Disclaimer:
I do not own Trolls or these songs. I have been inspired with new stories and more chapters to write. My posting will be once a week since I do have other stories and life going on as well. I have so many new songs to add! I have looked at all the song requests in the comment section in Lone Concert and I will do what I can to not only add those songs but maybe even more. Hope y'all enjoy!
Branch's siblings didn't know what to make of everything that they had learned. It was a lot but some of them did realize that they should have talked about this sooner and others thought that they should have listened to their parents and just left it alone. JD he did not know what to feel other than fear. Fear that he might have just ruined any relationship he could have had with his youngest brother. He knew he pushed it too far with his commit Grey Baby. What is wrong with him?!?
Everyone could see the remorse on John Dory's face. But that doesn't change the fact that Branch was still gone. The three eldest brothers felt the worst because they chose to leave that night and never come back. They had just gotten lucky that they were able to reunite with their family again. The twins hated that they were forced to be part of that first escape. They should have been there for Branch. Holly had a new respect for Branch after hearing what he had been through. The fact he managed to face something so traumatic where most trolls would crumble and still move forward and do all that he has done. He has a real strength about him that Holly really admires.
Ozzy and Delta had decided to do something Poppy had suggested last time they had seen her. She told them that it might be good for all the little trollings if they got into the classes she taught and had them interact with the other trollings and they thought that was a great idea. Tonight was a small camping trip for the trollings where they all stayed in the middle of the town safe from any dangers Branch had made sure of that. So the siblings had until tomorrow till noon so they needed to fix things and fast because they might all be adults but that would not stop their parents from trying to ground them. They all hoped that Poppy had found Branch wherever he was and could convince him to come back to talk. The siblings stayed silent, still unsure what to say to one another until Clay spoke. "Why would he believe it was his fault?" He said mostly to himself. "Because he was just a little with no family to tell him that it was alright." Spruce said. "It's not right. Any of this is." Barb said, slamming her hands on the table. "You're right. None of this is right or fair." Floyd said. Poor Branch they all thought. If they knew anything about their little brother since being with him again after all of these years was that he could not stand being pitied so they could not do that to him they all wordlessly agreed.
Before any of them could say another word they all heard the lift and to their relief it was Poppy and Branch. They could see that she was holding him and he seemed so unsure of himself they would just started to see the damage their absence truly caused. They had spent so much time thinking he was gone and fearingthe outside world so much they had left Branch to face it alone and even though he tried his best not to blame them. He could not help it because they were not there. They blamed themselves too after hearing what Poppy told them. Hearing what branch truly thought about himself. When they reached the bottom of the lift everyone made their way to the living room so they would have space to talk. Glitz then rushed out of the other room and started to buzz around until he saw that down dreary mood everyone was in and decided to lay next to Poppy.
"Ok how do we want to start?" Poppy asked. JD stood up and walked over to Branch and placed a hand on his knee. "Gramma was not your fault. Branch. If this is what this is about, please let's talk about it." Branch shifted uncomfortably in his spot. "It is not just that. You all still treat me like a baby and I am not. I also know that you all left wasn't my fault or even about me at all but I can't help but be mad at you for it." Spruce was a little upset about that remark. "Why? You just said that it wasn't our fault." He said a little too aggressively. "Because you weren't there!" Branch yelled back silencing everyone. "You weren't there. None of you were there. I needed you and I had no one. That's why I am so mad." Branch said with a huff. Tears were threatening to spill from his eyes but he would not give anyone the satisfaction of letting that happen.
Poppy held onto Branch now rubbing circles down his back hoping to help him calm down. JD was taken back by his outburst and stepped back. Branch was right and he had every right to be angry with them for that. They weren't there. He had needed them, any of them at least should have been there. Branch would not even look at them and why should he. They were his older siblings. They all at one point or another had promosied him that they would either look after him, be there for him, that he would never be alone, and that was all a lie.
"I waited for you to come back for me. To keep your promises and I had no one. For years I thought it was because of me. I thought if I practised my singing you would come back, it was stupid I know but I didn't know any better, I was so young." No one dared to interrupt him. They wanted to tell him that he was wrong but they ignored Branch and spoke over him long enough it was his time to have his voice heard by all of them. "I was singing so loud that I didn't hear Gramma try to warn me. King Peppy told me that it wasn't my fault. Poppy has told me that it wasn't my fault but I can't help but feel like it is. When Dad, Floyd, and Barb left during the first escape attempt I didn't understand till later that Dad didn't want Gramma or me in any danger. But at the time Gramma had to tell me that it wasn't my fault." Branch explained.
Floyd could not understand this. Why would Branch feel like it was his fault that they left? Almost like Branch could read his mind, he explained. "I thought it was my fault because I thought that I wasn't good enough for Dad to take me to and after that first show when we messed up the Perfect Harmony it was my first show and all I understood at the time was that before I joined the band you all stayed together and after I joined we weren't together anymore." Everyone sat around to let that sink in. "None of you even said goodbye." Branch said in a voice that took all of them back to the moment they had all last been together before that stupid concert. They saw him for a split moment as that little kid they had all left and it broke their hearts. JD wanted to say something but was stopped by Spruce when he had seen that Branch wasn't finished. "When you three left Dad, Floyd, and Barb kept telling me that it wasn't my fault. I know that none of this is my fault, but at the time I just could not shake the feeling that it was. And it just got harder and harder to believe when everyone kept leaving me."
Poppy was not prown to violence but she could not help but want to strangle all of them for hurting Branch. "No one wanted the little grey troll who was never happy, or who never sang and danced. King Peppy tried but he was already raising Poppy on his own and I didn't want to add to that stress. So I made the hideout we used to talk about hoping you all would come home and not hate me for not taking care of Gramma like I was asked to and when I found out that you all thought that I was dead and had you knwon that I was alive it was so much easier to let you all in, but it still hurts. And I don't know how to make it go away." Branch was looking down at his hands that were now tight clenched into fists. "John, you wanted me to sing well. I do have a song for you that I had written when I had finally given up the hope I had for any of you coming back."
Everyone was nervous about what the song could contain but they were willing and ready to listen to it. Glitz started to play a melody that they remembered from so long ago. It was the song from the first lone concert Branch had ever had. It was also the first time they and Branch had ever met. Glitz was wandering around the forest alone and scared. Their family had just been eaten by a bigger creature and had no one left then they heard a small little voice of a ten year old grey troll singing to himself in a clearing on top of a mushroom crying to himself. Glitz started to sing along to the sad little song grabbing the attention of the small trolling who got defensive but soon relaxed again when he saw that Glitz was not going to hurt him. Branch remembers this day because it was the first time in a long time he wasnot alone because the little glow bug followed him home and hasn't left him alone since. Branch is honestly a little surprised that it took so long for Glitz and Poppy to meet. Branch began to sing the song to his family and girlfriend.
Would have given up my life for you
Guess it's true what they say about love
It's blind
But, you lied straight to my face
Looking in my eyes
Poppy heard the man she loves pour out his soul and pain to those who were supposed to be closest to him. She saw that they were all just now really learning who Branch was. His pain did not defy him Poppy knew that but she also wasn't a fool, because she knew and accepted that his pain was a part of him and now they knew it too.
And I believed you 'cause I loved you more than life
And all you had to do
Was apologize
You didn't say you're sorry
I don't understand
Holly saw a brave troll who just wanted to be loved by his family. Branch really valued his family and to hear that through the past two decades he was made to feel like that he didn't matter and that just hurt her heart. She saw Poppy hold his arm as he sang and she realized that Poppy was possibly the only troll that may have shown Branch that he did matter. Holly may have not known Branch before the first escape but after meeting him she loved him dearly. He was her brother now and she loved Poppy for everything she had done for him.
You don't care that you hurt me
And now I'm half the man
That I used to be when it was you and me
You didn't love me enough
My heart may never mend
And you'll never get to love me, again
No, no, no, no, no, no
John Dory felt like he had just been punched in the gut. He had started this. He was the first to leave. He had started that last fight that broke up the band because he had messed up the move and messed up the perfect harmony. He had only wanted to spend more time with his baby bro and sing with him. He should have just listened when he was asked to stop.
Sadness has me at the end of the line
Helpless watched you break this heart of mine
And loneliness only wants you back here with me
Common sense knows that you're not good enough for me
Spruce was upset. Since becoming a father his views have changed. Seeing that branch was left alone and unwanted by the other trolls in the kingdom for being grey broke his heart. It struck fear in his heart to think of any of his kids being put through anything like that, but he had done that to his youngest brother. He hated himself for what he helped put Branch through.
And all you had to do
Was apologize, and mean it
But you didn't say you're sorry
I don't understand
Clay was so mad at JD, he was made at Spruce, and more importantly he was mad at himself. All he had wanted was to be taken seriously but he had forgotten Branch had always been taken seriously by Branch even at a young age. He would always want Clay to read from the book he was reading from his sad book club to him. He never should have left.
You don't care that you hurt me
And now I'm half the man
That I used to be when it was you and me
You didn't love me enough
My heart may never mend
And you'll never get to love me
I wish like hell I could go back in time
Floyd was crying. He had not come back for Branch like he had promised he would. He had thought he was dead. They all did. They shoud have looked for the other trolls. They should not have been so scared. And they should not have just left Branch alone with Gramma. King Peppy did all he could but it was not enough. They should have been there. Branch, he was so sorry for everything.
Maybe then I could see how
Forgiveness says that I should give you one more try
But it's too late, it's over now
You didn't say you're sorry
I don't understand
Barb was seething with fury. How could anyone do something like this to a little kid? Let alone Branch. But she then remembered that she was also responsible for what had happened to Branch. She was shaking, she was so mad. He was just a kid who should have never had to have gone through this. She should have been there to protect him like she promised him when he was younger.
You don't care that you hurt me
And now I'm half the man
That I used to be when it was you and me
You didn't love me enough
No one knew what to say once Branch finished singing Glitz then buzzed straight to Branch and nuzzled into his neck as Poppy pulled him into a hug allowing him to shed the tears he was holding back. "I know that none of you meant for any of this to happen and understand that I was just collateral damage." Branch said but Barb rushed to cut him off. "You are NOT collateral damage Branch! You were dealt awful cards and made the best you could do with them. None of this is your fault and I am so sorry you were made to feel any of this." She said aggressively before marching over to give him a tight bear hug. Branch was still not open to physical touches of affection with anyone who was not Poppy but this felt nice. He hugged Barb back tightly burying his face inthe crook of her neck. Floyd rushed in to join in the hug. "Branch I know nothing we say will fix what has happened. But know this. We are so sorry escapically me. You never deserved any of this. We do care that we hurt you. You are not responsible for Gramma's death. You are not responsible for the band breaking up. And you deserve to have your voice heard and to be respected and not treated like a baby. Branch I am sorry." JD said, in the most serious voice he could manage but his voice still shook. John thought he had ruined everything until he saw Branch hold out his hand and the other three brothers joined in the hug. "Sorry Branch. Please forgive us." Spruce said through tears. "I do forgive you and I am learning to trust you all again too." Spruce gave a smile. "Thanks little man."
"Hey Branch I'm sorry we didn't gets to watch you grow up but I'm excited to see the man you've become. You can even join my sad book club." Clay said hopefully. "You really grew into Dad's vest that I gave you. You're a man now." Floyd said. "Finally someone who gets me." Branch said causing everyone to laugh. Holly stood there awkwardly. "Come on Holly, you're family too." Clay saw pulling her in. Poppy's heart warmed at the sight. Branch knew that things were getting better. They were not fixed but this was a great start. It was going to take time before Branch was fullied healed from the pain of the past, but knowing that they were all willing to work on it with him was all Branch really wanted. To be seen and loved by the people he held so near and dear to his heart. Never again would he ever be alone.
Hope y'all have enjoyed yet another chapter this week. This one was one of my favorites just what Branch needed. I didn't want to wait too long before things got to the point where Branch just needs to talk about stuff. They are here in his bunker and things just got too close to handle and they needed to have this blow out. This won't be the case every week where y'all get three chapters but I was just inspired and could not wait for this part of our story. I will still try to write another chapter tomorrow and I plan on it to be about Clay and Floyd and their love interests. I just think it will be so much fun to see. Also a little light heartedness we need after very intense chapters. I hope y'all read Chapter 21 What Goes Around and this one Chapter 22 Never Again. I just love these two chapters and I truly believe you can't read one without the other. Hope y'all enjoyed it. Bye bye for now.