BroZone's performance, judging by the round of applause and standing ovation, was astounding that night. The music was sharp, the harmonies were tight. It was a performance so good that it could bring one to tears… which is exactly what it had done to Floyd.

Backstage, the brothers stood in a half-circle around the magenta Trolling, who hastily wiped away the water from his eyes only to have more replace it the next instance.

"Come on, bro! What you got to be crying for?" John Dory asked. "We rocked the house!" To emphasize, he gave Floyd a playful punch on the shoulder, and then promptly went to fist-bump Spruce and high-five Clay for their accomplishments.

"I know," Floyd whimpered, though he was still unable to help himself when more tears continued to come.

But right before Spruce could make a comment about how red his eyes were looking, or before Clay could start sniggering that he was being a crybaby, a new voice broke into their circle with pretty much the same question that both the purple and yellow Trolling had in mind.

"Oh my, why the tears? I thought the performance was lovely!"

The boys whirled around, nearly stunned out of their vests at the sight of the Pop Village's royalties, standing right there in all their glory - King Peppy and Princess Viva themselves!

They collectively gasped, speechless at their presence, though surprisingly, Floyd was the first to actually muster the voice to speak up.

"They're not sad tears," Floyd sputtered. "They're happy tears!"

"Ohhhh," the king said, chuckling. "I understand what you mean."

Viva giggled. "The minute Daddy saw my little sister he couldn't stop crying!" she explained.

Then, as if it was on cue, the boys heard a light giggling coming from atop the king's head. A fond smile grew on King Peppy's face, and he reached into his bright pink hair to pull out an equally bright-pink-haired baby Trolling.

They gasped once more. "Princess Poppy!"

The baby giggled at the mention of her name and babbled sweetly. Then, her babbling turned into somewhat of a tune – a familiar one at that, because it almost sounded like the song that they'd been singing onstage.

King Peppy laughed and fondly nuzzled his daughter before setting her down so she could toddle out a few moves. "Ah yes, she just loved your performance, too. Can't get enough of it!"

John Dory smirked and crossed his arms. "Yeah, well, I guess she knows talent when she sees it!"

Spruce, who was being humbler on the matter, gasped and elbowed his brother. "JD!"

John Dory gave him a confused look. "What?"

King Peppy laughed at the interaction. "Not to worry youngling, he's actually right."

Viva nodded her head in agreement, her golden pigtails bobbing. "You all really are talented. I really loved your Rusty Robot, Clay!" she said, referring to the dance move that the yellow-haired Trolling was best known for.

Surprised but pleased to hear the future Queen of Pop compliment him so, Clay blushed. "Oh! Um, th-thanks." He looked away bashfully.

"And the baby – Branch, was it? – he is absolutely wonderful!" King Peppy added.

Spruce had to grin at that. "I know, right? I taught him some of those moves, by the way!"

JD scoffed and rolled his eyes. Who was being cocky now? His thoughts were interrupted when his littlest bro toddled at his feet, already back in the dancing groove that he had onstage. The baby was really getting into it, swaying and rolling his hips and bobbing his head without a care in the world! Well, that was until his gaze landed upon the youngest pink Pop princess.

Branch paused mid moonwalk and his blue eyes grew wide. Princess Poppy noticed him, too, and couldn't resist giggling joyfully at him. Branch, adoring the sound of her infectious laughter, grinned broadly, showing off his one tooth, and toddled over to her. Full of confidence, he pulled off the move that Spruce had taught him – the one that he said would make girls swoon, and had indeed done just that when he went upon the stage that night – winking and putting on a suave smile while extending his hand out to her. But Poppy didn't faint or grab hold of his hand to brush their fingers together. The pink Pop princess instead took little Branch completely off guard when she leaped up at him, wrapped her pink arms around his neck and attacking him with a fierce hug. Branch let out a squeak of surprise, but then hugged her right back just as tight.

By this point, the conversation between the king, Viva, and the brothers had paused as they were all looking down at the two babies.

"Awwww, that's so cuuute!" Floyd gushed, the scene only prompting more tears to flow out of his eyes.

"Well, looks like Branch has got himself a little girlfriend before you," Clay teased, nudging Spruce.

The purple-haired Troll rolled his eyes and blew a raspberry. "Oh, please, bro. I had a girl when I was just an egg!"

"What?" Clay laughed. "No you didn't!"

"Yeah I did!" Spruce insisted.

"Uh, no, you didn't," John Dory said. Spruce shot him a look and JD scoffed. "Dude, I was there to see that you didn't!"

A back and forth suddenly began, in which Spruce argued that he would one day have a harem of girls, and JD teased him greatly for even thinking such a thing. Clay too was roped into the conversation, to which he supported JD's point of view, and Floyd simply hung back, stating that he took up neither argument and would very much appreciate skirting the topic of girls altogether.

But amidst all the squabble, Baby Branch could hardly care less to pay any mind to it. He was hugging a real cute gal, and she was hugging him right back! Her hug was so warm and snug, he felt like he could cuddle against her soft, pink figure all day. There was something so comforting, so distinguishably wonderful about being in Princess Poppy's embrace that it canceled out any negative thoughts that he could ever have.

Branch didn't know how long the hug lasted, but he did know one thing - this was definitely the start of a beautiful friendship!