Genderbend Trolls The Beat Goes On AU

It's Prank Day and Branch is sick!Out of all the many holidays it's her favourite holiday that she misses out on! The teal skinned troll has a fever,headache,dry throat and running nose. Why did she get sick? She was babysitting a sick trolling for a troll couple yesterday. They had something to do that was very important and could not cancel at all even know they wanted to take care of their sweet little trolling so badly!

Branch lays in her bed snuggled up in her warmest,coziest and fluffiest blanket with her stuffed crocodile, Croco, in the arms. She sleeps comfortably like an angel still in her pajamas. A tissue box surrounded by tissues is one the left night stand while some medicine and her favorite empty mug is on the right night stand. Branch should be fine in a day as long as she rest and takes care of herself.

In Troll Village, Poppy spent the whole morning pranking and watching his back. He feels angst as he waits for Branch to try to prank him but, she never did! It put Poppy on edge! Many thoughts and questions float in his mind...

How could he become this year's Prank Master if she doesn't try to compete with him for the title? Where is the fun in that? Did she give up? No, Branch did not give up the last few years so why would she now? Could this be apart of her prank? Could Branch be planning something so big that she would be busy trying to set it up all morning? Or was this suspense part of getting him to come to her so she could get him good? If that is how she wants to play then all Poppy will say is "Game On!". Two can play in this game! But,little did Poppy know that this mind set would not help him with Branch in anyway...

Poppy rounds up the rest of the Snack Pack,minis Branch, and prepares for pranking. Soon Poppy and the rest of his prank team stand outside Branch's Bunker. They have water balloons with freezing cold water stored in their hair along with ice packs to keep them cold. Poppy starts knocks the door mat loudly.

Branch wakes up as she hears the knocking as clear as day in her bedroom. The noise makes her small headache worse! She wants to continue sleeping in peace in her warm bed with Croco! She did not want to get up but, whoever was knocking was not giving up!

" This better be important! ",Branch complaints.

Branch gets up and out of her bed. The knocking still continues on. Then she grabs her robe and puts it on. After she tied it Branch walks out of bedroom then to her elevator. Once on board she pulls the lever causing her elevator to goes up to the top level. The knocking stops at this point.

Once Branch is at the top level she slowly unlocks her " Welcome " door mat. Poppy hears Branch unlocking the mat. The group of pranksters pull out their water balloons from their hair and hide in the bushes. Branch's door mat lowers fast and comes back up with Branch standing on it unhappily. To Branch's dismay,she didn't see anyone but, then Something unexpectedly happens!

"Now!", Poppy yells.

Then Poppy and his team jump out from their hiding spots. They immediately throw their water balloons at Branch so fast that Branch couldn't think. She screams as she gets hit with every single freezing cold water balloon! Then it all stopped!

"Happy Prank Day,Branch! I got you so good that I sent you to the Ice Age!", Poppy exclaims.

The pranksters laugh little about how they got her good then fully put all their attention on Branch. They are shocked to see that an angry Branch is in her pajamas and robe! It's already noon!Branch sneezes loudly as her body shakes a little. Her body temperature decreased fast!

" Haha...", Branch sarcastically laughs.

Branch throat is a little sore so she does not plan on talking for a long time. Her voice sounded horse and faint as she talks.

"I'm not celebrating Prank Day this year...", Branch tells them in no mood to argue.

" What!", they all,except Branch, exclaim in shock loudly.

"Why?!", Poppy asks shocked loudly.

Their voices being loud did not help Branch with her headache.

" Poppy,I'm sick! I can't this year!", Branch explains horsed.

Branch sneezes and coughs into her robe sleeve. Poppy and the others did not know how to react. Many thoughts fills Poppy's head. A part of Poppy wanted to take care of her and apologize but, then Poppy's Prank Day spirit kicked back in! Poppy breaks the silence by laughing a little to himself. Branch raises an eyebrow and everyone else looks at him.

"Nice try,Branch! You almost had me there.", Poppy says not believing her.

The others are not sure if Branch was pranking them or not... They did not know what to say or think.

"Poppy, I'm really am sick!", Branch replies angry and a little horse.

"Sure,you just happened to be sick on Prank Day...", Poppy says still in disbelief.

"Believe what you want to believe. I'll be in my Bunker if you need me.", Branch says upset but, softly.

"Sure,you will. Good luck with your next idea.", Poppy says.

Branch shakes her head and signs as the mat brings her down slowly. Her body is still very cold and shaking a little. She sneezes loudly again as the mat goes back up without her. For the rest day,Branch stays in bed after changing into different pajamas. Poppy kept on waiting for Branch to prank him back but, she never did. Poppy started wondering if Branch was telling truth earlier but, his Prank Day spirit kept on blinding for the rest day.

It's night time and Poppy is laying in his bed still awake. He couldn't sleep! He is still waiting for Branch's prank...When Poppy finally fell asleep it was not restful. The next day, Poppy he wakes up fast upset. Trying to put his mind to rest Poppy decides to visit Branch hoping she will admit that the whole 'sick' thing was a prank.

When the king reaches the bunker he sneaks in easily. At the bottom level Poppy looks around for Branch. She wasn't in most of the places he checked. Then Poppy goes into Branch's bedroom but, to his surprise Dr. Moonbloom is giving Branch a check up as she sits in her bed. Branch is still in her pajamas and her hair is messy. He hears Branch cough badly. Poppy walks to the bed and stands next the doctor. Branch looks so very sick that it breaks his heart. He realizes that her saying that she was sick wasn't a prank! A bigger wave of guilt hits him like a train!

"Dr. Moonbloom? How is she?", Poppy says concerned.

"She's getting worse!", Dr. Moonbloom says dramatically.

" WHAT!?", Poppy exclaims.

Branch groans at how loud Poppy was. She still has a painful headache. Poppy looks at Branch afraid that something bad will happen to her!

"But, she will be fine in a few days...", the doctor says calmly.

Poppy calms down with relief but, the guilt stands strong against him. The king hated himself at the moment.

"Branch has a heavy case of flu. She claims to be feeling worse than she did yesterday so Branch needs to rest and take stronger medicine until she fully recovers and someone must take care of her. Make sure she takes her medicines two times a day,in the morning and at night. She must take two pills and two spoonfuls of liquid medicine per day. I already gave her the medicine so she will have take some tonight. ", Dr. Moonbloom continues.

Dr. Moonbloom hands Poppy a packet of pills and a bottle of liquid medicine. Poppy nods his head to the doctor.

"I'll come back in a few days to check on Branch. Take care",Dr. Moonbloom says.

Then the doctor leaves the two alone. Poppy looks at Branch with the most sad and guileful look in his eyes. Branch lets out a sneeze then blows her nose. He couldn't believe how bad he acted yesterday. If he had just believed her and not done his stupid prank Branch would had been fine by now. He wished that he had been a better friend to Branch. She deserved to be taken care of. Poppy frowns with sadness and regret.

" Branch, I'm sorry...", Poppy apologizes.

Branch looks at him.

"For what?", Branch asks.

Poppy's frown becomes more sad as he notices how horse and tired she sounds. Poppy sits down next to Branch on her bed without breaking eye contact.

" For yesterday... You were sick and I should had believed you. It's all my fault that you got more sick! I wasn't being the best friend I could be to you. You deserve better... I'm truly am sorry. Can you please forgive me and give me a chance to make it up to you?...", Poppy sincerely apologizes.

Branch had listened to every word carefully. They sit there in silence for a moment as Branch takes it all in. Her painful headache doesn't stop her from taking everything her best friend says in. She smiles at him.

"Your forgiven...", Branch replies.

Hope grows inside Poppy's heart. He suddenly feels lighter.

" So your not mad?", Poppy asks softly.

"Well, I was but,not anymore.", Branch admits honestly.

A small smile appears on Poppy's face.

"So your gonna take care of me?", Branch asks guessing.

Poppy nods his head with a sweet smile. Poppy's smile had made her heart beat faster for a different reason. Branch really likes the idea of Poppy taking care of her. Then another thought hit her which makes her smile disappear.

"What about your king duties?", Branch asks before coughing again badly.

"I'll just ask Smidge to step in for me. Besides I won't be able to have a lot of focus on my king duties knowing that your sick in your Bunker...", Poppy admits honestly.

Branch's smile returns. Being as sick as she is did not seem so bad anymore to Branch.