Prince Darnell expected a few things to happen when he and his family arrived at Volcano Rock City. He expected the Rock trolls to be stubborn, as they usually were when it came to trolls of a different tribe. He expected his parents to receive the unfortunate news that their was still no trace of his brother, like they had so many times before. He expected to leave Rock City shortly after, with his parents heartbroken once again.
What he did not however expect was to hear that Queen Barb, was currently going to war with Bergen Town.
King Quincy, Queen Essence, and Prince D were all floating on a disc board, waiting at the entrance of Rock City, speaking with a Classicrock Troll who called himself Rex. To show that they had no ill intentions, the royal family approached the enormous gates alone, without their guards, or weapons. Vibe City was floating above the dark clouds, away from the eyes of the Rock trolls.
"No real way of telling when the queen's gonna be back, and I'm not letting any of you into our City without her say-so." Rex said nonchalantly. "So why don't you three punks just get back into that giant shiny dinner plate of a ship, and get outta here?"
King Quincy took a deep breath, mentally ordering himself to keep his cool. He and his wife had already guessed that the Rock trolls would be difficult about this, but if they were going to get the information they needed, they had to approach this carefully. "We didn't come here looking for trouble, Captain Rex. We only want to speak with the Pop troll hybrid that we know made his way here about a day ago."
"Please, young man." Queen Essence said. "All we ask is to speak with him. Once we've done that, we'll be on our way."
"I don't give a fuck what you Funk trolls want." Rex said as he slowly flew up so that he was eye-level with King Quincy. "You're lucky we didn't blast your ship to kingdom come when you trespassed on our territory!"
"Hey man, chill!" Prince D said, stepping off of the disc board, and filling the gap between Rex and his father. "We already told you we're not here looking for a fight. All we're asking for is to talk to one of you."
"I already made myself clear on my number of fucks, and whether or not you're getting them." Rex said to Darnell. "I don't care who you three are on that ship, but here, you don't have authority over a goddamn thing. So get back on your fancy board, and get the hell outta here."
Before King Quincy could utter a very angry rebuttal at Rex for speaking to his son that way, he and his wife could hear the voices of three familiar trolls behind the Classicrock Troll. Looking behind him, Queen Essence saw four very familiar Country trolls. Mayor Delta, her second-in-command Hickory, her daughter Holly Darlin, and their bodyguard. And walking next to them was a very strange-looking purple troll with pigtails.
"Why did you even want to come out here, Holly?" Delta groaned to her daughter. "It ain't like we can buy anything from these stores."
"Oh come on, mama. You're not even a little curious about what's here?" Holly asked. "And this is much better than sitting in that stuffy room while we wait for Queen Barb to come back."
"I told you on our way here that this isn't a game, Holly." Delta said, the sternness apparent. "We're not here to sight-see. We're here to handle business."
"Now I'm sure we can do both, Delta." Hickory said. "The queen might be gone for a few more hours, I don't see the harm in letting the little ones explore a bit."
The mayor did not even bother to look over at Hickory, knowing that he'd be wearing that role-winning smile on his face. As much as she wanted to keep stressing her point, she did not want to argue with Hickory again right now. So instead, she just rubbed her temples, and turned back to Holly.
"Listen here, Holly." The mother finally said. "Don't you go anywhere that we can't see you. If any of these Rock trolls offer you anything, you tell them no. And you, Ms Legsly, you stay with her. I don't want you getting hurt on our behalf. You understand?"
"Yes, mama." Holly Darlin said, rolling her eyes. She knew that her mother was only being protective, but Holly hated when her mother spoke to her as if she was still a little trolling. "C'mon Legsly, let's go look at that store over there first. Legsly?"
Legsly didn't respond, as her attention fell onto the three Funk trolls at the entrance gate. Or more specifically, on the shorter pink one who was staring back at her.
"Cooper?" Legsly said, her voice just audible enough for Prince D to hear it.
"Huh?" Prince D said, his voice not reaching her ears from this distance.
"COOPER!" The purple troll yelled at Darnell with a great big smile. Surprising the king and queen, Country trolls, and especially Prince D, she ran to him, extended her legs, and threw her arms around his neck in a great big hug.
"Cooper, you're ok!" She said as she nuzzled her face into his fur. "What are you doing here? Who are these two? How'd you get away from the bergen? Did the others get away too? What happened to your hat?"
Prince Darnell looked down at this small stranger who was hugging him, and back at his parents, who seemed just as confused as he was. "Uh, little lady, I think you might have me confused with someone else. My name's Darnell."
Surprised, Legsly looked up at Prince D, who was looking at her awkwardly. This troll looked exactly like Cooper, but absolutely didn't talk or sound like him.
"Oh, I-I'm sorry." Legsly said. "You just look so much like my friend."
"Your friend?" Queen Essence said, quickly stepping up to Legsly, hope sparkling in her eyes. "Ma'am, please tell me, what kind of troll are you?"
"I'm a …. Pop troll, I think?" Legsly said, still not fully caught up on the different tribes, and what they meant. "That's what my new friends Val and Kelley said."
"And you know a troll who looks like our son here?" King Quincy asked her.
Legsly looked up at the trolls who had just stepped up to her. The two of them were both very tall. Even taller than Biggie. Though while a little intimidating, they gave off nothing but very friendly energy.
Legsly nodded her head. "When that bergen monster showed up and attacked our village, it took Cooper, and so many of my other friends." She said, shuttering at the frightful memory. "It took them all to Bergen Town."
The king and queen looked at each other, Essence's eyes threatening to fill with tears as they pieced everything together. After so many years of searching, they finally had a lead.
"He's alive…" Queen Essence said.
"I knew it." King Quincy said as he took his wife's hand.
Darnell was at a loss for words. He couldn't believe it. Despite all of his doubt, despite every odd that said this was not possible, his twin brother was alive. For so long, he had been so pessimistic with his parents. Telling them that they were wasting their time. That continuing to search for his brother would only make them more miserable. But here he was, eating his own words.
"Wait, you said he's in Bergen Town?" Queen Essence asked Legsly. "With those monsters!?"
Not even waiting for an answer, King Quincy commanded his son to step back onto the disc board. "When we get up back up on the ship, send word to the guards, Darnell. Tell them to get ready for battle."
"Gotcha, pops." Prince D said, sounding about as ready as his parents did.
--
As Branch stood next to Queen Barb, his guitar at the ready, he looked out at this terrible, run down city that was Bergen Town. The streets were all but empty, and the only commotion seemed to be coming from the large castle that they, and the rest of the anglerbuses were all circling. If he had to wager a guess, the bergens were all gathered there. Which meant that it was also most likely where Poppy and her friends were.
The survivalist scanned the castle with his eyes. There wasn't a single window that didn't look dusty or cracked. Its walls were old and rooted, and parts of it looked like it was barely holding together. If not for the lights and constant bumbling inside, he would've assumed that the castle was abandoned.
"Let's let them know we're here." Barb said with a smile.
Before Branch could ask Barb how they were going to get inside, the queen raised her hand horns, and spoke into her mic. "ROCKERS!"
In the anglerbus next to theirs, Artina, Cindy, and the retired King Thrash stood at the ready. Artina and Cindy, armed with their guitars, and Thrash behind them on drums. As hard as the two sisters tried to convince Thrash to stay at the castle, Artina already knew that he would have never allowed them to do this without him.
It reminded Artina of their younger days when she, her sister, and Thrash, who was the prince at the time, were all in a small band. Thrash and the daughters of darkness.
"We're ready, Queen Barb!" The advisor said.
And next to their ship was Devan and his crew. While Amber and Jake both looked like they were looking forward to this battle, Devan himself was practically licking his chops in anticipation of what was about to happen. The leader of the bounty hunters had been granted many things in his successful career. Money, women, status, and more. But none of it brought him as much pleasure as the thrill of a fight.
Excitedly twirling around his custom-made guitar that doubled as a battle-axe, he raised his hand horns for the queen to see. "Let's get in there and fight already!"
"How about you, Branch?" Queen Barb said, stepping closer to him. "You ready for this?"
"I'm ready." Branch said, his eyes burning with determination. He had never been more ready for anything in his life.
With that, all the Rock trolls surrounding the castle slammed on their guitars, sending out large red soundwaves filled with electrical energy. The combined force shaking the entire castle, heavily damaging the giant stained window, and shattering almost every other window in sight.
When the dust settled, Branch could already hear the sounds of many voices and the clanking of armor. The main gates of the castle busted open, and guards wearing clunky-looking and rusted armor busted through, spilling out onto the streets, prepared for battle with swords and spears. Soon after, a bigger bergen, their king Branch assumed, pushed past them, looking angry. In his hand, he wielded a very large steel mace.
Artina analysed the monsters that she and the rest of the Rock trolls were floating above. There were maybe 50 to 70 Bergen guards in total. It made sense that there weren't many, considering that their only real purpose was to keep the king safe.
Just as she had deduced before they set off to this accursed town, the bergens stone age weaponry and rusted gear would be absolutely no match for them, so long as they kept their distance.
Queen Barb's anglerbus slowly floated down just low enough that King Gristle could see her face as she spoke into her mic. "What's up? Did you guys like that little taste of rock? Cause we've got plenty if you want more."
"What is the meaning of this!?" King Gristle growled, bearing his teeth at the troll. "What are you doing in our territory?"
Queen Barb smirked at his pathetic attempt at intimidation. Maybe that shit worked on the Pop trolls, but not Barb or her people. Instead, a few of the other Rock trolls in their anglerbuses beared their teeth right back, showing that they were anything but afraid.
"Since I know you troll-eating fuckbags aren't too smart, I'll dumb this down the best I can." Barb said, slowly gliding her fingers on the strings of her guitar. "You're gonna hand over every single troll you've got stuffed away in this pile of shit you call a castle, and MAYBE we won't blast you all to bits."
King Gristle looked at the Rock Queen, and back to his guards, who were all looking at the anglerbuses with confusion.
"What are you all waiting for?" Gristle yelled at them before pointing to the black mechanical monstrosities floating in the air
"Aim your spears, and knock them out of the sky! They're just more trolls for us to put on our dinner plates!"
Now excited by the idea of even more trolls to eat, the guards all raised their spears, and lined up their shots, ready to bring down as many of the anglerbuses as possible.
"Fine." Queen Barb said, her smirk unwavering. "Let's rock!"
At that command, she, Sid Fret, Riff, and Branch all started to play. Their combined tune fueling up Barb's guitar. Readying it for another attack. When Barb could feel the electrical energy in her guitar reach its maximum, she added her voice into the mix.
(We won't back down by Escape The Fate)
We're gonna burn your city!
Gonna bring your kingdom down!
We're gonna end your pity!
Turn this to a ghost town!
And when you know there's nothing left
You're gonna run like all the rest!
Pack your bags and turn your backs
Cause now we're on the attack!
Confused at the display of music, the bergen king turned to his subjects once more. "Do as I command! Knock them out of the sky, or I'll kill all of you myself!"
By his terrifying words, every guard at King Gristle's side heaved their spears with all of their strength, sending them soaring at Barb's anglerbus. Again, Barb and her crew did not falter. The second it looked like the rain of spears were going to make contact with them, Barb, Sid Fret, and Branch all slammed down on their guitars again, sending out another wave of energy.
The wave was so intense, that not only was every single one of the lobbed spears blasted into scraps of metal and splinters, but the wave knocked back many of the guards. All the while, Queen Barb continued to vocalize with the music.
It's our time!
This is just a declaration
of our prouse!
We won't back down!
It's our time!
This is just a resignation
of our lives!
We won't back down!
At this, the fight truly commenced with the bergens letting out battle cries as they continued to take fire at Queen Barb's flying machine, but to no avail. Their weapons being child's play to the focused energy of the Rock trolls music.
On the other side, Artina, Cindy, and Thrash were in something of a fight of their own. Their anglerbus's autopiloted controls quickly turning and dodging every weapon that came their way. Even now, as much as Artina tried to focus on the task at hand, her attention kept falling over to her son Branch, who was playing the guitar she gave to him like a master.
"Hm. Amateurs." Cindy said as she and Artina watched the fight go down. "C'mon, Artina. Let's show these kids how it's done."
Artina couldn't help but let out a small laugh at her sister's words. She may have been a co-advisor now, but Cindy was still a general at heart.
Already knowing which song to play, Artina started up on her guitar, with her sister and Thrash playing right along with her. Very quickly building up the guitars energy in their weaponized instruments, the three focused their aim down at the bergens that were in their range, rocking their heads to the music. Artina smirked as she began to sing the song that she had written when she was young.
(Daughters of darkness by Halestorm)
We came to battle, baby
We came to win the war
We won't surrender till we
Get what we're looking for
We're blowing out our speakers
There goes the neighborhood
A little scissor happy
Little misunderstood
We can turn you on
Or we can turn on you
"ROCK AND ROLLLLL!!!" Thrash yelled as loud as his old lungs would allow. This fight, the music, the passion oozing from his people, it all made him feel younger than he had in decades. The contained energy of his drums blasting into the crowd of bergens along with Cindy and Artina as she roared her lyrics into the mic.
Daughters of darkness!
Sisters insane!
A little evil goes a long long way!
We stand together!
No, we're not afraid!
We'll live forever!
Daughters of darkness!
Daughters of darkness!
Devan watched as many of the giant guards were knocked off of their feet, their armor cracked and their skin burned from the sheer intensity of the combined force of their music. He was so infatuated with the violence, that he almost didn't notice the roped hook that was tossed into his crew's anglerbus, hooking itself to the machine's metal jaw.
The bounty hunter looked down to see the culprits. A group of bergens holding onto the rope, and attempting to drag them out of the air, and down to them.
"C'mon, boys!" One of the bergens cried. "They're still just trolls! They'll cook up just as easy!"
Amber snorted at that comment before looking over at Devan, who gave her a silent nod. Playing her guitar, the Technorock troll left the anglerbus, and took to the sky, flying above the bergens as her weapon charged up. Jake and Devan stayed on the ship and continued to play their weaponized instruments. Soon after, Devan added his voice in, with Amber backup singing from the skies.
(Legendary by Skillet)
My heart bleeds adrenaline
The fire I breathe is where I live
(Say my name)
Incredible
(Say my name)
An animal
One life to live
I never give up, never give in
Some trolls just wanna turn and run (run)
But Rock trolls rise under the gun
His weapon now fully charged, Devan threw his guitar over the rope, and glided down, his force and weight helping him pick up an enormous amount of speed as he zoomed down to the awaiting Bergen guards. When he found himself only moments away from them, Devan threw himself into the air above them, and swung his bladed guitar down, sending out a wave of pure rock so strong and so focused, it all but smashed the armor of the bergen that was holding the rope, and sent him flying into the castle wall.
Above him, his lover Amber slammed down on her guitar, blasting waves of energy down like lightning from a storm. The blasts both stunned the bergens, and kept them in place. As Devan used this advantage to slice through their legs, making them buckle down, and fall to his level, he and Amber sang together as he jumped back, and blasted them with his guitar.
Never gonna keep me down!
(Never keep me)
Still the one that's standin' now!
(Never falling)
Destiny is calling me!
Go down in history!
Every day I'll fight to be!
Legendary!
After finishing their combined assault against the miserable monsters, Devan and Amber looked at the bloody carnage they had left in their wake. He couldn't tell if the giant bodies now splayed out all over the ground were unconscious, or dead. But either way, he wanted more.
He and Amber stared at each other, sharing a glare of excitement as she grabbed his hands and flew him back up to their anglerbus. Excitement and a twisted sense of lust. Nothing riled them up like battle. It was one of the many reasons they became bounty hunters.
Back with Barb and her crew, the Rock queen looked down at Gristle and his guards, who were all dragging themselves to their feet. She had given the others orders to adjust the settings of their instruments down significantly. Wouldn't want to risk the possibility of the trolls they were here to rescue getting caught in the crossfire. "We having fun yet?" She called to him. "Cause we can crank it up even higher if you're getting bored!"
Beside the very furious king lied a semi-conscious guard holding a battle horn in his hand. Without hesitation, King Gristle slammed his foot down onto the guard's forearm, snapping it. Ignoring the man's screams of pain, Gristle snatched the horn from his bleeding fingers, and blew it with all of his might.
Branch looked out at the streets. Called by the horn, every bergen guard that wasn't already at the sight of the battle, and even a few desperate citizens, all started to fill the streets. Some carrying weapons, some carrying torches, even a few carrying pitchforks, pipes, anything that could be used for killing.
Barb was taken back momentarily, but ultimately refused to falter at the incoming force of monsters. "ROCKERS! Crank up the volume!"
"All on the south end, form with us!" Cindy yelled. "Focus your fire away from the castle, and towards the streets!"
"All rockers on the north, to my side!" Devan said. "Circle them! Attack from behind!"
By the retired general and bounty hunter's command, every anglerbus on her side aimed themselves towards the open streets, and began strumming their power cords together. The combined force sending out waves apon waves of electrified rock. Like as before, there was little the bergens could do in response to their attacks. But even as they kept fighting, the monstrous bergens just kept pouring into the streets, with no sign of stopping.
As Branch watched the battle that was slowly making it's way to him and his friends, his survival instincts calculated everything that was happening. He looked over the large swarm of anglerbuses that were by his mother's side as they started to finally take hits from many spears, blades, and even rocks that were being tossed their way, the blows denting and damaging the black steel. The ship's autopilot being pushed passed it's limits. This wasn't good. They had the advantage in fire power, but at this rate, the sheer number of the bergens might overwhelm them.
And then it happened. The combined aim of the bergens below them started to hit it's mark on Artina's anglerbus, making her stagger and drop her guitar. As Thrash was about to ask if she was alright, the blow of another thrown spear made her fall over, rolling to the edge of the ship's open jaw. By the skin of her teeth, Artina was able to grab the ledge, leaving her dangling over the hundreds of bergens ready to kill and eat her.
"Artina!" Cindy yelled. Her guitar in hands, the retired general ran to her sister. Jumping and sliding onto the floor, Cindy was able to grab Artina by her hand just as her grip loosened.
While this all happened, Thrash went as hard on the drums as his old bones would let him, sending out rock waves that were just powerful enough to protect them from some of the things being thrown their way. But without at least one guitar to join in the mix, he could not fully stop the attacks. More and more, their anglerbus took damage as Cindy kept trying to lift Artina back onto the bus.
"Mom!" Branch called in a panic.
"DAD!" Queen Barb yelled with the same amount of panic. "Sid, get us over there NOW!"
Immediately, Sid Fret threw his guitar to the side, and ran over to the ship's main system, and pressed one of its buttons, forcing the anglerbus's autopilot features to lock onto Artina's anglerbus. But even as they tried to close in, all of the aimed projectiles being thrown by the monsters below them made it impossible to get any closer.
"Artina.. I can't.. hold on!" Cindy strained. Her hand was getting sweaty, her armored jacket wasn't exactly light, and she had already put too much weight on her bad leg. Artina herself was trying to use her other hand to pull herself up, but could not find the reach.
As Branch saw his mother dangling above her death, time started to slow down. Suddenly, he felt like he was a trolling again. Back in that tree, singing to that imaginary audience. Being powerless as that bergen stole his grandmother away from him.
The Poprock troll then looked to the mic that was standing at the edge of the anglerbus. From what his mother told him, Branch understood that the destructive power of the anglerbuses and any and all weaponized instruments connected to them, their power all came from the skill and musical output of their users. But in this case, Barb's voice alone was not enough to defeat this swarm of bergens.
Someone had to join her.
Someone had to sing.
The survivalist looked at his friends, to his mother, and then back to the mic. Once again, Branch thought about his life. The life he could've had. The troll he could've been if these monsters had not lived in his head for so long. That day, when Rosiepuff gave her life for his, the bergens hadn't just taken his grandmother. They had taken everything. His peace of mind, his happiness, any feeling of safety, any comfort he believed he ever could have had. And in replacement of this, he was left with fear, paranoia, pessimism, misery, and anger.
Branch gripped his guitar tightly. He would not let them take anything else from him. Not ever again. Not his friends. Not his mother. Not anyone.
Surprising the queen and her crew, Branch slowly made his way up to the mic, his eyes burning with a fire that only someone with the blood of a Rock troll could produce. A fire that Barb quickly got a hold of when she and Branch locked eyes. The silent nod he gave her was enough for Barb to understand what was happening, and what he was going to do. When she made her way next to him, Barb readied herself as Branch began to play a unique tune. A tune that while carried some essence of Pop, the Rock troll in the other half of his blood was showing as well.
Taking in one more breath, preparing his mind, and his heart, Branch, for the first time in over a decade, sang.
(On my own by Ashes Remain)
There's gotta be another way out
I've been stuck in a cage with my doubt
I've tried forever getting out on my own
For a moment, Branch paused his singing, but continued to play his guitar. As much as Barb tried to hold it back, not wanting to show this level of vulnerability to her subjects, the queen could not even hope to fight off the look of astonishment on her face as she listened to Branch sing those lyrics. His voice… it was… Angelic. Unlike any she has ever heard before. But the effects of Branch's voice did not end there.
But every time I do this my way
I get caught in the lies of the enemy
I lay my troubles down
I'm ready for you now
Once again, Branch paused, but kept playing. With each verse, not only were their anglerbus and weapons all charging up faster than normal, but something was shifting inside of Barb and her crew as well. She felt stronger. Energized. It was like the feeling of being on stage in front of her people when she was crowned times 100.
That's when Barb looked at her hands, and realized that she was glowing faintly. A light red aura surrounded her body. An aura that felt welcoming and powerful. What was happening?
She looked over at Riff and Sid Fret, who took notice that whatever was happening to their queen and Branch was happening to them as well. As if compelled by this new energy, Sid picked his guitar back up, and joined in backup with his guitar, and was soon joined by Riff on the drums.
Seeing them all ready to join him, Branch continued to play, revving it up as he started to sing again.
Break me out
Come and find me in the dark now
Every day by myself I'm breaking down
I don't wanna fight alone anymore
Break me out
From the prison of my own pride
My Gods, I need a hope I can't deny
In the end I'm realizing
I was never meant to fight on my own!
At that last moment, Branch, Queen Barb, Sid Fret, and Riff all slammed down on their instruments, sending out a circular wave of red and pink lightning infused energy that enveloped not only them, but the fleet of anglerbuses around them. Almost immediately, every Rock troll could feel the effects, as any feeling of weakness and exhaustion quickly left their bodies, and was replaced with energy that almost felt magic in nature.
Cindy, now infused with this new found strength, was able to lift Artina up now with ease. The pain in her old war wound feeling like a light bruise now. Now back on their feet, Artina, Cindy, and Thrash all started up on their instruments again, matching the tune that Queen Barb and her crew were playing.
Seeing this happen, Branch smiled in both relief, and a level of excitement that he had never felt before. Whatever was happening, it felt like his soul was on fire. But in a really good way. Not even losing a second of prowse or skipping a beat when Barb brought her voice in.
(Barb) Every little thing that I've known Is everything I need to let go
(Both) You're so much bigger than the world I have made
(Branch) So I surrender my soul
(Barb) I'm reaching out for your hope
(Both) I lay my troubles down, I'm ready for you now!
This time, when the four trolls slammed their weapons down, it sent out an energy wave greater than all those that came before it, absolutely decimating the bergens that stood in front of them, and severely injuring many of those behind. All the while, every other anglerbus in the fleet matched the song Branch was playing in unison, blasting the army of troll-eating monsters with the same amount of power. Keeping this going, Branch and Barb kept on singing.
Break me out
Come and find me in the dark now
Every day by myself I'm breaking down
I don't wanna fight alone anymore
Break me out
From the prison of my own pride
My Gods, I need a hope I can't deny
In the end I'm realizing
I was never meant to fight on my own!
As this happened, Branch's focus fell onto Barb, their eyes tethered together by a mental rope. To be here with his friends, his family, with Barb, despite the danger they were in, Branch felt things he forgot he could still feel. So much so, that as colors started to restore themselves again, he wanted to sing the final verse of this song as loud as he could with Barb. And so they did.
(Branch) I don't wanna be incomplete
(Barb) I remember what you said to me
(Branch) I don't have to fight alone
The direction of this battle now back in the hands of the Rock trolls, almost all of the bergens that were not severely injured or dead started to flee back into the streets, or some to their crumbling buildings. The little bit of intelligence that they did possess telling them that this was now a battle they could not hope to win anymore. Despite this, the Rock trolls did not stop their musical assault as Branch and Barb finished the violently powerful song.
Break me out
Come and find me in the dark now
Every day by myself I'm breaking down
I don't wanna fight alone anymore
Break me out
From the prison of my own pride
My Gods, I need a hope I can't deny
In the end I'm realizing
I was never meant to fight on my own!
As the smoke cleared, and the Rock trolls all took in the destruction, Devan, now back on his ship with his crew, let out a loud victory roar, which the rest of the rockers all eagerly joined in on. All except Barb and Branch who's eyes were still locked.
As Barb continued to look at Branch, her heart jumped around in her chest like a pinball. She had sung with others like this hundreds of times before, but never once in her life had it felt so intense. Never had it felt so intimate. And she could tell that Branch felt the same. Looking down, she also realized that her Rock string, the main source of her guitar's power, was glowing brighter than it ever had. As if it was resonating.
"That was… amazing." Branch said to her, leaning in closer. "I didn't know the Rock string could do that."
"Neither did I." Barb said, leaning into Branch as well, their faces almost close enough to touch.
Branch himself smiled back at her, happy that she shared this moment with him. Singing like that after so long, and even using it to save someone he cared about, he felt reborn. Like he could take on the entire world. Was this the troll he could have been? The troll that Poppy had tried so hard to get him to be?
Branch's eyes shot open as he immediately remembered why they came here and went through all of this in the first place. "Poppy!" He yelled.
Turning away from the Rock queen, Branch looked down, and noticed that King Gristle was gone.
The Poprock troll mentally slapped himself. King Gristle hadn't summoned more of his people to try and gain an advantage against them. He did it to distract them, so he could escape further into his castle. The castle where Poppy and her friends were being held captive somewhere.
"Oh shit, right." Barb said, shaking away her awestruck look, and hoping that none of her subjects noticed. "Artina! Cindy! Everyone on their side! Let's go! Storm the front of the castle with us! Devan, you and the rest of the buses stay here and make sure no bergens come in behind! Turn them away, or blast them apart!"
"With pleasure, your rockness!" Devan said with a smile as he and his crew flew above the main gate.
As the Rock queen and her roadie's flew into the castle doors, Artina's anglerbus followed behind them, ready to help her finish this fight once and for all.
"Artina, what was that?" Cindy asked her sister. "That feeling. That burst of energy. What just happened?"
"It was incredible." Thrash said as he walked away from his drum set, throwing his silver cane to the side, and moving quicker than he had in a very long time. "I feel more alive than I have in years!"
Artina said nothing. Still looking over at her son and the queen. That pulse of power had come from the combined magic of the Rock string, and Branch's song. Just as in the stories of Kairus and his many battles, Branch had wielded the magic of his voice as a weapon, and had not even realized it. If everything else they had seen Branch do thus far did not confirm it, then that did.
The prophecy was true.
Branch was the wielder.
--
In the now deathly quiet castle, the only noise that could be heard were the struggling breaths of Chef, who was currently struggling against King Gristle's powerful grip around her neck, desperately trying to free herself. The two now alone in the throne room, where Chef was ordered to stay with the cauldron of trolls.
"You stole from the Rock trolls?" Gristle said, the fury flooding in his voice. "You bring this to my kingdom!?"
"No! My king, I-"
Chef's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as King Gristle lifted Chef into the air with one hand, and slammed her head-first into one of the tables. He repeated this over and over until breaking it in half, and pinning her to the floor. "I'm going to tear you to pieces, and eat your limbs one by one!
"I… didn't… know…" Chef uttered, Gristle's giant hand still locked tightly around her neck.
After strangling Chef for a few more moments, the Bergen King looked over at the cauldron. At all of the trolls that his people had been deprived of for so long.
Finally releasing his grip, Chef took in a very long breath. But the moment she attempted to lift herself back up, King Gristle brought his foot down onto her chest with so much force, that she could feel her ribcage crack, and the air that just filled her lungs was immediately pushed back out, making her flip over from the sheer pain.
"You stay right there." King Gristle said before getting up and walking over to the cauldron. "I'm not finished with you yet."
With a smile, Gristle removed the cauldron's lid, and reached his hand into it, grabbing a struggling grey troll with a pulled-up ponytail. "If my kingdom is to be destroyed, I'm at least going to have a few of you first."
"No! No, please!" Poppy yelled, as she uselessly struggled against the bergen's giant hand.
As King Gristle raised Poppy over his open mouth, everything started to move in slow motion. The princess screamed as her life started to flash right before her eyes. She saw when she played her bell for the first time, when she met her friends as trollings, when she first met Branch while he was digging up the beginning of what would be his bunker. Every happy moment she would never see come to fruition. All of the memories she'd never get to have. Becoming queen, a wife, a mother even…
Poppy's screams were put to a halt when Gristle's arm was suddenly blasted with electric energy in the form of music, making him roar in pain, and drop the princess on the carpet floor. The blast was soon followed by another one that sent the king flying into his throne. The blasts continued over and over again until King Gristle finally stopped moving, hot smoke emanating from his body.
Dizzily picking herself up off the floor, Poppy looked up to see her rescuer. Floating in the throne room's entrance door were multiple giant black and metal machines that resembled fish in a way. Equipped with sharp metal teeth and red eyes, they would have been the scariest things Poppy had ever seen if she had not been in Bergen Town today.
Slowly, the jaws of one of the metal constructions opened up, revealing trolls that Poppy had never seen before. One with very messy hair and a zebra bandana, wielding a base. Another on drums wearing a beanie that was covering his eyes. In front of them was a girl about her age with a red mohawk, wielding a guitar with a glowing string on it. And next to her was… was…
The princess's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. It was… Branch.
Wielding his own guitar, Branch stepped past the girl next to him, where Poppy was able to get a better look at him. His colors, which were once only gray and black, were almost completely present again. His clothes were different, his eyes were different, she could even sense that his overall energy was different than it once was.
When Branch looked back at her, only to see that she was void of all her colors, he felt his heart sink. Without thinking, the Poprock troll jumped down from his ride, and examined her further. His disbelief only growing as he looked her in her now-tearing up eyes. As much as Poppy tried to resist it, to hold it away just long enough to ask Branch where he went, she couldn't stop the hicking of her breath. Her lips quivered as the tears finally freed themselves, falling down her cheeks. She thought that this place would be the end. She thought that she was going to die here. And if Branch and these people had not shown up when they did…
Letting her mix of fear, shock, and despair take the wheel, Poppy stepped forward, and practically fell into Branch's arms. As she silently cried into his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her. This feeling of comforting another troll's sadness away, it reminded him of when he was a trolling, and when his grandmother would hold him when he had nightmares.
He also remembered how she would sing to him to make him feel better.
Again, Branch looked at Poppy. The grayness, the severe lack of joy and optimism that always followed her around, he couldn't feel that spark anymore. But maybe… maybe he could ignite it again.
Her head still over his shoulder, Poppy's eyes went wide again as she, for the very first time, heard Branch sing.
You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Oh I realize
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
The darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small
By clockwork, Branch heard Poppy's hug time watch go off, immediately followed by the sounds of multiple other watches in the distance. The Poprock troll looked behind her, and saw Smidge, Peppy, Cooper, Satin, and Chenille all slowly raise their heads above the now-open cauldron, all as colorless as Poppy. One by one, they, and the rest of the Pop trolls all started to step out of the cauldron, all silently walking up behind the princess.
As Branch gently wrapped his arms around her, he ignored everything else around them, and continued to sing.
Show me a smile then
Don't be unhappy
Can't remember when
I last saw you laughing
In this moment of calmness, Poppy started to feel something inside of her. Like two rocks being grated together to make sparks, she slowly felt her fur become warmer on her body. It was warm and inviting, like nothing she had ever felt.
Poppy gently lifted her face up from Branch's shoulder, finally letting a very small smile make its way onto her face. Now eye-to-eye, Poppy took his hands into hers. Branch, feeling that this was working, continued his vocal melody.
This world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bare
Just call me up
Cause I will always be there
As if by magic, Poppy's color started to return, starting up at her feet, and slowly but surely making its way up her body, the act surprising both Poppy, Branch, her people, and the trolls that Branch had come with. As Poppy looked at herself, Branch kept on.
And I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors
I'm always here for you
Poppy shed one more tear. But this one was not of sadness or fear. It was happiness. Seeing Branch's colors so bright, hearing him sing for the first time, learning that his voice was so beautiful, and knowing that he did it just to see her happy again, it made her so joyful. So much so that she joined Branch in his song.
So don't be afraid
To let them show
You're true colors
(True colors)
Are beautiful
As the two took hands, and started to slowly dance in a circle, the trolls behind them all started to be taken by the same feelings of warmness and comfort that was currently flowing in Poppy.
I see your true colors shining through
(True colors)
I see your true colors
I'm always here for you
As Smidge saw her own colors start to fill her body, she took Milton's hand into her's, giving him the brightest smile she could muster. "I love you, Milton."
Milton smiled back at her before taking her into his arms. "I love you too, Smidge."
"Guy…I…." Creek started with Guy Diamond, the two still cradled together with their egg. "I can never make up for what I did… If I begged for everyone's forgiveness every day of my life, it still would never be enough."
Guy Diamond smiled before slowly bringing Creek in for a kiss. The moment he pulled away, Guy smiled at the yoga instructor. "You once told me that you'd do anything for our little one. At least I know that's the truth."
So don't be afraid
To let them show
Your true colors
(True colors)
Are beautiful
Like a rainbow
(Oooh, like a rainbow)
As Barb and the others continued to silently watch as the colors of the Pop trolls slowly started to return, the Rock Queen soon realized something. That boost of musical power they received in the fight earlier had not come from the Rock string. It came from Branch. And this restoration they were witnessing, it was all Branch's doing, and he didn't even seem to realize that.
With everyone's colors now fully returned, Poppy hugged Branch one more time, surprised when the survivalist hugged her back with the same amount of enthusiasm. In every other hug time he had been dragged into, the hugs were always one-sided, and Branch would immediately pull himself away. She became even more surprised when the last bit of color Branch was missing restored itself.
Breaking away again, Poppy looked at Branch. His new clothes, his bandaged hand, that unique looking guitar he was carrying on his back. What had happened?
Before Poppy could go through her list of questions, the three trolls that he had been riding with jumped down, all looking as confused and surprised as her.
"Branch, dude, what the fuck was that?" The one with the mohawk asked him as she threw her arm over his shoulder. "Did your singing do that?"
"That was awesome, dude!" The one with the beanie said before fistbumping with him. "I mean, that song was way too lovey dovey, but it was still awesome."
"You got no excuses now, Branch." The girl said. "I need that voice in our band!"
Soon after this, Poppy and the girl locked eyes. This girl that she felt was much too close to Branch.
This very brief moment felt like an eternity. This feeling that the princess was currently experiencing as she unknowingly glared at the girl so close to Branch, it was something she was unfamiliar with. A feeling of territorial imperative. Telling her that she had to act. Barb could sense it as well as the pink troll looked at her.
"Who.. um… who's this, Branch?" Poppy asked.
Before Branch could answer, the many trolls were all startled by the sound of growling. Turning around, the Pop trolls started to scream in terror as King Gristle approached them slowly. His skin was singed and burned black in many places, his furious eyes were bloodshot, and many of his enormous teeth were chipped.
"Get back, everyone!" Branch yelled as he, Barb, and Sid Fret all readied their instruments, ready to blast the king again.
Barb, who was no longer engaging in the very intense staring contest with Poppy, turned up the amp on her guitar, prepared to make sure their attack stuck this time.
"Artina! Land those buses, and start getting these trolls outta here!"
"You heard her, rockers!" Artina yelled to the rest of the buses as they all started to land on the floor. Once all of their jaws were open, the advisor looked back to the Pop trolls. "Hey! If you all want to live passed today, I suggest you start making your way onto our ships!"
The Pop trolls, startled by the escalating chaos, exchanged worried glances among themselves. They hesitated for a moment, unsure of their next move. But as the gravity of the situation sank in, they quickly snapped into action. In their vast numbers, they all began to make their way to the anglerbuses, filling them all in about a minute's time.
Readying himself alongside Barb and her crew, Branch aimed his guitar at the recovering King Gristle, ready to end this once and for all. He had almost failed to notice that Poppy and her friends Smidge, Cooper, Satin, Chenille, and Fuzzbert had not boarded with the rest of the trolls.
"Poppy, go with them!" Branch said. "They'll keep you safe! I promise!"
"I won't let you face this alone, Branch!" Poppy said as she moved to his side. "No troll left behind!"
"Uh, he's not alone?" Queen Barb said to her, earning another glare.
"If you're staying, I'm staying!" Smidge said to Poppy, readying herself.
"Me too!" Cooper said.
"No troll left behind!" Satin and Chenille said in unison.
Surprising both Branch, the Rock trolls, the Pop trolls, and Gristle, music started to fall down from the roof like rain. A type of music that Branch had never heard in his life. The beat wasn't that of Pop or Rock. It was something entirely different. The beat was smooth, but also jumpy and vibrant all at the same time.
Suddenly, parts of the castle's ceiling started to break apart, and float upwards. The pieces being trapped in giant transparent bubbles. Quickly and destructively, this continued to happen until the center roof of the castle was gone, revealing the clouded sky of the afternoon.
Then, in an enormous purple flash of light, the clouds above were forcibly parted by the descendence of an enormous flying saucer.
Branch could practically hear his jaw hit the floor as the ship floated above them all. The ship was hundreds, maybe even thousands of times larger than even Barb's anglerbus. It's sheen was so unbearably bright white, that it felt like he was looking at the sun. It's circular body was covered with a wavy orange trim, and in and above it, bright glowing patterns pulsed all over the glorious work of machinery.
"What the fucking shit?" Queen Barb said as she and the rest of her crew looked up at the enormous saucer, their confusion apparent. "Vibe City?"
At those words, the Poprock troll almost immediately remembered the details of the book he had taken from his ex-king before he left. One of its pages mentioned that the funk trolls, unlike every other tribe, lived in an enormous mobile ship. But the few scrapbookings could never have done the ship justice. Branch only grew more astounded as the bottom of the ship opened.
Through it's now open entrance, multiple Funk trolls on floating records descended down, holding weaponized guitars, tubas, drums, and trombones. Their golden boots extended upwards as the groups of Funk trolls all began to spread out, taking aim at the castle from multiple positions.
Soon after, a much larger record ship descended down, floating above the others while emanating a reign of unquestionable authority. On this record stood two trolls. A blue Funk troll with a silvery white dress, holding a tuba. And beside her was a purple troll with a blue beard, and pink and blue dreadlocks. In his hands, he wielded a distinctive-looking bass guitar.
And finally, a third troll descended down next to them on some sort of flying hoverboard. This troll baring a very striking resemblance to Poppy's friend Cooper. His appearance surprising Poppy, her friends, and most especially Cooper.
King Quincy and Queen Essence smiled before looking over at Darnell, who grinned right back as they bobbed their heads to the music. At the top of their height, the three began to rap together.
(mama said knock you out by ll cool j)
(Q) Papa said knock them out!
(D) Yeah, I'm gonna knock them out!
(E) Mama said knock them out, c'mon!
Energized, Prince D used his feet to tune up the discs that powered his hoverboard, and flew circles around King Gristle. As he blasted the giant bergen monster with their combined energized funk, he kept on rapping.
Don't you call
This a regular jam
I'm gonna rock this land!
I'm gonna take this itty-bitty world by storm
And I'm just getting warm!
Unprepared for the attack, King Gristle was knocked back, using one arm arm to attempt to block the shots from the many Funk trolls, and his other trying to hit Prince D out of the sky to no avail.
While Gristle was distracted, Barb cranked her guitar up higher. "Branch! Sid Fret!" She yelled to her bandmates. "Let's rock!!"
In complete unison, the three blasted their rock waves directly at Gristle, getting another roar of pain from him. But it seemed that just as his size implied, he was made of tougher stuff than the average bergen. Painfully fighting his way through the combined blasts of the Rock and Funk trolls, he charged at Branch and his friends, and swung his mace down, aiming directly for Barb.
Before the Rock Queen could even think to dodge, Branch pushed her out of the way, the mace falling down on him with so much force that the floor under him caved in.
"BRANCH!" Barb, Poppy, and Artina all screamed at once.
When the dust from the powerful strike settled, Poppy and the others could hardly believe their eyes at what they were seeing. Branch was standing there. And had caught the steel mace with his bare hands!
King Gristle himself shared in this astonishment, in sheer disbelief that a troll could possess this type of physical prowess. This shock only grew more when Branch wrapped his hair around the mace's handle, attempting to rip the weapon out of his hands.
"Now!" King Quincy yelled to his soldiers. "Open fire while his weapon's down!"
By his command, Prince D and the Funk trolls all started to blast at King Gristle from behind. That combined with Barb and Sid's attacks from the front began to make him buckle down and loosen his grip momentarily. And that one brief moment was all Branch needed.
"You won't… You won't take ANYTHING ELSE FROM ME!" Branch roared.
In that moment, the Poprock troll ripped the mace out of Gristle's hands, and then with all of his strength, all of his rage, with everything he had, he swung the mace with his hair, and smashed it into the Bergen King's face, blood and many of his teeth flying out of his mouth. The force of the shot making him fall back-first onto the floor.
With that, Barb, Sid Fret, and Branch all turned their guitars to their maximum level. It was time to end this.
All together, the three Rock trolls slammed on their guitars, creating a blast wave of pure rock so intense, that the very ground was singed in it's path. Upon reaching the barely conscious King Gristle, the blast enveloped him. First, he felt his eardrums pop, then the pure light from the attack all but destroyed his sight. The blast vaporized his crown, his clothing, his skin, and even him.
After many deep breaths, Branch fell to his knees. When the now-deceased king's mace had struck him, it had done quite the number on his legs. But it was done. It was over.
The minute he fell down, both Poppy and Barb came to his aid, both looking concerned for him. It did not take long for Poppy to notice that one of Branch's ankles was twisted in a way it definitely shouldn't be.
In a panic, Poppy started to look around for Dr Moonbloom, hoping she'd made it out of the bunker with a few of the medical supplies that were there. In the crowd of trolls above them, her eyes finally found the doctor and her father speaking with the one that called herself Artina.
"Artina… it's been.. a long time." Dr Moonbloom said quietly, a tinge of hidden guilt in her voice. "It's good to see you again."
"I'm glad you're alright, Moonbloom." Artina said with a faint smile. A smile that was completely extinguished when she saw an orange troll with a green cane walk up next to the doctor. He was shorter, and had a good bit less hair now, but she would never forget his face.
"Peppy." Artina said. The venom in her voice could put down a lava spider.
Peppy returned her look, but said nothing. His own disdain showing as well.
"Dad? What's going on?" Poppy asked as she and her friends approached the anglerbus. "You know these trolls? I don't think I've ever seen them in the village."
As much as Artina would have loved to grab Peppy by his throat right now, her anger switched to shock when she saw her son's ankle. "Branch!"
Not wasting a second, Artina shoved the Pop king out of the way, jumped down from her anglerbus, and ran over to her son. "Oh dear gods, your leg! Don't worry, it's going to be ok! Maple! Maple, please tell me you have something for him!"
Walking down next to them and reaching into her pocket, Dr Moonbloom pulled out a small roll of leaf gauze meant for the next time she'd be redressing Guy Diamond's wounds, and four coldberries. She supposed that would have to be enough.
Leaning down by Branch, she quickly instructed him to eat the berries, and then started to wrap his ankle with it. Even with the coldberries numbing it, Dr Moonbloom constantly twisting and turning his ankle was anything but pleasant. Every touch earned a groan of pain from the survivalist.
While she did this, Barb looked at the crowd of Pop trolls, waiting for anyone else to come through.
"Where the hell are the rest of your doctors?" Barb asked. "Do you guys only have ONE doctor?"
In the distance, at the broken wooden table, Chef, who had finally dragged herself up to a wall, looked over at what was left of King Gristle. A pile of ash, and his mace. Then she looked over at the stupid little trolls who were all giving so much attention to one of their injured, that they didn't even notice her. They had ruined everything. All of her years of planning, completely destroyed.
As quickly as her crushed ribs would allow, Chef leaned down, and reached for the mace. But before her fingers could even make contact with it, her entire body was blasted by rock music from above, both getting a shriek of pain out of her, and grabbing the attention of the trolls.
As the Bergen fell back onto the floor, Barb looked up, and saw her territorial observers Kelley and Val Thundershock. Alongside them were too trolls that she assumed were Pop trolls. A fat blue one carrying some sort of pet, and a short red one with weird glowing patterns. And beside them was none other than King Trollex and his advisor Laguna Tidepool.
"Damn it, I was right! We missed all the fun!" Val said as their ship landed next to the trolls.
"Suki? Biggie?" Poppy said to her friends.
"Poppy!" Biggie yelled as he and Suki both ran to her, brought her in for a hug, which Poppy gladly returned. "I'm sorry, Poppy. I never should've stayed behind. We never should've left you. You'd have never left us, no matter how scared you were."
"I'm sorry too, Poppy." Suki said. "I was so afraid that you might not have made it. I shouldn't have yelled at you guys. I should've been with all of you."
As wonderful as this was, Poppy's attention couldn't help but be drawn to the two trolls that were behind Suki. They both looked aquatic, one floated in the air, and both had bioluminescent lighting all over their bodies. Lighting similar to what she was now noticing Suki had on her own body.
"It seems we arrived late, Trollex." Laguna said. "Were these the friends you were referring to, Princess Suki?"
Poppy's brow furrowed. Princess Suki?
While this happened, the Funk king, queen, and prince all descended, landing on the floor, at the group of trolls surrounding their injured friend. Or more specifically, looking at the Funk troll who stood among them. The one who was looking back at Prince D.
As Darnell and his parents slowly approached the boy and his friends, the disbelievement on his face only grew more and more. This Funk troll had his exact height, his exact colors, he even had his eyes. Behind him, Prince D could already hear his mother tearing up.
There was no doubt about it. This troll was him. His long lost twin brother.
"Who… are you guys?" Cooper finally asked.
"My son.." King Quincy said quietly.
"My baby boy!" Queen Essence yelled as she ran to Cooper and threw her arms around him, obviously surprising the boy. She was soon joined by Quincy in what became a long overdue family group hug. This display of affection did not go unnoticed by Poppy and the rest of the snack pack either.
"Who are these guys, Cooper?" Smidge asked.
"I don't know. Or… maybe I do? I don't know?" Cooper said. Even though he had never seen these three trolls before him, there was something about them that was familiar. From their looks to their music.
"Dad, what's going on?" Poppy asked her father again.
After a brief silence, King Peppy spoke up again. "I am… unsure, Poppy. I don't believe I have ever seen these trolls befo-"
"NO!"
All eyes in the room fell onto Dr Moonbloom, who had just finished bandaging Branch's injury. "I won't let you do this anymore, Peppy. No more excuses! No more lies!"
"This is not the time, Moonbloom!" King Peppy said, the anger in his voice surprising his people, who all watched quietly. "We will not speak of this now!"
"Or what, Peppy?" Dr Moonbloom said, almost daring him. "Are you going to banish me as well? Like you did to Elias? To Smidge's father Granite? To that poor girl Legsly?"
"My what?" Smidge said to Peppy, who was still being distant. "Wait, Legsly?"
"Dad?" Poppy said again, only to be met with silence.
"Elias?"
Another troll stepped through the crowd. An elder much like Peppy and Moonbloom. But more importantly, Elias's sister Daima. "You.. you told me that the wildlife got Elias when he was walking around the village outskirts!"
"Wait.. Elias?" Suki said to King Trollex. At the mention of that name, she remembered the details of the journal that Laguna had shown her. "So I'm really.. So you're really my…"
King Trollex said nothing. He merely smiled and nodded.
"Dad, tell me what's going on!" Poppy yelled. "What are they talking about? Tell me right now!"
"If you don't tell them, I will, Peppy!" Dr Moonbloom said. Not a threat, but a promise.
A short, but very telling moment passed as every troll in the room started to glare at King Peppy. Knowing now he finally had no choice, he looked over at his daughter.
"I had only hoped to protect you, Poppy. You, and the rest of our people." King Peppy said.