If anyone remembers the game Trolls: Crazy Party Forest (RIP), you'll tell these three Trolls apart.

Dear Mom,

I hope you're doing great, I know Branch is! He hosted a Solstice Ball here in Pop Village like you and Dad always did at home. He wouldn't tell me why, but I think Poppy's starting to grow on him. In fact, just yesterday, I saw his sparkle for the first time!
Speaking of Poppy, I'm a little worried about her ex-boyfriend. He tried to tell Captain Hyacinth that Poppy and Branch's marriage is a sham. Because of this, Barb and I have reason to believe that he's actually trying to sabotage their marriage.
Now that the snow is almost melted, we're gonna go on a trip to see Wind-breeze. Hyacinth told us that she might help figure out why he's doing this. Because if I had to give up someone, I would just let them be. I would be heartbroken, but I'd let them be.
I'll let you know how things go next full moon.

Love,
Lavender

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"Bon voyage!" Holly called out to Barb and Lavender.

"Stay safe, guys!" Val shouted. "Now, where did they say they were going, again?"

"They're lookin' for a mystical Troll named Wind-breeze," Holly answered. "Apparently, Creek told the Captain that Poppy only married Branch so Ornery Grove can help Pop Village, but never mentioned how we're helpin' them or that Poppy's tryin' to make it work."

"So he's deliberately trying to ruin things?"

Holly nodded. "But that's not all. That snake that attacked the daycare, Lavender saw Creek steal some of its venom. Barb's worried about what he's gonna do with it. For all we know, he could be planning an assassination."

"You mean he's gonna kill Branch just to get Poppy back?" Val asked nervously. "We can't let that happen!"

"We won't," Holly assured her BFF. "You just keep a close watch on Creek while I check on Poppy and Branch."

"Say no more," Val said with a smirk and ran off before Holly could say anything else important.

Val, with Synth by her side, stalked Creek all the way to the Pop Village Library and saw him walk up to three other Pop Trolls named Saffron, Pearl, and Aria. To avoid looking conspicuous, Val held a book up to her face while Synth just stared at them.

"Why aren't you holding your book up?" she asked the Tecno Troll. "We can't be seen."

"I can't read foreign languages," Synth replied. Val just rolled her red eyes and flipped the book upright. "Oh, nevermind. It's The Ugly Wingdingle."

"I've heard rumors that Prince Branch was a womanizer," Creek whispered to the three women. "All I need you to do is flirt with him whatever chance you get."

"He doesn't look like my type," Pearl argued.

"I'm not telling you girls to sleep with him," Creek argued. "You could try if you want to, but just get all giggly around him and make sure Princess Poppy sees you."

"This plan of yours is dangerous, Creek," Saffron warned him. "If we break them up, we could start a war and that's the last thing Pop Village needs."

"She's right," Pearl agreed. "We may have been learning how to defend ourselves from predators, but we can't just fight other Trolls. It's just not right. Besides, Ornery Grove outnumbers us ten to one."

"Have you forgotten that we have allies from other tribes?" Creek asked. "Ever since Poppy befriended them, they've stood by our side in times of hardship. They can easily help us with a war."

"But I thought you hated the Hard Rock Trolls," Aria pointed out.

"I don't hate them, I was just a little wary when they first arrived," Creek said in his defense. "Just do this for me, ladies, and I'll make it worth your while."

"This is bad," Val said to Synth.

"I know," Synth agreed. "All the other Wingdingles are making fun of him just because he's different."

Holly, meanwhile, managed to find Poppy hanging up decorations while Branch was carving tiny words into a giant rock. She noticed the red ribbon and attempted to crawl underneath it only for her big hair to knock her down.

"The prices I pay to look beautiful," she sighed.

"Hey, Holly, what's going on?" Poppy asked, helping her up.

"Oh, not much," Holly replied. "I was just checking on you two. Y'know, in case y'all are having any problems."

"We're not having any problems," Poppy assured her. "Are we, Branchifur?"

"Well, I am a little concerned about-"

"Concerned?" Holly said in alert. "Whatever's troubling you, Holly Darlin's here to help! What's the matter, sugar? Can't think of a good place for dinner? Weather ruining your plans? Having trouble in the bedroom?"

"First of all, none of your beeswax," Branch answered. "Second, I was going to say the stone I'm engraving is almost full and I still have fifteen names and dates to add."

"Oh."

"Holly, is everything okay?" Poppy asked in concern.

"Yep! It's all good!" she lied. "It's just... What are you guys doing?"

"We're setting up a memorial for the lives we've lost since the attacks started," Poppy answered. "That way, when Trolls feel sad about someone who was taken from them, they'll come here to think about all the happy times they've spent with them. They're gone, but they won't be forgotten."

"Wow, Poppy," Holly sniffled. "That sounded beautiful."

"Thank you!" Poppy said. "My dad and I have planned this for a while, but we were waiting for the right moment. Then, there was the... diagnosis."

"What diagnosis?" Holly asked. Poppy took a deep breath.

"About a month before Branch and I got married, my dad began suffering from memory problems," Poppy explained. "He forgot to do some of his kingly duties and sometimes when someone told him something, he would either forget what they told him or just who it was that told him something. So, Poppy took him to see Dr. Moonbloom, but she said it would just get worse.

"How much worse?"

"In six more months, he may not be fit to be king anymore," Poppy revealed. "The more time passed, the more responsibilities Branch and I had to take on."

"Poppy, I'm so sorry," Holly said sympathetically. "That must be so difficult."

"It is," Poppy admitted tearfully. "My dad's my hero, I don't want to lose him."

"It'll be okay, Poppy," Branch said in an attempt to comfort her. "You still have me and my sister and Barb and the rest of us."

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That night, every Troll in Pop Village gathered around to see the secret unveiling Poppy and Branch arranged.

"Fifteen years ago," Poppy began, "we lost a good friend and father to two of my best friends. He was the first victim of many attacks, with the most recent being little Sundance. To ensure this wouldn't happen to anyone else, I married Branch, the prince of Ornery Grove, and we promised to save them from famine in exchange they protect us from genocide."

While Poppy continued with her speech, Val noticed Pearl, Aria and Saffron winking at each other.

"Remember the plan, guys?" Val whispered to Synth, Demo, and Blaze.

Blaze nodded. "We flirt with Branch, the girls cut in to distract us and Creek's plan is ruined."

"I should've asked Lownote to do this," Val muttered in frustration. "No, those girls are gonna flirt with Branch to make Poppy think he's gonna cheat on her. You guys need to stop them before she notices."

"If anyone wishes to, you may leave a scrapbook or poem or light a candle for them," Poppy concluded. "I now declare this memorial an official part of Pop Village!"

As the Trolls payed their respects, King Peppy approached Poppy and said, "This is a wonderful thing you've done, Poppy."

"Well, I can't take all the credit," Poppy replied, blushing. "Branch helped me set it up and you planned it with me."

"I did?" King Peppy asked. Poppy just sighed.

Branch was watching everyone comfort those mourning and noticed a lone Troll grazing her fingers over the name Sundance. He decided to talk with her, but before he could...

"Come here often?" someone said flirtatiously. Branch turned to find Pearl, Aria and Saffron leaning against a mushroom.

"I beg your pardon?" Branch asked. The trio just walked up to him.

"Look at those muscles, girls," Pearl said, stroking his left arm.

"Uh, what's going on?"

"Your shoulders are so tense," Saffron added, attempting to give him a back rub.

"I just wanna braid his hair with all the ribbons in the world!" Aria giggled. The other girls just stared at her. "What?"

"Go! Go! Go!" Val whispered to the guys, who quickly went up to them.

"Hey, ponytail! Why didn't you call me?!" Synth called out to Pearl. Luckily, Poppy still hadn't noticed. "We share a night of passion and I never hear from you again?!"

"Uh, what?" Pearl asked in confusion. Branch decided to just walk away.

"Saffron, how could you?!" Blaze exclaimed in false sorrow. "Our love has had to endure us never hanging out and now, this?! Stop testing our love!"

Saffron blinked. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Hey, how would like to style some real hair?" Demo said flirtatiously to Aria.

"It is a beautiful color," Aria admitted. Pearl turned around to find Branch talking to Jubilee.

"Guys, it's a set-up," she said to her friends. "Let's get out of here."

"That's the last time I flirt with a married Troll," Saffron declared, disgusted with herself.

While the two of them walked away, Aria approached Demo with a sweet smile.

"Um, I'm having a party next Tuesday. Maybe we can style each other's hair?" she asked. Pearl just dragged her away.

"Call me," Demo whispered, making his hand look like a phone.

"I was afraid to become a single mother," Jubilee admitted to Branch. "I didn't think I could do it. But the moment I first held my baby... I didn't want to let her go."

"Poppy talks about your daughter a lot," Branch said.

"I figured," Jubilee replied. "The princess was like a big sister to her, always helping me with everything since day one. Many children were lost to these attacks, but it was that growl beast that crossed the line. The one who took my Sundance."

"I never knew they were that close," Branch said quietly.

"Have you ever lost someone?" Jubilee asked.

Branch nodded. "Two people. My grandma and my father. I had no one to comfort me."

"What about your mother and sister?"

"I was afraid I'd lose them, to," he admitted. "So, I avoided them. My pain was kept to myself."

"Prince Branch, let me tell you something," Jubilee said. "Losing my daughter was the worst pain I've ever felt or ever will feel. But the fear of losing someone you love is no excuse to hide your feelings from the world. It only creates another kind of hurt."

Branch looked down in thought. He then noticed Poppy hugging Satin as Chenille placed a stitch pattern next to the stone that read "We Miss U Dad!" At that moment, Branch knew what he had to do.

After everyone else went home, Holly and Val met up to discuss the events of the day.

"How are Poppy and Branch?" Val asked first.

"They seem to be okay," Holly answered. "Though that does make me worry. What did you find out about Creek?"

"He had three girls try to seduce Branch, but I got some of the guys to intervene," Val explained. "So I doubt they're gonna flirt with anyone for a long time."

"Oh, good. Only problem now is that one step further from Creek taking Poppy back is one step closer to him hurting someone," Holly pointed out. Suddenly, Val noticed a familiar teal-haired Pop Troll headed straight towards her and Holly.

"Quick, hide!" she said, pulling Holly into a bush.

"Oh, I just got this blouse!" Holly pouted. Val just put a hand to her mouth.

The two Country and Rock Trolls just watched quietly as Creek approached the memorial and stared at one of the names. Enraged, he slammed his fist into the engraving and took a few deep breaths.

"Easy, Creek," he said quietly to himself. "Pearl and her friends may have bailed on you, but things always work out in the end. You will prove him wrong about everything he said about. You will prove him wrong."

The moment Creek was gone, Val and Holly went to look at the name he was looking at.

"Crocus," Holly read aloud. "Who in the Great Puffalo Plains is Crocus?"

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"There you go, Perky!" Poppy said to her pet Grin-chilla. "A yummy bacon-wrapped filet mignon... flavored cupcake!"

Perky squeaked in delight and dove into her dinner. Poppy smiled and turned around to find Branch sitting on the bed with a sad look on his face.

"Branch, are you alright?" she asked in concern, sitting next to him.

"I'm fine, it's just..." Branch began before remembering he shouldn't have to hide. "Actually, I'm not fine."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"I do," he replied. "I talked to Sundance's mother and she made me realize... the reason I was alone for so many years was because I never knew how to let anyone in. I thought... I thought if I ignored my pain, it wouldn't hurt as much. And yes, I do have feelings."

Poppy giggled. "For a while, I thought my husband was secretly a robot," she joked.

"Well, robots can't sing, I just won't," he laughed.

"Too bad," Poppy said with a shrug. "I always imagined you having a pretty voice."

"Well, when I was a kid, my grandma would say it was like an angel's," Branch admitted. "Don't tell anyone I miss her. It could ruin my reputation."

"I understand," Poppy replied, giving him a hug. "But now I know that the Prince of Ornery Grove is actually a big softie underneath that hard, grey shell."

"No, he isn't," Branch denied. Suddenly, Poppy kissed him on the cheek and his face quickly turned red. "Okay, I'm a little soft."

In a fit of laughter, Poppy and Branch wrapped their arms around each other and fell back onto the bed. Uncertain what would happen next, Perky just covered her eyes with her paws.

I'll let you guys decide what happened after that.

Until next time. 🌈