Within the land of the Pop trolls, the trolls were enjoying the day completely oblivious to the rising threat spreading outside their territory.

Queen Poppy skipped through the troll's village, greeting everyone she passed on her way to meet up with Branch.

Branch sat close to the river's edge, skipping stones across its surface while humming his favorite song. Managing to skip one stone five paces before it fell into the depths with a slight plunk. Poppy arrived over the hill moments after. A smile forming when she spotted him. Branch was unaware of her arrival, providing the perfect opportunity. Quiet as a mouse Poppy snuck up from behind and trapped Branch in a tight hug.

Branch gasped surprised, "Poppy! Air please!"

"Get used to it Branch!"

Branch finally managed to squirm out of her grip. "I'll let your little sneak attack slide since I'm now... a positive toll, but please dial it back on the hugging."

She released a laugh, "oh come on Branch! Hugs are the best way to get those positive juices flowing."

"One step at a time."

"Well you won't move through the steps hiding down by the river."

"I come here to think."

"I thought you did that in your bunker?"

"Maybe I'm trying not to hide away as much"

Poppy smiled at him, "that's a big step forward in your case."

Branch thanked her before skipping another stone across the river, three paces. Poppy picked up the nearest stone and sent it flying with a flick of her wrist, landing five paces. Branch released a small huff. "Beginner's luck."

"You thinks so huh?" Poppy snatched another pebble from the ground. Flicking her wrist a few times to test her form before releasing the stone and watching it skip a whole eight paces almost reaching the other side of the river. Her eyes followed the stone till she spotted a flash of blue across the river. "Branch there's something over there."

Branch glanced over, "where, I don't see anything."

Poppy pointed to the patch of large rocks. Branch looked closer till he spotted it. With the bright colour of the blue it was definitely not natural to the river.

"Let's check it out!" Poppy exclaimed while extending her hair across the river, latching onto a branch and pulling herself over the running water. Branch quickly copied, landing beside her. They unhooked their hair and started making their way over the rocks. Poppy reached the blue thing first only to discover that it was a troll. A kind of troll she'd never seen before with dark blue skin, green hair and a large tail instead of legs. The strange troll was tangled in a net which had caught on the rock's edge. He was unconscious, but still breathing through his mouth.

"Branch hurry! We have to help him!"

"Wait, him?" Branch climbed over the rock, when he saw the troll he understood. "Poppy get ready to cut the net once I have a good grip on him."

Branch passed Poppy a sharpened stick he always kept with him for emergencies, Poppy nods and carefully climbed over to the strained part of the netting. Branch moved lower, being cautious not to slip on the damp moss coating the rock surfaces. Using the net he pulled the blue troll towards him till he was close enough to get a solid hold on his body. "Ok I've got him, cut the net."

Poppy sawed at the rope, the intense strain allowed the stick to cut it easily. Once free Branch pulled the blue troll onto the rock before the current could steal him back. Poppy hopped down to help while also examining the stranger most closely. She'd never seen a troll with a tail before, it was stranger than Cooper who walked on all fours. Branch was just as amazed and confused. The thought that were other kinds of trolls never crossed his mind. He was so lost in thought that he almost didn't realize the heart on the blue troll's chest which was beating, but slowly. "Poppy we need to get this troll back to the village, he seems really hurt. I'll carry him while you go ahead and tell the others to set up the pool. I have a feeling the troll can't last long outside the water"

"Right!" Poppy stood up and rushed back towards the village while Branch carefully picked the mer troll up and followed close behind