Chapter Text
“ Hickory ,” Floyd said, breathless with disbelief.
The satyr stood slowly from the ground, mentally running through a handful of possibilities. He didn’t hear any music, he knew how he got to this beach, and there was nothing else that could have led to him hallucinating. He could feel the salty sea air, smell the earthy jungle in front of him.
The two slowly stepped towards each other in shock, until they were face to face. Hickory reached out, hesitantly, and used his hand to cradle Floyd’s face.
Floyd leaned into it like it was the only thing holding him up.
Hickory moved, wrapping his other arm around Floyd, pulling him close. Floyd grabbed his vest and clutched him like he was going to leave if he let go.
The satyr’s knees started shaking, and he collapsed onto the ground, kneeling, without letting go of his love. Floyd fell right with him.
Their movement caught the attention of the rest of the group, and Viva was before them in seconds. “Are you okay?!” She demanded.
Poppy appeared next to her. “Did something happen?!”
The two sisters both faltered when they noticed the pink haired troll.
“Are you… Floyd?” Poppy asked, nervously.
He nodded, not letting go of Hickory.
The sisters grew ginormous smiles and began jumping around excitedly.
“We found him!!” Poppy yelled back to the group. A cheer went up as the others rushed towards them.
“This is Poppy, Branch's girlfriend,” Hickory explained, tiredly. Floyd looked shocked at the mention of his youngest brother. “And that's Viva, Clay's best friend.”
Viva was suddenly next to them, grinning brightly. “It's so fantastamazing to meet you!” She said, quickly.
Poppy appeared next to her, just as excited. “We've been looking forever!” She added. “Your brothers will all be so excited!”
“...my brothers?” Floyd asked, nervously. Poppy pointed behind her, where a crowd of five more trolls were running towards them. He laughed lightly as he saw them all. “You got a whole party, here,” he joked, wetly.
Hickory nodded. “It seems that our family grew while you were away,” he joked.
Floyd winced, retracting slightly, making the others worry. “Well…”
Hickory stared at him, questioningly, until he heard a very quiet voice from behind his boyfriend.
“... daddy ?”
He looked up to find the trolling from before, the one with his hooves, looking nervously at Floyd.
Vaguely, he heard the Pop sisters getting excited behind him, but he froze as he processed the information.
“Floyd?” He asked, breathlessly. His boyfriend nodded. “She's-” He gaped in surprise.
Floyd nodded. “This is Annelise, our daughter,” he explained, nervously.
The trolling looked nervously at Hickory, shifting from hoof to hoof. He glanced at her in return, looking at how pale her colors were, how big she was, how nervously she stood. He looked down at Floyd, who looked tired, and thought about his headaches, his sickness before he had left for the bounty.
“Floyd?” He asked, quietly. “I don't-” he began to slump, eyes fluttering.
“Hickory!!” Floyd yelped, panicked. Viva rushed in, helping stabilize them. “I-!”
“Hey, it's okay,” Poppy said to him, quietly. “He just got a lot of information, right after being tossed around on the ocean. Is there somewhere where we can get him some drinkable water?”
Slowly, Floyd nodded, standing up. Viva took hold of Hickory, quickly joined by Dickory, and the pink-haired troll grabbed his daughter. “This way,” he said. “The resort-”
He shook his head, watching as the group walked into the forest- the most direct way to the other side of the island.
—
“Bruce!” Floyd yelled as they entered the resort. “Brandy!”
The couple turned in surprise, rushing out of the kitchen. Floyd never yelled.
Branch and Poppy glanced at each other at the names, but hurried on into the restaurant.
A troll with long, luscious, purple hair came rushing forwards. “Floyd?!” He yelped. “What's-” He froze when he saw who was behind him.
“Spruce?!” John Dory asked, bewildered. The brothers all stood, staring at each other in shock, except Floyd.
The second youngest continued to rush forwards, up to his older brother. “Bruce!” He pleaded. “We- we need water!”
The snapped the second eldest out of it, and he glanced over and noticed the troll being carried by two of the strangers. He took in the horns and hooves and blinked. “Is that..?”
Floyd nodded, nervously.
“Here!” A new voice chimed in. The group turned to see a small Vaycayer running towards them, very focused on something in her hands. “I got the water, Daddy!”
Bruce stepped up, gracefully taking the troll-sized cup from her hands. “Thank you so much, LaBreezy,” he said. “Can you go tell your brothers that me and Mom will be busy for a bit?”
The small Vaycayer nodded determinedly, running past the group and out the door.
“Come here,” the Vaycayer from behind the counter said, placing down a small deck chair. “Is it heat stroke?”
Floyd shook his head. “I just- I told him about Lisi and he-”
“Who's Lisi?” Clay asked, curiously.
Nervously, the second youngest turned with a small, sheepish smile on his face. He hefted his child higher on his hip. “Surprise,” he said. “You're all uncles.”
It was so silent you could hear a pin drop, before the group erupted into sound.
Bruce snorted, handing off the cup of water. “Our brothers are uncles 14 times over, at this point.”
The group erupted into even louder noises, making Lisi whine and bury her head in her Dad's chest.
“Spruce!” John yelled, jokingly. “Still the ladies’ man!”
A loud cough interrupted them, causing them all to stop and look at the Vaycayer with them. “He goes by Bruce, now,” she added, pointedly.
Said troll smiled gratefully, stepping up beside her cheek. “Meet my wife and business partner, Brandy,” he bragged. “She's my soulmate.”
“Wait!” Poppy interrupted. They all looked at her. “Just for clarification, did you by chance stop by Bergentown?”
The couple glanced at each other, before Brandy nodded slowly. “Yes..?”
The queen deflated in relief. “Okay, good! That's one problem solved!”
Bruce glanced at her questioningly. “Problem?”
“Our friend Bridget told us there was a mysterious giant suspiciously poking around the troll tree with knowledge only our kidnapped brother would have,” Branch explained, flatly. “We thought you might have been the one to kidnap him.”
The islanders all recoiled in shock at the accusation.
“My wife would never!” Bruce protested.
Branch shrugged. “I mean, we wouldn't have any way to know that. None of us even knew her.”
“But we know her now!” Poppy chimed in, excitedly. “It's so nice to meet my future sister-in-law! I'm Poppy, Branch's girlfriend!” Next to her, said troll flushed and began stammering. She ignored him and grabbed his arm, pulling him forwards. “And this is Branch!”
Brandy chuckled. “Of course, it's so nice to meet you too,” she said.
Bruce laughed as well. “Oh, young love!” He joked. “Remember when we were like that?” There was a chorus of ‘eww's and the group looked up to find children staring at them. Bruce and Brandy both laughed, rolling their eyes.
“Gruncle River!” One of them shouted, running further into the resort. “Mom and Dad are being gross!”
The rest of the children followed suit, seeking out their other family.
Poppy laughed lightly, remembering all the times her school children did that to their own parents, running to her when they thought their parents were being gross.
“Anyways, I'm Viva!” A new troll introduced herself. “I'm Clay's best friend, and Poppy's my little sister!” She yelled out. “Can I please braid your hair?!”
Brandy glanced at Bruce, who just shrugged in non-answer. “Sure?”
In a split second movement, she found her bun disassembled, and instead, her hair was in a large braid, running down her back.
“And this is Clay! Bruce's middle sibling!” Viva introduced, once she was back in her place. “And that's John Dory, the oldest, and that's Dickory, Hickory's brother. And this is Barb! She's here too, but I don't know who she is!”
Said troll snorted. “Wow. Thanks, blondie.”
“Floyd, honey?” Brandy cut in. “Why don’t I take Lisi to go play with her cousins while you guys talk for a bit?”
The pink-haired troll blinked, glancing down at his daughter, who still had her face buried in his chest and her ears pressed backwards. “Lisi?” She shook her head, burying her face in further. Hickory, finally stable, stood and hesitantly walked up to Floyd, who leaned into his side instantly.
“It’s probably pretty loud, huh?” Poppy said, quietly. Lisi looked up at her in confusion. “So many people to meet in such a quick time, must be scary, huh?”
The trolling nodded, still partially hiding her face.
“Oh, you’re just so cute,” she said, vaguely aware of Viva stepping up beside her. “I bet you help out with the restaurant, don’t you?” Lisi turned to fully face her and nodded. “Your dad must be so proud.”
Floyd smiled shyly as Lisi reached out to the other pink-haired troll. “Would you want to hold her?”
Poppy’s face lit up in excitement. “Is that okay, Lisi?”
Lisi looked hesitantly back at her dad and received a reassuring smile. Nervously, Floyd held her out for Poppy to hold.
“Oh, hello! Such a cutie!” The queen cooed, gently taking the trolling in her arms. She found herself unable to keep her cool- this was basically her niece already! “You’re so tiny and sweet! You’re like a little gumdrop!”
Over to the side, Branch sighed dreamily, watching his girlfriend cooing over the baby. He paused when he realized he had heard an echo. He glanced next to him, finding Barb staring at his girlfriend with the same besotted expression he had worn a second ago.
She realized he was staring and froze, quickly averting her gaze. She still felt his gaze boring into the back of her head, though.
Over with the Pop sisters, Lisi began fussing, reaching out to her dad again. Floyd was quick to take her back, almost snatching her from Poppy's arms.
Viva looked like she wanted to protest, but Poppy just smiled. “Thank you so much, Lisi!” She said, quietly. The trolling nodded, but hid her face in Floyd's chest again.
Hickory looked down at her. “Could I..?”
Before Floyd could answer, Lisi shook her head with a whine, pinning her ears down.
“I'm sorry,” he said, genuinely. “I- this has all been a lot for her. It's actually nap time, but maybe…” Floyd shifted to try to detach her, but she just clung on tighter.
“No, it's fine,” Hickory rushed. “With the day I've had, I could probably use a nap, too,” he joked.
Slowly, Floyd nodded. “Would you want to… join us?”
The satyr blinked in surprise, before softly nodding. Gracefully, the two excused themselves, heading for the family area at the back of the resort.
Poppy stood with a serene smile on her face, happy to see them reunited. To her other side, though, her gaze caught on someone approaching. Viva had disappeared when the baby had left, leaving Poppy alone to greet the Hard Rock Queen.
“Hey, uh, Popstar?” Barb said, nervously. “Can I… talk… with you and Boyto- I mean, Branch?”
The other queen shot her a curious look, but nodded. “Yeah, I can go get him.”
“Great!” Barb said, quickly. “I- uh- meet me where we washed up on the beach!” Without another second for words to be spoken, she left in a hurry.
—
Meanwhile, near the bar, John Dory, Bruce, and Clay stood around each other, awkwardly staring.
“So…” John Dory said, eventually. “How- uh- how’s life been?”
The other two glanced at him, before shrugging.
“Fine, I guess,” Clay said, measuredly. “Spruce?”
“It’s Bruce,” the second-eldest corrected. “It’s- it’s fine. I guess. Floyd’s been doing a lot better.”
“That’s- uh, what happened?” Clay asked, nervously eyeing his second youngest brother as the troll in question left for the more private areas of the resort, Hickory following dutifully.
He could tell his colors had lightened, which was reflected on Lisi as well. He looked tired, and his ears drooped lower than they probably should have.
Bruce scowled, crossing his arms. “Two upstarts in Mount Rageous.” He reached into his hair, pulling out a piece of parchment, which he held out to the others. “They tried to send me a ransom letter.”
John Dory reached forwards, nervously, grabbing the paper. “They- they sent me one too.” He reached into his hair, pulling out his own letter. It was identical, except for the name at the top.
In a sudden movement, Bruce grabbed his brother’s letter. “You-! Why weren’t you there then!” He scanned the letter, frantically. “I found him months ago! He’s been here with me the whole time!”
“Hey! I didn’t get this letter until a few weeks ago!” JD protested. “I was in the Neverglades! I couldn’t have known!”
Both of them, lacking a retort to the other, turned to glare at the youngest of the group.
Clay’s hair bristled as he reeled back in offense. “Well, don’t look at me!” He yelled at them. “They never bothered to send me a letter! I- I didn’t even know you were all still alive until Branch and the others showed up!” He shouted at them.
Both of the older brothers winced, eyes darting away in shame.
“So, the entire time we’ve been searching, he’s been here with you?” John Dory said, sending a side glance at Bruce. “Guess you got lucky, huh?”
“...yeah,” Bruce said, his fingers crinkling the edges of the letter. “Lucky….”
He threw the letter down onto the ground, and walked back into the kitchen, leaving the other two brothers standing silently.
—
When the pop couple arrived on the beach, a while later, Barb had set up a small area with seating, facing where she stood nervously with her guitar.
When she saw them, she gestured at the seats, frantically. Once they were seated, she took a deep breath.
“So…” she winced, as if she couldn't believe she had started with that. “I uh- have a song. For you.”
Poppy smiled at her encouragingly, while Branch rolled his eyes, but settled in for the show.
After another moment to collect herself, Barb started playing.
I kissed a girl, and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl, won't deny it,
I hope her boyfriend won't mind it
It felt so wrong, it felt so right,
Might mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl, and I liked it
I liked it
She continued playing, avoiding their gazes. As she ran out of verses, she flushed, her cheeks as red as her hair, ending the song.
“So, yeah,” she said, quickly. “I just- I know you probably didn't mean it, but I just wanted to confess- and- and apologize- I know you guys are probably still working on forgiving me, but I just- I just wanted to clear the air. I'm kinda in love with Poppy.”
“Wow. So surprising.”
“Branch!” Poppy protested, lightly hitting her boyfriend's arm.
Barb felt the color leave her face. “You knew?!” She said, in a panic. “I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make it uncomfortable-!”
“Barb,” Branch said flatly. “You literally told me you liked her.”
The blood rushed to her face again, in embarrassment, and she feared she would pass out from the rapid changes in blood pressure.
“Besides, there's no need to apologize,” Poppy said, kindly. She flushed, her face becoming pinker than her hair. “I kinda like you too.”
“...but you two are together?”
“We talked about it,” Branch explained. “And about what adding you to our relationship would mean.”
“Would-” Poppy took a steadying breath. “Would you want to talk about it? Maybe, without a song this time?”
“Absolutely,” Barb said in a hurry, throwing her guitar aimlessly into the jungle. She sat down in front of them, making Poppy giggle.