Chapter Text
It has been a week since the end of Queen Barb’s World Tour, with everyone adjusting back to their normal lives it created an opportunity for everyone to connect with one another, for both the rulers and its citizens. One such person was Hickory; he was a Yodeling Troll that was a bounty hunter for hire. While he was undercover as a Country with his brother Dickory, playing that façade to get Poppy to lead him where the Pop String was, the Country Troll character he played did something to him. It made him reevaluate himself of who he was and what he was. While at heart, he was a Yodeler, but his soul yearned for him to sing and play as a Country Troll as well. Hickory did not understand, nor did his brother Dickory did not help him any better. Hickory just felt lost, so when he went to the Lonesome Flats to speak with Delta, this terrified him a bit. To say that she was upset about him breaking out Poppy, Biggie, and Branch from jail during Barb’s World Tour was an understatement. Hickory was fortunate that Delta did not tell Clampers to get him, but that did not make him less nervous.
“Um, allo Miss Dawn,” Hickory said nervously, “how is your afternoon going?”
“Alright, no need for small talk,” Delta sternly said as she crossed her arms, “what do you need?”
Hickory gulped, “V-v-vell,” stutter Hickory, “I vanted to ask, is it possible for a partner like me to lif here in the flats?”
Delta was skeptical, she did not know if the Yodeler was trying to pull a fast one on her. So, she told the Yodeler that if he wanted to stay within the flats, he would have to earn his keep. Hickory was ecstatic and said to Delta that he was willing to put in the work to live within the Country Trolls. Delta led Hickory to a small barn near the end of the small town, everyone eyeing him with hostility. Once at the barn, Delta explained that he would need to go report to her in the morning to assign work to him. Hickory thanked her as he entered his new home and made his bed (he piled some hay and put a blanket over it). Hickory was nervous, he did not know if he was making the right choice. He thought back to what his brother, Dickory, said to him.
“YOU ARE DOEN VAT?!?!” Dickory screamed at his brother.
“I said zat I’m leaven to live in ze Lonesome Flats,” replied the Troll.
“BUT VY?” Dickory screamed again, “I sought zat you’d be done vis zis after vee gotten ze tour.”
Hickory sighed and replied that he did not know why he tried to explain that when he was acting and disguised as a Country Troll, it awakened something within him. He loves yodeling yet has a yearning for country music as well. Dickory did not take his answer well.
“Vell, if you feel zat way zen leave, traitor,” he angrily responded, “and don’t come back cryen to me.”
Hickory’s ear sagged a bit as he packed his things and said goodbye as he left his motherland.
As Hickory got ready for bed and took off everything, but in his underwear, he looked up at the ceiling, letting out a small tear. Hickory only hoped that this new life will work out for him in the end.
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At Techno Reef, the Techno Trolls were finishing up the repairs and construction of damages that their home sustained during the tour. Among the Trolls was King Trollex, Trollex just finished repairing the DJ booth where everyone in the kingdom had their raves. He called it a day and started to head back home. There his friend, Techno Beat Drop Button or TBDB, was waiting for him looking like he wanted to ask him something.
“Trollex,” he said, “is the DJ booth fixed?”
“It sure is buddy,” Trollex replied, “we will be doing raves and be dropping beats again soon.”
TBDB swam around Trollex, excited at the news, he then told him that he would see him tomorrow and a goodnight. Trollex replied a goodnight back at his friend as he went towards his room. As Trollex got ready for bed, he thought about his parents, he wondered what they would think of this whole World Tour fiasco.
Ever since Trollex’s folks died when he was 14, he had to grow up quickly and make sure that everyone in the kingdom was protected and had awesome raves. He really did not have time to have fun and did not have many friends throughout the years. His only friend that stood by his side the most was his best friend, TBDB. When they were younger, they would go out on these small adventures together and come back late in the afternoon. Trollex’s dad would sometimes criticize him and tell him to grow up or act his age. But his mom, she would smile and ask about Trollex’s adventures. But once they died from a seaquake, everything in his life changed. Trollex had to grow up and take care of his people; he would care for the children that grew up in the reef, throw amazing raves for his citizens and even go and help with the hunting of food.
As Trollex got older, he kept questioning his role as King and thought about stepping down. He felt the pressure of having protected his people, having to be a great leader like his dad. The tour only amplified these worries and anxieties that Trollex had as he keeps doubting himself. Trollex got into his bed with these negative thoughts as he grabbed one of his pillows and hugged it tightly, hoping for a good night’s rest instead of his recent sleepless nights. Nightmares of his people getting hurt when Barb came and took his string, dreams of his father being ashamed and telling him off for being a lousy leader, and even him dying at the hands of Barb. But all Trollex can do is hope for the better as he drifted off to sleep.