(takes place two years before the events of the first movie)

*at night*

*In a forest far away, there was a beautiful pink troll with soft hot pink hair wearing a blue dress named Princess Poppy*

*Lately she had been under a ton of pressure and needed a break from doing her royal duties*

Poppy: *rubs eyes and sighs* I guess it couldn't hurt to go on a little walk

*As poppy got outside she started BOOKING IT out of the village, she knew that there was a concert happening and she didn't want to get caught*

Poppy: *Hides behind a tree and peeks to make sure no one followed her*

Poppy: *sighed in relief* thank god I got away from those guys...phew

??? (Whispering): Poppy!

*Poppy jumped and turned around in surprise to see a grey troll standing behind her with his arms folded*

Branch: What are you doing out here?

Poppy: N-Nothing! I was just out for a walk y'know?

Branch: In the forest?

Poppy (Stuttering): Um okay I I I- was uh going to uh well...

Poppy: Okay! You got me! I needed a break from doing my duties so I ran out here to get some alone time! THERE I SAID IT! happy?!

*poppy confessed while hiding her head in her knees as she sat down*

Branch: And why were you running away from the village?

Poppy: I already said I needed some alone time jeez what's it with everyone?!

*Poppy snapped at branch, realizing what she did she gasped and hid her face in her knees as she gently sobbed*

*Branch only stood there and slowly unfolded his arms, he may have been the village grump but he couldn't bear to see his childhood crush crying*

Branch: *sighs exasperatedly* alright what's wrong?

Poppy (thinking): Wait, he's being NICE? I thought he was just gonna tell me to go back to my pod or force me to go back to the village

Poppy: I don't know, it's just...I've just been under a lot of pressure lately and I guess I...*sighs* forget it I've said too much

*as poppy started to get up, she felt his hand grab her wrist which made her gasp*

Branch: Okay listen, Princess, You aren't gonna go anywhere until I get the full story on what's happening okay?

*Poppy had never seen this in branch at all before, I mean yes he was rude to her and destroyed her invitations, but she had never in a Million years felt him grab her wrist like that before, which made her gulp nervously*

Poppy: Uh I um...

Branch: Oh! and uh sorry uh about that, I uh didn't mean to do *inhales sharply* that

*Branch realized before letting go of her wrist*

Poppy: No no it's It's okay...I guess...

*As poppy sat back down branch kneeled down on one knee while waiting for what she was going to say*

Poppy: *exhales shakily* okay the truth is...It- It's hard being a princess, there's all this pressure to do everything just right and I just stress out a lot because of this...

Poppy (choking up): *sniffles* and now with my mom gone *sniffles* it just makes it even harder

*Poppy confessed truthfully while avoiding eye contact with branch so he wouldn't have to see her cry*

*at first poppy thought branch was going to argue with her about how important her royal duties are, instead she felt his hand gently caress her cheek to make sure not to make her crack from the pressure*

Branch (Softly): Hey...it's okay

*Branch cooed softly while poppy sniffled quietly*

Branch (softly): *exhales slowly* you want a hug?

Poppy (Thinking): A hug? From BRANCH? okay, that's very strange but still, I could go for a hug

*Poppy was very confused but she wrapped her arms around branch as she quietly sobbed*

*Branch Detested this more than anything but he also hated to see poppy this upset, so being very careful, he wrapped his arms around poppy and gently started stroking her head*

Branch (Quietly and softly): Shh shh shh shh shh shh *rests his arm around her waist* You're okay...you're alright

*soon poppy fell asleep hugging him*

Branch (quietly and softly): Let's get you home...

*branch cooed as he scooped her up in his arms very carefully*

*when branch got to poppy's pod*

*Branch opened the door slowly somehow with poppy still asleep in his arms and walked over to her bed*

*Poppy stirred in his arms, it felt weird that she had never been offered a hug by branch before, she liked it*

*Branch laid her onto her bed and pulled the covers over her*

*then as branch slowly started to walk out of the pod he heard her whimpering, She missed branch's warmth*

*Branch let out a defeated sigh and crawled in next to her while holding her close to him*

*When morning came branch was quick enough to leave before she realized he had left*

*When poppy woke up, she yawned and stretched her arms to see a note that said "It'll be okay pops just take your time and don't pressure yourself, from: Branch" *

*Poppy smiled and put the note in her special dresser*

Poppy: Maybe one day...he'll be happy