AN: Just realized that I didn't give enough attention to Velvet and Veneer. It's inevitable, though I have been more focused on the Trolls, so sorry for any Velvet and Veneer fans wanting me to look into them. After implying that they are more ruthless in the last chapter, I'll just leave it ambiguous on whether Floyd would tell everyone about Veneer and what he sees between him and his sister. It would be already out of the open as he's free to move around.
Chapter 13 - The Comeback
How could one small moment be worth it?
Taking the lead, Branch recognized that it was all on him, no longer the young and passive Bitty B. It felt foreign to him. It was the first time he got to be the leader for BroZone, for his family. If it was up to him, he would consider first what would be safe for all of them…
So far, from what he saw, they were all safe and sound with everything they needed without each other. But if together, it was a matter of understanding what they could do best rather than risking themselves for perfection. Some things didn't feel the same when on their own.
Branch knew that and he used that feeling to inspire himself.
[Better Place - Family Harmony Version]
[0:00]
So, he sang from the heart.
[0:10]
He could hear his brothers harmonizing from behind. He looked over his shoulders. They appeared so calm. Though, the three brothers were even surprised by the music he chose.
Fitting for Branch, only their raw vocals were the primary focus. It wasn't the grand beats, the infectious synths or the appearance that made up this song. The melody came from what they could vocalize and express, something they could understand. It allowed Branch's soulful singing to be heard and felt.
If that wasn't enough, he gazed around the open space as if close to drifting into his daydream.
[0:15]
The next words he sang felt true. As he dwelled upon the words slowly coming to mind, his expression softened in a distant wondering what things could be in the past. These words he wished he said to his brothers before.
From the sidelines, close to joining in, Poppy and Trollex stepped closer to the scene. While not far in the back, Barb, Guy Diamond and Tiny Diamond stood in their spots, a little stunned by the new switch in BroZone's sound. As for Viva, after not hearing their music for a long time, she could only wonder the angle BroZone would be taking in achieving the Perfect Family Harmony.
Proving them that it was possible, all four brothers eventually came together for one-line formation. Still stuck in their diamond cages, John Dory, Bruce and Clay simply rolled around until they were next to their youngest brother.
For some reason, what they were doing was different from before. Not because they looked and acted differently, but their emotions and quiet determination became clearer.
[0:22]
All four stopped in their places before pointing their eyes towards Velvet and Veneer. Everybody watching through the screens even felt chills in their spines. These narrowed, frosty blue eyes suddenly matched each other, a crescendo already in play.
That was when the four brothers began dancing. But not in the usual way as charming idols. With Branch leading them, all four performed a slower and more sophisticated choreography. More attention was paid to their movements and more detail was paid to their intentions in gestures.
To John Dory's surprise, he could keep up with no missed moves. Or at least from what he could tell. But without feeling too worried about his movements, he let his self-conscious thinking guide him in understanding what his brothers were doing. No worry if he was falling behind. Just being in the flow with his brothers to learn closely.
'Closely' was the word.
At one point, in a straight line, they all moved their arms around as if connected. A previous move they did when younger. The slow pacing made their movements smoother than shaky or rigid. In this case, they did it by glancing at each other to signal who would be next. A reminder that they could carry the torch one by one.
[0:35]
Their dancing would seem like it was becoming perfect, but that wasn't on their minds. All four brothers were focused on Floyd. Focused on each other. And it was this chemistry that slowly helped them get into the right rhythm, mixing things up if possible.
As the beat gradually sped up, Branch and John Dory spun around.
Clay and Bruce only waited for a moment before doing a spin on the second beat.
And seeing this, John Dory was surprised to see how waiting for a while could make something THIS cool and coordinated.
[0:43]
They all made one last spin together before the familiar uplifting instruments kicked in.
Mixing BroZone's signature bouncy dance with Branch's interest in contemporary dance, all four brothers lost themselves in their new harmony. Already different, they embraced it with open arms. John Dory, Bruce and Clay were literally rolling around Branch as they sang and danced, all of them sharing the spotlight.
Branch didn't even need to stay in the center as the leader. He didn't mind joining his brothers spinning around, sharing their joy in the melody. A new adrenaline shot went through everybody as they watched the reunited BroZone having fun with no rehearsals or second thoughts. Their bright smiles made them more endearing than ever.
All four brothers then spun around before pointing to each other. Initially, they tried looking smug. However, the shared love growing between them dropped the charming looks, replacing them with warm smiles. This feeling empowered them throughout their song, making their moves and vocals meaningful and fluid.
Of course, the crowd was becoming excited.
Many Mount Rageons, watching from the sidelines, were beginning to cheer on. All of them watched the brothers with childlike awe.
[1:00]
It wasn't over from there. All four brothers separated to reach their friends.
Branch towards Poppy with a loving look…
John Dory towards Trollex with a more welcoming look…
Bruce towards Guy Diamond and Barb with the admiration of a fanboy…
Clay towards Viva with a forgiving and sympathetic look…
And the people they reached out to wouldn't need to take their hands as they were already happy to jump right in, forgiving or forgetting all the struggles that happened in the last two days. Before long, all the Trolls sang and danced together in one big harmony.
The found family of the night became the stars of Mount Rageous, with their eyes only on each other. With the extended choir, it turned the song into a beautiful, diverse play for them. The new performers never hesitated to try new music, but the groovy yet wholesome tone set allowed all to adapt easily.
For once, Trollex forgot about using his mini turntable. Instead, rather than being the DJ, he became an extra singer in the song. And he didn't need to know certain dance moves as the four brothers of BroZone returned to their carefree spinning on the stage. He hovered next to Branch for a few seconds and the two shared a brotherly smile.
Viva never felt THIS happy. Years of keeping herself locked up left her feeling restrained and unsure of how she should express herself. But now, with Poppy nearby, Viva thought she was dreaming as she harmonized and danced with her sister with no misstep. She couldn't help giving her as she followed Poppy's consistent cheeriness in song.
Even if she wasn't singing, Barb wanted to use her guitar again. It sounded different. Her strumming didn't overshadow the current vocals and instrumentals. In fact, the riffs she played were humble and seemingly fitted the music playing in the background. It helped that Crimp was playing the ukulele in the background and she wasn't out of touch, too!
As Barb played along, Guy Diamond used his strength to steer their diamond prison around. And somehow, Tiny Diamond managed to sit on top. While the two only provided autotuned background vocals, that didn't stop them from having fun to add some flair and movement behind BroZone. It was a party for all, no question.
Eventually, Branch pulled Poppy and Viva together on a crazy ring around the rosie. Neither of the three could tell whether things were truly speeding up. What mattered was keeping the familial feeling burning all night and it maintained their growing confidence. To their surprise, this feeling started to make them feel stronger.
[1:17]
A glow surrounded the trio before it spread to the other Trolls. To their surprise, they were literally flying upwards. Even if they couldn't reach space, they knew this meant one thing. And the glow around their bodies was a magnificent and bubbly technicolor.
John Dory nearly stopped singing, recognizing what this was. The Perfect Family Harmony!
And it felt…really good. Like there was nothing wrong with them at all.
They continued singing their hearts out, feeling confident they would eventually save Floyd. Eventually, they saw the remaining diamond pocket on the stunned Veneer shaking before it pulled itself out from her shoulder pad.
Floyd was out! But there was only one more thing left to do.
[1:33]
Branch, John Dory, Bruce and Clay floated higher than the others already celebrating their victory. The four brothers could see the approaching blurred face of Floyd as his diamond cage hovered towards them. As they got closer, they could hear Floyd's quiet hums as he slowly regained energy. All five brothers could feel each other, indestructible.
They could see each other. Nothing would stop them from being who they wanted to be even after twenty years. Returning to their roots yet they discovered a few new things to make a lovely song like this. Seizing this very moment, Branch, John Dory, Bruce and Clay held their hands high as they delivered the final note for the song.
[1:42 - End of Song]
Already riding on the high, the Perfect Family Harmony reached its peak and the glow surrounding all the Trolls burst into a cold, loud and bright explosion.
Every civilian in the area felt the boom travelling throughout Mount Rageous. The wholesome feeling reached them, sparking a smile or a sense of familial love they wouldn't usually want to admit. Meanwhile, Velvet and Veneer, slow to recognizing this feeling, were blown off their feet and fell off the pedestal they placed themselves on.
Purple diamond pieces scattered around in the air, freeing all the Trolls stuck in their cages. Neutralized and handled, the shards harmlessly floated away before finally dropping into the white kinetic ocean surrounding the yacht.
The glow was soon gone from every Troll, but it still remained on Floyd's body.
The Perfect Family Harmony, the unlocked sensation he had been searching for his entire life, kept Floyd safe and gently carried him down towards the yacht below. His body was still transparent, but splotches of color were beginning to reappear. His eyes were slowly opening, enlightened by the powers his brothers unlocked.
He looked like he could make it.
Not only was he still alive, but his growing smile opened as he hummed a little to himself.
[Lonely People - Troye Sivan]
A familiar song played through his head. A memory clicked in his head, growing less foggier. He remembered Crimp trying to stay by his side, playing her ukulele for comfort. A song he sang along, learning from her side.
He could sing it to himself even without the guitar riffs to guide him.
His voice was still raspy and empty, recovering from the soul-sucking diamond. In a way, he didn't know if he wanted to spit it out. Returning to the hardest memories when with his brothers might have made his voice sound strained.
Just thinking back to when his world fell apart, mainly when he played a part.
Floyd's voice trembled. His death was nearly a close one. Him being a goner would have cemented how much he wasted and overlooked in his attempts to make things right. As his emotions slowly returned to him, he could feel himself ready to break.
But then, there was relief. Overwhelming relief and gratitude for his brothers. Despite everything, they were able to return here to sing with him. Floyd thought it might be for one last time, but it wasn't. And his acknowledgement of that made his smile wider and his voice to be more clear and stronger.
He finally landed on his feet and Branch immediately rushed over to him. Floyd wasn't sure if he could stand, but it was nice for his younger brother to hold him up by his arms. It became a physical reminder that no matter the challenges, they would be alright in the end. Floyd felt like they finally found their voices after struggling to figure things out for a long time.
And seeing their older brothers ahead, Floyd felt his heart finally singing loud and proud.
With a finishing touch to his small song, Floyd couldn't hold back his chuckling and tearing up, his eyes becoming watery.
[End of Song]
The color returned to Floyd's face, no longer looking like jelly.
"Floyd!" cried his brothers in restored hope.
John Dory, Bruce and Clay nearly dogpiled their younger brothers, bringing them to a close hug. Relieved and healed, all five brothers savored the warmth between them. For his part, Branch was starting to join Floyd's slightly delirious laughter of joy. None of them weren't sure if any tensions between them were still around, but their embrace had no pain.
The brothers eventually separated to give the standing (and trembling) Floyd some space.
"You didn't just sing that little ditty to look cool, did you?" asked Bruce teasingly.
"Are you OK?" asked John Dory, concerned.
"I'm fine! I'm…" Floyd stopped, checking on how he was feeling. Then, he slowly sat down. "I'm good, thank you."
Seeing how shaky his younger brother was, Clay guffawed. "You need to lie down for a while."
"Yeah, I-I need to lie down!" squealed Floyd.
The pink-haired Troll fell backwards and rested on the floor. He wasn't dying, but just lacking rest. Still, he kept a relaxed smile on his face.
"He's alive!" shouted Poppy, ecstatic.
"He's OK!" agreed Trollex, pumping his fists in the air.
All around them, the numerous Mount Rageons watching cheered loudly. Even louder than their previous applause for Velvet and Veneer. While they were a little muddled at first with the Trolls seemingly butting in, they were regardlessly happy for Floyd's rescue and safety. It helped that they saw an excellent performance out of love rather than for show.
Poppy couldn't stop jumping up and down, elated for the survival of Branch's brother. For an additional bonus, it looked like she was right; Branch managed to get his family back, after all! She kept shaking Viva's shoulder, who was also pleased with this. The latter was trying to hold back tears, glad that Clay could get his brother back, too.
Trollex was grinning from ear to ear, feeling accomplished in completing this good deed.
Barb was cheering alongside the loud crowd, proud of how far they come.
Guy Diamond was also whooping, unable to stop himself in his happy scream. Tiny Diamond perched on his father's shoulders, but his wide eyes were on the sweet moment between the five brothers. His pupils dilated as he witnessed the brothers seemingly making things up, all to ensure each other's safety.
It didn't even hurt that all five brothers were adults. It wouldn't be a lie that they were still messes, but from what Tiny Diamond saw, it was never too late to clean up a mess, even when one became older.
Something about this felt…refreshing.
Tiny Diamond smiled slightly. It wasn't a big one, but it was gradually growing.
The same couldn't be said for Velvet and Veneer. The former scowled and attempted to march forward, only to be held back by the latter.
Velvet snapped her head to her brother. However, Veneer had something else on his mind.
"Listen up, Mount Rageons!" he shouted to the cameras flying around them. "I…I have to say something and you're all probably confused. The truth is: we are…"
To ensure that everybody could hear them, Veneer inhaled all the breath he could before he said the following words in a loud, over-the-top confession of remorse and stress.
"FRAUDS!"
Every Mount Rageons gasped in horror, some of them screaming.
All the Trolls turned to the terrible duo. In particular, Floyd and John Dory gasped as well. This wasn't what they were expecting!
But Veneer was sincere in his confession. He drooped forwards in guilt and his hairdo drooped as a result of him letting go off his pride.
"And we've been literally torturing and sucking the life out of little trolls for a year and a half," he admitted. "Numbers? Ten trolls before Floyd Dory of BroZone. We just wanted to be famous." He paused before scrunching his face up in self-disgust. "MY sister wanted to be famous. I also thought I wanted that and couldn't bring myself to stand up to her."
Velvet's face turned a dark shade of red. "What are you doing?!"
Veneer gave a nasty glare at her, matching the one sported by BroZone earlier. "You asked me to change anyway."
Velvet sputtered as her face twisted in a mixture of real and deceitful expressions. "Veneer, it's like I don't even know who you are! What got into you?"
Veneer crunched up his fists. "Perhaps pressure. But I just realize that THIS is not the way for glory, family or not."
The satisfied Barb grinned a little. It wasn't every day that you would see monsters confessing their worst mistakes and crimes. She did it differently, but Veneer surprisingly got guts after hearing a lot of smack surrounding him. Even if Veneer could be bluffing in his confession.
Why she suddenly felt proud of this? Maybe it was the thought that they didn't need to do anything to hold the two siblings back from doing anything else. It looked like they were gonna focus that deadly energy onto each other.
Before either of the two siblings could argue back, Crimp suddenly jumped into their arms and slapped handcuffs on them.
Velvet was gobsmacked. "Huh? Crimp, what are you doing?!"
"I was just saying I had a change of heart," said Veneer, confused.
Crimp looked too giddy to arrest the duo. "You also engaged in trollnapping, troll torture, fraud, domestic abuse, murder and, it's just in, tax evasion!" She then lifted her own hands, somehow already having handcuffs on her wrists. "Oh, and since I'm an associate, I'll have to…"
Before she could finish, two security officers stepped onto the yacht. Joining them were the recovered Bridget, Gristle and Rhonda.
"Ms. Crimp," said one of the officers. "We've actually heard from your brother regarding your situation."
Crimp's first response was to wince. It was justified when Velvet raised her voice.
"Wait, you did what?!" shouted Velvet, angered.
"He actually said he knows how to get you out of this," offered the security officer. "Though, it doesn't seem like Velvet and Veneer have any defendants."
Crimp and Veneer glanced at each other. They had been in this terrible project for too long. It was also a matter of time when Crimp could escape just by asking for outside help. Despite the steaming Velvet behind them, both Crimp and Veneer looked innocent and understanding of their circumstances.
Veneer shrugged coolly. "Fair enough. Prison, it is, for us!"
"Wait, what?!" exasperated Velvet, dismayed. "No fair!"
One officer immediately pulled the terrible duo away by their handcuffed wrists while the other took the handcuffs off Crimp.
"Wow!" said Crimp, a little dazzled. "This is liberating!"
Indeed, it was. Unable to do anything else, Velvet could only pout as she was escorted off the yacht, right onto the loser police ship she dreaded. Veneer was taking a while to get onto it. It looked like he might have second thoughts about it…
This wasn't the case, however. He looked over his shoulder to find Bridget, Gristle and Rhonda approaching their Trolls friends, earning the adorable squeak of Poppy. He also saw the relaxed Floyd still lying on the floor, surrounded by his brothers. The side effects of the Heartbeat Diamond were still present, but Floyd's body was looking less transparent.
His hair was even returning to a healthy pink.
Seeing this caught Veneer by the throat. He…didn't want to leave Floyd just yet.
Floyd even seemed to notice. "Um, Veneer?"
The security officer was merciful enough to let Veneer hear some final words from his former victim. Though, when Veneer came forwards, the many Trolls around Floyd froze in anticipation. The taller Bridget and Gristle just glared back at the convicted felon. Rhonda immediately came in front, barking at Veneer.
"Don't come close to them," growled Gristle.
"It's alright, dude," reassured Floyd. "I want to…"
He fixed his eyes back onto Veneer. For a moment, Veneer didn't look so smarmy or proud of himself. He didn't even look like a monster. He seemed…a little scared and worried. The same look you would make whenever you upset a friend. Floyd's eyes softened and sparkled a little, touched with his neverending empathy for others.
All eyes glanced at Floyd. Both of them must have talked for a while.
Finally, Floyd was able to find the words to say despite Veneer's apologetic look. "I just want to say that I knew you had a good heart, Veneer."
Veneer cracked a brief, emotionless smile. "You didn't."
Floyd chuckled a little. "You know, I could be your lawyer if you need your sentence to be dropped."
Veneer scoffed a little in a bratty way. "You're drunk or something."
"No, I'm not drunk!"
Veneer scoffed again, but it sounded like a genuine laugh.
"Tempting, but no," shot down Veneer gently. He straightened up his body, no longer looking pitiful. It made him ready to take responsibility. "It's my choice from the beginning. This has to end, somehow."
"Yeah, but it wouldn't hurt to start again?" asked Floyd innocently.
Veneer shrugged with a slight smile. "Well, I think I want to start on something else first. But thank you, Floyd! You don't have to!"
With the patch stitched between the two, Veneer already felt good about moving on while Floyd watched on with approval for his decision. Cameras still flew around, capturing Veneer's finest moment. However, it didn't seem like Veneer cared at all. He just happily bounced around, did a heel click and dunked himself into the security ship.
Where her sister was currently struggling against the officer holding her wrists tight and the cameras flashing over her face.
"Ugh, this is degrading!" she rambled on obnoxiously. "Oh, wait, how many likes are we getting? Does my hair still look good? Ow! Stop it! I don't like it when you touch me like this!"
Judging by the silence remaining on the yacht, nobody really knew how to respond to THIS.
That was until the suspicious John Dory cleared his throat.
"Um, Floyd, are you considering to help Veneer?" he asked worriedly.
"Please, don't," said Viva immediately.
Floyd shrugged, sitting up. "Well, there are a lot of broken hearts and my still bleeding heart wants to fix them."
Branch made a noise that sounded like a mixture of an annoyed moan and a pleased sigh, trying his best to hide his smile. Both John Dory and Bruce stared at each other before they nonchalantly shrugged in unison.
Of course, Floyd would say and propose something like this.
Meanwhile, Bruce pumped his fist in the air. "I knew it! I knew that Velvet roped Veneer in! Wait, am I acting like one of my kids now?
At least Velvet got her just desserts, everybody would agree.
Security was high and alert. The Lifer Award Ceremony was cut short by the awkwardness and unfortunate circumstances of enabling Velvet's and Veneer's crimes. But after seeing what the terrible duo did, the entire Mount Rageous was cool with cancelling the ceremony until further notice.
And as the party-loving Mount Rageons, they preferred to carry on by continuing their parties somewhere else.
Bridget tried saying otherwise, but Floyd convinced everyone to relax for the night. Due to being the closest with the Mount Rageons, he knew that none of them would engage in Trollnapping. Thus, he brought the entire rescue party to a quiet, calm club.
Well, as quiet and calm as it could be, but that was only when you compare it to other clubs and theatres in Mount Rageous. The club wasn't even that bad and didn't deter anybody.
The club was set in a low, dark-light room considerably small, such as a bar, with the hanging disco ball seemingly being the only source of exciting lights. Many Mount Rageons were already dancing on the dance floor, but half of them surprisingly opted to settle with sitting and drinking. The soft music was still upbeat, inviting anyone to get up for an impromptu line dance. Additionally, there was a nice touch of lavender perfume floating around, soothing everyone staying here.
At first, the Trolls were worried that it might make things uncomfortable.
However, the perfume seemed to only make Floyd calmer despite being trapped in a perfume bottle for two months.
Evidently, he was more than happy to lie down with his limbs spread out on the table they rested at, loving the open space. The calm nature of the club helped him feel at peace. And thus, the rest of the Trolls decided to relax with him, sitting by while watching the Mount Rageons dance all night.
Well, not all of them could relax after one night of high stress and passion.
With the paths and acknowledgements they made, Branch and Poppy already crossed over the bridge they were stuck on for a while, sealing it with their first kiss. The first one got everybody cheering in surprise and awe, loving how they seemed to engage with the romantic feeling between them. Now, it was official that they were head over heels.
Poppy couldn't stop kissing Branch as they rolled around with giggles and smooches.
"Down, girl!" shouted Branch in an endless giggle, clutching his stomach. "Down!"
Poppy finally stopped with a childlike pout. "C'mon, Branch! We've already crossed the bridge!"
"I know, I know," reassured Branch, sitting back up. "I still love you, too."
The two of them shared one last quick kiss with their lips, sharing a budding smile.
Trollex shouldn't be surprised since he was there to see Poppy ultimately helping Branch out. It became the evidence he needed that nothing could tie them down from doing anything. Poppy did manage to get to the other side to understand her beloved partner better and seeing this progress was sweet.
Barb noticed the distant look on Trollex. "What's the purpose of your face?"
Trollex turned to her. "Nothing. Just in deep thought."
Barb looked back at Poppy and she smiled. "Guess that she was able to learn, too. Reminds you a little of you and your sweetheart?"
"Love comes in different ways," admitted Trollex, shrugging. "It's just needing to…" He hummed, remembering back from before. "Bite the dust together, I think."
It wasn't merely what one would only think. Barb's eyes glowed, a fire reignited. She knew this as much as Trollex would think.
She took a moment to look around. Floyd was still lying on the table, now randomly pretending to make snow angels. Bruce and Guy Diamond had some good rapport, sometimes patting the nearby Tiny Diamond. John Dory was uncharacteristically quiet and his eyes were pointed downwards, stuck in his own thoughts.
Right behind them, Clay held onto Viva's hand as she anxiously scanned the entire place. Her blonde hair was twirling around to form an uneasy yet careful whirlwind. Her movements were smooth as she turned around, but Viva was visibly hesitant anxious. However, that anxiety faded whenever she looked back at Clay's welcoming smile.
It took her a few seconds to absorb the chill vibe of the club, the friendliness amongst the Mount Rageons, the cool colors soothing everyone. A smile finally formed on her face, no longer fearing her surroundings.
"Never thought we get to spend the time here," blurted out Barb. "Guess that this really is a vacation."
Her words seemed to become the main attraction as most of the Trolls turned to her for their own comments.
"I did promise that we could stay up all night here!" said Bruce proudly.
"If you have enough cash to help us out," muttered John Dory sheepishly.
"Though, the place is pretty much free for anyone," said Floyd, sitting up. "Mount Rageous may look crazy on the outside, but on the inside, there's always a soft spot."
Floyd's tender eyes savored the moment before them. They were facing the dance floor AND they saw Bridget and Gristle tearing things up with their own dance. Best honeymoon ever! The two Bergens happily kept their eyes on each other as they spun around like they did on their first date. The nearby dancers didn't mind their presence. They were cheering away for the extra pair joining them in their dance.
Even though Floyd never got to talk to the Bergens personally, he felt they could find happiness one day. He had his own feelings to sort through, but…all in all, he loved this scene over the past conflicts he endured.
As those standing revelled in their celebration, the recovered Floyd slowly turned to Barb and Trollex, who watched Bridget's and Gristle's dance. To Floyd's surprise, they looked less like leaders and more like children.
"You must be royalty of the Rock Trolls and Techno Trolls," said Floyd. "I might have heard a little about you during my imprisonment."
Barb raised an eyebrow. "You mean the World Tour?"
"Wait, there was a World Tour?"
Unbeknownst to Floyd, Branch was slowly shaking his head towards Barb. This wasn't the time to tell him about THAT.
"…we'll get there soon enough," said Trollex, grinning widely.
Unbeknownst to the rest of them, Floyd raised his eyebrow, contemplating what that could mean. Years of travelling the world and conversing with different people and cultures made him a little more savvy and understanding of others. Though, he decided not to ask about it since he didn't want to start a fight.
Instead, he smiled and immediately got familiar with the new people like he already knew them.
"You're a colorful bunch," he said randomly albeit with a blunt tone.
Branch chuckled upon hearing this, remembering a similar instance when Floyd said that years ago. "Well, what do you expect? Our world is kooky and vibrant."
"I originally thought that the Rock Trolls would appear as hardcore as I am," said Floyd. "And I thought the Techno Trolls would be, well, robots. Though, are those assumptions a bit far?"
"You have no idea~," sung Trollex in cheeky autotune.
"Thinking about it, do you move in a way like Clay's former robot dances?" asked John Dory sincerely.
"Not really."
Barb scanned Floyd, just like how she looked through Viva's appearance. Floyd's appearance matched Viva's drawing of him. His more softer facial looks did make him appear like a 'shy' guy, though the rest of his clothing was the opposite. His hair was still partially white, but the reddish-pink appeared grim and dull. His ripped shorts regained their color, showcasing their dark and stained material to fit his desired image.
Barb hummed, interested. "Well, yeah, we're hardcore! I think you might like the emo sub-tribe, little rose."
Floyd smiled. "It's Floyd. And I'll consider it."
Barb cracked a similar smile. The way he said these remarks in the same polite and bubbly tone possible made him quite adorkable. Guess that Floyd shared a little of John Dory's lack of connections with nicknames and metaphors.
"Oh, boy, there's a lot you'll have to see soon!" chirped Poppy. "We got a TrollsTopia civilization in Pop Forest, tribes started mixing around, friends made along the way, the sun shining brightly over Bergen Town!" She took a deep breath, nearly talking too much. "You'll love it! I promise!"
"Promises are a little overdue, Poppy," joked Branch.
"Though, we seemed to achieve the impossible!"
The promise made towards the new kids on the block, Floyd and Viva, caught their attention alongside the rest of BroZone. Trollex and Barb looked around in anticipation. Already caught up with everything, Bruce nodded in calm agreement. John Dory did nod a little, though, judging by his eyes still glued to his feet, he seemed to have something else in mind. And the optimistic Clay grinned, feeling okay with this.
Interestingly, Trollex and Barb noticed the clear contrast between Floyd's and Viva's expressions.
The Leader of the Putt Putt Trolls turned her head to Poppy's sparkling eyes. Viva hesitated, though she stopped herself from dwelling back on negative thoughts. She kept a neutral, curious expression, looking like she wanted to ask more for a better understanding.
For the former Shy One of BroZone, he tilted his head and slightly tapped his lips. It didn't take him long to think about it. It actually sounded nice that he would get to live with a bigger AND inclusive community after struggling to seek help for a while.
Besides, with Barb and Trollex here, it was a huge sign that things improved while he was gone.
"That sounds lovely, your majesty," said Floyd. "And looking at all of you now, I can tell you have a good heart."
Trollex beamed, every part of his body glowing.
Barb blushed and looked away, flustered at the thought.
John Dory seemed to be thinking about a different scenario. "Do they?"
"It's my superpower, John," reminded Floyd with a knowing smirk. "For overwhelming my mind and for choosing my allies wisely."
He received a pat from Branch as his younger brother looked up to him, always wondering how Floyd could retain his kindness. For Bruce and Clay, they nodded together with equal smirks. That was the Floyd they knew from before.
This remark also caught Viva by surprise.
"So, um, I'm guessing that's…how you nearly find Clay with me?" she asked carefully.
Guy Diamond clenched his teeth anxiously. Barb and Trollex glanced at each other. They should have seen this coming. Fortunately, Floyd didn't seem angry or annoyed at Viva's presence and just innocently turned to her with childlike eyes.
"It was a hunch and seemed to be the kind of world Clay would want to fit in with," Floyd explained casually. "Though, I'm…sorry for running off during our first meeting. I actually wanted to return to you for…"
Viva smiled weakly. "I-It's fine. I…I'm sorry for mistaking you as an enemy. I mean, I should also say this to Barb and Trollex, too, but all of you, I…"
As Viva trailed off awkwardly, the energetic Barb slid over and nudged her elbow gently. "Eh, it's fine! So what? I mean, it doesn't have to be the end of the road there, right?"
It was also Barb trying to reassure herself that things could be fixed. The Rock Queen kept a silly, lop-sided smile on, but she hoped she wouldn't further distress Viva and the Putt Putt Trolls. The slightly-off smile seemed to stir Viva a little, but Floyd also noticed this.
"I agree," said Floyd, rubbing his arm. "And since you were able to come here, too, there won't be anything to stop you from doing more."
Viva didn't know how to respond to this. She really couldn't. Her lips trembled a little. Floyd no longer looked like the monster she once perceived under her trauma. Just before her body could start trembling, Clay kindly held onto her hand and directed his eyes towards her in the hope that she would take this opportunity.
Viva looked back at him. Immediately, she held Clay's arm like she was a younger sister. In times like these, none of them would have to worry about losing or failing, and Clay helped her come out of her shell. Viva felt a deep desire to carry on what he did for her. The shifting tenderness in her eyes indicated to Clay that she appreciated what he managed to show her and he smiled.
Then, Viva felt her eyes watering. "Oh, gosh. Floyd, y-you're too forgiving."
Floyd grinned. "Yeah, you'll get used to it. Besides, I actually planned to invite you and Clay over here before I was kidnapped. Though, it wouldn't be helpful anyway."
However, Floyd's casual statement reminded everyone about his previous invitations to Branch and Bruce. The ones where he wanted to show them something at Mount Rageous if it weren't for Velvet and Veneer. All smiles seemed to fade a little as they remembered this piece of evidence they tried using before, though none of them were sure whether to ask…
However, as the one who initially dreaded what Floyd did before, Guy Diamond had the courage to speak up.
"Speaking of which, I think it's time to address the elephant in the room," he asked, sitting up straight. "What were you doing the whole time? What were you trying to make here before you got kidnapped?"
Floyd's eyes widened in alarm…then narrowed in seemingly self-disappointment. Oh, right, that. He was so focused on Velvet's and Veneer's cruel plans and his newfound freedom that he forgot the real cause of everything that happened.
And there was no point trying to hide it for long.
Bruce gave Floyd a pointed look. While he didn't take it too seriously, Bruce wasn't sure if Floyd felt comfortable to reveal it. Both knew how much of a foregone conclusion it would be if Floyd succeeded in his work. Floyd looked back and…he didn't seem afraid to share. Seeing this, Bruce nodded and sat back to listen.
Everybody on the table had already made themselves comfortable enough to listen. Poppy sat close by Branch, holding onto his arm. Clay and Viva sat on one of the thick cup mats with the latter leaning her head on the former's left shoulder. John Dory drew his legs close to his chest but kept his eyes upwards.
Meanwhile, Guy Diamond opted to plant Tiny Diamond on his legs. Both of them were invested.
One look at Tiny Diamond's puppy eyes and Floyd's lips became wiggly in a mix of emotions.
So, Floyd confessed. "I…was trying to create the Perfect Family Harmony for my brothers."
A few seconds of silence and disbelief.
Floyd sighed. He knew they would be incredulous. "It's stupid. I just…even now, I feel like I'm only living a life of self-pity."
His hands clenched up into fists. Looking down on them, Floyd suddenly despised his own arms. The transparent look on him was already gone, but Floyd seemingly loathed who and what he was. He sighed again and shook his head.
"I don't even like myself. I want to do something that's…good for once. So, I invested in bounty hunting, shady markets, all to find an alternative to create the Perfect Family Harmony for all of us."
Branch's jaw dropped a little. "That explains the bounty hunters you and Bruce came across."
Floyd's fringe swayed across his left eye, desperately hiding the gloom of his past mistake. "Yes. They also allowed me to get a year's supply of Heartbeat Diamonds. I knew they were somehow involved since they couldn't be broken by anything else." His fingers twitched and he began rubbing them together, soaked in anxiety. "So, I studied them, found a good lab in Mount Rageous to carry that out and used the diamonds to create a machine that could produce something similar to the Perfect Family Harmony."
He closed his eyes, trying to remember how that went. From the long nights of soreness to the skeptical looks of fellow Mount Rageons he worked with to the horrifying scenes of watching the machine sputter as a spiky gold glow formed right between its tentacles. But in those moments, seeing the glow gave him some hope that his brothers would take a second chance…
"Well, not exactly, but it seemed like the real deal."
Clay was gobsmacked. "Hold a minute. So what you're saying is that you created a machine that could replicate the Perfect Family Harmony?"
"Correct," answered Bruce quietly.
Guy Diamond hummed, clutching Tiny Diamond closer.
"Whoa, don't squeeze me too hard!" squeaked Tiny.
"Was it a weapon?" asked Guy, worried.
Floyd's left eye was completely covered, allowing the shadow to cast over his eyes. "Unfortunately, yes. It was unstable. It couldn't keep itself from blowing up even after many test runs. My colleagues said I was crazy to keep going. The final prototype eventually blew up my lab, alerting Velvet and Veneer. From the wreckage, they used the remaining diamonds for their project."
So that was why Velvet and Veneer had that many diamonds to craft cages for Floyd and many other Trolls they would find. However, it didn't seem like they only used Floyd's source of diamonds if they got more previously. Since none of the Trolls often looked into Mount Rageous, they had no idea Floyd accidentally exploded a building here.
John Dory's water shimmered with a shiny look. It wasn't his typical glassy filter. They were still clear with Floyd's hunched-up image reflecting in these blue eyes. For a while, he always thought that Floyd could do anything…but it came to him that there was a bigger mess behind the adventure they partook, all from their own past mistakes.
"L-Let me get this straight." John couldn't control himself from rambling, letting his running, fearful mind speak his thoughts. "Y-You thought you could achieve the Perfect Family Harmony, even if it was artificial, and you expected us to come to Mount Rageous when we haven't talked in…erm, years and…I, you would show us something that could explode in our faces when we didn't have the right synergy between us-"
"OK, OK," admitted Floyd. "The plan may have been misguided, but…I want to try. Being with my brothers is the one good thing I never regret."
Guy Diamond stared at Floyd for a while, absorbing all this new information. It hit him. If it weren't for Floyd's ambition, then…BroZone would never reunite. The shame on Floyd was evident of the misfortunes, but it didn't seem to matter now.
"Then it wasn't misguided, Floyd," reassured Guy. "You did all you could."
The shadow darkened over Floyd's face, brooding. "Dude, the plan fell apart. I nearly kept my brothers in the dark for too long. Not to mention, risked their lives, too. Velvet tore my entire plan apart." He brushed his fringe away, but the hurt was still in his eyes. "I-I'm not saying I'm ungrateful, but I wish it happened differently."
Eyes exposed, Floyd lowered his head. It was already distressing that everything he did ended up for nothing, but knowing that he wasn't right in what he tried salvaging was a heavy cross. Focused on that cross, he didn't bother trying to cover up his darkened look with charm or kindness. As a result, his skin also seemed to pale, the same way Branch's skin would whenever close to a depressive episode.
Nobody had the words to say otherwise. They would, but they weren't sure how to reassure Floyd that he didn't need to worry about that. He had a point about the mess he didn't clean properly. Bruce, in particular, watched haplessly with a face full of guilt, knowing that he contributed to hiding the surprise until too late.
John Dory stared at Floyd for a long time. He would have looked away if they were making eye contact. However, this was important. Floyd was at his lowest point again when they got out of the danger. It reminded John again of his responsibility to put Branch and Floyd in harm without seeing through his selfishness. John nearly wanted to think this would be why he couldn't change.
Why he couldn't be with his family again…
However, he didn't want to feed his lies again. He didn't want his brothers to feel helpless. John wanted to do everything in his power to honor Branch's desire and rescue their family…but he knew that he couldn't be the leader of that honor.
"Don't ever use 'illness' as an excuse to be a coward again."
In these times of overthinking, past words managed to poke at the distorted thinking, encouraging it to change.
"I think you'll only lose access to these open doors when you give up."
Rather than letting his insecurities get the best of John, he acknowledged what he did wrong and what he could do NOW. Knowing that they would still be unsafe, he could try something to ensure they wouldn't be too bruised. He should do something rather than continue to act as the 'special' one. Reliable people…would need to trust others, too.
"Floyd."
Floyd lifted his head, the shadow disappearing.
"I can understand your guilt and I can't blame you. I'm not saying that I'm mad at you or…well, something like…" John wrapped his arms around his legs, biting his lips. "I-I don't have the words, I'm sorry. But if it makes you feel better, I think…"
He paused. He didn't want to come to conclusions yet.
"Are we going back together as a band and…family?"
Branch nodded immediately, hopeful once again.
Bruce looked serious before he nodded.
Clay took the longest to consider. Viva patted him on the shoulder with a reassuring look of her own. This encouragement and permission allowed Clay to nod silently.
John Dory sighed. He knew what he would propose could change everything. After all, everyone would rely on him. He replayed the desired words over and over again in his head. Would they even make sense? However, it made no sense that they were still stuck in the same positions from the past. They did things better today as just themselves.
Branch did save their tribe from certain doom. Twice. And he worked closely with a damn royal.
Floyd braved through the most intimidating spaces that would make a mother squirm.
Meanwhile, John didn't figure out yet what he could do with the skills he picked on.
"In that case," he said. "Branch, Floyd, I trust you two to lead the team."
Expectedly, everybody responded with a gasp of their own.
Floyd was terrified by the thought. "What?"
Branch was suspicious, narrowing his eyes. "What are you saying, John?"
John shrugged. "I said what I said."
Bruce's eyes were wide and buggy, not expecting this from John. "Dude…"
Barb was surprised by this bold declaration under the belief that John would improve as a leader. "This is new. Let me guess, you're…" She paused, saddened by the implication. "You'll be leaving and giving up your role?"
"No," said John simply. "I'll brag again: I'm glad to be your leader! But the truth is, I'm not fit to roll that ball." He smacked his lips a little, still thinking of what he could exactly do. "I want to take a step back." He looked back at Branch and Floyd with the utmost seriousness he could show. "I want to give you two the power to make things right as much as we do."
Tiny Diamond was confused by John's sudden idea. "But aren't you the 'Old One'?"
"The older brother can screw up, too."
Tiny gasped dramatically and Guy shot a glare.
John couldn't help grinning sheepishly, though their reactions improved his mood. "Sorry for swearing, but it's true. I'll still be the big brother. However, I want to try something else and know how to have fun with my bros. For real."
As he said that, his shoulders raised with all the pressure he put on himself slowly slipping away. He looked back at Branch and Floyd, smiling.
"Sure, we did fall down, but I see what you can do. You're perfect leaders. You don't have to be the 'Bitty B' and the 'Shy One' forever. You don't have to carry my problems, but you can teach us how to brave through the bad days together."
It took a while for everybody to believe that. It didn't sound like John was trying to make up a flimsy solution on the spot. He seemed sure about this decision, even sincere about giving up his leadership. Hell, he didn't even look like he would struggle to hurt his pride a little while still appearing dignified. His smile wasn't oblivious or dreamy, but confident about their future and what they could find best for them.
Bruce and Clay looked back at each other as if asking whether they were seeing this for real. This was technically the first time John willingly let down his guard and position. For once, his words made sense. They weren't familiar with this side of John, but it told them that real improvement was coming. This led to them looking back at Branch and Floyd with positive thumb-ups.
The same went for Branch. For him, it echoed back to John Dory quietly letting Branch take the lead, enhancing the passionate feeling they weaponized to save Floyd. Now, John wasn't going to remove that feeling for the sake of perfection actively. He just said out loud that he was going to try something else. Could mean anything, but John already seen who Branch and Floyd became today.
Poppy, Viva, Guy Diamond and Tiny Diamond were joyful when they heard this announcement. And they didn't even mind about the changes that would happen for BroZone. If it meant the brothers finally reuniting, they would be more than happy for them, sympathetic for their troubles and conflicts.
Trollex glanced at Barb…and saw the Rock Queen beaming in pride. She wasn't exactly smiling, but her big eyes somehow looked…heavenly. Hopeful and innocent. Barb did a really good job in swaying BroZone to change. For Trollex, he opted to smile, happy to hear that Branch got another chance for his family. For Barb, she had a good feeling that all of them would and could get back on the right track.
Floyd was genuinely surprised to have this opportunity presented to him, especially after remaining humble as the 'Shy One'. His hard work only came under desperation to return to the good old days. For a while, he found peace with seeing Branch, talking about their interests, hopes and wonders. Now, his brothers were showing interest in their ideals.
"Would that be OK?" he asked meekly.
"I think so!" said Poppy. "You're all together now to make things right."
Branch, already lost in the feeling, nudged Floyd by the shoulder. The young brothers stared at each other and they seemed to reach each other's minds as their eyes met. In this moment, they returned to how they usually act when younger with Branch being the admiring younger brother and Floyd being the tougher and wiser older brother.
The look on Branch wasn't exactly childlike, but it was one of telling Floyd that this should be alright. Even after all the trouble he had to go through, they came out the other end with promises they couldn't waste.
Floyd knew that Branch had every right to refuse his brothers, but here they were, considering a second chance to be a family.
The look on Floyd made him appear much younger, like a teen trying to think about their future lives. However, as he noticed again how much Branch grew, Floyd knew that he was growing as well.
Floyd even felt like he was done trying to fix things on his own and stubbornly thinking that he was right. This wasn't the kind of path he wanted to go on, not after failing to achieve the Perfect Family Harmony. It was time for something different.
A gentle smile crossed over him as he made his choice. "Alright then."
Branch agreed, too. "We won't let you down. I swear it."
John Dory smiled back, not needing to say anything else.
Clay clapped his hands in enthusiasm. "Yeah, what's the worst that can happen?"
Viva's eyes widened and she opened her mouth.
"Don't jinx it."
To Viva's surprise, Clay said those words, too.
The two had an intense staredown like a rodeo before pointing at each other.
"Jinx!" they chirped in unison. "Jinx again!"
Eventually, the two of them laughed it off. How they treated it wasn't really nice, though they could still work on this. And Viva didn't need to double-check. She could still check in another time when needing to deal with a rough bump.
Trollex raised his hand high, his green eyes sparkling. "Perhaps I can be your co-producer on this? Back at Vacay Island, I was able to understand your music."
Poppy perked up as well. "Oooh, maybe I can be your manager! I mean, I'm starting to understand how different bands can navigate through the tricky things, even on tours."
John Dory had a thought about it. He actually didn't consider it until now. Trollex DID manage well as their DJ when they first practiced, allowing BroZone to return to their original groove. Meanwhile, Poppy embodied the role of the 'Shy One' nicely, and as a leader, she held her responsibilities as a queen well.
"That sounds lovely," he said sincerely.
"The more, the merrier!" said Bruce.
Barb rubbed her hands together, whooping loudly. "Looks like you got a lot more on your plate, Branch. Handling two bands!"
"Wait, what?" remarked John Dory.
Immediately, Branch shut Barb's mouth with his palm. "What she said was 'handling two bracelets'! Like, um, the family bracelets from, erm, our blood and Poppy's blood? Think of it like a family version of friend bracelets!"
Branch grinned sheepishly, sweat forming on the sides of his head. Barb stared at him, weirded out. But why did it look like Branch not wanting to provoke John's vices this time? Before, he was serious and adamant in keeping John out of knowing Kismet…
Somehow, John Dory didn't get the blatant lying. "Oh, yeah! Right! Like you're the main family man."
"Perhaps I can give you advice," said Bruce with a smirk, following along Branch's clear lie. "I have a huge family already and I handle my children's education!"
The rest of the conversation entertainingly spiralled into regular sibling fight with Barb trying to get answers and Branch repeatedly telling her to stay quiet while Poppy tried to 'cool' them by waving a paper fan at them and Trollex chuckling at the childish banter before them. Floyd flopped back on his back again. Taking in this sight, John Dory smiled. It might look messy to some, but here, it was perfectly fulfilling.
Meanwhile, Tiny Diamond stared at the scene, amazed. While he already saw this earlier, he was surprised by how this family was ready to unwind themselves and change things around. Even if they had a 'complicated relationship' with expectations as adults, hmm…
Guy Diamond noticed this unusual silence. "Not gonna join in like a man?"
Tiny Diamond cleared his throat, trying to regain his usual openness. "Um, yeah! Sure! I think I'll be needing a…notepad for all of this. This is still a little confusing!"
"How so?"
"BroZone was a trainwreck. But that didn't stop them from making up. Even if it 'looks' messy?"
Guy Diamond already had his own changes throughout the adventure. Who knew that coming along for a third time would give him something to build on? Maybe that was what Biggie and Cooper went through. Maybe it was for his own good since Guy was sometimes a little sheltered. But after watching the arguments and hardships between Branch's brothers, it gave him the motivation to improve without needing to fear anything.
"Wouldn't matter if it's a mess," acknowledged Guy happily. "Once again, Poppy and Branch are a good example if looking to develop a blossoming relationship. They're opposites, but they somehow make it work!" He chuckled, aware of the innuendo. "I'll say, it's from a place of understanding, not immediate perfection."
And in front of them, the expended family was definitely in a place of understanding, taking the light-hearted, easygoing moment to make some good banter.
Tiny Diamond, a young child who had been growing increasingly lately, connected the dots and nodded without hesitating.
"Ooh, does this also apply to both babies and men?" he asked.
Guy tried suppressing a fatherly chuckle. "Yes. Though, I think you'll be ready when you learn to take slow steps as my son."
He definitely meant 'baby' or at least what Tiny Diamond thought. Either way, the younger Troll didn't feel too ready to be a man since there was a lot to face later on appropriately. So, Tiny laughed as he felt his father snuggle him from behind.
AN: I really hope that last scene with Tiny Diamond asking his father for advice would make up their own character arcs so far. I knew that I alway wanted to explore these characters rather than having them as props. I also want to have Tiny Diamond to learn along the way. Make him an audience surrogate, too! Helped by his noticeable intelligence compared to other kids, it worked in my favor to give him a good understanding of the harmonious family before him.
Yes, I had Floyd doing a reprise of 'Lonely People' here just to look cool. :3
And I'm sorry for omitting Branch's and Poppy's first kiss, guys. For some reason, I thought that the way I wrote about their relationship and chemistry already made them strong in Chapter 12, nearing their conclusion.
After exploring Floyd's character more heavily in Chapter 3, just like his brothers, I went further into his personality and the circumstances surrounding his kidnapping. However, the idea of him working on an alternative method for creating the Perfect Family Harmony only came when writing Chapter 5.
I actually took inspiration from 'The Other Side of the Storm: Part 2' by MarcellusMiro66 (hope you're doing well!) for Floyd trying to create the Perfect Family Harmony. However, Floyd didn't choose to bring his brothers before he enacted his plan, thinking that he should do things himself while meeting John's expectations of being perfect. This was a similar thing Ramona Flowers did in 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off' as a result of running away from hardships. Floyd's aware of how badly of a deconstruction his ideal plan became, aware that his worry of not being good enough placed him in bigger danger.
I don't think I'll be explaining how Floyd created a machine that was close to making the Perfect Family Harmony. Importantly, this would tie in the story's themes of family, its complications and the individual struggles unfortunately involved.
This would lead to John Dory giving up his leadership of BroZone. Honestly, it was done out of worry that the reformed BroZone could make the same mistakes again in the original film since we weren't told what their new roles would be. Maybe it wasn't clear to me, unfortunately. I wouldn't call it bad, but for my story, I want to continue my trend of adding further depth to the characters. John's blessing might not be perfect, but it gives hope that BroZone would learn from their past mistakes. Maybe someday, when he's ready, he'll lead BroZone again with a better mindset.
As for references, Velvet fussing around with the security officer takes inspiration from 'Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken' where Nerissa fusses about how many likes she's getting despite being kidnapped. Floyd's 'colorful bunch' is a dead ringer to Shadow's remark in 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' movie.
We're close to the last chapter! It might be shorter than the last, but stay tuned. See you on the flip side!