Chapter Text
20 years passed.
It seemed to fly by really.
John learned many things living in Lonesome Flats. Country trolls were different from Pop trolls, and John wasn't talking about the four legs thing. The Flats were dangerous, there were no bergens but that didn't mean it was safe. Snakes, lizards, scorpions were out there and would either eat or just kill a troll without much thought. It was how the Country trolls dealt with the losses that were different. In the tree, no one would talk about those taken. Better to forget and keep your colors, then remember and join them. All grey trolls were pruned from the tree moment they were spotted. No bad apple could be allowed to spoil the bunch. As such John was the same, after his parents died, he swallowed every tear, every scream. He couldn't let it out. Everyone was hurt, they didn't need him to burden them with his grief. Pain was something that you could never show.
In the Flats however, tears were encouraged. Grieve, scream, and wail into the desert no one gave a damn. That reflected through their music. Pop music was all about making folks smile. A happy escape from the quiet hell of their imprisoned lives. Country? It was about the grittiness of life, and learning to accept it. Ranging from grief to even vengeance. The first time John heard Delta sing, it was one of the most wonderful voices he'd ever heard, but the lyrics brought subtle shock to his soul. "Born to Die" spoke to John in ways he'd never felt a song before. After all living as livestock tended to feel like it. He'd started crying half way through...that was the day that he explained where exactly he came from to Delta. JD had held off telling her. Soulmate or not. He didn't feel comfortable becoming that vulnerable with someone after bottling it up for so long. He finally understood why she was the perfect match for him. They were similar but still different enough to cover their bases. Delta was cautious where John was impulsive, she was practical when john was a perfectionist, and Delta was compassionate when John hated himself.
John could breakdown with her, because pain wasn't something she'd reject. John could finally heal with her. She was the first rays of daylight after years of dark grief.
And he was apparently really fucked up. Trauma and undiagnosed OCD were not a fun mix. At least he could finally get the help he needed.
Also flapjacks. He finally figured out what flapjacks were. Never in his life did he think that spilling flipping pancake batter would lead to his soulmate, but here he was.
They took it slowly as a couple at first. John needed to recover, heat stroke was a bitch, and adjust to living with trolls again after all. It took two months to properly settle. John at first took up roles in the housework, he could cook and clean. He even helped Carrie with guitar lessons. When he did manage to actually get out in to the town, he was quickly dubbed as the "village weirdo that Miss Delta got stuck with". Not that John minded, he was weird in their eyes. He couldn't plow. He couldn't wrangle criminals. He couldn't even work in the silver mines. Country trolls were a lot stronger then Pop trolls, and they were built for fast long runs. In contrast, Pop troll were light small and agile good for climbing trees. Shame their weren't any trees in the flats. John was however good with livestock. Critters would bend to his will on good days. In the end he started to work as an assistant to the town veterinarian, and once Delta was sure he wasn't going to die out in the desert, John was in charged of water runs. Rhonda could carry more water then any group of country trolls who made a trip to the oasis.
Still just because he was tied down with a job and partner didn't mean John lost his explorer streak. He still took camping trips to the neverglades and anywhere else he thought could be fun. Sometimes Delta joined him, but they could never get Carrie to come. John loved having someone to share this type of adventure with. And Delta loved seeing the world beyond the flats. Just another reason they were a match. They always came home in the end however. John wasn't going to leave a home only to take to long to go back and find it gone again.
He and Delta decided to tie the knot five years later. The wedding was a simple courthouse affair. Country trolls didn't like to have big splashes and John was okay with that. Turns out smaller weddings were less stressful. The day was near perfect. The only thing missing had been his brothers. Delta had her sister to stand by her, but John really had no one. Growly Pete acted as best man simply because there was no one else. So the day had been bittersweet, well until Delta gave him his wedding gift. Delta and Carrie didn't have much to remember their parents by, but one of them was a wood carving of their family tree. Delta added not only hid name to that carving, but his brothers' names as well. He cried and kissed her again when he saw it.
Three weeks later they had their first egg oddly enough. That day had been weird from the start. One moment John was enjoy breakfast with his wife and sister-in-law, and the next he was on the floor in a pool of blood with a very small egg in his arms. He could tell from the moment he laid eyes on it, that it was a dud. They didn't even need to candle it. The whole situation was more surprising than anything, maybe slightly disappointing but that's all. Still John took the incident as a good sign. He didn't even think that he and Delta could have trollings. Pop and Country had very different biology after all. The dud was a sign that John's body was willing to try. All they needed to do next time was make sure that they finish the job.
They started trying for kids next year.
Three months in John did manage to conceive. It didn't end well though. Country eggs were a lot bigger than Pop ones. Their baby grew too big too fast for John's body to handle it. Half-way through the carrying, John suffered a internal shell break. The egg broke inside of him, killing the baby and cutting up his organs bad. The fact that he didn't bleed out was an utter miracle. He came close though. The surgery recovery lasted weeks, and John felt awful through it. Not just from the physical pain, but the mental one too. John had a bad habit about blaming himself for the whole thing. He and Delta spent many night together curled up in bed grieving. The babe from what the doc could tell had been a boy. They buried him in the yard. His gravestone read "Branch" after both John's father and younger brother.
They waited two years before trying again. Delta carried that time, and they did get an intact egg, but the little one went cold not even two weeks later. The Doc said it was likely an issue with temperature. At least John got to candle this one. It was another boy. "Davy" was buried next to his brother.
Three years after that they buried their final baby. A little girl, dead before she could breathe. "Kelly" named after her grandmother, now shared the flower bed with her brothers.
They stopped trying after that. If another baby was in their future it would be an accident.
But even childless their lives were still full of color. Delta was voted in as mayor just after their tenth anniversary. John was proud of her. Lonesome Flats wasn't a monarchy, but their town was by far the largest settlement in the desert. The other country leaders would come to his wife when disaster struck. By all counts Delta was the country queen. John teased her for weeks, about it. Calling her, "Your majesty" and other formal royal addresses, she wacked him in the head with her tail every time. He loved it.
And then not even a month later, Carrie announced she was pregnant. Both John and Delta were ecstatic to be an uncle and aunt. Sure, it hurt a bit. After all they had tried for a baby so long and then Carrie got it on the first try, but still they were happy. Clampers was hatched mid-spring. The little girl was utterly adorable, John had been shocked watching her try to walk not even hour old, but apparently that was normal. Delta gave him the most confused stare when he said that pop trollings didn't walk for at least 9 months after hatching.
Then Carrie died...
Illness was something that came every winter and summer in the Flats. Flu in the winter, and fever in the summer. Poor Carrie caught the fever, just after having Clampers, and his sister-in-law couldn't shake it. Carrie slipped away in her sleep, and it shattered John and Delta's world. Delta wailed when she lost her sister. For a week after the funeral, she'd only lay in bed and cry. John let her, he knew how much it hurt to lose a sibling you raised. He handled everything, Clampers, the house, and some of the issues in town. Delta recovered, and it took a long time, but John was so happy to see her smile again.
Clampers might have been their niece but by that point, she had also become their little girl. With Carrie gone, the trollings care now fell onto them. It had been a long time since either John or Delta raised a trolling, but they managed. Clampers turned out to be quite the wild child. She was fast and if you turned away for just a second she'd be gone the next. She also had a very bad biting habit. John at first tried to discouraged it, but eventually he and Delta just told their niece, "only do it to folks who deserve it." Delta wore her hair down most of the time now, Clampers couldn't nest in it with it tied up (John didn't have enough hair). John missed the ponytail but Delta looked more grown up with it down.
Before John knew it, twenty years had gone by. And life kept on going...
It was a spring afternoon. The desert dry, and grain underneath his feet. John wiped sweat from his eyes as he removed his goggles from his eyes and let them rest on his hair. Rhonda nudged him from behind and warbled.
John laughed and turned back petting the side of the armadillo's face, "Yeah girl, it's good to be home. C'mon lets get you unloaded and out of the sun."
Rhonda purred, and John go to work. Ten minutes in and his back already hurt. Gosh, he was only 40, he can't believe his body is already breaking down. Unloading the water run never hurt so bad before. Maybe the water's heavier...yeah that was nicer then him getting weaker. At least any aches should mellow out once summer actually hits, despite the heat the weather would be calm and that wouldn't jostle his sensitive joints. Madonna he should've taken better care of himself when he was younger.
The cladder of small hooves rang close behind him. The sound of gritting teeth following it. John already was wearing the bite-guard around his arm, ready for his niece. Like clockwork the little country trolling came dashing up to him and latched her jaw around JD's guarded arm. John sighed picking up the child still gnawing on him.
"Hi Uncle John," Clampers said through a full mouth.
John snorted at the little girl's antics, "Hi Clampers."
He let the little girl chew on him for a moment more before unhooking the trolling and holding her in his arms.
"You got the water?" Clampers said.
"Yep. Should last us up to a few months."
"Then you'll go again."
"Yep."
"Did ya wrangle with any varmints or rattlers?"
Always obsessed with adventure , Clampers was her aunt's niece.
"Not this time kid, sorry."
Clampers deflated. Rhonda warbled, and licked the pair upon seeing the suddenly disappointed trolling. Clampers laughed, while John sputtered and began to brush the glitter off of them. Clampers jumped down and ran to pet Rhonda.
"Did anything cool happen to you while we were gone?" John said.
"Aunt Delta threw some strangers in jail!"
Oh? An Arrest? That hadn't happened in a while. Not many people really had the guts to cause trouble with Delta in charge. His wife was a reasonable troll at heart, but reasoning with her was much harder when you ticked her off.
"Really what happened?" John said.
"They were singing badly in the center of town. Aunt Delta said it was a crime against music."
John hummed, "They must have needed singing-lessons huh?"
"I don't think they were bad at singing, but their songs were real dumb."
"Dumb? Dumb in what way?"
"Like there wasn't any feelings in the words. Like they were just talking to noise. Kind of like the old stuff you have in your dusty old books."
At that John froze. He knew that Clampers was talking about. Back in Brozone John had drafted every single one of their songs in several different note books. Some of which he still had, and kept in Rhonda. Delta had laughed so hard when she read them for the first time. Really did something for my confidence there babe. However, he could understand her amusement after listing to Country songs for so long. Pop was always less...well John didn't want to say meaningful, because it really depended on the song...but it could appear shallow to those who weren't used to the music. John wondered...
"Clampers? What did these dumb singers look like?"
No, this couldn't be real. It was too good to be true...
"Kind of like you Uncle John, they had too legs and no hooves. And too of them were ob-ob- obnoc...had really bright colors. Like Rattlers would eat them on sight kind of colors. Aunt Delta said they looked like they were beat up by a rainbow."
John throat went dry. Two legs. No hooves. Bright colors. This couldn't be happening. 20 years...for 20 years John thought he was the last. The only survivor to make it out of that tree. Possibly the last of the pop trolls left. For 20 years he was so certain of that fact. A small bud of hope bloomed behind his ribs. If others made it out...did his brothers make it out too? He was probably setting himself up for disappointment. After all a few years ago he did get that postcard. A postcard with no address or name. Be it his or someone else's. John liked to think it was from Spruce. After all his little brother always wanted to see a beach. But there was no way to know if the card was real or not, or who it was from. John kept the fantasy of Spruce sending him the card form the beach he's always wanted to live on, but didn't let his hope grow beyond that for fear of disappointment. This was different from the card...even if his brother's weren't with them...John still wouldn't be the last.
"Uncle John you okay?" Clampers asked pulling JD from his thoughts.
John cleared his throat, "Uhm yeah, kid. Uhm, listen anklebiter, I need to go do something, can you lead Rhonda into her corral and then tell Aunt Delta I'm back."
The little trolling nodded and then scrambled away. John headed into town.
It would've felt nice to be back home if it wasn't for the storm of rather unpleasant emotions stirring in his gut. Still he nodded and smiled at his neighbors. One of them mentioned a hoedown happening tonight, and John knew that he shouldn't miss it. After all it was one of the more humorous pastimes in the Flats. It almost seemed out of character for a bunch of country trolls to get up on stage with no preparation and starting signing about a topic that the audience gave them. It was weird, but it was how John ended up with a county song about getting knocked up on a date. The walk was short, the town, despite being the largest in the flats, was still on the small side. The Jailhouse just a few feet from the settlement's edge. Growly Pete was standing guard...or was before he dozed off from what John could tell...and someone he didn't recognize was approaching the cell. First glance it was a moss green country troll with orange hair and a red tail, but his appearance wasn't ringing any bells for John. Probably a traveler, they were common in spring, but something in John told him that this stranger was not to be trusted. Yeah, the pop troll decided that he shouldn't let this guy near the prison door with a hooked rope. John had seen too many similar jailbreaks to even find this amusing anymore.
"Hey," John called out.
The moss troll jumped, but tried to hide it. Totally not suspicious, man.
"Uh, hehe, Howdy partner," they said.
Oh something about that accent was off...it was good but it was off...
John smirked and turned up his version of the Country troll drawl, "Howdy there, now what's a fella like ya doin' at the jailhouse?"
"Well, ah Mayor Delta told me to take over watch."
"Shift changes usually happen 'round the hour," John said walking closer, "Not at 12:37. Then again maybe ma wife changed policy with ou' tellin' me."
"Yer wife?"
"Yah, everyday I count ma lucky star ma Delta found me. So, ya can understand why I would like to stop tryin' to mess up her hard work. Wrangling criminals ain't easy ya know."
The stranger tipped their hat, "Right, uhm best luck to ya."
They left in a hurry, and John made a metal note to ask Delta about them...and of course tell her about the jail break. Meantime, John walked up to the window of the door, peeking inside the cell. He let out a quiet gasp. Pop trolls. Bright colorful Pop trolls. He wasn't alone. There was one rather large fellow, a deep bright blue coat with paler color for his hair, and he was... tunneling out? Using a worm. Not a bad plan. Definitely one John hadn't seen before. He wasn't alone, there was a second troll helping him. This one was duller, fur a muted blue, with navy colored hair...and wearing a very familiar leaf vest. John would know that vest anywhere it had been their father's first, then passed on to each brother over the years. Last thing John know it was still Floyd's turn, after all Bitty was still to little to wear it. But this troll wasn't Floyd.
John opened the door before he could think, and completely missed the third troll tumbling to the ground because of it.
"Branch...?"
The ground of Lonesome Flats was a lot softer once you broke through the surface. Not what Branch expected but it made escape easier, so he wasn't complaining.
He heard Poppy sigh with disappointment, from where she slumped against the door. Branch bit his lip. He knew he should go over there and comfort her, but honestly he was too tired to do so. Not the kind of tired that could go away with sleep, but like mentally tired. He loved Poppy, he always had but sometimes it was like he was talking to a wall. It had been easier when he vowed never to speak to her. Branch had been 13 when Poppy said the words around his wrist. Not that she knew that for another ten years, Branch had always kept his mark covered up, the one piece of him that was still colorful while he was grey was something a predator would hone in on in a second. And...he didn't want to disappoint her. What princess would want a grey troll for a soulmate after all? So for ten years, he just never said a word to her. Never said a word to anyone. He had to whole village fooled into thinking he was mute. Until that dang pot...Branch could live with being grey, but he couldn't live in a world of grey...
Things had been great after that. Poppy started listening to him, apparently she really wasn't good at keeping things very organized, a skill that Branch excelled in. He started making her agendas, and other planning, while Poppy did all the front of house work, talking to he people, giving speeches, and holding meetings. He took over the logistics of the operation while Poppy was the face the people needed. Recently though, things have shifted. Poppy wasn't that receptive to his opinions anymore...or at least Branch felt like she wasn't. He was probably just over thinking it, after all he wasn't the best when it came to understanding people, and, soulmates or not, Poppy was queen. She should veto his decisions if they weren't the right ones....right?
Branch was snapped out of his funk by the sound of the door opening and Poppy falling over. Shovel frozen mid scoop, Branch looked up and tried very hard not to choke. In front of him was a pop troll. The country garb they were dressed in wasn't enough to fool Branch. He could see the two legs and lack of a horse tail. Branch stood up and gave the stranger a confused but intimidating glare. The dulled troll's resolve one of protection.
"Branch?"
All attempts of appearing threatening was broken the moment Branch heard that voice. It was older, rougher, and much sadder in tone than Branch remembered, but he recognized it. Slowly things about this troll's appearance clicked into familiarity as well. The leather vest, the square jaw, and that stupid set of goggles on his head.
"JD?" Branch whispered.
The troll broke out into a large smile, and Branch swore there was tears in those blue eyes. He huffed a laugh and suddenly Branch was being hugged like it was the end of the world.
"Bitty! You're alive!!!" John shrieked, before pulling back, "Look at you! You got so big!" He slapped Branch's back, "I bet I could still pick you up."
Oh no. Please no...
"...but I'm pretty sure I would snap in half if I did that right now," JD continued. Thank Madonna
That didn't stop his...brother...trying to hug him again. However, shock was fading now to a fever of fury from an old wound left to become infected. How dare John Dory act so happy to see him. After 20 years, Branch had gotten the message that none of his brothers wanted anything to do with him. After all there wasn't one letter, note, visit or even attempt to reach out. Too much trouble too keep a baby around. They never wanted him. Maybe if he hadn't ruined...NO! Not now depressive thoughts! You're angry right know! Branch shoved John Dory away, and no the look of pain that swept over the elder troll's face did not sway Branch in the slightest.
"Uhm Hi!" Poppy said suddenly appearing between the siblings, "Quick question, sorry for interrupting but who are you? I'll let you know that Branch is not one for hugs, especially unexpected hugs from strangers."
Ahh...his soulmate's protective streak. She needed to let it out more often. It was so hot...BRAIN! SHUT UP!!!
"Stranger?" John Dory looked like he was going to cry. Well cry more.
He locked eyes with Branch, the utter grief in his brother's eyes was shocking. Where the heck did that come from? Branch might have been a baby when John left, but he was fairly certain that John was never this expressive with his emotions.
"Branch do you not remember me?" John said in a voice so hesitant it almost sounded frightened.
UGH!!! Why does he have to make me feel like a jackass?!
"Branchifer? Do you know this guy?" Poppy asked.
Branch sighed, and was about to answer when his soulmate speaks up again.
"Wait a minute! I know you!" Poppy said.
"You do?" John looked very confused.
"You're the guy! From Brozone! I was listening to them not two days ago!"
John flashed a smile at that, but Branch could see the discomfort underneath his perfect teeth.
"Okay so you're not the heart-throb," Poppy continued.
"Well, that's your opinion," John mumbled, fidgeting with a gold ring on his finger.
"The fun one? No you're kind of uptight."
"Uptight?" John looked genuinely upset at that.
"Not the sensitive one either."
"A lot of assumptions for someone you just met thirty second ago..." John began to pout and look increasingly uncomfortable.
"Oh oh! I know! You're John Dory!..."
John perked up, "the leader-"
"...the old one!" And the elder pop troll immediately deflated, with a tired sigh.
Branch held back a snort. Oh he loved his Poppifer's bluntness.
"So you know Branch?" Poppy said.
John looked at Branch, "I-I thought I did..."
Branch sighed, "He's my brother."
The dulled troll only blinked at the impending shriek that belted out of Poppy...and the gasp that Biggie let out reminding Branch that the blue troll was present.
"You have a Brother! Wait...if you're bro is a part of Brozone then that means all the Brozone bros are Branch's bros!" GASP "Branch! how come you never told me!!!"
"Because it's complicated," Branch crossed his arms and glared.
John had the sense to look guilty underneath Branch's gaze.
"Sorry, I was so rude, my names Poppy, Branch's soulmate. I've never met any of Branch's family before. Do we hug, shake hands, see where the night takes us?"
John huffed in amusement, "All of the above, but the Flats don't really have the best night life, so we probably won't get up to much."
Poppy scoffed, "I know! We tried to cheer them up and threw us in jail for it. I mean I know the world is ending, but seriously, you need to look on the bright-side in these types of situation. Their queen didn't even want to talk to us after she locked us up. I mean we're only here to help-"
"Whoa, whoa Poppyseed slow down," John Dory interjected.
Branch watched his brother through out poppy's rant, at first he seemed to be trying to keep up, but as soon as Poppy spoke about the Country trolls and Queen, his brows furrowed in distaste.
"Okay, two things. Look I know that Country isn't like home, but just because country folk aren't bouncing off the walls doesn't mean that they don't know how to have fun. What gave you the impression they didn't know how to have fun?"
"Well when we came here, we heard them singing and it was so sad! We couldn't just leave them like that, so we started singing to cheer them up you know? Some one needs to tell these trolls that music makes people happy. You know?"
"No. I don't," John said, "If they were singing then it was good day. Their music already makes them happy"
"How can sad music make anyone happy?"
"Well, life is sad sometimes, people can find comfort and peace in music that reflects that."
Wait, wasn't that was Branch was saying earlier? Did that mean John agreed with him about country music? Oh that felt weird.
"If I'm sad I don't want more sad things, I want something happy to make me feel better," Poppy said.
"Okay, look we'll continue this argument later, because I'd like to address my second point before I forget it, and its been a really long day so I'm not in the mood to fully address your genreist attitude. End of the World?" John said with a very unimpressed look on his face, before looking towards branch with a brow raised with confusion.
"Queen Barb of the Hard Rock trolls has started attacking the other tribes and stealing their strings," Branch sighed and explained, "You didn't hear?"
John rubbed the back of his neck, and winced with worry, "I've been out of town for a few days, I might have missed the memo. C'mon, I got some pull around here, I can vouch for you so you can get your message across, but please," John looked at Poppy, "Be respectful."
Poppy looked offended and turned towards Branch, he shrugged.
"Pete! I'm taking the prisoners!" John shouted now outside the jail cell.
"Growly growl..."
"Yeah, yeah, Daylight won't kill me, it'd make Clampers to upset."
John walked the group of Pop trolls through the town back towards Delta's office. He was probably sleeping on the cough, or in Rhonda tonight, but it was for his brother it was worth it.
Oh, Madonna his brother. Branch was alive. His little baby bitty B was alive. If John was dreaming don't wake him up! He was so thrilled, sure Branch was pissed at him, but he was just so relieved that Branch was simply alive. That his baby brother actually got to grow up and make a life for himself...and John missed it. Oh if he could go back in time and tell his younger self to look harder...There was so much that needed to be said between them. John just hoped that Branch would hear him out. The elder brother looked at they younger walking next to him, and bit the inside of his cheek.
"Look, Bitty-"
"It's Branch," His brother snapped.
Back off John a voice in his head that sounded a lot like Delta told him.
"Branch right, look I get you're upset."
"Do you? Do you even know what happened after you left John? Look I don't know what I did to make you hate me! But there's nothing that can fix it now! So don't blame me!"
"I'm not blaming you for anything! You never did anything!" John took a deep breath, "I don't hate you Branch. What made you think that?"
"Oh I don't know maybe abandon me after my first show! The show I messed up so bad that we all fell apart!"
"You messed up? If I'm remembering correctly you're the only one who didn't get tied to the venue ceiling. You didn't mess up. If anything that disaster was my fault."
"You're fault?" The angry scowl on Branch's face lightened.
John sighed, "There was a lot of things going on that night that you didn't know about and looking back I didn't handle them very well. But the point is that nothing that happened that night was your fault, I'm sorry I let you think that for all these years."
Branch was silent for a moment. His baby brother almost looked baffled by what John just said. Did Bitty really think that the concert disaster was all his fault for twenty years? Why didn't the others address this issue that very clearly badly effecting Branch? Did he not tell them about these thoughts either?
"Why didn't you come back?"
The question was quiet, but it snapped John back in the present.
"I did. Three years after I left...but the tree was empty, half the pods were smashed. I thought you were all dead."
John could feel Branch's eyes on him. He couldn't meet them though. He knew that they would only make him feel worse. Pity was never something that John was good at receiving, and Pop Trolls weren't as subtle as country trolls were when they expressed such heavy feelings and topics.
"John..." Branch said.
Shoving down those negative thoughts, Bottling up again John Dory? Shut up head voice that sounded like his loving wife, he'll address it later. John flashed a smile, "Not that it matter now, right? I mean you made it out clearly."
"Yeah, King Peppy really pushed for the escape tunnels to be completed once word came that the Chef had eyes on his daughter for the bergen prince's first troll."
John felt his eyes widen, "Yikes, yeah I can see why they rushed. Did they get Viva?"
Branch looked confused, "Who?"
"You know Princess Viva?"
"Who are you taking about?"
Now John looked confused, "Princess Viva, King peppy's first-born? Who were you taking about?"
"Poppy-Wait, right you left the tree before she was hatched you wouldn't know about her."
"Poppy's Peppy's daughter?" John said, dang, Branch lucked out on the soulmate chance. A princess.
"Yeah she is. Who's Viva?"
"Peppy's first-born. I'm guessing she's not around anymore."
"Poppy's never mentioned a sister. She's got a younger brother, Cooper, but no sisters."
John nodded, remembering the many bodies he found in the collapsed tunnels. Viva must have not made it out. He didn't blame Poppy for not bringing up a dead sister, especially in a Pop Troll settlement. The dead were not discussed in them.
"So, how's everyone else doing?"
"Huh?"
"You know the Bros and Grandma, how have they been doing?"
"I don't know, they all left the same night you did and," John swore he watched Branch's colors dull further, "Grandma's gone."
Oh, Branch. The other's left? Even Floyd? Then Grandma? Was Branch alone until he met Poppy. No he probably had friends, like Biggie. But still, Branch was left with that loss alone. On instinct, John reached out to hug Branch but pulled back. He didn't have the right to do that when he was at fault too.
The elder clicked his tongue and decided to switch topics, "So, Poppy?"
"What?" Branch raised a brow.
"Real pretty one right there Baby brother, fate was nice to you huh?"
"Stop. Right now. Just stop."
Ah embarrassing the younger one, his sibling duty has been fulfilled at last, "Aw c'mon I got twenty years of missed out teasing to make up for here."
"Just shut up," Branch rolled his eyes, "Besides what do you want to know about Poppy, it's pretty clear you don't like her."
"'Don't like her' is a bit strong. I don't like her intolerance. Believe me, I can totally get how the country folk can be shocking at first, but that doesn't mean she gets to trash on their music and lives. And I don't think you like it either."
"I don't but...what do you honestly expect me to do?"
"Uh, talk to her? If she's doing something that bothers you, you need to address it branch otherwise it won't get better. That's the whole point of being soulmates, to figure out why your a match and become better people for each other."
"And since when do you know so much about relationships?"
John raised his gloved hand and shoved off the wedding band, "Well I did marry mine."
"She's alive?"
John face screwed up in confusion. What the fuck?
"You're mark is covered. I thought..."
"Oh, I forgot people covered them for that. Uh no. I cover it because there's a swear in it and I don't want our kid to get any ideas."
"Kid? You're a DAD!?"
John shook his head, "Uncle. Daylight had a sister. Sister had a kid. Sister died of plague. We ended up with the kid. But we've been raising her for nearly five years now so she's practically ours."
"Ah."
"Now back to you and Poppy. Why don't you think you can talk to her?"
"Well, I'm not the best when it comes to talking to people. I just got her, and I don't want to ruin it. Besides she has no reason to listen to me anyway."
"Branch your her soulmate, her other half, she's going to need to listen to you at some point, otherwise she's going to end up hurting you and herself."
"She's also the Queen. I can't just tell the queen what to do. She doesn't listen to anyone."
John popped his lips, "Well she's going to crash and burn if she doesn't learn to fast."
"How would you know?"
"Because I was a leader who didn't listen."
Branch didn't say anything after that, but it didn't really matter. They had reached his house. It was a little shack near the farm fields. Two stories, but still small, with a little flower garden in front of the porch. Technically, John, Delta and Clampers could've moved into the City hall once his Daylight got elected but this house was the one Delta bought for her and Carrie all those years ago, and the place held a lot of sentimental value.
"This is your house?" Poppy said.
"Technically it's my wife's, but it's home...uh stay out here for minute will ya? She's probably home and I want to give her a heads-up." John opened then screen door, upon seeing Branch nodding in understand, and walked in, "Daylight I'm home!"
"In the kitchen Johnnycake!" Delta called out.
With in moments John walked down the hall and passed through the threshold of the joint kitchen and parlor. Delta was in there, rummaging through the cabinets, probably doing an inventory. She looked over and her eyes lit up with a smile.
"Hey," she walked over.
"Howdy," John said leaning against the counter.
They kissed and embraced.
"I missed ya."
"As did I Daylight. You're hair is looking especially lovely today ya know?"
"Alright, what did ya do?" Her joy becoming a fond exasperation.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, every time ya get that cheesy with yer flirtin' it's usually after ya done somethin' stupid. Now ya want to come clean."
John looked to the floor, "I did do something. And you're not going to like it, but I hope you'll understand once I explain."
"What'd ya do?"
"You can come in now!" John called out, and tried not to shrink underneath Delta's raised brow.
Branch and Poppy were the first to walk in, and his brother looked sheepish as he did so. Of course the quiet didn't last long.
"Johnathan Dorian! What in the name of-" Delta started.
"Young ears?!" John interrupted, only to catch Branch looking offend, "Not you," John said to him.
Delta let out a a sound similar to a growl, "Ya have 10 seconds to explain ya-self before throw ya in the jail house with 'em."
"He's my brother Del."
With that line, John watched as all fury blinked away from Delta. Her eyes softened, and scowl vanished. It was oddly similar to the look she gave him when he first told her about his family. They had barely been together for three months, when the anniversary of his return to the tree rolled around. He'd had been an idiot and drunken himself sick. He bawled the story into her shoulder until the sunrise when he finally passed out. When he woke up hungover, she had that loving understanding expression on her face, and John knew that he'd marry her. In the present, Delta looked over at Branch. His baby brother stood there stiffly, not meeting Delta's stare. She walked over to younger brother, gently raising Branch's chin to look closer at his face. The tenderness of her actions was equal to the level she had with Carrie.
"Ya got the same eyes and nose," Delta said, She glanced at Poppy and Biggie, "They ya friends?"
Branch nodded.
Delta hummed, "Alright, I'll let ya off the hook, but one more public disturbance and ya back in that jailhouse. And Johnny ya better make some cornbread."
"Right away, Darling."
"So you didn't think to tell me we might have a mass murder heading our way because...?" John said pulling the cornbread out the oven.
Delta sighed and sipped her sweet tea, "Because ya were out of town, and in my defense usually ya is sleepin' by now after a water run. And I didn't know what happened to classical."
"It was bad," Branch chimed in, "All the building were destroyed. Some of them looked like they were melted. No one was left other then a pennywhisle."
Delta eyed her brother-in-law with a curious eye. Branch was thankfully the calm one of his group. John hadn't been joking when he told her that Pop trolls could be very dramatic. The Queen and Big Blue were very animated with themselves. She was so glad that Branch was more like his brother and not them. Delta didn't know if she could hanlde three Pop trolls jumping off the walls.
"It was horrifying," Big Blue said.
"You have to understand why we were trying to befriend you, now right," Queen Poppy said, "If we can show Barb that music unites all of us, and that we're all trolls, I'm sure we can stop her."
Optimist and an idealist. Even if Poppy is pink, Delta can easily see how green of a queen she is.
"Whoa whoa," Delta stopped the young queen before she could rant, "I'm all for stopping a mass conqueror, but what exactly is ya plan suga'?"
Poppy looked confused, "I just told you, we unite and convince Barb to do the same."
"With all do respect Queen Poppy, but that plan is utter cattle dung," Delta said.
"Excuse me?" Poppy said.
"Hon, I appreciate ya're positive world view, but sometimes a healthy does of a reality is needed. Now I'm not sure about yer experience, but in mine, people who harm with out reason can't be reasoned with. I'm willin' to try and befriend Barb, it's the only way to really fix any future conflicts between the tribes, but I'm going to need more of a plan then that. Who's to say that Barb won't agree only to stab us in the back and take over anyway. And if Barb won't be reasoned with, how are we goin' to keep our people safe?"
"She's right," Branch said.
"You're on her side?" Poppy said looking hurt.
"Poppy I'm sorry, but she's right. What if Barb can't be reasoned with, we left Pop village on its own, and judging by the amount of damage that Barb could do the Symphonyville I know we have no defenses that will work against her weapons. We're completely vulnerable."
"Once Barb understands that we don't need to fight we won't need to worry about that," Poppy said.
"I'm not saying she won't but right now she doesn't," Branch said, "And she's an actually threat, do you want what what happened to Classical to happen to us?"
"No of course not what kind of Queen do you take me for?"
"Then why won't you take precautious in case of the worst? Why won't you plan a head of simply, 'lets be friends'. I want it to work as much as you do but you're not seeing the full picture. Ugh, you know what we don't have time for this," Branch said, and turned to Delta, "Do you have a place where you can hide just in case?"
"We could always bunker down in the mine shafts, there stable and it's what we do when twisters come around. Not sure how long they'd last in an attack though," Delta said, "and I'd need to reach other to the other settlements to warn them if they don't know 'bout Barb yet."
"We have a bunker we can fit everyone in," Branch said, "We need to get home and organize."
"What about the other tribes we still haven't warned Techno or Funk, yet," Poppy said, "They're still in danger."
"Techno is probably already gone," John chimed in.
"What makes you say that?" Branch said.
"I've been around. Figured out where the other tribes were, just couldn't find my own. Anyway, Techno rested just off the coast of Rock territory, they're closest Barb probably went after them first," John said.
"Off the coast? Like and Island?" Branch said.
John shook his head, "Nope, Techno are aquatic trolls they live under water. Also makes them a pain to get to but I know Rock trolls have submarine technology."
"What about funk?" Poppy said.
"Their the only other tribe I've never been able to track down. Either they went nomadic in their territory after the split or they died out," John said.
"We should still check it out," Poppy said, "If there's a chance we can find them and get them toe side with use, it will be more allies."
"I can take you there, I have a ride," John said, before stopping himself and turning to Delta, "Look I know I just got back."
"Go, I'll hold down the forth here."
Delta wasn't surprised anywhere that pink queen was going his brother was going to follow. It would make her husband feel better to join them. Besides, maybe he could talk branch in to babysitting Clampers so they could have a date night.
"I love you," John said and kissed her.