Two months have passed already so fast and Brozone has never been this happier and healthier before. A lot has changed since the first they took this three month long break from making music. Being together was fun again. Goofing off was commonplace and fights were now just teasing and light hearted banter. So far everything is wonderful for the Timberlake family. It was just like the good old days when they first formed their band.

First of all they changed from their matching outfits into individual outfits showcasing their personalities. It truly made the brothers stand out more. Now they weren't copied and pasted with one singular colour difference. They acknowledged and embraced their own differences.

As if on cue John walked into the kitchen while Spruce cooked up storm. Pancakes were being served to all. Grandma was out visiting a friend so they were on their own for breakfast. Floyd set the table while Clay washed the dishes. Branch sat on John's left shoulder holding onto the older one's ear. Branch was practically a parrot on his shoulder but, John still held onto the trolling' s leg to stop any potential fall.

John Dory rocked around in his father's jacket and fingerless gloves,his usual orange framed goggles and long teal pants with a black belt that had two leather pockets attached on the side. While John was more experiment with his fashion, he still held onto his father's memory. The leather jacket and gloves brought a sense of warmth, peace and motivation he never knew he needed. It was like Dad never left him.

" Hey. This one finally decided he was done wearing his bunny pajamas." John joked pointing to his shoulder sitter.

Clay paused his dish washing and turned around with a cheerful grin. He had claimed the cozy look of a green short sleeved and turtle neck sweater and brown golf shorts but, he kept his sweat bands. His sweat bands rested on the dry counter near the dish rack so they wouldn't get wet. Holding back a laugh he nodded his head. Branch was obsessed with that cute pink onesie so it was no surprise, John had to wait the little guy out. Again.

" Promised him some of your pancakes?" Clay shook his hands dry.

" Half of one pancake. " John smirked.

" One whole pancake." Branch corrected.

Branch tapped on his overalls buttons. John could only convince him to wear them but, not a shirt. As sweet and loving as the toddler was, he was also stubborn as an ox. Hence the waiting game and bribing was a common tactic in John's tool belt. Taking whatever win or compromise given was also part of that belt too. The shirt's fabric was just too itchy to Branch so even if someone forced it on, he would keep trying to pull and rip it off. Major sensory issue.

" Can't argue with that. I'll make sure John keeps his promise,Bitty B." Spruce chuckled.

Throwing one thin pancake into the air Spruce easily caught it with the pan. Perfectly golden and brown the breakfast somewhat bounced against the hot cookware surface. Leaning more towards a beach vibe Spruce's outfit was more casual and laid back. It consisted of flowery white and fabric waist rope beach shorts with black,red and green floral details drawn on the pant legs. The waist rope was plain white mesh that was sewed into the shorts and tied into the knot at the hip leaving ends to hang off on the side. His vest was black made out of dyed leaves but, unlike Floyd's leaf vests his was one big solid leaf instead of many tiny ones.

" Yessa! Watching you." Branch pointed at his eyes then at John's eyes.

" Hey Branch. Sprinkles or chocolate chips?" Floyd offered.

In Floyd's hands were one cup of sprinkles and one cup of chocolate chips. Each toppings bore a small scoping spoon. Surprisingly for most outside of the family,Floyd adopted a much darker look to pair with his sunny personality. It matched closer towards their late father's aesthetic than their own village. Black slim fit jeans,grey belt, orange leaf vest to add contrast and single white Opal earring with silver brace holding it. The opal reflected shimmers of rainbows when hit just right. Sliver chain bracelets with black opal charms and silver dull spikes decorated his wrists equally and matched the singular charmed chain around his neck.

John picked Branch off his shoulder placing on his feet to stand on the chair next to Floyd. The charms created soft clink from bumping into each other when Floyd brought the two cups lower. Perking his ears at the sound Branch's eyes followed the bracelets rather than the cups. Ever the pink haired troll began adding such jewelry,the little troll grew lured to his wrists. A pause held on tight until the trolling eventually shifted his attention to the cups.

" Chocolate chips please." Branch pointed.

Floyd kissed Branch's forehead. " Good choice."

Soon there was a tray of fresh, thin pancakes, cups with toppings, a small bowl with sugar and cinnamon mixed together and a bottle of creamy and thick sauce in the middle of the table. While Branch had already rolled pancakes with chocolate chips and whipped cream, everyone else was fending for themselves. Filling and rolling their own breakfast. Johnny boy opted for the classic sugar and cinnamon. Sprucie got more bold with chocolate chips,nuts,whipped cream, banana and syrup in his. Mister Clay joined Branch in having whipped cream and chocolate chips but, with the addition of sprinkles. Floyd simply indulged in nuts, banana and chocolate sauce.

" So any idea why Grandma left so early? We weren't even awake when she did." Clay asked.

" I don't know. You tell me. Your guess is as good as mine. " John shrugged.

" Maybe Grandma went to talk with King Peppy again. She is part of his royal committee some days." Floyd suggested.

" That early for a meeting?" Spruce raised an eyebrow.

" You think they're still digging the tunnel? Like it been over a year. Shouldn't that thing be ready by?" John wondered.

Spruce scoffed. " I hope so. I don't want to see another Trollistise next year. Bet ya King Peppy is probably stalling the escape. Again." He rolled his eyes.

" Or King Peppy is planning for us to leave when the Bergens least expect it with our safety in mind?" Floyd attempted to input a positive perspective.

" Yeah right. All he does is stall. He promised like I don't know ten years ago we would escape "soon" and here we are. More or less. I'm not counting the years." Spruce took a bite of his second pancake roll.

" Are we gonna be stuck here with the monsters forever?" Branch whispered.

The whole room froze. Wide blue and pink eyes darted to the pair of listening ears looking up at them. The blue trolling had been paying attention the entire time and they had forgotten about that. Mostly Spruce had forgotten how Branch took this kind of talk as black and white. It wasn't anyone's intention to scare their baby brother.

" No. No. No. We won't. We will leave one day. Just not now. " Floyd reassured.

" I'm just impatient,Bitty B. I'm sorry you heard all that. " Spruce apologized.

" Yeah. Flo is right. Even if we ended up staying here in the tree for a few more years I won't let anything happen to you, our brothers,me and Grandma." John promised.

" No scary Bergens are getting their hands on us." Clay doubled down softly.

Branch's bowed down head lifted up as his fingers picked small pieces from his pancake rolled up nervously. His gaze wandered to each one of his brothers until they reached full circle by landing on John. John's usual big smile was smaller,more gentle and softer. Biting down his thin lower lip the Branch wasn't sure if he should take everything being told to him now at face value. Despite him having black and white thinking when it came to certain topics, he wasn't dumb. Just young and learning. Those little blue oceans for eyes filled with sad twinkles.

" Pinky Promise?" Branch asked.

JD frowned at first when presented with the most magically binding method but, not cause of the weight of the promise. Cause Branch was so scared. Everyone was scared of the Bergens with good reasons. Being eaten yearly would and has traumatized anyone and everyone in the village. Grandma and John did their best to shield Branch from it as much as possible but, that was a fruitless mission they had to give up. Branch knew cause it wasn't avoidable. Trollistise came for everyone.

" I pinky promise that I will do my best to keep you and all of us safe as much as I possibly can." John linked his pinky with Branch's one.

In doing so a bright flash of pink sparks and light blinded everyone briefly. They all closed their eyes and or turned their heads away from it. The sealing of the promise sent sparkles flying through them out of the pod reaching the cage bars before fading away. Bergens outside the cage raised eyebrows at the sudden display but, scoffed and brushed it off as trolls being trolls.

Later Spruce had left their pod to hit the gym with John Dory by his side. John was just walking with him just cause. Other trolls would occasionally notice them and began to excitedly whisper recognizing them as Brozone. The fans did their best to keep their voices down and huddled together squealing.

" OMG! It's them!"

" They look so different."

" Yeah but, it's kinda hot though."

" Totally. You think they won't mind if we go ask for an autograph?"

" Oh they're gone now. Aww. Where did they go?"

The two boy band members were not oblivious to the attention but, they were too far away to hear it and chose to ignore it regardless. Not out of rudeness. It's just they were still on their time off and had other fish to fry. Entertaining fans were the last things on their minds right now. Spruce adjusted his vest smoothing it out.

" So you're going back to the gym again? I thought you quit." John scratched the back of his neck.

" I quit maintaining an overrated body type. I don't need the abs. I don't like how my body used to be but, I didn't hate working out if that makes sense." Spruce explained.

Spruce had quit exercising during the first week of their paid holiday. By now he had truly changed physically. He had picked up more weight and his abs were more subtle now rather than completely fazed off his figure. Being ripped was just a look to the heartthrob. He had no strength to back up the looks of his toned body. Now Spruce wanted to be strong instead of looking like a gym poster boy model.

" As long as you're happy then okay. What are you planning to do though?" John asked.

" Thinking of taking up weight lifting. You know. Make my muscles stronger. Not just with my hair but, in my arms too. I wanna be like those ants. They lift things ten times their size. Why not me?" Spruce admitted.

" Hmm. You're a troll. Not an ant though." John pointed out.

Spruce rolled his eyes. " I know that! There have been trolls in the past who have made it possible. Grandma told me. The last strongest troll she met like that could lift a Bergen picnic basket. Sure it was empty but still."

John sighed. " Don't hurt yourself. Alright?"

Spruce nodded his head. " Chillax. I will get a trainer for it. They won't let me hurt myself. "

" If they do I will kick their ass." John quipped.

A laugh escaped Spruce's lips as he shook his head. Then before they could go any further a female troll and male troll wearing Brozone band shirts approached them. The girl was more nervous hiding behind the dude as they got closer. The unknown male troll smiled politely and offered his hand to shake.

" Hello there. Sorry to stop you. I hope we aren't intruding on anything. I'm Holly and this is my sister, Polly. We're big fans and we were wondering if it would be alright to ask for an autograph and selfie. If you have time of course. We can just leave if you want." The male troll said.

Spruce and John looked at the polite Holly then at Polly who was still hiding behind him. The band members glanced at each other sharing a knowing smile. With one look an entire agreement was formed mentally. Maybe two autographs and a  selfie or two wouldn't be so bad. After all they did love and care about their fans. Nodding their heads sealing the agreement both Spruce and Dory redirected their attention to their two fans before them.

" We don't mind. Always happy to meet a fan. It's fantastic to meet ya both." John shook Holly's hand.

" Got a pen?" Spruce chimed offering a hand to Polly.

The fan girl gasped followed by a big smile overtaking her face. Despite being so shy she pushed through it by nodding her head and reached into her hair pulling out a polaroid camera. They posed and took a handful of selfies together. One with Polly,John and Spruce. One with Holly,John and Spruce. One with Polly and just John then the other way around. The same carried out for Holly. Taking each selfie, the two Brozone boys happily signed each one for their brozonies.

" And there you go. " Spruce handed the last autograph over to Holly.

" Oh Thank you so much! " Holly thanked.

" Oh anytime. We gotta keep going. See you around." Spruce greeted.

" It was fun while it lasted. You two are the real ones. " John added.

Once Brozone was out of sight for the Brozonies,Holly and Polly squealed. They held hands jumping up and down unable to contain their excitement. Polly still couldn't believe what just happened while Holly was thrilled and proud that his idea worked.

" See! We just had to ask nicely." Holly claimed.

" Oh MY Trolley Frosting Covered Muffin! Gosh!" Polly exclaimed.

Meanwhile outside the cage... The Bergens were getting extra spicy with their complaining. One mailman was handing out letters to the Bergens at their homes and promotions for a new Pen Pal program lurched by another part of the world. These were pen pal requests from Vacay island.

" Who the hell would wanna talk to people they don't even know? I ain't got time to answer letters and spam from teenagers." A Bergen woman growled.

Annoyed she left her house marching right over to the community trash cans. She didn't want to fill up her personal bin with this unwanted pen pal program and letter requests. Shoving the letters and flyer down she then stormed off dusting off her hands. Other Bergens who watched her display began following her example filling up the empty and clean bin with the same flyers and the letters they got until it was overflowing.

One of the letters on top along with a single flyer got blown up into the air by the gentle breeze. It floated into the cage holding the trolls hostage landing on the soft grass gently. The rays of sunlight highlighted a name on the back of the letter.

Brandy...