Chapter Text
Poppy bounced her leg in a jittery way, a nauseous anxiety paired with her habits of being active didn’t bode well for sitting down across from her supposed enemy, who had laid waste to countless other troll communities before coming here. Someone she was definitely supposed to fear or at least be mad at, but she knew she definitely didn’t.
She didn’t hate Barb, the rock troll had said herself they were very similar. But after the heat of the moment had worn off, with the fear of music disappearing coming and going, she realized a potential friendship with Barb would need to be side barred in order to focus on her war crimes against trolls. Because, while she regretted it now or not, trolls of all types were homeless, jobless, and some who had passed on. It was only natural in a hostile take over for a few souls to be lost along the way, and while the casualties had been few, they weren’t zero.
The other leaders had already started the discussion, what should be done, how it should be done, and what was best for everyone. Barb was present, as by birthright she was entitled to participate in this ‘court’ as representative of Rock. (The court being thrown together shortly after everyone realized they had shambles of homes to go back to, and had to decide fitting consequences SOON.) It had already been decided that the entirety of Rock would not be held accountable, as most had been coerced to join or had done such for ‘college credit’.
Barb had also agreed on behalf of Rock that she was to accept sole blame and responsibility for the atrocities, and any such punishments given she should be the one to bear them. She had been especially concerned for her father’s well being before being reassured he wouldn’t be charged with any crimes for his involvement, much to her relief. But aside from that initial anecdote, she hadn’t said anything else the entire meeting. Just silently swaying her legs in her chair, and her ears softly twitching when she heard her name.
Poppy had also been fairly quiet, and watched as the proceedings continued. She was trying to think of a way to help, to give Barb a deserving punishment while also providing a softer sentence than the ones being tossed around. Thankfully death wasn’t being used as a viable option, but there was talk of possible de-throning, imprisonment, and other long term solutions that made Poppy squirm.
“I’m just sayin’, I like a good trial as much as the next folk, but I think y’all got the wrong idea about this whole business. Let her serve a few years then put this whole thing to bed.” The country trolls hadn’t come willingly, Mayor Delta Dawn least of all, but the Lonesome Flats had been the least destroyed in the aftermath of Barb's invasion, hence why the ‘court’ was being held there. Poppy wiped a bit of sweat from her brow, while she wasn’t excited to see the state of pop village, she was thrilled at the idea of being anywhere cooler.
“Now hold on, everyone deserves to see a fair trial, it was their homes, their loved ones that they lost. And she deserves one too! We should let the people decide.” King Trollex, being the first among the attacked and imprisoned, was pushing for a longer sentence, but was hoping for a positive outcome more than anyone, save for Poppy. He wasn’t after blood, but understood these crimes couldn’t go unchecked, and Poppy admired that.
“What’s the point of holding this court if nothing is to come of it, and she runs free for even longer while we schedule a trial? I say we lock her up and start reconstruction as soon as possible!” Trollzart had the most right to be angry, as his heavens had been demolished, and they had been the ones to suffer the most casualties. If Poppy was to suspect anyone had execution on their minds, and simply was not speaking it aloud, it would be him she’d suspect first. She did sympathize with him, especially having seen the carnage first hand and hearing penny whistles account, reconstruction for the classical music trolls would easily be the longest.
Poppy looked over at Barb, giving her a once over to see any reaction to the sentences being argued over. There was none, Barb was staring down at her hands, looking displaced, not too dissimilar from a pouty child. Her eyes darted quickly up and met Poppy’s, she gave a small wave from across the table and smiled, but Barb looked back down with no change in her face. She couldn’t help feeling a little dejected, even if the reaction wasn’t necessarily negative. Barb was going through a lot, she shouldn’t take it personally.
“I think we should let her have some agency, we all agree to not forget what’s been done, but that doesn't mean we can’t forgive.” King Quincy spoke with the more royal air Poppy was coming to expect from the two leaders of funk. They seemed to be the most level headed here, taking what happened seriously but not allowing it to make them irrational.
“What would you suggest we do? Give her full control of her kingdom and hope for the best? That she might change on a whim?” Trollzart was fuming, his little wings beating so hard Poppy could feel the light gust even a few seats away from him. “I am not content leaving her unchecked! She must have all of her power stripped!”
“And who would you have us replace her with? One of yours? The Rock trolls love her, we could reignite tensions from that act alone. No, we need her to prove herself worthy of leadership, and keep her checked in the meantime with one of us looking after Rock.” King Quincy said, stomping one of his four legs at the end to punctuate his proposal.
Trollzart looked at King Quincy skeptically, his anger subsiding slightly in favor of conveying his confusion at the idea. “What exactly are you suggesting…?”
“I suggest that one of us unite our kingdoms with Queen Barb, watch over both her and Rock until she has proven herself worthy of leading once more. That way the Rock trolls are happy and she is rehabilitated.” The king of funk said it so confidently, and looked around to gauge the reactions of the other leaders. It took Poppy only a moment to understand what he was really getting at.
“You want one of us to marry her?” Poppy couldn’t hold the incredulous tone, it was one of the last ideas she could’ve possibly thought might be considered. King Quincy only nodded, and one quick glance to Barb showed she was gawking at all of them. For a moment, there was silence, as everyone expected someone else to disagree, to jump in and proclaim how ridiculous of an idea it was.
“Well…it’s not incarceration, but it is…practical.” Now all eyes were on Trollzart, who seemed to still be on edge, as he quickly added, “But- the natural next question is…who among us would do it?”
Silence fell upon the room again, before Delta Dawn quickly touched her nose and yelled- “Not it!” -to the rest of them. Poppy could barely think, marrying Barb?! Who would do it?? It was definitely the best solution if she wanted even a chance of befriending her- but who would she be married to?? And for how long?? The western heat was really getting to her, and she had to start fanning her face a little to provide a little relief.
“Well I’m certainly not doing it! Not after what she did to Symphonyville!”
“I already said not it!”
“I’m all for redemption, but no way.”
“Me and the Queen are already spoken for.”
When Poppy didn’t have an immediate excuse or flat out denial like everyone else, all eyes turned to her, including Barb’s. Poppy was transfixed, staring into the confusing emotions behind those eyes, she couldn’t pinpoint anything in them aside from one thing that was undeniable.
Fear.
A good queen made sacrifices for her people, in spite of her own wants or wishes. A good queen would do the right thing, wouldn’t be selfish, and would do what needed to be done. Poppy is a good queen, so she needed to act like it. She took a deep breath, and fixed her posture in her seat.
“I’ll do it.”