The heads and eyes of many a Troll shot up and widened out in surprise, but none were more so than Branch, who wildly glanced around upon hearing his beloved's voice.
Poppy...? Is that you...?
Branch slowly made his way to center stage and glanced around more carefully. He exchanged equally shocked looks with the rest of the group onstage, including Queen Barb, who glanced around along with him.
"Sing it together..."
Far than a speeding bullet did Branch's head whip back to pinpoint the source of Poppy's voice, but the echoing effects made it difficult to do so. But then...
"Louder than ever..."
He remembered something...
The lyrics...
The music...
The song...
He knew what he had to do now...
"Forget everything..."
"Just sing..." Branch started with a stammer before regaining his confidence.
"Like it's what we've been missing..."
One by one, Branch and Poppy harmonized the lyrics of the familiar song back in Latin City, his true colors slowly returning to light.
"And they're gonna listen...listen..."
. . .
"Forget everything, just sing..."
Watching as his true colors fully returned, Branch had to wonder if that was the lighting caused by the numerous spotlights in the auditorium, seeing as they somehow became brighter and brighter...but then he realized that it was lighting, but not Barb's.
Turning around to find the Rock Queen herself staring with every other Troll in astonishment at a bright, mini-tornado shining directly behind him, Branch was the last to do so and watched as it dimmed to normal sunshine symbolized by the clouds parting ways. His eyes widening as everybody else gasped in shock, it was difficult to see and believe what was happening in front of them right now was real.
But there stood the Pop Queen herself, alive and well, with her true colors.
While her eyes, hair, and skin complexion remained relatively the same, the new outfit she wore was most certainly an eye-catcher. It was a halter maxi dress with a Grecian-like strap and two waist-high slits on both sides, the front of the skirt forming a point. It also shifted from teal blue (top) to cerulean blue (middle) to ocean blue (bottom). On her head was a sand-colored headband with three green leaves; one was a Magnolia leaf in the middle, two of them were Betels that took both sides.
Standing next to her was a Pop Troll who was her spitting image, right down to the eyes, hair, skin complexion, and primary outfit. However, the main differences between the two were the darker hues donned by the older Troll. Plus, she was really tall.
In the front crowd, Peppy's eyes widened as his dearly beloved seemed to rematerialize before his very eyes alongside their daughter.
"P...Peony?"
"P...Poppy?" Branch wanted to laugh in relief.
Poppy herself knitted her eyebrows together in confusion and turned to find her mother standing beside her.
"Oh! Hi, Mom. What happened to the whole... "You will see us again when you need us the most" type of deal?"
"That deal still stands, my dear. But..." Peony threatened to grin widely, which she eventually did, "We just can't resist an old-fashioned, climatic musical number. Hit it, King Thrash."
"Most certainly, Queen Peony," King Thrash played his keyboard to kick off said old-fashioned, climatic musical number.
("Just Sing (Trolls World Tour)" by Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Rachel Bloom, Mary J. Blige, George Clinton, Anderson .Paak, Gwen Stefani, Anthony Ramos, Russell Brand, James Corden, Ron Funches, Icona Pop, Kunal Nayyar, Kenan Thompson, Ester Dean, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Rockwell, Red Velvet, J Balvin, Berenice Amador, Jamila Hache, Gustavo Dudamel, Charlyne Yi, Karan Soni, Betsy Sodaro, Justin McElroy, Quvenzhane Wallis, Xolo Mariduena, Amanda Leighton, Skylar Astin, Kyla Carter, Declan Churchill Carter/Emmett Mitchell, Abby Ryder Fortson, Ashly Burch, Lauren Mayhew, Megan Hilty, JP Karliak, Jeanine Mason, Michael-Leon Wooley, Kat Graham, Vladmir Caamano, Anita Kalathara, Aimee Carrero, AJ Michalka, Elizabeth Olsen, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Tyler Posey, Sofia Carson, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Jorge Diaz, Will Smith, Naomie Harris, Woody Harrelson, Gemma Chan, Claudia Kim, Russell Crowe, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Benedict Cumberbatch, Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Sarita Choudury, Michelle Yeoh, & Nicole Kidman)
Exchanging knowing looks, Poppy and Peony worked in conjunction to jumpstart the celebratory party...the right way.
[Verse 1]
[The Pop Section]
Poppy went first, leading her friends and the Tribe Leaders to follow her smooth moves.
[Anna Kendrick: Queen Poppy]
You think you've gotta hide it...
Peony went second, shadowing her daughter's choreographed dance.
[Nicole Kidman: Queen Peony]
Don't keep it on the shelf...
Like mother, like daughter, Poppy and Peony rounded out the Pop Section to let the Funk Section have the spotlight.
[Both:]
Let your waist start moving
Watch the way we do it, do it
See us do it like nobody else...
At that moment, Queen Aretha and King James materialized out of thin air much like Peony before them, much to the surprise of Queen Essence and King Quincy, who nonetheless committed to the beat, much like a rejuvenated Branch, Cooper, and Prince D.
[Verse 2]
[The Funk Section]
The current Queen and King of Funk joined their predecessors in singing the Funk Section along with their successors.
[Mary J. Blige, George Clinton, Will Smith, & Naomie Harris: Queen Aretha & King James / (Justin Timberlake, Ron Funches, Anderson .Paak, & Chadwick Boseman): (Branch, Cooper, & Prince D)]
Queen Essence and King Quincy, although taken aback by the apparent resurrection of her parents / his parents-in-law, were overjoyed to meet them once more or, in Quincy's case, finally meet them in person.
If we sing it all together (If we sing it all as one)
It's louder than yourself (All together, everyone)
Cooper and Prince D joined their parents and grandparents in providing backup vocals with the help of Branch and Thoth...
Everybody's lookin' (See you lookin' now)
Watch the way we do it, do it (Hold up, watchin' how I do it)
...and everybody else joined in just as they rounded out the Funk Section, prompting the Techno Section to make their presence known.
[Pop, Funk, Country, & Techno]
'Cause we do it like nobody else!
From there, the Techno Section took over, led by King Trollex and DJ Suki, followed by Nina, CJ Suki, Bliss Marina, Techno Beat, Coral Blush, Synth, Laguna Tidepool, and even Queen Essence, Delta Dawn, and Pennywhistle.
[Verse 3]
[The Techno Section]
Her excitement overwhelming her judgment, DJ Suki pulled King Trollex into a romantic dance-for-two much like the one a few nights before.
[Gwen Stefani & Anthony Ramos; Mary J. Blige & Kelly Clarkson; Justin McElroy & Charlyne Yi; Kyla Carter & Alexandra Shipp; Gemma Chan, Vladmir Caamano, & Anita Kalathara: DJ Suki, King Trollex, Queen Essence, Delta Dawn, Techno Beat, Pennywhistle, CJ Suki, Bliss Marina, Nina, Synth, & Laguna Tidepool]
Let me hear you sing!
Don't you stop it, don't you fight it!
Trollex seemed to reciprocate, spinning DJ around before dipping her to the ground.
Let me hear you sing!
If you got it, can't deny it!
The Techno Crowd now worked up, Kelpy and Seagrass led the crowd in joining in.
Let me hear you,
It's waiting for you
Biggie and Legsly pulled each other in for a hug while Tiny Diamond and young Carol (not to be confused with older Carol) joined Priscilla in back-up instruments.
Already, you know
That you do it like nobody else
Suddenly, many of the former Tribe/Subculture Leaders appeared in the same way as Queen Peony, Queen Aretha, and King James, surprising them all but thankfully not enough to stop the sone dead in its tracks.
[Pre-Chorus: All]
Just sing (Woo), sing it together
Louder than ever, ever, forget everything
Just sing like it's what we've been missing
And they're gonna listen, listen, forget everything
All of the Trolls, even Rock, all danced with visible excitement, with the exception of Barb, and even she was dangerously close to joining in. She had to admit, the real Queen Poppy knew how to get a party started.
Unfortunately, all of the Trolls with the exception of the Tribe Leaders had also yet to retain their true colors.
Knowing this, Tiny Diamond literally leapt into action...
"Come on, Daddy! Just sing it!"
...specifically, his father's hands. Smiling with pride, Guy Diamond mirrored his son's smooth moves.
Let me hear you...
With that, the Country Troll Section, lead by Delta Dawn, Hickory, Clampers Buttonwillow, Holly Darling, Sheriff John, Mayor Dolly, Uncle Flynn, Roy, and eventually Dickory, Branch, and Prince D. Delta, Hickory, John, and Dolly played their guitars while Clampers & Flynn wielded a Jew's harp.
[Verse 3]
[The Country Section]
From the crowd, a quartet of Country Trolls by the name of Gust Tumbleweed, Annie Applecore, Haystack Wiggins, and Slim Stuck 'Em worked their section up.
[Kelly Clarkson & Sam Rockwell; Megan Hilty & Woody Harrelson; Kevin Costner & Diane Lane; Justin Timberlake & Anderson .Paak; Flula Borg, Eric Lopez, Ashly Burch, Matt Lowe, Betsy Sodaro, & Jeff Bridges: Delta Dawn, Hickory, Holly Darling, Roy, Sheriff John, Mayor Dolly, Branch, Prince D, Dickory, Gust Timbleweed, Slim Stuck 'Em, Annie Applecore, Haystack Wiggins, Clampers Buttonwillow, & Uncle Flynn]
Delta and Hickory stood lovingly side-to-side as they performed the third verse together as Branch, Prince D, Holly, Gust, and Haystack provided back-up vocals followed by Roy and Dickory; Clampers, Flynn, John, and Dolly played their own instruments.
Hey, I've been right here where you standin' (I've been standin' on the ground)
And the walls are cavin' in (All the walls are fallin')
But my lips start movin' with the soul I put into it
And you never heard it done like this (Yodel-Ay-Hee-Hoo!)
From there, the Subculture Tribes followed Hickory, Dickory, and Roy's example.
Let me hear you sing!
As the Pop, Funk, Country, and Techno Trolls sung that line, the K-Pop Trolls and the Latin Pop Trolls respectively both joined in with the respective former leaders of the Chanty Trolls and the Bhangra Trolls, the Mariachi Trolls assisting both.
[Pre-Chorus]
[The Subculture Section]
[All, Icona Pop (Satin & Chenille), Red Velvet (The K-Pop Gang), Claudia Kim (Sophie), J Balvin (Tresillo), Berenice Amador (Marimba), Jamila Hache (Tambora), Lin Manuel-Miranda (Diogo), Tyler Posey (Lucas), Sofia Carson (Dulce), Melissa Fumero (Adriana), Stephanie Beatriz (Camila), Jorge Diaz (Gabriel), Antonio Banderas (Alejandro), & Salma Hayek (Carolina)]
Wani and Sophie led the K-Pop troupe on with the help of the Chanty Troll leader, Captain Karina...
리듬 타봐 멈추지마, 노래불러줘/Lideum tabwa meomchujina nolaebulleojwo (Try the rhythm, do not stop)
...while Marimba and Tambora led the Latin/Reggaeton Trolls onward with the help of the Bhangra Troll leader, Queen Zhara.
Si lo tienes, no lo niegues, te quiero oír cantar (If you have, don't deny it, I want to hear you sing)
The Mariachi Troll leaders, Rey Alejandro & Reina Carolina, provided back-up instrumentals, finishing as the Pop, Funk, Country, Techno, and Classical Trolls joined in.
It's waiting for you
Already, you know
That you do it like nobody else!
As Poppy led everyone toward center stage, she ended up pulling a still bewildered Barb along for the ride. The Rock Queen exchanged looks with the Pop Queen, who smiled warmly and beckoned her to join in with them.
A small act of compassion that confused her, Barb had to wonder how, out of all this madness and destruction she herself caused, Poppy still found it within her heart to forgive her. Regardless, she did want to join in with the fun...but she couldn't.
[Chorus: All]
[The Classical Section]
Just sing, sing it together
Louder than ever, ever, forget everything
Glancing around, Barb found that many of her people had joined in the party, Riff, older Carol, Sid Fret, and even their past ancestors included. Riff, in particular, used his drum solo as the percussion section to Classical's instrumental led by Trollzart, Dante Crescendo, Pennywhistle, Trollkovsky, and Minuet Sonata, who led the crowd on.
"Play, play!" Trollzart conducted his orchestra as Dante played Pennywhistle, who trilled in ecstasy, "Beautiful."
Just sing like it's what we've been missing
And they're gonna listen, listen, forget everything
[Bridge: Anderson .Paak, Mary J. Blige, Michael-Leon Wooley, Kat Graham, Kenan Thompson, George Clinton, Aimee Carrero, AJ Michalka, Russell Brand, & Justin Timberlake]
At that moment, Tiny Diamond swooped in on Debbie, snatching up Pennywhistle, Techno Beat, an Adorabull, and Snug-a-Lug, the pet of Lownote Jones.
Let me hear you sing!
"I said a one, two, three, and four! Let's go, everybody! Get on the floor!" Tiny Diamond rapped in enthusiasm.
Let me hear you!
"Mm, let me hear you sing it!" Queen Essence was assisted with a pair of sisterly twins in the Funk Troll section by the name of Rhythm & Blues.
Let me hear you sing!
"I want you to sing from your soul, I want you to reach with your elbow!" Prince D assisted even further with the help of King Quincy and Lownote Jones.
Let me hear you!
"We can't hear you, way in the back!" Tiny Diamond called out to Cloud Guy's family, specifically Cloud Guy, who was the odd one out in terms of getting down with the beat. He eventually relented, much to his family's delight.
"Alright, alright, alright!" Branch, Creek, Adora, and Catra harmonized together.
And then there was one. One more Tribe Leader who had yet to join in. One more Tribe Leader who had yet to receive her true colors. One more Tribe Leader who had yet to...just sing.
Despite the red glow of her heart, Barb was still uncertain, even with the full support of her apprentice Priscilla and her predecessors. She just needed that final push.
Branch tossed Barb's former guitar to Poppy, who tossed it back to its owner, who shot her a look of confusion. Poppy could only and merely smile back, an action repeated by the other Tribe Leaders when she glanced at them for an explanation.
[Pre-Chorus: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, George Clinton, Anderson .Paak, Kelly Clarkson, Gustavo Dudamel, Anthony Ramos, & Jeremy Renner]
Just sing... Barb smiled and hummed to herself, finally accepting that differences do matter.
Let me hear you sing!
it's waiting for you
Already, you know
That you do it like nobody else
Finally knowing now what needed to be done, Barb turned to Priscilla with a knowing smirk, the Pop/Rock Troll returned the gesture and produced her own guitar.
In unison for the sake of the Rock Section, master and apprentice played an epic, electric guitar riff, trusting their hearts to just sing.
[Chorus]
[The Rock Section]
Just sing!
In the process, the Rock Queen finally regained her true colors in the form of a rainbow mohawk. Overjoyed, Barb's smile threatened to make her cheeks ache as she finally joined the others in the celebration.
[All, Rachel Bloom, Abby Ryder Fortson, Russell Crowe, & Jeremy Renner]
Sing it together!
Louder than ever, ever!
Forget everything!
From the Rock Crowd, a quartet named Demo, Blaze Powerchord, Petra, and Billy Reverb cheered their leader on and instigated a crowd wave that caused all of the Trolls to not only join in, but also revert from their previously grey colors to their true, rainbow colors.
Just sing!
Like it's what we've been missing!
And they're gonna listen, listen!
Forget everything!
The crowd wave reached center stage and then Poppy and Branch, who were lifted high into the air and had a rainbow-colored mini-tornado spin them around. Descending from mid-air, the both of them received upgraded outfits befitting their new roles of royalty.
The former's outfit was a rainbow tank top with a yellow heart; trimmed pants of the same pattern; a yellow, teal and orange cape; and a thin purple headband with multi-colored pom-poms and hearts. The latter's outfit was essentially the same, the main differences being his jacket replacing her cape and the fact that the top of her hair becoming rainbow-like. Quite fitting, however.
Just sing, sing it together (Just sing)
Louder than ever, ever (Let me hear you rock!)
Her usual confidence returning with a vengeance, Barb exchanged looks of proud acknowledgement with Poppy and Branch, whose hands she promptly took and raised high into the air, signifying that the long-term separation amongst the six main Troll Tribes was finally over.
Forget everything!
Just sing!
Like it's what we've been missing (Like it's what we've been missing!)
And they're gonna listen, listen (Oh-oh-oh)
Forget everything
All of the Tribe Leaders noticed that, as the song progressed, the genres of music began to merge together in perfect harmony.
It was just like they realized. Music may have begun with the strings but now? It lived inside each of them and was shaped by their individual lifes, experiences, and culture.
Alone, they were strong.
Together, they were stronger.
Through their combined genres, the colour, rhythm, and music to their world was restored...maybe even perfected.
You can't harmonize alone...
Knowing this, Poppy smiled as she finished the song she herself started with the help of others.
[Outro: Anna Kendrick]
Just sing...
Sing it together...
Louder than ever...
Forget everything...
Just sing...
A/N: Thank you all for your patience! It has now been officially a month! This is the chapter I had the most fun and difficulty writing because with this cast, you can't go wrong. Although, I will point that some of the actors (and the former Tribe/Subculture Leaders) listed here aren't singing per se, but they do play instruments based on their musical career (or lack thereof). Kevin Costner (Sheriff John, Delta Dawn's father) is the frontman and guitarist of Kevin Costner & Modern West; Russell Crowe (King Bowie, the former Rock King) is the lead vocalist and guitarist of 30 Odd Foot of Grunts and The Ordinary Fear of God; Jeremy Renner (Major Tom, King Bowie's assistant) plays alternative music, providing vocals, guitar, drums, and keyboard; and Nicole Kidman (Queen Peony, Poppy's mother)...well, you might remember her Oscar-nominated performance as Courtesan Satine in Moulin Rouge! Ironically enough, I wanted to cast Ewan McGregor as King Peppy for a casting gag/in-joke. Everyone else is singing along with the chorus.
My in-development sequel(s) will explore the fallout of this story, including such events from TrollsTopia. I won't spoil anything too big, but I will say that time travel/dimension travel, world-building, and property crossovers will part a prominent part in future stories going forward. The valuable lessons learned by Poppy here will not only stick, but a trip back to the Space Between will see her becoming more efficient in combat: Martial arts, power possession, swords, shields, knives, bows-and-arrows, collapsible batons, firearms, and overall strategy. In short, the training she will receive will unleash her inner beast mode. Think James Bond, Jason Bourne, John Wick, Ethan Hunt, Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) from Taken, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) The Equalizer, Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) from The Accountant, Jon Bernthal's portrayal of The Punisher, Captain America, Black Widow, Daredevil, The Winter Soldier, Daisy Johnson / Quake, Nebula, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) from Extraction, Andy / Andromache of Scythia (Charlize Theron) from The Old Guard, and Art (Jamie Foxx) from Project Power rolled into one. Heck, any action heroine played by Charlize Theron may qualify. However, don't mistake her ridiculously high skillset as feminism at its worst; Poppy's training won't be easy and she will get hurt. Durabilty, invulnerability, and a potential healing factor will be acquired, but the scars and wounds she will receive still hurt like hell.
The crossovers I have planned in question include She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (the appearance of an alternate Adora and Catra being a precursor), Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Cleopatra in Space, Star vs. the Forces of Evil (taking shots at the highly controversial ending in the process), Amphibia, The Owl House, DuckTales (2017), Carmen Sandiego (2019), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I wanted to include Voltron: Legendary Defender in the roster, but...I simply decided not to.
