Chapter Text
In the time since the destruction and revival of song, though not necessarily tradition just yet, the genres thought to come together every so often to continue their reforged connection. Starting first with the Gift Swap hosted by the Pop Trolls, and now, a big old Hoedown to celebrate the start of summer. An older tradition to the Country Trolls that they were just itching to bring back. This time, open to any Trolls who could make it. Set up in tents in the vast space of Lonesome flats there was enough barbeque to feed even the whole of Bergentown, a dance floor big enough for hundreds, and several watering holes all around.
The whole thing started with one of the Country Tolls welcoming in everyone else with a rather rousing speech, but John Dory didn't catch a lick of it in all honesty. Once she started speaking, with all eyes turning to her, he clocked out as soon as her voice reached his ears. Mouth slightly open as he saw what he believed to be the most beautiful troll in the world smiling warmly to the lot of them. Right then he made a decision, he'd introduce himself and she'd do the same, spend the night talking away, and by the end of it all, he'd share a dance with the Country Troll with a voice like apple pie.
Before he even knew it, no longer was she on the stage as the party erupted into full swing around him. For a moment he gave up as he caught not a glimpse of her as trolls of all kinds went to and fro. He nearly gave up after some time, until he saw her sitting by the dry bar, watching the party with a gentle smile. This was his chance!
John Dory has made some mistakes in his life. But right here, right now, might end up being up there with the worst. He was oblivious to that fact so barely a hurdle it was for now he had a mission, and not a single thing could stop him now. He saddled himself on an empty seat next to the Country Troll with the absolute biggest head of hair he'd ever seen, nearly swooning when she turned to look at him.
"Howdy, Miss," his smile was nothing but pure cheese as he rested his elbows on the table before him. Just nearly striking a pose.
"Oh, howdy!" Her voice sounded sickeningly sweet, John was on the verge of melting in that very spot.
"Now," he cleared his throat. "Is there a Sherrif in town, Miss?" The voice he used was an octave lower than any normal speech to come out of the troll.
A sensation shot down Bruce's spine in that instant. At a completely different side of the festivities, while trying to teach his daughter and three of the boys to dance with the other trolls, his ears started to twitch and dread crept into his mind. Something bad was about to happen. He scanned the party for his brothers immediately. Floyd was further away, talking to some Techno Trolls, it couldn't be that. Branch and Clay were nearby on the dance floor, couldn't be that either. The same could be said for the rest of his boys as Brandi and some other islanders watched over them. Then it hit him.
"John Dory," Bruce whispered aloud as he shot out his hair to pull in the closest of his brothers. "Branch! Clay! Teach these kids some new moves, thank you, you're the best!" He let them go just as fast and threw himself into the thick of the party to find John.
"Why, yes. Is something wrong?" The Country Troll replied with that voice like apple pie.
"I've heard talk of a heart thief around these parts-" a finger gun shot out, pointing right at her. "And I think I found the culprit."
That's when Bruce spotted his brother. Sitting at the dry bar. On the verge of winking to no one other than the leader of the Country Trolls herself, Delta Dawn. Everything went cold as he rushed forward with his hand out. The damage was done, but perhaps he could stop it before it got any worse.
"John-!" But it was too late as his eyelid awkwardly shut.
"Pow!" He brought the finger gun to his mouth and blew out the 'smoke'.
The world went still as her brows flew up, her jaw went down and not another muscle more moved. Bruce brought a hand up to cover his mouth. he nearly looked away from the whole situation if only he weren't so morbidly curious as to how it all went down. It seemed like he wasn't the only one either, as every set of eyes sat at the bar subtly turned to look as well.
"Um, wow." Her lips curved upward and JD flashed a wide grin to seal it in. And then she started laughing. A small chuckle, but then some snorts filter in. Then she's stomping a hoof and slapping the bar surface. "Bless-" she can't even finish talking before erupting again. "Bless your heart!" Several Country Troll's eyes go as wide as the moon at that. "You sure are a funny one!" JD laughs and chuckles with her now.
"I'm John, by the way, John Dory." He adds in as she starts to settle down, extending his gloved hand to her, Bruce might just faint. "And who you might be, Miss?" The laughter stops.
"Oh- Oh, my..." She raises a brow. "You're actually serious?"
Nearby, a Reggaeton Troll knocks back a glass of juice and backs away from the seat adjacent to John Dory, shaking his head and muttering something along the lines of "Pobrecito..." Bruce comes back to it all and slowly makes his way to his brother.
"I can be-" she cuts him off.
"By golly, you are." Bruce is finally close enough.
"Delta Dawn!" He calls out, stepping between the two of them. "Can I just say how nice of a shindig this whole thing is! Isn't it John?" His teeth are clenched together as he utters his brother's name. John Dory however is dense enough to just keep sinking.
"Delta Dawn," He repeats. "A fine name for a fine-" Bruce fully turns to him.
"JOHN."
"Ahem." This calls them both to attention, as she pushes herself away. "So nice to meet you, n' all that..." She claps her hands together and starts moving backward. "But I think I heard Growly Pete calling me over, so, have a nice night boys!" With as polite a wave as she can manage, she dips into the party ahead.
"Later on, Delta Dawn!" John Dory says, just wanting to say her name again. Meanwhile, Bruce takes the free seat next to him and starts to rub his temples. "I think that went pretty well if I say so myself, and I do say so myself-" His brother groans.
"You're so hopeless, dude..."
"Ouch." He finally turns to face Bruce and leans closer to him. "Hey, how do you know who she is? You two know each other?"
"Do you not remember the welcoming remarks when this whole thing started." Nothing. "Who gave those remarks?" Now John Dory perked up.
"Pffffft! Uh, yeah I do, it was her!" He looks back out hoping to see her hair in the crowd. "That's where I first saw her, she had a voice like apple pie..."
"Apple-? John Dory, were you even listening to her?!"
"What? Of course I was!" Bruce made a face, unamused and unbreakable. "Okay fine, I heard her go 'Howdy y'all!' and I was gone."
"Oh, you're in deeper than I thought." Giving a pat on his back, Bruce leaned into the bar and whistled. "Since you missed this part, lemme fill you in, bro." He put a hand on John Dory's shoulder and exhaled deeply.
Now it wasn't very leaderly of him to ever lose his cool. Even on his own, he usually kept down the fort rather well. "An immovable wall of a troll," he liked to dub himself. But then there were moments where the wall broke, like when that forged letter appeared on Rhonda or seeing Floyd drained. John Dory couldn't always stay grounded, and when Bruce looked him dead in the eye, with pity more than annoyance, the wall broke once more. A chill spread throughout his whole body.
"Delta Dawn is the host of this whole thing." JD opened his mouth, promptly shutting it when Bruce put a finger to his lips. "Delta Dawn is also the leader of all Country Trolls..."
"Ha ha! Ha ha ha..." With a thump, his head hit the surface of the bar. Bruce elected to pat him on the back. "I probably don't even have a chance, do I?"
"I mean-" His hand stopped and he thought for a moment. Arm recoiled to rub at his chin as his brows scrunched together with the purse of his lips. "You know what? You're not half bad-looking, you are my brother after all." A weak shove came his way, Bruce shoved back and smiled. "You've become a more reliable guy by now. Much more self-aware, that's for sure, still room for improvement."
"I'm doomed."
"I didn't say that!" Bruce sighed and looked back out to the hoedown. Catching sight of Poppy, who's now joined Branch and Clay in wrangling his kids into some sort of cohesive dance. His little girl took her youngest uncle by the arms and spun him around very suddenly, Clay trying to stop her, and Poppy looking on with nothing but the brightest of smiles. "Look, if our Branch could find himself with the leader of us Pop Trolls, I'm saying there might be some hope for you too."
John Dory lifted his head back up slowly, taking his goggles off his head and rubbing the spot underneath them. With a sigh he joined Bruce in watching the party again, now privy to the same sight, he smiled too. Then he caught that orange-red hair poking over the hustle of it all and he sagged back down. Looking back at his Bruce, he started once again.
"You really think so, Bruce?" He said as his little brother turned to face him.
"The night is still young, anything can happen." Bruce smiled at him, "With a little help, of course. But, yeah, I think you have a chance. Maybe." That earned him an actual shove this time.