Aiden sat down on a bench just between the food court and the fair rides section of the Hearts festival. His rigt hand contuined to hold his cross rubbing his thumb print against the engraving. He kept looking down at said jewelry charm as if it could magically bring him comfort but, that wasn't the case at the moment. John returned holding a small, white paper bag with a hotdog inside and another but,shorter with a blueberry cream filled bun that had a heart drawn on top made of blueberry flavoured and blue coloured icing. The uncle tapped his nephew on the shoulder pulling Aiden's attention away from his cross. Dory didn't wait for permission to sit down but, he did wait for Aiden's reaction to food as he offered it.

Floyd stood right to the bench keeping an eye out for Thomas, Branch and Poppy. He slowly paced back and forth while letting John take the lead on Aiden's comfort. Was John Dory the most comforting out of all them? No but, he was decent enough to consider Aiden's needs and be the best uncle he could be. Aiden stared at the options before him then glanced at his Uncle John straightening his back. Hesitantly he reached out for the hotdog but, then a memory that Aiden was once fond of started to play.

Flashback:

2 years ago...

Aiden got comfortable tossing his legs over the black leather couch he borrowed from the storage room contianing his Grandpa Noah's old furniture. Feet daggled off into the air but, the teen Prince didn't care how unconventional his choosen sitting method was. Lowering his back he tucked his empty hands behind his head using them as substitute pillow. Sage walked in through the wide open door then tossed a  brown paper bag which Aiden quickly raised his arm for and caught with no hesitation.

" Nice Couch. " Sage commented taking a seat on the matching armchair.

" Thanks. My Grandma was just about to toss it in storage for eternity but, I asked and boom! Got it just like that. " Aiden rotated hismelf into sitting up more normally kickinh his feet on the coffee table.

Sage raised an eyebrow. " You chose to get a hand me down?"

" Yeah cause my Grandpa had good taste. Duh!" Aiden joked. 

Sage laughed pulling out a second brown bag from his hair with glitter rubbing off onto it. He watched as his best friend opened his own paper bag checking what was inside. Aiden smiled taking out the hotdog that was wrapped up in tinfoil. The Royal unwrapped it then opened every sweet berry source packet pouring it on top.

" Thanks, bro. " Aiden opened his mouth wide bringing the tip of the hotdog into his mouth.

Sage whistled teasingly. " Your really gonna take the whole thing in like that?"

" I'm trying to eat over here!" Aiden laughed lowering the meal. 

" Whatever. Won't be the first time you took on a sausage head on. " Sage joked.

" And people think I'm the only with a dirty mind in this friendship. " Aiden sassed calmly.

Once the flashback ended Aiden paused then redirected his hand towards the bun. What was once a fun memory turned bittersweet and now it was just bitter. Sage never sexually commented on him eating a bun in the past so at least he wouldn't have anything to remember while eating it. Grasping the white paper the Blue blood took it bringing the treat closer to his lips. John looked away not wanting to make his nephew feel like he was being watched as he ate. Floyd stopped pacing glancing at Aiden briefly then  looked spotting his youngest brother,sister in law and his husband. Branch and Poppy were particularly out running Thomas who was walking.

" We're here! What happened? " Branch turned to his son.

Recongizing his father's voice Aiden looked up to see everyone looking at him. The Prince tyrned his head checking if something or someone was behind the bench but, nothing interesting enough to warrant stares. Turning his face back to his family Aiden shallowed the last piece of the cream filled bun. His discomfort grew a little but, not enough to make him shut down. 

" What? Did I grow a second head?" Aiden remarked scarastically.

" Aiden,Sweetheart..." Poppy started off taking the empty space beside her son.

" I'm fine,Mom. " Aiden reassured bluntly predicting what she was going to say next.

Branch sighed. " Aiden... If something is wrong you can tell us. " 

John stood up then moved away from the bench creating space for his baby brother to take a seat beside his son. Aiden dismissively looked away up at the stars inserting his hands into his jean pockets. Not single word uttered. He knew what his parents were thinking. That he was fragile trolling needing protecting in their eyes but, Aiden didn't enjoy the pitiful looks he would get nowadays after he admitted to his family about how his former best friend had been treating him. Branch took the open seat patting Aiden's hand to get his attention. 

Rolling his eyes Aiden shifted his focus to his Dad. " Dad,I'm fine. Seriously. " 

" No. Your not. Your clutching your Grandpa's cross. " Branch pointed out.

Aiden looked down to see that his minor coping mechanism was active. " Old habit. "

" Bud, you don't have to justify anything. We just want to know if your actually okay. Did you know who bother you?" Branch asked like Aiden was a flight risk.

" No. He just stayed within the restraining order limits and waved to me like we were still best of pals. Don't get it twisted. I'm fine. I just didn't expect to see him. " Aiden crossed his arms leaning back against the bench.

" You know we could still update the restrainting order. Your sister isn't Queen yet. " Branch suggested.

" Dad,stop it. I don't need more details being added to the drama or hearing about it as tomorrow's latest Village gossip."

Meanwhile back at the dance Rosie's smile faded as she spotted River waving to her then gestured towards Princess Harmony and Jinx. The pair were still dancing enjoying themselves unaware of the plot against them. Jinx twirled Harmony extra slow not wanting to accidentally send her falling down to the grass. Their smiless were twice as big than River and Harmony's smiles ever were. They truly looked happier. The Matchmaker's ears dropped and her heart ached for them. Jinx and Harmony could had possibly been something special but, she was going to break them up before they even got a chance to try. 

" I'm sorry..." Rosie whispered so faintly nobody could hear her over the music.

Shoulders sagging like the weight of the world was placed upon them, Rosie faked a smile reaching her hair. Unknowingly to her Elvis peeked from the backstage curtains watching her then glanced at the stage light control panel that conveniently for him was left untended. Smirking he let go of the curtains and leaped towards the moviable control panel. The first button he pressed caused the stage lights to flicker changing colour after every time they turned off.

" Popping in the dance hall, moving with you
I say, hey girl, close to you
Popping in the dance hall, moving with you
I say, hey girl, hey girl, hey girl, hey girl
Hey girl, hey girl, hey girl, hey girl " Rosie sang growing confused.

The band and DJ however didn't question the change in lighting and the musical and glowing critters' movements became more hyper and joyous. The crowd didn't seem mind it either. River cut through the dancing trolls until he reached the center where Harmony had her head resting pn a blushing Jinx's shoulder. River's eyes narrowed displeased by Harmony's pure bliss. Deciding to break up the moment River put on the charm and cleared his throat.

" Excuse may I get a turn with that lovely Beauty?" River tapped Jinx's shoulder.

Harmony and Jinx froze ending their dance wide eyed. Harmony's head shot up and the two dance parnters turned their heads to see River. He flashed his ex a charming smile offering her his hand just like he used to when they dated. Jinx's eyes narrowed clinching his jaw allowing a low growl to escape. Harmony was too in shock to say anything. Before she could even process the events taken place, her ex grabbed her hand pulling her forcefully out of Jinx's arms.

" AH!" Harmony squeaked getting dragged away.

" HEY! LET HER GO!" Jinx yelled.

" My momma told me don't lose you
'Cause the best luck I had was you
And I know one thing that I love you " Rosie sang still searching for the Love Potion.

Near the refreshments and treats Pip giggled feeding thr soldier she blew kiss to earlier a chocolate covered piece of strawberry on a stick. Jinx's yelling managed to gain some of her attention. The soldier stepped away to dip another strawberry piece into the choclate fountain while the shorter troll turned to see what was happening on the dance floor. Her face dropped from sweet and joyful to pure disgust the second she noticed her older sister being dragged away by River. Her older sister's cheating ex. Hands balled into fists,eyebrows dipped and angry flames sparked in her narrowing eyes. By the time the soldier came back Pip Melody was gone.

" I say, hey, I be gone today
But I'll be back around the way
It seems like everywhere I go
The more I see, the less I know " Rosie sang growing frustrated.

She finally got her hands on the potion bottle but, when she pulled it out of her the unnecessary and consistent flickering and flashing stage lights made it difficult to fully see the glass bottle top. Taking a chance she felt up the bottle with her hands until she felt the lid. However it refused to budge as she pulled and twisted the lid.

" I say, hey, I be gone today
But I'll be back around the way
It seems like everywhere I go
The more I see, the less I know
But I know one thing that I love you, baby girl
I love you, I love you, I love you " Rosie contuined to sing frustrated.

River brought Harmony closer to the stage. He dodged Harmony's slap as she swung her hand towards his face which he valued more than he did value her when they were together. Harmony glared angrily at him bearing her teeth as she missed. She wasn't normally violent but, she knee how to utilize self-defense. She attempted to slap again but, this time she aimed for River's hand and succeeded causing River to let go.

" Woah. Your feistier than I remember,Love. " River nervously chuckled.

" Who do you think you are?" Pip growled.

The younger sister forced herself between Harmony and river as Jinx extra gently placed his hands on Harmony's shoulders pulling her back. His glare fixed on River who began to panic when he glanced up to see Rosie removing the Love potion's top. He couldn't move to get Harmony cause her sister was blocking his path and Jinx was holding her close.

" I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love y- " Rosie singing turned into a startlef scream. "AHHH!"

While he potion holder was singing Elvis tackled her sending the open potion bottle flying towards and above Pip's head. Harmony's eyes widen realizing where it was heading rushing to grab her sister's writ so she could pull her out of the way but, she was too late. Some of the pink dust poured over both her and Pip while all of the festival lights,music and power shut down leaving everyone in the dark and im silence. Many trolls gasped now blinded by the sudden darkness and the attached foreseen events before it.

AN: The song still the same song from last chapter. "Say Hey" the Strange Magic movie veriosn with a couple lyric changes. Now the plot can truly begin. This is gonna be fun.