Chapter Text
What was he thinking? John Dory didn’t make it more than two steps away from his family’s pod before he stopped to turn around. Leaving his brothers behind, his family behind? He was a pathetic excuse of a brother. His parents.. they’d be so disappointed in him. Abandoning his little brothers because of mistakes that he made? He was pathetic and he knew it. He made his way back into their pod and instantly recognised how quiet it was. It wasn’t too unusual for it to be quiet after a fight, especially one as big as the one that they just had. But he still noticed the absence of little noises that would usually be there after a fight. Spruce’s grunting as he did a quick workout to blow off steam, Clay muttering under his breath a whole lot of words that Grandma didn’t approve of, or Floyd’s nervous pacing as he tried to think of a way to make his brothers stop being upset with each other (John Dory really needed to talk with Floyd about always playing mediator, he was 11 - he shouldn’t have to play therapist for his older brothers). The only familiar sound he could hear was..
“Bitty?”
John Dory walked into the main room of the pod and saw little Branch sitting on the floor crying (he always cried after big arguments), Floyd’s leaf vest draped over his small frame. Immediately, he dropped his stuff and rushed over to scoop the baby up into his arms.
“Branch? Shh, it’s okay, I’m here..” He whispered as he rocked his baby brother gently in his arms, feeling his tiny body trembling as he sobbed.
“Johnny! You left.. you- you all left!” Branch wailed, clinging onto John Dory’s shirt, as if afraid he would disappear again if he let go.
“Shh, Bitty B, you’re okay, I’m here. What do you mean the others left? Where are they?”
“They all left me, Johnny! Right after you left, Spruce and Clay left too! And then Floyd said he gonna go and start a solo career! I want them back!”
John Dory felt his heart drop. They all just left?! Like that? But they were all still so young! Spruce was barely 15, Clay just turned 13 and Floyd was only 11! 11! How could Grandma allow this?! Where was she?
“Grandma? Grandma where are you?” He stood upright, still cradling Branch in his arms.
“Oh, John Dory, you’re back. Well that was a short “trip to the Neverglades”.” Grandma Rosiepuff came into the living room holding a cup of tea with a teasing smile on her face. As if something was funny. Her grandsons were gone after having a huge fight and she’s giggling like something is funny!
“Grandma, the others! They’re gone!”
“Oh yes, I know. I know how you boys can be with your whole “running away” business. They’ll be back by tomorrow.” Grandma Rosiepuff replied with a smile as she waved her hand dismissively. John Dory felt his jaw drop to the floor at her casual demeanour.
“Grandma, they’re gone. Floyd said he wants to start a solo career! He’s 11!”
“Ah yes, the dreams of a young boy. I remember being young and having such big dreams.” Clearly she didn’t see how big of a problem this was. Was she always this absent in their lives?
Yes, she was. He just never realised it because he was too busy doing her job of taking care of his brothers.
John Dory growled in frustration and stormed off to his room with Branch, slamming the door shut behind him. Branch let out a little squeak at the loud sound, which made his angry expression soften.
“Are you mad at Grandma, Jay-Dee?” The baby asked in a small voice.
Yes, he was mad at Grandma.
“No, B.. I’m just a little flustered. But it’s fine, it’s bedtime for you now right?” John Dory forced a smile on his face as he walked over to the closet and rummaged around for one of Branch’s onesies to sleep in.
“Yay! Bed time! Are you gonna read me a story, Jay-Dee?” Branch giggled as he pointed at the dinosaur onesie he wanted to wear tonight.
“Yep! Which one you want tonight, Bitty? Jack n the Beanstalk?”
John Dory laid Branch down on his changing table and began to change the baby into his onesie as he listed off more story options.
“Monsters vs Aliens? Prince of Egypt? Or how about… Boss Baby! You like that one, don’t you buddy?”
Branch giggled and kicked his little legs, making it harder for JD to change him but the oldest brother was used to it at this point.
“Noooo! Not Boss Baby! I wanna Puss in Boots story! Pwease!”
“Puss in Boots, eh? I guess I could do that one again. But next time I will for sure read you Boss Baby.”
John Dory finished changing Branch into his pjs and carried him over to his bed and sat down. He reached over to the bedside table and picked up Puss in Boots. Branch bounced excitedly in his lap before crawling up to rest on his shoulder to see the story as he opened the book to the first page..
By the end of the story, Branch was fast asleep with his head on John Dory’s shoulder, drooling all over his shirt. John Dory smiled softly and closed the book before standing up and carrying Branch over to his crib.
“Night, Bitty. Tomorrow, I’m gonna find our bros, and bring them home. Promise.”
He gave Branch a soft kiss on his forehead and left the room to go take a shower before going to bed himself.
The next day, John Dory woke up with a goal in mind. He got himself ready, made breakfast for himself, Branch and Grandma Rosiepuff, then he got Branch dressed in his coziest clothes and most adorable little hat.
“Mm! I don’t like the hat, JD!” Branch pouted and shook his head, trying to wriggle out of the beanie.
“Yeah I know, B. But it’s cold outside, don’t want you to catch a cold.” John Dory replied with a fond eye roll as he zipped up Branch’s jacket. “And we’re gonna be out there for a while.”
“Mmmm…. But whyyyyy?” Branch whined and flailed his arms around a little.
“We’re going to find our bros, isn’t that fun?”
Immediately, the baby’s pouty expression disappeared and was replaced by a wide smile.
“Yeah!”
John Dory chuckled and strapped Branch to his chest in his baby carrier. He yelled a quick goodbye to Grandma and then he was gone. He tried to keep a low profile as he went, he wasn’t exactly in the mood to deal with anyone after what happened at the concert last night. He just wanted to get his brothers and go home and talk things out. Luckily, he only found himself being questioned by fans a handful of times on his mission, and most of them were too distracted by Branch’s cuteness to even properly question him about last night. Unluckily, his search for his brothers had gone absolutely nowhere! He had already searched the entire east side of the tree and now he was making his way to the west side. Meanwhile Lucky Branch got to just sit there and look cute while he did all the work.
After hours of searching, John Dory’s luck finally started to turn around. He had found a small library and decided to check it out to see if any of his brothers were there. And one was!
“Clay!”
Clay turned around at the sound of his name being called and immediately frowned. He closed the book he was reading and stood up to walk over to his brother. Branch giggled and clapped his hands, repeating Clay’s name over and over again.
“One, this is a library so keep your voice down, dork. Two, what are you doing here?”
John Dory took a deep breath. Keep calm, don’t blow up at him. That’s why he ran away in the first place. Just keep calm, speak softly.
“I’m here to bring you home. About last night-“
“Save it. I’m not going anywhere with you. Didn’t you hear me? I. Quit. I don’t want anything to with Brozone or you anymore. I’m done putting up with your bossy attitude.” Clay said in a dismissive tone, his fists clenched at his sides. He glared at John Dory, making it clear that he was being serious.
“This isn’t about the band, Clay! It’s about our family. I wanted to-“
“Of course! It’s always been about what you want!” Clay cut him off with a yell, the other trolls in the library were looking at them now. “Listen to what I want for once! I want to never see you again! I want you to leave me alone forever and I want nothing to do with you!”
John Dory couldn’t believe what his brother was saying. He knows that he messed up but he didn’t think that Clay would be this mad at him. And now he wanted nothing to do with him ever again? But they’re brothers! They’re supposed to stay together forever! He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of little sniffles coming from his chest.
“Clay’s not coming home?” Branch’s little voice asked, tears welling up in his big blue eyes.
Clay’s expression softened for half a second before it hardened again. “No. And you’re playing dirty with the whole bringing Branch with you to guilt trip me.”
And with that, Clay turned away from them and went back to reading his book, acting as if they didn’t exist. John Dory stood there in shock and confusion until he finally decided to leave the library and go home. He was sluggish and tired in his actions for the rest of the day, he ignored grandma’s attempts to ask him what was wrong and Branch’s requests to play games. He just kept quiet and made dinner for them before going to his room and laying on his bed staring at the ceiling. He failed. He broke their family and he broke his promise to Branch.
He was a failure of an older brother.
After that day with Clay, John Dory continued his search around the tree for Floyd and Spruce for days until he finally came to the conclusion that they had truly left the tree. So he failed at that as well. But all his failures simply just made him more determined to take care of Branch and Grandma, he couldn’t fail them as well. He was still upset at Grandma for her response to his brothers running away from home but she still seemed to think that it was all just a little phase or something and that they’d be back soon.
John Dory hummed to himself as he carried the shopping bags home, Branch had gotten stuck with helping Grandma with laundry which meant that he had to do the groceries. Which he didn’t mind since he liked doing groceries, he always bought himself a little treat with whatever change he had left over.
“My love do you ever dream of, Candy coated raindrops? You’re the same my candy rain..”
He walked with a little pep in his step as his humming turned into singing, it was a nice day today, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping. He even threw in a little bit of dancing into his walk, he was just in that much of a good mood.
“Cause you are..- where’d the sun go?”
He looked up, expecting to see a huge cloud or something like that blocking the sunlight, only for his face to pale at the sight of Chef Bergen standing right outside the cage around the tree… Right in front of his pod! He dropped the shopping bags, his good mood completely gone as he ran towards his pod. Branch and Grandma were there! He had to hurry!
By the time he got to the pod, the Bergen was chuckling and walking away. Please let Branch and Grandma be okay, please let Branch and Grandma be okay. He swung up to the branch their pod was on and looked around for his family.
“Branch? Grandma! Are you guys okay? Bitty B! Say something if you can hear me!” He called out in a desperate voice.
That was when he heard the sound of soft cries coming from down below. He jumped down off the branch and landed softly on the ground. He looked around and saw Branch sitting on the ground crying, his colours were dull but not fully grey, thankfully.
“Bitty! What happened?”
“A Bergen came! It got Grandma!! It’s all my fault I was singing too loudly, I’m sorryyyy!!”
Branch flung himself into John Dory’s arms and began sobbing into his chest. John Dory held his baby brother tightly, trying to offer some comfort. He may have been mad at Grandma Rosiepuff but she didn’t deserve to be eaten by a Bergen, she was still his grandma who he loved very much.
“Shh, it’s okay, Bitty B. It’s not your fault, okay? It’s those nasty Bergens. Don’t ever apologise for singing, that’s what makes us who we are. Grandma got taken because she loves you, she wouldn’t want you to blame yourself.” He gently wiped away Branch’s tears and held him close. “So don’t cry, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you..”
“Thank you, Johnny… I’m glad you stayed..” Branch snuggled up against him and sighed.
That’s all John needed to hear.
A few weeks after their beloved grandma was eaten, King Peppy announced that the trolls would be escaping from the troll tree in a few days on the next Trollstice. Everyone was on edge, it was exciting to know that they’d finally be free but also nerve-wracking to think about the consequences of getting caught..
King Peppy had come to John Dory personally to speak, inviting him to the royal pod to talk. Branch was left in the care of Princess Viva and the baby Princess Poppy while John Dory was taken to a private room.
“What I am about to show you is something that has been kept secret for many years, you must swear to never tell anyone about this.” King Peppy said seriously, a stark contrast to his usual bright persona.
“I won’t tell a soul.” John Dory agreed, his tone just as serious but also a little nervous.
“Okay.. here it is.”
King Peppy pulled back a curtain of shimmering tassels to reveal a harp with a single string. Immediately John Dory felt connected to the string, a sense of belonging as he heard the sound coming from the string. It was beautiful. It sounded like home.
“This is where our music comes from. It’s what makes us.. Pop trolls.”
John raised an eyebrow at the new term. Pop trolls? Weren’t they just trolls? King Peppy took notice of his confusion and began to explain. He reached into his hair and pulled out a map and placed it on the table.
“Many years ago, we used to live in harmony with other types of trolls. Country, techno, funk, rock and classical, we all lived together in harmony. The strings were the source of their music and they were all happy together. But then, the trolls grew intolerant of each other’s music and the world went into chaos. The trolls were violent, aggressive, different. Seeing that there was no escape from the fighting, the tribe leaders each took a string and separated. And the trolls were never in harmony again..”
John Dory’s eyes widened when he was finished with the story. Were these other trolls dangerous? Were they going to do something to them? And why was King Peppy telling him this?
“Wait, but why are you telling me this?”
“Because, I want you to keep the string safe during the escape.”
John Dory choked on his own breath at the King’s revelation. Him? Take care of the most important thing in their lives! Is King Peppy insane?!
“Wait- what?! Me? Why! I’m not qualified to take care of something so important!”
“I can see it within you. You’re a natural born leader, and you are amazing at taking care of others. I know that you took on most of the responsibilities of raising your brothers after your parents passed, and at such a young age as well. You managed both your brothers and your band much better than most adults would.”
Yeah, well most adults wouldn’t break apart their family so badly that they all run away from home.
“But-“
King Peppy cut him off by placing a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder. “Johnathan. I believe in you, you should too.”
John Dory looked up at the king with a wide eyed expression as he let the words sink in. Believe in himself? What did that have to do with anything? John Dory thought about that question as he walked home with a sleepy Branch cradled in his arms and the string of Pop stored away in his hair. He can’t believe that he actually accepted the king’s offer. He had a lot of weight on his shoulders now..