True Colours

Chapter 12 - Why Won't You Sing?

🎵Popper: "A five, six, seven, eight!"

🎵All: "When you look in the mirror, let it disappear, all your insecurities!"

"Wait!" Bridget shouted before pointing at Branch. "Why isn't this one singing?"

He looked around in shock, while his sister stared at him with worry.

"Come on, Branch. Sing with us!"

"Yeah, Branch, sing with us!"

"No. That's okay." Branch awkwardly refused.

"You don't think this will work?" Bridget questioned.

"No, no. It's not that." (Y/N) sweetly denied.

"I just don't sing."

"But I sing!" (Y/N) quickly stated, trying to draw the attention away from her brother - which did not work.

"Branch!" Popper exclaimed.

"No. He's right. This idea is stupid. King Gristle will never love me."

Bridget dug her face into her pillow once more, crying her heart out while the other Trolls quickly gathered around to comfort her.

"Bridget, let it go. Just have a good cry. Go, girl!" Biggie encouraged.

Bridget instantly raised her head, wailing out at the top of her lungs. And in a rather unattractive display - though crying was never pretty.

"Okay, now bring it back in. Reel-reel it in."

Branch rolled his eyes at the scene before walking away and over to a curtain, climbing up it to reach the windowsill and hopefully escape from all this. His sister quickly followed him, just wanting to make sure that he was okay.

However, Popper glared at his seemingly unworried demeanour as he asked, "Branch, what are you doing? You have to sing!"

He climbed up after the siblings as Branch angrily stated, "I told you, I don't sing."

"I sing!" (Y/N) once again mentioned as they all reached the top, growing more nervous by the second.

"You have to!" Popper yelled, ignoring her.

"I'm sorry. I can't."

"No, you can. You just won't."

"Fine. I just won't."

"I'd be happy to sing! I love singing!"

"You have to!"

"No!"

🎵(Y/N): "Pretty woman. Walking down the street. Pretty woman!"

The (S/C) Troll did her best to dance and sing and distract from the tense situation. But none of it helped as Popper got right in front of Branch, both harshly glaring at one another.

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Why not? Why won't you sing?"

"Because singing killed my grandma, okay?!" He suddenly yelled out, making everyone grow silent. He turned away as he mumbled, "Now, leave me alone."

"Branch..." (Y/N) sighed, racing over to him.

She went in for a hug but, realising what she was about to do, just simply placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as he slumped in the corner.

Popper stared at him in complete shock, not expecting such a statement to come from him. And starting to regret pushing him so hard to sing. In fact, they all were.