"One, two, three, four!"

All of a sudden, heavy metal music started out of nowhere and what could be best described in the most polite manner possible as a horror-themed musical number(?) commenced. In reality, it mostly consisted of the Pop Trolls increasing their intensity factor up to eleven without even considering how the Rock Trolls actually acted, judging them from superficial appearances and qualities.

Rainbows, unicorns
Everything nice, yeah!

That fault aside, the "highlights" included Maddy and Karma emoting blankly and giving off a vampire-like vibe, Legsly handbanging to the point where her ponytails almost became loose, and Smidge hopping around like an absolute manic bunny rabbit while screaming incoherently. The lollipop she had in her mouth certainly didn't help matters. Only Ripley, Sky Toronto, Tiny Diamond, Gemma, Nova, and baby Vega did their absolute best to emulate their foe.

Sugarplums, fairy dust
Everything nice, yeah!

In the end, there were no survivors left standing.

"Brush your teeth."

. . .

. . .

. . .

Poppy's group stared in sheer disbelief at a complete loss for words as absolute silence overwhelmed them all. Well, all except Catra (who was dangerously close to laughing her rear end off), Branch (who shook his head and muttering under his breath), and Poppy (who was less focused on the performance itself and more on the fact that Biggie came back with reinforcements).

Sid Fret shrugged and nodded, "Cool."

Both groups were now left surprised by the outcome, Catra ceasing her giggling fit almost immediately.

"Hurry up, then," Stevie tucked her switchblade away before reaching for a couple of instruments, "The show's about to start, man."

"Queen Barb's about to go onstage," Sid Fret took the instruments and handed them to Biggie's group. Biggie and Guy Diamond received black-and-blue electric guitars; Smidge and Gemma received a black tambourine each; Tiny Diamond and Nova received a keyboard each; Maddy and Karma received a drumset; Legsly and Ripley received the drumsticks; Nova and Sky Toronto received a pair of cymbals; Dr. Plum was handed a pair of microphones; and Mr. Dinkles was "handed" a double-neck guitar...which promptly fell out of his grasp and into Dr. Plum's.

"We're screwed," Smidge could only note as they were led towards the stage, diverting from their original plan. Poppy's group, meanwhile, exchanged bewildered looks as they watched on.

"Yeah..." Catra said after a long minute, "What he said."

"She," Poppy politely corrected, "Come on."


As Barb got dressed in her victory outfit for her victory concert (a white V-neck jumpsuit with torn legs, spiked ankles, red wing-like decorations on the arms, and the same black belt with the same skull buckle), her thoughts trailed back to Prince Cooper and his...interesting stance on what made music.

Am I... Am I really going too far with this world tour? All I'm trying to do is unite the Troll nation under one genre of music: Rock. And suddenly, the Funk Prince decides to shatter my perfect little views on my perfect little world with 11 words: "Denying our differences is denying the truth of who we are..."

Mentally chastising herself for having such thoughts at such a crucial moment in her life, Barb dismissed them as quickly as she paid them any mind.

Come on, Barb. Don't think like that. So what if one Funk Prince planted seeds of doubt in your head? He's just one Troll, not the entire nation. You're the Queen of Rock, and you're just like your genre.

You rock.

Examining herself in the mirror, Barb nodded in satisfaction and smiled with pride just as Carol dropped off Priscilla donning her new Rock uniform.

"Hey, P. Ready for your first-ever rock concert?"

"Am I...but I'm a little nervous, too."

"Hey, don't worry, kiddo," Barb beckoned her to follow her, "I used to be like that during my first concert. Come here."

Priscilla followed Barb to a nearby crevice-like window that gave a perfect outlook of the auditorium, where the Rock Trolls were cheering in anticipation for the leader to claim the victory she knew she deserved. By contrast, the other Trolls were seated high in the air (Classical, Techno, Pop, Funk, and Country in their order), unlike the Rock Trolls who were seated in the middle, a little lower than the others. They were neither cheering nor booing at the Rock Trolls themselves, but rather afraid and/or confused as to the reason behind their attendance tonight.

"Yeah, it's a lot of Trolls," Barb rested her right hand on Priscilla's left shoulder, "I get it. I was as every bit of afraid and nervous as you were. But you wanna know what I did to overcome it?"

"What?"

"I pictured myself as the only Troll there. No one else. It also helps to view the stage as a pedestal."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that the stage is a platform for the great. When you step on it, you're untouchable. Nobody can stop you now."

"You think it's true?"

"I know it's true. Say, if something like a riot broke out in one of our shows...and the crowd still cheers you on...it just proves your point."

Priscilla turned back toward the unsuspecting crowd and listened in awe as her ears echoed with cheers and applause.

Wow...

"Barb?"

"Hmm?"

"Does it...feel lonely whenever you're Queen?"

Barb turned back toward Priscilla in surprise while the young Troll herself faced her mentor in worry, wondering if she had asked the wrong question. To her relief, the Rock Queen's expression softened and she caressed her head.

"Kind of. There's all this pressure to be a great queen. And instead of real friends..."

She turned back toward the crowd, whose chanting of passion gradually faded.

"...you're just surrounded by people who just tell you...what you want to hear."

Sighing solemnly, the hand that was caressing Priscilla fell to Barb's side.

"Now that I think about it...other than her terrible taste in music and clothing and general lifestyle... I think that Poppy and I are the same: Queens who just want to unite the world."

Barb's hand was suddenly clutched by Priscilla's as they exchange solemn expressions.

"I'm sorry. It's not your fault."

She smiled at her and sighed contently this time, "Don't be. Music has done nothing but divide us. Now that I have the final strings..."

Pulling the Pop and Funk Strings from her pocket, Barb let them both become attached to her custom V-guitar. She and Priscilla watched as their respective riffs disappeared and reverted to the color of blood red, the familiar rock becoming their substitutes.

"I can make us all nation of Trolls...under rock."

While displaying uncertainty about Barb's plan of hers, Priscilla also showed a moderate amount of intrigue, "What's... What's going to happen? What are you gonna do?"

"Play the Ultimate Power Chord," Barb simply replied, "and then...well, you'll see. They'll all see..."

The jaws of the room began to open and and the bottom half was lowered for them both to fully face the crowd, whose rallies of approval grew louder and louder. Barb smiled as Priscilla's wonder at being the center of attention was expressed with a growing smile of her own.

"Sid Fret is supporting me on electric bass, and Carol's got the drums!" Barb instructed over the roaring applause, "My back-up crew is there waiting in the wings! Join them, okay? I don't want you getting hurt!"

"Okay!" Priscilla nodded and Barb ruffled her hair before sending her on her way. When she got closer to the back-up crew in question, she was surprised to find a set of familiar faces.

"Biggie? Guy Diamond? Nova Swift?"

"Priscilla...?"


"Guys..." Chenille lowered the binoculars she peered through, "The concert's starting..."

"What do we do now?" Satin shared her sister's worries.

"We need to go now," Delta Dawn readied her shotgun.

"But how?" Trollex examined one of the pistols he decided to grab just in case he and DJ needed to protect themselves, "We can't get low enough where they can see us, and one of the few Trolls here who can fly can't possibly hold the both of us to lower us down!"

"What?" Camilla tilted her head in confusion, "We don't count?"

"We glide, Camilla," Adriana noted.

"Lad, please!" The Troll in question, Trollzart, chuckled heartily, "Never underestimate an old man, fellow!"

"I wasn't talking about your age...! Whoa!"

Trollex was caught off guard (literally) when Trollzart lifted him and an equally surprised Delta Dawn off the basket and down towards the same level where Poppy's group landed.

"Huh," Delta Dawn noted with impressiveness before calling up at the remaining occupants, "You can catch us if you can!"

She, Trollex, and Trollzart then took off running in an attempt to Poppy's group.

"Wow," DJ Suki too was impressed.

"We wish we can drop in like that," Satin and Chenille tempted fate.

"Wish granted," Dulce got a running start.

"Huh?"

BAM!

Dulce tackled the now screaming twins off the balloon, them holding her tight as she glided down and landed gracefully on her feet. Satin and Chenille shot her dual death glares, which she shrugged off before sending them both off in the direction Trollzart's group went.

"Going down?" Camilla performed the same routine with DJ and Creek...

"Heading down!"

...just as Diogo did with Meadow and Growly Pete.

Adriana turned toward Harper, Archer, Moxie, Aspen, and Bliss expecting a similar answer. Fortunately for her...

"Nope."

"No way."

"Nada."

"I'm watching the kids."

"Good."

"We know our own way, Adriana," Tresillo nodded at Marimba and Tambora, who returned it and leapt down along with their leader using rappelling gear, which the K-Pop Gang stored in their hair after following them.

"We're not ready..." Aspen exchanged fearful looks with Moxie.

"We have to be... Wait, where's Chaz and Riff?"


"Barb figured that you would come back for more..." Bash had Poppy's group cornered from the front and back, but not the sides, "...but she never suspected that you would bring back-up with you. I think it's poetic. Enemies and traitors coming up to witness their own demise. You just forgot the ballroom."

"We don't pick the ballroom," Delta Dawn slid over with Trollex and Trollzart from the left, "We just dance."

The Reggaeton and K-Pop Gangs slid from the right.

"And when we dance..." Tresillo pulled out his machete as Marimba and Tambora pulled out their knives.

"...We dance beautifully," Wani and her girls readied their brass knuckles.

Satin and Chenille plus Riff dropped from above in front of them, wielding their assault rifles.

"Not to sing beautifully..." Satin started.

"...as we kick your rear end," Chenille finished.

DJ and Creek followed suit but this time they landed behind them, just as Meadow, Growly Pete, and Chaz did.

Oh... Why did I agree to this job? Chaz lamented to himself.

The opening notes of the song Barb prepared to perform echoed throughout the city, catching the attention of those preparing to battle.

"Get ready, ladies and gentlemen..." Creek murmured.

The combined efforts of Poppy, Branch, DJ Suki, Creek, Meadow Spriggs, Queen Essence, King Quincy, Queen Essence, Trollzart, King Trollex, Delta Dawn, Growly Pete, Riff, Chaz, the Reggaeton Gang, the K-Pop Gang, Adora, Catra, and Hickory vs. the combined efforts of Bash and his gang of Party Crashers. Who could possibly win this upcoming battle?