#hanahaki John Dory

[agent-cakeshroom]

HANAHAKI JOHN DORY

I've seen a Hanahaki Branch fic. And John Dory is all uncertain about his place in the family during the third movie. None of his brothers but Floyd greet him warmly, he also blames himself for their falling out, and after the chaos he has to try and find a place amongst others. Clay has the Putt Putt trolls, Floyd settles in with Branch easily, and Bruce has an actual whole-ass family.

It's all the ingredients for a delightfully sad Hanahaki story. JD starts coughing up yellow carnations first, as Clay is the most obvious about his disdain for John. Maybe he tries to join Clay's sad book club to get closer to his brother, and Clay just outright rejects him. Next are deep purple petunias when Bruce gets frustrated and snaps at John Dory. Maybe he was trying to help with the restaurant and messed up? Or he tries to give a frustrated Bruce advice which just makes him more upset? Then, Forget-me-nots. John catches Branch on a bad day, this leads to Branch saying something along the lines of "You'd know if you'd been around." And John fumbles to apologize or something, and Branch just storms off before he can.

And it all culminates with John Dory using the bunker's kitchen to try and make an apology dinner feast for his brothers before they all get back. Bruce is visiting while Clay and Floyd have moved in with Branch. But then the coughing gets worse. He's distracted by hacking up flowers and thorns and blood, and things catch fire. It's a complete wreck, and before he can even start cleaning up he sees his brothers standing by the entrance. Staring at him, horrified and pissed at the mess. They don't get a chance to say anything, as John Dory makes eye contact with Floyd. The utter disappointment(or what he sees as disappointment but is actually sympathy) causes his lungs to seize up. He coughs hard enough to puke, and there are now Cyclamen petals mixed in. His vision blurs, his hearing is muffled, and he feels hands gently laying him down before he can drop to the floor. He passes out before he can find out how worried his brothers are.

THEN MAKING UP AND FLUFFY BONDING :D

[sarilolla]

Decided to draw today

Hanahaki Branch

Wanted to try to draw Branch from the Hanahaki au I posted earlier today. Idk why but I find the trope fascinating, and I went for the familial type and unadmitted love for him. The drawing is just stylized lungs with each of the four flowers growing inside. Branch is also holding a bouquet of the flowers, and they’re covering his mouth who are also supposed to have the flowers blooming out of

Didn’t come exactly how I wanted it, but I’m not used to drawing either so-

Anyway, the flowers:

John Dory: Iris - The inner bit is orange, symbolizing the courage, bravery, and passion Branch always saw in his older brother. It’s outlined in white, the innocence Branch had that JD always tried to protect. Then there’s blue that melts into purple at the edges, the blue symbolizing hope and faith, and the purple is wisdom, strength and courage that Branch associated with the oldest of the Brozone brothers

Spruce/Bruce: Zinnia - Red, symbolizing familial ties and the steadfastness of a heartbeat (also meaning missing an absent friend)

Clay: Dahlia - Yellow and orange for joy and excitement, with green edges for new beginnings and change

Floyd: Queen Anne’s Lace - Sanctuary, safety, and refuge, are typically given to cherished family members and can mean familial love

[sarilolla]

what if brozone did save branch in time but is still very weak and needs recovery?(a little good ending after some good angst, i think-)

Oooo yes, love that, so.... ficlet time! Angst and fluff lovers, come get your food!

Hanahaki Branch au (slight spoilers/alternative ending to not finished fic)

***

Branch being stubborn wasn't just a him thing. It was a family trait. Loving a lot was also a family trait, ironically enough. And all five of them loved each other. More than they had gotten to tell each other for a long time.

That was why they were so desperate to get to Pop Village, to Branch, as all four of them were explained what was happening to him. Branch was dying, out of love for them. That was downright painful to learn. All four had wanted to go home at one point. Wanted to reunite at one point. All four had been back at the Troll Tree once, finding the destruction, grieving a childhood lost, a family lost.

But they could finally find each other again. A small thought in the back of their head made them wonder if they reunited by one of them almost dying in every universe, or if this one was just cruel. It didn't matter. Branch mattered.

Floyd arrived first, rushing to his baby brother's side, nearly ignoring the pink Troll sitting at his other side. Kismet had found him, and the critter bus they had driven in now needed a serious break, but he was there. Branch was the most lucid then, and while he still struggled to talk, the Queen Anne's Lace had turned to dust inside him as he heard the words "I love you" from the brother he was closest to so many years ago.

Bruce was next. Brandy had practically pushed him out the door herself when the bounty hunters arrived with the news. His baby brother was dying, and there was no time to lose. Arriving in Branch's bunker, he found the two youngest, one in bed sickly, the other keeping his tears and anger inside and hidden to the best of his ability. Poppy left at that point, letting them talk. She was more confident her Branch would survive now with two of his brothers there. It would at least give him a few more hours. For Bruce, "I love you" came as easy as breathing, to both of his brothers. Branch's breathing came a tiny bit easier when the red Zinnia disappeared, but his eyes were a bit too foggy for their liking.

John Dory had been found by some old friends as he was camping. He honestly never thought he would see Delta again, but here she were. Not for him though, not directly. She was there because of Branch. She was one of the few Trolls who knew about his brothers, who knew how important they were to him. Getting Rhonda on the trail to Pop Village instantly became first priority above everything.

Clay was skeptical and scared when the two Bergens arrived, and worried when he saw Trolls with them. Viva, understandably enough, attacked the couple, and all of Putt Putt were ludicrisly confused as to why the Trolls with them were defending them. An accidental namedrop of Poppy and Branch, and the two leaders of the scared little village finally listened. Viva was ecstatic to hear her sister was alive, and that the Trolls, the Snack Pack as they called themselves, were some of her closest friends. Apperantly Bridget was nearly her sister, which was odd, but she could work with that. Clay, however, froze when he heard why they were looking for him specifically. Branch was dying. He needed his brothers. He hadn't left Putt Putt in years, but for one of his brothers? He would do anything, even get past his fears of sitting with a Bergen on her motorcycle.

John Dory and Clay arrived nearly at the same time, and were practically pushed into the bunker by the Pop Queen without the elevator even meeting them. As quick as the two could, they arrived in Branch's bedroom. All five of them were together again. Clay was quicker to the youngest bedside, while JD stood there in shock. His brothers had grown so much, all of them, and here the youngest, the baby of the family, was dying.

Clay whispered a mantra of "I love you" to Branch, who barely managed to make eye contact with him to return the words. But even with the green and yellow Dahlia turning to ash inside him, his breathing was still stuttering, stopping, hurting. His eyes closed, and the other three pairs in the room snapped to John.

He didn't know what to do. Or, of course he knew what to do. He had to go over and tell his dying baby brother that he loved him. His brothers urged him over, and slowly he unfrooze, sitting down by Branch's head, so he would hear. Hear the "I love you", the apologies, the grief, the guilt. He even started rapidly apologizing to the others in the room, all three of them quiet as the oldest unraveled in front of them. He didn't stop until he felt someone look at him, one of Branch's eyes lazily opened. Quiet, so quiet he wouldn't heard it hadn't all his focus been on Branch, he whispered back.

"I love you."

And the multi-colored Iris had died. Branch's breathing didn't clear immediately, but slowly, it eased up. The roots were disappearing, the vines no longer pressing at his throat, and the petals turned to ash where they had grown in his mouth.

His eyes slipped shut, and for a moment they all panicked, until realizing he was sleeping. He was recovering. He was alive.

All five of them sat together, the youngest sleeping soundly, and even as a fight had broken them apart two decades ago, the only feeling they now had was relief, happiness and love. They were here, they were together, and while they had their own lives, they would stay together. No more disappearing, no more almost losing each other.

Branch was alive, and so were the rest. And if they had their say, it would stay that way for a long time.

***

God, that was crushing but so relieving to write- I hope you liked it! These brothers live in my head rent free fr

[sarilolla]

So it's the same,(branch not taking the potion and dying) but the others did find brozone and came to the bunker before branch died and tries to save him?

Ooo yes (come get your Branch angst everyone)

Hanahaki Branch au (slight spoilers/alternative ending to not finished fic)

So as I have mentioned in my fic, there’s a point where the Hanahaki has created so strong roots inside the body, the potion won’t work anymore.

Branch is a stubborn Troll. Always has been. Love was no exception. Especially for his brothers. That was why he had let it go this far. Even with the adventures he and Poppy had done, he still hadn’t found them. But he held into that hope.

That would be his undoing. He is at the point in his illness where the potion simply won’t work anymore. Dr. Moonbloom confirmed it, and it was like the flowers and vines inside him tightened their grip on his lungs.

Poppy organized search parties as soon as she knew, which was immediately after he left the doctor’s office. Both the Country and the Rock Trolls had had encounters with both John Dory for some reason, and both tribes were willing to help. They heard from some indie Trolls that Floyd had last been heard from moving towards Mount Rageous, and Kismet set after him, the boyband desperate to help their Branch. Gristle and Bridget had heard rumors of an old abandoned golf course made by some Bergens, and how there was a possibility Trolls lived there, hopefully a brother was there. And some of the bounty hunters had met Bruce on Vacay Island, going there.

Finding them all wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, especially for Bridget and Gristle, and Kismet. The Bergens had to promise they were only there to try to find someone from Brozone to save the life of their friend, and while Clay was skeptical, he joined them, Viva worryingly following, a bit at ease from how fond Bridget was of Poppy. Kismet had a long road trip, but they knew Floyd would go home for Branch, they remembered how close the two youngest Brozone brothers were. In Mount Rageous, they had to help Floyd dodge Velvet and Veneer. All brothers come when they learn Branch is dying and he needs them. He don’t need Brozone, he doesn’t need the Perfect Family Harmony, he just needs his older brothers and being able to tell them he loves them. Hear them say it in return. There’s no question about it, there will be a family reunion.

Back in Pop Village, Branch can’t even leave his bed anymore, struggling to move, or even breathe. Poppy’s at his side at all times, holding his hand and saying loving words like a mantra. He’s tired, barely keeping his eyes open when he hears someone say “they’re here.”

He wants to open his eyes, want to see them, but he’s so tired. He’s been dealing with this since he was 10. He thinks he deserves to rest now.

Someone is holding his hand, even as he can’t breathe. There’s voices, but he can’t make them out. He’s slipped too far already. His breathing, stuttering and struggling, doesn’t help, even as more people surround him.

One person is holding the hand not occupied by Poppy’s, another has a hand on his arm, he thinks there is a hand on his leg, and the final person is checking his pulse.

He can’t open his eyes. Hearing fades until he can hear his grandma’s voice, plus two unfamiliar but just as loving voices, and they’re welcoming him with tears.

John removes his hand once he is sure he can’t feel Branch’s heartbeat anymore. They were close, so close to saving their baby brother. When his arm falls to his side, the rest of them understand. Floyd holds his hand tighter, wishing life would come back into those calluses hands. Clay is quiet, not moving the hand on Branch’s arm, and Bruce looks just as shellshocked from where he’s sitting by Branch’s legs.

Poppy sobs. Her Branch is gone. They were so close, so close to saving him. And now he’s gone. At least he looks relaxed now. To think Death’s gentle touch was the thing that would smooth out those stress lines. She doesn’t want to look at his brothers, don’t want to acknowledge them, and lets her own brother move her away eventually, and she hides with Cooper and the rest of the Snack Pack. Their Branch is gone. Forever.

***

Hehe another ficlet. Like the others, this could be expanded, as I want to introduce more relationships and dynamics in my fic first. But yeah, now we have two death scenarios

Branch angst my beloved

Feel free to send more asks, this au is rotting my brain right now, and I love to share about it (shout out to my sisters for listening to my rambling)

[sarilolla]

Tempted to write a trolls fic in Norwegian (my mother tongue), both to practice my fiction writing in my own language and to write something for my sister (who is 9 and finds my Hanahaki au a bit too exciting), but my main reason is that the BroZone brothers have the most dork names in Norwegian 😭

Or, the three oldest do, Branch is just the literal translation “Kvist”, and Floyd is “Falk” which means falcon. So objectively Floyd’s the best one

Clay is “Karse” aka watercress (fitting honestly with his hair-)

Spruce/Bruce is “Barlind/Erling” aka Yew (a species of tree so fitting with Spruce) and a “more mature version” of the name

And John Dory is Jan Didrik. Which is the most dork name ever and doesn’t have a translation as it’s just a name.

So if anyone needed evidence for whatever reason that JD is a dork, just take the Norwegian name as proof-

[sarilolla]

Found you on ao3, if your still doing the ficlits, could you do one where jhon is the only one to make it in time?

Ooo, I sure can! Might be one of the last ficlets for a while, at least for hanahaki (starting to get a bit of burnout writing for the au, but I still adore it, don't worry)

***

A loud chittering sound was heard as a giant critter bus emerged from the woods, the faint glow of colors and a song disappearing. From the side door, a Troll emerged, slamming it open as he looked at the village. Pop Village. A place he had been looking for before, but had believed to never exist.

John Dory stepped out, avoiding being pushed by Barb. Patting Rhinda's cheek, he trusted Delta with making sure she got rest, before the Rock queen dragged him through the small village to the outskirts, where a large rock stood. At the bottom of the rock was a welcome mat, and she stomped on it to knock, making him yelp when it opened to them falling onto an elevator.

Going down, he barely noticed the stacks of supplies, anxiety building as he realized he would soon see his baby brother. His baby brother that he left behind.

"Focus, John Dory," he thought to himself, trying to psyche himself up, "You're just seeing your baby brother again. Who you left behind. Who is dying-"

His thoughts were luckily interrupted as the elevator came to a halt, and Barb dragged him with to a door, knocking uncharacteristically gently at it.

"Hey, Popstar! Got the old one for you and your boy toy."

And with that he was pushed inside, seeing the sparse bedroom, where two Trolls sat. One young lady whose grip didn't falter as she held onto the bedridden's paw. And there, in bed, pale and sickly, laid Branch.

"Hey, Bittie…"

He grimaced when Branch's eyes narrowed, shaking his head.

"That's fair, I don't really get to use that nickname now, huh?"

He made his way over to the side opposite the Queen of Pop, sitting down a bit awkwardly. Branch's eyes were locked on him as tears built in both their eyes.

Barb came over to Poppy, taking her arm, saying something about getting something to eat, and despite her weak protests, the two queens left the room.

"I'm so sorry, Branch, I- I have no excuse," he took Branch's paw as the youngest offered, tearing up, "But I want you to know that I love you, and I always have, ever since you showed up in Dad's hair, I-"

His voice cracked as something loosened in Branch's chest, and he heard the softest "I love you too" back. His paw held tightly onto Branch's as he sobbed, the youngest weakly pulling him into a hug. The hug was more for the older than the younger, but they both needed it.

After a few moments, he slowly managed to compose himself, realizing he was the only one of their brothers there. No, he had to keep faith. He was just first, not the only one, that would be ridiculous.

"…did you see the Neverglades?"

"What?"

He was caught off guard with the question, but answered before Branch would need to repeat it.

"Yeah, yeah… Do you want to hear?"

The younger's eyes lit up just a tiny amount and he nodded, and John put on his best "older brother knows what's doing" smile before starting to talk about his travels, meeting new Trolls, meeting Rhonda. After a while, Poppy returned, sitting down by Branch's side without looking at the older Troll, just taking Branch's paw in her own and sharing a loving look.

She softly spoke about the adventures the two had together, and John was brimming with excitement and pride over everything his baby brother had done, making sure to tell him. He had messed up by not telling his brothers he was proud of them before, he would not mess up now.

Branch's breath got clogged and heavier as moments passed. One flower was gone, but that didn't do anything to the other three, and they had still not shown up, despite all the people looking for them.

"…please don't argue when they show up…"

Was Branch's last request before he shut his eyes, his breath stuttering and stopping, heaving for air for a few moments before everything stopped and the world was quiet.

Poppy broke down in sobs, and John sat silently, not sure what to do. Branch wasn't supposed to die first. He was just a baby. Had been just a baby. He wasn't supposed to die because he wasn't sure his brothers loved him back. He wasn't supposed to raise himself on his own as grandma died and he slipped through the cracks of the orphanage. He wasn't… there anymore.

Branch was gone.

After a few moments, other Trolls came into the room, some comforting Poppy, and a doctor checking Branch, silently shaking her head. John stood up, leaving the room. He wasn't leaving, he just… needed to be somewhere safe. And despite the wonderful place Branch had carved out, with them in mind, this wasn't John's safe place. As he went up again, he headed straight for Rhonda, seeing Delta's smile fall as he started realizing his colors were dulling.

"Oh Johnny," she said comfortingly, and he allowed himself to be hugged by his ex, feeling the comforting warbles of his Rhonda just to the side. The others didn't come in time, and all John could think was that it was his fault. First to leave, first to fail them.

And this could never be fixed.

***

Uhhhh that went away from me for a bit. I blame the fact JD is a fellow oldest sibling and I needed to push some oldest sibling guilt onto him :)

Also I love referring to Branch as Poppy's boy toy, I do it too rarely-

Thanks for the ask ^^