In Techno Reef, Trollex was in his room, still imagining that night when he and Aggie almost kissed, and it was so embarrassing. If they kiss, their friendship would've been over. But that was a close call.
His thoughts interrupted when Synth and Beat came to his door.
"Trollex, dad's calling us," Synth declared as he and Beat swam off.
Trollex sighed sharply. He didn't like how his father made the announcement. He was always strict, and he wanted everyone to listen to his announcement. He clicked his tongue, and swam out of his room.
When Trollex, Synth, Beat, and Laguna came to the throne room, Ocean and Seastar were waiting for them.
"Okay, I'm glad everybody's here," King Ocean smiled.
"What's going on, dad?" Synth asked.
"As you all know, the Pop Trolls were hosting the New Year, and every year, only Seastar and I attended the New Years," the king announced.
"So, we've been discussing about it," the queen added exciting as she told her sons, "Trollex, Synth, I think you two were old enough to explore the world, so… you're coming with us tonight."
Synth gasped happily as he swam in loops excitingly.
But Trollex wasn't so excited. He already visited the land, and he knew this wasn't a reward. There was always a catch with his parents' announcements, "Let me guess, we're allowed to go on land only if you're around?"
"Well, you can go alone once you're close to becoming king, but Synth needs some company," Ocean explained.
"I do need it," Synth admitted.
But Trollex rolled his eyes. He was excited at first that he can visit land on his own, now he can see Aggie again in secret, but he knew there was gonna be a catch if it was his father's choice, "So, when can I go out to land on my own?"
"As long it's just a business trip, and not having fun. This is serious," Ocean approached Trollex, and wrapped an arm on his son's back, "Now that you're becoming king one day, you should stay focused on your real business when you visit the land, especially attending important meetings with the other leaders. Understand?"
"Yes, dad," Trollex nodded as he knew his own father can't give him fun, just wanting him to take his place, and nothing more.
"So, we have spare fish bowl carts for the both of you so you can visit the land without worrying," Seastar said.
Trollex opened his mouth as he was about to say that he didn't need a fish bowl cart and he knew how to walk, but if he revealed that to his parents, they would find out that he was goofing off with Aggie on land without permission. He decided to put his guard down and keep quiet. He'll just use the fishbowl carts if his parents were around.
Ocean then looked at his royal advisor as he swam towards her, "Oh, Laguna, do you want to come?"
Laguna's eyes beamed as she was surprised about the king's offer, "Really? You want me to come to the land?"
"Well, as an anTrollpologist, we figure out you want to study about the land for a bit,"
"I'll be honored," Laguna bowed down before the king, accepting the offer as he was excited that she could do a lot of research about the land.
"Oh, and we're going to pick up Bliss Marina. I already invited her, and reserved a fish bowl cart for her," the Techno King announced, much to Trollex's dismay.
That's what he needed. His father wanted to show off about his marriage to Bliss in public again. Now he's gonna be embarrassed in front of the crowd of Trolls when his father tells them about him and Bliss. This is gonna be a New Year celebration he will never forget.
The last day of the year has finally come, and the Trolls all over Troll Kingdom were ready to celebrate. Hundreds of years ago, the elders came to an agreement that every year, one tribe would host a holiday, and the rest would bring food offerings for the New Year party. And this year, it was the Pop tribe's turn to host the New Year, and the other tribe came over to Pop Village. For special guests, the party will be held in Palace Pod where the Royal leaders of Pop lived, mainly King Peppy and Princess Poppy. Some of the tribes arrived already since the party started 5 hours before New Year, technically 7pm. For the rest of 5 hours, Trolls should have fun, chatting together, and eating food that every tribe offered.
Some of the tribes were a few minutes late, but it's better than not coming at all. Peppy and Poppy were at the entrance of the Palace Pod to welcome visitors.
"Good evening!"
"Welcome, everyone!"
"Glad that you're here!"
The Hard Rock Royals were the next to come in. While King Thrash rolled his wheelchair inside, excited to get into the party, his daughter was way behind him, but glad she was, so she would have time to talk to her Pop Troll friend.
"Hey Popsqueak!" Barb raised a hand on Poppy
"Hey Barb!" Poppy slapped a hand on Barb's hand for a high-five.
Barb had both her hand on her hips, and looked up, staring at the Palace Pod, "So, it's really happening, huh? Pop is taking over New Year this year."
"Relax, Barb, maybe next year, it will be Rock's turn," The Pop princess chuckled.
When Barb entered inside, Delta was the next to greet Poppy and her father, but it was a short greet because she carried buffalo meat as her offering, so she quickly galloped inside to put the meat on the buffet table.
Two of the Country Trolls who came with the mayor were none other than Gust and Holly.
"Woo-hoo! poppy! This here is gonna be an exciting awful new year ever, ayn' this here time, ay would celebrate it with my awful new boyfriend," Holly cheered excitingly while hugging Gust
"Save the kiss faw the countdown," Gust winked at her as the two went inside.
"So cute," Poppy giggled, then turned to notice the leader of the Classical Trolls coming, "Hi Trollzart!" Though she wanted to hug him, she remembered Classical Trolls just bowed, so she did.
"Prince Poppy," Trollzart responded with a bow, "I'm delighted that your tribe will host New Year this year," he looked around before whispering to the princess, "Have you heard of Princess Aggie and Prince Trollex today?"
"Not much. Aggie was just quiet when she came over with her family. They were worried about her, but she didn't want to tell them what happened."
"And Prince Trollex?"
"The Techno Family haven't arrived yet."
"Well, I hope nothing bad will happen," Trollzart hoped as he flew inside the pod.
Poppy watched him as she thought he was right. She also hoped nothing bad will happen between those two.
Meanwhile, inside the Pod Palace, Aggie was sitting beside the buffet table, eating a marshmallow dipped with chocolate from the chocolate fountain. She's been stress-eating since what happened between her and Trollex few days ago, and it couldn't get off of her head. She didn't even text him since that. It was so awkward! They almost kissed… again! As much has Aggie wanted to do it, she was afraid Trollex would reject her, and that would be a painful feeling if that happen.
"Aggie!" Her thoughts were interrupted when her two cousins named Annalisa, a Magic Pop Troll, and Sarah, a Magic Jazz Troll came to her. Annalisa was the one who called her when she and her sister approached their little cousin, "Come on, let's have fun!"
"I am having fun," Aggie said unenthusiastically, munching down on the marshmallow.
Both sisters knew their cousin wasn't having fun as Sarah noticed a group of Trolls she was familiar with, "Hey, are they your friends?! You should hang out with them, not just eat everything at the buffet table."
"Fine," Aggie rolled her eyes, and left her seat, walking towards Barb, Gust, Holly, Trollzart, Prince D, Chaz, and Sophie with an emotionless look on her face, "Hey guys."
"There's my partnuurr!" Gust explained, patting Aggie's back, "How've ya been?
"I'm… I'm fine," Aggie answered, looking down.
"You don't look fine to me," Sophie observed Aggie's face.
"I'm…" Aggie tried to snap out of her lonely thoughts as she tried to be positive this evening, "I'm just tired."
"Hey, tell you what? Let's go play a game over there!" Barb suggested as she pointed to a line of Trolls playing limbo.
"Yeah!" The other Trolls exclaimed as they ran off to join the game, but Aggie was still unsure if a limbo could cheer her up, but she decided to follow her friends anyway.
Back at the entrance of Pod Palace, the Techno family finally arrived with Beat, Laguna, and Bliss. Trollex wasn't as happy as he was supposed to be since he was still "traumatized" after what happened with Aggie. He didn't receive any messages or call her at all. He was sure he's going to see her again tonight. This is gonna be an awkward New Year ever.
"King Ocean, Queen Seastar, you made it!" King Peppy exclaimed as he bowed in respect before the King and Queen of the Techno. The two bowed down with the King and Princess of Pop as well.
"I can't believe I finally visited land!" Synth squealed. This was the first time he ever visited land.
But Trollex already knew about the land, but he had to be surprised so his parents wouldn't realize he had been up here, "Yeah, I can't believe it either."
Laguna was looking around to observe the Land Trolls walking by, and chatting to each other while entering the Pod Palace, "Interesting!" She wrote notes on her clipboard.
"It's good to see you, King Peppy, Princess Poppy," King Ocean greeted them
"This is gonna be so exciting that Pop Trolls are in charge for the New Year," Queen Seastar added.
"Well, when the countdown turns to zero, fireworks everywhere," Poppy giggled in excitement.
"I'm so excited to see the fireworks!" Bliss shouted happily, but noticed her fiancé didn't respond to that. She elbowed her to get his attention
"Huh? I mean, yaay!" Trollex pretended to be excited, but Poppy knew how he was feeling lately.
"Now, you five can go and have fun, and introduce yourselves politely," Ocean suggested to his sons, the two girls, and the beat drop button as they went inside the Palace Pod.
While the young Techno Trolls and the button explored inside the pod, Synth then noticed something that got his attention for the first time.
"Hold up! Dude, look! Are those… éclair?!" He gasped when he saw a pyramid of eclairs on a plate, "I've never seen so many eclairs! I want to eat them all!" Synth sped his fish bowl cart towards the buffet table
"Wait up, Synth!" Beat shouted as the button followed the prince.
Laguna rolled her eyes as she rolled her fishbowl cart away from Trollex and Bliss while carrying her clipboard, writing more notes, "Hmm, he's so doomed! Oof!" Suddenly, Laguna felt she hit someone with her fish bowl cart, and dropped her clipboard on the floor, Oh my Troll, I am so sorry, I didn't see you there, I…"
When Laguna looked down to someone she hit, she stopped when she saw a red quadrupedal Funk Troll with red skin and fur, which also had three purple striped on his neck, and one purple stripe that went around his body horizontally, dark blue hair styles in a fluffed up wave, light blue eyes, dark red nose and eyebrows, four cobalt blue legs. He wore a white jacket that had orange tie dye spots, a golden necklace with his name embroidered on it, and a golden bangle on each of his four legs. Laguna stared at the Funk Troll as he picked up her clipboard for her.
"It's no problem, it's my fault, I didn't see where I was going either," The Funk Troll stood up to Laguna to give her the clipboard, but when he stared at her, he was surprise to her face, "Wow, are you… a Techno Troll? I've never seen one so close before."
Laguna giggled shyly, "Hehe! Yeah… I mean, are you… a Land Troll?"
"Yes. I'm a Funk Troll. I'm McJagger," He reached a paw at Laguna.
Laguna reached down her hand to McJagger's paw, "Hi, I'm, Laguna Tidepool."
"It's nice to meet you, Laguna Tidepool," The two shook hands before releasing, and McJagger asked, "So, is this your first time on land?"
"Um…, yes… I came with the royal family."
"That explains the fishbowl cart. Do you want me to show you around? Let me get you some food! You'll like them."
"Oh, no thanks. You should enjoy your New Year."
"Nonsense, my family has their own thing going on while waiting for the countdown. Come on, let me be your host on land."
When Laguna agreed to let McJagger showing her around, she dove back at the bottom part of her fish bowl to reach the controls, and followed the Funk Troll that she recently met,
"Oh… my…" She blushed.
After a few hours of partying, there was only 10 minutes left before the end of the countdown as the Trolls readied themselves by looking at the clock.
Trollex looked at the clock. He remembered an old New Year tradition where couples can kiss after the countdown was over, and since he has a fiancée, he has to follow that, "So, this means we have to kiss when the countdown stops to zero."
"Sounds like it. It's… a New Year tradition," Bliss said.
But feeling that he didn't want to kiss Bliss Marina at all, Trollex wanted his New Year's kiss to be special. He did like Bliss Marina. She was his friend, but not kissing… and marrying her. He did enjoy the last night of the year, but the only thing he was missing was aggie. He did spot Aggie in the party, but he noticed she was spending time with her family and friends, and he couldn't bring himself to her or everyone will notice that he has feelings for Aggie, and his parents will never like it. Trollex kept himself distance from Aggie for now. He didn't want to bother her, and didn't want to make things worse for their friendship.
"Um… I'll be right back," Trollex told Marina before moving his fishbowl cart away.
When he was out of the crowd, he headed towards the giant open window, leading to the balcony. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts for a moment. He watched the stars above, and wished they could talk to him, figuring what to do with his life.
When the clock was counted to 1 minutes, Poppy grabbed a microphone, and as the future Queen of Pop, she would give an announcement for all the Trolls who came, "Okay, everyone, we only have one minute left before New Year!"
The Trolls cheered excitingly. They kept their eyes on the clock. Aggie was within the crowd. She was spending time with her friends and family, and didn't have time approach Trollex when she spotted her. She wanted to talk to him about what happened to them that night, but not with his family and fiancée around, or they'll know she was in love with Trollex, and it might cause a drama this New Year or harm her own family. And she thought he would never feel the same. This is gonna be a complicated year this New Year. She wanted to be alone. She secretly snuck out of the crowd, and wanted to find a quiet spot. Just then, she noticed a giant fish bowl with wheels at the balcony, and in it was Trollex staring above.
Aggie was concerned why Trollex wasn't in the crowd to celebrate New Year with only 30 second left. She slowly walked towards him, and greeted, "Hey, Trollex!"
"Hi, Aggie," Trollex turned to see Aggie, "Why aren't you having fun with your friends and family there? It's almost New Year."
Aggie snorted as she slowly joined beside him, "Oh they're all fine out there. They won't miss me."
"Aggie, you're a princess. I'm sure everyone will be looking for you," Trollex smiled just slightly.
"Well, I don't care about that," Aggie shrugged, and stood next to him and looked out over the stars in the night sky. She then noticed the sad looks on Trollex's face, "What's on your mind?"
Just then, the countdown started from inside,
"10, 9, 8…"
"It's just… I don't know…, it's stupid," Trollex mumbled.
"7, 6, 5…"
"You can tell me," Aggie pleaded.
"3, 2, 1! Happy New year!"
When New Year finally came, fireworks shot in the sky, and exploded. Colorful sparkles spread after exploding, and fell down like they were showing the Trolls with lights until they disappeared.
While Trollex and Aggie were watching the fireworks, the Techno Prince then answered, "You know, I'll be king one day, and my parents just do what they want me to be! It's like I don't have control with my life," he almost started to sob, "I want my life to be mine, and I wanna rule Techno Reef my way, even without the betrothal part, but they insisted that I should follow these rules and traditions. I have nowhere to go, Aggie. I'll be forever stuck in my parents' shadows. And look, because of that, I learned less about the land that I was supposed to understand more about. All I did was get what I like, not like a real king should be," Trollex tried to hold back his tears, but one already rolled down his cheek, but he wiped it away, "Maybe this is why my parents controlled me of being a proper king. I'm stupid enough to tame myself to become a king. If they think that way, I shouldn't be a king at all!"
"Don't say that!" Aggie shouted as she looked at Trollex, who was surprised when she raised her voice at him. She stood up on the railings with her hands touching Trollex's bowl so she wouldn't fall, reaching at his level, and stared directly into his eyes, "Trollex, you're too good to feel bad about yourself and about being king. It's normal to have fun once in a while, even if you're the heir to the throne. And you're right, your parents don't deserve to control your destiny. You should be the one to live your life. Only you. Because what you want with your life is the best decision you will ever make. Trollex, you're the smartest, kindest, friendliest, and sweetest Troll ever, and… you're the most wonderful Techno Troll I've ever met in my whole life. You deserve to be happy. You should do what makes you happy."
Her eyes sparkled when the two stared at each other's eyes. She meant everything that she said to him when he looked at him. Trollex's sadness faded when he found out someone believed him. Aggie was the only one. She's the one who believed that he should decide what to do with his life. All this time, he tried to find someone in Techno Reef who could understand him, but no one did. All they did was tell him to accept his destiny that he didn't want to have. But when he met Aggie, his life changed. He thought of hope, and it's all because of her. This is why he was in love with her so much. Her words meant so much to him, and that's what he wanted to hear his whole life.
Without thinking, out of the blue, Trollex quickly leaned forward, placing one hand at the side of her neck, and kissed her lips. Aggie was frozen in shock and her eyes widened. She felt his lips for the first time, and it was soft, electric, and magical.
He didn't know what just happened. He was kissing her… right now. The Prince of Techno kissed the Princess of the Magic Musical, and it felt so right. He didn't want to stop. He has been craving kissing her this whole time, and he can't wait any longer. When Trollex pulled away, he looked into Aggie's face, who made a shocking expression. She was frozen, so shocked. She was still staring at him. Aggie couldn't find the word how she would react. Would she be happy? Would she be confused? Would she be angry? The realization of what he had done set in. She wasn't responding, neither positive nor negative. Trollex was scared, thinking Aggie was shocked because she might not feel the same. He was scared of being rejected by the only Troll he fell in love with. He didn't want to wait for her response anymore as he dove back into his bowl, and used the controls to move his bowl away, back inside the pod, and speeding away.
Aggie was frozen in place for a moment too long, before snapping out of her trance, and realized Trollex was moving away in fear, "Trollex, wait!"
Across the crowd of Trolls, who were still enjoying the party, Trollex moved his bowl too fast, it caught his family's attention.
"Prince Trollex?" Laguna was the first to notice while she was hanging with MacJagger, and told him, "I'm so sorry, McJagger. I have to go," she moved her bowl to follow the prince, which saddened the Funk Troll that she left so soon.
At the buffet table, Synth was feeding Beat an éclair until they felt Trollex's bowl raced towards the main door of the Palace Pod.
"Bro? Hey, bro, wait up!" Synth called as he collected some eclairs, and controlled his bowl to follow his brother while Beat dove himself into the water of Synth's bowl
While King Ocean and Queen Seastar were talking to their fellow leaders as they introduced Bliss Marina, they noticed their son fleeing away.
"Trollex?" Ocean noticed him, and he was worried that his son might hurt himself for going too fast. He looked back the other leaders, and said, "So sorry, your majesties. We saw our son, and… we have to go."
Ocean, Seastar, and Bliss controlled the fishbowl carts to head out of the Palace Pod to go after Trollex, making sure if he's okay.
Aggie tried to catch up to Trollex, but she noticed he wasn't in the Palace Pod anymore. He was gone. He left all of a sudden. Aggie slowly placed her finger onto her lips. She couldn't get over the feeling of Trollex's lips touching hers. It was so sweet, magical, and so soft. She could wish she would kiss him again… not in public because everyone would find out. But Aggie felt so guilty. She's the reason why Trollex left so soon. He was scared. She didn't respond so soon. She realized Trollex was scared because she might reject him, and he thought she didn't have the same romantic feelings for him. Deep down, she did feel the same. Aggie was in love with Trollex, but she was surprised that Trollex was in love with her too. There was a reason why he kissed her, and that's love. But Aggie, she didn't respond to him. She was just frozen in front of him. She was just shocked, and he left. Aggie wished that she would tell Trollex how she felt, and that kiss was her chance, but she blew it. She did nothing. She only scared Trollex away. She kept touching her lips one more time, feeling the mark Trollex left for her. She wanted to see him again, and tell him she loves him too.
Hey guys. Perfect timing! I finally finished my New Year chapter, and it's New Year.
The fishbowl carts that the Royal Family owned were like large goldfish bowls with wheels under them, and they were controlled remotely by Techno Trolls.
The scene where Synth was interested on eclairs was a reference from TrollsTopia: Mini mini-golf.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! I hope you enjoy this last chapter of the year for my Trolls AU.