Arriving at her mother's castle, Poppy was led into the conference room where many of the Tribes' former leaders were gathered. Besides Queen Peony and Queen Aretha, a Funk Troll around the latter's age was seated beside her and nudging her affectionately, making her assume that he was Aretha's husband and the former Funk King. On their side were three Country Trolls; one a middle-aged couple and the other a grandfather-like figure. All three of them wore gold five-pointed star Sheriff's badges. Talking beside them were a pair of Latin Trolls who were brightly colored and had body markings to call their own, but hailed from different genres. The male was a Mariachi Troll with a black suit jacket with matching trousers, a white long-sleeve button-down shirt tucked into said trousers, a bright red sash belt with matching bowtie, and black leather shoes; the female was a Tango Troll with a simple black dress with a right-leg slit, matching flats, and a ruby red rose in her hair.
Across from them was a male Classical Troll with blue hair and a black suit jacket above a white long-sleeve button-down shirt with the collar buttoned all the way up. Beside him was a female Techno Troll with blue skin; red, green, blue, purple, silver, and gold bands of color on both arms; swept down black hair with green, blue, and purple streaks; and a rainbow pixelated heart. On their side were a trio of female K-Pop Trolls, each of them sharing a different color scheme and the same glossy chrome skin. The leader donned the colors of red, white, blue, teal, black, and grey; the middle donned the colors of green, yellow, violet, lavender, and orchid; and the third donned the colors of blue, pink, purple, red, and gold. Talking beside them were a Bhangra Troll who wore a red sari dress and a Chanty Troll who wore a navy blue longcoat and a black tricorn hat with a single red feather.
On one end of the table was a large, muscular Rock Troll with a dark blue denim jacket above a white long-sleeve button-down shirt, navy blue jeans, black leather shoes, a right-side eyepatch, a black fedora with a silver band, and a necklace of a red lightning bolt with a blue outline. Taking notes beside him was another younger Rock Troll (older than Poppy) with a black leather jacket above a grey long-sleeve button-down shirt, a brown leather five-button waistcoat, blue jeans, and black biker boots. As he kept making googly eyes at Poppy, he was elbowed by a Yodeler Troll, who in turn was elbowed by a Celtic Rock Troll.
On the other end was Queen Peony, who beckoned Poppy to take a seat beside her as the butlers and maid served the guests tea with milk, cream, and sugar.
"All right, everyone," Peony commenced the meeting, "I'm sure you're wondering why Aretha asked you all to gather at the castle. I would like you all to meet my daughter, Queen Poppy of the Pop Trolls."
Poppy curtsied again, prompting most of the royals to return the gesture much like Aretha and some others to say a friendly greeting.
"We are here to bring her back to the world of the living. But first...a little chat."
The first statement made Poppy choke on her tea, causing her to cough and Peony to rub her back in comfort. When she regained her composure, Poppy's eyes widened in shock.
"Wait...you can do that? Were any of you dead to begin with? Was I dead to begin with? Or...?"
"Of course not, sweetie," Peony chuckled, "I have decided that it's simply not your time yet."
"And not all of us are completely deceased," A Funk/Egyptian Troll by the name of Thoth with the motifs of a baboon and an ibis spoke up, "In my culture, death is not the end. it's more of a...stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands and Bast and Sekhmet...they lead you into a green veld where one can run forever."
Poppy suddenly visualized Thoth's words with Branch by her side and gently smiled, "That actually sounds peaceful."
"My parents thought so as well," Thoth nodded in understanding.
"Just because one is dead doesn't always mean that one is always gone," The Techno Governess known as Nina smiled, "It just means...they are transported to a better place."
"A place far from problems except their own," The former Rock King Bowie reloaded his tea cup.
"But it isn't that bad or difficult," Tom, Bowie's assistant, piped up, "Our inner demons can't be defeated, but we ourselves can live above them."
"We cherish the concept of time, Queen Poppy," The Classical Troll known as Trollkovsky clasped his hands together, "So one should always make the most of it, especially with loved ones."
"Otherwise, time flies," Aretha's husband, King James, chuckled, "and, girl, it flies fast."
Poppy nodded in acknowledgement as she continued sipping her tea.
"But do I really deserve to go back? I mean...destroying the Strings meant I destroyed all music."
The former Tribe Leaders were taken aback, but not at all horrified or appalled, by Poppy's reasoning for her non-resurrection. All except Peony, Aretha, Thoth, Nina, and James.
"My dear..." The K-Pop Leader, Sophie, placed a hand over her heart in sympathy.
"You destroyed the Strings...?" The Yodelling Leader, Roy, was utterly shocked.
Poppy merely nodded before clarifying:
"Queen Barb of the Hard Rock Trolls... She figured out what Pop had done to separate the five main Tribes...so she gathered all the Strings to unite the Kingdom under Rock. By doing so, however, she was to turn everyone into Rock Zombies."
That time, the former Tribe Leaders were horrified and saddened by this revelation. History had repeated itself, but with Rock in place of Pop. Bowie and Tom exchanged somber and guilty looks as Poppy continued.
"She managed to get some of my friends before...I destroyed the Strings. Which is how...I ended up here."
Poppy sniffled before Peony gently tilted her head to face her.
Surprisingly, Poppy was met not with a stern scowl but with a soft smile.
"Oh, Poppy... I'm so proud of you."
"What...? You're not mad?"
"Of course not, Poppy. You've done what many of us couldn't do in the past: you've saved the present...and paved the way for the future."
"But..." Poppy was dumbfounded by her mother, "I destroyed the Strings. I destroyed all music. I...failed as a Queen. A good Queen listens...which is what I failed to do."
"Well, you're here, aren't you? Seeking counsel from some of the wisest Trolls in the Space Between. You do know what that makes you? Just like everyone else, and everyone fails at who they are supposed to be, Poppy. The measure of a person...of a hero...is how well they succeed at being who they are."
Poppy gave her mother's words a thought, "You think so?"
"I know so," Peony smiled in reassurance before pulling out an ukulele strikingly similar to Poppy's own, causing Nina to gasp in delighted anticipation ("Is she going to sing?") and Tom to sigh in intentional amusement ("Oh boy...").
("All Is Found" by Evan Rachel Wood) [Nicole Kidman Cover]
Peony strummed her string instrument for a total of seven seconds and turned her gaze to Poppy, who listened attentively.
Where the north wind meets the sea
There's a river full of memory
Sleep, my darling, safe and sound
For in this river, all is found...
Suddenly, to Poppy's surprise, the atmosphere began to change. The main aesthetic was one of the winter season, from frozen rivers and northern lights.
Despite having seen Peony's wonders before, the former Tribe Leaders can't help but stare in awe.
In her waters, deep and true
Lie the answers and a path for you
Dive down deep into her sound
But not too far or you'll be drowned...
The group led by Peony began to move out of the conference room and into the spacious grounds of the former Pop Queen's castle. They eventually made their to back where Poppy began: the puddle stretched for a thousand miles or surrounded the entire landscape.
Yes, she will sing to those who'll hear
And in her song, all magic flows
But can you brave what you most fear?
Can you face what the river knows?
Exchanging looks with her mother, Poppy's eyes widened in realization and hugged her one last time before leaping into the abyss. The invisible barrier prevented for her from falling down, but for how much longer?
Where the north wind meets the sea
There's a mother full of memory
Come, my darling, homeward bound
When all is lost, then all is found...
At that, the barrier began to slowly crack under her pressure.
"Will I see you ever again?" Poppy called out for her mother.
"You will, sweetheart! When you need us the most!" Peony called out for her daughter.
Her spirits lifted and her confidence strengthened, Poppy stomped on the ground...
Good bye, Mom...
. . .
Good bye, Poppy...
...and broke the glass ceiling, falling through and toward the bright light awaiting at the bottom.
When all is lost, then all is found...
A wise reminder of her mother, during which Poppy gently smiled to herself as she closed her eyes.
A/N:
1) Jake H. Voronkov: Purgatory? Maybe...
2) TU4QU0I53T4IAN6L3: No, this is not the end...
3) alyrexes: I wouldn't worry about Poppy...
4) C-Asia Worthington: Dark? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.
