A beautiful sunset was overcoming the clear skies of day. Fletchlings were resting in the high branches above in glorious trees. Many forest pokemon were retreating to their cozy caverns. However, one group is still up and about as the sun was disappearing from the sky. That group was made up of our heroes: Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, Serena of Vaniville Town, Clemont and Bonnie of Lumious City, and all of their pokemon. Together, they were traveling all over Kalos and making many memories. Currently, they were heading to Gloire City because something exciting was going to happen. Ash was going for his eight gym badge in Snowbelle City to qualify for the Kalos League. Serena, however, was preparing for the upcoming pokemon showcase masterclass IN Gloire City to attempt winning the title of Kalos Queen. At the moment, she was getting some last minute training before turning in for the night. Her faithful partner Braixen fired a flamethrower into the air as Pancham intercepted it with dark pulse and Sylveon met it with swift, creating beautiful, multi-colored stars. Still, Serena couldn't help but feel like there was more she could do to improve. Her thoughts were interrupted when Ash came over, saying,"Hey Serena! Working hard I see"? The Kalos native blushed as she says,"Yep. I'm just polishing up a potential routine we could maybe use at the masterclass. I really want to win, but I feel like there's so much more we can do. I don't know if it's just my nerves, or I'm overreacting." Ash seemed to understand as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, saying,"Don't be nervous. I know you'll do great and win easily. Though, your pokemon look a little tired. You should let them rest up and get some sleep." Looking back at her partners, seeing them yawn in exhaustion, she knew that Ash was right. After all, a performer is always at her best after she gets a good night's rest. With that, she praised her pokemon for a great job as she returned them to their pokeballs one by one. Letting out a small yawn herself, she faced Ash, saying,"Guess I need to get some sleep too." Ash laughed and smiled, saying,"Great. And tomorrow, I'll help you train if you want." Serena loved the idea of getting to train with Ash, let alone, have some alone time with him. She smiled and said,"That'd be great Ash thanks."
Once night overcame the sky, everyone was fast asleep, either against a rock or a tree, still in their traveling clothes. Serena had a black leather cardigan over her since she didn't want to catch a chill. What she didn't know was that her night was about to become a lot more eventful. She awoke to what sounded like a ukulele playing a song. At first, she tried to ignore it and go back to sleep, however, something inside her made her want to get up and see where it was coming from. Seeing this was inevitably hard to ignore, she got up, placed the cardigan on, and went to find the source of the ukulele sound. All Serena could think of was,"Who'd be playing a ukulele during this hour"? As she got closer, the sound got louder and she even started to hear a faint voice...sing?
???: Hello darkness, my old friend.
That struck Serena's curiosity into overdrive, whispering,"What a marvelous voice. Who's singing that"? She kept looking before coming across a small bush. There, the voice and music was loudest, easily heard by her.
???: I've come to talk with you again.
A little nervous, but determined to see who or what was the source of the music, Serena quietly pulled back a bit of the bush to look. What she saw almost made her scream in surprise. It was a...a...well, she didn't know what it was. In her perspective, she thought it was a strange looking, albeit talented, pokemon. However, "she" is not a pokemon, but a troll. A pop troll to be more specific. A pink skinned troll with hot magenta hair, a flowery blue dress and headband, and what looked like a handmade ukulele. This troll goes by the name of Poppy, aka "The Queen of Pop." She was sitting on a small rock, looking up at the starry sky, and singing Sound of Silence, a classic song with a beautiful melody. Serena was in awe of her and her voice as she kept watching very quietly.
Poppy: Because a vision softly creeping left the seeds while I was sleeping. And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains. Within the sound...of silence.
She finished with a small ukulele solo, smiling in content. Serena was left starstruck and had the urge to clap in applause. However, she held it in because she feared it might scare the little "creature." Serena's thoughts were interrupted when she accidentally stepped on a small twig, making a *SNAP* sound that startled Poppy, making her hide behind the rock she was sitting in. Seeing what happened, Serena went up to her slowly, saying,"No wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you"!! She knelt down to the level of the rock, saying,"It's ok. I'm a friendly person. You don't have to be scared. I want to say hi." Poppy slowly came from behind the rock, climbing up on top of it while getting a good look of Serena. With some courage, Poppy smiled, saying,"Hi. Nice to meet you." She offered a handshake as Serena gently accepted it. Poppy spoke up again, saying,"Who or what exactly are you? You're not like the creatures I've seen around here." Serena smiled, saying,"It's nice to meet you too. My name is Serena and I'm a human. Who or what are you if I may ask"? Poppy smiled back, saying,"I'm Poppy, and I'm a troll." That peaked Serena's curiosity since she has never seen a troll before. Poppy seemed to catch what she was thinking as she continued with,"We aren't like the creatures that are around here. Trolls are magical beings who love music, dancing, throwing parties, and making new friends." That seemed to peak her interest as Serena says,"You and your kind definitely sound friendly." Before she could ask another question, the bracelet that Poppy had lit up. When Serena asked,"What's that glow for"? Poppy smiled, saying,"Back home, it means hug time, when we give hugs to one another. You don't mind do you"?
Serena smiled as she picked Poppy up, allowing the little troll to hug her. Despite her small size, her hug felt huge, but nice. Serena made extra sure to be gentle as she hugged Poppy back. Once the two separated, Serena said,"Your hugs and your voice are really stellar." Poppy blushed in embarrassment, saying,"Thanks Serena. Though I wish my friends were here to see it." When Serena asked her where they were, Poppy frowned and sighed, saying,"That's the thing, I don't know. One minute, I'm hosting this huge anniversary party for the year when our village was founded, and then the next, I'm caught in a wind tornado and brought here. I miss my friends a lot, especially my father." Poppy jumped down and sat on the rock as Serena sat on the ground, saying,"Is your father a good troll"? Poppy nodded, saying,"Yep, he's the only family I got, at least ever since my mom disappeared." Serena could understand how Poppy felt as she says,"I know how you feel. I care for my mom the exact same way since my father disappeared. She's the only family I have and I love her so." In that instant, Poppy and Serena seemed to just connect with one another through friendship. They just looked at each other, smiled, and laughed for a bit. Serena then got up, saying,"You know something? I want to help you return home. I don't know how, but I do know that if we work together, we can find a solution. What do you say"? Poppy and Serena fist bumped as she says,"Let's do it," as she hopped onto Serena's shoulder.
Together, they both headed deep into the forest in the search for a way to get her home. As they walked down the path, Serena asked Poppy,"So Poppy, do you have any idea on where to go or what to do"? Poppy, thinking about it momentarily, says,"I...do not have any idea. But, I can feel it. I'll feel it if it's essential enough." That kind of logic resembled something that Ash would say as Serena giggled before saying,"It sounds like something Ash would say. He's a friend of mine. You'd love him. He's so energetic and positive and determined, never giving in till the end. Kind of like you." Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes caught their attention, making them cautious about what could come out. It turned out to be a cranky Ariados, who fired a string shot at them. Both jumped to dodge it as Poppy then did something that surprised Serena yet again. Poppy used her hair to smack the Ariados away, causing it to become enraged. It speedily crawled towards her as Poppy swung up on a branch with her hair before catching it in her hair once more and tossing it far away from them. Once the Ariados was gone, she went back up onto Serena's shoulder, saying,"That takes care of him." Serena was able to recover from the initial shock, asking,"How on earth were you able to do that?! That was incredible"!!! Poppy smiled, saying,"Oh yeah, forgot to mention. Troll hair is magical, it allows us to manipulate it for whatever we need. Pretty sweet isn't it"? Serena nodded in agreement, saying,"It sure is."
With that, the two continued on their way, with not a lot of direction to help guide them. They passed a river that led to a really tall temple. The sight was enough to leave the two in shock and awe. Poppy noticed a beautiful flower by the temple as she picked it and weaved it into a piece of vine that was nearby. She then went back to Serena, offering it to her, saying,"In honor of our friendship, I made you this special hug bracelet." Serena automatically put it on, saying,"It's beautiful. I'll always treasure this Poppy. Thank you." Both bracelets glowed as the two shared another sentimental Hug Time hug with one another. Then, they marched up the steps of the temple to the door, which was locked. When Serena tried to open the door and it didn't budge, she said,"There must a way to open the door, but how." Poppy seemed to notice something on the floor by the door, the thing looking like a dance puzzle. She turned to Serena, saying,"I think that dance puzzle might help in opening the door." It looked big enough for the both of them to dance on as Poppy hopped down. Together, they both stepped on a tile as it glowed in approval. Poppy seemed to smile and say,"Knock, knock." Serena seemed to catch her drift as music began to play in the background and the two of them started to dance along with it
~~~~~~~~~~~Open Says Me~~~~~~~~~~
Poppy: Open says me!
Both: Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Act glad you heard. Open says me! Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Act glad you heard. I said the magic word.
Serena: Just watch my feet a-moving, moving down and up and down. We're on repeat a-singing, singing like we know the sound.
Both: Higher than the highest mountain. Deeper than the sea.
Poppy: Open says me!
Both: Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Act like you heard. Open says me! Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Act like you heard. I said the magic word.
Poppy: Cause when I start a-grooving, grooving then I just can't stop. My body starts a-swinging, swing till I start to drop.
Both: Higher than the highest mountain. Deeper than the sea.
Open says me ( Serena: Meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! )! Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Act like you heard. Open says me! ( Poppy: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! ) Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh. Act like you heard. I said the magic word.
With all the tiles glowing, the doors opened up as Poppy and Serena walked inside. It had a lot of ancient hieroglyphics and pictures on the walls. Poppy climbed up onto Serena's shoulder as they trekked deeper into the temple. Soon, they came across an empty room that possessed only a stone tablet with writing. As they looked at it carefully, Serena seemed to identify the writing as she read,"For those who wish to return to their roots, find the rhythm inside the boots. Once you get them to move and roam, will you find your way back home." Poppy, listening closely, said,"So, we need to find some boots and get them to dance"? They both began to look around, but found no signs of boots in the room. Poppy then found a loose tile and pressed it, shifting a wall to the side, revealing another room. Right at the end was a pair of stone boots, where on top of them was a record player. When Poppy hopped down to inspect it, she shifted the handle, causing the record to spin and play music. Suddenly, Serena's boots began to glow as a set of arrows were placed over the record player. Seeing this, Poppy says,"I guess you have to dance and follow the steps shown in the sign above." As the music continued to play, Serena looked at the sign and followed the steps, moving with grace and style. The stone boots were following her movement, moving and roaming in sync. Once the song ended, the boots shifted, revealing a hidden door, which opened up, revealing a portal.
A force sent both females into the portal, traveling through the long, windy tunnel. Soon, they ended up in a very colorful, vibrant forest. As both females got up, Poppy looked around, saying,"It worked. I'm home again. Isn't it great Serena," before seeing what occurred. As Serena stood up, she noticed that everything, even Poppy, looked a little bigger. She said,"Wow, your world looks a lot bigger. Even you grew Poppy." Poppy cleared her throat before saying,"Uh...I didn't grow Serena. You shrunk." Serena saw a puddle nearby and noticed that she actually did shrunk. In a way, it was a little terrifying while at the same time, was cool. She now got to see things from a different point of view. While Poppy watched nervously, Serena smiled, saying,"This is cool. We're almost the same height and it's really cool to see things from your height." When their hug time bracelets chimed, the two got to share a proper hug this time, smiling in content. They started to head towards the village where Poppy lived when Serena noticed a bunch of rocks about to fall. Courageously, she pushed Poppy out of the way and braced for impact as Poppy could only shout her new friend's name in fear. Serena shut her eyes and waited to feel the pain and then-
"Huh? What"? That was Serena speaking when a pebble hit her in the face, waking her up from her sleep. It came from Bonnie, who said,"You were asleep for so long, you missed breakfast." Serena quickly looked around before asking,"Where am I? Where's Poppy? Is she ok"? Bonnie just looked at her confusingly while saying,"What are you talking about and who's Poppy"? Realization hit Serena as she smiled and said,"Nothing Bonnie. It was only a dream." As Bonnie went to get Serena something to eat, Serena took off the cardigan and noticed something on her wrist. A hug time bracelet. She quietly muttered,"Or maybe it wasn't a dream," as she then found a note in her pocket. It read:
Thanks for helping me get home. You're a great friend Serena. I hope we see each other again soon. Whenever you look at your hug time bracelet, think about me and the adventure we had. I'll be thinking of youPoppy
Serena smiled as she says,"I'll miss you Poppy. I hope we see each other again soon as well." When her bracelet chimed, she hugged herself and the note, happy that she got to meet a brand new close friend. Over at Troll Village, Poppy was watching over her friends, thinking the exact same thing. Both girls shared a smile, excited for whenever they'd meet again.