Disclaimer: I do not own Trolls, all rights go to Dreamworks and along with any music that may be used will be given the proper ownership to whomever originally sang and wrote the song used. This is not canon to my last Trolls Fanfic. This is a completely new story. Hope y'all enjoy it!
Branch looked at her hands and began to weep. After all her hard work she lost her colors again. "Branch, are you ok?" Poppy asked when she heard her sister begin to sob. "My colors are gone." Branch said barely above a whisper, but Poppy heard her and wrapped her arms around her. "We will figure things out, I promise. I am so sorry." Poppy said, reassuring her. "Mom!" Branch peeked her head up to see her children running towards her. "I am so glad you're ok." Branch said, pulling her three kids into the biggest hug. "Mommy you're grey again." Keith said with tears in his eyes. "We all are." Suki snapped at her brother's rude statement. "Easy. It will be ok." Branch said, trying to calm her kids. It was then that she noticed that Clampers was also with them. "Clampers sweety wher are your daddy and uncle?" This shocked Hickory who was standing behind her; she knew.
"Daddy!" Clampers cried out as she rushed to her father. Branch turned to see Hickory and gave him a small smile. "How did you find out?" Was all Hickory said as he picked up his daughter not breakcing eye contact. "I saw when Barb took you and Poppy how you still tried to help her. Heard why you did it." Branch explained and Hickory knew that if he had color right now his face would be a deep crimson. "Sorry for lying." Branch just shrugged her shoulders as she started to feel more like her grey self and that did not sit well with her. "Hey are you going to be ok? You don't look like you are doing too well?" Hickory said placing Clampers back down as Branch was faced with a dizzy spell and he was able to catch her.
"Branch!" Poppy hollard ran towards her sister. "Miss Poppy, what is happening to her?" Hickory asked, a bit panicked. "This must be affecting her worse since she hasn't had her colors long?" Poppy said worridly. "What do you mean by that?" Hickory asked, still not fully understanding what the Queen was saying. "She was grey for over twenty years and within the last year she finally regained her colors." Poppy stated, causing a wide range of gasps. "No, Branch, please. I can't lose you too." Hickory said softly holding her, not tearing his eyes away as they began to fill with unspilt tears. "She's gone so long without music and now that it's suched out of her she is taking the hit worse." Poppy said, trying to hold it together for her niblings. Suki was not just gonna stand here and watch her mami die; suddenly she felt her heart begin to beat louder than ever before. Looking down she saw that it was lighting up and Suki knew what she had to do, so she took her brothers and new friend and started to try to sing.
Let me hear you sing
Sing it together, louder than ever
Forget everything, just sing
Like it's whatwe'vebeen missing
And they'regonna listen, listen
Forget everything, just sing
Everyone stopped and stared at the little trolling who was singing; Suki was nervous but she was not going to give up on her mama. Gary joined in with his guitar, Clamepers and Keith started to sing with their sister; Darnel and Cooper began to join their niblings beatboxing. This brought awe to everyone around seeing the different genres singing together without the strings. "That's my family making music." Queen Essence said with pride in her eyes. Clampers were stomping and clapping and all the country trolls joined along following her lead to bring joy to her Aunt. "Our music might have started with the strings, but now it is in each and everyone of us." Queen Essence stated to the crowd. "With our experiences." King Trollex joined in with the other monarch. "With our culture." Delta said, as she looked at Hickory finally feeling ok if he moved on; Branch showed to be one tough troll and she knew that Dixie would approve . "No one can take that from us." Poppy finished looking at Suki grabbing her hand to give the little troll support to keep singing as they watched every heart light up and start to create music that was coming from inside of each and every one of them.
Youthink you've gotta hide it
Don't keep it on the shelf
Let your waist start moving
Watch the way I do it, do it
See me do it like nobody else
Poppy started to sing with her niblings as they began to dance, inspiring everyone to join in with their different types of song. Suki, Poppy, Keith, Gary, Clampers, Cooper, and Darnel were the first ones to regain their colors, slowly as each and every troll regained their colors as they joined in the song bringing back their music. Clampers ran to her father grabbing his hand silently begging him to join in. When he began to sing he regained his colors, but when he looked down he saw that branch was still grey; he gripped her hand before bringing it to his lips placing a chaste kiss. He continued to sing with his eyes closed hoping that Branch would be ok, but too afraid to look. It was not until he heard the voice he was afraid he would never get to hear again began to sing. Hickory looked down to see Branch giving a weak smile towards him as she tried to get up on her own. Hickory quickly helped her to sit up right and without thinking being so consumed with joy he kissed Branch who did not waste a moment before returning it. Poppy saw this and was so happy for her sisterthat she could barely contain her excitement.
If we sing it all together (If we sing it all as one)
It's louder than yourself (All together, everyone)
Everybody's lookin' (See you lookin' now)
Watch the way we do it, do it (Hold up, watchin' how I do it)
'Cause we do it like nobody else
Barb watched Poppy in awe not fully understanding how any of this was possible; her attention was then drawn towards the sound of a keyboard playing to see her father with his colors restored. "Dad?" Hoping that he could just explain to her how this is happening. "Just let everyone be who they are meant to be. Including you dear." She felt a tug on her hand and looked down to see Gary who was offering her his guitar; not wanting to be rude she took it and knew what he was asking her to do. Barb played what was on her heart and she was engulfed with color not even realizing the blush that was creeping up Poppy's cheeks. Branch watched how her kids were able to bring everyone together just for the sake of music; for her. Hickory grabbed her hand pulling her into a hug feeling the relief washing over him that she was ok. The moment however did not last long as the four kids saw that Branch was ok and came rushing over to her and Hickory giving them a group hug, happy that their family was whole again. Even if they weren't officially one big family, yet. Bruce and Clay were so happy for their sister that she had found a family that never hesitated to choose her first. Feeling so proud of the woman and mother that she has become and feeling shame towards themselves for how they were never that for her.
Let me hear you sing, don't you stop it, don't you fight it
Let me hear you sing, if you got it, can't deny it
Let me hear you, it's waiting for you
Already, you know that you do it like nobody else
Just sing (Woo), sing it together
Louder than ever, ever, forget everything
Bruce knew that he had a chance to make things right with her, but was terrified of messing things up. He couldn't exactly move to Pop Village with her and he would never ask her to uproot her life or her children's lives, but he was determined to make this work whatever way he could. Bruce could not help but cry as he saw how happy Brnach was and remembering back to what he heard only part of what she had gone through while he had selfishly left her. He knew that she had forgiven him for leaving, and even understood why he didn't come back, but he knew that despite those reasons he never should have just abandoned her. He should have at least said goodbye, told her that it wasn't her fault, that he loved her. He should have explained that he couldn't stay with the constant pressure of him having that certain body image he had to have, the eating disorder he worked so hard to get over, the relief of finally feeling comfortable in his own skin. How he didn't want to back track into that by coming back to the tree. He also became a dad and he had new responsibilities but that would never take away from the responsibility he had as being a big brother to Branch and how he failed.
Just sing like it's what we've been missing
And they're gonna listen, listen, forget everything (Let me hear you)
Hey, I've been right here where you're standin' (I've been standin' on the ground)
And the walls are cavin' in (All the walls are fallin')
But my lips start movin' with the soul I put into it
And you never heard it done like this
Clay one the other hand was down right terrified. Currently Bruce and Viva were both not happy with him when he admitted to not leaving the tree the day the band split up; he could only imagine Branch's reaction when she learns that he not only just left her, but he was within reach of her during one of the worst moments of her life. The guilt was just simply eating him alive. Watching as his sister was with the family that she not only chose but that chose her and it made him sick. Not with envy he believed he had no right to feel that, but again just will guilt for how he left her. He had wanted so badly to be taken seriously but he flaked on the most important responsiblitliy he ever had. Clay also knew that he couldn't just run away again, he needed to face his mistakes head on and also he would never leave Viva like that nor would he ask her to give up being with her family now that thye just found them. He also wanted to be part of Branch's life for as long as she would let him and he swore that he would do whatever she asked to make up for his mistake. Clay would continue to pray that Branch would forgive him despite how undeserved it was.
Let me hear you sing
리듬 타봐 멈추지마 노래불러줘
Si lo tienes, no lo niegues, te quiero oír cantar
It's waiting for you
Already, you know that you do it like nobody else
Just sing, sing it together
Louder than ever, ever, forget everything
Just sing like it's what we've been missing
And they're gonna listen, listen, forget everything
By now everyone was singing and their colors had returned. It was truly wonderful. Viva could not believe everything she had seen through this past week. Her father and sister were alive! She had a new brother and niblings! Branch was alive and she had spent her life trying to do right by her. Viva never wanted Branch to ever feel responsible for her, but a part of her could not help but feel joy at the thought that this was Branch's way at the time to keep fighting not to give up and completely shut herself out like she had wanted to when she had first turned grey. Now that she has gotten to see the troll that her best friend has become she could not be happier. Her best friend was a mother, with a family, and from that kiss she witnessed a possible love interest. Viva was also happy at the prospect of Branch getting to fix her relationships with at least two of her brothers. Yes, she was mad at Clay but she still loved him dearly, she also accepted that he was around fifteen when he left and Viva is reminded of the cruel reality they had faced growing up in the tree of trollings having to grow up so young. As much as she wanted to she could not fault Clay for his decision to leave, but she was still mad that he never came back to just check in on Branch sooner.
Let me hear you sing
I said a one, two, three, and four, let's go everybody get on the floor
Let me hear you
Ah, let me hear you sing it
Let me hear you sing
I want you to sing from your soul, I want you to reach with your elbow
Let me hear you
We can't hear you, way in the back (Alright, alright, alright)
Let me hear you sing
It's waiting for you
Already, you know that you do it like nobody else
Branch could not believe just how far she had come from being the failed super star baby who later turned grey blaming herself for her family leaving her. She did have a family and from what she could tell it was growing bigger by the second; it was overwhelming. She was so proud of her children and was looking forward to seeing the trolls that they grow up to be, but she could not help the negative spike seeping down to her core that she might not get that chance. Branch did know if the different trolls wanted to reunite after this. She didn't know if they wanted to take her kids to their birth families now that they knew that they existed and Branch couldn't even think of keeping them from their borth families either. They have just as much right to be part of her kids' lives as she does. Branch is just afraid of being left alone again, but before she could drown in her negative thoughts she is snapped back by Hickory placing his hand on her lower back bringing a smile back to her face. It was at that moment that Branch knew that whatever came her way she knew without anymore lingering doubt that she was going to be ok.
Just sing, sing it together
Louder than ever, ever, forget everything
Just sing like it's what we've been missing (Like it's what we've been missing)
And they're gonna listen (Yeah), listen (Rock), forget everything
Just sing, sing it together (Just sing)
Louder than ever, ever, forget everything
Just sing like it's what we've been missing (Like it's what we've been missing)
And they're gonna listen, listen (Oh-oh-oh), forget everything
Just sing
When the music ended everyone cheered overjoyed that they had their music back and were no longer attached to the strings. Branch was smiling at her kids who were playing with Cooper, Darnell, Riff, and Thrash. "You raised thre pretty amazing kids." Hickory said in his gentle southern tone. "Clampers are pretty great too." Branch replied back causing both to snicker. "I am truly sorry for betraying your trust." Hickory said feeling shame about any deseat he gave. "I get it. You were protecting your kid. You should have seen half the things I've done for the sake of my children's safety." Branch said bring a smile back to Hickory's face. Little did either know that Dickory was watching the interaction between his little brother and Branch. He has done so much for his brother but now he sees that maybe it's time for him to live his own life and let his brother live his. Dickory knew that he would need to talk to his brother tomorrow. Today he just wanted to celebrate the fact they still had their yodeling. Dickory began to walk up to his baby brother and possibly his future sister in law and possibly his future niblings.
Hickory, still not noticing his brother's presence, was trying to find the right words as he was lost in Branch's blue eyes. "Branch, would it be possible if we could continue whatever this is between us?" Branch blsuhed fiercely. "I would really like that." Hickory about to kiss Branch once more until they heard a peppy voice that could only belong to one troll. "Branch I am so glad you are ok!" Poppy said rushing to Branch giving her a big hug as she was afraid that she wuld have never gotten a chance to talk to her sister again. "Branch I am so sorry you were right. I wasn't being a good queen and I needed to listen more." Branch just pulled Poppy in for another hug. "Maybe the process could have been a bit better but this is one pretty great outcome." Poppy could not help but smile before remembering something else that she needed to show Branch right at that minute. "Branch I almost forgot I need you to come meet someone! Now!" Poppy said, yanking Branch out of Hickory's grasp and pulling her who knows where. "Poppy, where are we going? Who do you need me to meet?" Branch asked confused but did not get an answer.
When Poppy finally pulled to stop Branch had to place her hands on her knees in order to catch her breath. "Poppy, will you now please, what is so important that you had to nearly pull my arm out of its socket?" Branch stood back up rubbing her now sore shoulder, but she was smiling to let Poppy know that it wasn't that bad. Poppy's grin did not falter once as she took a single step aside to reveal Viva. When Branch saw the woman her heart just stopped, because this could not be her dead best friend. "Viva." Her name caught on her lips as she saw the woman would just look like a slightly older version of Poppy begin to cry. "Branch!" Was all she said as she ran to the former grey troll. "I am so sorry I shouldn't have run off that day. I thought you had died because of me, but what is this I hear that you are a mother now and you finally got your colors back." Viva said at a speed that Poppy hasn't even gotten to yet and all Branch could do was pull Viva into a tight hug because she only knew one troll who could talk that fast. "I am so glad you're not dead." Was all Branch said for fear of breaking down into sobs in public.
That sentence seemed to calm Viva down to just return the hug. When they pulled apart Viva looked at Branch and she could see that her former grey friend was finally happy. "What?" Branch asked a little confused as to what Viva was staring at. "You look happy. I've missed seeing you happy." Viva said sincerely. Branch could not help but smile. "Oh before I forget I need you to meet my husband." Viva said, placing both hands on Branch's shoulders causing Branch to let out a chuckle. "Never change Viva, but you will at some point have to tell me what actually happened that day in the tunnel." Branch said knowing that she was probably not going to get every question answered today. "Absolutely, but first. You remember your brother Clay." Viva said slowly. Branch felt like her brain was just short circuited. "You're kidding. Wait wasn't he out of the tree by the time of the escape. How did he end up with the rest of what I am presuming the rest of the "missing" trolls.?" Branch asked, feeling very confused. "I was actually just a stupid teen who went to his friend's house and took too long to come back." A voice said sheepishly. Branch turned around to see that it was her brother who had gotten much taller than he was before.
Branch locked eyes with her brother and started to march forward; Clay thinking that she was going to punch him mentally and physically braced himself for what he felt was a well deserved hit, but instead he was met with a hug. "I've missed you." Branch mumbled underher breath that if Clay wasn't already holding his he probably would have missed it. "Wait? You're not mad at me?" Clay asked, shocked by his baby sister's response. "Do not get me wrong. I am mad, but after going through all of this and meeting back up with Bruce. I don't want to waste anymore time being angry, not when I finally have a chance to have my brothers back, but make no mistake you mess up royally like that again. I'll hunt you down myself and you won't like what I do." Branch causing both Clay and Bruce to relax. Clay chuckled. "Now that was the response I was expecting. I really missed you too." Clay said, pulling his sister into a hug before it was joined by Bruce.
When the three siblings let go of one another Clay looked back at his sister. "So you and the cowboy?" Clay said with a smirk. "Shut up you married my best friend, also Bruce is married as well with fourteen kids." Branch said, trying not to be embarrassed, but also giving Clay some ammo to shoot at Bruce. "Did you say fourteen kids? Fourteen? Four-TEEN! Bruce what?" Clay said, almost laughing. "Yes fourteen and I love all of them and my wife dearly thank you." Bruce said unashamed. Branch could not help but smile at her brothers. "I've missed this." Branch said not realizing that Cooper was walking up with her three kids. "Branch, I think you forgot something." Cooper said jokingly. Branch mocked laughed. "I did not forget, Poppy quite literally dragged me away before I could do anything." Branch said, focusing on her three little ones. Clay turned to see his niece and nephews and his sister being an actual mom and his heart just swelled and broke at the same time. He was so happy for her and to see her like this he could not be more proud that she was showing her kids the true meaning of family. Especially when they didn't. He was also devastated to have missed everything in Branch's life up till that point and he was not goin to mess up a second time.
"Excuess me Ms. Branch." The Pop Trolls heard a timid voice speak up from behind them, Branch turned to see who was talking to her. "Um, yes?" Branch answered not exactly sure what they wanted to talk to her about. "I am Prince Snythx. You see while we were all held captive we came to realize that your daughter was our sister's child along with the the fallen brother of the Regganton Trolls." Branch's stomach just dropped. She had been expecting this to come up but she was hoping that maybe it wouldn't. "Oh." Branch said in a shaky voice as she started to wring her hands. "I was wondering, well we were hoping, if we could get to know our late sister's child. We respect that you are her mother and would never want to rip our niece from her found family." Snythx explain and Branch's heart felt less tight at that moment. "Of course. You are technically her family." Branch start to say before King Trollex interrupted her. "As are you. You took in these three amazing trolls when you had no responsibility to do so. You took care of them and even after short time in your care you raised some empowering trolls." Branch felt tears prickle in the corner of her eyes. "Thank you, but it wasn't like that. I saw three kids who had no one. I was the same way for the most part growing up. No child should ever have to go through that." Branch explained earning the respect of the Techno Trolls.
Keith noticed Grampa Thrash rolling up with a very ashamed Barb walking up behind him. "Grampa!" Keith said excitedly running up to the former King of Rock. "Keith, you truly are a rebel aren't you." Thrach said with a chuckle. Barb slowly walked around her father looking as though she wanted to say somethingbut stay silent. Truthfully she wanted to say a lot of things but didn't know where to start; Barb knew she had messed up and she was admitting that before Carol pulled her stunt and now Barb was afraid that the damage had taken things too far. Branch looked sternly at the Queen of Rock ready to take Keith back and hid him behind her that was until Thrash spoke on Barb behalf. "She made mistakes, but a good great will own up to them and learn from them. Please at least give her that chance." Thrash gently said, staring at the formerly grey mother who just let out a sigh and nodded. Barb was surprised by this chance takening a deep breath and avoiding Poppy's eye because if she did she knew that she woud become a blushing mess. "I truly am sorry for everything. I thought that if everyone played the same music then we all would get along, but I learned that was not the case. I am going to try and fix the mess I made."
Poppy was the one to walk up to the Rock Queen with a little curiosity. "What made you change your mind?" Barb took a deep breath before looking up into the perfectly pink irises that were staring at her. "I saw those kids and how they loved one another even though they weren't the same. They were kids and they were acting better than any of our ancestors. That's what changed." Barb said feeling like she could breathe again. "Well I always knew that my niblings were pretty bright kids." Poppy said with an almost flirty smirk before walking off to Branch when she saw that Barb was now having a dust of blush. Branch had to clench her jaw at Poppy's stunt, keeping silent until they started to walk a little away from the royal group that was forming to discuss the future actions of rebuilding the destroyed villages and peace trities so something like this could never happen again. Hopefully. Once Poppy and Branch were far enough away from ear shot Branch had to bite her toung to keep herself from laughing as she quickly smacked Poppy's arm. "You did not just flirt with her! You truly have the wrost taste in trolls." Branch whispered at the pink queen as she snickered, unable to hold back her smile. "I resent that. I just like independant thinkers" Poppy snapped back trying to hold back her own laugh. "Is that what we are calling Creek?" The two both let out a little chuckle before recovering themselves.
Looking back at the crowd of trolls, thinking back to everything that had happened to get them to this spot, and it all felt so sereal. "Can you believe this?" Poppy said, still in awe of the sight before them. "Yeah, I can believe it. Poppy you have done some amazing things because you trust yourself and have faith in people. Don't ever lose that." Branch said feeling regret at blowing up at Poppy earlier. "Thank you, but that does not excuse my behavior. I was arrogant and a bad friend. I didn't listen to anyone and hurt the people I care about most. I'm sorry. I want to continue having faith in people and trusting myself, but I don't want to be a brick wall either." Branch just smiled, pulling Poppy into a hug not noticing Viva pulling close to Clay watching them both smiling at their sisters. "I don't think I've ever seen Branch that playful. I know she tried to be there for Poppy for you, but Poppy was there for her just as much." Clay told his wife kissing her temple. "I am so proud that they have had each other, especially when they didn't have us. I'm mad at you for leaving her, but I get it." Viva said not looking at her husband. The trolls knew that this was the beginning of a new adventure and there was more to come.
Back deep in the Neverglades high up on the mountain there sat an Amodillo bus named Rhonda and her beloved driver; John Dory, who was listening to the radio as he set up camp for the night to hear several names he never thought he would hear again. Names belonging to trolls that he thought for the past eighteen years were dead. Names belonging to his siblings. His family was alive and he needed to make his way to them as quickly as possible. He would start his journey in the morning or at least that was what he thought he was going to do. John Dory got ready for bed and was so excited to reconnect with his family that he could barely close his eyes for about fifteen minutes before he was completely out snoring like a bear. That was until deep into the night he was met with a strange knocking at Rhonda's door. Being abruptly woken up wearing nothing but his boxers he grabbed a spatula in his sleep deprived state and prepared to attack his mystery visiter. When he opened the door he was met with a surprise that no one could have accounted for. What met him at his door was a Pop Troll that looked at though he had walked through hell and back. In some ways he has and he was unforuntiatly going to drag John Dory along for the ride, because this troll's boyfriend was in serious trouble.
I have been slightly dreading this chapter because of how deep it was going to be. Branch was going to be met with reunions and heavy conversations and branch coming to terms that she was going to be faced with the possibility of having to let her children go. Also the terror of opening yourself up to love is always scary and hard to get past and I have decided to dump all of that on Branch all at once. I think I am going to make the next chapter about Branch trying to rebuild her relationships with her brothers and I am still deciding whether or not to have a set up for a wedding or just move past that. I have literally rewritten this next part in my head so many times that I have lost count. We will see where the story takes us. Who knows, because I certainly don't. All I know is that I will probably write the next chapter and this story will be on a hiatus until my other story Dragonfly is finished. I truly hope y'all have enjoyed this latest chapter and thank you for all the kind words that I have received from my stories, I truly am touched by the comments that I read. Until the next time. Bye-bye for now my little bookworms.