A/N: This is a sneak peek for The Other Side 2, one of the sequels to The Other Side. Also...
1) TU4QU0I53T4IAN6L3: Can't wait to see more! And it looks like we got a new antagonist coming to the main show soon. I wonder who they are.
1.1) MarcellusMiro66: Neither can I! Also, I highly suggest that you read "Lost" by SuperNova CO. Aside from being a primary inspiration on the sequels in terms of characters and world-building, it is also a brilliant story in its own right.
2) Jake H Voronkov: After seeing the Respect trailer, I would've preferred Jennifer Hudson as Queen Aretha.
2.1) MarcellusMiro66: I saw that too and thought that too, but my mind immediately went to Rosario Dawson when I cast Will Smith as King James. The reason for this casting choice was because of their performances and excellent chemistry in Seven Pounds (which wasn't an excellent movie, but decent enough in my opinion). To remedy this, I cast Jennifer Hudson as her singing voice while keeping in mind that she gave terrific performances in Dreamgirls, The Secret Life of Bees, and Empire among other media. Likewise, I had Priyanka Chopra cast as the singing voice of Zahra, the former Tribe Leader of the Bhangra Trolls, whereas Sarita Choudhury provides her speaking voice.
A young Pop/Rock Troll huffed as she and her Rock/K-Pop partner helped her lifted a box or two. On one hand, she had a light pink complexion, a dark pink nose, light blue eyes, and dark blue hair with purple tints; she wore a slim navy blue suit jacket above a white long-sleeve button-down shirt, a matching tunic vest, a navy blue high-waist flared skirt, and a green headband with a large dark blue flower in the center with blue petals, two smaller yellow flowers with petals of the same color, and four additional yellow flowers with lighter green petals. On the other hand, he had a violet-grey complexion, a light purple nose, pink-red eyes with blue eye coloring, and dull blue hair with red tints; he wore a black leather jacket, a navy blue long-sleeve button-down shirt, black leather pants with matching fingerless gloves, spiked bracelets on both wrists, spiked anklets on both ankles, and a black beanie that hid his hair but not his eyes.
"Thanks for helping me help Curtis set up his new DJ booth, Luke," The Pop/Rock Troll shot her partner a sincere smile, which sent shivers down Luke's spine.
"Uh, it means nothing, Ruby," Luke himself nervously scratched the back of his head as he chuckled, "I am your friend after all."
"No, you're not. You're my boyfriend."
With that, Ruby planted a kiss on Luke's cheek and walked away with one of the boxes. He was left a babbling, blushing boy before he regained his composure and picked up another box, catching up with her.
Nearby, an actual K-Pop Troll with dark blue eyes, green eye coloring, and jet-black hair with purple tints helped the DJ himself with his music selection. Curtis was a red-and-lavender-blue striped Funk Troll with purple eyes; short, thick blue dreadlocks; four blue legs; a long neck; a silver flower and gold star earring on each ear; and a black letterman jacket with white sleeves.
"So..." The K-Pop Troll opened one such box and peered inside, "The party isn't until a few weeks away. Are you sure you wanna get started now?"
"Of course not, Daisy," Curtis chuckled in reassurance, "but the least I can do is get a head start out of everyone."
"I can list a number of ways that kind of thinking could lead to trouble. Exhaustion, overworking, overthinking. The list can go on and on and on."
"And two of those ways are essentially one and the same," A young female Country Troll approached them. She had a stone beige complexion, green eyes, burnt amber hair, a brown leather jacket with a faux shearling white wool collar, a butter yellow long-sleeve collared shirt, a honey yellow skirt with a brown button belt, a solid blue cotton neckerchief, and a dark brown akubra hat with an amber yellow band.
"Come on, Daisy. At least give Curtis a little bit of credit."
"It's not that I'm not, Amber," Daisy defended herself, "But he has all the time in the world to get this party started. Why now?"
"Again, a head start is rarely a given," Curtis placed a pair of discs on the pair of turntable slipmats, "And it's not like I'm going to work on all of this right away. Patience and time management helps, too."
"That's why I love you, Stone," Amber placed a kiss on his cheek, "You understand me."
"Ugh, you two. Get a room...or rooms," An older Country Troll entered the room as she took a picture of it. She had an ivory beige complexion, blue eyes, bright gold hair, a white long-sleeve collared shirt with a blue tweed vest, blue denim jeans, a solid purple cotton neckerchief, and a light brown ten-gallon cowboy hat.
"Oh, look. It's my sister Annie, the moment killer."
"With good reason," Annie swatted the both of them out of her way as she took another picture.
"Well, what is it then?"
Annie opened her mouth to reply but realized she didn't have a viable excuse.
"I'm not telling."
"Didn't think so."
"Come on, you two," Daisy lifted a heavy box as Ruby and Luke arrived back with more supplies, "The 20th anniversary of TrollsTopia is arriving in a few weeks and the least I can do is help Curtis get a head start for tonight. You do have an opening song, right, Curtis?"
"Not yet, but I do have a closing song. Gem's got the opening song."
"Did someone call my name?"
The group turned to find a Techno Troll swim toward the group. She had dark blue skin with bands of blue, violet, red, orange, yellow, and green respectively on both arms; large, round black pupils; a neon green mouth with yellow teeth, pixelated light green freckles on her cheeks, a pair of pinkish-purple wireless headphones and a pearl necklace with a turquoise seashell. Her most famous characteristic, however, is perhaps her heterochromia iridum, in which she had mismatched eyes of pale green on the right and pale pink on the left, a combination that even extended to her hair, which was held together in a purple-shade topknot.
"Hey, Gem," Ruby chuckled as she received a hug from the Troll, "We were just talking about you. Are you excited to perform the opening act?"
"Absolutely!" Gem excitedly nodded before meekly adding, "If only a little nauseous..."
"Hey, don't worry, Gem," Ruby patted her shoulder in reassurance, "I was a little nervous myself during my first concert."
"How did you get over it...or, at the very least, prevented yourself from vomiting all over the audience?" Gem tilted her head.
"Well, now that you said that..." Amber interrupted, "do and can Techno Trolls vomit?"
"That's not important, Amber," Annie winced.
"Yeah, I know that, but I'm just curious now that she brought it up."
"I'm pretty sure every Troll in TrollsTopia has a digestive system in their body: stomach, liver, pancreas, appendix, colon, anus, etc. How also else would we pee or poop?"
"Why are you lot prattling on about excrement and micturition?"
The group turned to find a Classical Rock Troll flying towards them. She had blue, green, and purple hair; green eyes that appeared to house different shades; a blue choker with a red hourglass symbol on it. As her namesake indicated, she wore clothing that was evocative of Classical and Rock Troll attire.
"Oh, our dear Amy," Amber donned a faux smile, "To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence tonight?"
"If that is mockery and fake enthusiasm I sense in your tone of voice, I do not appeciate it," Amy narrowed her eyes at the Country Troll, who sheepishly grinned, "What I do appreciate is honesty, regardless of your opinion of me."
"Sorry, Amy," Ruby apologized on behalf of Amber, "Amber's a little too excited over the 20th anniversary of TrollsTopia. As such, her methods of celebration can be different from that of the Pop Trolls."
"Or the Rock Trolls..." Luke grinned.
"Or the Funk Trolls..." Curtis shrugged.
"Or the Techno Trolls..." Gem made a so-so hand gesture.
"Or the Classical Trolls..." Amy nodded in understanding, "And your point is...?"
"The way the Trolls celebrate big events or milestones," Ruby clarified, "are different, but the big events or milestones themselves are not...most of the time. It's the foundation that TrollsTopia is based on: differences do matter, and denying our differences is denying the truth of who we are. Our differences are what make us Trolls...and Trolls is Trolls, right?"
After giving Ruby's words a thought, Amy nodded again, "I suppose...but that does not explain why feces and urine were the topic of your previous conversation."
"Oh, well..." Amber awkwardly chuckled, "We were just using them as a metaphor to help Gem here overcome stage fright."
Amy nodded once more and turned to face a nervously smiling Gem, "Gemini...being onstage is like...being on top of the tallest mountain. No one could reach you. When you are on its summit, it is of paramount prominence that balance is kept. Imagine yourself in that situation. If you get knocked down, then you simply get back up again. It is imperative that you tighten your grip and never let go. Do you understand?"
Gem nodded as she listened attentively to Amy's advice.
"You will make mistakes on your first concert. The important takeaway is to learn from them and improve upon them."
"Wow," Amber was speechless, "I don't want to see or hear you perpetuate the stereotype that Classical Trolls give good advice, but...that was really good advice."
"Never try too hard," Amy merely shrugged.
"Uh, guys?"
The group turned to find an Indie Alternative Troll dressed as a Rock Troll peering from behind the doorway, "Um, we got trouble..."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Well..." Leah scratched the back of her head as she struggled to find a proper explanation, "It's kind of difficult to explain in words. You probably see for yourself."
Exchanging alarmed and uncertain looks, Ruby eventually took command, "All right, everybody. Follow Leah to the trouble. I'll...get my weapons."
"Do you want me to help you?" Luke turned to her.
"No, I'll be fine," Ruby shook her head in reassurance, "I can take care of myself once in a while. You do remember who my mother is?"
"Yes, I do, but...I figured you would help carrying them in case of the emergency that wherever we might end up...our Troll hair might not end up serving their intended purpose?"
Contemplating Luke's words, Ruby concurred, "You're right...but you still need to stick with the group. Daisy might end up leading the group in case something happens to me, and she might need help. Besides, you need a break from helping me."
"Honestly...you do too."
Ruby only smiled and pecked Luke on the cheek, "I love you, Luke."
"I love you too, Ruby," Luke smooched Ruby's nose, causing her to gently giggle, "Be safe, okay?"
"Always am," Ruby nodded before she turned and walked away from the group, exchanging one more smile with Luke before turning the corner. The Rock/K-Pop Troll's already goofy smile became goofier, the power of love striking him before he even knew it.
"How did a guy like you end up with a gal like her, I'll never know," Daisy chuckled.
"Neither will I," Luke continue to smile, "...but she was your ex-girlfriend, so...I assumed you would know."
"Ha, true," Daisy patted him on the shoulder, "Come on, let's go find the trouble."
Luke merely nodded and smiled more as he walked with the group.
Meanwhile, Ruby arrived at her sleeping quarters and headed toward her wardrobe. Parting her clothes from left to right, a security keypad was unveiled to her and allowed her to press a certain set of numbers to activate the secret compartment. The secret compartment was actually an arsenal of assorted armaments and ammunition, stolen from the Chanty Trolls, who in turn stole them from the...human world? Her mother was professional allies and even personal friends with them. A group of flawed, primitive, complex individuals, humans to her were as confusing as they were fascinating.
Pulling out the shelves and racks that housed several firearms, swords, knives, bows, crossbows, arrows, and bolts of the like, Ruby took many of them along with some duffel bags. Among the many weapons she appropriated included but not limited to a 3rd Generation Glock 17, a 3rd Generation Glock 19, a SIG-Sauer P226R, a SIG-Sauer P226 SCT, a SIG-Sauer P229R, a SIG-Sauer P250 Compact, a Smith & Wesson Model 5946, a Smith & Wesson M&P, a Beretta 92FS, a Beretta 90Two, a Colt M1911A1, a Colt MK IV Series 80, a pair of Desert Eagle Mark XIX's, a Heckler & Koch P30, a Heckler & Koch USP Compact, a stainless steel Jericho 941 R, a Kimber Warrior, a Para-Ordnance P14 Limited, a stainless steel and blued Walther PPK/S, a Remington 870 Police Magnum, a Remington 870 Field Gun, a Remington 870 MCS in Regular and Masterkey configuration, a Mossberg 500 Persuader, a Mossberg 500 Cruiser, a Mossberg 500 in the Knoxx Sidewinder Kit configuraton, a Winchester Model 1897 Riot Gun, a pistol-gripped Winchester Model 1200/1300 Defender, a Colt Law Enforcement Carbine L36920/SOCOM, a M4A1 Carbine with a M68 Aimpoint red dot scope and a M203 Grenade Launcher, a Daniel Defense DDM4A1 with a Magpul PMAG, a Noveske N4 Diplomat with a Vitor VIS upper, a Heckler & Koch G36C, a Heckler & Koch HK416, a Remington 700PSS, a FN M249 SAW Paratrooper with a SureFire 100-round casket magazine, a Gerber Mark II Combat Knife, a pair of Gerber Yari II Tanto knives, a Benchmade SOCP Dagger, a pair of sharp and collapsible two-handed shields, a pair of customized collapsible batons, a customized compound bow and wristbow, a pair of metal gauntlets and matching gloves, and finally, her mother's signature sword.
The sword was different than most, given its almost ethereal qualities and traits. The handle and hilt was gold with a turquoise-colored opal embedded into said hilt while the blade was light blue. In addition, it granted its wielder a vast variety of powers and abilities ranging from energy blasts to shapeshifting to healing. Overall, it was a very powerful sword.
Placing all of the firearms, ammunition, and additional weapons into the duffel bags (which had two towels fitted into the bottom of them), Ruby zipped them close and slipped them into her hair. The only weapons she didn't pack were a SIG-Sauer P226R, a single 3rd Generation Glock 17, the Remington 870 MCS Masterkey, the Gerber Mark II Knife, and her mother's sword. She slipped her two pistols into her leather shoulder holsters, sheathed her knife into the small of her back holster, stowed her shotgun into a custom leg holster, and slung her mother's sheathed sword over one shoulder. Contemplating the Mossberg 500 Cruiser to be used instead, she decided against it, citing its longer barrel to be detrimental to an escape attempt.
Setting everything back in its regular place, Ruby exited her sleeping quarters and caught up with the rest of the group.
"So...what's the stitch?"
"Well..." Leah explained, "I was walking little Wave home from school when we saw...that."
Ruby and the others turned in the direction of Leah's finger and their eyes widened in shock. It was a vortex with the color palette of gold, orange, blue, and purple of various shades.
"It's a wormhole," Ruby realized.
"I took Wave home and studied it some more," Leah confirmed as she continued, "and it still won't go away. I wanted to go to your parents because they had experience with them before, but..."
Nodding in understanding, Ruby examined the wormhole before them as she came to a decision.
"It's best that you didn't. I should probably write a note and let them know where we're at."
"Wait, we?" Daisy knitted her eyebrows together.
"Annie, Amber, do any of you have rope?"
Both sisters pulled a coil of seemingly never-ending rope from their brown leather satchels.
"Always," Both sisters replied at the same time.
Taking into account Ruby's appearance now, Daisy had a bad feeling about this.
"I have a bad feeling about this. Ruby, why do you look like you're going to war?"
"A wise leader does not seek out war, Daisy, but he or she must always be prepared for it. Wherever we're going, there may be a lot or few of it."
"Again, we? You actually considered us in the equation?"
"Of course I did. You guys and gals are my best pals. I can't do many of the things I do without you."
"And we wouldn't have it any other way," Curtis smiled in reciprocation.
Returning said smile, Ruby then pulled out of her hair a pile of wristwatch-like devices that glowed electric blue, handing one each to her friends to slip into place.
"Are you sure your parents would appreciate you appropriating the Multi-Universe Transprojector?"
Everybody turned to find a Techno Troll who, like Amy, chose to imitate the appearances of other Trolls, this time donning the stylings of the Funk and K-Pop Tribes, with hints of regular Pop shining through.
"Kate," Ruby smiled and greeted her friend despite her group's apprehension, "How's life been treating you?"
"Slightly worser than you," Kate smirked, "but it has its pros. Unfortunately, the cons are close to outweighing them."
"Maybe an interdimensional journey will do you some good," Ruby offered, "Help you get your mind off things."
Kate attempted to process what Ruby had said as the Pop Princess attached a mini M-UT to her wrist, "Yeah... I'm just attempting to process what you, the Pop Princess, said to me, one of your subjects."
"If you're worrying about one of us getting caught in a time vortex, don't," Ruby continued to reassure Kate, "I have this travel plan completely under control."
"Oh, I'm not. I'm worried that one of us may end up not getting caught in one."
"That's the spirit! Now...are we ready, ladies and gentlemen?"
"Almost," Luke finished writing a letter to the High Queen and King before having a Glowfly deliver it to them, "Okay. Now we're ready."
"All right. Let's do this."
Ruby turned on her M-UT, prompting the others to do the same. Annie and Amber, meanwhile, tied rope around the waists and wrists of their associates so none of them would separate from each other that easily. Exchanging uncertain but determined glances, all ten party members leapt through the wormhole. The darkness of black, blue, and purple overwhelmed until they reached the end of the tunnel.
And then...nothing.
Nothing but a flash of the rainbow later, which transported them to the other end of the wormhole.
"Ugh... Is everyone okay?"
"If by "okay", you mean "a little disoriented and resisting the urge to vomit...then yeah, we're okay."
Ruby helped everyone to their feet, offering them bottles of ginger ale if the need to puke came. Afterwards, she glanced around and took in her surroundings. The forest in which the group found themselves seemed perfectly normal and safe, but she couldn't let her guard down, even for a moment.
Daisy seemed to concur as she tapped her ex-girlfriend's shoulder and asked for a gun of her own. Handing her the Smith & Wesson M&P and seven magazines of ammunition, Ruby also handed Amy a Heckler & Koch P30, Luke her SIG-Sauer P226R, Annie her Glock 17, and Kate her Remington 870. Unsheathing her mother's sword, Ruby beckoned the group to get close but not too close.
"Eyes up. Stay sharp," Ruby instructed her crew as she held the blade at the ready and led them through the forest.
Much like their leader, the group took the time to take in their surroundings and get an idea of who or what they were dealing with in this alternate universe. From snakes, songbirds, and spiders to snail spiders, Sparkbugs, and Swampkins galore, this place seemed like an exact replica of their homeworld. It may as well be a mirror dimension, a trap to lure in unsuspecting victims and seize them when they were at their most vulnerable.
Of course, they can suspect for so long.
After a long walk, they eventually stumbled upon a Pop Troll who laid unconscious in the grass. Approaching carefully, Ruby advanced first. The Pop Troll wore 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.
Gasping in shock, Ruby carefully examined the all-too familiar Pop Troll from head to toe, repeating this action for several minutes until she couldn't anymore.
"Mom...?"
Seemingly on cue, the eyes of the Pop Troll flew open and gasped, prompting Ruby to step backward to her group and give her space as she came to. Standing up and brushing the dirt off her dress, she took notice of her current location before the group of preteen Trolls before her.
"Oh, hello. Sorry about that. You guys and gals thought I was a corpse in the woods, huh?"
"Honestly, I hoped you were. That way, I can cross that off my bucket list..." Kate muttered under her breath, prompting an elbow nudge from Annie.
"So...with that cleared up, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Poppy, Queen of the Pop Trolls. And yours?"
Everybody seemed too shocked to comprehend that the Pop Queen was standing there in the flesh, asking them to introduce themselves.
"G-Gemini," Gem eventually went first, "but my friends call me Gem."
"Pleased to meet you, Gem," Poppy outstretched a hand for Gem to shake, which she took gently.
"I'm Annie," The oldest Country Troll went second, "and this is my sister Amber."
Amber flashed the "hang loose" hand gesture as a form of greeting while Curtis walked beside her.
"I'm Curtis, but you may call me Prince C. What's poppin'?"
"I'm Leah," The Indie Alternative Troll waved.
"Amy. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Kate."
"Daisy."
"Luke."
"And I'm...Ruby. The Princess of the Pop Trolls...and your daughter."
Taken aback by the sole Pop Troll's introduction, Queen Poppy carefully examined her...daughter from head to toe, much like Ruby had done to her before. After a moment of tension, Poppy merely smiled and chuckled, much to Ruby's confusion (and, by extension, the others').
"I know."
