Song Defies Color

A/N: Okay, okay, I know that these new ideas are getting way out of hand. But I want to put them out there before I forget about them completely. I'll be focusing more on "Catch a Rising Star", and then when that's done, I'll get to work on this and another "Trolls" story. So don't expect very frequent updates.

So a little background info about this story before we being. This is an alternate universe of "Trolls" having elements of three beloved fairy tales: "Cinderella", "Rapunzel", and "The Little Mermaid." Odd mix, huh? Well, y'all will soon see how it all fits together eventually.

Now, let us begin the story. And action!

Chapter 1

A Gray and Rough Life

A lone male Troll stood on a large platform as bright lights started to flash and music began to play. It was a catchy pop tune as the Troll started to dance smoothly across the stage, his back to the audience on the platform before he began to walk backwards towards the edge. Then, with a quick spin, he faced them, smiling confidently.

The Troll had pointed ears that slightly stuck outward, rather than how other Trolls' ears are more round in shape and closer to the head; pale gray skin, sooty black hair sticking up in the air and it was a bit shorter than the usual height for some other Trolls, and steel blue eyes. 

Despite his mostly monochromatic colors, he was wearing pretty colorful clothing: a vest that had sparkly golden leaves and cream white shorts with purple and orange stripes on the sides, with a purple microphone in his right ear and a rainbow clip-on earring on his left one for some odd reason. Over his eyes were heart-shaped sunglasses with sparkly blue glasses and yellow plastic frames.

Then, he started to sing in an angelic, tenor voice.

Don't be so quick to walk away. (Dance with me.)
I wanna rock your body, please stay. (Dance with me.)
You don't have to admit ya wanna play. (Dance with me.)
Just let me rock you 'til the break of day. (Dance with me.)

The Troll then was surrounded with lots of other Trolls. Unlike him, they had much more vibrant colors of all kinds of shades and hues, but they all were dressed pretty similar to the gray Troll at the front of them. They all then began to dance in a formation as the gray Troll continued to sing, with the others singing harmony.

Got time, but I don't mind.
Just wanna rock you, girl.
I'll have whatever you have.
Come on, let's give it a whirl.

See, I've been watching you,
And I like the way you move,
So go ahead, girl just do
That hair-shakin' thing you do.

Then, the Troll started to sing solo for a little bit before the others joined back in.

So you grab your girls and you grab a couple more,
And you all come meet me in the middle of the floor.
Said the air is thick, it's smelling right.
So you pass to the left, then you sail to the right.

Don't be so quick to walk away. (Dance with me.)
I wanna rock your body, please stay. (Dance with me.)
You don't have to admit ya wanna play. (Dance with me.)
Just let me rock you-

"BRANCH!"

The gray Troll, now known as Branch, snapped his eyes open, not on a stage anymore, but instead in a dark underground area, tucked in his bed. Instead of the bright clothing that he was wearing in that annoying fantasy he had for the past few years, he wore brown shorts with multiple patches everywhere. At the moment, he was currently topless. 

He groaned when he recognized the voice that was calling his name. He grabbed his pillow from underneath his head and covered his face with it, trying to block the noise and go back to sleep. However, there was a loud banging from above, and he groaned again from under the pillow. He wished they could actually knock for once instead of trying to break down the entrance.

"BRANCH!" The voice called out again, the loud banging getting more insistent.

Branch groaned a third time as he finally forced himself out of bed. "I'll be right there!" He shouted back up. 

He pushed himself out of bed, put on a mossy green robe over his body, warmed up a cup of coffee and got to his platform elevator of his survival bunker.

As the platform slowly rose up, Branch looked around his bunker to see what needed some more fixing up. He could pick some more berries, as well as some extra potatoes, peas, melons, and other fruits and veggies so that he could either pickle, dry, salt, or even store them away. It might not sound tasty, but Branch couldn't have a garden in his bunker since there was no sunlight to help provide fresh crops. He did have one outside his bunker near the forest where no one could find it.

Soon, the platform reached the top, where the floor was surrounded by all kinds of traps; from mouse traps to bear traps. Above him was the entrance mat, and he opened the little peephole to see his unwanted visitor.

There was a tall but elderly Troll standing outside, looking at him. She had dark purple skin and sparkly white hair tied up into a tight bun. She wore a deep mahogany dress with a high collar that screamed authority.

It was Miss Guffin, Branch's so-called caretaker. She took him in after his grandmother died from a terrible illness and after Branch lost his colors due to grief. She believed that gray Trolls were like a poison to Troll society. But as to not break her promise to his grandmother Rosiepuff, who was a good friend to her, that she would look after him, she in fact encouraged Branch to build his bunker on the conditions that he would do chores for her while she was out on errands, and to keep away from the village completely. 

Branch would practically work himself to the bone, with not just his duties given by Guffin, but also with his own chores. If he was being honest, his own chores were a cakewalk compared to his other ones, due to them always piling up and with him often missing the chance to eat. Because of his forced isolation from the village, no one even knew who he was, or that he even existed. He kept telling himself that he was fine with it, but deep down, it hurts.

Only Branch and Rosiepuff knew this, but Guffin was a powerful sorceress. She kept her powers a secret for her own reasons, and she even donned a disguise in the eyes of the village. Instead of the intimidating Troll that she was now, she used her magic to pretend to be a plump, sweet little old lady with sky blue hair and rosy pink skin. But her eyes remained the same. 

She lived in a humble cottage that she disguised as a grand manor at the edge of the kingdom, not far from where Branch built his bunker. And every morning, she would get him up to start his daily morning duties before anyone else in the village would wake up. Branch never knew why or what Guffin would do when she was out on errands, but he knew better than to question her due to her great power.

He already knew that he didn't know Guffin as well as he thought he did, due to her being cold and cruel to him and basically keeping him a prisoner in his own bunker, never having any sort of contact with the village. But what he didn't know was that Guffin was bitterly jealous of him. 

Why? Well, she would check on her charge once in a while to see if he was doing his chores right, and she would see him waltzing around in the halls with a broom or mop, or he would be out working in the gardens, and some of the nearby critters fluttered around him like bees to flowers, making him lightly laugh or chuckle. 

It didn't help that despite losing his colors, Branch actually grew up to become a strong and handsome Troll. And what made it even worse was that when he wasn't paying attention, she would hear him quietly hum or even sing softly under his breath, and his voice would be the most angelic that she ever heard for a male Troll. Some of the songs she would hear would be ones that she never heard before, meaning that he wrote them himself.

That was it. She was jealous of his charm and talent, even though he was gray without an ounce of color except in his eyes. A gray Troll, in her mind, was never meant to possess such gifts. But she knew that he would never regain his colors as long as he remained unhappy and under her control.

"Time for you to start your chores." She said. "Unless you want to go without breakfast again."

Branch resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Very well." He said. "May I please put on something decent first, though?"

Guffin nodded. "You have three minutes." She said before turning on her heel and walking away. 

Branch closed the peephole, mimicking her expression while taking the elevator back down inside his bunker. Welcome to his life.

*************************************

Minutes later, Branch was inside Guffin's manor, having finished up his morning coffee and quietly munching on some dried fruit slices that served as his breakfast. He closed the door behind him and carefully pivoted his ears around, making sure that no one was around. While yes, the idea of singing brings back painful memories of him and his grandmother, whenever he was alone, he felt more at peace, and then, the music would come to him.

Just then, he heard a little buzzing sound near the window. Branch carefully went over to it and saw a little glow bug tapping its head against the glass. The gray Troll chuckled and opened it, and the little turquoise bug zipped around him, buzzing happily before nuzzling his face and landing on his shoulder, making him chuckle.

"Take it easy, Glitz." He said. "You know what would happen if Guffin finds you here."

The little bug, called Glitz, just buzzed, saying that he doesn't care. He wanted to be with his friend. Branch just snickered as the bug flew up and started to drag him outside by the hair.

"Ow, easy on the hair, pal." He said, lightly brushing away the little glow bug before straightening his hair. "I do have some chores to do, and I have to finish them before Guffin's first class comes, in about two hours."

Glitz just buzzed in annoyance, and Branch rolled his eyes, his lips lightly quirking up. "Come on now, Glitz. You know the routine."

With that, Branch grabbed a broom and began to sweep the wooden floor. As the seconds ticked up, and his ears not picking up anything else, the music once again began to take hold of him as he looked up at the large grandfather clock before resuming his sweeping.

Branch: Seven a.m., the usual morning lineup.
Start on the chores and sweep 'till the floor's all clean.

A montage was then shown of Branch doing his other chores all throughout in the manor, with Glitz helping him. He would mop the kitchen floors, wash the towels and rugs, and dust every corner of the manor before sweeping once more.

Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up.
Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15!

When Branch looked back up at the grandfather clock, he saw the time and almost fainted due to exhaustion. That was a new record, but now he felt too tired to even move. Glitz managed to push him back upright before he fell backward onto the spotless floor. 

He then zipped over to the kitchen and came back with a carefully balanced mug of water on his back. Branch gratefully took it and drank the entire thing before heading back to the kitchen to clean it before putting it away.

Then, Branch found the strength to make it to Guffin's library. That was the only nice thing that she really ever did for him. She would let him read and borrow books from her library, as long as he wasn't seen by anyone else and that he would eventually give them back. 

The library had mountains of books all the way to the ceiling, having genres of every kind. Branch's lips curled upward in a little smile as he scanned all of the many bookshelves and eventually came back down with three different books in his hands.

And so I'll read a book,
Or maybe two or three!

Branch and Glitz then headed out of the enchanted manor with his books in his hands and headed back down into his bunker. Once they were down there, he put the spare books down onto a spare table to read later. Then, he took out a spare journal that was left on his work desk and a pencil and started to write on the pages.

I'll add a few new stanzas
To my poetry.

A montage was then shown to show Branch practicing guitar, and then knitting a dark green wool blanket for when winter comes. Then, he was cooking some lunch for him with some fresh crops he had picked, making a couple of baked potatoes.

I'll play guitar and knit
And cook and basically
Just wonder when will my life begin.

As he was waiting for them to finish, he looked up at where the entrance was, and a sad look briefly flitted across his face, making his ears droop a little bit more downward. Glitz came over to him and landed on his shoulder, buzzing happily. 

For a moment, Branch felt a little better and went back to the kitchen to check on the potatoes. When he saw that they were done, he carefully took them out; and after spreading a nice layer of butter on them when he opened them, he had a nice lunch with his little glowbug friend, who had almost burned his tongue due to the heat, making Branch chuckle.

Next, there was another montage of Branch doing other activities with Glitz; solving a thousand-piece puzzle, practicing his throwing skills and accuracy with darts, and then baking some brownies for later. They sometimes served as a quick snack for Branch if he was too busy with his chores to make himself some proper food.

Then, he would make an inventory of his supplies, practice his waltzing with an invisible partner; since his grandmother made him learn when he was young, and he didn't want to forget those memorable times; and then he was playing a game of chess with Glitz. Right when he made his move by taking one of Glitz's pawns, the little bug made his move by moving his rook to take Branch's bishop, much to the gray Troll's playful annoyance.

Then after lunch, it's puzzles and darts and baking.
Checking supplies, a bit of waltzing and chess.

Then Branch finally got outside to collect some more supplies, such as sticks, leaves, herbs, more sticks, and berries, including ones that can be boiled to get wax for making candles. Then, Branch did some exercising, made a couple of sketches of some wild critters, climbed a tree, and then made some new clothes for himself.

Collecting and reorganizing, candle making.
Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb, sew a vest!

Feeling mentally exhausted, Branch fell into his wooden armchair with a heavy plop, lightly putting his feet up. He felt grateful that today, Guffin didn't call him to "help" her with some other chores she might throw at him. He then took one of the books that he had borrowed from her library earlier and began to read it, Glitz coming over to him and landing on the armrest.

Then I'll reread the books
If I have time to spare.

After reading a couple of chapters, and getting a sudden burst of inspiration, he went over to his own bookshelf and took out his journal again to write again. He stole a little glance over at the shelf to see dozens of journals that had either poems or sketches before getting back to writing his new poem as words came into his mind and then onto paper.

I will write some more,
I'm sure there's room somewhere.

Then Branch once again did another inventory of his supplies, checking everything from berry and other food rations to hundreds of sticks of all sizes to use and whittle as weapons just in case of an intruder or some wild beast attack. Once he was done, he felt a sense of accomplishment swell up inside of him, but it didn't last long when the little proud smirk vanished as he once more looked over towards the elevator.

And then I'll reorganize
And reorganize again,
Stuck in the same place I've always been.

The gray Troll then looked around his entire bunker, lightly spinning around in a circle before he looked over at the platform elevator again, a look of longing in his sky blue eyes.

And I'll keep wonderin' and wonderin'
And wonderin' and wonderin'
When will my life begin?

With a little sad look in his eyes, Branch went over to his room, seeing as that another day had come and gone. It was well past midnight, and Glitz had fallen asleep on his armchair. Branch's lips lightly curled upward at the sight of the sleeping bug and carefully petted it goodnight. He then went over to his room and promptly crashed onto it, feeling his movements grow sluggish as he got under his blankets.

As he quietly laid in bed, he thought about the nearby Troll village. He had only seen it from a distance, and he would see Trolls going about their day, all of them so happy and colorful, singing their hearts out, dancing their feet off, and partying the night away. True, they didn't know the meaning of volume control, but Branch couldn't help but feel intrigued by them. Often, he would want to get closer to it and get a better look, but if Guffin ever found out, she would likely whip him, throw him into his bunker, and not let him out for a week.

It was one of the many times that Branch wished that he could be free, and see the village himself with his own eyes. True, everyone might stare at him weirdly and shy away from him since they had never seen a gray Troll before, but maybe, they could give him a chance to regain happiness and his colors.

At first, after his grandmother's death, Branch wanted nothing more than to be alone. But now that he is, he would give anything to really live again. He was only a child when he lost his colors, but he did have fond memories of what it was like in the village. 

If he ever got the chance, he could make friends with them, show off his talent and skill, maybe teach what he has learned over the years so that Trolls can lead better lives, and maybe even find that special someone who he will love for the rest of time with every little breath in his body. Maybe he might even have a family of his own, and love them with all his heart, teaching them to be the very best they can be so that they can be prepared for whatever curveball life might throw at them.

One day. He thought to himself as sleep began to overtake him. One day, things will change. I hope.

A/N: Before any of you start calling me out, let me explain one more thing. Branch does sing in this AU, but only when he thinks he's alone. And it does bring some painful but happy memories for him, which makes him almost want to swear off singing completely. But he feels like he can't, not because of his nature as a Troll, but because his grandmother loved to hear him sing and would want him to keep singing.

Yes, I decided to make Guffin the villain of this story, and make her have powers. I'll expand more on her next time. 

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this first chapter. I'm not sure when I'll update this again, but check out my other two "Trolls" stories if you want to read more: "Catch a Rising Star" and "Feeling the Love Tonight." 

The songs I used in this chapter is "Rock Your Body" by Justin Timberlake, and one of my favorite songs from him, and "When Will My Life Begin?" from "Tangled." In this case, I listened to a cover of it sung by this guy named Rory Hollands. I own neither of them, and all credit goes to their respective owners.

Until next time! I'll see y'all! Please leave a comment about what you think. And remember to stay healthy!

Got to fly! ;)