Chapter Ten: The Concert
Branch leaned against the brick wall that surrounded the stage in Volcano City. The day of the concert had come and he was doing his best to stay away from his beloved, since she looked like she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, scrapbooking like mad since that morning. She gave him a small kiss before getting the changing room door closed in his face. He looked at the clock on the wall: he still had two hours before the concert started. He might as well go get her a bouquet.
Poppy was sitting at the dressing table with all lights turned on, checking if her hair was okay, if her makeup was right and if she had anything stuck in her teeth. Satin and Chenille were finishing last minute costume adjustments in the next room when Barb knocked on her door, walking inside with Glenda.
"Hey, Poppy, look who decided to come to our concert!"
"Hey, Glenda." Poppy smiled a little awkwardly at the older troll. She still felt bad for making her fight with Zep and for... well... destroying their stage.
"She's going to play the drums for us, since we didn't find anybody suitable." Barb continued, high-fiving her aunt.
"I'm glad we have an experienced drummer with us." Poppy said, trying to brush the uncomfortable feeling away.
"Barb!" Satin and Chenille busted inside, grabbing Barb by the arm. "You haven't finished trying the second outfit!"
"I don't know why we need a second outfit." Barb complained as she was dragged away. Poppy felt a sudden urge to scrapbook again, being left alone with Glenda.
"I'm really sorry about the other day..." Poppy said quietly.
"I couldn't expect anything else from Pop trolls." Glenda said, sitting down on a couch that was covered in rags, threads and glitter.
"What's that supposed to mean?" sitting next to Glenda, Poppy looked at her like she was ready to take advice from her idol.
"Nosy little fellows, you are." Glenda leaned back, stretching out her arms. "Trying to make everyone happy all the time, trying to convince the others that your ways are the right ones and can't take it when you get turned down."
"Oh!" Poppy felt the tension building up, but fought it with her happy-go-lucky manners. "So you've met Pop trolls before!"
"Unfortunately..." The older troll didn't hide her irritation at Poppy's happy face. "But you're also very fragile trolls, never doing anything important, just living some fairytale."
"We live in the world we build, right?" Poppy replied, realizing that it was going to turn into an argument if she let it.
"Until your happy bubble burst." Glenda, leaned forward. Poppy gulped. "I can't wait to see your face when it does. When you realize your prince charming isn't perfect, that he is just like every rock troll."
"Well... I don't like this conversation anymore." Poppy stood up returning to her dressing table, doing her best to ignore Glenda.
"Hey, I'm just delivering you the message so you can be prepared. You know, so you won't die of a broken heart like Branch's mother." That was all Poppy needed to hear. So Glenda wasn't Branch's mom, which meant Poppy could face her without being disrespectful to her sweetheart. She turned around, glaring at the drummer.
"You know nothing about Branch and you certainly know nothing about me." Both females missed when the changing room's door opened and someone watched the fight unfolding from outside.
"How cute..." Glenda, laughed mockingly. "You see, when the first blinding rush of love leaves you'll realize you just see what you want to see."
"Funny you should say that." Poppy replied quietly. "Because you have been in love with Zep for forty years." The older troll shut her mouth at that, being caught off guard. "He may not be the ideal of a troll you pictured, but you stand by his side. That's love." Poppy felt breathless, she was so sure of what she was saying now. "And I love Branch more than anything in this world. I'm sure it's not going to be a piece of cake every day, it may be even harder than an ordinary relationship, with his rock blood and all, but I'll stand by him, I'll support him, I'll help him and I'm going to be there for him no matter what it takes... and I know he would do the same for me."
Glenda just watched the small pink troll growing in her speech, she had nothing else to add and after a moment of uncomfortable silence between them, she stood up, picking up her drumsticks. She kicked the door open muttering something about "stubborn strawberry popsicle".
Angrily, Poppy stormed out of the room as well, going to find Satin and Chenille to try some outfits to relax before the time to start their opening number, not seeing that Branch had been listening to their argument. The teal troll stood there, with a bouquet of red roses in his hands, having a hard time breathing. He placed the roses on her dressing table and left quickly.
He had to find his dad. He needed his help.
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Barb was nervous, she was biting her fingertips while watching the crowd behind the curtain. She played lots of times before, for equally big audiences (Hair, all tribes were there! Poppy managed to get them all together - willingly this time,) but she had always played rock songs, to fulfill her own musical style. She had never... in her entire life... played... pop.
"Oh, please, Barb, it's just thirty seconds of a pop song." Poppy said from behind her.
"I don't know why I've agreed to this, my reputation is at risk!"
"It's the surprise ingredient! They'll love it!"
The pop song started and half of the crowd cheered, the other half, mainly rock trolls, looked very confused. Poppy grinned, picked the microphone and smiled at Barb and Carol, who looked like they were going to die out of embarrassment.
Raining Men... They were singing ' raining men'...
The curtains unrolled, revealing the three girls, singing and dancing overly dressed in pink and glitter and curly wigs. Barb and Carol looked miserable, but kept going with their show. Poppy on the other hand, never felt more like herself.
The pop music got interrupted by an aggressive electric guitar. Poppy turned around to grin at Barb and Carol, seeing both girls breath in relief as their torture ended. She looked back at the crowd and saw people had started screaming when they realized which was the next song.
"Living easy, living free
Season ticket on a one-way ride
Asking nothing, leave me be
Taking everything in my stride
Don't need reason, don't need rhyme
Ain't nothing I would rather do
Going down, party time
My friends are gonna be there too"
Barb sang and played her instrument, she paused a second, just before the chorus and looked at the other girls. They nodded at each other and ripped their pink outfit apart, showing some black, spiky, jeans and leather vests.
"I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell"
Poppy helped Barb with the chorus, jumping around and playing her own guitar on the way. She saw Glenda at the drums, not really looking down at her, but having a lot of fun being part of the show. The lights were blinding, Poppy felt like hugging every single troll who had attended. She never had thought everybody would come. It was huge!
Looking around, she couldn't see Branch anywhere, but made it her goal to find him until the concert was over.
The song ended and trolls cheered. The lights went out and Poppy and Carol quickly left the stage, leaving Barb to perform her solo. Poppy didn't know what song Barb had picked to represent her, but she knew it was going to be a blast. A Pop rhythm started and Poppy looked confusedly at Barb, who just winked at her before returning to the cheering trolls.
Her left hand involuntarily went to her heart when she recognized the music. Poppy smiled adoringly at her friend, knowing exactly the point she was trying to make. Barb chose to sing F*cking Perfect. Indeed, mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood...
Glenda watched Barb from her drums, trying not to pay attention to the lyrics. She read the song in front of her, so she wouldn't miss the timing, but turned her eyes from the crowd, looking at the backstage where she saw Zep talking to Branch. She felt angry and turned on the automatic pilot, she played until the song was over and the trolls screamed and yelled and begged for more.
Barb laughed, dropped her mic like a pro and gave the guitar to Carol as she left the stage, giving the spotlight to her friend. Glenda turned the page and saw the next song. She could have barfed if she wasn't in public. At least this one would give her some good exercise.
Just after Carol's song started, Branch and Zep met backstage, watching the girls. Poppy and Barb were on the opposite corner, out of view. Zep looked down at his son and smiled at the look he was giving the pink troll. He recalled when he had been in love once and how warming that feeling was. Unlike his other children, he really wanted to have a father-son relationship with Branch, maybe because his mother had been so special.
"I'll get everything set with the producer," Zep said, putting a hand on Branch' shoulder and squeezing it gently before leaving.
Meanwhile, Poppy was blushing from behind the curtain, Ex's and Oh's was the song Carol had chosen. That song made a lot of sense since Carol introduced her to all her exes. Poppy thought she had seen Branch and took a step left to see him properly, only to find that it was his dad. He was talking to some young girl who had headphones on. Suddenly feeling angry at her future father-in-law, she looked up to Glenda, who seemed to turn blind at what was going on under her nose.
Glenda closed her eyes and remembered when she caught Zep with Branch's mom for the first time.
A thunder came crashing down that day, several years ago, scaring her as she ran frantically through the Pop Tree, searching for her boyfriend. Their bus was packed and was about to leave, they were just waiting for him.
Her heart tightened when she found him. He was walking slowly towards a girl who was laying on the green grass, enjoying the cold rain with a smile. Glenda hid behind the tree to watch. The girl sat up, looking surprised to see him there. Zep, on the other hand, had a smile coloring his lips, realizing he had never seen such an adorable scene in his life. A beautiful troll on the grass, looking up at him with big blue eyes, completely showered by the rain... Glenda saw as he moved forward to touch that wet hair and plant a kiss on her moist lips. Zep was such a jerk...
Glenda just snapped out of her daydream in time for the song changing, it was Poppy's turn to sing her solo and she rolled her eyes, doing her best to keep it as professional as she could.
"Let's go girls, come on
I'm going out tonight, I'm feelin' alright
Gonna let it all hang out
Want to make some noise, really raise my voice
Yeah, I want to scream and shout"
Poppy stood in the middle of the stage, eyes closed and concentrating on the lyrics. Branch never saw her look so amazing in his life and he had a history of checking her out since she was a princess. Okay, maybe the Symphony Ville dress still was a winner. He should tell Satin and Chenille that leather definitely was something they should work with more often.
"No inhibitions, make no conditions
Get a little outta line
I ain't gonna act politically correct
I only want to have a good time
The best thing about being a woman
Is the prerogative to have a little fun and
Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy, forget I'm a lady
Men's shirts, short skirts
Oh, oh, oh, really go wild yeah, doin' it in style
Oh, oh, oh, get in the action, feel the attraction
Color my hair, do what I dare
Oh, oh, oh, I want to be free yeah, to feel the way I feel
Man! I feel like a woman!"
"Hm... I wonder what made her 'feel like a woman'." King Peppy showed up right by Branch's side, nearly giving him a heart attack.
"King Peppy, hi..." Branch looked away, giving his best nervous smile. He could feel the King's eyes burning holes in the back of his neck. It didn't help much that Branch's brain decided to recall exactly what he and Poppy did the last time she stayed over. It was a terrible time to remember her urging moans, the way she called out his name and...
"I hope you have a good memory, Branch..." King Peppy decided to show how heavy his cane was, by raising it in the air. Branch gulped. "...to remember what we talked about the last time we chatted."
"I have a... very... good memory, sir." 'just kill me now.' Branch thought miserably.
"Peppy!" Zep showed up out of nowhere, nudging Branch and opening his arms to welcome Peppy with a high five.
"You guys know each other?" Branch was puzzled.
"How could I not know him, son?" Zep said, pointing his fingers at the King in excitement. "He's a legend! H.U.G.G band!"
"Zep from the Black Rock Band!" Peppy cheered, bumping the rock troll's fist in return.
"And nobody mentioned this before because...?"
"We didn't think you were interested!" Zep and Peppy answered in unison.
Poppy's voice made Branch turn his attention to her. There was a much more pleasant sight. That tight leather pants made wonders to her body and the way she was swinging her hips with the music beat... he couldn't wait to put his hands on those hips again.
"Hey, Peppy, see the babe on the stage?" Branch heard his dad saying, leaning over Peppy's shoulder. He could see the trainwreck coming. "My son is totally doing her."
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The concert was halfway through, Poppy rushed inside the changing room, grabbing a bottle of water and getting some help from Satin and Chenille to get out of her tight leather pants and top. She put on a more comfortable dress, with matching leggings. She felt really good to be a bit loose again.
"The concert is a success!" Chenille said, adjusting her ponytail and pinning a green skull on it.
"I never thought it would be this big!" Poppy squealed. She saw red roses on her changing table and she broke into a soft smile. Branch was such an adorable boyfriend.
The three girls heard Barb starting the next piece she was going to perform with Marigold. Poppy was very proud of herself when she was able to fit Symphony Ville in the concert. Trollzart was the one guiding the orchestra in a perfect mix of rock and classical.
She hadn't seen Branch after the concert had started but she wished she could see the look on his face when he heard that song. His old vinyl collection had been decisive for her to include that piece in their repertoire. Marigold's voice reverberated through the changing room, like an welcoming embrace.
"Poppy!" Delta Dawn showed up, looking amazing in a silver shirt and red skirt. "This is a blast!" She had a banjo with her and adjusted it on the side as she hugged her friend. "I'm so excited!"
"Isn't it great?!" Poppy replied. "We're up next."
"We better get prepared, then."
Both girls ran towards the stage, watching as Barb and Marigold finished their song. The lights went out and Barb quickly gave Poppy her guitar. Poppy made sure to give Glenda a warm smile when their eyes met. The rocker troll was insatiable with her drums. The Pop queen got her cue to enter the stage, pointing at Glenda as if to say 'this song's for you' and a questionably raise of shoulders in return.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone"
Delta Dawn was amazing. Poppy wished she could perform with her many times, if only she wasn't so isolated in Lonesome Flats. She sang with such a vibe, straight from the heart. The country trolls in the audience cried "that's our Mayor" and the centaur troll only smiled and kept singing.
Glenda looked down at the drums, that was something she rarely did, for playing came naturally to her. She could play with her eyes closed, but something wet dripped in her hand and she tried to figure it out. She thought rain had started pouring down, but another hot drop fell and she touched her face. She didn't remember the last time she had cried.
Damn happy trolls...
Glenda knew she was risking the future of her relationship with Zep, but she had to stand tall and put the Pop Troll girl in her place. In the middle of the night, she ran through Bergentown, making her way, as discreetly as she could, towards the Troll Tree. She had watched the girl's routine enough to know which pod she lived in.
She was going to face her rival, show her who Zep's heart really belonged to, but she stopped on her tracks when she heard a baby hungry cry from outside the door. Something caught in her throat, making it difficult to breathe.
"Branch's bottle is empty." her rival said, rocking the baby trying to soothe him.
"I'll fetch more puffalo milk." an older troll offered and walked towards the door. Glenda only had time to hide in her hair. As soon as the older lady disappeared in the dark, Glenda came out of her disguise and turned around to leave. The door opened again and the Pop Troll girl stood there with a smile and a baby perching on her shoulder.
"Hey, you're the drummer!" She said with a big smile. "Come inside, it's cold."
Glenda didn't want to go inside, but she did anyway. She looked at Branch; his colors were the same as Zep's, except brighter. She changed her approach. She thought about going for a cat-fight, but apparently, that wasn't how it was going to go.
"You know, your rock music is so inspiring." Branch's mom said, hugging her baby close. "I've got so many albums to show Branch one day. I hope he likes rock as well."
"Listen... I'm here to give some news." Glenda said, walking around, feeling that she had to go straight to the topic before she got caught by the older troll lady. "Zep is engaged." She blurted out, seeing her rival as all happiness vanished from her features. "To me."
Glenda didn't know she was going to fade, she didn't know she was going to feel deadly sad. She didn't know Pop Trolls couldn't take a broken heart. She just wanted her own family and she hoped one day she would be enough for Zep.
Trollex was next with some techno recording that Poppy and Carol had done the day before. The electronic beat gave Glenda a break and she climbed down the stage to refresh. Trolls danced with the beat, forgetting for a second they were in a rock concert. Apparently, the three girls had been good enough to get everybody a little space in their concert, so everybody could be happy.
Queen Essence was the last guest to climb up the stage. With her motherly elegance she nodded to Poppy who grabbed the microphone for back-vocal and winked at Barb and Carol who stood ready with their instruments to play.
The music was missing a beat and when Barb looked at the drums she didn't see Glenda there. On the other side of the stage, standing with Branch and Zep, Riff looked ready to take her place, just waiting for a signal from his rockness. She nodded at him and he rushed to his beloved drums.
"That's my momma over there!" Poppy saw Cooper and D saying, enjoying the song their mom was singing. King Quincy also looked very proud of his wife. As the song ended, the guests gathered up backstage, waiting for the big finale.
Poppy sang Piece of My Heart and Barb had a blast with Back to Black. Breathlessly, both girls got themselves an electric guitar each, Carol got her bass and Riff started the last number with the drums.
"You've been an awesome crowd!" Poppy said, getting excited screams in return. "We're here tonight to celebrate our respect for different kinds of music and to show that in every single one of them, GIRLS ROCK OUT LOUD!"
And the rock song started, Barb had her guitar going, Poppy followed, trolls cheered and the guests re-entered the stage.
"Friends will be friends
When you're in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When you're through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hand 'cause friends will be friends
Right till the end"
Hair, Branch loved that guitar performance. He was so proud of Poppy for pulling such a good show and finishing it with one of his favorite bands. Everybody sang with them, riding the joy wave the girls were providing. Indeed, they had to end it in style, with QUEEN.
He wanted to run to Poppy, he wanted to kiss her right there in front of everybody - maybe risking being public assassinated by her dad - but he was eager for a liplock. He exhaled quickly, turning around and leaving the backstage in search for his own dad. It was their cue to work on his gran finale, but the old man was nowhere to be seen. Riff was ready and gave him an expectantly look to start the surprise song.
Branch's grip on the guitar tightened. Zep wasn't going to ruin his surprise, was he? He had to fight very hard to keep his rock blood concealed. He had longed for a family and now that he had found his father the guy was a total moron, absent-minded, egoistical and could only think with his lower head. Couldn't he be a little more... ordinary? He had already almost ruined things with King Peppy that night.
It was Glenda's yelling that guided Branch to the right changing room. He adjusted the guitar over his shoulder and was about to push the door open and drag the old man up the stage when he heard the argument inside.
"But you're our drummer, you can't just quit!" Zep's voice sounded frantic, and Branch held his hand, not opening the door.
"Yeah, you only care about 'your drummer'." Glenda said, packing her things inside a small purse.
"Okay, it's not like that, I totally can't live without you."
"How dare you..." Glenda looked like she was ready to strike him across the face again.
"This strong woman-thing messed with your head."
"Or maybe it woke me up." Glenda said, adjusting her hair in front of the mirror. "I've been by your side for forty years and you've never been faithful, I'm done."
"I'm a rock troll for Hair's sake!"
"I am, too." Glenda brushed by Zep and stormed out of the door, passing by Branch on the way, not dignifying him with a glance. She walked down the emergency exit, her heels echoing through the way, her drumsticks in her hands and looking incredibly free.
"She'll be back." Zep said, walking over to Branch and getting a bass from a corner. "They always come back." Branch wasn't so sure about that, but he felt a smile coming to his lips. He felt happy that Glenda had just said that she was a rock troll and she still wanted stability in a relationship. Because he didn't feel he was like his father, or like Carol. He didn't want many other trolls, he had his eyes focused on a certain pink queen who had always been there, who had always warmed his heart. "Let's go already. We have a lady to woo."
A/N - What a challenge to write a concert! I thought many times about including the whole lyrics, but I figured it got really boring to read it out, so I just kept the essential parts. Anyway, I have the whole concert songs planned out in case you're curious:
It's Raining Men -The Weather Girls
Highway to Hell - AC/DC
F*cking Perfect - Pink
Ex's and Oh's - Elle King
Man! I Feel Like a Woman - Shania Twain
How Can I Go On - Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé
Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
The Wall - Alok (it had to be this version, so it would make sense)
Strength Of A Woman - Mary J. Blige
Piece of My Heart - Janis Joplin
Back to Black - AC/DC
Friends Will Be Friends - Queen
Anyway, I wanted to balance the songs and Glenda's side of the story, I hope you guys liked it. I was requested to write more chapters, but I'm closing the cycles and the back stories so I have to end it. I'm already writing another one to start posting when Rock On! is done. I'll be back as soon as I can with the last chapter.
Oh, and no... Zep didn't know Poppy was Peppy's daughter.