"You handled that pretty well, Branch. Riff cried like a little baby when he got his tattoo."
"I did not!"
As the five Rock trolls left the tattoo parlor, Branch looked at his aching bandaged hand. A tattoo of a spider web underneath. It hurt, but it was bearable.
Figuring that they had time for at least one more detour, the gang stopped at a place called Fire Burger. Burgers, like most other foods here, were unfamiliar to Branch, but if the smell of the restaurant was any indication, he was certain he'd enjoy one. And enjoy it, he did, also discovering that potatoes were one of the few vegetables that Rock trolls could ingest. He still couldn't believe he had been eating fruits and acorns for so long when food like this existed.
As the group ate, Barb, Riff, and Sid Fret started to ask Branch questions about the Pop village. None of them had ever met a Pop troll, and Branch was the closest thing they had to learning about them. It wasn't long before they were all laughing, besides Carol.
"You've gotta be making that up!" Barb said, a giggling mess. "Pop trolls use hugs as currency? How the fuck does that even work?"
"That'll be four hugs, sir!" Riff said in a mocking voice, breaking down and laughing with Barb and Sid Fret.
"It's more like a bartering system." Branch said, eating his burger. "You can use hugs, or you can trade stuff like cupcakes, or candy, or scrapbooks if you know how to make them."
"There's no way." Barb said with a mouthful of fries. "I heard that Pop trolls were soft, but I didn't think they were middle-aged trollings. What's the harshest punishment they pass down? A timeout?"
"That's crazy." Sid Fret said as he stuffed his face. Branch had already taken note that the bigger troll didn't talk a lot, so he wasn't expecting any questions from him.
Barb turned her attention to Carol. She was being even quieter than she usually was. She hadn't even touched the food that she ordered.
"Hey Carol. You alright?" Barb asked.
Carol looked at the princess and held in a groan. The last thing she needed right now was to hear Barb's voice. The last of the brim she had was starting to wear off, and Carol desperately needed that to deal with her.
"I'm fine." Carol said with a fake smile. "I'm just crashing a little."
Barb said nothing, but took Carol's word. She wished that her friend would kick that junk. She and Carol had been around for each other since Cindy had become co-advisor to her father. Ever since she started using it a few years ago, she was just never the same person. Always dazed, tired, and overall unenthusiastic. Instead of pushing further, they all finished their food, and made their way to the coronation.
As they all finally made their way to the castle stadium, where thousands of Rock trolls were already gathering in lines, Branch thought about his new life. He hadn't realized it before, but he really had drawn the longest straw coming here. With his mother being top advisor to the king and soon Barb, he hadn't had to pay for or barter for anything he'd been given, and was already told by the princess that he would never have to. He was essentially royalty here.
Branch remembered his mother mentioning that one of the old gods, Zufem, respected hard labor, and those who worked instead of played. Could all of this maybe be his reward for all of the hard work he did at his old home?
Noticing her, the guards stepped aside, allowing Barb and her group passage. The stadium itself was enormous and daunting. So much empty space that would soon be filled with roaring cheers of so many trolls, all centered around a single platform surrounded by multiple towering speakers, with a massive waterfall of lava coming down behind it, creating multiple streams of magma through the stadium. On that platform, King Thrash sat on a very impressive throne in the center, his guitar at the ready, and his two advisors Artina and Cindy stood on each side of it.
Upon seeing her son, Artina left the king to Cindy, and ran over to Branch, giving him a hug that he immediately returned. As embarrassing as it was to think about, the Poprock troll hadn't realized how truly touch-starved he was after 15 years.
As a few other working trolls got the stage's final preparations together, Artina explained the ceremony to her unknowing son. First, when all the trolls in the kingdom were gathered to witness it, King Thrash would play any guitar solo of his choosing in front of his daughter. Then Princess Barb would match, or even play a superior one in return, proving herself to be not just worthy to succeed him, but greater in skill as well. Then King Thrash would step down from the throne, and Barb would sit in it, fully claiming the title of queen. Then afterwards, she and her group would play a song of her choosing for the kingdom as part of the celebration.
"Are you sure you're up for this, King Thrash?" Cindy asked the king. "There's no shame in it if you'd rather have me or Artina step in for you."
"This is the last solo I will ever play, Cindy. This honor is all mine." King Thrash said with a smile that'd raise the spirit of even the most cold-hearted troll. "And it is merely "Thrash" now. Save the royal titles for my daughter."
Cindy smiled. It was about 12 years ago when she was forced into early retirement as the captain of the royal guard. An injury caused to her leg by a magma spider had smashed her femur in four different places. She was lucky enough to keep her leg, but now couldn't get around quite as swiftly as she used to. But thanks to her sister, her tactical know-how never went to waste as she was soon made co-advisor to the king. In their years together, Thrash had come to be like a father to her. It hurt Cindy to see his health decline as it had, but her respect for him would never die. And she would never stop addressing him as her king.
Barb Nodded her head to Riff, Sid Fret, and Carol, and the three trolls went backstage, where they'd have the best seats in the house. Usually, they'd all be on stage with her, but in accordance with the rules, only Barb, the king, and his advisors could be present on stage for this. After Artina left Branch's side to rejoin the king and her sister, the Poprock troll started to make his way to the backstage as well before Barb grabbed his hand, and pulled him close. Then she slowly leaned into his ear.
"Sorry for blueballing you at Road Warriors." The princess said. "Don't worry. After the celebration tonight, I'll come find you. We'll pick up where we left off."
Leaving him, Barb went to her position on stage, and the now heavily conflicted Branch went backstage, seeing Sid Fret, but not Carol or Riff. The quiet Rock troll was standing next to a long table filled with food and drinks, stuffing himself like they hadn't already eaten before coming here. He had a large appetite, it seemed.
As Branch stood next to Sid Fret, he thought about Barb. According to the book he read on his way here yesterday, while Rock trolls eventually devoted themselves to one lover, it wasn't uncommon for them to have sex simply for the pleasure of it. Even Barb, the princess who would soon be queen, was allowed to have sex freely, so long as she didn't get pregnant.
Honestly, Branch never thought he'd even have the chance to find a mate, considering how much he separated himself from others. Sure, he had fantasized about the idea with Poppy, but never expected it to actually happen.
But once again, he had to remind himself that things were different here. If this kingdom was to become his home, he had to stop thinking like a Pop troll, and start acting like a Rock troll. And he apparently caught the eyes of the queen-to-be. He should feel honored, right?
Deciding it'd be best to cross that bridge when he came to it, Branch looked at Sid Fret, who had a face full of just about everything that was on the table. "So I never got to ask. You guys and Barb, are you like a band?"
"Kinda." Sid Fret said before washing down his food with a drink. "Riff plays drums for Barb and I play bass. I also just kinda do anything that involves heavy lifting. I even kinda act as her bodyguard if something calls for it. Carol though, she's just, well she just hangs around."
The Poprock troll's thoughts now started to linger on Carol. In his short time here, Branch hadn't made much of an effort to talk to her. Though in his defense, Carol seemed like the type who would rather be left alone to her own devices. That type of antisocial behavior was something that he absolutely understood. He didn't want to pressure his cousin into talking or interacting with him, as he knew that wasn't a pleasant experience. So instead, he'd wait until Carol was ready for them to get to know each other.
Hearing the sounds of the many Rock trolls finally being let into the stadium, Branch and Sid Fret both waited for the ceremony to begin, discovering that neither of them were very good at small talk.
Away from their eyes and ears, Riff and Carol were deeper backstage, having one of their uncommon one-sided arguments, with Carol being the aggressor, and Riff being the sponge that soaks it all in.
"Why the hell not?" Carol yelled before taking a swig of her beer.
"Because it's almost half an hour away, Carol!" Riff yelled back. "If I leave now to pick up some brimsmoke for you, I'll miss the ceremony."
"You're acting like you've never heard Barb play a fucking guitar before!" Carol said, rubbing her temples. "The only thing that separates this from any of the other concerts is that you and Sid don't get to play. What's the big deal?"
"This isn't just another concert. It's Barb's coronation, Carol!" Riff said. "I'm not exactly gonna get another chance to see this."
"I didn't realize that she was more important to you than me. Your girlfriend." Carol said with her arms crossed.
Riff sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He hated when she did this, batting her eyes or guilt tripping him until she got anything she wanted out of him. What he hated even more was that it almost always worked. and Carol, knowing it would, continued.
"Can't you just run down to the spot really quick? C'mon Riff, I'm dying here." Carol said, giving him the most pitiful sad eyes he'd ever seen. "Please? For me?"
The drummer knew that he should've tried harder to stop her at that concert a few years ago, when some stranger offered her some of that brim. And he would have if he knew it would eventually get her to a point where she couldn't even get through the day without it. But Riff didn't. Worse, he enabled her. While Riff didn't use the stuff himself, he was the one who picked up Carol's brimsmoke for her, so she didn't risk a guard seeing her, and possibly reporting it to her mother. At first, he didn't mind. The drug wasn't illegal, just extremely frowned upon. But recently, she was taking more than usual. So much that if she didn't have at least a little in her system, she'd have a fit.
"I can't, Carol." Riff finally said. "I can't do this anymore."
"Sure you can." Carol said, her puppy eyes still active. "I bet we could just go ask Barb to wait a few minutes while you go and get my brim. I'm sure Artina or my mom can keep the crowd distracted until then. Pleeeaase?"
"No!" Riff suddenly snapped. "I can't keep risking myself just so you can have your daily fix! Do you know what could happen if your mom ever found out I was doing this? I could lose my job, and my chance at college credit in the future!"
Carol was taken back. Riff talking to her in this way was rare. So rare that it had never happened before.
"You know that, but just like always, the only person you ever think about is yourself." Riff said. "But I can't do this with you anymore. I'm done…. We're done."
"What do you mean we're done?" Carol asked. "Are you breaking up with me?"
"No!" The drummer said. "I mean maybe, but… I don't know! I just need some time, alright?"
Before Carol could say anything else, Riff walked away, leaving her to her building rage and sorrow. Carol was ready to pull her hair out. Here she was again. With her own mother, her aunt, her friends, and now even with her boyfriend, it was ALWAYS about Barb. And she knew that this was only going to get worse after tonight when Barb took the throne.
Anger finally boiling over, Carol turned around and threw her bottle as hard as she could at Riff. Only for him to dodge it, and for the bottle to crash into one of the stagelight towers. Shattering on impact. Riff turned around to yell at her again, but stopped when he noticed the lights above her begin to spark and flicker. Then with little warning, the giant stagelight's wiring snapped, and it fell from the tower.
Carol screamed and raised her arms up as the massive stagelight fell down, on the verge of crushing her.
"Carol!" Riff yelled.
But then, just as it was about to land on top of her, she was pushed out of the way, and something, or rather, someone, caught the giant stagelight. The force of the impact caused pieces of it to break apart around her, but not on her.
As quickly as she could, Carol crawled away and ran into Riff's arms, completely forgetting about the argument that they had just gone through. After gathering their bearings, the two looked in front of them to get a good look at Carol's savior.
"Oh my gods.." Riff said.
"What…what the fuck?" Carol said.
It was Branch. Apparently hearing the commotion, he and Sid Fret, who was a few feet away from him, must have come here to see what was going on.
And now here her cousin was, LIFTING an entire stagelight by himself with his bare hands.
Carol, Riff, and Sid Fret all looked at Branch, faces full of astonishment and confusion. Not only was Branch lifting the light, but it didn't even look like he was having that much trouble with it. With a small huff, Branch lowered the light slowly. Letting it drop to the ground with a very loud thud, Branch looked over at Riff and Carol. "Are you guys alright?"
His three friends were completely in shock, Sid Fret the most. Branch just casually held the weight of a stagelight in his hands. Ones this big were about the size of an average Rock troll, and more than three times the weight. To even get one lifted in the first place, that required at least five trolls of above average strength, and multiple ropes just to get it on the tower. Sid knew this from personal experience. And Branch had just caught and lifted one on his own.
Branch was starting to become a little uncomfortable. Why were they all staring at him like this?
"What was that noise?" Branch heard his mother say. Stopping by Sid Fret, Artina and Cindy both watched in awe as Branch lifted the light again, asking his mother and aunt where they wanted him to put it.
Cindy looked at her nephew. It seemed all of that muscle wasn't just for show. After telling Branch to just sit with the equipment in the back, she focused her attention on Carol and Riff, who both still looked shaken up. "What happened?" She asked.
"Uh, I think there was some sort of malfunction?" Riff said. "The light just fell down and it almost crushed Carol!"
Carol, who was still trying to calm herself down, was having difficulty getting out any words. When that light fell down, it was like her entire life flashed before her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she slowly pushed away from her boyfriend.
"I don't know how it happened either." She was finally able to get out.
After looking at the both of them for a moment, Cindy and Artina went back on stage, and continued readying for the coronation. The second they were gone, Carol and Riff locked eyes, and then lips almost immediately after.
Definitely not wanting to watch the intense make out session, Branch and Sid walked back to the food table, away from the couple.
"Are they gonna be alright?" Branch asked Sid.
"Yeah don't worry. You're gonna see those two make up and break up like three times a day." Sid said. "So what do you bench, dude?"
--
Kelley had always been told that she was soft. And by the standards of Rock trolls, she guessed it was true.
So even though Val was against it, Legsly was accompanying them in their anglerbus, on the way to Volcano Rock City. The engine cranked at full speed, so they would still make it in time for the coronation.
Kelley had also always been told that she had the aura of an older sister. It made it easy for trolls to be comfortable confiding in her, and trusting her. So it wasn't difficult to get Legsly to tell them everything that had happened to her and the Pop village in the span of two days.
Val was still unsure about bringing this Pop troll back home with them. She felt like they had to have been breaking some type of law by doing this, but Kelley assured her that they weren't. King Peppy had little authority outside of his village. If one of the Pop trolls left the village, he had no say on what they did or who they interacted with.
Especially not one who was banished unjustly.
The sad story of Legsly's banishment may have confused Val, but Kelley knew much of the past history of the six troll tribes. It was part of her job. If she understood correctly, what had happened was King Peppy had kept the truth about the other tribes away from his people, and to make sure that it stayed that way, he banished Legsly, the only troll that knew anything about it.
To make matters even worse, according to Legsly, his village had apparently been destroyed by a bergen, and some of his people had been taken. Even now, the Pop king decided that he'd rather keep his people in the dark than reach out for the aid of any of the other tribes.
Legsly sat quietly on the leather couch, staring down at the small box of cookies that Kelley had given her. But even with how kind the two trolls had been to her, Legsly still couldn't help but be scared.
She had no idea where they were going in this giant flying machine, or what would happen to her when they got there. Legsly didn't even know the two trolls that she was traveling with, or anything about them, besides their names, and that they were "Rock trolls". She wasn't even sure what that meant. The only reason she agreed to go with them was because the only other option was to stay in the forest and probably get eaten by a predator.
Even now, all of this just didn't feel real to Legsly. What had she done to deserve this? To be banished from the only home she had ever known? Her thoughts on this again, on the fact that she could never return home, or see her friends and loved ones anymore, it started to bring her to tears again.
"Hey now, no more of that." Kelley said, sitting next to Legsly. "It's gonna be alright."
"No it's not." Legsly choked out through her cries. "I dunno what I'm gonna do."
"It will be, I promise." Kelley said, wrapping her front arm around the smaller troll. "Our princess's coronation is gonna be going on when we get to Rock City. Then there'll be a big party! You like parties, don't you?"
Legsly looked at the larger troll and wiped away some of her tears. Of course she liked parties. What troll didn't? Well, besides that grouchy Branch guy. But she just wasn't sure if she had it in her to party right now.
"And as soon as the coronation is over, we'll talk to the new queen." Kelley said. "You just tell her exactly what you told me, and I'm sure she'll be willing to help your people. We can even help you, I'm sure."
Legsly didn't know why, but she believed Kelley. The pain in her heart still burned like an open wound, but the Funkrock troll's words eased her a little. Not wanting to cry anymore, the purple troll gave Kelley a weak smile. The only thing she could muster at the time.
Not satisfied with that, Kelley looked at Val, who was strumming her guitar. She had an idea.
"Tell me, Legsly." Kelley said. "When you heard us playing out in the forest, did you like it?"
"I think so." Legsly said, finally taking a cookie from the box she had been holding. "It felt different from all the music I've ever heard though. It felt really strange, but it was still nice."
"That's called real music." Val said as she jumped off the couch. "Why don't we play some more? I bet it'll help you feel better."
Legsly smiled a little wider before nodding her head. Almost immediately, Val plugged up her guitar into an outlet while Kelley got off of the couch and went into the backroom. She soon returned with two mic stands. A large one for her, and a smaller one that Legsly assumed was for Val, the other Rock troll pushed in a machine that produced the drumming audio for them.
When the mics were set up, and Val was finished tuning her guitar, the two looked at Legsly, and began to play. As the music started up, Kelley began to sing.
(Stand Up by Fireflight)
Look at all the lonely hearts
Shivering out in the dark
Hiding from the truth
Cover up the proof
Demons that I've tried to hide
Imprison me in my own lies
And all that I can do is cover up the proof
As Legsly listened, she thought about her current situation. This music really was very different from what she and the other trolls in the village always played. It was so much more intense and striking. But it wasn't bad. And the two trolls she was traveling with, they weren't bad either. Sure, they looked a little scary, and used a lot of curse words, but in the small time she had known them, they had done nothing but help her. If there really were more trolls like these two, she wouldn't mind some new friends. She couldn't see her old ones anymore..
Don't be afraid to
(Stand up)
Stand up if you're broken
(Stand up)
Stand up if you feel ashamed
You are not alone when you hurt this way
Stand up if you need love
(Stand up)
This is not Judgment Day
You don't have to hide, there's no need to run
Everything will be okay
Legsly's smile grew and grew. She could tell that Kelley had picked this song just for her. She really was kind. Her and Val. Legsly wanted to dance, but didn't know how to move to this type of music. She also wanted to sing along, but she didn't know the lyrics. There had to be something else she could do to be involved.
Then Legsly looked at Val. As she sang, she rocked her head up and down, and did this weird thing with her hand where two of her fingers and her thumb were sticking out. It looked fun, in a weird way. So Legsly raised her hand, mimicked it, and started rocking her head as well. Noticing this, Val smiled.
"Yeah, Legsly!" She said. "Rock on!"
The music came to a halt as the lights started flickering. Suddenly, there was a rumble beneath all of their feet, soon followed by another. As the lights slowly shut off, Kelley slowly turned her head to Val, a glare so intense, that Val could feel it poking the side of her head.
"Val." Kelley said in a flat voice. "Did you fuel up the bus like I asked before we left?"
The Funkrock troll didn't need her friend to answer. The lights fell dim, as their ride switched to emergency power. They all felt the anglerbus slow down significantly. These two things told Kelley that the answer was no, Val did not fuel the anglerbus.
Val did not want to turn her head. She could feel Kelley's glare getting stronger. It was practically burning the side of her head. "I…uh… Forgot?" She said with a sheepish smile.
"Well great job, Val." Kelley said. "At this rate, we're not gonna make it back to Rock City till tomorrow afternoon. Looks like we're gonna miss the coronation."
"Fuck.."
--
Suki was one of the "different" trolls. You wouldn't know from a first glance, but she was. Not like Smidge, or Legsly, or fuzzbert, or skyscraper troll. Her defect was a little different.
It was late. Poppy and the rest of her friends, who had set up camp next to the stream, were fast asleep. Suki decided to take this time to bathe in the water.
Suki had first discovered that she was different when she was two years old. A small glowbug flew into her bedroom, and being a little trolling that knew no better, she grabbed it, and put it in her mouth. Her mother screamed when she walked in to change her diaper, only to find Suki giggling and projecting lights from her eyes and mouth.
As the years went by, Suki discovered that she could do this not just with glowbugs, but pretty much anything that produced light. She loved flashing lights, and the feeling of having them course through her. So much that she always wore her handmade glow-in-the-dark bracelets, headphones, even the purple rock candy she wore over her bellybutton glowed.
Washing herself, Suki smiled as she remembered the first time she DJ'd for a party. Standing over all of the other trolls, in control of not only the music, but all of those flashing effects as well. It all felt so natural. So right. Like she was born to do it.
Like lots of trolls in her generation, Suki had lost her parents to the bergens when she was just an egg. Raised in the orphanage until her 8th birthday, when her adoptive mother Cherry Mound gave her the greatest gift any child could ask for. The gift of a loving parent. She later became friends with the village's princess Poppy. A troll so sweet, that it was almost impossible to not be happy around her.
Unless you were Branch.
It always confused Suki that Poppy would set her eyes on a troll who was her complete and utter opposite. Yeah, Poppy denied it up and down, but her crush on that strange gray troll was clearer than the water that she was currently bathing in.
Suki just didn't get that. In the entire time she'd known them both, all Branch had ever done was be cruel to her, and pretty much everyone else. Not only did Poppy bake for him at least once a week, she also handmade all of his party invitations. And he would step on them right in front of her face! Did she have a thing for loner types?
She only became more confused when they got into his bunker, and found out that Branch had kept literally every single invitation that Poppy had ever made for him, which told Suki, and pretty much everyone else in the village that he liked Poppy just as much as she liked him. So what was the problem? If he liked her back, why was he such a jerk to her?
The DJ already knew what Poppy planned to do after they rescued their friends. She'd set her sights on finding Branch, wherever he ran off to. And if she decided to do that, Suki would help her. All Poppy has ever done in her life is give, give, give. If love is what she wanted, even if it was love with someone like Branch, then she deserved to have it.
But Suki wasn't relaxing in this water to think about that, or even just to get clean. There was something else.
The red troll looked out at the water again, heavily fighting the urge to just jump into the deeper areas, and let the current carry her out into wherever it emptied. She never really understood why, but swimming was something that came as naturally to her as being a DJ. No matter how cold, the water always felt relaxing on her body, and while in the water, she could turn, twist, and flip around like a fish.
But in the past few months, she was starting to feel different. Suki didn't just want to be in the water. She felt as if she needed to be. Today, during their encounter with the pyroflora, when she jumped into the water to avoid the creature, something happened. Suki had forgotten to take in a deep breath before she jumped in with Satin. However, Suki noticed almost immediately that it didn't matter. Even as the water entered her mouth, it didn't slow her swimming even a little. Not even as she guided Satin.
Slowly, Suki sat down in the stream, the water now reaching her shoulders. Then even slower, she let her head sink into the water as well until she was completely submerged. Finally, as if she were still on the surface, The DJ breathed in, letting the water fill her. Just like earlier that day, it felt good. As natural as breathing the air.
Quietly lifting herself up again, Suki looked at her reflection. Troll defects were often unique and unpredictable, but breathing underwater? Could that even be called a defect?
Suki loved her adoptive mother, but it was times like this where she wished she knew at least a little about her biological parents. Maybe one of them had these defects as well.
--
Fun was a concept that before today, felt so foreign to Branch. Something he only watched the Pop trolls have from a distance. But Branch, he had fun today.
After the ceremony, when princess Barb officially became queen Barb, she, Riff, and Sid Fret played for the enormous audience with Branch and his mother and aunt all on stage with them. As he threw his horns up and rocked his head with his new friends and family, he felt more alive than he had in years.
Now, hours later into the night, his mother was walking with him in the castle hallways, saying that she wanted to give him something before Branch turned in for the night. Branch once again felt like a trolling as Artina led him down the hall by his hand. It didn't really bother Branch that she was so affectionate. She had been searching for him for so many years, that he believed his mother deserved this much. That said, he was glad that none of his new friends were here to see this.
When they entered Artina's office, the mother finally released her iron grasp on her son's hand, and walked behind her desk, and into a closet next to it. After rummaging through it for a good minute, she returned to Branch with a gig bag with a sling on it. Artina smiled and opened it, revealing the bass guitar inside. Branch's eyes widened. The guitar was a beautiful red that faded to black in the neck and headstock.
"This bass is an heirloom. It belonged to my mother." Artina said as she closed the case and offered it to Branch. "And her mother before her. Now, I want you to have it."
Branch took the case into his arms. He hadn't played, or even touched an instrument since his grandmother died. After giving all of his time to fortifying his bunker, he didn't know if he remembered how to play one anymore. But once again, Branch told himself that he had to forget about all of that. He had let his heart become so clouded by fear and paranoia all this time. But this life here, this happiness he felt, he didn't ever want to let this go.
After Branch thanked her, Artina led him out of the office, and to another door further down the hallway. Artina seemed rather excited to show her son what was on the other side. When she opened the door, Branch was taken back. It was a large room filled with posters of bands he didn't recognize, a bed that looked like it could fit 10 trolls in it, and a large window that looked out at the city.
"This is your room." Artina said. "While you were out with Barb and her friends, I had some people come in and fix it up. It's been waiting for you for a very long time."
For what felt like the 100th time that day, Artina hugged her son, which he returned with just as much enthusiasm. "It's great, mom. Everything's been great."
"I want you to have a nice time living here." Artina said as she released him. "I meant it when I said I'd do everything I could to see you happy. I'll leave you to get acquainted with your new room. Goodnight, Branch. I love you."
When Artina finally left Branch to his room, the Poprock troll sat his new guitar down next to his bed, and laid down on it. It was undoubtedly the most comfortable thing he'd ever laid on. His mother truly had spared no expense for him. He could already feel his muscles relax as his eyelids started to feel heavy. He looked up at the ceiling, which also had strange carvings and things on it. Usually, Branch always knew what his day held. Wake up, eat, exercise, gather supplies, fortify the bunker, sleep. But now, Branch didn't know what tomorrow would bring.
"I thought she'd never leave."
Branch immediately shot up out of his bed to see Barb standing outside of what he guessed was his bathroom, wearing a black bathrobe. With a smile, she slowly walked over to him.
"Y'know, this room used to be full of little baby crap, like toys and coloring books." Barb said. "Artina really wanted to get you back here when you were a kid."
"Did… did you need something, Princess Barb?" Branch said as he stood up from his bed, only to be pushed back down onto it by Barb.
"It's Queen Barb now." Barb said. "But you Branch, you're one of my roadies now. It's just Barb."
Branch's heart jumped into his throat as Barb loosened her robes, letting them fall to her feet, revealing that she was completely naked underneath.
"Now, I believe I still owe you a welcome home present." She said, closing the already small gap between them.
Before Branch could even think of objecting his lips became preoccupied by Barb's lips. Slowly, the Poprock troll melted into the kiss, as the queen fell back onto the bed with him. Seemed the night was not yet over.
--
The cathedral was the most sacred part of the Volcano City castle. Not only was it an open forum, but it was the bedrock of the entire castle. A place where trolls could freely worship the Rock gods. The ceiling paintings held many stories. Stories of great battles with the Rock Troll's oldest enemy, the Metal trolls. Some of when the first king of rock, Maylik, created the rock string through a magic ritual that was lost to time.
Artina had been informed by a guard that Hora, the high priestess of the cathedral, wanted to see her urgently. Usually, Artina would've turned a request like this away. It was late and she was tired. But Artina had great respect for the church. She and her sisters were devout followers of the god Zufem. His teachings are what had inspired Artina to aim to become advisor to the royal family, and what had driven Cindy to joining the guard, and eventually becoming a captain.
Artina sat down in one of the many rows of empty seats that would be filled when the morning came, waiting for Hora. It was not long before she noticed the high priestess lighting the candles around the pedestals holding the faces of some of the gods. With her long and black robe, and ash gray hair, she looked almost like a ghost.
After lighting the last candle, Hora walked over to Artina, and peacefully raised her hand horns. Artina returned the gesture with the same amount of enthusiasm.
As they lowered their hands, Artina noticed the look in the High Priestess' eyes. A look that told Artina that whatever the priestess called her for was important.
"I need to show you something, Advisor Artina." Hora said.
After Artina silently agreed, the Priestess led her into the cathedral's center stand. From her robes, Hora pulled out an old leather scroll. After rolling it out, the advisor got a good look at the scroll's contents. It was a stitching of the first troll kings and queens of all the tribes, gathered under the sacred harp, the first instrument to bear all six magical strings.
Artina sighed. "Priestess, I've known this story since I was a child. Surely this isn't why you've asked for me at this hour."
"You and the rest of our kingdom know the story of the great divide, yes." Hora said. "But there is more to it than you have been told."
"With all due respect Priestess, much of my life has been devoted to our people's history." Artina said, a little bit of annoyance in her voice. "I doubt that there's anything you can tell me that I don't know already."
"There will always be stories that you do not know, Artina." Hora said before pulling out another scroll. "And if things could be any other way, this story I am about to tell you would be one of them. But I have no choice."
With that, the High Priestess rolled out the other scroll above the first one, the two scrolls fitting together.
The exhaustion in Artina's eyes all but completely vanished when she saw the contents of the second scroll.
What now sat above the first lines of royalty and the ancient harp was a troll Artina had never seen in any of their history books. The troll was holding the six magical strings in his hands.
"There is a prophecy, Artina." Hora said. "One that was purposely ripped from history in the hopes that it would be lost to time. One that was only meant to be revealed to the public again if it ever came to fruition."
Artina continued to gaze upon this new scroll. The being holding the strings looked unlike any troll she had ever seen. From what she could make out from the image, he had night-black hair that faded to a dark blue at the tips, and wore a type of armor that she had never seen.
"The prophecy of the wielder of the strings."