"Is it over?" Bruce asked as the screen turned off and the lights in the room went on.
"The first part is. I'm pretty sure there's more though," Clay responded.
"Yeah, there is. I think this is just a break," Floyd said.
"Alright good, because there's something I've been meaning to talk to you guys about," John Dory said, sitting on the floor, his brothers and Viva following suit until they formed a circle. "I know that we're here to see Branch's life, which is great and definitely something we need to see, but before we continue, I want to ask you guys about your lives. I mean, what have you guys been doing these past twenty years? Where have you guys been?"
There was a moment's silence as Bruce, Clay and Floyd thought of John's questions.
"Well…I guess I'll go first," Clay said. "When I left, I went to go and find trolls who would take me seriously. Back home, I was only ever treated as 'The Fun Boy,' and that bothered me because I was more than just the fun one. I had other feelings, interests, and things I wanted to do. That night our band broke up, I had it. That concert was the last straw for me so I left right after you did," he said, looking at John Dory. "I know that was wrong now, but at the moment all I could think about was myself and the anger I'd built up over the years. I spent a few months alone, trying to find trolls who would take me seriously, but I was too recognized from BroZone. So I ended up traveling further away and out of town. I ended up getting lost along this unused road, but I'm glad I did because that's where I found the abandoned golf course where the PuttPutt trolls and Viva lived. When I first entered, I was immediately welcomed and found a place among them. Turns out, only a week before I found them they had escaped the Troll Tree, so they were still moving in and getting over the shock of what they had experienced. Viva was already taking charge and appointed their leader, as she got them out of there and also happened to be the King's daughter, but I could tell she needed help. So, I became second-in-command and together we transformed the abandoned golf course into a troll utopia and formed a little sanctuary of survivors. I added fire exits, Viva added her heart and soul. And I've lived there since," Clay finished, looking up to see Bruce and Floyd staring at him with wide eyes and John looking at him sadly.
"Wow, that's pretty incredible Clay, that you were able to do all that for those trolls," Floyd said.
"Yeah, he was amazing at his job," Viva said, smiling at Clay.
John Dory looked as if he wanted to say something, but stopped himself as Bruce started speaking.
"Dang, my life compared to that seems pretty easy now," Bruce chuckled.
"Where've you been?" Clay asked Bruce.
"Vacay Island. It's this sweet little place that's great for vacations, hence the name. Anyway, that night I left, I didn't really have a destination in mind, just as long as it was a place where I wouldn't be recognized as the Heartthrob. I wanted to put my boy band days behind me, so I traveled for some time, met some cool folks, saw some neat places, but nothing seemed to fit for me. One day I came across this advertisement on Vacay Island and I just knew then and there that that was the place for me. When I arrived, oh man, it's awesome there. The sights, the breeze, the smell of the ocean…it was perfect. Didn't take long to move in, everyone was welcoming and there to relax and have fun. About three months later I met this woman named Brandy. After getting to know her we eventually started dating and the next thing we knew, we were married, had kids, and started up a restaurant."
As Bruce finished Clay, John, and Floyd were all looking at him with their mouths open in shock.
"You're married?!" John Dory exclaimed.
"I'm an uncle?!" Clay said excitedly.
"We missed the wedding!" Floyd said, not upset but a little sad he wasn't there for his brother on his best day.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I really wanted you all there, but I had no idea where you all were. I thought about going out and looking for you all, but I realized that I didn't even know if you guys were even still alive. I also just couldn't leave Brandy like that, not after we had just got engaged."
"Hey, it's okay man. It's a little disappointing we weren't there, but that's on us. We should have kept in touch," Clay told Bruce. "Anyway though, we're uncles?!"
"Yeah! Becoming a dad was like a seismic shift in my brain. Probably the best thing that's ever happened to me! I have thirteen kids, twelve sons and one daughter."
"What!" Clay gasped.
"Thirteen kids!" John Dory said, shocked.
"Yeah," Bruce said, smiling at his brother's reactions.
"Dang, I'm happy for you bro," Floyd said, causing Bruce's smile to widen.
"Thanks, that means the world to me. And I can't wait for you guys to meet them!" Bruce said, excitement building up inside him.
"I'd get the title of best uncle!" John Dory proclaimed, causing his brothers to roll their eyes in amusement.
"Yeah, you're going to need to fight for that title," Clay teased.
"Oh, so Mr. Clay can be fun," John Dory teased back.
"Only when I want to, and this calls for Fun Boy Clay!" At his words the brothers all laughed.
"What about you Floyd? What has your life been like?" Bruce asked his younger brother.
"Oh, well, in all honesty I'm not entirely sure why I left in the first place. I mean, I do but I wasn't even mad. I knew what I was doing, I knew that I was leaving Branch brotherless but I left anyway. You all expected me to stay, but I left almost the moment you guys did. I thought that was what would be best. BroZone at the time was my career and you guys were my life. But then the next second it was all gone so I thought the only way forward to go was the backstreets and starting a solo career. I didn't leave without saying goodbye to Branch though. I gave him my vest and promised that I would be back. But I never did. When I first left, I decided to start small for my solo career. At first I planned on becoming a singer, but I realized it didn't seem right without you guys there too. So instead I became a personal coach and began helping other trolls and creatures pursue their musical dreams and talents. I slowly began building a reputation and ended up moving to Mount Rageous to continue my solo career there. By that time it'd already been years since I saw any of you guys, and I wasn't sure where you all were. I decided it was best to stay where I was. I regret that decision though. I missed you guys and I could have gone out to look for you. But I didn't, just like I didn't keep my promise to Branch. I ended up writing songs about you guys to help me remember you, not like I could forget though. I refused to sing or show them to anyone, as those songs were all I had left of you guys," Floyd said, looking sadly up at his brothers.
"Oh man, we're so sorry Floyd. I-I didn't know us leaving hurt you like that," Clay softly said.
"I think us leaving hurt everyone," Bruce said, looking at each of his brothers in turn, all of them having guilt in their eyes.
"Especially Branch," John Dory whispered. "We didn't even have the decency to say goodbye like Floyd, we just left him there without a second thought or an apology or-or anything! And I'm so sorry guys. I know I pressured you all into the roles I assigned you for the band, which I know I never should have done. I should have listened to your advice, Floyd, and just let everyone be who they were," John Dory said, not wanting to meet his brother's eyes.
"You mean you actually heard?" Floyd said, teasing his brother.
"Heh, yeah I did. I was just…so consumed with hitting the 'Perfect Family Harmony' that I lost sight of what really mattered. And for that, I'm really sorry," John apologized.
"It's alright John, we forgive you," Bruce said, Clay and Floyd nodding in agreement. "We were all at fault that night and made mistakes, but that's in the past and as much as I wish we could change it, we can't. All we can do now is move forward and be thankful that we're here together now."
"Wow, usually I'm the one who says stuff like that," Floyd said, smiling as his brothers laughed.
"You're right Bruce. And even though we didn't see each other grow up to be the trolls we are now, I'm excited to hang out with you guys and get to know you more now," Clay said, giving Floyd a side-hug.
"Yeah!" John Dory said, smiling in relief that his brothers weren't too mad at him. Guess not being prideful really does help in the forgiveness process.
"John, you haven't told us about your life yet," Bruce pointed out.
"Oh, yeah…" John Dory said, less enthusiastically. "Well, compared to you guys…let's just say I was living a solo life. Once I left home, I started exploring. I hiked the Neverglade Trail, as I said I would, and came across Rhonda. She's my armadillo bus. Since then I've really just been traveling around with her, never staying in one place too long, and Rhonda became my home. Literally. There's honestly not much else to tell…" John Dory said, trailing off.
"I'm sorry John. You shouldn't have had to live alone," Floyd said.
"Nah, I wasn't alone. I had Rhonda!" John said, causing his brothers to exchange looks. "Besides, whenever I came across a town I would always go and meet some cool people."
"You know, I honestly never thought this day would come. Where we would just sit together and talk about our lives. Well really, I didn't think I'd ever see any of you guys again to start with," Clay said, enjoying this moment with his brothers.
"Yeah, it's definitely nice to just be sitting together and catching up," Bruce agreed.
The brothers continued talking for another half hour, Viva now joining in the conversation as they discussed more about their lives, their adventures, their regrets, and anything else they could think of, until they finally decided it was time to continue learning about their youngest brother.
"Well, now that Branch has his colors back, watching his life now shouldn't be as depressing as it was during that last movie," Bruce said, sitting down in a chair, this time sitting next to John Dory as well as Clay, Viva still sitting on Clay's other side with the two of them holding hands.
"Yeah, I'm excited to learn more about him and his adventures," Clay agreed excitedly.
Just then the lights in the room dimmed and the screen turned back on.
