Several Bashoongas dragged Poppy and Branch up into the village in the trees, tossing them roughly into a cell, the door being shut and locked behind them.

     "Wait, no! Let us out!" Poppy begged, pulling on the cell bars as if she thought she could break them. "We need that stone!"
"You ain't ever getting out of here," one of the Bashoonga, Ooblec, chuckled watching the little pink troll struggle to escape.

     Poppy glared at him, growling softly in anger.

     "Don't worry, Poppy," Branch whispered, hugging her comfortingly. "We'll get out of here."
"No you won't," Ooblec laughed.
"You shut up!" Branch snapped angrily, glaring at the Bashoonga, who gripped his staff tightly in his lizard-like hands, ready to thrust it through the tiny troll's body.

     "How?" Poppy finally asked in a whisper, looking up at Branch. "How do we get out of here?"
"We're ghosts remember?" Branch answered with a smile. "We can just... go through these bars."
"Um... Branch..." Poppy objected, looking at him in concern. "I'm not sure that's a good..."
"Ruuuuugh!" Branch suddenly screamed loudly, cutting off Poppy's words as he charged quickly at the cage door.

     Poppy moved out of the way, Branch running right into the bars, before falling to the floor in pain.

     "Branch!?" Poppy shrieked, quickly running over to help him up. "Are you ok?"
"Ow..." Branch groaned, rubbing his forehead.

     "Stupid troll," Ooblec taunted. "We know all about the stone of dreams, and it's powers. Do you really think we would make a dungeon without taking that into consideration?"
"I was kinda hoping," Branch mumbled, as Poppy gently helped him up to his feet.
"Ha! Pathetic!" Ooblec laughed. "Your village will be easy to take over. Only a matter of time now."

     All the Bashoongas began to walk away laughing, leaving the two trolls alone in the cell to suffer...

     "No it won't!" Branch yelled out after them. "Cuz we are gonna get out of here, get that stone of dreams, then get back in our bodies, and stop you! Right, Poppy? Poppy?"

     He turned around, seeing Poppy sitting in the corner, sobbing softly into her hands.

     Branch frowned at the sight, his heart sinking in his chest, as he slowly walked over to her.

     "Poppy?" he said softly, sitting down next to her. "You ok?"
"Branch..." she whimpered softly, still covering her face with her hands. "There's  something I have to tell you..."
"Of course. You can tell me anything, Poppy," he assured, wrapping her in a comforting hug. "You know that surprise party I threw you?" she asked, finally looking up at him.

     Branch nodded looking at her in concern.

     "Well... I lied," she continued, looking away again. "It wasn't really for nothing."
"Ok..." Branch said, somewhat confused. "So... what was it for?"

     Poppy looked back up at him, tears sparkling in her bright pink eyes.

     "It was supposed to be a surprise, but now..."
"AHHH!" Branch suddenly screamed out in pain, clutching at his stomach, as he flashed in and out of existence.

"Branch!" Poppy yelled out in concern, grabbing Branch's shoulder, as he came fully back into existence, looking up at her sadly.

     "I'm fine, Poppy," he assured, still seeming as if he was in excruciating pain, as he continued clutching at his stomach. "No you're not fine, Branch!" she yelled, tears flowing from her eyes. "You're dying!" She looked away sadly, crying softly. "We both are..."

"Look at me, Poppy..." he said softly, gently turning her head so she was looking up at him. "I'm not gonna let that happen. We're gonna get out of here. We're gonna get back home."
"How?" Poppy asked, turning her head away again. "We're trapped..."

     With a sigh, Branch lowered his head, his ears drooping slightly.

"I don't know..." he admitted softly. "But I do know I'm not giving up..."

Quickly, he jumped up to his feet, running over to the bared door.

"Ah-ha!" he shouted out in victory. "Those idiots used a pin-and-tumbler. A one year old could pick this lock with a screwdriver! I'll have us outta here in no time."

Poppy looked up at him, as he reached into his hair, pulling out a pair of scrapbooking scissors with a massive grin on his face.

     "Wait..." Poppy said, raising an eyebrow, as Branch stuck the scissors into the lock of the cell door. "Are those my scissors?"
"Uh..." Branch stuttered, smiling innocently back at her.
"Branch! I've been looking for those for months!"
"Not really important right now, Pops. These scissors are kinda our only chance at freedom."

     He twisted the scissors around, until the lock finally clicked.

Branch smiled at the sound, pushing the door open, as he placed the scrapbooking scissors back into his hair.

     "And we're out," he said, smiling proudly at Poppy.

"Way to go, Branch!" Poppy yelled out in excitement, quickly running over to hug him, as she kiss his cheek lovingly.

"Oh... well... it wasn't that big of a deal," he chuckled blushing fiercely.

Suddenly, without warning, Poppy grabbed onto the front of Branch's vest pulling his face close to hers.

     "And don't even think we're done discussing those scissors, mister!" she told him firmly, glaring straight into his soul.

He gulped, nodding his head rapidly, as he stared at her wide eyed.

"Y... yes, ma'am," he stuttered nervously.

     "Love ya, Branchie," she suddenly said with a smile, kissing his cheek one last time, before quickly running out of the cell.

Branch watched her go, his eyes wide in fear and confusion, before he finally shuddered, quickly running off after his wife.