Branch woke up finding himself laying on top of clouds, and it was really bright.

"What the-"

Braaanch...

The grey troll quickly got up looked around.

"Hello? Who's there?" He yelled a bit defensively.

Branch, over here...

"What's going on?" He started to step back.

No silly... look behind you...

Hearing that, Branch quickly turned around and saw Poppy, wearing a white dress, and her flower headband was white, and she had..... wings?

"P-Poppy?"

"Yes! It's me!!" Poppy giggled and jumped up and spun around with her wings.

"What- Wha- AM I DEAD?! DID I DROWN?!" Branch panicked.

"No silly!" She giggled again.

"Then where am I?!"

"I can't tell you."

"Where are the others?"

"I can't tell you that either."

"Then wha-"

Poppy walked up to him and put a finger on his mouth.

"No more questions.. just relax..."

"Poppy-"

Poppy wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

Branch couldn't believe he was doing this, but he hugged her back, hesitantly.

He breathed in her scent, the scent of vanilla and strawberries.

"Branch, I like you."

"You... what?"

"I like you.."

They released from the hug, but they still held hands.

"I... uhh...."

The poor troll was out of words.

"I... like you too... I have for a long time..."

Poppy smiled sweetly in response.

All of a sudden, she grabbed hold of his shoulders.

"Branch."

"Yes?"

"Branch, Branch, Branch."

"What? Poppy wha-"

All of a sudden, everything faded into white.

And then..

"BRANCH BRANCH BRAAAAANCH!!"

"AAASHGH HIDE THE COCONUTS!!" Branch shot up panting, awoke from his dream.

"WE'RE ABOUT TO RUN INTO A WATERFALL!!!" Poppy shouted pointing at a waterfall that they were getting close too.

"Oh great."

"What're we gonna do?! The river's going faster!!" Chenille exclaimed panicking.

"Uh, I uhh-"

Branch began to sweat when the boat began to fall apart slowly.

"Yep, we're done for." Cooper shook his head.

"Guys, I think we're just gonna have to take it. I mean... it's just water..." Branch mumbled.

"Yeah! Water we can drown in!" Creek scowled.

The waterfall was an inch away from them.

"Everyone hang on!!" Poppy exclaimed, hanging onto the remaining part of the boat.

As they fell off into the waterfall, they all yelled in fear.

Branch came up out the water, gasping and coughing for air.

"Guys!" He yelled, out of breath.

Guy Diamond came out the water, spitting it out and gasping.

He looked at Branch relieved, but looked around worried.

"DJ!! Where are you?!" He yelled.

DJ came out the water, coughing.

"I'm okay!!" She yelled to Branch and Guy Diamond.

After that, Satin and Chenille, Biggie, Cooper, and everyone else came out the water.

"Whyy?! Just why?!" Satin clinged onto her sister.

"Wait... where's Poppy...?" Chenille said.

Everyone looked around, worried expressions on their faces.

"Branch?"

Branch could feel his heart stop and he panicked internally.

"Everyone go on land and stay there! I'll be back!!"

They all did as he said and he turned back around.

He cursed under his breath and dove under water.

When he dove underwater, she thankfully wasn't drowning, but her leg was caught in between two rocks.

He swam down to her and tried his best to pull her leg out gently so he wouldn't hurt it, but it wouldn't work.

His heart stopped again when Poppy was beginning to lose her breath.

No.. I'm not gonna lose you....

He used all his strength to move the rocks from in between her foot.

He gave one last pull and it finally came out.

A bit of blood appeared from the scratch on her ankle.

He quickly swam up to the surface, holding one arm around Poppy while she wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"Guyyyss, where are they?!" Guy Diamond panicked.

Everyone looked around in the water, hoping they'd come back up.

Eventually, they both came back up out the water, coughing.

"They're alive!!" DJ cried.

Branch swam over to where the Snack Pack was standing, and once they got close, they helped them both out the water.

"Are you guys okay?!" Biggie asked.

"We're fine.." Branch turned his attention to Poppy. She was holding her leg looking at where the cut was.

Desperate to help her out, he went to his bag and went to find some helpful materials. He found a few alcohol pads.

"Poppy..." He went over to her.

Poppy looked up at him, a painful look on her face.

This broke Branch's heart to pieces. He didn't like seeing her like this.

Well he was gonna help her.

"Let me see your leg." He said in a gentle voice.

The princess scooted closer to him and stretched out her leg.

He took hold of it gently and opened one of the alcohol pads.

"This may sting a little.." He said softly. She smiled softly and nodded.

Branch slowly put the alcohol pad on her ankle, while hearing her hiss in pain.

"You okay?" He looked up at her.

She nodded, staring into his eyes, getting distracted by them.

Branch held the alcohol pad on her ankle for fifteen seconds, and then released it.

"Why did you have to put that on my leg.." She finally croaked out, but it was soft.

"So it wouldn't get infected. It'll heal at some point." He eventually found a cloth and wrapped it around her ankle.

"Can you stand?" He asked.

Poppy tried to stand holding on to a tree, but she failed and fell back down.

"No." She said giving a pouty face.

Branch smiled and walked over to her.

"Here.."

He wrapped an arm under her leg and under her back, picking her up and holding her.

Poppy immediately blushed at this, heating up inside.

"Just... until you can walk again.." Branch was blushing too.

Poppy smiled softly and wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes, making him blush harder.

"Uhh... come on you guys..." Branch said, starting to walk.

Behind was Guy Diamond squealing lowly.

"Really Guy?" Creek growled.

"What? You have to admit it's cu-"

"Guys, come on.." Branch interrupted, hearing their conversation.

"Branch..." Poppy croaked out again.

"Yes?"

"Th-Thank you..." She mumbled, half asleep.

He didn't respond, but just smiled softly down at her. And he barely smiled, so this was rare.

For those of you who still read this story 😂😂