the heck was I suppose to say to him in that moment? That I thought I gonna die or straight out say that it wasn't funny?", Poppy says upset and overthinking.

" Yes! I would had yelled at him but, you just stood there and just awkwardly agreed with him that the prank was no big deal when I was telling him that it was uncalled for. He could had given you another panic attack!", Branch says bluntly.

The boy turns his head to her with no change in his expression. His mind refused to believe that the answer was that simple. His anxiety probably wouldn't allow him to open his mouth to voice how felt if he had tried to give his honest opinion. The way the grey girl was looking at him, was like a mix of she was in disbelief and possibly felt sorry for him. He wasn't always comfortable with it when people would pity him like that.

" You wouldn't understand... Nobody does... ", Poppy replies unhappily.

"Understand what?", Branch questions calmly.

" It's a event I rather forget... ", Poppy says lowly.

" You already know the stories behind my bruises and what made me grey... If anyone could understand why your the way you are, it would me...", Branch says caringly and softly.

The boy turns his head away from her then let's out a heavy sigh. She wasn't using the fact that he knew her pain and turning grey story as a weapon but, it was a point. She understands more than anyone what's it like to wakeup everday suffering from the pains tied to being grey. Poppy knew that...

He wasn't sure if I could even explain everything he felt but, in that moment a part of him wanted to talk about it. The last time he spoke about his father's death was with a therapist but, even then he couldn't just say how he felt properly. Then Poppy felt an hand touch his hand. He looked down to see an grey hand gently hold it then back up at the owner of the hand. She had an concerned expression in her eyes as she remained silent and sat so closer to him.

" If I had just listened when my dad told me to calm down he would had - ...", Poppy says with heavy heart but, then stops.

What happened to his father wasn't his fault but, yet Poppy still blamed himself for it. Nobody knew that the car was going crash into the ice cream shop they were standing at. It all was an complete accident caused by a drunk driver. He was just a little trolling who was excited about getting ice cream... Tears began to fill Poppy's eyes as the memories he would refuse to revisit flood his brain.

Branch stared at Poppy with an much more concerned look on her face! Her grip on his hand tighten as realized what he was going to say! He was breaking down and that wasn't an easy sight to see but, she had feeling that he needed to go through with this... Meanwhile unknowingly to both trolls, the mirror in Poppy's pocket started to sparkle in a magical way. It wasn't very bright but, that sparkling was a sign that the mirror would change from it's current stage into a portal very soon...

AN: This story turned out to be longer than I expected it to be originally... Part 6 will be the last part.