Stay

Surprise!

They managed to finish the escape tunnels early in the morning, the day before Trollstice. The king gave everyone 15 minutes to pack so it was quite hectic. Everyone wants to leave as soon as possible, so they all rushed to get it packed.

Floyd is actually packing right now. He was going to do it yesterday, but Poppy and Viva needed help. The king was supposed to do it, but king Peppy and everyone else was so tired after so much digging. They all just collapsed the moment they all got home.

He only packed a few things of his, earnings, clothes and a blanket. The rest was bandages, food and as many pictures he could fit in the bag. Once he finished he went to the living room to set up the fake trolls while Branch was still packing.

After a few minutes He finished setting them up and heard Branch say he was done. So he turned around to see his brother, only to get surprised by what he was wearing. 

Branch had on JD's old goggles on his head. Around his wrists were clays arm bands, and one of Spruce's old necklaces. He also wore a green leaf vest which was his. 

“Wow.” He couldn't help but exclaim. “So that's where my favorite vest has gone.”

He couldn't help but smile when he said that, Branch was blushing hard and said sheepishly, “You could have it back.”

“No, you can keep it.” He said laughing, “It looks better on you.”

Branch was about to protest, but he bet him to it. “Plus you can keep a part of me whenever you feel alone.”

Branch just looked at him with wide eyes, and then ran back to their room. It surprised him for a moment, but then Branch came back with a flower crown. Where did he get this?

He then held the crown up to him and said, “You can have a piece of me too.” 

He took it and put it on. “Thanks B.” he said while smiling.

Branch smiled back and said, “Thank Poppy and Viva they helped.”

They then walked out the door, held each  other's hands, and headed towards the escape tunnels.

_______

The Two made it to the escape tunnels where the other trolls were waiting. It was a bit loud, as trolls were excitedly chatting to each other. Floyd could tell they were nervous too, nobody knows what's beyond Bergen Town.

“Floyd! Branch!”

The two brothers turned towards the voice, not surprised to see it was Viva holding her sister. Just behind them was the King, looking very tired. 

“Viva! Poppy!” He said happily when they got closer. 

“Floy!” Poppy excitedly cheered, reaching out her hands, asking Floyd to hold her, and he obliged. They had gotten close while he was babysitting them, so he isn't surprised.

“How are you guys?” He said while putting Poppy in his hair.

“We've been good!” Viva said, then she pointed to her father, “Though dad has been kinda slow.” She then got closer and went up to his ear, going on her tiptoes to do it, whispering loudly, “Like an old man.”

King Peppy heard this and went up to her, and said in a not so serious voice “Old man you say?” He then picked her up and said, “Can an old man do this!”

He tossed her up in the air, and she laughed happily. He then put her down and asked, “Who's next?”

Poppy popped out of his hair and said, “Me! Me!”

The king went over to them and picked up Floyd and Branch, surprising them, and tossed them in the air. Floyd screamed at first, but started to laugh on the way down, Poppy joining him. Branch on the other hand screamed the whole way, and managed to grab hold of him.

The king caught them and put them down, Poppy exclaiming, “Again! Again!”

Branch shook his head saying scaredly, “Not again!”

Floyd just tried to hide his laughter so his brother would not notice, but was doing a terrible job at it. His brother gave him a glare.

“Sorry Poppy, I have to go now.” Peppy said giggling at her enthusiasm. 

“AAawww.” Poppy said disappointed.

The King couldn't stand the look on her face and quickly added, “But once I'm done leading everyone through the tunnels, I will happily do it all the time.”

“Yay!” Poppy said happily.

Peppy then looked down at Floyd, having a serious face on. “Will you watch my daughters while I lead?” Floyd nodded his head, “Good.”

The king then started to leave but Viva stopped him, “Wait dad! Let's take a picture!”

That confused both the brothers, but the king had a look of realization. “Oh right! How could I forget!.”

The King went up to the brothers and held out a camera, and asked someone nearby to take a picture. The king then stood behind Floyd and Branch, and wrapped his arms around them. Viva then stood in front of them. Poppy popping out of his hair again.

Before Branch or Floyd got the chance to ask what's happening. The troll holding the camera said, “Cheese!” and they all smiled. Floyd did not want to be rude.

Once the picture was taken, the photo came out, and the troll handed Peppy the photo. Viva started to bounce and said, “Let me see!”

The king handed her the photo and Viva squealed when she saw it. “It looks good!”

She then shoved it into Floyd's hands and said “Look!”

Floyd, finally able to think, got the photo closer to his face, Branch having to look over his shoulder, and saw all of them smiling happily. Peppy had a cherry smile on his face holding him and Branch close. Surprisingly both him and Branch looked good in the photo. Though it took a second to recognize himself, he never looked at a mirror after he got back, and he looks so dull. Poppy was sticking out of his hair smiling big, and Viva was standing front and center in a pose.

“Not a bad photo.” Was all he could say handing the photo back. Wait, where is the king? Did he already leave?

“No, you keep it!” Viva said, “I got a spare.” She said holding an identical photo. Where did it come from?

“Why do you need a photo?” Branch asked curiously.

“Oh, it's for my photo album!” Viva said while digging into her hair and pulled out a photo album. Flipping to a blank spot and starting gluing it in there. Branch went up to get a closer look at it then pointed to a few photos and said, “When did you take these?”

Floyd got curious on what Branch meant and got a closer look. Only to see pictures of him and Branch babysitting the two princesses. How did she manage to take these? She even got one of him and Branch hugging and crying after a fight, and the princesses joined in.

“A girl has her ways.” Was all she said.

Branch was going to press her for more answers, but the king started to speak. “Is everyone here!”

A lot of trolls cheered yes, but someone said they were missing someone. “Can someone go grab them?”

A troll raised their hand and went out to find them. Then Peppy started a speech, “While we wait, I would like to congratulate all the trolls who helped build the tunnels-”

Floyd stopped paying attention after that. He noticed Branch was looking anxious, it was probably the tunnels. He said he got nightmares about them. He should ask him more about them later.

“KING PEPPY!”

Someone shouted loudly, and everyone turned around. They saw the troll who volunteered to look for the missing troll, and the missing troll right next to them looking scared.

“What's wrong?” King Peppy asked concerned.

“The Bergens are starting Trollstice!”

Everything went into chaos.