Under the Weather

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If you hadn't read my version of Band Together, this is in it. I put it here for some of you that haven't read it yet. This is also something that I think could've happened in Band Together.

Everyone had stopped to make camp for the night, it was getting late and it was pretty cold outside. Branch started setting up a fire shortly after they stopped. Spruce and John Dory were playing Go Fish nearby, Clay was drawing pictures in the dirt of a certain someone, and Tiny was already dead asleep in a sleeping bag. Poppy sat next to Branch rubbing his back.

Poppy: Thinking about Floyd?

Branch sighed and put the sticks down, he was in fact thinking exactly that.

Branch: Yeah...yeah I am, what if we're too late?

Poppy shook her head and hugged her boyfriend tightly.

Poppy: We're not too late, we're going to save him, I know it. I know you would do anything for your big brother.

Branch: ...How do you know that?

Poppy: Because I know you, Branchie, you would never leave another troll hanging, never ever.

Branch knew that Poppy was right, he didn't leave her hanging when she left to save her friends on her own, he didn't leave her hanging when she went to unite all the troll tribes, and he certainly didn't leave his brothers hanging when he learned that Floyd was in danger. Branch knew that since childhood, he had a stronger relationship with Floyd than his other brothers, not that he didn't love them, he just didn't have the same spark he had with Floyd. But for Poppy...it was an even bigger spark. No, not a spark, a big roaring fire, one that would never be put out because he loved her so much. Poppy smiled at Branch and placed her hand on top of his, but that smile soon faded and she looked down at the ground.

Branch: Hey, I'm really sorry about Viva, I know you really wanted her to join us.

Poppy: I-I'll be fine, Branch.

Branch turned to his girlfriend and placed a hand under her chin.

Branch: She'll come around, she's your sister, she would do anything for you.

Poppy slightly smiled at Branch's comforting words, she did hope that Viva would come to her senses and catch up with them, but...she didn't believe her when she mentioned the Bergens, would she really be willing to take that chance? She didn't know her that well, nor did she remember her that well, but she and Viva really hit it off when they met, and finding out they were sisters almost made her heart stop. She had mentioned before that if she had a sister, and she were in trouble, she would show up and be there for her. But Viva was not doing that back, her care and protection was to keep her locked up in Putt Putt Village. Even though she didn't have any bad intentions, she just didn't want to lose her sister again. If she were in her position, would she do the same thing?

Branch: Poppy, it's getting late, we should all get some sleep.

Poppy: You're probably right...I guess I'll see you in the morning.

But when Poppy stood up to go to bed, she suddenly began to feel very dizzy, placing a hand on her head.

Poppy: Ugh...my head...

Branch: Poppy?

Poppy: I'm fine...

But Poppy wasn't fine, her head was killing her, she was seeing triple, since when did Branch have triplets? Poppy started feeling nauseous, her stomach started gurgling and her skin started to tingle, her eyes slowly closed and she fell backwards.

Branch: Poppy!

No hesitation, Branch caught his girlfriend before she even touched the fire, her eyes were shut and she wasn't moving, something was very wrong.

Branch: Poppy, are you okay?! Wake up! Come on, wake up!

No response, Branch carefully placed a hand on Poppy's forehead. He was left in a state of shock, this was the last thing he needed.

_____________________________

Poppy slowly began to open her eyes, how long had it been? Did they save Floyd yet? Poppy rubbed her eyes and glanced at her surroundings once her vision adjusted, she was inside Rhonda laying on the couch. Looking over her, she saw a fuzzy green blanket covering her body. She turned her attention to a clock, it read 3:15pm.

Poppy: B-Branch...?

Branch heard Poppy's voice and knew that was good news.

Branch: Oh Poppy, you're awake!

Poppy was exhausted, she didn't even know how long she was out of it for, yet she felt that she was about to pass out any moment. What had happened? The last thing she remembered was having a conversation with Branch, they were comforting each other as they were thinking about their siblings. Everything else was a blur after that. Branch placed a hand on Poppy's forehead before handing her a mug.

Branch: Drink this.

Poppy looked down at what she was holding, it was just hot water, she took a few sips before laying back down. Her head was throbbing like crazy.

Poppy: Branch, what's going on...? Did we save Floyd yet?

Okay, not only did Poppy not look like herself, but she was kind of delirious, but not enough to be alarming, just enough for her to not be able to think straight. Branch sighed and shook his head no.

Branch: No, Poppy, we haven't reached Mount Rageous yet.

Poppy sighed and glanced at the floor, there was a bucket next to where she was laying filled with glitter glue, she knew what that meant but had absolutely no memory of it.

Branch: Look, Poppy, is there anything you remember?

Poppy: Um...sitting by the fire with you.

Branch: No, before that.

Poppy thought about it, there wasn't anything unusual that happened before they set up camp...she did spend time with Viva, and they got Clay on board. Nope, nothing unusual.

Poppy: Branch...how long has it been?

Branch: Well...several hours, you passed out last night and didn't wake up until now.

Poppy sighed slightly relieved, but she couldn't believe she had nearly missed a whole day of her life. Well, she probably would, she was fighting sleep even though she had just been out of it for...what? Over 17 hours? What was wrong with her?

Branch: How do you feel?

Poppy: Like a colorless rainbow...

That wasn't much help, Branch took a guidebook out of his hair and skimmed through it, glancing at Poppy and looking back down. Let's see...fever? Check. Fatigue? Check. Throwing up...? Poppy started gagging, her face turning slightly green, she picked up the bucket next to her coughing up glitter glue. Check. Yup, the pop queen came down with pneumonia. Poppy picked up her water and took a few more sips, Branch rubbed her back trying to comfort her. The pop queen started coughing in her elbow before resting her head on Branch's chest, she was really sick.

Poppy: Branch...how much longer until we reach Mount Rageous?

Branch: I'm not sure, Poppy, but hopefully we'll get there soon. Like you said, we never leave another troll hanging. No troll left behind, right?

Poppy smiled slightly before getting into a small coughing fit.

Poppy: Right...

That was something Poppy's father said during his time as ruler, when the Bergens were hungry for happiness, literally. Poppy was happy it passed down to Branch, whom she hoped would one day rule side by side with her. She had been picturing what it would be like to have him by her side as her king, he's been there for her during her darkest times and she was there for him too. Like right now, she had no clue how she got sick, but he was doing everything he could to help her get well, at least well enough for when they reached Mount Rageous.

Branch: Look...Poppy, just...just get some rest, okay? You clearly look like you need it.

Poppy nodded slightly, her eyes were already closed and she was cuddling close to her boyfriend. Branch sighed and carefully laid her back down on the couch, pulling the thick blanket up to her shoulders and kissing her forehead before whispering in her ear "I love you." Poppy didn't reply, she just gave in to her fatigue and let herself be carried away from reality.

Branch: I'll be back...

Branch went to another room to grab something, a framed photo suddenly fell from one of the shelves. Branch picked it up and examined it, it was a photo of him and all his brothers when he was just a child, all those years he could've had with them...gone. He thought about what Poppy had said the night before, about not leaving a troll hanging. He wouldn't do that to her, and he certainly wouldn't do it to Floyd, maybe she was right. After all, everyone deserves a second chance to make things right, and his brothers definitely deserved that.

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