"The sky was the limit, now the stars where we're livin'. It's the vibe when we're in it, it'll blow your mind," Willow softly sang along to the record her brother Branch was playing as she looked through her papers. She had a purple butterfly dress while Branch had a sequined green tuxedo on.
It was Bridget's wedding and she was busy looking through any last-minute details while Branch was listening to old BroZone records, feeling nostalgic. The siblings looked up when they heard Poppy clear her throat. "Branch?"
"What?" Branch looked over. "Oh, hey." He grinned and lifted the needle off the record.
"Are you alright?" Poppy asked as the door closed behind her. "You're smiling and crying at the same time. It kind of looks like it's hurting your face."
"It does hurt my face," Branch admitted, rubbing his cheeks. "I guess I'm just missing my, um" He cleared his throat. "Grandma. I was just listening to some of her old records." He put the record back in its sleeve.
"BroZone?" Poppy asked excitedly as she looked over Branch's shoulder. "No way. I love BroZone." She pulled the record away from Branch.
"Really?" Branch grinned before frowning and trying to sound uninterested. "I mean...Really?"
"I didn't know you liked them too," Poppy looked at her boyfriend and tossed him the record back.
"I don't," Branch denied. "I'm actually hate-listening. It's a new thing. My grandma had very questionable taste. I mean, just look at how she decorated this place." He waved his hand around the pod. "I'm sorry, but there are some things that shouldn't be macramed. Am I right?"
Poppy looked at Willow, who was reading the papers in her hand. "What do you think of them, Willow?"
"What's that?" Willow looked up in confusion. She saw Branch point at the BroZone record. "Oh, Brozone. They're alright I guess." She shrugged, uninterested. "I'm more of a Kismet fan." She smirked when Branch snorted behind her.
Poppy watched with concern while Willow watched with resigned sadness as Branch put the record with the others. "Kind of seems like there's something you're not telling me," Poppy said with a soft smile.
"What?" Branch scoffed and grinned. "Be silly. No." He tried to turn away.
"Hey," Poppy moved over and grabbed his hands. "I need you to be real with me. It seems like more than a macrame issue." She chuckled. "If you're having feelings, you can talk about them with me."
"Okay," Branch sighed. "You're right." He opened his mouth before changing his mind. "Oh, hey," he chuckled. He looked at his wrist. "Look at the time. We're gonna be late to the royal wedding."
Willow looked at her watch and her eyes widened. They were late, well, she was anyway. "I gotta go." She ran in front of her brother and opened the door while they awkwardly talked about how weird it would be if they were getting married. She used her hair to swing over to the wedding venue to make sure everything was set up like King Gristle and future Queen Bridget wanted.
Willow grinned as she watched the balloons of Gristle and Bridget were blown up. "Those look great guys!" She called. "Let's get them to the venue, yeah?" The Snack Pack saluted and helped the Bergens with the balloons. "How's snacks?" She looked over to the snack table where various Trolls and Bergens were getting set up.
"Everything is going great up here!" Legsly grinned and waved down at Willow.
Willow nodded and checked snacks off the list. "Look at you, Tiny Diamond," She heard Guy Diamond. "You make the cutest little flower boy." Willow smiled at the auto-tune in Guy's voice. He was especially happy with his son.
"Come on, Daddy," Tiny sighed. Willow looked over and saw the Diamond child in his flower costume. "I'm not a baby anymore. I'm the cutest little flower man." He pulled the costume off in a huff.
"But, Tiny," Guy protested. "You're not even a year old yet."
"Tatum," Tiny frowned and tossed a petal away.
(Tiny)
Everybody treats me
Like I'm just a little baby
But I'm walking
And I'm talking on the daily
I'm rolling dice
Drinking coffee, getting wild
Daddy, I'm a man now
Not a little child
"Oh no," Willow said sternly. "You agreed to that costume like a month ago. A man keeps his promises. Are you going to back out of yours?" She raised an eyebrow as Tiny Diamond glared at her.
"Fine," Tiny pouted and pulled the costume back on. "But I'm not happy about it."
Willow crossed another item off her list. "I don't need you to be happy about it. I just need it done. This is Bridget and Gristle's wedding. You agreed to be a part of it." She smiled at the glitter Trolling. "When this is over, I'll see about getting you some ice cream. How's that sound?"
Guy Diamond smiled in relief when the Trolling agreed to the terms. "Thanks, Willow. I don't know how I was going to get him to agree to the suit."
"No worries," Willow grinned and patted her friend on the back. "What are friends for?"
"Come on, guys," Poppy jumped down and grinned. "It's time." Willow, Guy, and Tiny ran over to where the wedding was to take place.
(Everyone)
We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up, everybody, and sing
We are family
Willow stood to the side and pointed at the sky. "And cue the bride coming in, now." She watched as Bridget floated down with a balloon dress. "And umbrellas." The Bergens holding the umbrellas pulled them out in the shape of a heart before pulling them away to reveal their future queen in a pure white balloon dress with a pink pendant.
Willow watched with a smile as Poppy had a conversation with Bridget before pulling a needle out and popping the dress. The white balloon dress exploded in glitter to reveal a white jumpsuit similar to the one she wore on her and King Gristle's first date. She even had white skates.
"She's like a beautiful angel sent from heaven," King Gristle said with a smile. Willow backed away and sat at the front with Poppy and Branch.
"Hey, Bridget," A Bergen up front said with a smirk. "You still have time to run for it."
"Very funny, Aunt Smead," Gristle laughed sarcastically. "I'm, uh, so glad you could make it."
Willow smiled as she watched her two friends get married. They deserved this, she decided. After years of thinking they could never be happy, it was nice to know they found happiness in each other.
"Stop the wedding!" Of course, there was always going to be someone to ruin things.
Willow groaned in aggravation. "Who would be so stupid as to interrupt a royal wedding?" She growled as she stood up. She looked to the roof everyone was staring at to see a Troll standing on the top of the roof.
The Troll jumped down onto a wire and used his hair to get down. He then grabbed a balloon and safely made his way to the center of the aisle. "Sorry," The Troll said dusting himself off. "Is this bad timing?" Branch gasped in shock. "I'm just trying to find a troll named," He turned to see Branch standing in front of Willow and Poppy. "Baby Branch!" He ran up and was about to pull Branch into a hug.
"Oh no!" Willow pulled Branch behind her and held her hair out to keep the grown Troll away from her brother. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm just-"
"Interrupting one of the most important weddings of the year," Willow finished for him. "This is a royal wedding. You can't just show up, uninvited. Do you have an invitation?"
"Well, no," The Troll stuttered. "But I'm here to talk to my brother. It's important." He looked thoughtful. "Actually, I need to talk to you too."
"Then you can wait until after the wedding," Willow glared. "Whatever you need can be handled after the wedding. So you can either sit there and be quiet, or you can go to the Troll Tree and wait for us there. Your choice."
"Fine," The Troll muttered. "I'll wait at the Troll Tree." He looked at Branch. "You'll be there, right bro?" Willow blinked in surprise. This was one of their brothers?
"You're Branch and Willow's brother?" Poppy gasped in surprise. "I didn't know they had more family!"
"Queen Poppy, please!" Willow groaned exasperated.
"Right," Poppy said, sheepish. "Queen time." She looked at the brother. "We will meet you at the Troll Tree in two hours. Branch will be there, don't worry."
"Yeah, I'll be there," Branch grimaced. "I don't like it, but I'll be there."
Willow watched as her newly recognized big brother walked down the aisle and made it to the Troll Tree. "Sorry about all that, King Gristle, Queen Bridget. Please, carry on." She turned to Branch. "Are you okay?" She asked softly.
"Yeah," Branch muttered in a low tone. "I just wasn't expecting John Dory of all Trolls to show up."
Willow smiled and pulled her brother into a hug as they watched their Bergen friends exchange vows. "Don't worry, bro. I'll be there so you won't have to talk to him alone."
The ceremony didn't last nearly as long as either Branch or Willow had hoped. They soon found their way to the Troll Tree after waving goodbye to the newly married Bergen royalty. "So you remember when I said you should open up to me and be real?" Poppy asked Branch as they walked over to the Troll Tree. "You could've started by telling me you had a secret brother." She looked at Willow. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Don't ask me," Willow snorted. "I never met the guy. He left before I hatched. Same with the others."
"There are others?!" Willow winced at the excited tone in Poppy's voice. "How many brothers do you have?"
"I have one brother," Willow said, pointing at Branch. "He's the only one I've ever known. But Branch counts them all, so he has four." She stopped the other two and looked at Poppy. "I'm gonna need you to be Queen Poppy right now, alright? Whatever this guy is here for, I don't think it's a family reunion." She frowned. "If it was, don't you think he would have been here sooner?"
Poppy frowned in concern at what Willow was suggesting. "How long ago did they leave?"
"Twenty-six years," Branch muttered before he started walking again. "Two days before Willow hatched."
"So they left you, with a baby and your grandma," Poppy muttered sadly. She pulled her boyfriend into a hug. "I can see why you're not too enthusiastic about meeting him again. But do you think you'd be willing to hear him out?"
Branch sighed. "Yeah, I guess I can do that." He forced a grin on his face. "Let's see what John Dory wants."
"John Dory?" Poppy froze before grinning. "I thought he looked familiar!" He used to be part of BroZone!" She looked a the sibling duo in front of her. "Your brothers are a part of Brozone?"
"They were," Willow nodded rolling her eyes. "They broke up shortly after Branch joined." She had heard the story of how the band broke up after failing the 'Perfect Family Harmony' too many times. Many of the Trolls during their Tree days were huge gossips.
"You were in the band?" Poppy asked Branch excited. They were climbing the tree and making it to their grandma's old pod.
"Yeah," Branch rolled his eyes. "Thanks, sis." Willow shrugged and maneuvered her way to the pod. "They called me Bitty B."
"But Bitty B had glasses," Poppy said, confused.
"It was a costume," Willow said opening the pod door. "He didn't actually need glasses."
"That makes sense," Poppy muttered. She looked at the Troll sitting on the couch looking at a scrapbook. He looked...stressed. "Alright," She said, getting the Troll's attention. "You're John Dory right? Of Brozone?" John Dory nodded. "It's nice to meet you," She smiled. "I'm Queen Poppy. Branch's girlfriend."
"And I'm Willow," Willow introduced herself. "You already know Branch." Branch crossed his arms.
"Nice to finally meet you," John Dory said with a smile. "I'm your oldest brother, John Dory." He opened his arms to hug her before Branch spoke up.
"No, you used to be our brother," Branch snapped. "Until you and everyone else walked out on us and never came back."
"That's not fair, Branch," John Dory frowned and lowered his arms. "I did come back, but no one was there." He walked over to his youngest brother. "It-it wasn't until I heard about you two saving the world from the rock apocalypse that I realized you were even still alive. And that we have a baby sister!" He reached his arm and pulled Willow into a hug.
Willow's eyes widened and she pulled herself out of his arms. "No touching," She warned with a glare. "I still don't know you."
"Oh, that's-that's so sweet," Branch said mockingly. He looked at his sister. "He realized we were alive. Twenty-six years too late!"
"Branch," Poppy said soothingly while grabbing his arm. "You said you'd hear him out."
Branch sighed and turned to his girlfriend. "You're right." He faced his oldest brother. "What do you want?"
John Dory sighed and looked at his siblings. "Branch, Willow, I'm gonna be straight with you. I need something. It's about Floyd. He's in danger.
"What do you mean?" Branch asked, suddenly worried. Willow's brow furrowed. A Troll was in danger?
"I hadn't heard from him since the band broke up," John Dory admitted. "Until I got a letter from him." He showed the siblings the letter.
"Dear John Dory, I'm being held against my will by superstars Velvet and Veneer. Come to Mount Rageous at once and bring our brothers!" Willow read the note out loud. "It's signed, Floyd, the Sensitive One." She raised her eyebrow at the older Troll. "This is clearly a trap."
"I know that now," John Dory said, exasperated. "I didn't know where any of you were, so I went to Mount Rageous alone. I found where this Velvet and Veneer were performing that night. And there was Floyd." He looked at the younger siblings desperately. "They've got him trapped in a diamond bottle and have been draining him of his talent." He sighed. "And the only thing we know of that can break diamond is the"
"Perfect family harmony," Branch finished, disgusted. He laughed bitterly. "How ironic is it that the thing that tore our family apart is the one thing that can save it?"
"We'll do it," Willow said, determined.
"Uh, Willow," Branch looked at her, shocked. "Can I talk to you?" Willow nodded and let Branch pull her to the side. "What are you doing?"
"Branch, ignore the fact that he's your brother," Willow sighed. "This is a Troll in danger. And he's a Pop Troll. I can't just leave a Pop Troll to be drained of his life force if I know it's happening. And I know you can't either."
Branch sighed. "You're right," he admitted. "And besides, if the Perfect Family Harmony doesn't work out, we can at least get him out of there. We could take him to the Funk Trolls and see if they can figure it out."
"That's the spirit," Willow smiled and pulled him in for a hug. She turned to John Dory. "Alright, we're in. Let's go save Floyd.
"Yes!" John Dory called out in victory. He led the group out of the pod and let out a sharp whistle.
Willow frowned when the ground began to shake as they made it to the bottom of the tree. "What is happening?"
"That's just our ride," John Dory grinned. He ruffled Willow's hair when she got close enough. "You're gonna love her."
Willow narrowed her eyes and fixed her hair when an armadillo bus exploded out of the ground. Her eyes widened and she ran up to the bus. "She's adorable!" She started petting the bus's face. "What's her name?"
"This is Rhonda," John Dory leaned against his bus with a smirk. "She's been with me a long time. Ain't she a beaut?"
"She's really something," Branch smiled sheepishly as the bus licked Poppy.
Poppy grinned. "I guess she likes me?"
"Yeah she does," John Dory patted the bus on the face. "That, or she's marking you as prey." He smirked. "Can never quite tell with Rhonda."
Willow smiled as they walked into Rhonda. "You guys go change out of your party clothes. I know you brought your regular outfits with you."
Branch nodded. "Did you need to change?"
Willow shook her head and pulled her necklaces out of her hair. "I just need to put these back on." She smiled. "Didn't want them to get lost during the wedding." She pointed at the oldest brother. "I'll keep him occupied for a little while."
"Thanks," Branch smiled in relief. The couple made their way to the back and took turns changing into their normal clothes.
"So," John Dory said, standing by Willow. "How did you end up with the name Willow?"
"Is that what you really want to ask?" Willow asked, her eyebrow raised. She put on the necklace Trollex had given her as well as the black choker with a heart on it Barb had got her on their last date.
"I'm just curious," The Troll defended. "I had always considered calling our little sister Juniper if we ever had one. Never imagined Willow."
"Branch named me," Willow said, indifferent. "He was the first face I saw when I hatched. I guess he became pretty attached to the sibling that wasn't going to leave him."
"You know, I was serious when I said I came back," John Dory said, sitting down. "I thought everyone had died. I wasn't even sure if you had been able to hatch. You were so young and I never even got to meet you."
"I believe you," Willow sighed. "Branch was five when we left the Troll Tree. You should have come home sooner."
"Yeah," John Dory nodded in thought. "I guess I should have." He stood up and walked over to the controls and started steering.
"Alright," Branch said when he and Poppy were done getting dressed. Willow was sitting on the couch as John Dory stood by the stove."Operation Family Harmony is on and poppin'!" He looked at Poppy who was staring over his shoulder. "What?"
"Oh, nothing," Poppy grinned, holding a cup of hot chocolate. "If I didn't know any better, I'd-I'd almost say you were excited."
"Uh," Branch grinned, nervous. "It has nothing to do with my brothers."
The Trolls looked up when the speaker came to life. "All right. All right. Tiny, Branch, Poppy, Willow, and this random dude." Willow frowned and stood up at the voice. Oh no, not this. "On another musical adventure filled with heart, hilarity, and happiness."
"Tiny!" Poppy grinned. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, Aunt Poppy, for your information, I am no longer a baby," Tiny Diamond informed with a smile. "I am a big boy now. And I am on a man-sized rite of passage to learn lessons of life, courage, and maybe love."
"Uh, should we be letting a baby drive?" John Dory asked, concerned.
"Not even a little bit," Willow frowned. "Tiny, pull over."
"Not to worry, Aunt Willow," Tiny said with a smirk. "I have procured my learner's permit." He pulled out a permit and showed it to them.
"Who is Adulty McManface?" Poppy asked, curious.
"The better question is: Are you a narc?" Tiny asked, a stern look on his face.
"Enough chitchat, Adulty McManface," John Dory smiled. "Step on it!"
"We are not letting Tiny drive," Willow insisted.
John Dory laughed and nudged Willow away from the driver's seat. "You need to relax, baby sister," Willow growled at the name. "Let the kid drive. Rhonda's doing the work anyway. She won't let us crash."
"Okay, guys," Branch said, patting Willow's fuming face. "Where was I? We got to find our brothers and fast. But don't worry, old Branch has got it handled." He turned the light on and showed his clue board. "All we have to do is follow the clues."
Willow rolled her eyes as Poppy gushed over their old band outfits. She decided to lie down on the couch and waited for them to finish. She chuckled when she heard Poppy say she needed wallet-sized pictures of Baby Branch with a perm.
"Listen, baby brother, we don't need your little board to find Spruce," Willow rolled her eyes at John Dory's dismissive tone at Branch's clue board, getting up at Branch's defensive 'It's not little.' "Because I got this," She watched as he pulled a postcard out of his hair and handed it to Branch.
"A postcard that says, 'Wish you were here?'" Branch looked at his oldest brother, incredulous. "Seriously?" He looked at his sister. "Hey, Willow. Come look at this." She tilted her head curiously and grabbed the postcard from Branch. "This look familiar to you?"
Willow snorted and looked at John Dory with a raised eyebrow. "A postcard from Vacay Island? It's not even signed. What makes you think he's there?"
"It's definitely Spruce," John Dory insisted. "I mean, he's the only one I know who talks that way."
"So what?" Willow handed the postcard back to him. "You think he's a regular there? Because I've been there a bunch of times and I've never seen a Troll there by the name of Spruce."
"Even if he's not there, we should be able to find a clue," Poppy offered. "You could ask one of your friends there if they've seen him."
"Yeah," Willow sighed. "Bruce might know. It's almost his job to know everybody that stays there by name." She nodded. "I'll go tell Tiny where to go." She shook her head. "Can't believe I'm letting a baby drive," she muttered to herself before standing by Tiny. "If anything happens to you, your dad is going to kill us both," she warned before directing Tiny on what roads to take. She looked at Branch who walked up with the postcard. "Keep him on track, will you, Branch?" Branch nodded and Willow went back to the couch.
"Are you excited to be going to Vacay Island?" Poppy asked Willow with a grin.
"Not really," Willow admitted with a frown. "I'm used to going there for relaxing, and times of leisure. This is not how I wanted to introduce you guys to Vacay Island."
Poppy nodded and sat beside her friend. "I can't imagine how overwhelming this must be for you. Branch is having a hard time, and he actually knew your brothers."
Willow shrugged, indifferent. "I think that's making this all easier for me," she admitted. "I have no real expectations for this trip. I think Branch is setting himself up for heartbreak, though." She shook her head and forced a grin on her face. "Best not to think about that for now." She stood up and looked out the window. "First stop, Vacay Island."
It's the start of a new adventure! And of course, Willow is not enthusiastic, but she'll go. "No Troll Left Behind" and all that. I'm looking forward to her interaction with Bruce in the next chapter. Thank you for reading everybody! I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as possible.
