Chapter Text
He woke with a jolt as there was noise from outside. He heard the foot…Hoovesteps? The lady had forced the small window on the door open and looked down at John. A small sliver of the sun shined in his eyes, and he held his paws up to shield himself from it, blinking and remembering what happened the previous day,
Oh right.
He winced a bit as the cuffs around his wrists had left red marks from being too tight. “See. I’m fine . May I get going?” She glared at him and rolled her eyes as she unlocked the door, pushing it open. “Alright. You can’t go gettin’ mad at me just for protectin’ my people, ya know.” She spoke as John pushed himself up, walking out and slowly adjusting to the light once again.
“I guess,” He shrugged, the shackles connecting his hands clinked together, once again reminding him of their existence. “-Ma’am.” He finished the sentence, and she narrowed her eyes at him playfully, “Here,” she pulled the rusted key out of her hair and grabbed his hands, unlocking them and storing them on her belt. “So, you said you're lookin’ for a brother.”
“Yes!” His ears perked, but he cleared his throat in an attempt to hide it by correcting himself, “Yes, Ma’am.” his tail swayed behind him as he reached in his jacket for the picture, holding it out towards her. His mind begged, just pleading out to anything and anyone that by some miracle she knew their whereabouts, but being here proved to him that it was not a possibility. She examined the picture, and her face softened, “Aw, Well, I’m sorry to say I haven’t seen them around here…I’ll make sure to keep a lookout, though.”
John's shoulders dropped, and he nodded, taking the picture back, “Thank you, Ma’am.” John said under his breath. He put the picture in his pocket, “-Oh wait...What about this? Can you tell me if I'm going in the right direction?” He fumbled, getting Spruce’s postcard. She read the address and pondered for a moment, “Sweetheart, your goin’ in the complete opposite direction.” She looked and pointed, “That's where you need ta’ be headin’.”
His face dropped, and he groaned, Rhonda… He grabbed the postcard back from her extended hand and sighed, “Thank you again for the help. Um…”
“The name Delta Dawn.” She smiled at him, holding a hand out, and wow, she’s a lot more friendly now. He took it, and they shook hands, “John…John Dory.” he responded, and she reached an arm over his shoulder, “I do believe we got off on the wrong foot, John.” He swallowed as he looked at her, practically glowing in the sun, and he felt so relaxed to be around another sane troll, especially one as beautiful as Delta…He coughed and looked away, tail swatting behind him, flustered, “Right…Well, no hard feelings!” He responded, chuckling, and she nodded, “Let me feed ya’, and you can be on your journey.” She tilted her head towards him, and John felt heat rise in his cheeks.
“Thank you…I really can’t remember my last meal…” He spoke quietly as the two walked downtown and into a small house. The memory of the first night with Rhonda popped into his head. What was that? 1…2 Nights ago?...“Also…Could I ask where you put my bus?...” He asked cautiously as they stepped into the cozy cottage. He looked around discreetly. Delta had gone into the kitchen, and JD followed her like a lost puppy, sitting on one of the chairs at the kitchen island. “Don’t worry ‘bout her. She's at the stables…Unless she has gotten out, she was a feisty thing!” Delta laughed as she recalled a few of the boys who captured Rhonda, struggling so badly merely directing her. “How’d you even find a beaut like that? Loyal one she is…” Delta spoke as she made a quick and easy breakfast.
John chuckled under his breath and tapped his fingers on the counter, “Well…”
“You’re a good time, John. I wish ya’ luck on finding your brothers.” Delta smiled as John patted and gently pushed Rhonda off of him, who was purring and overjoyed to be reunited with him, “Ah- Thank you, you were a lot of help…Maybe next time, without the jail cell?” He smiled, laughing as he failed at pushing Rhonda away from another big lick.
Delta chuckled and shook her head, “Anytime. Well, you should be on your way.” Delta said, hands on her hips idly as John nodded. He put a paw on his goggles, tipping his head in a tipping fedora-type manner, and Delta rolled her eyes in amusement, looking away. John hopped into Rhonda and started her up.
John led Rhonda through the stables, giving one last wave to Delta before treading through the village in the direction that she had pointed before. He sucked in a breath as he was back on the road to Spruce. He's excited. Don't get him wrong, but…It didn’t stop him from being nervous.
His brother had reached out to him. Many times…Actually. A little while after, they all split. And what did John do? Overthinking his responses to the point it made him sick and always ended up convincing himself that Spruce couldn't care less about him. Which made the guilt ignite in him like a flame as he picked at the edge of the card.
He’ll understand. JD stuffed the card into his jacket and looked out the window with saddened eyes, trying to focus on anything but that.
It was two years since they split.
See, when he had left, he wanted nothing to do with performing anymore. You could say he had a tad bit to drink, and the nostalgia crept its way in. It gives him some sense of familiarity, as everyone on this island is a different species from him and…
He missed his brothers.
That night, he found some postcards, and he quickly signed their names, as well as his own. He paused at John Dorys, swallowing as he swooped the ‘y’ He shook his head and put it on the pile with the others.
One performance.
Maybe it could bring them all together again
He got up from his desk and went to go send the cards out.
None of them came.
John Dory straightened his posture as he noticed a figure in the distance. Rhonda kept walking steadily. He squinted as he noticed more outlines of trolls, and he couldn't be any more unlucky. John stood, both hands on the control panel, as he watched intently at the group. Rhonda had slowed her pace, making uneasy warbles.
It was a mess. Mangled trolls stood in a line right at the pathway. They probably had figured out that trolls pass by through the paths. Rhonda had stopped as the trolls locked eyes with them.
JD panicked as Rhonda whined a few feet away from them. As they inched closer, they growled at each other, pushing and scratching, making JD wince. Eventually, it became a whole bundle of just wrestling. Bloody wrestling. John bit back the bile that rose in his throat and looked away, moving his hand around the control panel, eventually finding a button and pressing it.
Rhonda started up quickly. At first, she shook, and John's face immediately twisted into worry. Not here, girl…Please, not here… He had begged, but before he knew it, she shot off, running through the group of fighting trolls, making John groan with disgust as blood splattered onto the window, turning around completely. “Couldn't you have gone around, Rhonda?” he sighed. John wasn't a queasy person. He could handle blood. He wasn't sure why this was all different. Maybe the fact that it was serious , other trolls are tearing themselves apart and others, and… Fuck this isn't just a cut or a sprained ankle. It was the apocalypse.
He needs his brothers.
If he wasn't a good brother before, he sure as hell will be one now.
He’ll do anything to make sure that they don’t go through this.
Rhonda skirted to a stop, and he jolted with the force, making him tumble a bit. He looked back at the window and clicked his tongue as he looked around for a cloth. He dug in his bag and found an old shirt that he hadn't worn in a while, going outside. As he stepped out, the ground mushed underneath him, swampy. If he strained his ears, he could hear waves in the distance.
John noticed some other splatters on the sides of her, which made him shiver as he quickly wiped them up. Getting to the front, she blinked with a big dorky smile at him as he patted her, going onto his tiptoes to haphazardly wipe at the window. As he flattened his feet with a grunt, all he did was smudge it. Water came out of nowhere, and window wipers started to go off, cleaning the rest up.
He deadpanned at her, “You had those the whole time.“ Rhonda cooed at him and shook happily, which earned a huffed laugh as he bundled the shirt up. Perfect fire fuel!
It was extremely difficult to start up a fire with the moist surroundings, but JD made do. He always figured something out. The ocean seemed close as his ears picked up more of the sloshing. Relief filled his chest as he pulled out the card and looked at the cover. An island in front of a sunset. Must be the place.
A part of him just wanted to go and find it, get on the island and get Spruce and get it all over with, but Rhonda had seemed like she needed rest after whatever super speed button he had pressed, so they’d just rest.
Will he even still be there? Hell, that postcard was sent to him 17 years ago. It's okay. If he, at least, knows that Spruce was there. He can ask around. The fire roared as he was pulled out of his head. Spruce will be there. They'll find each other, catch up…
Apologize…
Find the others and be fine! It’ll be okay. He’ll redeem himself! They…
They’ll forgive him…
No, Hes not looking for forgiveness. He’s already convinced himself he’s not able to be forgiven. He’s just making sure they’re all alive. He’ll protect them. He’ll be there for them through this shit hole like he was supposed to do years ago.
John kicked some mushy grass into the fire. It sizzled until burning out, quietly entering Rhonda.
He never got mail. How would he even get mail if no one knew where he was? Except…
“Once Dad is done with this stupid music stuff, I want to travel the Neverglades!” A young version of himself smiled at his younger brother, Spruce. Spruce tilted his head, “Why would you want to do that? It's really cold, isn't it?” John pondered and shrugged, “It’ll be fun! And I wouldn't hafta worry about leading this anymore…You'd be the star!”
Spruce grimaced, “I guess…” John looked over at him, “Wouldn't you want that?” Spruce shrugged, then shook his head, “Not really. I don’t like it…”
“Oh. Well, I'm sure Dad will stop caring about it eventually.” John said.
Huh. Little did he know, 3 more would be added to this hell.
John quickly grabbed at the postcard and read it, fidgeting with his fingers. It was Spruce who sent it.
He bit his cheek, and his ears drooped, Spruce…Wants to see him again?...No thats not right. None of his brothers would want to see him again after what he did. And even if he goes, he’s just going to fuck it all up again.
He’s gonna skip out on this one…Itll be better if he didn’t show up anyway.
Spruce won't mind…Hell, he probably only invited him out of pity, right?