"Smooth Jazz will be heard AGAIN! Smooth Jazz will never DIE!"
"Okay, we get it. Can somebody please shut him up?"
"I don't know, but Mr. Chaz's Smooth Jazz is...really soothing..."
"Oh, no! Pennywhistle, don't look into the light!"
"I can't help it... It's so beautiful..."
"Is she like...high or something...?"
"Oy vey..."
Hickory, the members of Reggaeton and K-Pop, and Techno Beat were attempting to prevent Chaz from using his music on a very eager Pennywhistle as the Tribe Leaders (sans Poppy) looked on in amusement. Creek, Growly Pete, Diogo, Lucas, Dulce, Adriana, Camilla, and Gabriel were gathering weapons and other equipment required for a battle. DJ Suki, Meadow Spriggs, and Prince D were helping CJ, Coral, Clampers, Harper, Archer, and Bliss Marina prepare for a presumably long-distrance flight. Satin and Chenille helped fashion rock-style outfits with the help of Adriana, a self-proclaimed fan of their work with Nova Swift. Poppy and Branch were both preparing to travel to Volcano Rock City with the help of Riff. The only quesiton was...how were they going to get there?
"So what you're saying is..." Branch studied the new and improved map, "We'll be there in a few hours?"
"Yeah..." Riff scratched the back of his head, "...if we travel fast enough."
"Well, our only mode of transportation was left in Lonesome Flats," Poppy lamented, "so we can cross Sheila B off the list."
"DID SOMEONE CALL MY NAME?!"
The ears of everyone inside the city perked up, but none more so than Queen Poppy. She immediately ran outside to the balcony followed by Branch and the others before looking up to find Sheila floating down from the sky as the townspeople looked on in awe. In addition to becoming bigger than before, her basket also grew thrice its original size.
"Sheila!"
"Poppy!"
"What in tarnation?" Delta Dawn and Hickory backtracked in fear, both shielding Clampers.
Sheila was tied down to the balcony and the drivers immediately stumbled out.
"Moxie? Aspen?"
"Poppy!" Moxie Dewdrop and Aspen Heitz cried happily as they tumbled all over each other.
"Aspen? Moxie?" Harper pushed her way through.
"Harper!" Aspen and Moixe cried happily again as they tumbled all over each other...again.
"What are you guys doing here? I thought you guys..."
"Yeah, yeah," Moxie waved them off, "We were on the island but we got caught by Party Crashers and taken back to Lonesome Flats where Sheila was waiting."
"We had to knock them out and make a clean getaway," Aspen explained further.
"Hold on," Gabriel approached them both and began tugging on their faces, "Okay, they're clean."
"Sorry," Poppy chuckled, "We had to make sure you two weren't Party Crashers in disguise yourselves."
"Did they attack here already?"
"Oh, yeah," Branch nodded and winced, "It was...messy."
"Well, it's a good thing we arrived after the fact," Moxie placed both arms on her hips, akimbo style.
"I take it you guys have a plan laid out for the concert tomorrow tonight?"
"Yep!" DJ Suki nodded, "All we needed was a mode of transportation!"
"Looks like we definitely arrived just in time," Moxie and Aspen exchanged acknowledging glances. "Let's do this!"
("The Other Side" by SZA & Justin Timberlake) [K.M.P. Instrumental Version]
Biggie helped Nova Swift gather any and all fashion supplies needed for the rock uniforms. Maddy worked on the hairstyles attributed to the Rock Trolls, which proved daunting as their hair was the Pop Trolls' livelihood. Karma and Ripley focused on the accessories, making them stylish as jewelry and functional as weaponry.
Dr. Plum and Gemma both tended to their "patients" regarding any more minor injuries they may have acquired, the former also looking after little Vega. Sky Toronto provided vocal lessons while assisting Biggie as he supervised the other Trolls. Noticing a discarded saxophone laying nearby, he picked it up and gave it a good look, recognizing it as his own before stashing it away in his hair.
Poppy, Branch, and the others gave the map a good look before being assigned their respective jobs. Poppy, Branch, Riff, Hickory, Prince D, King Quincy, Queen Essence, Delta Dawn, Trollzart, and King Trollex were assigned with the plan on how to grab the guitar from Barb when and if she planned to use it. Creek, Growly Pete, Diogo, Lucas, Dulce, Adriana, Camilla, and Gabriel were assigned with prepping the weaponry. The Reggaeton Gang, the K-Pop Gang, and a reluctant Chaz were assigned with planning a path to Volcano Rock City. Meadow, Harper, Archer, Moxie, and Aspen were assigned with keeping CJ, Coral, Clampers, and Pennywhistle out of harm's way. Finally, DJ Suki, Techno Beat, Bliss Marina, and Satin and Chenille were assigned with gathering a killer soundtrack in case it all came down to fighting their way out.
Hickory loaded Delta Dawn's shotgun and handed it to its owner before moving on to his sword as Growly Pete cocked the many lever-action rifles he stored in his hair. Camilla loaded her own shotgun before checking the sights of her two handguns while Adriana loaded her own standard sidearm. Chenille and Creek both loaded their acquried assault rifles, much to the uneasiness of Satin, who was sure that she had missed something important prior to her awakening.
Nova winced as she pricked her finger on a needle, prompting Dr. Plum and Gemma to apply rubbing alcohol and a Band-Aid. The sight made Biggie faint, Sky Toronto and Maddy rolling their eyes and pushing him up to continue the tasks at hand.
Meanwhile, Karma had built spiked collars and bracelets in addition to chains that hung from the pants. Ripley's inventions were more direct: fingerless gloves with flexible brass knuckles sewn into them and black boots with retractable knives built into them.
Moxie retrieved a crossbow and bolts from Gabriel while Aspen received a grenade belt from Adriana. Delta Dawn and Camilla explained the concept to him, prompting him to take notes and make his own explosives. Branch loaded a compact, pistol-gripped shotgun as Poppy gingerly took up a handgun and checked its sights and loading the magazine. A few feet away, Meadow and Riff handed each other the accessories for their respective rifles.
Nearby, King Quincy and Queen Essence helped Prince D ready his new-and-improved hoverboard just as he helped DJ, CJ, and Trollex with theirs. Meanwhile, Chaz implemented a brilliant idea: incorporate the dance moves of Reggaeton and K-Pop into their fighting styles. While Tresillo and Wani had reservations because none of them had engaged in physical combat until recently, they agreed to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Um, Nova..." Maddy tilted her head in doubt, "Are you sure these are what the Rock Trolls wear?"
"Of course, my dear!" Nova stated with pride and confidence, "I have combined everything I have witnessed from the history scrapbooks to the actual attack coordinated by the Rock Trolls! I've never been more proud of myself!"
As baby Vega gurgled and clapped happily, Ripley couldn't argue with the results after examining herself in Nova's Rock uniform, "Huh. In her defense, Miss Nova actually did a pretty good job."
"You were saying, Miss Maddy?"
"That's because you and Gemma are the only ones with uniforms that remotely look like the ones Rock Trolls wear, Ripley," Karma complained while gesturing to a rather rocked-up Gemma, "Nova's an exception because she dresses like that all the time."
"Um..." Dr. Plum had similar concerns, "Karma has a point. Are we supposed to be cheerleaders...?"
"I don't even know what I'm wearing," Sky Toronto frowned before shrugging, "But it'll have to make do."
"Mr. Toronto is right," Biggie nodded, "It's now or never. We just need to find a way to Volcano Rock City."
HONK-HONK!
The group looked up to find the Caterbus speeding their way and screeching to a stop, the doors opening to reveal a familiar-looking Cloud Guy at the driving wheel.
"Did somebody hail a bus?"
Chaz crackled his fingers before pulling a faux conductor's coat and baton, leading the K-Pop Trolls in their dance fight routine.
"All together now! 1, 2, 3! Go!"
The K-Pop Gang vocalized in harmony before DJ Suki, King Trollex, and CJ manned the controls.
("Zimzalabim" by Red Velvet) [Chorus Only]
"Are you ready for this?" Gomdori asked.
"Zimzalabim!" Wani replied as she lead the rest of the girls along.
[Chorus 1]
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
When Wani slided to the left, the girls did so as well.
[Chorus 2]
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
When Wani slided to the right, the girls did so as well.
[Chorus 3]
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
Zimzalabim, zim-zimzalabim
Zim-zimzalabim, zim-zim
When Wani spun, jumped, and cartwheeled around, the girls did so as well.
[Outro]
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
The K-Pop Gang eventually struck the same pose on Barb's Angler Bus when making their introduction, finishing the abridged version of the song.
Everybody in the room cheered in enthusiasm while the K-Pop Gang nodded in acknowledgement and satisfaction...except Wani, who kept exchanging looks with Tresillo.
What?
Dance-off.
What?
I said "Dance-off".
I know what you said, girl, but why...?
. . .
Practice.
. . .
All right, girl. I'll play.
You mean "We'll play".
You know what I mean. Five minutes?
Five minutes...
Tresillo and Wani shot each other knowing smirks before walking back to their respective groups.
"All right, cut the crap," Ari turned toward her, "What's with that smug little grin of yours? Is your boyfriend finally defrosting that frozen heart?"
"Close," Wani couldn't contain that smug little grin of hers, "We have a dance-off in five."
"You're kidding," Kim-Petit gasped excitedly.
"Nope."
Wani then glanced over her shoulder to beckon Poppy and Branch. Poppy and Branch looked up from their conversation with DJ and Trollex and faced Wani, who smirked and raised one hand to create the number five.
"Dance-off in five!"
Wani turned and walked away soon after, leaving a confused couple in the dust.
"Poppifer?"
"Yes, Branchifer?"
"What did she mean by that?"
"Not a clue..."
A/N: Oh, yeah. I didn't forget about the dance-off, TU4QU0I53T4IAN6L3.