"Alright Y'all! Let's get this party started!"

The rest of the Country trolls cheered as their leader, Delta Dawn, danced through the streets, playing her banjo and singing her song.

(Delta)

Tumble out of bed and Stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawn and stretch and try to come to life

Jump in the shower, the blood starts pumping
Out on the street the traffic starts jumping
With folks like me on a job from nine to five

(ALL)

Working 9 to 5!

What a way to make a livin'

Barely getting by!

It's all taking and no givin'

They just use your mind!

And they never give you credit!

It's enough to drive you CRAZY IF YOU LET IT!

Two trolls, named Hickory and Dickory come up to the front with Delta and Sing with her.

(Hickory)

9 to 5!

For Service and Devotion!

(Dickory)

You vould zhink zat I

vould deserve a fat promotion!

(Delta)

Want to move ahead

But the boss don't seem to let me!

(ALL)

I swear sometimes that man is-

OUT TO GET ME!

---------

Poppy, Branch, and Biggie came to the outskirts of Lonesome flats. Branch sighed in relief when they finally arrived, "Gosh...I don't think I....could've stood anymore...walking" he panted as he knelt down to take a break a took a small swig of water from his canteen. Poppy sighed and pulled Branch back up, "No time to relax Branch, we gotta get going, there is no time to lose!" she said as she marched on over to the town. Branch blinked and rubbed at his arm, "Gosh, she seems a lot more...tense than usual, don't you think Branch?" Biggie asked, Branch gave a sigh in response, "Let's just...let's go."

---------

Back with the Country trolls, they were just finishing up their song.

(ALL)

9 to 5, whoa what a way to make a livin'

Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'

They just use your mind and they never give you credit

It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it

9 to 5, yeah they got you where they want you

There's a better life, and you dream about it, don't you?

It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it

And you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet

9 to 5!

(END)

Delta struck a single chord on her Banjo and smiled, "Great job Y'all! Keep on dancing!" she hollered to the town. Hickory and Dickory rushed up to her side, "MS DAWN! How did we do!?" Hickory asked, Delta smiled and pat the two trolls on the head, "Aw, you boys, you did great! Man, it's amazing to think you two were the same little trolls that used to run around and let all the cattle out" she laughed. "Vow! Zat is Vunderba- I mean, Ho-ow Wunderfuul" Dickory said, trying to cover his accent, unlike most of the other Country trolls, Dickory had a thick German accent. Because of this, he had trouble with speaking to other trolls, only ones who he didn't have any problems talking to were Delta and Hickory. Delta put her hand on Dickory's shoulder and smiled, "Sweetheart, don't try so hard, it ain't worth it, no one will understand you anyway" she said, her voice having a somewhat of a happy tone to it despite the harsh meaning of the words. 

Dickory frowned a little bit and watched as Delta happily galloped away with his brother following close behind. "Vell zen, zats zat" (I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO GERMAN ACCENTS SO I'M SORRY IF I GET SOMETHING WRONG) Dickory sighed, he turned to sadly trot away when he saw a few figures making their way towards the town. 

"Poppy, please, take a breath, maybe let me talk to her? You didn't exactly get through to Quincy and Essence so well did ya? Maybe let me handle thi-" Branch offered, but he was sharply cut off but Poppy, "BRANCH! I'm fine! I don't need help!" she yelled in his face, gasping a little at her reaction and turning away from him. Branch took a step back and looked down, he felt something weird happen to him...something he hadn't felt in a long time...what was that? Well, he didn't have time to think about that now, as he saw one of the Country trolls come up to them.

"Gutentag" Dickory greeted, Branch and Biggie looked at each other in confusion. "Branch, since when did Country Trolls speak German?" Biggie whispered to Branch who shrugged in response, "Never, I mean...I don't think at least." Poppy took a deep breath and smiled at Dickory, "Hello there stranger, I'm Queen Poppy, of Pop Village and we have a musical crisis taking place right now, so it would be really great if perhaps you could take the time and show the way to Delta Dawn?" Poppy asked. Dickory blinked, "Another Troll tribe? Vunderbarr, zis is somezhing zat Mayor Dawn vould love to hear, Ja, come vith me zis vay, I'll show you her immediately!" he smiled, galloping away to the biggest house in the town. 

Poppy began to follow but Branch tugged her back quickly into a huddle, "Poppy, if you won't let me speak then please just remember to think before you open your mouth" he told her, "Don't Worry Branch, based on that guy's behavior, the Country trolls actually seem quite friendly, what's the worse that could happen?" Poppy scoffed as she happily skipped beside Dickory, Branch, and Biggie following close behind. 

As they walked, Biggie took the opportunity to check up on Branch, "So...how ya been doing? We haven't talked at all since we left the River" he asked. Branch blinked and sighed, "We're losing her..." he said, Biggie looked at him confused, "What do you mean?"

"We're losing Poppy"

"How so?"

"This situation is getting to her so much...she's...not the same Poppy"

Biggie looked at Poppy and frowned, "I see what you mean" he said. Dickory took a few paces back to join the two, "So, vat are your names?" He asked. Biggie smiled, "My name Biggie, and that's Branch"

"Meep" Mr. Dinkles mewed

"Oh and this is Mr Dinkles!" Biggie smiled as he held his worm out for Dickory. Dickory looked at Dinkles and blinked, "Huh, strange, zat vorm looks exactly like ze vone zat Delta had...Maybe you two are related, Ja?" He said, Biggie, tilted his head in confusion, "Hmm, strange."

The group soon arrived just outside Delta's house, Dickory knocked on the door and took a few steps back, "She's in quite ze Giddy mood today, so do be mindful" he advised. Suddenly the door burst open and out came Delta and a few other trolls.

"Well Howdy, Dickory! And hello there strangers!" Delta greeted, "Hello Ms. Dawn," Poppy smiled, "My name is Queen Poppy, of the Pop trolls, and I-", 

"Pop trolls!? Well boy oh boy, I haven't seen y'all in years! Gosh, you look great!"

"Well, thank you Ms. Dawn, but if I cou-"

"And that Hair! Gosh so vibrant and flowing! How do you do that?"

"Well I think tha-"

"And Oh my gosh, your dress is so cute! Is it handmade?"

"I...I think so?"

Branch sighed and shoved Poppy out of the way, "Hello Ma'am, my name is Branch, one of Poppy's friends. Listen we need to talk urgently, there is a troll on the loose who is planning to unite the six strings and destroy all music except for Rock!" he explained. Delta gasped, "Oh my gosh!" Branch went to talk again but was cut off by Delta. "Huckleberry!?" Delta cried, Branch blinked and turned to see she was looking at Mr. Dinkles. Biggie's eyes widened, "What? Who? Mr. Dinkles?" he asked, Mr. Dinkles smiled as he wagged his little worm body at the sight of Delta. "That's right Huckleberry, you remember me don't you? Thank you so much for bringing him back to me, now what did you want to talk about?" Delta said.

Poppy wasn't pleased, "Hold on a minute, Delta, Biggie has had Mr. Dinkles for years now, he isn't yours anymore, and besides there are much bigger things to worry about than a worm...No offense Mr. D" she explained. Delta frowned at that, "No, ya see, I had Huckleberry for years but when the tribes split, he got lost, I thought he was gone forever...thankfully that wasn't true...so if you'd be so kind as to hand him over-"

"What!? No! Mr Dinkles is MINE!" Biggie yelled, holding Mr. Dinkles close to him, "His name is Huckleberry! And he's MINE! Dickory, bring him to me!" Delta commanded. Dickory looked at The group and back at Delta he sighed and went to grab Dinkles when he flicked his hair towards Delta's door and tugged it off the hinges, catching Biggie and Branch on top of it, he scooped up Poppy and threw her onto his back as he dragged the door behind him and ran out of town. Delta glared as she picked up a small troll from out of her hair, "Oh that's it...GET 'EM!" she cried, she released the troll as she and 4 other trolls followed close behind.

----

"What are you doing!? I was supposed to talk to her!" Poppy yelled, "I'm saving you! I'm not letting her get her hands on you or your vorm! Ja?" Dickory yelled back. Branch and Biggie were holding on for dear life as they were being dragged on the door, "So many people with high-class associations!" Branch called, "First Cooper is a Prince and now Dinkles belonged to that crazy country lady? What's next? Suki is Trollex's long lost sister?", "Wait, Cooper is a prince?" Biggie asked. The question went unanswered as Branch saw the country trolls catching up to them, "Hey! You wanna go faster up there you overgrown schnitzel?!" he yelled at Dickory, "Oh shut up and Hold onto ja horses!" Dickory yelled back as he began to gallop faster. 

"Artie! Get the Chameleon!" Delta called, "Chameleon? What Chameleo-AH!" Branch asked himself but found his leg being pulled at by a Purple Troll with a long teal mustache, which he used to lasso around one of his legs. "Does anyone else think this is crazy!?" Branch screamed to the group, "Just a tad" Biggie replied. "Branch! Hold on! Dickory try and swerve!" Poppy yelled, Dickory nodded, "Ja! Sure zing your majesty!" he began to go in various zig-zag patterns to outmaneuver the trolls. Suddenly, Dickory felt a hoof kick him in his side, "YOUCH! Vut zhe-HICKORY!?" he screamed, Hickory grabbed at his tail and tried to get his brother to slow down, "STOP DICKORY! YOU'RE BEING CRAZY!"

"VHY DO YOU CARE!? YOU'VE NEVER CARED!!"

"WHAT TH- YES I HAVE!!"

"NO, YOU HAVE NOT! VHENEVER YOU CAN YOU MOCK ME AND YOU LEAVE ME TO GO PRANCE AROUND VITH ZOSE OZER TROLLS!"

"DICKORY STOP! YOU'RE MY BROTHER! I CARE ABOUT YOU! I ALWAYS WILL!"

"YOU'RE A LIAR!"

Dickory swerved and knocked his brother off his path. Meanwhile, Branch was struggling to hold on to the door, he Grabbed Mr. Dinkle's hat and tried to get a better grip of it, "COME ON MR. D PLEASE DON'T LET ME DIE!" he screamed, Suddenly, the same baby that Delta let loose from her hair jumped into the air and latched down on Branch's leg with her rotating, dagger teeth, getting yet another scream out of Branch. Mr. Dinkles felt his body stretch from the force of Branch's grip and Biggies grip. "AAAAAHHH!! HOLD ON MR. D!!" Biggie screamed as he tried to hold on to his now, extremely long worm. 

Dickory looked ahead and saw the group were headed for a Canyon, "OH GOSH! I NEED TO JUMP!" he called to the group, "WHAT!? NO!" Poppy screamed back, "I HAVE TO POPPY! 1....2-"

Before Dickory could finish his countdown, Artie, the troll who had his hair wrapped around Branch's leg, let got suddenly, his mustache no longer able to handle the strain. This sent Branch flying forward into Dinkles, then into Biggie and eventually into Poppy and Dickory, sending them into the center of the cliff. Biggie caught Mr. Dinkles as he flew towards him and looked out down the length of the canyon as the 4 hovered in mid-air, "Oh look! I think I can see our house from up here!" he said to Mr. Dinkles before falling into the canyon. The country trolls all gasped as they watched them go down, Delta covered her mouth and Hickory held his hand to his heart, crossing his fingers, hoping that the made it out alive...nothing happened...the canyon went dead silent. Delta reached for Hickory's hand, "I...I am...so sorry...they didn't deserve this" she said, trying to comfort Hickory, who was trying hard not to cry. Suddenly they heard a guitar riff echo from the depths of the canyon and up came a dark, skull covered balloon. On the top of the Balloon were Dickory, Poppy, Branch, and Biggie, "We're alive? WE'RE ALIVE!" Biggie cheered, Branch looked down and clicked his tongue, "Yeah...but for how long?"

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Ole Delta Dawn...you fell right into my hands..." Barb snickered as she pulled out her guitar and slammed her pick down on it, sending out a powerful wave that caused the Country Trolls to fall back onto their hinds and for Delta to lose the Country String that sat in her hair. The string floated through the air and right into Barb's hands, "Pfft, Wow! That was almost too easy!" she laughed. 

Delta gasped as she tried to regain her balance, "Who...who are you?" she asked. Barb gave an evil chuckle and smiled at Delta, "Who am I? Let me tell you" she said as she jolted the aircraft and caused the group on top to fall off and onto the side of the canyon with the others. 

She began to play a famous rock tune, one that Delta knew all too well. "Thrash's song?"

(Barb)

It's early morning, the sun comes out

Last night was shaking and pretty loud

My cat is purring, it scratches my skin

So what is wrong with another sin?

This troll is hungry, she needs to tell

So give her inches and feed her well

More days to come, new places to go

I've got to leave, it's time for a show

Here I am

Rock you like a hurricane

Here I am

Rock you like a hurricane!

Barb let out another guitar riff as she sang, "Thrash's Daughter...I don't believe it...but...it can't be" Delta said, as Poppy helped her up. Seeing the fear in Delta's face and hearing it in her voice, Poppy couldn't take it anymore, she swung her hair towards the ropes that held the basket and flung herself towards Barb, "POPPY!" Branch cried, but it was too late.

Poppy crashed into Barb and knocked her on the floor of the basket. "GIVE ME THE STRING!" Poppy yelled

"MAKE ME PRINCESS!!" Barb yelled back.

The two were clawing at each other's eyes and hair, trying to get on top and grab the string off the other. "GET OFF ME!" Barb screamed, throwing Poppy to the side and right into another troll. "Tsk tsk tsk, Really, Barb? This is how you expect to be chosen for Queen? Gosh you are desperate"

"King Thrash..."Poppy whispered as she looked up and saw that she had thrown right into Thrash's legs. Barb blinked in confusion, "Dad? What are you doing here?" She asked

Thrash kicked Poppy out the way and made his way towards Barb. "I thought you were taking too long...so I decided to just do the job myself, I hope that's not a problem dearie..." Thrash explained. Barb stared at her dad, something stirred inside her...a feeling that she hadn't felt before, a feeling that crushed her inside. What was that? 

"Not...not a problem? Dad...I...I wanted to do this to prove myself to you and...now you're just here...not even giving me the chance!" Barb cried, she felt something well up in her eyes, it was wet, and it felt like it was gonna fall at any minute. Thrash rolled his eyes, he snatched the guitar off Barb and held his hand out, as if he wanted her to give him something. 

"What?" Barb asked

"You know what...hand it over" Thrash answered

"...the...the string?"

"OBVIOUSLY! God I thought you were my smart child!"

"...N....n-no"

"...I beg your pardon?"

"...No! I'm not giving it to you! You don't deserve it!...Y-you didn't give me the chance!"

Thrash snarled at this, he grabbed Barb by the scruff of her neck and snatched the Country string off her. Then, he looked down at the Trolls below, who were watching with fear at what was happening, he turned to look at Poppy, who was slowly trying to get up. With a snarl he brought Barb close to him and whispered in her ear, "I gave you a chance...like I gave every other troll a chance...and just like them...you failed...make yourself useful and get out of my sight", before she knew what was happening, Barb got thrown off the aircraft and onto the edge of the canyon, she tried to grip onto the edge but her hands were sore from fighting Poppy and she felt herself begin to slip. 

Thrash only frowned as he marched to Poppy and picked her up by the arm. Branch gasped as he saw the dark-cloaked troll pick Poppy up, "POPPY! NO!" he cried, "B-branch?" Poppy weakly stirred. Thrash grinned, "Well, thank you for the string dearest Delta, I truly do wish our time together could've been longer but...business calls at home...perhaps, later?" he teased, Delta was just staring with tears in her eyes as Thrash waved and the aircraft took off. 

"H-help me" Barb weakly cried, trying to pull herself up. Branch quickly turned to face Barb and rushed to her aid, "What are you doing!?" Delta yelled, "Helping her!" Branch yelled back, much to Delta's annoyance. "Why on earth are you helping her!? She took our string! She got your girlfriend taken!" Delta screamed, Branch blinked and glared at Delta, as he grabbed Barbs arm and helped her up, "First off! Poppy and I aren't dating! And Secondly! Because I believe in second chances...like Poppy" he growled. Delta blinked at that, no troll she had met in the years that she had been alive had ever been that forgiving, nor had they been that confident to yell back at her...this troll had something in him...something great. As Barb was lifted up, Branch saw her heartbeat was slow, and she was unconscious, "Shoot, we gotta get back to Pop Village now! She needs serious medical attention!" he said, Biggie blinked, "How are we gonna do that? It was a two-day trip here, by the time we get there she'll probably be..." he sighed.

"Ahem" Delta cleared her throat, the two trolls turned to her, "Look, maybe we can help...y'all are up against a big threat...Thrash ain't no pansy, he'll turn you into glitter dust in no time" she explained, "We're coming with you", "We are?" Hickory asked as he was helped up by his brother, Delta gave him a look, "Yes, we are, go round up the rest of the town! We leave at 3" she said to the rest of the trolls. They all saluted her and galloped back to Lonesome flats to tell the town. Delta took Branch's hand and smiled, "Don't worry...we'll get her back", "...Thanks, Delta...for this, Poppy would be glad you've agreed to come with us" Branch smiled back, scooping up Barb in his arms. "Alright, follow me, we'll head back to town and we'll hitch y'all up to a wagon that we can pull as we ride" Delta explained.

Biggie and Branch smiled as they followed her back to Lonesome flats, "Well...this was an odd turn of events...right Bra-Branch! Your colors!" Biggie exclaimed. Branch's colors had faded into a greyer tint, thought Branch didn't seem to notice or care for that matter, his main focus was getting back to Pop Village and sorting out a plan.

He only prayed that Poppy was alright and that they would see each other again...