On the Stage of Volcano Rock City, Khan Ye was fighting Queen Barb and Branch, the Queen swung her axe at the rapper. Khan Ye blocked but his hands still sustained damage. Branch followed suit. both wailing on the rapper, who broke free by kicking Branch in the knee as he got a hold of Branch's bass, prying it from him.
Using his strength Khan Ye used Branch's bass to strike Barb, swinging it and sending her flying across the stage to a loud shock from the crowd. Khan walked to her slowly, holding the Midnight bass, Branch was quick to rush to the aid of the Queen, his Girlfriend. "She's my girlfriend and I love her. If you want to hurt her, you'll have to get through me first".
Khan smiled, holding the Bass in his hands, snapping it with ease as he separated the neck from the body, throwing the two pieces across the stage earning a gasp from the Rock trolls.
"My Mother gave me that bass" Branch called out, rushing toward Kahn Ye. seeing red as all logic left his head, maybe it was seeing his girlfriend injured, maybe it was the destruction of his family bass, maybe it was the attitude adjustment Barb gave him. Branch rushed towards Khan Ye with his only goal being to destroy the rapper, not even self- preservation mattered.
Gasps were heard around the stage as Branch fell to the ground, having felt Khan Ye press his fingers onto the bass player's chest. it was like his entire body was on fire, overclocking and shutting down. Barb ran to the teal troll, trying to comfort him "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!"
Khan explained the sleeping heart technique to him and how his body would be shutting down, going into detail about how painful it allegedly was. No one had ever lived to argue. Barb stayed with him, she wanted to grieve but now was not the time.
fortunately, she noticed a pink ballon floating overhead as the voice of the Grey Queen Poppy called out for attack. Without any reason the other tribe leaders slid down the Ballon. Johnny Switchblade called this out to Khan Ye's attention as he looked, telling him and Chaz to have his back. "I can handle these ruffians".
Chaz licked the reed of his sax, ready to play. once his lips touched that sax it would all be over, or it would have it the sax had not been shot from his hand, flying into the audience. Chaz looked to see the smoking gun, held by Mayor Delta Dawn. Chaz was not stupid and know that without the power of Smooth Jazz he was helpless, opting to flee as He was tripped by a stream of water, hitting the ground face first.
Looking up he saw the source of the wave, King Trollex, standing on one of the speakers, holding a trident and sending another wave to wash Chaz away into the crowd. Johnny was running, jumping over the waves, landing on the amp, pulling two knives out, flicking them open.
Trollex and Johnny dueled as the knives clashed with the trident. Johnny managed to swipe one of the blades over Trollex's eye, making him scream, clutching his eye as Johnny stuck the other knife into Trollex's side causing him to gasp in pain as Johnny picked him up, throwing the Techno King on the stage, picking out the trident and throwing it at Delta Dawn, managing the hook her gun, pinning it to the stage as he jumped at the Mayor only to kicked in the face by her hind legs. Johnny flew across the stage, landing on his back with hoof prints on his forehead.
"If you want something done, do it yourself" Kahn Ye claimed as he swept to Delta Dawn, pulling her hair as slamming his head into hers, breaking the mayor's nose as she looked him, he did this repeatedly as with her last bit of energy she spit a glob of blood and teeth at him before hitting the floor. As Chaz and Johny were dealt with, the trolls could focus on Khan Ye, standing over an unconscious Delta Dawn, Trollex was flailing about, clutching his injuries as he was stabbed in the eye and the side.
The crowd was just watching unable to do anything as the leaders were falling one by one. Khan Ye grabbed Trollzart's leg, slamming him down to the floor and tossing him aside. as he was looking at his last target, Queen Poppy. "You should have just left; this did not concern you".
The two looking at each other, Khan Ye readied himself seeing the Grey Queen, looking at her. "Okay, I have to ask, what's with the grey. You seem nothing like what my notes on you explain".
Khan was genuinely surprised seeing Queen Poppy who his notes referred to as the happiest, most optimistic Troll being grey, the notice of her being grey was only overshadowed by the huge fight but now most of the trolls were noticing it. Poppy sighed looking at him, by her motions it was clear she wasn't going to fight.
"Well, these past few days have been a disaster, with the tour, my village being trollnapped, being betrayed by three different Trolls, and to top it off, you just killed my friend" Poppy went on looking at Khan Ye who was slowly letting his guard down as she spoke up, begging. "If you want to 'kill me' go ahead but PLEASE leave the other Trolls out of it"
Khan Ye cracked his neck, claiming he never wanted this, this was only the result Queen Barb shortchanging him and the other Mercs, offering them nothing than going to wipe out all music. "Sure, those yodelers were the ones who nabbed you, but we all helped, keeping tabs on your location, that was us, wiping out Vibe City's tech, that was us and what did we get for our service... nothing. My only issues are with Barb, and if you just had just let me kill her to make the statement that the bounty hunters of this world aren't to be shafted, we'd be good but no, you all had to jump to protect the same Queen who threatens to destroy all your music, where is the sense in that?
"Killing is NEVER Okay!, as much as we hate Queen Barb, we would never wish death on her and yes, she needs to pay for her crime, but this is not the way" Poppy explained as Khan Ye looked at her asking if she really thought pleas from a grey Queen would convince him to stop. "I'm not trying to stop, only stall you".
as if on cue Khan Ye was trapped in a bubble, punching it as Quincy and Essence walked out of the balloon. "Don't waste your time, those bubble prisons are impenetrable" Quincy said adjusting his classes as Kahn Ye was move around, like he was trying to say something "and soundproof. thanks for the assist, Queen Poppy."
The Pop Queen breathed a sigh of relief before looking over the Rock Queen who ignored the fight and watch compressing Branch's Chest. "NO Branch!, don't die on me. YOU CAN"T!".
She approached Barb to be swatted away, as she kept trying to revive him which Poppy could tell was not going to work, having read Branch's books as telling her the only chance world be to restart his heart, and needed Sparkbugs for that. "Somebody, get me some sparkbugs!" Barb called out as Branch laid there.
On the Other Side Branch was standing in the dark abyss, walking through a Garden where he met up with a pale troll wearing a hooded robe, who simply handed him a letter. Branch tore the wax seal folding in open, reading it.
"Dear 'Branch's name was written in a blank space' you have been formally invited to the 'Great Afterparty' to rest for eternity, reconnect with loved ones, meet Trolls of legend in a never-ending party, clothing optional, no outside food or beverages' Branch read. at the bottom was a choice, asking how Branch wanted to RSVP.
Death explained that his father and Grandparents were waiting for him. Branch had remembered what he did for Barb and asked if he was even welcome. Death assured him that he did not know what Barb was fully planning and could not be responsible for her actions. Branch held the letter in his hands.
Death could not force his hand and Branch declined his soul would wander around without a living body. Branch looked at the envelope and the pen he was handed. it was true they might find a way to revive Branch, but could he take that chance, and risk floating around in nothing for eternity. he had family on the other side, his grandmother who had not seen him since he was 5, plus all his friends and family would end up there eventually. Branch checked the yes box, handing the letter to Death who, with a swing of his scythe opened a portal to a colorful world which he would step through.
...and the portal closed behind him.
Poppy rubbed the sparkbugs together slamming them against Branch's chest as they crackled against his flesh. "TRY AGAIN!" Barb ordered as the Grey Queen did so. Barb could not afford to lose Branch, Eclipsa could not afford to lose her son, after just getting him back. Poppy pressed them against Branch as she shook her head. "You don't mean!"
The silence was brief cut off by Brab clinging to the teal troll, bawling like a trolling, Eclipsa, Lava and Carol also sniffling as the loss of their family member as the shock settled and the reality of it stuck, Branch was dead. By this time the other leaders started waking up. Trollex, was getting bandaged up as they all saw Barb crying. they reminded her that she still needed to be punished and that they would be taking their strings back.
"Take your damn strings, just leave me alone!" Barb shot up, running off stage. the other Trolls were on the fence about chasing her but decided against it. for one where would she go and two, she was clearly hurting and Trolls were compassionate, Poppy explained that Barb just lost her boyfriend.
The Other Trolls looked over to the Axe of Rock on the stage, the colored strings that decorated it, discussing what they should do, if Barb was able obtain them so easily what was to stop another Troll in the future from stealing them. The remaining Leaders reached an agreement the strings had to be destroyed and Trolls had to hope they could recreate their power. Poppy asked if everyone was okay with this, picking up the glowing guitar as every troll nodded. Poppy swung the guitar on the stage splitting in two as waved of color bursted out, absorbing the color from the Trolls.
This however did not last as the Trolls discovered they could still make music.
(A/N: this was something I wanted to do for a while, but I never got to, this will not be a full story, just one chapter, maybe more if you want more. my main reason for writing this was that in Branch the Rock Troll: World Tour, we never saw the final fight, so I hope that lived up)