Poppy's group was almost out of ammunition, out of breath, and out of it. They couldn't give up yet, however. If they did, that meant Barb would win.
"We're almost there!"
"This way!"
"CJ!"
The group screeched to a halt upon hearing the name cried out. DJ in particular widened her eyes in absolute horror when she realized her niece was in serious danger. Her fears were proven correct when she caught a glimpse of a familiar, purple-and-teal shape dropping atop a platform. Glancing up at the damaged balloon then right to the source, a pair of laughing Party Crashers who high-fived at their work well done, DJ's horrified expression quickly morphed into one of maternal rage. Her eyes now resting on Delta Dawn's hunting rifle, she grabbed it to chamber a round and take aim at them, despite the protests of Poppy and Branch.
Firing two shots, they both hit the Party Crashers squarely in the forehead and sent them tumbling down into the lava below. A group of Party Crashers noticed this and opened fire on Poppy's group, prompting them to move a little faster and take cover.
Meanwhile, Barb got the crowd worked up for her third and final performance.
"Are you ready for this, ladies and gentlemen?"
The Rock Troll crowd cheered, clapped, whistled, and whooped in applause. Beckoning Sid to start things off, the muscular Rock Troll strummed a first riff then a second just as Barb turned to Carol to commence her drumming. Simultaneously, the crowd clapped their hands and stomped their feet in sync to the music. A few select miscellaneous Trolls couldn't help but do the same in guilty fashion. Poppy knew that they were running time and had to move fast.
"Come on, guys!"
("Barracuda" by Heart) [Rachel Bloom Cover]
The anticipation was building. The tension was rising. The Rock Trolls, as they clapped their hands and stomped their feet, chanted the name of their triumphant Queen who would lead them to the future of music.
"Queen Baaaaaarb!" One overtly enthusiastic Rock Troll leaped from the statue of a hand flashing the Devil's horns...and fell into the lava below.
So this ain't the end, I saw you again, today
I had to turn my heart away
Meanwhile, Priscilla began playing her guitar and beckoned the other Pop Trolls to play their instruments as well. They did so, but out of reluctance more than anything.
Smile like the sun, kisses for everyone
And tales, it never fails
Poppy's group watched as Barb, her band, and the Pop Trolls perform their song while Branch led them forward.
You're lying so low in the weeds
Using her right hand, Barb threw the Devil's horns up as pyrotechnics courtesy of King Thrash caused lava to shoot upward.
I bet you're gonna ambush me
"ROCK ON!" One Rock Trolls repeated the action using both of his hands...
"ROCK ON!" ...as did his tear, who cried in ecstasy with his owner.
You'd have me down, down, down, down on my knees
Now won't ya...?
Suddenly, the music halted as a single spotlight was shone on Biggie's group, specifically Biggie himself, as they froze in fear. Barb, Poppy's group, the Rock Trolls, and everyone else in the audience (even the Party Crashers) waited expectantly for them to continue. As Barb narrowed her eyes in suspicion, Biggie's eyes met Priscilla's. With a warm smile and reassuring nod, Biggie mustered up any remaining courage to fully morph into her Rock Troll persona.
. . .
"BAARRACUUDDAAAAAAAAAA!"
With that, Biggie used his strength to smash his guitar, surprising himself as much as the others.
"Ohhh!" Barb smirked in impressiveness and continued to led the Rock Trolls into victory.
Back over time we were all tryin' for free
You met the porpoise and me
Having run into the Party Crashers led by a vengeful Bash, Poppy's group did battle once more. Both sides fought with an equal mix of fury and desperation, gaining the upper hand for a moment.
No right, no wrong, you're sellin' a song, a name
Whisper game
A group of Party Crashers attempted to drag Prince D away, but they were met with a furious King Quincy and Queen Essence, who immediately punched and kicked them off.
And if the real thing don't do the trick
You better make up something quick
Witnessing the battle from afar and turning to see another party of Party Crashers heading her way, CJ then noticed a single rope dangling from Sheila's basket. The balloon still intact and invisible due to the fog machines, she acted fast; she grabbed the rope and began to tug on it, dragging the balloon with it. Using it as a floatation device, CJ then swung from one side of the auditorium to the other, nearly getting scorched by the ocassional lava spewing.
You're gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn to the wick
Barb then struck a sexy pose to the Rock Trolls (male and female), complemented by a flirtatious wink.
Ooh, barracuda
CJ then tied Sheila down before rushing off to join the fight, picking up a few melee weapons along the way.
"Oh yeah!"
Poppy and Branch were in the process of fighting Bash when their peripheral vision noticed CJ rushing head-first into the fight.
"CJ?!"
DJ's eyes widened again, this time in surprise, as she witnessed her niece arrive to their aid. CJ hurled a baseball bat into the nearest Party Crasher's face before sliding between the legs of another and punching Bash as hard as she could.
"Sell me, sell you," the porpoise said
Dive down deep to save my head
You, I think you got the blues too
Aiding from above close by was Moxie and Dulce, firing their sniper rifles as the group attempted to work Sheila's controls.
All that night and all the next
Swam without looking back
Made for the western pools
Barb pretended not to notice the little fight occurring backstage, but she preferred to give the little resistance a little heads up. Even so, she couldn't help but chuckle in amusement.
"Silly, silly fools..."
The K-Pop Gang delivered high flying kicks before noticing King Quincy, Queen Essence, Prince D, Delta Dawn, Trollzart, and King Trollex being surrounded by all sides.
"Poppy!" Kim-Petit called out, "The Tribe Leaders!"
"I got them!" Hickory leapt over the Party Crashers.
"I've got an idea!" Creek shouted back.
Tresillo picked up a spare pistol and shot down a Party Crasher who attempted to stab Wani in the back. Noticing this, the K-Pop Troll shot an acknowledging smirk to the Reggaeton Troll, who merely shrugged in acknowledgement. Wani suddenly tensed up and pulled out a throwing knife, hurling it into the forehead of another ambushing Party Crasher, catching Tresillo off guard. Nonetheless, the roles were reversed with a smirking Tresillo and a shrugging Wani.
And if the real thing don't do the trick
You better make up something quick
Meadow noticed Hickory attempting to slip past the Party Crashers and used her seeds to clear a path. Riff and Growly Pete fired their respective firearms at every direction while CJ and Chaz resorted to a pair of melee weapons to even out the odds before they could get their hands on actual weapons. Adora and Catra stabbed and slashed away with their bladed weapons, even grabbing discarded firearms whenever they could to gain the advantage.
You're gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn to the wick
Barb halted the music before strumming her guitar in their place.
Oh, barra, barra, barra, barracuda
His face bruised with every punctuated punch, Bash collapsed in exhaustion before Poppy and Branch restrained him and the surviving Party Crashers.
"Oh yeah..."
The retreating Party Crashers managed to round up the Tribe Leaders regardless and lead them away just as Hickory arrived back for the guitar/drum solo.
"Come on!" Hickory shouted.
"But what about the tribe leaders?" Branch questioned.
"They'll be fine! Just get ready!"
Poppy and Branch exchanged uncertain looks before acknowledging nods, gathering the remnants of the group to keep moving forward.
"Get ready for what?" Poppy asked.
"The rest of the plan!" Hickory answered, "You'll see!"
"This better be a good plan..." Tresillo muttered.
"Don't jinx us..." Wani scoffed.
As Poppy's group prepared for the final showdown, Biggie's group prepared for the final countdown, wondering if Poppy would prevail in the end, a question posed by the balloon's occupants as well.
"Oh yeah!" Barb screamed into her microphone for a third and final time as Sid riffed five times in a row, finishing the song.
The cheers, the claps, the whistles, and the whoops of the Rock Trolls grew higher and higher. It was to the point where even a few were dangerously close to losing their voices, their breath, or their composure. Adrenaline rushes were certainly a wonder to behold.
"Hey! Look, Daddy!" Tiny Diamond played a note rhythmically, "I'm a rockstar!"
As Guy Diamond shot his son an affectionate smile, the same Rock Troll who deliberately leapt into the lava resurfaced and nonchalantly stated the obvious:
"Uh... This is a little hot..."
Barb turned to find the Tribe Leaders being forcibly led to their impromptu platforms. Noting their fashion choices, she hummed in admiration for them going all out. Even so...
"Rock Trolls! Funk Trolls! Country Trolls! Techno Trolls! Classical Trolls! And Pop Trolls..." Barb proclaimed loud enough for her people to hear her, "Give it up for your former leaders!"
A spotlight shone on the "former" leaders for their respective genres called out:
"Funk...!"
King Quincy, Queen Essence, and Prince D...
"...Country...!"
Delta Dawn...
"...Techno...!"
King Trollex...
"...Classical...!"
Trollzart...
"...and worst of all...Pop!"
An upper cage rotated to reveal Mandy dressed as Poppy. The Rock Trolls booed and hissed at her as the other Trolls, those from Pop especially, gasping in horror and fear for their Queen. Suddenly, lightning struck the stage and produced the grey V-guitar that housed all of the six Strings. The instrument floated down into the hands of Barb, who produced a black guitar pick with a neon red skull and flipped it into her right hand.
"Who wants to see what the Ultimate Power Chord can do?"
The Rock Trolls cheered and whooped in anticipation as Barb turned toward Mandy/Poppy, the first leader on her hit list.
"No..." Mandy shook her head, gripped the iron bars of her cage, "No!"
Barb elicited a smug chuckle and strummed a note, a burst of red energy shooting towards Mandy.
"NOOOOOO!"
Everybody watched in utter shock as an orange-skinned Pop Troll used his hair to swing into the line of fire, shielding Mandy from the lightning strike.
Aspen clenched his teeth as his body took the full blast of the Ultimate Power Chord. His face was burning, his skin was melting, and his blood was freezing. Subliminal images and flashing lights appeared before his eyes, and the musical accompaniment that was the screeching guitars and booming drums made for an unpleasant experience to endure. A flurry of emotions ran laps in his brain, ranging from lust to freedom to dominance...and it was an unwilling invitation.
Eventually, his entire body was encased in a black, molten-like cocoon, which fell straight down to the stage. Everybody watched in fear and confusion as the event unfolded before them. Poppy's group looked on in horror, the Tribe Leaders looked on in despair, and everybody else looked on in expectancy.
The cocoon suddenly glowed dark red before expanding...cracking...and opening in half. Standing inside...was a Rock Zombie version of Aspen, whose eyes flashed open to reveal blood red and whose hands shot up in the air...to flash the Devil's horns at the crowd.
"ROCK ON!"
The Rock Trolls cheered after a moment of silence, the Pop Trolls gasped not soon after, and even Barb was highly impressed.
"Sick! It totally works!"
"Who's ready to get ripping tattoos everywhere but our faces in case we still need office jobs? Rah!" Aspen screamed, much to the Rock Trolls' delight.
"I honestly expected you to say that, Branch," Riff meekly admitted, prompting an understanding eye roll from Branch.
"That's your plan?" Mandy stated incredulously, "You're turning everyone into Rock Zombies?"
"Yep," Barb smirked, "I can't wait to party with you, Poppy!"
