Chapter four:

It had been a year since the choosing ball and Branch was surprised that Poppy still refused to give up on finding the troll she had danced with. He had even witnessed Creek trying to get the pink troll to give up on her search but for the mysterious troll more than once, but still Poppy refused to give up on finding him. Lately the grey troll had been seriously considering whether he should tell the new Queen it had been him that she had danced with at the ball. Branch shook his head as he thought about this, the grey troll was sure even if he did tell Poppy the truth the Queen would not believe him. Branch was glad that so far the pink troll because of his grey colouring hadn't even thought to try the mask he had worn to the ball on him. He did know however know that Poppy still carried the mask with her in her hair where ever she went and would take it out to look at on occasion. Branch had seen their pink Queen with the mask a few times, when he had seen Poppy she was usually sitting on one of the branches of the troll tree looking down at it and sighing deeply. The grey troll hated the fact that he was causing the pink troll pain but at the same time Branch was convinced that if Poppy knew the truth then the one he loved would be in a lot more pain than she was at this time. In the year which had passed Poppy had slowly taken over from her father as Queen and so far she had proven herself to be a good and fair ruler to the trolls. Branch had hoped that becoming the Queen might have added impetus to her search for some other troll than her chosen one to take the place beside her as King of the trolls but it had not been so.

As today was the year anniversary of the choosing ball and Branch found that he couldn't resist celebrating that special night in his own unique way. So, it was that the grey troll was out in the forest by himself, Branch had chosen this part of the forest for his celebration because it was quiet a distance from the troll tree, this meant that he could be relatively sure that he would be alone for his little celebration. The grey troll had with him a music player and in it was a recording of the music he had danced the complicated waltz too with Poppy. The grey troll had discovered the song was called true colours and Branch loved to listen to it and remember that magical night whenever he had the chance to. He settled the player down to one side of the secluded forest clearing and pressed play, as the music played the grey troll closed his blue eyes, before starting to dance to the music repeating the same steps of the complicated waltz which he had danced with Poppy that night a year ago.

Creek was out for a walk in the forest when he heard music, the spiritual troll quickly recognised it as the song from the ball which Poppy and her mysterious troll had danced that elaborate waltz together too. Made curious by the music being played in the forest a long distance from the troll tree the purple troll decide to follow the song and see where it led him. After a fairly long walk through the forest the spiritual troll realised that the source of the music was at last just a short way ahead of him. Quickly but carefully Creek pushed the leaves of a plant to once side to reveal a clearing, the song was clearly being played here but form what the spiritual troll could not say. The eyes of the purple troll went wide as he noticed that Branch was in the clearing, he was dancing by himself but you could almost picture his invisible partner. Suddenly Creek realised that the steps of this complex waltz were perfect, they were exactly the same as they had been on the night of the choosing ball and instantly the spiritual troll knew that Branch had been the one to dance with Poppy on that night.

The purple troll held in his gasp of surprise but only just, he was carefully to let the leaves of the plant fall back into place quietly, Creek didn't want the grey troll to know that anyone had spotted him dancing out here, as the spiritual troll was sure if Branch suspected he had been discovered then he would flee again. Quickly Creek walked away from the forest clearing, once the spiritual troll was sure he was at a safe enough distance for Branch not to hear him he ran back to the troll tree. The purple troll dashed through the tree to the royal pod, as soon as he entered the pod Creek went straight over to Poppy grabbed her hand and said to her. "You need to come with me now!"

Seeing how flustered her friend was and hearing the urgency in his voice, the new Queen hastily rose to her feet, hand in hand the two trolls raced through the tree and into the nearby forest. Creek carefully but quickly guided the other troll into the forest, as they got closer to the clearing Poppy heard the familiar music and looked at the purple troll next to her with hope in her pink eyes. Creek smiled at his friend, before he slowed them both down from their run so that Branch wouldn't hear them coming towards the clearing. The purple troll gave Poppy a signal to keep quiet and the Queen gave him a nod of understanding in response to this. Carefully Creek pushed some of the leaves of a nearby plant aside, then gestured Poppy forward, the pink troll walked over to were her friend was and looked into the clearing. As soon as the Queen could see Branch dancing her eyes went wide, the pink troll knew the steps of the dance he was performing by heart, without even stopping to think about it she quickly stepped out into the clearing. Poppy determinedly walked over to the grey troll, she slipped her hand into his, then placed his other hand to her waist and seamlessly joined in with his dance. Branch's blue eyes shot open as this happened, he looked down at the pink troll in his arms but despite feeling a stab of fear go through him the grey troll didn't stop dancing with the Queen until the music of their song ended. Slowly almost reluctantly the two trolls released each other, then Poppy carefully drew out of her hair the mask Branch had worn to the choosing ball a year ago and held it out towards the grey troll as she said to him in a soft voice tinged with hope as well as fear. "Please Branch try this mask on."

Branch violently shook his head at the pink troll, then he started to back away from Poppy but the Queen determinedly came after him with the mask in her hand. Creek knew from the body language of the other troll that it was going to be only a matter of moments before Branch decided to turn and run away from Poppy. Noticing this fact the purple troll decided to step in so he could help the Queen to find out that the grey troll was her mysterious partner from the choosing ball a year ago, quickly Creek grabbed hold of Branch from behind so that he couldn't escape the Queen and the pink troll gave the purple troll a grateful smile. The pink troll moved so that she was standing in front of the grey troll, carefully she settled the blue half face mask onto Branch's face. The grey troll quickly responded to this happening to him by closing his eyes tightly. "Look at me Branch." Poppy told him firmly.

The grey troll shook his head forcefully, Poppy gently placed her hands onto his cheeks, the Queen pulled his head down, she kissed Branch on the lips and instantly his teal blue eyes flew open. As soon as Poppy sore his distinctive eyes surrounded by that mask she knew that this was the troll she had danced with, the pink troll moved her hands to his waist and closed her eyes leaning up into the kiss. Slowly Branch closed his eyes, then the grey troll started to kiss the Queen back as he did so teal blue light raced over the skin of the troll's body, his hair became taller, it formed into the same shape it had taken on the night of the ball and turned royal blue. Creek released Branch at this point, he watched with a huge smile on his face as the now blue troll wrapped his arms round the pink troll and held her close him. Slowly the Poppy broke the kiss, this time Branch didn't even try to keep his eyes closed, instead he opened them to look down at the other troll and then gave a start of surprise as he realised that he was now blue again not only that but he was glowing brightly. Branch suddenly became aware of the fact that he was not alone in his glowing, the Queen was also glowing with bright pink light and he knew right there that something amazing had just happened between them. Poppy watched with a smile on her face as Branch lifted his own hand and looked at it with surprise for a few moments. "I have my colours back…But how?"

"True love." Creek said softly.

The two trolls looked at him, then looked back at each other, Poppy slowly smiled up at the now blue troll and remembering the conversation they'd had so long ago said to him softly. "I told you true love was real and I told you the glowing would prove it."

Branch blushed but gave her a nod. "So you did my beloved."

Both Creek and Poppy stared at him wide eyed that same tone was back, the voice he had used when he had been worried about Poppy, it was soft but commanding and it made her want to melt. Slowly the smile on the face of the Queen widened with joy. "That voice is back…I like that voice, it's still you just less hash…Beloved huh?"

"You don't like being called that?" The blue troll asked a little nervously.

"No quite the opposite I love it. Branch what turned you grey in the first place?" As soon as Poppy asked the question she wished she hadn't, as an expression of deep pain came onto the face of the blue troll and he tried to move away from her once more but the Queen determinedly held onto him. She could see grey starting to creep over his skin again and Poppy was not about to let Branch go back to being grey once more. "Oh, oh no you don't!" Poppy declared strongly, but before Branch could question those words, the pink troll's lips were on his for a second time. He responded to this second kiss much more quickly than the first, putting one arm round the Queen's waist, while he threaded the fingers of his other hand into her hair. As soon as Branch's fingers were in her hair Poppy shivered with pleasure and pressed herself closer to him, the blue troll responded by deepening the kiss a little, the Queen delighted in the feelings that kissing Branch sent causing though her body. When they broke this second kiss Poppy looked up into his eyes and said softly. "I'm sorry my love. I shouldn't have asked you about what turned you grey so soon after you regained your true colours and I won't ask about it again. Instead I will wait for you to tell me what turned you grey, after all I don't want you turning back on me now I can see your handsome colours."

Branch blushed as Poppy called his colours handsome. "So I guess now you have proved we are true loves you will want to prove we are soul mates as well?" As he asked this question Branch took the mask off and stashed it into his own hair.

"Yes I would like to do that very much." The pink Queen admitted with a soft smile for the blue troll.

"I seem to recall you telling me that we need to hold hands and sing for that." As he finished speaking the pink troll gave him a nod, in response to this Branch moved his hands from where they had been and took both of Poppy's hands into hers.

As the music of true colours began to play again, they began to sing together and once more Creek and Poppy found themselves wide eyed as it was revealed to them that Branch had an amazing singing voice. As the two trolls sang they both started to glow again, Creek found himself smiling at the couple standing before him, although their love was only newly confessed it was clearly very strong and the purple troll had his suspicions that Branch had been in love with Poppy for some time. As the song drew to a close the pink troll smiled up at the one she loved and said to him gently. "Do you still have the clothes you wore to the choosing ball my soul mate and true love?"

"Yes why?" Branch asked her curiously.

Slowly Poppy smiled mischievously up at the blue troll and answered his question. "Well I think with your new colours, dressed as you were and in the mask, then none of the other trolls are going to know who you are…I think showing them we are soul mates and true loves before I show them who you are would be a good thing."

"You mean you'd find it endlessly amusing when they all die of shock that I'm yours." Branch said to her with a knowing smile.

The Queen shrugged and said with no trace of shame. "Well…That will be an added bonus…A little mischief never hurts. Please Branch." As she said this last part Poppy turned big pleading eyes onto the other troll.

Branch slanted a look at Creek, who had a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter, the blue troll returned his gaze to the one he loved, Branch sighed, he rolled his eyes up wards and then spoke to the young Queen. "Alright…But I hope you know I would only do this for you. You both might as well come home with me." Branch turned the music player off, he lifted it up, the blue troll put it under one arm and guided the other two trolls through the forest to his bunker.

When they arrived at the blue troll lifted the entrance up, he entered the bunker, with his two guests close behind him, they had been surprised by the inside of Branch's home as despite its dowdy colours it was quite comfortable. "If you will both give me a few moments I'll go, get the clothes from the ball out and change into them. Please feel free to take a seat while I'm gone."

This said the grey troll disappeared off into the bunker, Creek and Poppy heard a strange grinding noise, they shared a shrug before settling down onto the grey sofa in the main room and waiting quietly for Branch to return. After a short while the two trolls heard the same noise as before, they turned in the direction which the blue troll had disappeared earlier. As he entered the room Poppy bounced up onto her feet, before she then crossed the room to were Branch stood now dressed in the clothes and mask he had worn to the ball. The princess took both of his hands into hers and looked up into the masked ringed blue eyes of the other troll. "You look magnificent my love."

"Thank you Poppy." Branch said sincerely, the pink troll released one of his hands before using the hold she still had on the other hand of the other troll to make him follow her out of the bunker and to the troll tree.

As the couple with Creek following behind them made their way towards the tree other trolls spotted them coming and followed them along. It didn't take long for the news that Queen had with her the mysterious troll from the choosing ball from a year ago to spread throughout the whole troll tree. So it was that by the time Creek, Poppy and the concealed Branch made it to the clearing in front of the troll tree every troll was there, including the rest of the snack pack and former King Peppy. They all watched as Poppy came to a halt with the masked blue troll beside her, there was for once complete silence in the clearing as they all waited to see what was going to happen. The Queen turned to the troll by her side, she gave him a warm smile which he returned and then the pink troll addressed all the trolls. "As you can all see I have found the troll from the choosing ball, this is the troll I have chosen to be my husband and King. This troll is my true love and soul mate and I shall give you all the proof of this now."

Poppy turned back to the blue troll, she took both of his hands into hers and she began to sing true colours to him, after a few moments his amazing voice joined hers and they both started to glow. Gasps filled the clearing and the Queen was fairly sure that these gasps came from both how wonderful Branch's voice was as well as the fact that they were glowing. As the song drew to an end, the couple smiled at each other, they waited for the glow to fade from them before they closed their eyes and shared a kiss, which caused them to glow again, this time the other trolls did not gasp they started to cheer loudly. Branch and Poppy kept their kiss short because they were in public, when they broke the kiss the Queen opened her eyes, to find Branch was watching her, as the pink troll looked up at the blue troll her eyes held an unasked question in them and Branch gave her a nod of permission in answer to the question she had not asked him. Smiling widely at him, Poppy took her hands out of Branch's, then carefully removed the mask from the face of the other troll, as his face was revealed to the rest of the trolls they all gasped and Peppy spoke his shock very clear in his voice as he did. "Branch…?!"

"Yes Peppy."

"But you are blue again." The former King said in surprise.

Slowly Branch smiled an action which had all of the trolls staring at him wide eyed. "Indeed, I am blue again and that is thanks to your daughter my true love and soul mate."

The old troll turned his attention to his daughter, who was smiling up at Branch, slowly Peppy smiled and said softly to Poppy. "So daughter is this the troll of you choosing?"

As her father asked this age old question the Queen reluctantly looked away from Branch and to her father. "Yes father this is the troll I chose to be my husband and King."

The former King turned his gaze to the blue troll and then addressed him. "Branch do you accept this? Will you be my daughters loving husband and loyal King to the trolls?"

Branch answered this question with seriousness. "I accept Peppy, I promise I shall be a loving husband to your daughter and a loyal King to the trolls." His answer made the trolls cheer again, the blue troll looked down at the one he loved by his side and smiled softly at her.

Poppy quickly returned his smile, she quickly took his left hand into her right, she gave it a squeeze which he returned. Peppy smiled at the new couple before he spoke to them. "Well then I think we have a wedding and coronation to organise."

"I think you are correct Peppy." Branch said softly.

In the short time that passed while the wedding was being planned Branch had already proven to be a good match for Poppy and the love between the new couple had only grown with each day which had passed. The Queen had to admit she was looking forward to having Branch as her husband at last, she was tired of going home alone to her large empty bed in the royal pod, Poppy was also looking forward to the future and all that it might contain for her and Branch. Over this same time Branch had confided to Poppy that it had been the death of his beloved grandmother which had turned him grey. The Queen remembered that night well, Branch had cried a lot that night, she had held him tightly after the confession and he had held her just as tightly in return willing at last to let the pain of his grandmothers death be blunted by the love he felt for Poppy.

A month after Poppy had declared Branch to be her chosen one the wedding was at last taking place, The bride was beautiful in a fabulous white gown and the groom was handsome dressed in dark blue. As the couple exchanged vows the love between them was clear and the true love they shared was marked as it always was and always would be as they glowed with bright pink and blue light when they shared a kiss. Once they were married Branch was crowned as the King of the trolls by his new wife. The party which was held after the wedding and the coronation was as only a troll party could be loud, full of glitter and laughter. Branch and Poppy danced together quite a few times before they left the party to return to the royal pod together to spend their first night together as a married couple.