Hi, everyone, MarcellusMiro66 here! This is a companion piece to my story The Hanging Tree, although you don't need to read that in order to understand this one. This standalone midquel, if you will, takes place between the AU events of Trolls and World Tour. So, it's not exactly a retelling of The Beat Goes On!, but it does include references and even longer "episodes" that include medium-size amounts of narrative devices such as Foreshadowing, Chekhov's Gun, and the MacGuffin. Also, there will be action and violence but not enough to garner the story equivalent of a R Rating. The type of action and violence will match that of the PG-13 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, the Fast Saga, or even the Jason Bourne Franchise; their action sequences were devoid of any bloodshed or strong language, but they were relatively thrilling and completely brutal at the same time. As long as it doesn't suffer from padding, the story probably won't be too long or short. This story also employs famous actors who can sing as well that play minor characters from the movies and TV Series. For example, Elizabeth Olsen will play Meadow Spriggs, who will play a prominent part in my version of World Tour. With that said...

Enjoy! If you can...

Harper watched the party commence donning a bright smile on her face. She was currently mentally thanking Queen Poppy that she wasn't presented with a medal that she would to wear for said party's duration. Not that she wouldn't mind, but she did mind having a circle of metal weight dangling from her neck and displaying it front and center for those to see. After all, a valuable disk of gold, silver, or bronze on a chain was the only way the occupants knew who helped Poppy and Branch saved their rear ends. Speaking of those particular two Trolls, she watched the both of them dance together to the beat of the music. That smile of hers grew more if only slightly as she observed the lovebirds dance their hearts out in celebration. Harper was never one for romance, but she knew when to appreciate such a wonderful depiction of it.

Of course, she didn't go overboard like some other Trolls would.

"Aww! Aren't they a cute couple, Harper?"

Case in point, Mandy Sparkledust. One of Queen Poppy's best friends who aided her in her quest to save the other Trolls alongside three others, Mandy was certainly a lively and headstrong individual. She also harbored a bold and courageous side to her whenever the occasion called for it, demonstrated when she decided to help Harper instead of heading back to Branch's bunker to await her presumably nonexistent return. Also, she didn't feel comfortable having someone younger than her concocting an admittedly asinine rescue mission all by herself.

"Yes, they are, Mandy," Harper nodded in agreement, "but don't even think about it."

"Thank about what?"

"You're thinking about the relationship Poppy and Branch share with overwhelming jealousy. In fact, you're overthinking it."

"I am not!" Mandy huffed as she crossed her arms, "Do I admit that Broth is attractive? Yes. Do I admit that I'm jealous of his blossoming romance with Poppy? Absolutely. But do I admit that I make a better potential girlfriend for him than Poppy? Absolutely not."

. . .

"Branch."

"Hmm?"

"His name is Branch, Mandy."

. . .

"Ohh! Okay, that makes a lot more sense now!"

Harper chuckled in amusement before walking away in search of refreshments. Settling for a couple of cupcakes and a couple cups of fruit punch, she made sure to take small sips and bites lest she feel a punch resembling that of a sugar rush. As soon as she turned around, she spotted Poppy and Branch slow dancing just a few feet away. Looking at how happy they were made her feel...odd.

Huh. Maybe I'm the jealous one...

"Care to dance?"

Harper was in the middle of ingesting her first cupcake when she was asked that particular question. The Troll in question was blonde-haired and pink-skinned with a cerulean blue hoodie and coral pink pants. Judging by his smile and voice, he seemed like a nice enough guy.

"Uh... Yes. I would care to dance."

Placing down her edibles for the meantime, Harper and the male Troll made their way to the dance floor. It was fitting, then, that the next song to play was a romantic ballad.

But...I just met this guy. I'm not in love yet.

"Why me?"

"Sorry?"

"Why out of the other Trolls here...you choose me as your dance partner?"

"Well... I would say that I was just a gentleman asking a nice girl like you for a slow dance...but that would be me lying. The truth is...I lost a bet."

"Hmm. Figures. What was the bet?"

"I'm not spilling any spoilers but this: The loser had to ask the prettiest girl out for a dance of romance."

"Oh? You think I'm pretty?"

"Yes. I mean, in my opinion."

"Well, I think you don't look so bad either."

"Thanks. Unfortunately, I don't know how to dance for romance."

Aww! Now this guy's starting to make me feel sorry for him! Winning me over with his dopey smile and gentlemanly manner, no less!

As such, Harper smiled back and decided to humor him.

"Well, if it's any consolation...neither do I."

"You know what? It actually is."

Resting her head on his shoulder, Harper smiled as he pulled her closer and rested his hands on her waist.

Hmm. What was his name?

"Aww! So cute!" Mandy watched Harper and her new "boyfriend" slow dance as she ate Harper's second cupcake and cups of fruit punch.

"What's so cute?"

Mandy turned to find two female Trolls heading her way. The first was light blue-skinned with darker blue hair; she wore a white dress with a pink sash belt. The second was orange-skinned and green-haired; she wore a yellow top with a separating skirt.

"Harper found herself a new boyfriend!"

"Ooh!" Karma turned towards the happy "couple" before frowning and tilting her head in confusion. "Wait, who is that?"

"Does it matter?" Maddy swooned for them, "Harper's in love, and it's our job to help her through it! Oh, young love can be beautiful as it is frustrating."

"Well, of course it matters!" Karma slapped her friend's shoulder, "For all we know, he could be a stalker!"

"He doesn't seem like a stalker to me."

"Exactly, Maddy. Appearances can be deceiving."

"I think you're just overreacting."

At last, the romantic ballad reached its conclusion and transitioned to a more upbeat tune. As Harper and her dance partner headed to the refreshment tables, Mandy's eyes widened in realization as she searched for a spare cupcake and cup of fruit punch to replace the ones she ate.

"I was never here, okay?" Mandy sped off elsewhere, leaving Maddy and Karma staring on before they could give an answer. Watching Harper bid goodbye walk toward the spot where her spare cupcake and fruit punch should've been, her eyebrows arched in confusion upon noticing the cupcake she ate was not the same one she got. She shrugged it off, though, as she continued before noticing the two of them.

"Hey, Maddy. Hey, Karma. Have you two seen Mandy? I wanted to ask her a question."

"What was the question about?" Maddy tilted her head in intrigue.

"Oh, nothing important," Harper dismissed the issue, "Just something incredibly normal."

"Normal as in... "What do you think about my new boyfriend, Mandy?""

. . .

"Uh... What?"

"Mandy, Maddy, and I saw you dancing in romancing with a male Troll," Karma explained, "Mandy and Maddy assumed he was a love interest, I assumed he was a stalker. So...sorry for assuming."

"It's okay, Karma," Harper chuckled, "and he isn't a stalker. From what I saw, he seems like a gentleman. He offered me a dance because I was Mrs. Oh-So-Lonely."

"So adorable!" Maddy gushed while clamping her hands together, "It must be love!"

"Not love. Not yet."

"Not yet?"

Harper narrowed her eyes at Maddy as she took a bite of her fruit cupcake...which she turned her focus to as her taste buds failed to compute.

Oh, yeah. Definitely not my cupcake. I'm pretty sure Mandy ate mine when I was dancing.

"Not yet..."

Once the party reached its end, Harper retreated to her pod and got dressed in her pajamas and a blue apron. Preparing her oval palette and wooden easel, she squirted a dollop of every color of the rainbow (plus black, brown, pink, grey, and gold) on the former object while readying multiple sheets of paper on the latter. Setting aside her various paintbrushes and slipping on her goggles, she cracked her knuckles and stretched her arms.

That was the easy part. The hard part...was figuring out what to paint.

I'll just wing it...

In another pod, Ripley Wisp was busy punching and kicking a training dummy before calling it a night. Contrary to popular belief, she did attend the party that celebrated peace between the Trolls and the Bergens. She turned in early, however, as she preferred to train more than party more. It did mean that she felt bad for leaving Satin hanging and Chenille loathing her guts because of her decision. In all fairness, she did want to attend the multiple parties and mingle with friends. The problem is... She didn't have any.

Okay, let's elaborate on that part. Satin was one of her best friends and she knew Queen Poppy and the rest of her Snack Pack through her. However, she never got the chance to know them that well, considering that she spent some of her time training for various championships. The other times she had on her hands were spent in solitude, resting and going about her day. She was kinda like the other resident anti-social Troll (I think his name is Twig or something like that...), the main difference being that she at least attended some of Queen Poppy's parties if not all whereas Twig avoided them all together.

I can't help but feel bad for him, though. He must've had a rough childhood. At least he's getting a little better...

KNOCK-KNOCK!

Ripley looked up from her momentary rest to hear someone knocking on her door. Groaning in disdain, she reluctantly answered.

"Who there?"

"Hello neighbor, my name is Arabesque! I require your assistance!"

Her eyebrows arched in confusion. Someone needs my help? Shrugging it off, Ripley opened the door to find Arabesque standing outside. Oh... It's one of those Glitter Trolls. Covered in different shades of pink, no less. Oh well... Not that I have anything against the Glitter Trolls. They're technically one of us. Heck, one of Satin's friends is a Glitter Troll himself. What was his name again? Boy Emerald...?

"Assistance for what?"

"Well, I mean you no offense, but I saw you fighting off those Bergens with such strength and agility."

"I'm flattered...?"

"That's why I'm here."

"To help you fight?"

"To help me dance."

. . .

"Umm... What?"

"I came to the conclusion that my dance moves were declining in terms of originality and lacking that special oomph."

"And so you thought I was the solution to your dancing dilemma?"

"So I thought. With your robustness and my dexterity, I can rejuvenate my dancing career before it even ever falters. Of course, I considered offering a deal to you in the case of you declining."

"I was gonna say, why should I help you? I've seen your choreography, and you're a skilled enough dancer."

"I'm flattered, and because I've considered the deal I plan to offer you, it may play to your own strengths."

Outside far from these pods, Meadow Spriggs tended to her garden as she hummed a catchy pop song sung by Poppy and Branch a few hours earlier. This catchy pop song even allowed her to let loose and live a little, especially after being spared from a horrible fate at the hands of the now reformed Bergens. As much as she disliked being the center of attention, the very idea intrigued her as it did scare her. When she and the other Trolls were liberated from their demise, a sense of relief was found. That didn't mean that her stage fright was completely gone.

That got the Florist Troll thinking.

Why am I even a Pop Troll? I mean, I like Pop Music, not love it. Patience was a virtue when it came to my flowers, and the same could be said for my taste in music. If it took me this long for my flowers to grow, it will take me the same amount of time for me to appreciate Pop Music for what it is and always was. The only question is...how long did it take to grow my flowers again?

Shaking her head, Meadow dismissed such thoughts for the meantime. She had other things to worry about.

From the window of her pod, Harper watched as Meadow continued with her garden and a creative process began circulating in that little mind of hers. She knew that an opportunity would be missed if she didn't take advantage of this moment right now. Rushing to move her palette and easel towards her window, a smile grew on her face as major inspiration came at her like a wrecking ball and its wrecking crew.

Should I tell her? I probably should, so that she knows in advance that her privacy is being violated. It's just a picture I'm painting, though. No harm done, right? Then again, from what I'm seeing of her, she doesn't seem like the kind of Troll who wants to have fun. Instead, she seems content with tending to her garden in peace and quiet...and I can relate.

"Harper! Yo, Harper!"

The Painter Troll looked up from her painting (which she finished in ten minutes no less) to find Mandy, Moxie, and Cookie outside her farthest window wearing those stupid grins on those stupid faces of theirs. She found it both annoying...and amusing.

Annoyingly amusing and amusingly annoying.

"What?"

"Head to the top of the tree...!" Mandy mouthed to her before climbing upward with Moxie and Cookie following suit. Watching them for a second before taking a minute to contemplate, Harper rolled her eyes and exited her pod. She used her hair to swing herself upward because she was tired and lazy. Quite unfortunate.

When Harper finally reached the top of the tree, she found the three girls lying down on blankets gazing at the stars.

"I thought this was an emergency, you guys."

"This is an emergency, Harper."

"We have a long week ahead of us. Sometimes, we have to enjoy the little things and appreciate the little moments in life."

"Isn't that the same thing, Moxie?"

"You know what I mean, Cookie."

As Cookie and Moxie bickered like children and their toys, Mandy turned towards Harper and looked at her expectantly. Harper sighed in defeat and laid down on the blanket beside her.

"Yeah. We might as well enjoy the little things and appreciate the little moments in life."

"See? Harper agrees, Cookie!"

"I'm pretty sure she said it to humor you, Moxie."

Harper and Mandy rolled their eyes as they continued their stargazing together.

Enjoy the little things in life. Appreciate the little moments in life. Yeah, Cookie was right. They're the same saying regardless, and they hold the same weight as well. So what's the point? We're just gonna sit under the night sky, where all the stars are closer...