At the location of the yoga sessions, Creek was leading his group on the poses, with Floyd being somewhere at the front. As they were on their respective mats, everyone was following Creek, as he went to make poses for the other trolls to copy.
"Now, let's us take a deep breath..." he said, as he positioned himself straight up and put his hands together and took a deep breath. "In... and out... Let all your negative energies flow out through your exhale and let the good ones enter through your inhale..."
After they all took a deep breath, Creek went to extend his arms, one forward and the other backward, while extending one leg, saying:
"And now, let us all take the Dancing Troll pose... and take slow deep breaths."
Floyd performed the pose, while breathing deeply, when he heard someone next to him saying:
"Wow... this actually is quite nice."
He looked and got surprised when he saw...
"Branch?" Floyd asked, as he saw his younger brother performing the same pose as him. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, it has been a while since I have done yoga" Branch replied. "And with all the sudden changes in my life now that you and the bros are back to it... not to mention after all the bonding I had with John... I think I need to do something relaxing."
That caused Floyd to chuckle, as Creek went to do another pose, saying:
"And now, let's go for Half Standing Forward Bend..."
As they moved to the pose, Floyd said:
"Yeah, I can imagine that... Don't tell him this, but... I'm the one that came up with the idea to change his nickname to The Wild One."
"Your secret is safe with me" Branch replied, with a chuckle.
Seeing Branch and Floyd laughing together, Creek decided that was a good chance to mess a little with the former. And so he said:
"And now, raise your leg way up for a Three-Legged Cuddle Pup pose."
Branch was so entertained talking with his brother that he didn't pay attention to Creek doing the pose and went to raise his leg, but Floyd, who went to use his hands as a support first, said, as he saw his younger brother already raising his leg:
"Wait, Branch, first you need to..."
But it was too late, as Branch lost his balance and ended up falling on the ground.
"...to use your hands as a support first."
"Oh, sorry about that, Branch" Creek said, with a tinge of cynicism that Branch was able to pick up. "I should have warned about that... especially because I noticed how you were not paying attention. But then again, this pose is so basic that I thought it was unnecessary to do so."
That caused Branch to grunt in annoyance. He knew Creek did that on purpose, possibly just to ruin the moment he was having with Floyd. Before Branch could think of an answer to give Creek, he noticed a hand extending to him that was from Floyd, who was smiling. Branch smiled back at him and took his hand.
"Don't worry about falling" Floyd told his younger brother. "Yoga is not as easy as it looks. That's why you have to pay attention to the instructor, including to how he makes the pose."
"Wise words, my friend" Creek said, while with his hands together. "I wouldn't have said it better."
"Look, Branch, you don't have to force yourself to do something you don't want for me" Floyd said. "You can just wait for me to finish this and..."
But, as he said that, Branch could notice Creek making that smug, the one he normally does when he uses his charisma to get what he wanted. Just that was enough to make Branch to endure as much as he could to spend time with Floyd.
"No... I mean... I want to do this with you. It's not that I don't like yoga, it's just..."
Branch then sighed and said:
"I miss our time together. We used to have so much fun. Now that we are reunited, I want to have that back. I already reconnected with John. I want to reconnect with you next."
That made Floyd smile tenderly and then nod, saying:
"I would love that. You don't mind that Branch hangs out with us, right, Creek?"
"Of course not" Creek replied, while trying to hide the discomfort of hanging out with Branch, a feeling that was mutual. "Why would I get in the middle of two brothers with such... close bond?"
Hearing that, Branch couldn't help but smile back at his older brother.
"Oh, that was totally adorable!" a voice exclaimed.
Branch and Floyd turned and saw Poppy and Viva also there, doing the Three-Legged Cuddle Pup pose.
"Poppy?" Branch asked, a little confused. "Viva? What are you doing here?"
"I already told you Viva and I go to Creek's yoga sessions" Poppy replied. "And I simply couldn't miss this most adorable brotherly moment ever!"
"However... I would very much enjoy it on another pose" Viva confessed.
"Yeah, I'm with Viva on this one" Poppy agreed. "It's getting... a little uncomfortable here."
With that, the yoga session continued. After it, Poppy said, while stretching up:
"Now that was some good exercise!"
"I'll say, I feel revigorated for the rest of the day!" Viva exclaimed. "So, little sister, what do you have in mind next?"
"Oh, I have so many ideas!" Poppy exclaimed, enthusiastically. "We could... go to Chez Dante. I think you haven't experienced the Classical Trolls' cusine. Or maybe... we could go get dad and have some fun by the lake!"
"Well, you can go do... whatever you want to do" Branch said. "Meanwhile, I will spend some more time with my favorite brother."
"Actually, Branch... Floyd and I already have plans" Creek told, with his sneering smile. "Yeah, we are going to watch some performance poetry."
"That is true..." Floyd admitted. "But... I would love to have you there with us, Branch. Who knows... maybe you can share some of your verses."
"What?" Branch asked. "Floyd, you know I don't like to..."
"Oh, he's so in!" Poppy exclaimed excitly, while appearing next to her boyfriend and grabbing his arm. "And I will be there! And so will Viva."
"We are?" Viva asked.
"You are?" Branch asked, at the same time as Viva. "I thought you wanted to spend time with your sister."
"I do and I will" Poppy said. "Especially if that includes hearing you make some poetry."
"Well... when you put it like that, I do get a little curious" Viva commented. "Clay would occasionally endulge us with poetry... but he was quite bad at it... Too much technical."
"Poppy, you know I hate to express myself in front of other trolls" Branch whispered to his girlfriend. "That's why I refused to go to any poetry performance or slams you invited me to."
"Oh, and here I thought you wanted to spend time with Floyd" Poppy said. "Isn't that why you endured just now an entire hour of yoga with Creek?"
That caused Branch to roll his eyes. He hated when Poppy would tease him like that to manipulate him to do something he didn't want to. But then he noticed how closed Floyd and Creek looked together and that was enough to make him to swallow his pride and say:
"Fine... I guess I could give it a try... I mean, it's performance poetry. Last time I was there, there weren't many trolls."
"Yeah... about that..." Poppy said.
They all went to the place where the performance poetry would take place and Branch couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"You're kidding me..." he said.
They were at the place for the stage poetry which was at Classical Crest where there were more trolls than he could expected, especially Classic and Country.
"I know, right?" Poppy said. "Turns out, Country and Classic Trolls actually love poetry... more so than Pop Trolls. And Classical Crest always offers a much better ambience... Not to mention it has the best tea."
That caused Branch to gulp. He already felt uncomfortable at the idea of performing before everyone... and that was before Trollstopia. But now knowing that the stage and the audience were even bigger than before, his nerves multiplied even more. Floyd was able to perceive that and said, while putting his hand on Branch's shoulder:
"Maybe we should just relax and enjoy the show, today. We don't have to force things. What do you think?"
"Yeah, I would like that..." Branch replied, relieved.
"Oh, I would have loved to watch you perform..." Poppy said, disappointed, as Viva patted her shoulder in comfort.
And so they went to watch the many trolls performing their poetry. Branch was sitting beside Floyd, but, unfortunately for him, he was not the only one, as Creek was sitting beside him as well, occasionally giving Branch a taunting look that made him grunt a little.
After a great performance from Minuete, she left the stage, while the audience cheered for her with fingersnapping. As she got out, Gust entered the stage, saying:
"An' that was Minuete with her remarkable an' well structure poem 'bout her conflictive love between violins an' violas. Ah never imagin'd that a poem could be both emotional an' educational. Tah me they are both fiddles. And now let's pass to our next poet."
He took out his hat from where he took a piece of paper with the line up and said:
"An' next up we have... Oh wow! Ain't this a nice pleasant surprise! Branch!"
That proclamation really caught Branch by surprise.
"What?!"
"Oops, I think I slipped there..." Creek said, making his fake innocent face.
"You put my name on the line up?!" Branch asked him, with some strain on the voice.
"Seriously, Creek?" Floyd asked. "Not cool."
"Sorry, I guess... I just got too much curious about Branch's talent for poetry" Creek said, while using an apologetic tone. "I did it before Branch decided not to do it. I'm sorry if I overstepped."
"Well... I guess that was an innocent mistake" Floyd said, turning then to his younger brother. "Don't worry, Branch, you don't have to do it."
But despite everything, Branch couldn't help but feeling conflicted about what to do. On one side, he most certainly didn't want to recite poems in front of other trolls. However... he couldn't help but feeling instigated by Creek. He clearly did that on purpose to make him look bad, something that would be a win-win for him: either he would perform and pass an embarrassing moment or he would just feel embarrassed nevertheless for refusing to not go to the stage. On that moment, he could only do one thing...
"I will do it..." Branch said, getting up, surprising everyone.
"Are you sure, Branch?" Floyd asked, concerned for his little brother.
"Yeah... I think so..." Branch said, as he started to head towards the stage.
"Oh my glitter, Viva, this is it!" Poppy exclaimed to her sister, excitedly. "Branch is going to do something he never did before!"
Branch went on to the stage, positioning himself in front of the mic and tried to control his nerves, while facing the audience. And it didn't help that Creek was apparently reveling on Branch's awkwardness and nervousness. But then Branch noticed the two trolls to whom he was not scared of sharing his poems: Poppy and Floyd, both nodding to him to give him support.
Taking a deep breath, Branch said:
"All right... here it goes..."
A few minutes later...
Branch had just finished his poem and the audience couldn't have gotten more emotional. There were tears and sighs of admiration from every troll present. Even Creek was not left unaffected.
"Wow... that was... wow!" Viva exclaimed, while wiping out a tear out of her eye.
"I know, right?" Poppy asked, tearing up proudly before her boyfriend's display.
"I mean... are you sure he and Clay are related?" Viva asked. "Because... I don't even have words..."
"That was... dah best poem Ah have ever heard!" Gust said, as he came up to the stage, also tearing up. "Ya really touch'd dis Country troll's heart, Branch. An' Ah'm not dah only one, right, guys? Come on, let's give Branch dah best acclamation ever!"
And every troll there snapped their fingers in a very enthusiastic way, something that made Branch to smile, touched by all of it. He returned to his brother's side who then said:
"I'm so proud of you, little brother. That was... amazing! The best poem I have ever heard you say."
"Yeah... who knew that expressing my feelings about living in isolation in a bunker for ten years would actually be a success" Branch said.
"Well... using the right words and expressing it with the right feeling are key to the best performance" Floyd replied. "And you did it without fail... right, Creek?"
"Yeah, sure..." he replied, unenthusiastically.
"You did it great, Branch... I just hope we can make one poem together" Floyd suggested. "Like old times. We can even perform together."
"I don't know about performing" Branch said. "It took me a great deal of focus to not imagine myself surrounded by an immensity of eyes, something that doesn't do well to my paranoia. But I would love to make poems with you again."
And the two went to hug each other, with Poppy and Viva swooning over it, while eating popcorn.
"Told ya it would be worth it to come" Poppy said to Viva.
"I can always trust on your opinion, little sister" she agreed.
Later on, Branch was walking with Poppy and Viva after coming from Classical Crest.
"Oh, I can't believe it took me this long to do something like this!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm on his voice. "I missed spending time with Floyd so much! You know he is..."
"Yeah, we know..." Poppy said, both pleased and annoyed. "He is the brother you have the strongest connection with."
"And did you see the look on Creek's face after my poem?" Branch asked. "It was so worth it to endure all that just to shove on him how strong my bond with Floyd is..."
After he said that, he noticed the look on Poppy and Viva and hasted to say:
"Of course, the most important thing is that I got to reconnect with Floyd."
"And the only thing you had to do was to ditch John Dory" Viva told.
When Branch heard her mentioning that, he froze.
"Wait... what?" he asked, remembering then he really did that. "Oh no... I can't believe it... I really ditched John! I have to find him and..."
"Calm down, now, Branch" Poppy said, as she went to take her boyfriend's hands. "We told him you went to spend time with Floyd and he seemed completely fine by it."
"Really?" Branch asked. "That's a relief... I totally don't want to lose all the progress I had in recovering our brotherhood. So... do you know where he is?"
"Last time we saw him... I think we went for another go with the Hard Rock tribe's jello" Poppy said. "Now..."
"Oh, there he is!" Viva exclaimed, pointing.
Branch turned around and saw John Dory walking nearby... but he was not alone. With him were Demo and Synth... and the three of them looked like they were having a lot of fun.
"What the..." Branch started, surprised to see his oldest brother, someone even more awkward than him when it came to socializing, apparently getting along really well with two of the friendliest Trolls of their respective tribes.
"Oh, hey, Branch!" John Dory waved at him, as he, Demo and Synth arrived.
"Hey, John..." Branch said, a little awkwardly. "Sorry, if I left you without saying..."
"Oh, no sweat, little bro" John Dory replied. "Poppy and Viva told me you went to spend time with Floyd. I totally get it. It actually brings me a lot of joy seeing my two baby brothers spending time like old times. It makes me tear up a little bit..."
He went to wipe a tear.
"Anyway... I went to try more of that Hard Rock jello and I kind off took a conversation with Demo" John Dory said. "And we realized we have a lot in common."
"Yeah... I never knew that I would find a Pop troll that actually liked to rock on so hard!" Demo exclaimed. "And you should have seen him shredding an electric guitar. He turned it up into eleven!"
"Oh, I wouldn't say it was that awesome..." John Dory said, while blushing a little. "Either way... After that, I asked Demo about a cool place to have a good time and he took me to Techno Lagoon for a Techno rave... where I met Synth."
"Dude, I didn't know you have a bro like JT over here, Dubstep" Synth said. "This dude loves to... MEH-MEH-MEH-MEH-MEH-MEH... rave like no one! I guess it runs in the family."
"JT...?" Branch asked, awkwardly. "I think you mean... JD."
"No, I said it right" Synth replied.
"Oh, that's my rave name" John Dory explained to his youngest brother. "It stands for John Trance."
"That's adorable!" Poppy exclaimed. "You only know you are a true friend of the Techno tribe when they give you your own rave name."
"Oh, so... you also have one?" Viva asked.
"Yeah, but I'll tell you later" Poppy told. "Right now, I'm really invested in this."
"Wow... I mean... wow!" Branch exclaimed, still awkwardly, struggling to not look too stiff. "That's... amazing! You... getting along with other trolls... Apparently with more ease than me... And I missed it..."
"Don't worry, little bro, we have... Heck, an eternity to rock on or rave together. Now, we will have an ice cream together. I am curious to know the taste of an ice cream of mixed Rock and Techno flavors. See ya later, bro."
Having said that, John Dory, Demo and Synth started to move away, laughing and talking.
"Wow... who have thought of that?" Poppy asked, while supporting her arm on Branch's shoulder. "I expected John Dory to have some difficulty in getting along with other trolls after spending two decades away, but he is actually much better in socializing than you, Branch."
"Yeah... who knew..." Branch said, in a shaky tone.
Branch didn't know why, but there was something that really bothered him when he saw John Dory getting along with Demo and Synth. It was not like with Floyd and Creek. After all, he did love the fact they were getting along. But he just couldn't help but feeling a slight discomfort. Without realizing, he was already moving away and saying to Poppy and Viva:
"Sorry, I... forgot I had to do something... in my bunker..."
"In your bunker?" Poppy asked, not convinced. "Are you sure you're not going after JD?"
"What?!" Branch asked, with his high-pitched voice. "No... I mean, yes... Fine, I will... but it's not for a very complicated emotional reason."
Having said that, he hurried to go after his oldest brother, saying:
"Hey, guys, wait!"
Seeing him going away, Poppy couldn't help but sigh and say:
"Oh, boy... Here we go again..."