Trolls 3.0

Redeemed

A/N: A slightly altered take to the oneshot "Battle of the Bands" requested by tjtheblogger on Tumblr :)

                            __________________________________________________

"STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU FREAKS!"

Shock jolted through Velvet when she heard that voice boom out at her. She stopped, midway to inhaling that sweet Troll essence that would make her the most envied diva in Mount Rageous, when she'd been interrupted. She saw the blue-haired Troll within smile, and followed his line of sight below to where six little Trolls had just made their way over.

John Dory had been the one to call out, with a determined look on his face. Behind him were Clay and Spruce who, from the look of it, were ready to rumble. Alongside them were Poppy and Floyd. Poppy frowned up at the dolled-creature, while Floyd too put on a brave face. And, sidling up to Poppy was Viva, who had met up with the group and was just as prepared for the showdown as her sister. It was a display of courage on all their parts, though Velvet thought otherwise.

She began to laugh in an instant at the five little Trolls, finding them ridiculous.

Veneer, however, didn't laugh along with his sister. So far, he had been agreeing with everything she'd said, and it had succeeded in having them rise to fame, sure... but the cost it was coming at had disturbed him greatly. Floyd had been captured before this Branch Troll. And Floyd could've easily ran away, but he didn't. He came back to face them, even after the danger he knew he'd get into. Veneer suddenly stopped to think... would Velvet do the same sort of thing for him? He tried to avoid looking at Floyd, but he could feel the magenta Troll's gaze on him. And it was one of disappointment.

"Excuse me," John Dory shouted, "I believe you have something that belongs to us!"

"Or should we say, someone," Spruce pitched in with a huff.

"Oh, really?" Velvet asked sarcastically. "Sorry, guys, but this diamond – and everything in it – belongs to ME. So if you want it, you're gonna have to – "

"HIT IT!"

Velvet startled at the interruption, a part of her infuriated for having her victory spiel cut off, and a part of her confused for what started happening right after the Pop Queen had cried out the command. Because the six Trolls gathered together, and jumped right into a song-and-dance routine.

"Every little thing I do Never seems enough for you You don't want to lose it again But I'm not like them Baby, when you finally Get to love somebody Guess what? It's gonna be me!"

"Ugh, what the heck is this supposed to be?!" Velvet asked angrily, getting no response aside from more singing. She was going to turn away and disregard whatever nonsense was going on, when she noticed something happening. She had to blink to make sure that she was actually seeing correctly, and sure enough it was right there, clear as day. It was a sort of light that was glowing around the six, similar to when Floyd's talent had been sucked out, and it was sparkling and thrumming with energy as the routine continued. The lights were all a different color that coordinated to each Troll – a vibrant green, an alluring purple, an electric yellow, a tame magenta, and a couple of bright pinks. It swirled and sparkled in a way that had Velvet in awe, so much that she was taken off guard when the energy shot right out at her in a surprisingly powerful burst.

She yelped and fell back, right on Veneer, and causing them both to fall down again in a tumble of skinny arms and legs. She was relieved to find that she'd managed to hold onto the diamond, but her heart dropped when she gave it a quick examination. Right there, stretching like an ugly scar on one side, was a large, and quite deep-looking crack. Velvet made a noise of surprise and ran her finger over it, hoping it was just a horrible illusion, that her twisted dream was not at risk of falling apart at the seams...