Over the next two weeks, Barb thought about what song to sing and practiced relentlessly, like her life depended on it, partially because she felt her life did, in fact, depend on getting this right. Despite what the cruel thoughts said she couldn't back out now, she was committed, and she was going to go through with it even if she died immediately afterwards of shame and embarrassment. She couldn't back out now, even if she thought it wouldn't exactly disappoint Poppy (because why would Poppy care if she was there or not?) she wouldn't go back on her word to the pop queen.

To Barb's surprise Riff visited her a few times during the weeks to check in on her. It almost felt like they were friends, though she was closest to Riff out of all her subjects she couldn't imagine that he'd want to actually be her friend.

Yet there he was

"So, what are you gonna wear?" Riff asked one night.

"Well," Barb thought for a moment before going over to her closet, "I think I have one of dad's old suits in here some- Aha!" She pulled out the simple black suit and put the jacket on.

Riff almost laughed, the jacket was huge on her and had a few faded spots.

"It looks… nice… But I think you need something smaller and newer. Maybe talk to the royal seamstress about getting one made for you."

"Eh… I wouldn't want to bother her."

Riff did laugh this time, "That's her job!"

After some more prodding Barb ended up sending her request to the seamstress, secretly excited to have her own suit made.


Finally the day of the party came and Barb's suit was delivered by Riff just in time. She put it on and looked at herself in the mirror. She had to admit, she looked pretty sharp in the red jacket and pants, her black tie left untied over her white collared shirt. There was just one thing she wanted to do. Barb rolled up the sleeves of her suit and undershirt and took another look. It made the outfit a little more her and she liked it.

Barb turned to Debbie, "What do you think my little fuzzball?"

The bat just hissed happily

"Yeah, I like it too!"

When she stepped out of her room she got a thumbs up from Riff who had a collared shirt and black vest on for the party.

They left for Pop Village with a fairly large group of other rock trolls and by the time they got there other trolls from different kingdoms had already arrived or were arriving.

Barb didn't worry about them though, her mind was focused on one troll. She found Poppy greeting all the arriving trolls and steeled her nerves.

"Hey popsqueak." That got Poppy's attention.

The pop troll's face brightened and Barb's heart skipped a beat. "Barb! I'm so glad you're here!" Poppy pulled her into a hug and Barb's brain short circuited.

"Y-yeah well, yknow, f-free party, rock trolls like- uh…" Barb's face grew redder and redder, "I'll just let you, yeah, bye!" Barb walked away, leaving a frowning, confused Poppy in her wake.

Well that went great.

For the rest of the party Barb avoided Poppy and stayed with Riff, ignoring him when he asked her what happened. She wanted to drown her sorrows in the thankfully alcoholic punch but Riff only let her have one cup, the spoil sport. Still, it calmed her nerves just a bit.

To her relief there was also food that wasn't just pure sugar, there were spicy dishes for rock trolls in particular, but no meat, not that Barb expected any from the vegetarian pop trolls.

Eventually the leaders started their performances and Barb was found by a pop troll who lead her to the stage she'd be performing on. She'd go last, after King Trollex and the techno trolls. Riff came with her and though Barb didn't say it she was thankful for the company.

The last notes of techno faded away and Barb was hit with the reality of the situation.

"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit." Barb breathed heavily, "Dude I can't do this."

Riff shook her by the shoulders to snap her out of it, "Yes you can, you're the queen of rock, you can do this, you can tell her how you feel!"

"How do you-"

"You really aren't subtle, Your Rockness." Riff laughed, "Now go, you made a commitment."

Barb's anxiety was still heightened but when the announcer introduced her she walked onto the stage with false confidence, guitar in hand. It was time.

Barb gripped her pick tightly and played, stepping up to the microphone as the first notes of For Those About to Rock drifted through the air. Barb's anxiety was all but forgotten as she lost herself in her music, she played the final notes, sung the final lyrics. When she stopped the crowd cheered and her confidence skyrocketed as she started playing Enter Sandman next.

Again the crowd cheered her on as she played, and damn did it feel good.


Poppy watched in awe as Barb lost herself in her music. The rock queen appeared so confident and handsome as she switched between peacefully closing her eyes and seeming to maintain eye contact with the whole crowd while playing loudly. She moved and danced around the stage, as energetic as the music she played. Poppy's heart beat quickly and her face grew warm.

Suddenly Branch broke through the crowd, bumping into Poppy.

"Branch!"

"Hey Poppy, this is going well isn't it?"

"Yeah, I mean i haven't seen Barb much but she seems to be having a good time on stage."

Poppy turned to Branch as the last notes of Enter Sandman were played and grabbed each of his hands, "Thank you so much for your help with all this, I really appreciate it."

"No problem Poppy, I-"

A passing troll bumped into Branch, pushing him closer to Poppy, Their foreheads now touching and their bodies inches apart.


"This next song is for someone special!" Barb said once the crowd quieted down, "It's dedicated to-" Barb scanned the crowd for the queen of pop but when she found her Barb's heart dropped.

Poppy was holding Branch's hands, her forehead leaning against his, far too close for Barb's liking and certainly far too close for being 'just friends.'

"I- uh…" All of the rock queen's confidence faded in just a second and her eyes started to feel wet with tears. There was only one thing to do. Barb shut her eyes and ran away, guitar in hand.

Poppy saw everything as she backed away from Branch.

"She really doesn't look alright, I have to go help her, Branch!"

Poppy took a step and Branch grabbed her arm, "Wait! Do you really want to do this? Maybe someone else will find her, someone she's closer to."

"I have to Branch, even if she hates me she obviously needs someone right now."

"I see the way you look at Barb, Poppy, I know you want something other than friendship from her. It's the same way I look at you."

Poppy hesitated, "Branch, you know I love you, but you're my best friend."

Branch sighed, "I know Poppy, and I want what's best for you, I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"It's worth the risk to me, Branch."

Branch took a deep breath.

"Then go," He released her arm, "Good luck, Poppy."

Poppy pulled Branch in for a quick hug and whispered a 'thank you' before turning and running in the direction Barb had gone.

After a few minutes of looking, Poppy heard muffled sniffles

"Barb?"

"Go away." The rock troll said lowly, volcanic ash running down her face.

Poppy found the source of the voice, behind a nearby bush, and sat next to Barb, not too closely though.

"Barb, what happened, are you okay?

"Do I fucking look okay?!"

Poppy recoiled a bit, "Okay, I know that was a stupid question but I just want to help, what do you need?"

"For fuck's sake just stop pretending to care about me!'"

"I don't know what your problem with me is but I'm here for you, I'm not pretending to care, Barb!"

Barb snarled, "You are my problem with… with you! Just your whole existence!"

Poppy's eyes watered, "Listen, I know you hate me but I promise, it'll be better if you talk about-"

"Ugh!" Barb cut her off, fingers grasping her mohawk and the buzzed sides of her head, "Don't you get it, popsqueak?" Barb laughed bitterly, "That's the problem, I don't hate you, I never hated you!"

"W-what?" Poppy sputtered.

"Poppy, I- I just-" Barb sighed and looked at the ground, "Look dude, I've never been good at saying how I feel," she hesitated, then picked up her guitar and stood up, "so let me sing it. This song is dedicated to you."

Barb started slowly.

"Since the moment I spotted you

Like walking 'round with little wings on my shoes

My stomach's filled with the butterflies ooh and it's alright

Bouncin' round from cloud to cloud

I got the feeling like I'm never gonna come down

If I said I didn't like it then you'd know I'd lied

Every time I try to talk to you

I get tongue-tied

Turns out that everything I say to you

Comes out wrong and never comes out right

So I'll say 'why don't you and I get together and take on the world and be together forever

Heads we will and tails we'll try again

So I say why don't you and I hold each other and fly to the moon and straight on to heaven

Cause without you they're never going to let me in"

The rock queen closed her eyes, the words coming out a little easier now.

"When's this fever gonna break?

I think I've handled more than any man can take

I'm like a love-sick puppy chasin' you around

Ooh and it's alright

Bouncin' round from cloud to cloud

I got the feeling like I'm never gonna come down

If I said I didn't like it then you'd know I'd lied

Every time I try to talk to you

I get tongue-tied

Turns out that everything I say to you

Comes out wrong and never comes out right

So I'll say 'why don't you and I get together and take on the world and be together forever

Heads we will and tails we'll try again

So I say why don't you and I hold each other and fly to the moon and straight on to heaven

Cause without you they're never going to let me in

And slowly I begin to realize this is never gonna end

Right about the same time you walk by

And I say 'Oh here we go again' oh"

She played her guitar like her life depended on it.

"Every time I try to talk to you

I get tongue-tied

Turns out that everything I say to you

Comes out wrong and never comes out right"

Barb sang the chorus twice more and played the last notes of the song. Her grip on her guitar tightened as she slowly opened her eyes to gauge Poppy's reaction.

Poppy's mouth was open just a bit, forming an O and her eyes were wide.

"That song was… For me?" Poppy touched a hand to her chest and stood up slowly, as if she would spook Barb by moving too fast.

"Yeah…" Barb dropped her guitar and looked to the side, then down at the ground in shame, wanting to look anywhere but Poppy's face, "I know it's weird, and disgusting, that I'm weird and disgusting and you probably hate me now… But I like you Poppy, I like you so much that I can't take it." Barb squeezed her eyes shut, "And if you want nothing to do with me, I get it and you'll only have to see me at the conferences and-"

Barb's eyes shot open as she felt a warm, soft touch on her cheek, "P-Poppy?"

Said pop troll cradled Barb's cheek in one hand as the other made its way to her tie, grabbing both ends and using it to pull Barb close.

Poppy's lips touched her own and Barb froze, wide eyed.

All too soon it was over and Poppy leaned back, searching Barb's face for a reaction other than shock. She suddenly grew sheepish, "I'm sorry was that not good? I should've asked first, I'm-"

"No, no-" Barb placed her hands on Poppy's shoulders, "That was good, I- I really liked it, you just surprised me." She looked to the ground, a blush on her face, "Maybe we could do it again? If you want to?"

Poppy smiled, "I'd love to."

Their lips met again, Barb reciprocating this time which they each silently agreed made it so much better.

They were both grinning when they separated.

"So," Barb started, "You… like me back?"

Poppy laughed, "Barb, I just kissed you, twice."

"Hey I just wanna be sure! Especially since I'm gonna ask you out on a date."

"I would love to go on a date with the great queen of rock." Poppy kissed Barb's cheek and watched her face turn into an impossibly wide grin.

Barb's hands found Poppy's and they each leaned in for one more kiss.

It was the start of something new and exciting, something beautiful.

The end! thanks for reading, reviews are appreciated! I hope you liked it