TrollsTopia- Birthday Splash

Journey to Techno Reef

  The next day, right after enjoying a morning rave together, Branch and Synth both met up at the bunker to run through the checklist.

  Branch: Food and sweat?

  Both: Check!

  Branch: Inflatable sleeping bags?

  Both: Check.

  Branch: Backup breathing helmet? Check.

  Synth: Glow sticks? Got 'em!

  Branch: We're ready to go!

  Synth: Hey, Dubstep, you think Gary'll be a'ight while you're gone?

  Branch: I'm sure he will. Biggie's quite a capable caretaker.

  With that, both boys quietly headed out of TrollsTopia and started making their way through the dark, pre-sunrise woods.

  Branch: Hey, Synth, what exactly does Whinny look like?

  Synth: Well, they were light-blue with beautiful silver fins and eyes, plus a light-pink, lavender-swirled horn that shined like a glow stick. Four of Laguna's fave colors!

  Branch: Okay, interesting to know. Do you, uh, mind if I make a little pitstop over by those bushes?

  Synth: Sure thing, Dubstep.

  Branch quickly went behind some nearby bushes and started speaking into the earpiece.

  Branch: R, B, I've got the info on Laguna's favorite colors.

  Rhythm: (over the earpiece) All right! What are they?

  Branch: Light-blue, silver, light-pink, and lavender.

  Blues: Cute! Let us know when he spills more about her.

  Branch: Understood.

  Branch turned off his earpiece and then gingerly came out from the bushes.

  Branch: Okay, I'm done. Shall we proceed?

  With that, the two male Trolls continued traversing through the woods, when all of a sudden, they ran into a bunch of Tarantacapuffs. One of them turned their back to shoot their string out at Branch, but Synth was able to block the shot by blasting up a geyser. However, the Techno ambassador lost control of this geyser when another one of the Tarantacapuffs grabbed Synth and started slamming him on the ground. It didn't last long, though; Branch grabbed and pulled one of the spider's legs, leaving it on its back and Synth hitting the ground with a handspring. The flipped Tarantacapuff, along with the ones that had been splashed by Synth's geyser water, made a hasty retreat. In response, both Trolls shared a hair-five and continued on their way.

  Eventually, Synth and Branch reached the ocean. Once they did, Branch put his breathing helmet on, took Synth by the hand, and they both dove in together.

  Along the way, they came across a large cave where Synth abruptly stopped them.

  Branch: What is it, Synth?

  Synth: That's a Cracken's Cave. We better go around, bro.

  Synth started swimming towards the side of the cave and then over the curve, with Branch following along.

  Synth: Crackens will eat any Trolls they see passing by their cave. Sure learned that the hard way.

  Branch: Is... that how you almost lost your tail?

  Synth: Yeah... but I didn't, thanks to Laguna. She came swimming in with a strand of seaweed and started tickling that Cracken till it cried.

  Branch: Huh. You know, if she was there for you in a situation like that, I don't think she'll mind a small, simple gift for her birthday.

  Synth: I know, but... that would mean... I don't deserve her friendship.

  With that, Synth started getting the flashing eyes again, and they showed an undersea birthday party in ruins, along with tidbits of a young Laguna in tears. "Synth... Synth..."

  Branch: Synth!

  Synth: Huh?

  Branch: Your eyes, they were flickering red. Are you okay?

  Synth: Y-Yeah, probably just, uhhh... tired?

  Branch: Well, let's take a little break then.

  Both Trolls then swam up to the surface and perched themselves onto a large rock.

  Branch: Hey, if you don't mind me asking, besides Antrollpology, books, research, and Seacorns (apparently), what other things does Laguna like?

  Synth: Well, she always loved those kelp crisps that she used to make with her dad- you just lay some pieces out and let the sun do the rest. Oh! There's also techno music...

  Branch: Of course.

  Synth: ... and keyboards- her dad worked in keyboard repair, and he taught her how to play. That's why she's so much better on it than any other Techno Troll I know. Ooh, and Swimscotch! She and I used to play that a lot when we were little...

  All the while Synth was talking, Branch was making mental notes to share this information with R&B later.