Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Floyd wandered through the house looking for his brother, Branch, the two of them had arrived in Rock Troll territory a couple of days ago. He had spent most of that time sleeping and recovering from Velvet and Veneer, along with the journey which took a lot more out of him than he expected. So as such he hadn’t received a full tour.

The house wasn’t that big so Floyd didn’t know why he was struggling so much to find his way around. Eventually he found his way to the living room and saw that Queen Barb was lounging on the couch, playing a video game.

Floyd didn’t grow up with modern technology like movies and video games, he had only been exposed to it when he left the Tree and even then he didn’t have much experience with it.

Queen Barb glanced up “hey Pink, glad to see you’re up and about.”

“Queen Barb” Floyd said respectfully, he attempted to bow but almost fell over. Thankfully he prevented himself from falling flat on his face.

“There’s no need to do that” she said “you can just call me ‘Barb.’ Seems fitting since we share a brother and all that.”

“Oh, okay” Floyd said “speaking of Branch, do you know where he is?”

“Totally” she said “he’s in his hideout.”

“His… Hideout?” Floyd repeated, he and Branch had planned an underground hideout (complete with a ten story waterslide) when they were kids and Floyd knew Branch had started back in Pop Village before his adoption and that Poppy finished it. But he didn’t know that Branch had built a second one.

“Yeah,” Barb stood up, “I’ll show you.”

She led him to a pair of double doors and opened them to show what looked like your typical recording studio. At least, that’s what it was on one side. The window that showed the other half was covered with a curtain and there was a sign on the glass door reading ‘Branch’s Hideout.’

“Did anyone ever tell you about Branch’s gray thing?” Barb asked.

“Yeah, he told me.”

“Okay,” Barb said, “so basically, when Branch first got here he hated anything to do with music so we turned part of the studio into the perfect sound-proof space for him. Even now he still uses it when he gets overwhelmed.”

“If it’s sound proof then how do you get his attention?” Floyd asked.

“Normally we just go in” Barb shrugged “but we usually don’t unless there’s an emergency or it’s time to eat or something.”

“Got it.”

Barb left and Floyd hesitated before slowly opening the door a crack. “Branch?”

“Hey Floyd” he opened the door wider.

Taking up most of the small space was a couch but there was also a small table and a mini-fridge sitting in the corner. The table had a stack of books and notebooks and there were several shelves with more. There was also a bulletin board full of pictures, most were of Branch, Barb, and King Thresh and some of other rock trolls who must be his brothers’ friends. But Floyd noticed there were also some of him and his brothers, they must have been added recently for they were all taken after their reunion.

Branch was sprawled on the couch with a book, his boots laying on the floor. He raised an eyebrow “did you need something?”

“Yeah…” Floyd said “can I talk to you?”

“Sure,” Branch moved his feet to make space and gestured to the couch.

Floyd closed the door behind him and saw down, pulling his feet up onto the cushion he took off his own boots. Unlike Branch’s (black with silver buckles) his were a plain brown. They were more meant to protect his feet from the hot volcanic rock versus a style choice.

He wiggled his bare feet content before turning back to his baby brother. “What are you reading?”

“One of the books Clay gave me for his book club” Branch said “not the best thing I’ve ever read but I can see why he likes it. So what’d you want to talk about?”

Floyd hesitated before just deciding to rip the band-aid off. “I was wondering if you would help me write a rock song.”

Branch fully sat up and looked at him with shock. “Really?” He nodded “oh gosh you’re serious… Um, not that I’m saying no but…. Why?”

“Well… You mentioned that rock music is supposed to be filled with emotions other than happiness, right?” Floyd said and Branch nodded “Well, I got a lot of feelings about the whole ‘being kidnaped and nearly dying’ thing.” He explained “and yeah sure, I guess I could write a pop song about it but… I don’t think it will have the same effect.”

Branch considered his answer, thinking it over. “Okay.”

“Really?”

“Sure,” Branch shrugged, “why not? Could be fun.”

—------------

“No.”

“Come on,” Brab said, leaning over the back of the living room couch. “If you’re going to sing a rock song you might as well look the part.”

“I mean,” Branch said from his place sprawled out on the floor, writing the instrumentals for his song. “She’s not wrong, you already have the right vibe going on. The one earring, the tattered pants, the two-toned hair…”

Floyd ran a hand through his hair, the roots still white from his time with Velveet and Veneer. He had gotten used to it but he still felt strange when people pointed it out. “Thanks but I’m good.”

Barb shrugged, “suit yourself.”

—----------

With Branch’s help Floyd had successfully written a rock song, he wrote the lyrics while his brother handed the instrumentals. He sang it with Branch and Barb doing back up, and Brab was the one to insist they record it.

“So,” Floyd looked down at the CD case “what do we do with it now?”

“We could make copies and sell it,” Barb suggested. “Or send them to the rest of your brothers.”

“I don’t know about selling it,” Floyd said, “but the second idea sounds good.”

“Oh!” Branch said, grinning “I have an even better idea.”

—---------

Velvet lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling over her cell. Her brother was out interacting with the other prisoners. For some reason they all hated her for being a ‘massive fraud’ but didn’t have a problem with Veneer. So whenever she stepped outside her cell she got name-called and insulted, several people even tried to fight her!

“Velvet!” Speaking of her brother…

“What?!”

“We got mail” looking over she saw that Venner was holding up a plain CD case. “The guards said we could use the TV to watch it.”

She grumbled but stood “fine, at least it will give me something to do.”

Veneer led her over to the TV and she ignored the insults with her head held high. The two siblings sat down and Venner got it set up. Clicking ‘play’ Velvet could see the troll she had captured in front of a microphone with the two emo trolls that had broken the diamonds holding BroZone.

The two emo trolls began to play and after a moment the pink one (she couldn’t remember his name) started to sing. It sounded like a rock song.

“There's a fire burning inside me”

“Cold steel calls out my name.”

“Tempted to give in to the rage”

“Torn apart by this affliction”

“Locked up inside myself”

“This life is much too young to fade”

Floyd had decided instead of writing about the kidnaping itself it would be about his feelings of the aftermath. More like a promise to himself that he would move past it and become stronger because of it.

“I ran away from the pain”

“Always breaking down inside.”

“Incomplete”

“But now I see”

“This won't be the end of me”

“The world around me”

“Sells an empty promise”

“They built you up just to watch you fall”

“It's time to meet this face to face”

“I ran away from the pain”

“Always breaking down inside”

“Incomplete”

“But now I see”

“This won't be the end of me.”

“Black and white melt into gray”

“'Till every truth is stripped away”

“When nothing's wrong, nothing's okay”

“Everyone has been betrayed"

Velvet practically glared at the screen, the stupid troll had ruined her life! And now he was off singing as if nothing she did affected him.

“I ran away from the pain”

“Always breaking down inside”

“Incomplete”

“But now I see”

“This won't be the end"

Venner smiled softly, glad that the trolls he and his crazy sister had kidnaped were doing okay. He had felt so much relief that he hadn’t died, that he hadn’t led to someone’s death.

“I ran away from the pain”

“Always breaking down inside”

“Incomplete”

“But now I see”

“This won't be the end of me!”

Chapter Text

Clay walked through the Hole ‘n Fun supervising everyone packing up and helping where he could. He and Viva had put it to a vote and it was decided that they would rejoin the Pop Trolls after all.

He spotted Branch sitting on a spare crate, his youngest brother had offered to help with the move. John Dory was also helping, offering to give rides in Rhonda to move everyone back and forth quickly.

Clay walked over and sat down next to his baby brother. “Everything okay?”

“Yup.”

“I heard that Floyd dipped his toes into the rock world,” Clay said.

Branch snorted “oh really?” He said sarcastically “how did you know? Was it a copy of the CD we sent you?”

Clay laughed, “okay, that’s fair. But speaking of which…. Can you help me write a song?”

“A rock song?” Branch clarified and he nodded “uh sure… But why?”

“Floyd got to” Clay shrugged “and I want to learn more about you. So the most logical way would be to learn about something you enjoy.”

He nodded, “I guess that makes sense. But Barb will probably want to help.”

“That’s fine,” Clay said, “so long as she doesn’t try to beat me again. I still have bruises!”

Branch laughed, “I can’t make any promises.”

—-----------

Barb had been very insistent that Clay sing his new rock song at the golf course so she could film it. And frankly, he didn’t want to risk saying no to her. She was kind of terrifying. Most of the Putt-Putt Trolls were getting settled in Pop Village and reuniting with lost family members. Only Viva and a few others were left, finishing up some last minute packing.

“I see you also decided against a rock makeover” Barb said, looking him up and down.

“Leave him alone Barb!” Branch called over “we already lost this fight with Floyd and Clay is way more stubborn.”

Brarb grumbled under her breath and walked away. Branch rolled his eyes and headed over to him. “Sorry about her.”

“It’s fine,” Clay said with a smile.

“You know though…” Branch said “I bet a new, less serious look would sure impress Viva.”

“I don’t know what you're talking about,” Clay said, his face feeling hot.

“Uh huh” Branch didn’t look convinced “sure.”

“Let’s just sing the song already!” Clay stammered, walking over to the makeshift stage.”

—----------

Like with Floyd, Branch had pretty much let Clay take over the lyrical writing. Though he did find himself helping more than he did with Floyd. Mostly because Clay didn’t have the same song writing experience Floyd did.

Barb finished setting up the camera and got onto their makeshift stage, picking up her guitar. Clay nodded at him and Branch began to play his own guitar.

“My mind is racing, heart is pacing”

“Everything I want I taste it I embrace it.”

“Gotta have the patience, dedication”

“Never leave a moment wasted, chasing greatness.”

“I think it's kinda funny that they slept on me.”

“Here's a couple things they should know about me”

“No plan B just a one way ticket”

“This is what it takes that's the difference”

Clay had decided to write his song to be about his success in being taken seriously and being business partners with Viva. Kind of like a big ‘screw you’ to everyone who ever doubted that he could be anything more than fun.

“I been waiting for this all my life, it's my time,”

“I never hesitate, I dig down, stand my ground”

“Look at all the valleys that I made it through”

“You're looking at somebody with too much to lose”

“The sacrifices is made everyday it's the price I pay”

“This is what it takes.”

“Eyes on the prize yeah this is what it takes.”

“(This is what it takes)” Branch sang backup.

“Eyes on the prize when it's make or break”

“(This is what it takes)” Branch sang.

“Eyes on the prize yeah this is what it takes, this is what it takes”

“The way I play it's calculated “

“Gonna take the game and change it, F the haters.”

“Turn the blood, N sweat, N tears to gold”

“When you break the mold and get results, here we go.”

Branch would say that he was having a lot of fun with this song. And it seemed like Clay and Barb were too. It was interesting to see Clay do so well with Rock Music. If Branch were to pick another genre for his older brother it would be Classical.

Though no one could deny that Clay was a Pop Troll. Unlike Floyd who has been more towards Punk/Pop as of late.

“I been waiting for this all my life, it's my time,”

“I never hesitate, I dig down, stand my ground.”

“Look at all the valleys that I made it through”

“You're looking at somebody with too much to lose”

“The sacrifices is made everyday, it's the price I pay.”

“This is what it takes”

“Eyes on the prize yeah this is what it takes”

“(This is what it takes)” Branch started singing back up again.

“Eyes on the prize when it's make or break”

“(This is what it takes)” he sang.

“Eyes on the prize yeah this is what it takes, this is what it takes.”

“What’s it gonna be”

“Eyes on the prize yeah this is what it takes”

“Eyes on the prize when it's make or break”

“Eyes on the prize yeah this is what it takes, this is what it takes”

“What’s it gonna be”

“I been waiting for this all my life, it's my time,”

“I never hesitate, I dig down, stand my ground.”

“Look at all the valleys that I made it through”

“You're looking at somebody with too much to lose.”

“The sacrifices is made everyday it's the price I pay”

“This is what it takes”

“Eyes on the prize yeah this is what it takes”

“(This is what it takes)” Branch sang.

“Eyes on the prize when it's make or break”

“(This is what it takes)” Branch sang.

“Eyes on the prize yeah this is what it takes, this is what it takes”

“This is what it takes.”

Chapter Text

Bruce stretched and yawned as he finished up the closing tasks at his restaurant, Brandi had already left to go home with the kids and get them into bed so he and the rest of the employees had finished up.

It had been a long day. A good day, but long. But Bruce liked it that way, he liked to stay busy and with thirteen kids and a business to run he was nothing but.

His restaurant ‘Bruce and Sons (and Daughter)’ was built for creatures of all sizes; Vacayer, trolls, and even the occasional member of Bergen royalty (though he was less enthused about that one).

Bruce waved goodbye to his employees as they left for the night and then headed over to a table in the corner where a lone Rock Troll was sitting. Surrounded by paper and various writing utensils.

“Hey Branch” Burce said “we’re close for the night, it’s time to head out.”

“What?” His baby brother looked around the empty space. “Oh sorry, I must have lost track of time.”

“Don’t worry” Burce said “I wasn’t kicking you out, you’re family. I just want to head home and I can’t do that until everyone’s gone…”

Branch snorted as he packed up “it’s fine man, you can be a jerk and kick me out. I won’t be offended.”

Bruce led the way home as they talked, Branch had been staying with him for the past couple weeks. In part to see him and get to know Brandy and the kids but mostly for work.

Branch, being the adopted brother of Queen Barb, was technically rock royalty. Though he would never become King unless some kind of tragedy fell on his sister before she got the chance to produce any heirs. Instead, Branch served as some kind of ambassador. His brother had explained that it was easier for some of the other leaders and their representative to talk to him because he was mixed genre versus a full rock troll.

His brother had needed a neutral place to meet with some of the other troll leaders and/or their representatives. So Bruce had offered his restaurant to be that place, though it has been quite nerve racking to have such powerful people in his place of business.

But speaking of his youngest brother, ever since Branch came back into their lives Bruce’s brothers had been pretty interested in learning about their brother's genre of choice. Both Clay and Floyd had written and sung their own rock songs.

In fact, Floyd had enjoyed it so much that he started dabbling in Punk Pop music and has been seeing quite a bit of success through it. Clay wasn’t interested in doing anything like that but the last time Bruce saw him Clay did tell him how much enjoyed working with Branch on his song.

Brandy had once brought up Bruce asking Branch to teach him about rock too and ever since then Bruce couldn’t stop thinking about it. Rock music, from what he has heard of it, didn’t seem like it would be his thing. Bruce liked pop music with a slower, more romantic feel to it or lullabies which he sung to his kids.

But whenever Branch talked about Floyd and Clay’s songs, or just rock in general, he seemed to be much… Lighter. And from what he had heard Clay and Floyd’s relationships had improved drastically with their baby brother since then.

Call him selfish but Bruce wanted that, he wanted to be close to Branch. And while his brother didn’t avoid him there was definitely a disconnect.

“Hey Branch?”

“Hmmm?” Branch looked up from his notebook “yeah?”

“Oh nothing” he said “I was just wondering if you would help me write a rock song.”

Branch stared at him “really? I mean, no offense, but rock doesn’t really seem like it would be your thing.”

“It isn’t Clay’s either but he wrote one” Bruce pointed out.

“I guess that’s true” Branch said “okay sure, once I’m done with all these meetings we can work on something.”

“Great!” Bruce said.

The two reached the house and Bruce started to head back to the bedrooms to give his wife a hand with the night time routines. As he walked he could hear Branch mutter under his breath “what is with everyone wanting to learn rock all of the sudden?”

—----------

Helping Bruce write a rock song had been much harder than writing one for Floyd and Clay. For starters, Branch had a really hard time trying to rock style that fit his laid back brother and by the time he left Vacay Island he still had yet to create anything concrete.

Bruce hadn’t been upset though, telling him to take his time and giving a bunch of different lyrics he had written. Once he was back home Branch was able to do more research into the different styles of rock music and all of their many sub-genres.

In the end Branch had decided to go with an old-school rock style, some more slow paced and less heavy metal and screaming. Which fit perfectly with one of the sets of lyrics Bruce had given him.

It took another few months before Branch could find the time to go back to Vacay Island to perform the song with his brother. Barb had to force him to go by forbidding him to do any ambassador work until the song was done. Something he was still grumpy over.

So he went back to his brother’s place with his guitar and a recording of the back-up vocals Barb helped him with. She had wanted to come too but had several back-to-back meetings she could not pass off to her advisors.

Bruce decided to sing his song later in the afternoon, when his kids were off at school. He also decided to do it at the restaurant so that afterwards he could get back to work while Branch packed everything up.

Branch finished messing with the speakers and turned to his brother. “You ready?”

Bruce grinned back at him “you know I’m ready!”

“And I'd give up forever to touch you”

“'Cause I know that you feel me somehow”

“You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be”

“And I don't want to go home right now”

Branch was pretty sure that part of this song was Bruce's excuse to flirt with his wife in public. But hey, he didn’t judge.

“'Cause all I can taste is this moment”

“And all I can breathe is your life”

“So and sooner or later, it's over”

“I just don't wanna miss you tonight.”

“And I don't want the world to see me”

“'Cause I don't think that they'd understand”

“When everything's made to be broken”

“I just want you to know who I am”

And the rest of the song was for Bruce to help explain some of his emotions from while he was in BroZone. Which was good because this was a huge reason why Branch liked rock so much, putting your complicated emotions to song!

“And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming”

“Or the moment of truth in your lies”

“So when everything feels like the movies”

“Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive”

“And I don't want the world to see me”

“'Cause I don't think that they'd understand”

“When everything's made to be broken”

“I just want you to know who I am, hey.”

“I want you guys to take this one home, alright?”

“And I don't want the world to see me”

“'Cause I don't think that they'd understand”

“When everything's made to be broken”

“I just want you to know who I am.”

“And I don't want the world to see me”

“'Cause I don't think that they'd understand”

“When everything's made to be broken”

“I just want you to know who I am”

“And I just want you to know who I am”

“I just want you to know who I am”

“And I just want you to know who I am”

While the song definitely had a slower pace to it, it was definitely still a rock song and Branch made sure to reflect that in the instrumentals.

“Yeah”

“You guys are the best”

“This the the best 4th of July ever”

“Ever, ever, ever”

“Give yourself some love.”

“You have no idea how much we love you, goodnight.”

“Thank you for sticking around”

“Alright y'all, yeah”

“We gonna try do one more for you, okay?”

“We got one more.”

Chapter Text

Rain softly pattered outside and John sat at a small table inside Rhonda, sitting across from him was Branch. The two of them were playing a very competitive game of checkers while waiting for the rain to clear up.

John Dory had invited Branch to go on a camping trip with him for a few days and had been so excited when he had agreed. Today was their last day and they were spending it inside as it was storming outside. Not the way he wanted to end this trip but he was happy just to spend time with Branch.

Luckily they had managed to find a cave for Rhonda to sit in so she didn’t get soaked by the rain.

JD watched with a fond smile as Branch studied the checkerboard before moving one of his black pieces. He grinned before using one of his red to capture, much to the dismay of his youngest brother.

Spending time with Branch was one of his favorite things, and to think he had almost ruined their relationship forever all because he couldn’t get out of his own head. John Dory still felt really bad about how he treated Branch when he first discovered his rock-ness.

“Johnny” Branch said “you’re making the face again.”

“What face?” He asked.

“The one you make whenever you’re about to apologize” Branch said “again.”

“But I have so much to apologize for,” John said, “for how I left you as a baby, how I reacted when we reunited, for how I almost beat Barb when she fought me…”

“Okay,” Branch interrupted. “First off, the second thing I’ve already forgiven you for. The first… I’m still working through it but I’m getting there and at this point all of the apologies are getting annoying. And the third, while she won’t come out and say it, I think that Barb was actually impressed that you got so close.”

“Right,” he said “sorry.”

Branch reached over and punched his shoulder. Hard. “I said not to apologize, idiot.”

“So-” JD went to say before stopping himself.

The two finished their checkers game and moved on to cards, as they played John couldn’t help but get distracted. Ever since the two of them started this little camping trip John Dory wanted to ask his brother for something but didn’t know how to bring it up.

He bit his lip, today was the last day they might see each other for a while. And sure, he and all of his brothers wrote letters back and forth to each other it wasn’t the same. Plus this was the type of thing he wanted to ask in person.

“Hey Branch?”

“Hmm?” Branch hummed, focused on his cards.

“You know how you helped Floyd, Clay, and Bruce write rock songs?” He asked.

“Yeah.”

“Can… Can you help me write one?” John asked.

Branch glanced up at him before shrugging and going back to his cards. “Sure.”

“Wait… Really?” JD asked “you’re just going to agree? Just like that? You’re not going to ask me a bunch of questions as to why?”

“Eh not really” Branch said, playing a card. “I mean, I’ve been kind of expecting this.”

“You have?”

“Yeah” Branch said “after the others asked I figured that you would at some point, even if I wasn’t sure when. Though I still have no idea why you guys all want to learn rock so badly.”

“Well,” John said, playing a card. “It's working out for Floyd, he’s doing that Punk Pop thing.”

“True” Branch agreed, “but Clay and Bruce haven’t done anything like that and I doubt you will either.”

“You would be right,” John Dory said “but I still want to try it out.”

“Yeah,” Branch said “and I’ll be happy to help. I’ll write the instrumentals, do you want to do the lyrics or should I?”

“I’ll do it,” John decided.

“Cool.” Branch said “just send them to me when you’re done.”

—--------

Branch and Barb were sitting on the couch playing video games when Debbie came flying in, landing between the two. Glancing over Branch could see the small animal holding a letter.

“Hang on” he paused the game “Debbie’s got something.”

Barb tossed her controller aside “it’s probably from Poppy.”

Branch nodded “though who it’s for… That is the question.”

Barb looked it over “it’s for you, and I’m guessing it’s not from Poppy given the lack of glitter.”

“Really?” Branch said “must be from one of my brothers then.” He tore it open and read over it, “it’s from John Dory.”

Barb unpaused the game and switched to playing solo “did he finally send you those song lyrics?”

“Yup…” Branch frowned.

“Everything okay?” Barb asked, pausing the game again.

“Yeah” he said, passing over the papers “I’m just a little concerned for John’s mental stability.”

Barb read over the lyrics and nodded “after he finished his song we should kidnap him and force him to go to therapy.”

Branch nodded “agreed.”

—---------

John Dory, like the rest of his brothers, had originally wanted to perform and film his song in private then send the tape out to their brothers. Branch, however, felt that it would be best if John did it in front of them. The two had a long conversation and debated the two sides.

In the end JD had agreed, much to Branch’s relief. He knew that the rest of his brothers still had mixed feelings towards John, which he understood, Branch still had his own feelings. But he was hopeful that this song would help Floyd, Clay, and Bruce see John’s side of things more.

It certainly put new things into a new light for him.

In order to have a little bit of privacy they decided to do it about an hour’s walk away from Pop Village, that way it was easier for all of the brothers to be there. Branch was the one who had the longest travel time but that was made easier by using an angler bus.

Branch walked over to John as Barb finished setting up, he noticed how nervous his older brother looked. An emotion that Branch never thought he would see on John Dory’s face. “Pre-show jitters?”

JD laughed nervously “yeah a little… I’m just worried about what they’ll think.”

“Who cares” Branch said with a shrug “if they decided to hate you, even after putting your heart on the line. Then they are in the wrong.”

John smiled a little “how did you get so wise?”

“Years of therapy” Branch said “Rock Trolls are very emotionally aware.”

“I can imagine,” John Dory said. “All that screaming about your feelings has to do something.”

Branch nodded before changing the subject “are you sure you’re okay with Barb being here? I understand if you want this to be just family.”

“Yeah I do” John Dory said “but she’s your sister. So that makes her family, in a way.”

“Oh…”

“Come on” Branch felt his older brother clap his shoulder “let’s do this.”

“I'm the strong one, I'm not nervous”

“I'm as tough as the crust of the Earth is”

“I move mountains, I move churches”

“And I glow, 'cause I know what my worth is.”

Branch could only hope that his brothers reacted well to John’s song, that it gave them some perspective on his mindset and the amount of stress he was under during the BroZone days.

“I don't ask how hard the work is”

“Got a rough, indestructible surface.”

“Diamonds and platinum, I find 'em, I flatten 'em”

“I take what I'm handed, I break what's demanded, but”

“Under the surface”

“I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus”

“Under the surface”

“Was Hercules ever like, ‘Yo, I don't wanna fight Cerberus?’”

“Under the surface”

“I'm pretty surе I'm worthless if I can't be of servicе.”

Watching his brothers’ faces as he played backup Branch could see the confusion on Clay and Bruce’s faces. But Floyd looked concerned, instantly understanding.

Floyd had always been more emotionally aware than the rest of them.

“A flaw or a crack, the straw in the stack”

“That breaks the camel's back”

“What breaks the camel's back, it's”

“Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa-oh”

“Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip 'til you just go pop, whoa-oh, oh, ohh”

“Give it to your brother, your brother's older”

“Give him all the heavy things we can't shoulder.”

“Who am I if I can't run with the ball?”

It was clear that Clay and Bruce had now gotten the point of this song. It seemed like Bruce got it sooner than Clay, which made sense. Bruce had gotten better at reading people’s emotions since becoming a father.

“If I fall to”

Branch started full on rocking out, before it was mostly the drums taking the stage with the instrumentals. John Dory’s voice changed to reflect that.

“Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa-oh”

“Pressure like a tick, tick, tick 'til it's ready to blow, whoa-oh, oh, ohh”

“Give it to your brother, your brother's stronger”

“See if he can hang on a little longer”

“Who am I if I can't carry it all?”

“If I falter.”

They could all practically see the weight of John Dory’s shoulders; Clay, Bruce, and Floyd were all shooting Branch looks. He imagined that they wanted him to put a stop to this.

But he wasn’t going to do to.

John needed this.

“Under the surface”

“I hide my nerves and it worsens, I worry something is gonna hurt us”

“Under the surface.”

“The ship doesn't swerve as it heard how big the iceberg is”

“Under the surface”

“I think about my purpose, can I somehow preserve this?”

“Line up the dominoes, a light wind blows.”

“You try to stop it tumbling, but on and on it goes.”

Branch and Barb suddenly stopped playing, letting John sing acapella for a moment.

“But wait…”

“If I could shake the crushing weight of expectations”

“Would that free some room up for joy?”

They started playing again.

“Or relaxation, or simple pleasure?”

“Instead, we measure this growing pressure”

“Keeps growing, keep going, 'cause all we know is.”

“Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa-oh”

“Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip 'til you just go pop, whoa-oh, oh, ohh”

“Give it to your brother, it doesn't hurt, and”

“See if he can handle every family burden”

John’s voice was raw and full of pain and conflicted emotions.

“Watch as he buckles and bends but never breaks”

“No mistakes, just”

“Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa-oh”

“Pressure like a tick, tick, tick 'til it's ready to blow, whoa-oh, oh, ohh”

“Give it to your brother and never wonder”

“If the same pressure would've pulled you under!”

“Who am I if I don't have what it takes?”

“No cracks, no breaks”

“No mistakes, no pressure!”

There was a long pause then Barb cleared her throat “okay, so you all have some stuff to talk over. So why don’t you do that now while I pack up.”

“Right now?” Clay asked.

“Yes” Floyd said “right now.”

Branch walked over with John Dory in tow. Floyd grabbed Clay and Bruce and pulled them to the side so that the five brothers could have a conversation that they needed to have for a long time.

Chapter Text

Branch walked into the recording studio, guitar in one hand. He was in a mood and wanted to jam out. But he also didn’t want to leave the house or worry Barb. Luckily his family had their own private sound booth inside the house, sure, one side had been turned into his hideout but the other half still worked.

He shut the double doors behind him and let out a deep sigh of relief, today was the anniversary of his Grandmother’s death and all day everyone had been checking in on him. Making sure that he was okay and asking if he needed anything.

Barb, Thresh, and his rock trolls friends all knew that he usually wanted to be left on this day. But Poppy and his brothers (who unfortunately learned the meaning of this day) did not know this. He appreciated the sentiment but it was not helpful right now.

Branch finished setting up the mic and recording equipment (you never knew when you were accidentally going to create a banger of a song and it was good to always be prepared) he picked up his guitar and hesitated.

In the past sixteen years he had written many rock songs about a variety of feelings and issues. But what he was going to attempt to sing about today was a topic he had never touched in his music before.

But something told him that he needed to try and write this song, just like his brothers needed to write each of their rock songs.

Though unlike his brothers he didn’t have anything written. The plan was to just stand here and play and sing what came to mind. He hated not having plans.

He closed his eyes for a moment and then reopened them, playing a cord.

“I couldn't take it, couldn't stand another minute”

“Couldn't bear another day without you in it”

“All of the joy that I had known for all my life”

“Was stripped away from me the minute that you died”

He had decided to sing about Grandma Rosiepuff’s death.

“To have you in my life was all I ever wanted”

“But now without you, I'm a soul forever haunted”

“Can't help but feel that I had taken you for granted”

“No way that I can ever comprehend this.”

“I wasn't dreaming when they told me you were gone”

“I was wide awake and feeling that they had to be wrong.”

“How could you leave me when you swore that you would stay?”

Branch was surprised at the anger that came out. Why was he so angry? It’s not her fault that she got eaten. It was his.

“Now I'm trapped inside a nightmare every single f'ing day”

“It's like a movie, but there's not a happy ending”

“Every scene fades black and there's no pretending”

“This little fairytale doesn't seem to end well”

“There's no knight in shining armor who will wake me from the spell.”

“I know you didn't plan this”

“You tried to do what's right”

“But in the middle of this madness”

“I'm the one”

“(I'm the one, I'm the one)”

For a moment it sounded like there was a second voice singing back up, but looking around there was no one else.

“Left to win this fight!”

Branch paused, taking a couple deep breaths. Considering if he should even keep going down this route. Well… He had already started, might as well finish.

“Red like roses”

“Fills my head with dreams and finds me”

“Always closer”

“To the emptiness and sadness”

“That has come to take the place of you.”

Branch went to keep singing but that strange voice from earlier, the one he was sure he had imagined. Interrupted and started singing.

“I know you’re broken down by anger and by sadness”

Despite his confusion Branch kept playing.

“You feel I left you in a world that's full of madness”

“Wish I could talk to you, if only for a minute.”

“Make you understand the reasons why I did it.”

That voice… It was too clear just to be his imagination. It kind of sounded like Grandma’s voice.

But that was crazy. Not only is she dead but the women Branch remembered would never sing rock!

“I wanna tell you that you’re all that ever mattered”

“Want you to know that, for eternity, I’m shattered”

“I tried so hard just to protect you but I failed to”

“And, in a prison of abandonment, I've jailed you”

“I never planned that I would leave you there alone”

“I was sure that I would stay with you, never to stray.”

That was her voice, Branch was sure of it… But… that wasn’t possible.

“And all the times I swore that it would be okay”

“Now I’m nothing but a liar and you're thrown into the fray”

“This bedtime story ends with misery ever after”

“The pages are torn and there’s no final chapter”

“I didn’t have a choice, I did what I had to do”

“I made a sacrifice but forced a bigger sacrifice on you!”

Branch kept playing his guitar, finding himself unable to stop as the ghost of his memory continued to sing.

“I know you've lived a nightmare”

“I caused you so much pain”

“But baby, please don’t bear guilt.”

“I don’t want”

“(I don't want, I don't want)”

Branch didn’t know who was singing backup cause it certainly wasn’t him.

“You to waste your life in vain.”

There was another pause then Branch began to sing again. His voice was alone.

“Red like roses”

“Fills my head with dreams and finds me”

“Always closer”

“To the emptiness and sadness”

“That has come to take the place of you.”

Grandma’s voice started to sing again.

“You're not alone, my heart agreed.”

“I thought you understood.”

This time Branch sang, responding. To what? A ghost? A hallucination? He wasn’t sure.

“You were the one I needed”

“And you left me as I always feared you would!”

“Would I change it if I could?” Grandma sang.

The two began to sing in unison.

“It doesn’t matter how”

“The petals scatter now”

“Every nightmare just discloses”

“It’s your blood that’s red like roses”

“And no matter what I do” Branch was by himself again.

“Nothing ever takes the place of you!”

His vision went blurry with tears and he played his guitar, doing a bit of a solo. Normally he would be jamming out and headbanding to the music. But this time he didn’t do any of that.

“Red like roses”

“Fills my head with dreams and finds me”

“Always closer”

“To the emptiness and sadness”

“That has come to take the place of you!”

Branch felt his guitar slip from his grasp as he reached up to wipe away tears, he felt a light touch on his cheek and looked up to see the face that matched the voice that had sung with him.

Grandma Rosie’s ghost looked to be transparent, barely there. She smiled at him, brushing the lock of dyed, red hair out of his face and kissing him on the forehead. Then she disappeared without another word.

Branch felt his knees give way and he collapsed on the floor as he started to sob.

Chapter Text

Branch sat in a corner of the pod with his knees pulled up to his chest. It had been a few days since the ghost of his Grandmother had sung a rock song with him. He couldn’t stay in Rock Volcano City, for the first time it felt suffocating.

So he left a note for his sister (he wasn’t stupid enough to leave without telling her) and hijacked an angler bus. The plan was to go to Pop Village and talk things out with Poppy and go over his complicated feelings. But instead he ended up here, in the old Troll Tree. Specifically his Grandma’s pod.

He ignored the dust and dirt as he sat in the corner, one of Grandma’s records (not BroZone) was playing softly.

“Branch?” He looked up to see a familiar pink troll standing in the doorway. Next to Poppy was Barb.

He buried his face back into his knees and missed the look to two queens exchanged. Poppy and Barb disagreed on a lot of things but one thing they could agree on was how much they loved Branch.

Brarb glanced behind her at Branch’s older brothers, when the four trolls heard that Branch had run off they insisted on tagging along. The note had said that Branch was going to Pop Village but when she couldn’t find him there it was Floyd who had the idea of checking Tree.

“Alright,” she said, “you boys are up.”

“What?!”

Barb rolled her eyes, she was the first to admit that she wasn’t the biggest fan of Branch’s brothers. But these past several months of interacting with them and helping the boys write and perform rock songs has gotten her used to them.

“As much as I dislike it” she said “Branch is fond of you and it seems that whatever he’s going through is a family thing. So you four can talk to him.”

The brothers looked at each other and John Dory had a look of determination on his face and headed into the pod. That seemed to spur the rest of them into following him.

Poppy looked conflicted and Barb gently grabbed her arm and pulled her off, “let’s let them talk.”

—---------

Branch looked up when he heard the sounds of people sitting near him. It was his brothers. He went back to hiding his face again. He felt a hand on his shoulder, Floyd.

“Hey Branch…” Floyd said softly “we heard you ran off, what happened?”

He didn’t answer right away, Branch didn’t have the heart to tell them what he saw…. But he knew everyone was worried about him, he had to tell them something. He looked up and saw the looks of concern on his older brother’s faces.

Branch looked around the dusty pod and felt the age-old feeling of guilt rise up in him, despite Thrash and Barb’s assurances that Grandma Rosie’s death he still blamed himself every so often.

“It’s my fault” he finally whispered.

“What are you talking about?” Clay asked.

“Are you talking about the band breaking up?” John Dory asked “cause we already said-”

“No!” Branch interrupted, “I mean Grandma dying.”

His brothers all looked at each other, confused. “Uh,” Bruce said “what?”

“Yeah” Floyd said “you said she was eaten by a Bergen.”

There was a long pause as Branch struggled to form the words “I was the reason the Bergen came” he said “I was singing and the Chef heard… I wasn’t paying attention and the next thing I knew I was being shoved out of the way before I was grabbed and…. Grandma was taken instead.”

The silence was deafening.

“Branch” Floyd said softly “that’s not your fault.”

“But you told me it was my job to take care of her” Branch looked at his brother, feeling very small.

A look of guilt came across Floyd’s face “that’s not what I meant…” He said softly “I meant like giving her extra hugs or working on puzzles with her. Not keep her alive, you were a kid. That shouldn’t have been your job.”

“It’s not just that” Branch said “it’s also my fault the band broke up and you all left.”

This time it was John who spoke up “no it’s not. It’s my fault.”

They all looked at their eldest brother and John Dory sighed “if I hadn’t put so much pressure on you guys, if I had been more of a brother than a manager… Then maybe Floyd getting kidnaped wouldn’t have been the thing to bring us all back together. Maybe we wouldn’t have separated in the first place.”

“I think we needed to break up” Bruce said “maybe not in the way we did… But look at us all now, at how much we’ve grown. Look at what we accomplished. I found the love of my life and we have thirteen amazing kids.”

“I found Viva and we worked together to keep our trolls safe” Clay said softly “now we got a business together.”

Floyd fiddled with his new black leather vest “my solo career is really picking up now that I’ve gone punk.”

“I made some really good friends up in the mountains,” JD said.

They all looked at Branch who hesitated “Barb is a pretty great sister” he finally said.

“Plus you helped all of us write some a bunch of real bangers of rock songs” John added.

“Can… Can I ask why?” Branch said “why you guys wanted to learn rock so badly.”

“I don’t know about you guys” Clay said “but I wanted to because I wanted to get closer to you Branch. And you like rock so it made sense to try and learn more about it.”

“Plus it’s easier to sing about your negative emotions in a rock song” Floyd pointed out. John Dory and Bruce both nodded.

Branch nodded softly “I… I still really miss Grandma. And I know you guys said it wasn’t my fault but… I am sorry.”

“We know buddy,” Bruce said.

Branch sighed and leaned up against the wall and closed his eyes and someone wrapped an arm around him. The record player was playing a soft, lyric-less melody and Branch found himself singing softly.

“Hey there now”

“Where'd you go”

“You left me here”

“So unexpected”

“You changed my life”

“I hope you know”

“'Cause now I'm lost”

“So unprotected”

“In the blink of an eye”

“I never got to say goodbye.”

Branch could feel his brothers staring at him. For he was very much not singing a rock song.

“Like a shooting star”

“Flying across the room”

“So fast so far”

“You were gone too soon”

“You're a part of me”

“And I'll never be the same here without you”

“You were gone too soon.”

Branch felt Floyd wrap and arm around him, holding him close. He appreciated that none of them commented on his singing.

“You were always there”

“Like a shining light”

“On my darkest days”

“You were there to guide me”

“Oh I miss you now”

“I wish you could see”

“Just how much your memory.”

“Will always mean to me”

“In the blink of an eye”

“I never got to say goodbye.”

“Like a shooting star”

“Flying across the room”

“So fast so far”

“You were gone too soon”

“You're a part of me”

“And I'll never be the same here without you”

"You were gone too soon.”

He reopened his eyes and stared down at the floor, more tears spilling down his cheeks. What Branch didn’t realize was that the rest of his brothers were starting to tear up as well.

Floyd’s voice then joined his.

“Shine on”

“Shine on”

“On to a better place”

“Shine on”

“Shine on”

“We'll never be the same”

“Shine on”

“Shine on.”

Bruce, Clay, and John Dory started singing along softly.

“Like a shooting star”

“Flying across the room”

“So fast so far”

“You were gone too soon”

“You're a part of me”

“And I'll never be the same here without you”

“You were gone too soon”

“You were gone too soon”

“(Shine on shine on)”

“You were gone too soon”

“(Shine on shine on)”

“You were gone too soon.”

As the song ended Branch could feel something inside him heal and he breathed a little easier.