The Other Side Chapter 27: Interlude VII (Just Sing), a trolls fanfic

The next day, Latin City was recovering from the effects of the lockdown, but needless to say, it was a speedy recovery. Everybody had been accounted for, nobody had been seriously injured, and Lucas, Dulce, and Diogo ordered a clean-up of the entire shootout and not a cover story. A sloppy cover-up would make matters in terms of trust for the members of royalty. Gabriel, Adriana, and Camilla were in charge of the clean-up while Tresillo, Marimba, and Tambora looked after the injured Trolls involved in the lengthy battle...except for Creek, who took care of himself just fine. Whenever he wasn't performing surgery on himself, he was doing so on the others.

That afternoon, everybody gathered in the dining hall to refresh and gather their thoughts for the plan. Poppy took a seat beside Branch, DJ Suki was seated beside Trollex and CJ, Satin and Chenille were seated beside Prince D, Queen Essence and King Quincy were seated beside each other, Delta Dawn was seated beside Hickory, Tresillo was seated beside Wani (much to her chagrin and the other girls' delight), Riff was seated beside Kim-Petit (much to her chagrin and the other girls' delight), Pennywhistle was seated beside Techno Beat Drop Button, and everyone else took random seats. Creek, meanwhile, busied himself by helping the cooks in the kitchen, deliberately avoiding Poppy, Branch, and the rest of the Pop Trolls for now.

Save for the Latin Trolls, the Reggaeton Gang, and the Pop Queen, the group was far too exhausted to discuss the plan and instead focused on eating their big breakfast at the moment...even though it was noon time.

"Poppy..." Branch turned to his new girlfriend, "What do we do now?"

"I... I don't know," Poppy turned to her new boyfriend, "I never got far from giving myself up and convincing Barb to change her ways. Then the Tribe Leaders showed up, Creek showed up, and Trollex told me...that I have only a slight chance of surviving all of this."

"It's not your fault, Poppy."

Poppy and Branch turned to find Creek serving them a hot skillet filled with eggs, cheese, bacon, and fried potatoes. Seeing them flinch at the eyepatch he donned, the Pop/Guru Troll bit his bottom lip and nodded as he walked away. Feeling guilty about this, they both wanted to call him back but stopped upon seeing him engage in a brief conversation with Meadow Spriggs.

"So, Creek..."

"Meadow."

"How's life been treating you? I mean, I wasn't here during the whole...Bergens debacle, so..."

"Life's been good...if one considers being stuck in a forest where everything is trying to kill you for the past few months as good."

"Right. Sorry I asked."

"I don't blame you," Creek shook his head as he served Meadow a breakfast burrito, "I mellowed out, anyway."

All of a sudden, Creek banged his spatula on the serving tray in a way that almost resembled a beat, much to the confusion of everyone else.

"Uh, amigo," Tresillo stopped his conversation with Wani to face him, "What are you doing?"

"I'm following the baby's example," Creek merely shrugged as he gestured towards Coral Blush with the spatula before continuing to make beats.

Everybody glanced over to the youngest of the group, who was banging on his plates with his dining utensils much like a beat. Seeing this in awe, Clampers eventually pulled out a Jew's Harp and began playing along with Coral, who giggled happily as they played in harmony. As if that instigated a pattern, CJ pulled a DJ mixer from her namesake aunt's hair and began spinning the discs to the beat. Prince D, who had since bobbed his head along, worked along the lines to work a beatbox in while Pennywhistle hopped into the hands of Meadow Spriggs, who began to proficiently play the sentient flute. Riff decided to help Coral out and played impromptu drums, much to Kim-Petit's amusement and inspiration, getting the rest of the K-Pop Gang and the Reggaeton Gang to provide back-up vocals.

All the while, Poppy, Branch, Delta Dawn, Queen Essence, King Quincy, King Trollex, DJ Suki, Trollzart, a fully awake Satin plus Chenille, Bliss Marina, Growly Pete, Harper, Archer, and the rest of the Trolls in the dining hall looked on in amazement.

They're all playing...in perfect harmony...

("Just Sing (Soundtrack Version)" by Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, J Balvin, Stephanie Beatriz, Mary J. Blige, Russell Brand, Kyla Carter, Kelly Clarkson, George Clinton, Jorge Diaz, Melissa Fumero, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Xolo Mariduena, Justin McElroy, Elizabeth Olsen, Anderson Paak, Icona Pop, Tyler Posey, Anthony Ramos, Sam Rockwell, Michelle Rodriguez, Alexandra Shipp, Karan Soni, Tessa Thompson, Quvenzhane Wallis, Charlyne Yi, & Gwen Stefani)

Delta Dawn, who had also bobbed her head despite herself, stood up to begin clapping and toe-tapping to the beat. Hickory pulled her banjo out of her hair and began playing along, much to her bemusement. The Pop Queen decided to get the ball and sing a song to lift their spirits up in high order.

You think you've gotta hide it
Don't keep it on the shelf
Let your waist start movin'
Watch the way I do it, do it
See me do it like nobody else

After Poppy's dance routine, Queen Essence saw this as her cue to lead Branch and Prince D as her background singers.

If we sing it all together
(If we sing it all as one)
It's louder than yourself
(All together everyone)
Everybody's lookin'
Watch the way we do it, do it
'Cause we do it like nobody else

After this, Trollex suddenly stood up and pulled DJ along with her, spinning her around as they sang the bridge, followed by Harper, Archer, Techno Beat, Bliss Marina, and surprisingly Delta Dawn.

Let me hear you sing
Don't you stop it, don't you fight it
Let me hear you sing
If you got it, can't deny it
Let me hear ya
It's waitin' for ya already
You know that you do it like nobody else

The four of them joined Poppy and Branch plus Satin and Chenille as they sang the chorus.

Just sing
Sing it together
Louder than ever, ever
Forget everything
Just sing
Like it's what we've been missin'
And they're gonna listen, listen
Forget everything
(Let me hear ya)

Delta Dawn again took center stage, this time pulling Branch, Prince D, and Hickory along with the ride.

Hey, I been right here where you standin'
(I've been standin' on the ground)
And the walls are cavin' in
(All the walls are fallin')
But my lips start movin'
With the soul I put into it
And you've never heard it done like this

This time, Tresillo, Marimba, Tambora, Diogo, Lucas, Dulce, Adriana, Camilla, and Gabriel joined DJ, Trollex, Harper, Archer, Techno Beat, Bliss Marina, and Delta Dawn as they sang the bridge again.

Rounding out the cast, CJ, Pennywhistle, King Quincy, and eventually Creek joined the others in singing the chorus.

Suddenly, cheers and clamors of commendation came from outside, catching the attention of those inside.

"Is that...the townspeople?" Poppy's smile grew.

"Have they been listening to us this entire time?" Branch held her hand.

"Of course they have," Tresillo shrugged, "They always love a grand inspirational song to keep their spirits up."

"Huh. How about that?" Delta Dawn as she approached the windows and pulled them open, the others following behind. Indeed, the townspeople applauded their guests' musical number and urged them to continue.

(Let me hear you sing!)
(Let me hear you)
Let me hear you sing, yeah!
(Let me hear you sing!)

Prince D chuckled and moved on up, taking the lead for a moment's notice and did just that.

"I want you to sing from your soul, I want you to reach with your elbows...!"

Queen Essence and King Quincy laughed heartily as they affectionately nudged their son.

(Let me hear you)
(Let me hear you sing!)
It's waitin' for ya already
You know that you do it like nobody else

Poppy, Branch, and the others exchanged glances and nodded, leading the crowd to round out the song.

Poppy and Branch held each other's hands, DJ Suki and King Trollex held each other's hands, Tresillo and Wani held each other's hands, Riff and Kim-Petit held each other's hands, Delta Dawn and Hickory held each other's hands, Prince D and Chenille held each other's hands, and Queen Essence and King Quincy held each other's hands. As for the crowd below, they all joined hands to form a large chain...

...a large chain which they eventually broke to freestyle the outro, complete with beatboxes and handclaps galore.

Sing it together
Louder than ever, ever
Forget everything
Just sing
Like it's what we've been missin'
And they're gonna listen, listen
Forget everything
Just sing!

The crowd cheered the group on, even as they re-entered the hall before heading back to their normal everyday lives as if nothing happened.

"Wow," Poppy and Branch both said at the same time.

"Huh," DJ chuckled before noticing her hand clamping Trollex's, "How about that?"

"Yeah..." The Techno Troll lightly blushed, "How about that?"

"I have no idea in the slightest what just happened..." Wani shook her head, "...but I liked it."

"Like the fact that you're holding my hand?" Tresillo noted cheekily. Wani's reaction after glancing downward to confirm this was swift and brutal: she swiped her hand away and walked off towards her giggling friends, leaving a bewildered Tresillo in the dust. Prince D could only chuckle in amusement and pat his shoulder in comfort.

"Hey, does anybody hear that?"

Everybody turned towards Meadow, who turned toward the source of the oddly-soothing music: A levitating purple Troll with long red hair extended into a sideburn mustache, heart-shaped chest hair, and black leather pants wielding a golden saxophone. The Reggaeton Gang and the K-Pop Gang knew what this meant and backed away slowly. Fortunately, a whip was lassoed around his neck and prevented him from utilizing his full potential.

"Hold it right there, Chaz," Hickory tightened the lasso as if it were a noose.

"Ah, cowboy pants," the Smooth Jazz Troll chuckled, "We meet again..."

DING!

Everybody watched in shock as Chaz fell forward into unconsciousness, revealing a huffing Creek wielding a dented skillet and an equally stunned Hickory. The Pop/Guru Troll shrugged and pulled a pair of gumdrops from his ears.

"Gumdrops. Soundproof..."

"...and delicious," Hickory then chuckled in acknowledgment as they ate one each in unison.

Delta groaned in disgust, "Never mind. All is lost..."