The Trio of Poppy, Creek and Biggie were traveling through the air, a cool pleasant breeze as Creek looked at his Queen.
"Poppy are you sure we're heading to Volcano Rock City?" Creek said, looking at the smooth silk of the landscape, a mixture of white and gold. Poppy Nodded, looking at the map, saying they should be there soon as Creek walked over, shaking his head.
"Poppy, I don't know how to tell you this, but that map is upside-down" Creek explained as Poppy looked at it, reading the text which was right-side up. Creek looked at the compass on Sheila, informing her they were going north.
'Volcano Rock City is South" Creek explained as the compass backed up what Creek said, they were headed north which was in the opposite direction. Poppy turned the map upside down.
"Hey guy, i don't want to be that guy but it looks all smokey down there, is someone having a barbeque?" Biggie asked as Poppy looked through a telescope, seeing the landscape vandalized and burnt.
"Shelia, take us down!" Poppy instructed as the balloon did so, landing as the three left. Poppy looked around, curious as to what happened. according to their map they were in Symphonyville, the home of the Classical Trolls but it looked like a storm came by, destroying everything in its wake.
"What did This?" Creek asked, overwhelmed by the destruction as he breathed deeply, suggested they get back to the balloon as Poppy looked around, calling out to anyone who would answer. eventually a voice called out, asking if they were there to finish the job.
"What no we're nice?" Poppy responded, the Trolls claiming they just wanted to help, asking what happened, asking where the voice was coming from. it instructed Poppy to look down, seeing a dinged up golden flute, which rolled over.
Poppy took a mild steep back, seeing a living musical instrument as she looked again, asking what happened.
"The Rock Trolls, they happened" the Flute explained, recalling the events. that led to their destruction, about how the Rock Trolls showed up in the busses, looking mean and ready to fight, demanding their leader Conductor Trollzart hand his String over.
"We never stood a chance against them, their amps were too loud, they were too reckless and rude, like feral animals, they destroyed everything...took everyone" the flute sobbed over the loss of her home.
"But there must be a reason, Barb said she wanted to unite the Trolls" Poppy defended, wanting to give the fellow Queen benefit of the doubt.
"Unite us, she wants to CONQUER us!" the Flute explained as Biggie looked at The Queen, asking what to do. There was no way singing, dancing and hugging could fix this as Poppy looked surprised.
"I... I don't know, I never thought another Troll could use their music for evil" Poppy admitted, uncertain about what to do as Creek looked at her, saying their best plan would be to return the Village and prepare in case Barb attacked them or went after their string.
"Our String is safe Creek" Poppy explained, pulling the glowing pink string that she was using as a hair tie as Bigge and Creek jumped back, surprised that she actually brought it along with her. Poppy thought it was good idea and that Barb had good intentions which was clearly not the case.
"Say when the Rock Trolls showed up, was there a grey troll with them, with black hair?" Poppy asked, reflecting Branch who Peppy said went to live with the Rock Tribe, reaching into her hair she pulled a photo of the grey troll, showing it to flute who shuddered.
"Yeah, he was there, right beside Queen Barb" she explained as Creek balled his fist, furious that Branch was helping the Rock Queen.
"I'm so taking Branch off my invite list" Biggie commented as Creek looked at Poppy, telling them that they needed to go back to the Village, with no String the Pop Tribe was defenseless.
"We need to stop Barb and Branch...if we don't who will?" Poppy defended as Creek called her out, asking about their people, their friends, her own father, was she really going to abandon them as Poppy was conflicted about it but decided Barb was the bigger threat.
"We Don't even know where Barb is, the smart thing to do would be to return to our village" Creek defended as the flute coughed, saying when they left, they were heading west, so she guessed Lonesome Flats would be there next stop.
"I say we return to the Village, and all gather in the Bunker" Biggie commented as Creek looked at him, stating Branch built the thing and he was working for Barb. Poppy knew that she had the Pop String so Lonesome Flats was probably the best bet, much to Creek and Biggie's Dismay.
"I Don't like it, but you DID save us against the bergens so I will Trust you Poppy" Creek added as Biggie was still on edge. Poppy walked toward him, promising the big blue troll no harm would come to them, going as far to pinky promise him.
"We can only hope the Village is doing okay" Poppy said, knowing even if the Rock Trolls arrived, the second they found out the string was gone they'd probably leave.
"Here it is Troll Village, my former home" Branch said, looking at the window of the angelerbus as Barb rolled her eyes, stating the decor offended her eyes.
"Why not let me handle this, they know me, so they'll be more likely to cooperate" Branch suggested, which was part of his reason to offer going in alone, another being he did not want what happened to Symphonyville to happen to the Village.
"Okay, but I come with. I am the head of the Tour, plus I REALLY want to thank Poppy for her 'Thoughtful' gift" the Rock Queen said in air quote instructing the Rockers to stay behind. the two walked through the woods as Branch stepped down, hearing a twig snap as a loop of rope caught his ankle, stringing him up. Barb chuckled, looking at the upside-down Troll.
"I'm sorry Branch, it's just funny" she admitted as she pulled him down, Branch analyzed the rope.
"Weird this is one of my traps, but this rope is fresh" Branch said as the two headed through the woods, stopping at a rock. which Branch looked at with comfort, saying while they were there, he should show her his old bunker "It might be dusty, but it was my home" Branch offered, leading Barb in as they rode the elevator down.
"Wow, it's much deeper than mine" Barb complimented as the levels passed by before they came to the bottom layer.
"What the Hair" Branch said, noticing that one, the bunker was spotless, dusted, like it had been maintained and two, there was a bronze statue of Branch in the center of the room, surrounded by card and small gifts.
"Wow, someone's an egotist, but it's a boss statute" Barb complimented as Branch informed, he knew nothing of it, as they walked closer reading the inscription "In Memory of Branch, he was always prepared and predicted the return of the Bergens, may we always be alert and prepared as he was" the writing read as his heart sank.
"They did return, the Bergens did return as I wasn't here to protect them!" Branch called out, punching the wall of his bunker. he had never expected to see this, a shine dedicated to him, looking at himself cast in bronze, sniffling. did they think he was dead or something?
"That's, that's heavy man" Barb simply added, reminding him why they were here as Branch nodded, saying there was someone he needed to see, walking through the bunker.
"You here?" Branch called out; Barb looked as she only see a blue controller on a pedestal. Barb looked surprised as he spoke to the device, as if he was speaking to a small child, catching up with him. Barb remembered that Branch had no friends among the Pop Tribe, which gave her more reason to dislike them.
after catching up with Gary the two left the bunker, Branch recollected himself as Barb patted his back, comforting her Boyfriend toward the village earning a few weird looks.
"Is that- It can't be- he's back?" the Pop Trolls in the village muttered amongst themselves more surprised by the return of Branch than the red-haired troll with her. it did not take long for Branch's reappearance in the Village to attract King Peppy, who looked at the Troll.
"Branch, it's... good to see you, your colors look better, how have you been?" Peppy asked surprised but partially expecting this since he heard Barb's letter turning to the purple Troll.
"I'm Guessing you're Queen Barb, of the Rock Trolls" Peppy said, looking at the girl who rolled her eyes. Branch wanted to catch up, but he knew why they were there.
"King Peppy, The String of Pop Music, where is it?" Branch asked as The King looked disappointed, he had some regrets of sending Branch to the Rock Tribe.
"So, you're siding with the Rock Tribe and Betraying us, your own people" Peppy said, realizing what was going on as Barb looked at him.
"Excuse me, his own people. Branch raised himself, he told me everything, about how the village turned their backs on him, ignored him, choosing to sing and laugh, what monsters do that to a child, especially one that dealt with a great loss" Barb snapped, her protectiveness for her boyfriend showing as Peppy sighed, not making excuses, he knew he should have brought him to the rock Tribe after Oaken and Rosiepuff were eaten but hoped the boy would come around.
"But I'm not surprised, I mean you are Pop Trolls" Barb repeated, open about her disdain, Branch comforted her, assuring he was okay.
"King Peppy, we don't want to have a conflict but I know about the past, Queen Rose, stealing the strings, destroying all other music" Branch defended, requesting he give the string willingly as Peppy chuckled, saying that Barb was doing the exact same thing, gathering all the strings as this clearly made Barb snap.
"I'm nothing like Queen Rose!" Barb shouted in defense "Rose was a tyrant who just wanted all the music to herself, I want to share it with the world, unite the world in Harmony" Barb added as Peppy sighed.
"Regardless, The String is not here, I checked last night it was gone, Poppy, Creek and Biggie were also not at announcements today, I'm sure there is a connection" Peppy explained as Barb screamed, punching the bark of a tree, Poppy and the String weren't even here
(A/N: we never got to see the Rock trolls in the Village, just the aftermath and considering Branch is half Pop Troll, I wanted to do something about that)
