A/N: Warning: this chapter contains mentions of violence, mental disorders, and drugs used for medicinal purposes.
Chapter Twelve – Friendship Falls Apart
When she walked, she appeared to glide across the ground like a ghost. The trolls greeted her reverently, as required when seeing one of their leaders. She held up her head proudly, the sunlight glinting off her tiara. She arrived at the meeting area: a circle of mushrooms in the field below the mystical Harp of Troll Music. The Six Strings glimmered, their power bringing life and joy to the trolls.
"Ah, my Kiki!" a male troll took her hand and kissed it. "What brings you here?"
"Have our partners finally driven you mad, Kikimora?" a troll with darker skin laughed heartily.
Kikimora rolled her eyes. "Not at all, King Rockwell. I only wanted to deliver this to my forgetful husband." She passed a notebook to the pink troll.
"My notes!" Kikimora's husband sighed in relief. "Where would I be without you, my queen?"
"At your meeting without your notes, dear Poplar." Kikimora kissed his cheek. "Enjoy your meeting, everyone." She drifted away, knowing the outcome of her husband's request already. She read his notes and knew it would not sway the council's decision. The good news: now, she had new ideas for her own plan for this kingdom.
"Let us begin the meeting with one good thing that happened to each of us this week." King Rockwell said. He ruled the trolls who play music he called 'rock.' "I will begin. My daughter has finally proposed to her beloved!"
"Hey, that was my good news!" King Poplar said with a fake tone of disappointment. He laughed with his friend. Poplar led the trolls who played pop music. "Yes, indeed, my darling daughter will be married in the near future. Rockwell and I are beyond thrilled."
"As are we. How wonderful for both of you." Queen Technora said. She and her fish-like people practiced techno music. "I attended a baking competition, and one of the little guppies created a wondrous new treat called a kelp cake. Remind me to bring some to our next meeting."
"I invented a new instrument." Queen Classica pulled said instrument from her hair. Her wings fluttered in her excitement. Her classical music genre had the most instruments out of any other genre in the kingdom. "This is called a violin. Listen." She played a bright melody, and her fellow royals clapped.
"I might need to borrow that, Classy." King Northwest said. Heaven knows how a violin would fit in his country/western type of music. "The best thing that happened to me this week was this new hat! It was a generous gift from a good friend of mine."
"My turn!" Queen Hiphunk declared. Nobody minded their strange name, odd music called 'funk,' or preferred pronouns. Frankly, Classica was a trans woman and Northwest was bisexual, and just about every other sexuality was covered by a group of trolls in the kingdom. Hiphunk stood on their mushroom and turned around. "I'm testing out some new jewelry. What do you think?"
"So shiny!" Classica cooed.
"Wonderful, my friend!" Poplar agreed.
"What a great start to our meeting!" Northwest grinned. "Let's get down to business."
Per the usual, the royal council meeting went by quickly. They talked about minor problems in the troll kingdom, great things that happened or were to happen, and exchanged stories for pure entertainment's sake. Only once they finished their normal business did Poplar bring up what he wanted to say since the meeting began.
"I would like to respectfully propose again the creation of a single music classification for all the trolls." Poplar said.
His friends did their best to hide their weariness at the request that had been made so many times before. These six trolls were the great-grandchildren of the original trolls who created music, the First Trolls who made the Six Strings from the very hairs on their heads. The First Trolls were best of friends, practically family; ergo, their descendants aspired to be just like them. So, they practiced patience when Poplar explained (again) why he wanted this single music classification.
"I have witnessed several more arguments amongst the trolls." Poplar explained. "Just yesterday, I saw a group of our collective people fighting over what music to play during a party. It seems we are forgetting that, despite our differences, we are all trolls united through music. If we were all labeled under one kind of music, perhaps there would be less fighting. Just look at the similarities amongst our genres. Northwest, you even said you could use Classica's classic violin in your country music."
"Is it not better that our people learn to solve squabbles?" Technora reasoned. "Life is not a perfect party every day, despite our best efforts."
"I keep a log of every argument I witness, every dispute that is brought before me or all of us." Poplar showed his friends his notebook. "What if these numerous squabbles are the precursor to civil war?"
"Civil war?" Rockwell looked surprised and concerned. "That's a bit drastic, don't you think?"
"You truly believe it could result in that?" Northwest asked skeptically.
"We do not know for sure, but why not nip it in the bud while we have the chance?" Poplar said. "I have studied all our music types, and I have witnessed my people creating pop remixes and covers of the other genres' songs. I see it more in them than I do with other genres. If we were all called Pop Trolls, our people will remember that we are united through our different music types."
"One classification would sort of make our roles as leaders null, would it not?" Classica pointed out.
"We do have a couple princesses about to marry." Rockwell mused. "I suppose, if we were ready to retire, we could pass the responsibility to them."
"See? One music to encompass all the other music!" Poplar said excitedly. "A way to show we are united through our differences!"
"Now, take a breather." Hiphunk calmed Poplar. "I do not think this is such a good idea. With all due respect, Poplar, it is equally important to recognize the uniqueness and differences in our community. Calling us all the same thing might negate that."
"Plus, I'm not a huge fan of pop music." Northwest admitted. "Nothing against you, of course, Poplar. But I've heard these pop covers of country music, and I'm not impressed. What would you even call that? Pop country? Country pop?" Northwest grimaced, and Classica jabbed him with her violin bow to get him to stop.
"I agree. Look at that harp." Technora gestured to the harp with the Six Strings. "Individual strings coming together on a single instrument. That is what our kingdom is now."
"Is it?" Poplar asked. "Could that harp not also represent all the different music types under Pop?"
"I think you are unintentionally blowing small problems out of proportion." Technora said kindly. "Dear Poplar, our friend, our brother, is it possible that your anxiety is preventing you from seeing the good that our people do with each other? The collaborations born from the mashup of different music types?"
Poplar looked down in disappointment and shame. He tucked his notebook in his hair. "I suppose I might be."
Northwest twisted his mustache. "I propose that we be more vigilant with our peoples. We should not allow little tussles to become out-of-control ones." He grinned at Poplar, who smiled a little back.
The meeting adjourned, and the royals returned to their homes. Poplar sighed heavily when he arrived, alerting his wife to his presence.
"I take it the meeting did not go well?" Kikimora knew the answer already. She always eavesdropped on the meetings, and then spirited away back home before she could be caught.
"Am I worrying too much?" Poplar collapsed into his favorite chair.
Kikimora came up behind him and massaged his shoulders. "I think a king should be worried now and then. A king should be wary of potential problems. I don't understand why your friends would disregard your feelings."
"They aren't disregarding my feelings." Poplar assured. "They mean well, and they only want what's best for everyone, just as I do. If only there was a way to get them to see what I see."
"Keep trying, beloved husband." Kikimora twirled his hair in her fingers. "They will see things your way, I'm sure. I will help you how I can."
Poplar smiled at last. "Thank you, Kiki. You are a good wife."
"Oh, I know." Kikimora laughed, kissing his head. She walked off, discretely wiping her mouth in disgust.
Evening could not come soon enough. When Poplar fell asleep, Kikimora snuck out of bed and pulled a bundle out of her dresser. She avoided the nighttime parties still going strong in the kingdom. One quick distraction later, and the guards did not see her slip into the cave. She made her way to the Wishing Well, its waters glittering in the torchlit room.
The Spirit of the Wishing Well appeared before Kikimora.
"I am the Spirit of the Well. Who are you, and why have you come here?"
"I am Kikimora, Queen of the Trolls. I have created the Rainbow Stone, per the instructions I found. I will make my wish now."
"Is your wish for you, or for another?"
"For myself! I want magic powers of my own."
"Your Rainbow Stone is powerful enough to grant your wish. But be warned: magic is something powered by your very soul. Misuse it, and the magic will force you to appear on the outside as you do on the inside."
"What I use my magic for is none of your business."
The spirit shook her head, as though she were not surprised by Kikimora's words. "Heed my warning or suffer." She disappeared back into the Well.
Kikimora rolled her eyes. "Ridiculous." She tossed the Rainbow Stone into the Wishing Well and made her wish. Nothing happened immediately, which Kikimora expected based on her research. She read everything she could about the Wishing Well. She had copies of every book on magic from the library. With her new magic, she could become queen of all trolls. All she needed now was the proper discord.
Rockwell usually worried for his friend, Poplar. When Poplar's daughter asked him to find Poplar and talk to the pop king, Rockwell's anxiety spiked. Rockwell found Poplar in the council's meeting area, staring up at the harp that held the Six Strings of Music.
"My friend!" Rockwell spoke cheerily. "What brings you here? I was hoping we could exchange notes on a new style of music I invented. It's called 'pop punk.' What do you think?"
Poplar didn't answer for a long moment. "Rockwell, am I crazy?"
"Of course not." Rockwell assured.
"Then why do the others not believe me about this threat of civil war?" Poplar demanded. "Are they blind to the fighting that happens in the kingdom, or am I blowing small things out of proportion? Am I misinterpreting the hostile interactions I see, or are they too trusting of their own people?"
"That's a bit of an odd question, my friend." Rockwell pointed out gently.
Poplar climbed up a nearby tree, Rockwell close behind. Poplar looked down over the trolls who mingled, danced, and sang. "Look at this kingdom, Rockwell. Our ancestors were six very different trolls who became the closest of friends. The greatest friendship in history. They created this kingdom, and our families entrusted it to us."
"Poplar…." Rockwell touched Poplar's shoulder, but the pop king jerked away from him.
"What if we're failing? What if these fights are a precursor to war?" Poplar tugged at his hair. "I know I should be ignoring them but they won't shut up and I can't—"
"Who's 'they'?" Rockwell demanded.
Poplar paused. "Nobody."
Rockwell narrowed his eyes. "When was the last time you took your medicine?"
"Kiki says I don't need it."
"Kikimora isn't the doctor who diagnosed you."
"But if it's all in my head, I should be able to overcome it on my own."
"Yes, it is all in your head, but what's happening in your head is affecting what happens outside of it."
"I'm sorry. I know you must think less of me for this, but—"
"I would never look down on you for an illness you were born with." Rockwell turned Poplar so they faced each other. "You are my dearest friend, and I worry for you. Technora worries, too. You and I both know she hasn't resolved her feelings for you. I promise you, Poplar, we hear your concerns, and we are doing what we can to stop it."
Poplar sighed and accepted Rockwell's hug. "If I came up with a plan that could better unite us, would you, Technora, and the others at least give me a chance to try?"
Rockwell sighed, too. "Take your medicine. Right now." Poplar nodded in resignation. He reached into his hair and pulled out a pill bottle. He popped two pills into his mouth and swallowed them. Rockwell looked relieved. "Yes. We will listen, and we will try."
When Kikimora awoke the day after making her wish, she discovered her new abilities. A book magically manifested on her nightstand, titled Rules of Magic. Kikimora tossed that book aside and dived into her collection of books to practice her power. Once she mastered her magic, she pulled Poplar aside for a private conversation.
"How incredible!" Poplar breathed as Kikimora demonstrated her magic. "What will you do with it?"
"We are going to convince the other kings and queens that your unification plan will work." Kikimora pulled out the mystic Harp of Music. "I have enchanted the Pop String. Strum it with the other strings, and everything you wish for will happen."
"The others will not like that we tampered with the harp." Poplar pointed out.
"Is this not what you want? To avoid civil war?" Kikimora countered. "Use it. For the sake of the kingdom."
Poplar couldn't say what convinced him more: the fear of war, or some strange pull he could not explain. He took the harp, kissed his wife, and went to the meeting.
As he expected, the others were horrified to see he had the Harp of Music. Poplar explained his plan again and asked his friends the chance to prove that he was right. He did not, however, tell them how exactly the harp came to be bewitched.
"If it does not work, I will concede and reverse it." Poplar removed his crown and put it to his heart. "You have my word."
This was significant. Removing your crown, placing it over your heart, and speaking that vow sealed the deal; and none of them ever broke such a vow before.
"Let us give it a chance." Rockwell said.
"I agree. This is something that can be reversed if it does not work like we think it will." Technora said.
"I will not be too proud to admit I am wrong if I am wrong at all." Hiphunk shrugged.
"Agreed. For your peace of mind, my friend." Northwest nodded.
Poplar smiled at his friends' support. They journeyed into the kingdom to find the proper test subjects. Classica pointed out a small group of trolls quarreling. Poplar aimed as best as he could, and he plucked the Pop String before strumming all six of them.
Suddenly, all six strings turned bright pink like the Pop String. Poplar went rigid, shock in his wide eyes which were suddenly filled with pink light. A beam of sparkling light shot from the harp and hit the arguing trolls. Pink crystal captured the trolls. When it cracked open, the trolls were brightly colored and wore pop-themed clothing, regardless of their species. Like Poplar, their eyes glowed pink, and they started mindlessly humming pop songs in unison.
"Well that's….." Technora tried to find a delicate way to put it.
"Surprising?" Hiphunk offered.
"Creepy?" Northwest suggested.
"Poplar, I think the harp worked too well." Rockwell said. "You made them fully Pop Trolls. They have forgotten their own music!"
"No." Poplar sounded zoned out. "See? They are at peace. We can all be at peace." He turned to another set of trolls and transformed them as well.
"Poplar, stop this!" Technora pleaded. "You gave us your word!"
"But it's working." Poplar turned to his friends. His smile was dreamlike, but his glowing eyes turned his expression almost sinister. "Join me, my dear beloved friends. Let us all be in harmony together."
The other leaders scattered as Poplar shot beams of light towards them. Poplar lost sight of them, but his focus turned to the trolls who came to investigate the ruckus. Poplar began changing more and more trolls, driven by Kikimora's magic.
Kikimora watched from the treetops for a moment, and then she disappeared deeper into the forest. She couldn't very well risk getting hit by that beam of light that turned trolls into zombies who only knew pop music. No, Kikimora would go to her special hideout where she could wait until Poplar finished converting everyone. A few days should do the trick. Who knows? Perhaps the power of the poisoned harp would destroy Poplar.
When the rest of the troll leaders regrouped and hid, they were nearly overcome by emotions. Anger, hurt, worry, pain, and more. Most of all, they were confused.
"Is it his…..condition?" Classica asked. "I thought he was taking his medicine?"
"This is beyond his mental illness." Technora still had tears in her eyes. "The harp is doing this."
"Whatever black magic that corrupted the harp did this to him." Northwest agreed.
"Surely, there's something we can do to help him." Rockwell insisted.
"Maybe we can get the strings out of the harp." Hiphunk suggested.
They didn't really have a better idea, and they were desperate to save their friend and people. So they made their way back to Poplar. They passed many more pop zombies on the way. The trolls who weren't turned yet hid in their homes, confused and frightened. Poplar stood on a mushroom stage, scanning the area with his still-glowing eyes for more trolls to turn. The other leaders snuck closer. But they feared Poplar would spot them too quickly. His reflexes were the fastest out of all of them.
Bravely, Technora floated out of hiding. "Poplar!"
Poplar turned to the techno queen. "Technora. Have you come to join me?"
"Yes." Technora slowly floated to Poplar. She kept her eyes on him, hoping the others would stay hidden. Poplar was out in the open. He could sense when someone would sneak up on him. The other leaders watched Technora, wondering what she was thinking.
Poplar's eyes still glowed in pink light, and he smiled warmly. He almost looked normal. "I was hoping you would join me. I cannot explain this, but I am so happy right now. Everything is so clear to me. I see the future for this wonderful kingdom and it's so bright. Having my friends by my side would make all the difference."
Technora got closer. "Poplar, I care for you very much. I love you. If this truly makes you happy, I will find a way to accept it. But I do not believe this is what you want. The power of the harp has been polluted with dark magic, and it is hurting you."
"You're wrong. But that's okay." Poplar didn't sound angry. He appeared to be understanding. "You don't see what I do, but maybe I can change that. The power of the harp is bringing peace. We can all be at peace. Don't you want that?"
"Of course I do. I want a peaceful kingdom of trolls with no fighting." Technora now hovered right in front of him. She cautiously put a hand to his cheek, and the glow in his eyes shrunk down so only his irises shined with that unnatural light. "I want you, Poplar."
Poplar sighed contently, placing his hand over Technora's. "I made a mistake in my youth, and I hope to make up for it now. Kikimora is a wonderful wife; but my heart has always belonged to you."
Technora began to sob. She could not tell if these were Poplar's true feelings, buried deep for so many years; or if these were enhanced, faux emotions warped by the magic of the harp. They were the words she wanted to hear in her youth. But were any of them real?
"Our kingdom will be united, peaceful, for all eternity." Poplar breathed. "If you will only help me. You and our friends."
Technora took a few deep breaths. It was now or never. She cupped Poplar's face in her hands and pulled him into a kiss. While he was distracted, she snatched the harp from him and tossed it like a frisbee. Rockwell caught it.
At once, Poplar's loving gaze turned to one of anger, and his eyes were enveloped in pink light once more. "Give that back!" he roared, his voice distorted and monstrous. He backhanded Technora across the face and charged for Rockwell.
"Get the Strings!" Rockwell threw the harp to Hiphunk and caught Poplar as the pop king tackled him. They wrestled on the ground for a moment before Rockwell put him in a headlock. Poplar snarled, almost like an animal, and he thrashed about to escape Rockwell's grip.
Hiphunk tried to pull one of the Strings out, but a sharp shock made them recoil. "It's no good! The magic is keeping them stuck there!"
"You are not my friends!" Poplar screeched. "My friends would never betray me like this!" Poplar wriggled from Rockwell's hold. His hair sprung out, locks like snakes grabbing Rockwell, Hiphunk, and Classica. Northwest dodged the ones going for him. Technora dived from above to slam into Poplar, but Poplar caught her by the throat and began to squeeze.
"Poplar…..please….." Technora gasped.
The light flickered. Poplar growled, seemingly in pain. He shook his head, his hair still coiled around his friends and constricting them. Poplar opened his eyes—back to normal, without a bit of glowing—and he stared at Technora.
"Nora….." Poplar strained to speak. "Run." The glow returned to his eyes.
At that moment, Northwest appeared and kicked Poplar with his back horse legs. Poplar took a tumble, hitting the ground and staying there. Classica checked him over and confirmed he was still alive. Northwest used his horse hooves to shatter the harp, breaking Kikimora's spell and returning the Six Strings to normal. All around the kingdom, trolls reverted from their zombified states. But nobody celebrated. The kings and queens were too heartbroken over the loss of their friend.
Oddly enough, it was Technora who gave the next orders. Through her sorrowful tears, she commanded the leaders to take their people and String and run. She declared that they would live in isolation forevermore. Her friends knew she spoke from her shattered heart. In fact, the marking on her chest changed before their eyes to depict two halves of a broken heart. Rockwell offered to take Poplar's daughter with him, seeing how she would soon be his daughter-in-law. The leaders placed Poplar comfortably in his home, the Pop String beside him, and they voiced the hope that their people might forgive and forget, perhaps reunite in the near future.
After all, how long could their isolation truly last?
Poplar awoke believing he had the worst dream his psyche ever granted him. But upon walking through his nearly empty village and seeing the Pop Trolls sending him hateful looks, Poplar realized his dream had come true. When the realization struck, he collapsed to his knees, hugging the Pop String to his chest, and he shouted at nothing. He did not blame his friends for leaving and taking their respective people with them. He was not angry at his daughter for leaving with her fiancée. He wanted nothing more than to turn back the clock and prevent such an awful tragedy from happening.
Kikimora found him like that when she arrived, flanked by some of the royal guards. She felt something was amiss while in hiding, and she came back to investigate her spell. Only after she was apprehended did she realize her plan failed and the Harp of Music had been shattered. Changing the harp took so much magic that Kikimora had no strength now to stop what then transpired.
"Your actions have destroyed this kingdom, King Poplar." A troll named Persephone declared. She worked as one of the captains for the royal guard, though her other five comrades long since left with their kin. Persephone glared at Poplar, who still knelt on the ground and had since turned grey. "Several trolls believe you should be executed for this." She winced a little at her own words. Like the rest of the trolls, Persephone hated Poplar for fracturing their community. But she also pitied him, because it seemed he acted outside his own free will. To the trolls, it appeared a psychological breakdown compelled him to act in such a cruel manner.
Poplar removed his crown and placed it and the Pop String at Persephone's feet. "I am unfit to be king. I see that now. This place will be better once you all choose a new leader. In the meantime, I will go into exile. You will never see me again if that is your bidding."
Despite how much they pitied Poplar, the Pop Trolls readily agreed to his self-imposed banishment. The guards escorted him and Kikimora deep into the forest and left them there. The former king and queen of the Pop Trolls were now alone.
"What happened with the magic, Kikimora?" Poplar asked in a tired tone. "I felt so many things so strongly. It was like I was not in control of myself. All my emotions were heightened to the point of insanity."
"Oh please." Kikimora scoffed. "You've always been insane. Even I don't know how I managed to put up with it."
Poplar glared at her. "I will not carry the heavier part of this burden. Yes, I made a mistake. But that mistake was trusting you and your witchcraft! You are the reason this kingdom was destroyed!"
"Everything was going exactly to plan until you botched it all!" Kikimora yelled. "You're nothing but a crazy man who should have been killed the moment someone realized something was wrong with you!"
"There is nothing wrong with me!" Poplar screamed. "I took you as someone who did what she did for the good of others. Now, I see you only do what is best for yourself. You can't stand the idea that I'm not perfect. You discouraged my medicine, even when it helped me. How long have you been manipulating me?"
"Just shut up. I need to think of a new plan." Kikimora tapped her lip in thought. My magic will need time to recharge, I think. First, I need to go back for my books. Then, I can come up with a new plan to regroup the trolls and rule them all.
"You are the crazy one here." Poplar scoffed. "Goodbye, Kikimora."
"Where will you go?" Kikimora demanded. "Who will take you?"
Poplar looked to the horizon. "I will find Technora first. If I have truly broken her heart beyond repair, then I will only stay long enough to warn her about your magic. Then, I will go far, far away where I cannot hurt my friends." He marched off, not looking back to his ex-wife.
Ergo, he did not see the knife until it impaled his back, killing him.
A/N: If you didn't pick up on it, this entire chapter was a flashback, an origin story for the trolls and Kikimora. Also, Poplar is implied to be a schizophrenic, though I may not be entirely accurate even based on my research. Forgive any mistakes please!