Creek and Chenille (plus a still unconscious Satin being carried by her sister) had been walking for some time now, not even taking breaks in-between sessions. As a result, they were unsurprisingly tired, sore, and hungry. They couldn't stop now, though, for with the faint sounds of civilization ahead, they were presumably one step closer to finding Poppy and her group, if they weren't separated enough already.
"How...far...are...we...?"
"I...don't...know..."
The pair pushed away a bush of leaves and their jaws hung agape at the sight before them. It was a city, a city full of multicolored Trolls that bore an uncanny resemblance to the Pop Trolls with their rainbow aesthetic (a fact only Chenille noticed) but with feathers and wings galore. Another thing Chenille had noticed was the unusual but nonetheless interesting fashion choices of the citizens, particularly the women, whose unintentionally (or intentionally?) sultry demeanors were highlighted through their skirts, midriff tops, and very short shorts. Creek, meanwhile, focused on the behavior of these non-Pop Trolls: as the men cooked food, as the women sang music, as the children played games. They seemed to be well-adjusted for a group whose music was about to taken away forever. Then again, it is possible that none of them had ever heard of Hard Rock before. And if they did, they seemed not to be worried in the slightest and instead were prepared to fight back to protect their music.
The two Trolls then watched in surprise and intrigue as who appeared to be multiple couples of the same sex dancing to the beat of the music with the same level of energy as the couples who were of the opposite sex. They sang, they danced, and they kissed with a fiery passion to prove their undying love for each other. Both were extremely confused, as their village never showed any romantic interaction between same-sex Trolls, but both showed neither disdain nor disgust at the public displays of affection. When they did meet eyes, the couple flashed friendly smiles and waved at them, prompting Creek and Chenille to return the grins and greetings before continuing on their way.
"Do you think Poppy and the others are here?" Chenille inquired as she ogled at the clothes and fashion accessories.
"I hope so," Creek suspected as he took a sample of the pulled pork sandwiches offered to him, handing one to Chenille, "Otherwise, we're at a dead end."
Taking a small bite before a big one, Chenille hungrily tore into the sandwich, "What do you think Poppy will say or do once she sees you?"
"I don't She'll probably strangle me again...with the help of Branch, if he's there."
"Honestly, I would do the same, or should've."
"This, despite the fact that you tried to prevent them from doing so?"
"Yeah, because we were in a cage about to fed to the Bergens. Now that we're under more safety-minded circumstances..."
"Remember we're the only Trolls with guns at the moment, Chenille."
"I'm sure we are. You don't know if these Trolls have guns too."
"Well, if they do..."
Chenille expected an answer from Creek, but he never did. Instead, she turned around to find the Guru Troll searching for and buying a bushel of garments.
"Put these on," Creek handed some over to Chenille, "And split up."
"Why?" Chenille took the clothes and examined them, "Give me one good reason."
"You don't have much of a choice," Creek gestured toward the distance, prompting Chenille to face in that direction. They both saw a trio of hooded figures advancing towards them.
"They with you?"
"Not that I know of. Split up first and then change clothes. Meet up with me at that large tree there."
Chenille turned again, this time up towards a large nut tree covered with lanterns and moss.
"I have a feeling that's where Poppy and the others are."
"How do you know?"
"I just do. Now go."
Chenille carried her sister away towards the large nut tree. Creek diverted the intruders' attention as he lead them away from the sisters and the market place, grabbing two of the following items as he went: a scarf, a glass bottle, a wire hanger, and a slicing knife, confusing the chef when he reached for them. Luring the two intruders away, he witnessed from the corner of his eyes that three had become six, as they separated most likely to pursue Satin and Chenille. Frowning at having to change his plan, he turned back towards the large nut tree, prompting the trio to follow him in kind.
Carrying her sister as they made their escape, Chenille noticed too that the trio had grown to six as Creek sprinted in their direction. The large nut tree in her sights, she began to climb and swung a still unconscious Satin onto a nearby branch. She then swung up upward and grabbed a further-up branch, repeating this pattern until she reached what she presumed to be the front entrance. Desparately knocking on the door, it suddenly swung open and Satin ended up falling flat on her face. Glancing up to find a pair of feathered and armed Trolls, she nervously gulped...and flashed a confused look when they smiled quite jovially.
"May we help you?"
"There's six people, I think, following me, my sister, and my friend. My friend, he's a purple-skinned Pop Troll with blue, teal, and green hair."
Their expression turned deadly serious as the male Troll helped Chenille up, "Did you get a good look at the pursuers?"
"No," Chenille shook her head, "They were wearing all hoods."
"Adriana," The male feathered Troll turned towards the female, "Take her and her sister to the rehabilitation center. I will gather our troops and notify the King and Princess if I can find them."
"Yes, Captain Gabriel," Adriana saluted her superior before turning to face Chenille and taking Satin in her arms, beckoning her to follow her to the nursery. "You know, I've never seen a Pop Troll up close. What are you like?"
Chenille was completely caught off guard, "Well..."
"Wow. You had a very bad day."
Poppy winced as the doctor applied rubbing alcohol on the cuts she sustained.
"Yeah, but bad day may be an understatement."
Branch groaned as Dulce looked over his wounds, attempting to ignore the chiseled abs he hid beneath the vest.
"A horrible week seems more fitting," Tresillo chuckled as Marimba and Tambora rolled their eyes.
Suddenly, the door burst open to reveal two Trolls, one carrying the injured.
"Satin?!" Poppy shot up from her bed.
"Chenille?!" As did DJ Suki, who immediately gritted her teeth in pain as her stitches threatened to open up.
"Adriana!" Dulce exclaimed happily as she glided over to hug her friend, minding the injured Pop Troll she held in her arms.
"You girls are okay!" Poppy was glad that someone survived the destruction of Vibe City. "Is Satin...?"
The doctor who tended to Poppy approached and checked her vitals, "She's okay, Your Majesty. Any longer without medical attention, though, and she would've been dead."
"We have a bigger problem," Adriana turned to Dulce, "Princess, Miss Chenille told me that six intruders in total had been following her and her sister. I have reason to believe that they're after Queen Poppy and her friends."
Dulce's normally cheerful expression turned grim, "Has Captain Gabriel been notified?"
"He was there when Satin and Chenille arrived," Adriana nodded, "He's rounding the troops as we speak."
"Okay. I need to find Lucas and Diogo."
Suddenly, the lights in the room flickered, alarming the occupants.
"They're here."
Adriana immediately reached for her pistol just as Chenille aimed for her rifle, much to the surprise of pretty much everyone.
"Do you know how to use that thing?"
"No..." Chenille admitted but repeated, "...but I'm a fast learner."
"That's comforting," Adriana winced as she wordlessly motioned the doctor to continue tending to the patients, which proved to be a daunting task when one of them was conjoined by the hair to her twin sister. Branch reached for Poppy, DJ Suki reached for CJ, and Trollex reached for DJ. As the only two Trolls with firearms, Chenille and Adriana aimed their weapons all over the room, careful not to hit the patients, their doctor, or Princess Dulce, who quietly activated a wrist-mounted communication device.
"Camila?"
"Dulce? Gabe just ordered a lockdown of the place! What is going on?"
"It's a long story, Camila. I need you to find Lucas and Diogo before coming to the rehabilation center, okay? You do know where it is?"
"Of course I do! I end up there every weekend! I had to binge watch La Casa De Papel, Adios Ana, Adios, and Elena Of Avalor in a row!"
"Yes, yes. Just get over here quickly, Camila. Be careful."
"Say no more, Princess! I'll be right there!"
The call ended and a series of gunshots echoed outside the hallway a few moments later. Chenille and Adriana was understandably put on edge as a result. A few more moments later, Camila herself burst into the room carrying a protesting Lucas and Diogo, whom she placed down after having her fun.
"Curses, Camila! We were in the middle of entertaining the citizens!"
"I am sorry, Your Majesties, but Dulce required your presence! It's an...!"
Camila stopped upon noticing the patients. Her eyes widening with hearts, she glided over to take a better look at them.
"Ooh, who's the hottie?"
"Sorry, ma'am, but Branch's taken," Poppy's grip on Branch's hand tightened.
"I actually was talking to you, madam," Camila turned her gaze towards Poppy, whose eyes widened, whose cheeks reddened, and whose grip on Branch's hand tightened harder than before, prompting him to gasp for air, "Who may you be?"
"Um... Thank you, ma'am, but..." Poppy nervously chuckled, "I'm taken, too. I'm Queen Poppy, and this is my consort, Branch."
"Ooh, bummer, mujer bonita," Camila feigned lament and leaned in close, but not too close, "It's a shame, Your Majesty. We Latin Trolls know how to fun..."
"Hehe... I bet..."
"Camila!" Diogo chuckled as he called out, "Stop flirting with the patients and get over here to hold the line!"
Camila huffed and got back to work, but not before shooting a flirtatious wink at a still blushing Poppy and a confused Branch. She unholstered her two pistols and handed them to Diogo and Lucas before pulling a shotgun from her hair.
"What if the intruders are sneakers? What if they surround us at all sides?"
"Well, don't give them any ideas," Tresillo took up a pair of knives and tossed them to Marimba and Tambora before catching a machete Camila tossed to him in turn, "Hey, Camila, why don't we have one of your guns?"
"Because I brought enough for only me, Lucas, and Diogo!"
"And not me?" Dulce placed a hand over her chest in offense.
"You told me to get here quickly."
"Then where did she get that from?" Lucas cocked his head at Chenille, who continued to aim her rifle at the door as all eyes turned to her now.
"I stole it from Creek..." Chenille's eyes widened and she hissed, the words already out of her mouth. Even though she couldn't see their faces, the eyes of Poppy, Branch, and DJ widened in horror and dread.
"Creek...?"
"Creek's here...?"
"Creek's alive...?"
"Who's Creek?" CJ tilted her head in confusion, echoing the sentiment of the other non-Pop Trolls.
"Creek is..." Chenille huffed, "...one of the good guys...for now, anyway..."
"For now?" Branch's eyebrows knitted together, "How do you he's not playing tricks on you?"
"I don't," Chenille shot back, "but he came here to warn Poppy."
"About what?" Poppy herself had a bad feeling about this.
"About Queen Barb. She has plans for you."
BANG!
Before Poppy and Branch could question what kind of plans Queen Barb had in mind, the noises and commotion that resembled a brutal battle advanced faster than the speed of sound. This prompted everybody in the room to keep their guard up. Chenille, Adriana, and Camila took the front; Tresillo, Marimba, and Tambora took the back; Lucas, Diogo, and Dulce took up and down.
Creek... Please hurry up...