" Get Your Ass Back Here,Young Man!"

" No! You Come To Me!" Branch growled rather animalistically.

So realistic he could pass for a real fox if nobody saw his body and heard his voice alone. Swishing wildly his foxtails went in opposite directions before shooting upright flickering in the same direction of motion as a united front. All that fluff stood taller than the troll they were attached too. No flowers. Just fur.

" Oh I Will! " John threatened. " I Will Drag You By The Tails If I Have To!"

" You Wouldn't Dare... " Branch stepped forward rubbing his hands together warming them up from the friction.

Claws shot out of John's finger tips and retracted when he balled hands into fists. His own tail lashed out scratching the floor with it's claw - sharpening the tip. Altars rapidly increased in height for in seconds reaching the ends of his black hair. Tightening pain on his skull accompanied  the sudden growth adding more weight and pressure.

" You are grounded." John stomped over to Branch pointing clawed finger.

Branch stared at his brother - arms unfolding resting his hands on his hips. "You can't ground me. I'm an adult and you're not my dad." He glared.

"Oh you're pulling that card,are we?" JD remarked slowly unimpressed. "Then in that case - as your king you are under house arrest for a week!" He smirked like a menace that just discovered a loophole.

The younger man gasped stepping back. His multiple foxtails dropped to the floor curling up defensively. "You can't do that!" He snarled offended shooting arms down his sides with his hands as fists.

"Yes,I can. I have the high ground and outrank you. Now go home! Eat something and get your ass in bed." John folded his arms looking downwards at his rebellious prince.

The King card wasn't one Johnny whipped out, out of happiness. Holding that title over Branch always placed distance between them but... This moment was not the time to feel guilty. Why? Someone has to put that brat in his place.

"You are unbelievable." Branch huffed. " I have work to do."

"You can work in our bedroom. You're demoted to paperwork. " John retracted his tiny claw to poke Branch's chest.

Branch scoffed unimpressed by the lack of imagination. "Paperwork? That's all you got?" He sassed as his tails rose upright.

John paused reconsidering his terms. You can't really punish someone with a job they volunteer to do regularly. That wouldn't be punishment. That would just be another day of the week.

"No side projects. " John quipped. " No engineering and tinkering. No new Bunker upgrades ideas."

Branch's tails dropped. "You son of a bitch."  He snarled.

"So are you! Now march." John grabbed him by the shoulders. Pulling forward he threw his brother ahead of him. Branch stumbled before gaining traction planting his feet restoring balance. John didn't stutter or hesitate pointing towards the direction to the tunnel leading to the housing area.

"I hate you."

"Talk to me when you're fed and well rested." John folded his arms.

The grey Prince's feet lifted carrying him forward with a tail between his legs as he stomped loud. The other two tails remained at his sides lashing against the floor with no impact. Branch passed the stands to a tunnel. On lookers moved out the way adverting their gazes. Practically admiring the architecture of the bunker and lighting system decorating it.

John pinched the bridge of his nose. "Teenagers..." He remarked.

"I'm fucking adult!" Branch yelled from a distance entering the tunnel system. He was not far away enough to be completely out of sight. The transformed and unaltered trolls in said tunnel held back their laughter poorly. Some were nervous. Others amused.

Putting his hands on hips, John whipped his head back to Branch's direction. Restraining every single impulse he breathed in sharply then let out a slow deep breath. Sucking up his rage.

"Keep Walking! Rosewood, make sure B actually goes home this time and eats something."

Rosewood rolled his eyes folding away his newspaper. Cursing underneath his breath the country troll tucked it underneath his arm. Purely forgetting his hair was a free endless storage unit. Sitting up from the bench he entered the tunnels walking slow but, catching up to his assigned escortee.

Branch wasn't moving. Standing still off to side of the tunnel behind the crowd but, further away from them as they were little too loud. The market filled with it's characteristic defining noises again trying to mask as business as usual. Whispers passed the crowd who were bold enough to gossip near their prince about their prince.

Every now and then Branch adjusted his hair trying to tame it. No mirror or metal reflection to aid him. Just him feeling his hair going by texture to figure it out. Rosewood reached for his shoulder patting on it. Branch slapped it away jumping closer to the tunnel wall. Rosewood ignored the slap grabbing his shoulder again gently nudging him forward.

Once the misbehaving troll and his escort was out of sight - John finally tore his gaze away from their direction. Regret haunted his eyes before being blinked away in a second. His smile grew as big as it could possibly be reaching ear to eat but, nothing was genuine about it. It was awkward and yet positive. Forced. Straightening his slouched back John scratched the back of his. Despite the market being "active" again most were still glancing and watching their King's move.

"Sorry about that. Everyone, go back to your day please. Everything is fine. Thankyou." John nervously gave everyone a double thumbs up.

"Keep it moving." Rosewood ordered. His voice echoing through the tunnel back to John. Louder than it should be but, still faint and clear to everyone's ears.

In the tunnels Branch scoffed lightly pushing Rosewood away. "Agh! I'm not a little kid anymore." He increased his pace walking ahead.

"Then stop acting like one." Rosewood tossed the newspaper into his hair then put back on his cowboy hat.

Wearing a hat indoors. Unnecessary? Yes but, the country man had bigger fish to fry than following head wear etiquette. Escorting and babysitting his friend's little brother.

The lights in the tunnel began to flicker  flashing everyone coming through. The constant on and off awoke in both ache in Rosewood's head and burning in Branch's eyes. The lighting of the bunker could be intense sometimes when it glitches.

"I'm not - whatever. Why do I even bother with you? Afterall you're his friend so of course you take his side."

Branch detoured to the power generator room and swiftly flipped a switch and input a code into the computer. The lights all tunnels brighten to the max then dimmed down adjusting to something more tolerable. Rosewood just watched arms folded blocking the doorway.

Rosewood's headache subsided the longer Branch kept typing away. Inputting codes to check the system and perform swift maintenance. The computer linked the lighting power generator went through every protocol and system until specific message popped up a screen. One that would be enough to satisfy the hard worker at it's panel.

" Operation: Stable
   System: Optimal
   Protocol code: 62451 is active
   Do you wish to continue with early morning mode or switch to Midday for the tunnels? "

" I don't care enough to pick a side." Rosewood glanced at the computer control panel then the screen.

" Liar..." Branch mumbled under his breath choosing to switch to Midday lighting but, lower the brightness out of preference.

Eventually Rosewood redirected and escorted Branch back to the royals quarters. Sure dragging was involved but, that's not new. Rosewood couldn't care less about the grumpy protest. He had a few jobs of his own to do and babysitting wasn't one of them.

" Eat. King's orders." Rosewood pushed plate of sandwiches across the table. Before the younger troll sitting at that very table could react the country troll left. Not even a good bye was utter.

Rolling his eyes Branch reached for the sandwich and took a bite. A forced bite. He may not be fully but, his stomach was loaded with enough food already to hold him down. This extra food would only make him bloated and sleepy from being full.

Meanwhile back the market the grey King sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. His thoughts clouding up his mind. A vein threatened to pop but, subsided after rubbing his face with both hands. The fabric of his one glove soothed him more than his bare hand. To JD he could pretend it was his own father trying to reassure him and ground him to reality.

Why did Branch have to be so difficult? How could he not understand John was just trying to keep him safe? Being out all night was dangerous. Branch of all trolls should know that.

"John Dory?" Floyd's eyes widen.

His voice soft,slow and steady. Just like John remembered. After all these years he could never forget that voice. Why would he? That's his little brother... It haunted his dreams. But this wasn't a dream,was it?

Fate couldn't be that cruel, right?

"Floyd." Turning around John's breathing paused in his chest.

Floyd stepped forward hesitantly then stopped halfway. His hair was different. It used to be bright pink but, now it was somewhat darker and deeper in shade. Almost a Hot Pink it seemed. His skin tanned into a different blue. Frame was wider but, yet he looked lighter. But that torn smile... John knew that smile anywhere.

Pinching himself hard John didn't even flinch at the pain. This wasn't a day dream. It wasn't a dream. His chest tighten even more the longer he kept his eyes locked with Floyd. What was in reality mere seconds felt like an eternity.

"You're alive..." Clay stepped back with shaking hands. He clutched a fistful of his own romper over this chest backing away even further. His face paled but, his eyes never left his long lost older brother's form. This couldn't be real...

"Clay?" John turned his sights to him stepping closer. His hand reached out towards him pausing mid air.

Clay was taller,lean and had lost a lot of weight. John remembered in their youth he was wider and more round. His hair was wild too with lighter shade of green JD couldn't name. But Clay's face... It was as if he saw a ghost. Was he that frightening now to his own brothers? Was Clay scared of him?

"You look different..." Bruce muttered unsure where to look. John had antlers,grey skin,black hair, claws at one point and an clawed tail. He was wider with lot more weight to him but,he still had that square figure. He looked nothing like the John Dory Bruce remembered but, that face. That look in his eyes. The fight from earlier. His voice. Only John Dory would...

"Spruce? " John froze in his tracks. "Oh my god you're actually all here." He whispered. " You're All HERE!"

"Actually it's Bruce now. " Bruce corrected nervously. "Changed my name a long time ago."

Bruce out of everyone changed the most from John's memory of him. He was rounder,skin brighter practically tanned and glowing and hair was larger than life but, well tamed. No abs too but, strong more subtly defied arms. The dad body was rather unexpected but, who was John to judge when he's just a square version of similar weight gain.

"Oh... " John retracted his hand forming an loose fist close against his chest. "Well it suits you? I guess."

New name? Wait a minute! Hickory mentioned a Bruce. Spruce actually changed his name? Damnit he's already deadnaming his own sibling in his own head already. John,do better!

"What happened to you? You're grey." Bruce asked.

John blinked then looked down at his body. "Just a minor side effect." He looked back up moving his eyes from Bruce to Clay to Floyd and back to Bruce. Completely ignoring Poppy and Viva. "I'm fine. My body is like a mood ring now." John nervously laughed. His skin gained some blue but, it was grey blue.

"Side effect of what?" Floyd asked concerned bringing his hand over his mouth then moved down to his stomach.

"Not important." John laughed again awkwardly. " Hmm. How much of that fight with Baby Branch did you see?"

" Wait! That's our Branch?!" Clay exclaimed.