Disclaimer- I do own Trolls to Trollstopia in any way or form. Melody Song, Mal Shredder, Stereo, Twilight Tidepool, McJagger, Buckaroo, Ballad Bill, Corey Thundershock, Evie, Sid Scales (voiced by Johnathan Groff), and Sophie Soprano are my O.C.s and belong to me. Aggie, Shimmer, Chin-Hwa, and Silovay belong to I.M. Rally, and now, a brand new O.C. named Finn (has an Australian accent and is voiced by Ed Sheeran), which you will see in a bit, belongs to my good friend TU4QU0I53T4AN6L3. I also do not own the song and the lyrics that I use today! Now, let's get to it!
Poppy and Branch: You can do it solo!
Aggie and Trollex: But then you'd be all by yourself.
Stereo and Synth: (Synth: Yo!) So, it'd be more fun to share this one with someone else! (Tiny Diamond: Hit it, daddy!)
Rhythm, Blues, Quincy, Essence: Together, we will soar across the sky and beyond! (Prince D: To the great beyond!)
Holly Darling, Buckaroo, Delta Dawn: So, tune-up your voice!
Val Thundershock, Barb, and Melody Song: Stand up and sing along! (Evie: Let's rock!)
All: All different voices (Tiny Diamond: Everybody now!), our melodies ringing. We're living in harmony! Yeah, we're living in harmony! Our song is much stronger will every troll singing. We're living in harmony!
Hair Fracture
The sun was shining over Trollstopia, and there was a sense of excitement in the air. As of today, it had been officially 5 years since the World Tour, and to celebrate, Aggie and Poppy were both hosting a huge anniversary party in honor of the occasion. Poppy helped her make sure everything was set for the party, while Aggie aided her with most of the prep work. She decorated the desserts with sprinkles, hung up all the streamers and balloons, and was currently awaiting the arrival of an essential part of the party: a statue that was designed with all eight leaders (eight because Quincy is married to Essence and Branch is married to Poppy) playing their instruments together. Soon, a huge delivery beetle arrived, dropping off a ginormous box, and once the box opened, the statue was revealed to both trolls, who looked at it with wide eyes and happy looks on their faces. Barb, who was tuning up her guitar, saw the statue and ran to it while saying, "Yeah! Now, that's a statue! Look, they even got my face right," as she pointed to the carving of her, playing her guitar next Poppy. Barb pointed at it with her thumb while commenting, "I tell you statue Barb is just as charming as the real one," which earned a comment from Trollex, whoo had finished hanging up the lights and came over to see the statue, as he said, "Flatter yourself much"? Barb smirked and rolled her eyes, replying, "You know what? Why not? I mean, even though we all look good on the statue together, I have to point out that for once, rock is looking good on me." Aggie and Poppy broke into laughter as Aggie then said, "Either way, this statue looks amazing! I can't wait to unveil it tonight to everyone"! Poppy then said, "Me too! All we have to do now is put the statue on the podium." Poppy then began to wrap her hair around many branches and sturdy beams before picking the statue up and carefully bringing it over to the podium. Melody, who was busy cutting some leftover streamers up and turning it into confetti, saw this happening and came over, commenting, "Poppy, I don't think that's a good idea." Poppy smiled, replying, "It'll all be ok. Besides, what's the worst that could happen"? At that moment, a deafening SNAP was heard by everyone as Poppy's hair suddenly bent at a weird angle before the statue was placed onto the podium.
Poppy screamed in agony as Trollex shouted, "Oh my beat drops! What happened," Melody answered, "I knew it. Using that much strength in your hair to carry something heavy was bound to cause a hair fracture." Barb, in confusion, asked, "What's a hair fracture," as Melody explained, "See, in Normal troll anatomy, even if it's deceiving, we all possess a special bone in our hair that enables us to be able to move it around like a regular body part. But when that bone snaps, our hair "breaks," and we develop what is known as a hair fracture, where on the outside, our hair tilts or bends at an angle that is normally not seen in troll hair before. But on the inside, the bone is broken and needs time to heal. Maddy taught me about them during one of my training days when we had a customer come in who had a hair fracture." Aggie then commented, "Either way, we've gotta help Poppy! We can't leave her like this! Trollex, Barb, you guys carry Poppy. Mel and I will guide you to her pod and make sure she doesn't get hurt any more than she is." Trollex and Barb nodded and walked over to the crouched-over, hurt Poppy, while Trollex said, "Ok, I'll grab the top. You grab the bottom." Barb then crossed her arms and asked, "Why do I have to grab the bottom? How about you do that, and I take the top"? Trollex rolled his eyes before answering, "Because we-," before Aggie stepped in, saying, "This is no time to argue! Let's hurry up"! Trollex and Barb quickly picked up Poppy as Aggie and Melody worked together to help guide them to her pod and soon gently placed Poppy onto her bed. Mel winced as she said, "Yikes. I've seen hair fractures, but not one as bad as this." Poppy then woke up, saying, "Guys, I really appreciate this, but you have to let me get back to helping Aggie out with her party. Besides, my hair is fine." Seeing the tip of her magenta locks bend at a crooked and far-off angle, Barb commented, "Seriously, Popsqueak"? Poppy then stood up, saying, "Ok, so maybe it's not at 100%, but it's nothing that can't be fixed with the power of positivity"! As the broken angle bent down more, making Aggie and Trollex shudder a little in fright, Poppy then changed her wording, saying, "Nothing that can't be fixed with the power of doctors"!
Later on, Dr. Moonbloom was inside Poppy's pod with a huge x-ray machine that showed what the hair fracture looked like as she commented, "This is the worst I've ever seen," making everyone gasp in fear. Dr. Moonbloom then cleaned her glasses and said, "Much better. You have a significant hair fracture, Poppy. How did this happen"? As the doctor started to wrap a bandage on Poppy's hair, Aggie explained, "Well, we were setting up for tonight's huge 5th year World Tour anniversary party, and Poppy was trying to lower the commemorative statue onto the podium. But it was too heavy, and...her hair snapped right in front of us." Trollex then added, "Simply put...she overexerted herself, like usual, no offense Poppy." As Dr. Moonbloom finished applying the bandage, Poppy replied, "None was taken, but as you can see, it was just your run-of-the-mill freak accident." Seeing her friends shake their heads no, Poppy then stated, "Anyways, now that you've given me this hair cast, I can go back to helping Aggie prep the anniversary, right"? Trollex then spoke up, saying, "Poppy, I'm not a doctor or anything, but I seriously doubt that you'll be able to work with a fracture like that." Dr. Moonbloom then spoke up, saying, "King Trollex is right, Poppy. Your hair has to heal, which is why I'm prescribing you one day of bedrest," as she gave the pop queen a drawing of her resting in bed. Poppy gasped as she declared, "A whole day in bed"?! Barb chuckled, saying, "It's not so bad, Poppy. I sometimes spend days on bed rest, and it's actually very relaxing." Melody then smirked, replying, "To be fair, those "bed rests" were actually you napping, but I won't judge." Poppy then frantically exclaimed, "But...party...commemoration...statue"! Aggie swung her Classical arm around Poppy while saying, "It'll be ok, Poppy. I can handle all of that stuff while you rest. After all, what are friends for"? Dr. Moonbloom then said, "I'm glad you are taking the news very well, Poppy. Now, if you all will excuse me, I have a very fun 5-year World Tour Anniversary party to go to."
The doctor placed a pair of pink star-shaped sunglasses on and shouted, "Woo-hoo," while pointing her fingers in the air and walking backward. Poppy, still in disbelief, commented, "Guys, you know I appreciate your help and everything, but I need to be at that party! I have to obsess over every detail, and plan for every possible event however unlikely"! Melody then spoke up, saying, "Sorry, Poppy, but you have to rest; doctor's orders. But don't worry; we'll handle the Anniversary party." Aggie nodded, saying, "Don't fret! As the Master of All Music, and top party planner in Troll Kingdom, it's in my blood to help plan amazing bashes, festivals, parties, and fiestas! In fact, I'll even cut the commemorative ribbon when we unveil the statue." Aggie placed a pair of red star-shaped sunglasses on and shouted, "Woo-hoo," as she flew backward out of the pod. With that, Poppy commented, "Huh, well, if Aggie can handle everything by herself then...I could sit this one out." Barb chuckled, saying, "There you go. Way to know your limits, Popsqueak," while Trollex added, "That's the spirit." Melody even added, "Trust me. The time's going to fly while you're in here resting." Melody dropped her shades over her eyes while Barb and Trollex also placed on colorful star-shaped sunglasses as they all shouted, "Woo-hoo," and walked backward out of the pod. Poppy then got settled in, saying, "Ok. Sitting it out. I can do that." However, the longer Poppy sat in bed, the antsier she got and the tenser she felt about wanting to help set up the party. Finally, she had enough and lept out of bed, saying, "AH! I can't take it! Poppy started to run outside but found herself blocked by Barb, Trollex, and Melody, who smirked at her. Barb commented, "Nice try, but from what Val and Branch have told us about you, we figured that big heart of yours would not give up so easily." Trollex added, "So, we're staying right here to guard the door and make sure you rest." Melody lifted her sunglasses back up while saying, "Yep! So, until that fracture heals, you'll be staying right here," and used the tip of her shoe to draw a line.
Poppy then commented, "Guys, you know I adore you all, along with everyone else, but I have to go prep that party and no line will stop me," as she drew a line of her own. Melody drew another line as she said, "You wanna play? Fine, let's play," as Poppy replied, "Yeah," and drew another line. Both trolls kept using their feet to draw lines and turned it into a tic-tac-toe board. When Melody drew her third X, she made a diagonal line across a row of X's, surprising Poppy as Melody declared, "Haha! We win"! Poppy was soon brought back into bed and tucked in as Barb said, "There you go, Popsqueak. Nice and comfy." Trollex then added, "If you need us, we'll be out here, waiting to thwart your every escape attempt," as the trio walked back outside. Poppy then whispered to herself, "And I'll be in here thwarting your thwarts with thwarts of my own...except it'll be a lot cooler than that sounded." An hour later, Poppy had set up a doll dummy of herself and positioned it just right so it'd look like she was actually scrapbooking. She then shouted, "Oh well, if I'm gonna be stuck in here, I might as well scrapbook." She then placed a tape recorder on the doll playing her humming sound as Poppy then climbed out the window and tiptoed away, thinking she was successful. However, Barb, Trollex, and Melody appeared inf front of her, arms crossed and smirking at her. Poppy was in disbelief, trying to figure out how they discovered her until she saw that they used doll dummies as well. Then, Poppy folded a piece of paper into a paper airplane and rode it, thinking she could fly to freedom. However, her friends used their hair and turned it into a giant fan that blew Poppy and the plane back inside. Later on, Trollex walked in to check on her and saw that she wasn't in bed but didn't freak out. He knew where she was: on top of the ceiling. He listened closely as Poppy quietly crawled on the ceiling and escaped the window, crawling up onto the roof of her pod. Poppy cheered in success until a "cat" meowed loudly behind her. Poppy turned around and saw a huge orange cat with a pink nose and white whiskers, along with a peculiarly similar magenta face, in front of her, meowing as it purred and rubbed up against her leg. Confused but in awe, Poppy bent down and petted the "cat" on its head.
Suddenly, she felt the cat grab her arms and toss her back inside through the window, having her land back on the bed as Barb placed the blankets onto her once more. Poppy saw the "cat" jump back inside and lower its hood, revealing that Melody was in a cat costume this whole time. After a while, Poppy was growing increasingly frustrated as she commented, "Guys, I get you are trying to help, but this party is way too important for me to miss setting up! I'm not giving up"! Barb commented, "Neither, are we. So if you're ready to play, then bring it on." Poppy then commented, "Oh, I'll do more than that! I'll sing it on"! Poppy then tossed the blankets off of her, standing tall with a microphone in her hand, as Melody then said, "Your loss, because it's 3 against one," as she tossed a pair of microphones to Barb and Trollex, who caught then and were ready to outperform Poppy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sing Off (Trollstopia Challenger)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poppy: Trollstopia rules! Challenger begin!
Head to head! Toe to toe! Who's it gonna be? Stand down! Don't you know nothing's stopping me?!
Barb: I got the power! I'm gonna do what is right! I'm gonna put up a fight!
Trollex: I'll never cower! As long as I'm around, there's nothing bad going down!
Melody: Oh, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Trollex: Wow, wow!
Trollex, Barb, Melody: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Melody saw Poppy trying to sneak away from the corner of her eye and caught her with her ponytail, bringing Poppy back inside and onto the bed.
Melody: Just give in! You can't win! You can't outsmart me! "Cause I got the brains, the moves, and the melody!
Poppy: The end's up on the hour! 'Cause by the end of the day, you know I can't stay away!
Barb: Just like a flower (Trollex: Just like a flower!), it's now our time to bloom!
Trollex: And keep you in this room!
Melody: Oh, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Trollex: Wow, wow!
Trollex, Barb, Melody: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
As they kept singing, Poppy made another break for it, and this time, ran before anyone could notice that she was gone.
Barb: Oh, yeah (Melody: Oh, yeah!)! Yeah, yeah (Melody: Oh, yeah!)! Yeah, yeah, (Melody: Oh, oh, oh!) yeah, yeah, yeah!
Trollex: (Melody: Ooooooohhhhhhh!) Wow, wow!
Trollex, Barb, Melody: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
When the trio finished singing, they stopped and realized it was now eerily quiet as Trollex asked, "Wait, where'd she go"? That's when everyone gasped while Barb commented, "Dang it! Popsqueak distracted us by making us get caught up in a sing-off"! The sound of the Dune Huggy revving made them run to the doorway as they saw Poppy drive off before they could even stop her. Barb groaned, saying, "She tricked us with deception! I mean, kudos on Poppy for doing something like that, and I'm actually really impressed, but still"! Trollex reassured her by saying, "Don't worry. We know exactly where she's going"! Melody then smirked, saying, "Actually, we won't need to go anywhere. She'll be back." Trollex and Barb looked at Melody in confusion as Trollex asked, "How do you know that"? Melody chuckled before saying, "Well, let's just say...Poppy ain't the only troll in Trollstopia who plans for unexpected possible events," and snapped her fingers. On cue, Poppy came crashing through the roof of her pod, screaming, as she soon landed on the bed and groaned in pain. Trollex and Barb were surprised as Melody walked over to Poppy, saying, "I figure she'd do something like that, so, I installed an injured troll identifier into the Dune Huggy, and the minute it scanned Poppy, it ejected her right back to where she has to be: at home in bed." Poppy struggled to get up as she commented, This isn't over yet! I'll-," before Melody pulled out a music box and opened it. It played a sweet harmonic tune that made Poppy fall asleep instantly as Melody commented, "You'll...stay in bed and rest your hair fracture. Doctor's orders." Trollex cleared the broken pieces of wood off her sheets while Barb and Melody worked together to tuck Poppy back under the blankets. Poppy lightly snored away as the trio all fist-bumped in victory.
Later that night, all of Trollstopia gathered around for the Anniversary party. Finn was managing the music playing many sick party tunes while most of the trolls danced along. Smidge was walking towards the tables and saw a plate full of marshtato tots. She licked her lips and said, "Ooh! Marshtato tots. I'll just take one...plateful," and picked up the plate. Then, she heard someone clear their throat behind her as Smidge turned and saw Aggie smirking at her. Smidge nervously smiled and placed the plate of marshtato tots down on the table again before Aggie smiled and gave Smidge a plate full of them, saying, "Here. And there's plenty more where that came from." Smidge grew excited and accepted the plate, saying, "Thanks, Aggie," before pouring the plate of marshtato tots into her mouth while Aggie flew off to check on another part of the party. Back in her pod, Poppy was lying in bed as Trollex and Barb kept a close eye on her. Trollex then commented, "Wow, we actually did it. They said it could not be done, but we were able to get Poppy to stay in bed almost all day." Barb nodded in agreement, saying, "Yeah! You know, we actually make a pretty good team...when we're not arguing or fighting." Trollex chuckled and replied, "Yeah. We may be really different from one another, but...when we work together, we can get the job done easily." Suddenly, they heard Poppy begin to stir and awaken. She rose from her bed and yawned, rubbing her eyes while commenting, "Wha-What time is it"? Trollex looked at his hug watch before answering, "About 9:30 pm. Why"? Poppy groaned in agony and covered her face as she said, "I can't believe it! The most important anniversary party of the year and I'm here stuck in bed with a hair fracture! How can this day possibly get worse"? Seeing Poppy cross her arms and pout, Trollex thought that it was cute as he said, "Aw! Is it wrong for me to think Poppy getting mad is kind of cute"? Barb chuckled and replied, "Eh, not really. You should see her when she's really infuriated. Oh man, it's hilarious! She becomes something of an Amazon warrior"! Poppy grimaced before starting to say, "Hey, guys, since you apparently will be hovering over me the rest of the night, you mind getting something for me? I need-," before feeling a sneeze coming on. Trollex and Barb slowly approached her as Trollex asked, "What is it? You need an extra pillow." At the same time, Barb suggested, "Medicine"? Then, Poppy let out a loud sneeze, and a huge purple glittery dust cloud formed, making it hard to see anything. Trollex and Barb coughed from the dust cloud as the rock queen commented, "What a weird sneeze."
Once the dust settled, both leaders were in for a shock to find Poppy gone as they ran to the window and saw Poppy outside, laughing while running away as fast as her feet could take her. Trollex found a bag of purple glitter beside Poppy's bed and picked it up, saying, "She tricked us! Again," as Melody soon came running in, exclaiming, "Guys! I saw Poppy running away! She's heading to the party"! Barb then grabbed her guitar, stating, "Then, there's no time to waste! We got a rogue troll to catch! Let's go," as Barb, Trollex, and Melody ran after the runaway Poppy. Back at the party, Aggie was refilling the punch bowl with more fruit punch when she saw Poppy peek her head out from behind a bush while saying, "Aggie," which startled the MMT. Aggie then whispered, "Poppy, what are you doing here?! You should be back at your pod, resting your hair! You might get hurt again"! Poppy replied, "I just...came to check up on things and give you a hand. How is it going? Everything running smoothly"? Aggie nodded, saying, "Yep! No party is too difficult for Aggie Galido." Suddenly, Poppy heard vehicles approaching as she muttered, "Oh no." Near the party entrance, Barb, Trollex, and Melody were there, along with many police caterpillar cars and many police fuzzballs exiting them. Trollex then declared, "Alright, she's here. We can sense it. So search every corner, and leave no stone unturned. But also enjoy yourselves, since this is your party too." Aggie then whispered to Poppy, "Looks like they're here for you, Poppy. What are you going to do"? Poppy then narrowed her eyes in determination while saying, "Only one thing to do: party planning stealth mode"! Poppy then proceeded to help Aggie, but in secret. By a table with a bowl of chips, Poppy secretly placed a bowl of guacamole next to it so Gust and a few other trolls could dip their chips in. Then, Poppy tossed three records towards an old record player: one landed on the rack, another hit the stick so it can drag along the record, and the third one turned the music on, getting some of the trolls up on their feet and dancing. Afterward, Poppy scaled up a tree branch and launched small umbrellas into the cups of a few trolls drinking punch.
Aggie was busy retying a few loose balloons when Poppy reappeared, startling her again while saying, "Aggie! The party's looking in good shape. So far, things are running smoother than warm butter." Aggie smiled before saying. "Great to hear. Ooh! It's almost time for the ribbon cutting! I better go, but you take it easy and rest, Poppy," before flying off. Poppy then watched from the bush she was hiding in as Aggie stood in front of a red ribbon, saying, "Trollstopians, visitors, and trolls of all ages! It gives me great honor to cut the ribbon and unveil our statue to you, for it marks something that we haven't seen in many years: harmony and friendship among trolls from all over the world! For we may differ from music, it does not differentiate us from making friends, living in harmony with each other, learning and experiencing new cultures, traditions, and styles that before seemed improbable. And so, tonight, let this ribbon cutting mark signify not a separation, but rather, a unification of tribes that will last for all of eternity"! Everyone cheered as Aggie drew the scissors she had in her pocket, prepared to cut the ribbon, as Poppy saw and gasped in horror, saying to herself, "Oh no, not those scissors! Aggie can't use those scissors to cut! Those are left-handed tailor-crimpers! Not regulation-ribbon shears! If she uses them on the ribbon...it will cause utter disasters! I've gotta swap those scissors"! Poppy looked around to see if the coast was clear before hopping out of the bush, holding a sharp pair of shears in her hand. She then started to walk towards Aggie until she heard Barb shout, "I see her"! Melody spoke into a walkie-talkie, saying, "The candy's in the pinata! I repeat! The candy is in the pinata," while Trollex declared, "All fuzzling units to the snack table, stat! Poppy panicked and started to speedwalk, muttering, "I have to hurry, but I can't run with scissors"!Despite moving as fast as she could, Poppy could see Barb, Trollex, and Melody, along with the fuzzling patrol, rapidly approaching her.
Suddenly, Poppy found herself surrounded by Fuzzlings, with nowhere else to go. Barb was waiting on top of a branch with her guitar, Trollex had his DJ set out behind the back crowd of fuzzlings, and Melody was set with her guitar behind the front set. Barb then shouted, "It's all over, Popsqueak! The gig is up! Surrender the shears"! Poppy looked at the shears she was holding, and then she saw how far she was from Aggie and got a risky idea. She looked up and found a branch even higher than the one Barb was on, launched her hair, broke through the cast, and wrapped it around the branch. She then jumped up, making the fuzzlings crash into each other, and soared above the crowd, who watched in shock. Poppy saw that she was approaching Aggie and was ready to smile in success until she heard a cracking sound and remembered, "Oh, right, my hair's broken," and fell to the ground in front of her, hitting the statue first. Poppy then offered the shears to Aggie, saying, "Here, use these," as Aggie picked them up, smiling as she commented, "So that's where they were! Thanks, Poppy," before hearing the statue begin to tilt behind her. Luckily, Aggie's telekinesis activated and stopped the statue from falling, much to everyone's relief. Then, Aggie declared, "And now, let's turn this anniversary party up, everyone," and cut the ribbon perfectly in half. Everyone started to celebrate and dance once the music started up again as Aggie helped Poppy up, asking, "Are you ok"? Poppy thought about it before saying, "Honestly...no. My hair's still broken and...I think there might be something wrong with me. I don't know why...or fully understand it..but sometimes, I feel as if I need to obsess over every detail when it comes to certain things, especially parties. And sometimes, that leads me to make bad decisions and act foolishly. And tonight, my actions almost ruined the party...just like it almost ruins everything else. Some queen am I, huh"?
Trollex, Barb, and Melody approached Poppy as Trollex said, "Poppy, you're not a bad queen. Not at all. We get you wanted tonight to be perfect, and well, you really did seem determined to have everything go perfectly tonight, even if it meant going against doctor's orders to do so." Poppy then said, "Yeah but, it's not just that...it's well, this feeling, of wanting everything to go perfect and going the way I plan them. I've been feeling like that my whole life. At first, I thought it was because I was queen, and it was my duty to act this way for my people. But now, looking back, I feel like maybe, there's something more. Maybe something...serious." Aggie, Melody, Barb, and Trollex looked at one another before Poppy spoke up, saying, "I think...I need to take a break from acting as queen...for a while." Everyone gasped in shock as Aggie declared, "What?! Poppy, don't"! Poppy raised her hand, saying, "I've already made my decision. If I'm going to get to the root of...why I feel like this a lot...I need some time to myself. Some time to reflect and really dig into what causes me to feel this way." Poppy then began to walk back to her pod, leaving her friends to watch on in shock and disbelief. The next day, Aggie stopped by Poppy's pod to visit Poppy, just to see if she was serious about this "taking a break" thing and found her pod empty, with only her crown resting on the table. Trollex went by her parents' pod to see if she was there but found out that Poppy left them a note, telling them that she would be away for a while. What really sold it was watching Branch, later on, holding Harmony in his arms and announcing to everyone, "Poppy has decided to take a short sabbatical and is currently away for a while. We do not know when she'll be back, but until then, everyone tries to remain calm and relax." Though everyone knew that deep down, Branch was most worried for his wife, Poppy, especially because she never told him about her "break." A few days passed through Trollstopia, and the atmosphere felt like it took a massive drop in happiness level. It just wasn't the same without Poppy, especially without her acting as queen.
Branch was inside his bunker, reading Harmony a book, as he said, "With that, the little bear found his way home, and they lived happily ever after." Harmony smiled and clapped her hands before looking at the wall with a dazed expression. She then turned her head back to her father and babbled, "Poopy." No, this did not mean she needed a diaper change, but rather, it was Harmony's current way of saying, "Poppy." Branch looked at Harmony with an expression, saying, "Mama's away for a while. she'll be back soon." Harmony curled up into her father's chest and cooed as a way to try and help Branch relax. Branch looked at Harmony before over at a small table that was next to his easy chair. Behind his remote, Gary, was a picture of him and Poppy sitting together, and looking at it, made Branch miss Poppy so much. He wanted to help her any way he could, and nothing or no one would stop him. He placed Harmony in a playpen and went to go pack some stuff up with a decision made. Once his backpack was bulging, he returned, picked up Harmony, and placed her in her stroller, saying, "Let's go find Mama together." Together, they both went into the forest to look for Poppy. As Branch kept strolling deep within the woods around them, he remembered to be cautious, in case any creatures out there that wanted to eat him...or Harmony, and he would make sure not one soul touched his daughter while searching for his beloved wife. Branch kept walking around for another two before he came across an area that he never saw before. It was a large open field with small hills, flowers, and a gentle breeze blowing. Harmony giggled as she tried to reach for the leaves that flew in the wind as Branch muttered, "Woah." He parked the stroller and picked up Harmony as he entered the file,d looking around while saying, What is this place"?
The grass felt so soft, almost like he was walking on a soft and fluffy blanket, and the trees rustled lightly, almost producing a soothing maraca sound that seemed to lull you into feeling calm. A flower landed on Harmony's nose as the little princess sneezed, making the flower fly away again, as Branch commented, "It almost feels like paradise." Suddenly, his ears twitched and heard a new sound, which almost resembled a...ukelele? Then, on top of a small hill, just near where he was standing, there was something pink sitting on top, and the signature magenta hair, which now looked fully heal, signified that it was indeed Poppy. Branch walked over to the hill and saw Poppy, sitting by herself with her eyes closed, wearing what looked like a pink robe, strumming her ukelele. Harmony started to giggle and coo happily, shouting, "Poopy," which made Poppy stop playing and look behind her, noticing Harmony and Branch standing there, and while she was a bit startled, she wasn't surprised or shocked, to say the least. She gave Branch a solemn smile before going back to playing her ukelele as Branch walked up the hill and sat next to Poppy. He didn't say anything for a good solid minute until Poppy asked him, "How's everyone taking it? My...sabbatical"? Branch replied, "Well, a lot of the trolls back in Trollstopia are worried about you. They miss you a lot, especially me. It's hard ruling Pop Village without my other half. Harmony's missed you most of all." He placed Harmony in Poppy's lap as the baby cooed at her mother, smiling and snuggling close to her. Poppy held Harmony close to her as Branch then asked, "So...how are you feeling"? Poppy thought about it while saying, "Conflicted...confused...regretful...but...at peace. I mean, this place has really helped me reflect on myself these past few days. It's given me...a lot to think about."Branch then asked, "Poppy...why did you decide to take a sabbatical anyway? What happened"? Poppy sighed and replied, "Well...it's hard to explain but...over the past few days, I've been feeling...lost. See, you know me better than anyone, so you know...I tend to obsess over every little detail about a lot of things. To others, it's a habit, but for me, I've felt like it's more of...a need...a very conflicting need. I try not to let that side come out, but the desire to have everything go as planned and then freaking out when things don't go as I wanted them to or work the way I want them to, it's...it's like having a nail to the heart. And when I got that hair fracture and was ordered to stay in bed, forced to almost miss out on the party, I...I shouldn't say I snapped, but...I broke."
Branch then asked, "But...why now? Why are you suddenly feeling this now"? Poppy sighed and replied, "I don't know, but...honestly, like I mentioned that before, I've been feeling that way...my whole life. Even as a little kid, I was so crazed over having loads of things go the way I planned them to that it almost made it impossible to socialize properly. And...it's frightened me...because I fear...it might make me start acting as our ancestors did. And what if it does, and it drives us all apart as it did before"? Branch thought about what Poppy had told him as a thought came into his mind. He took a deep breath and said, "OCD," which made Poppy a bit confused. Branch then explained, saying, "OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It's a mental disorder where a troll, like yourself, tends to obsess over a lot of little details on many specific things, and when something does not go the way they like it to, they freak out or become terrified about it. With stress and anxiety applied, it tends to increase and become more tense or nerve-wracking. I think...maybe that's why...you've been feeling this way...because of that." Poppy was speechless for a while but then remembered when she had trouble sleeping due to the needed amounts of pressure she felt from stress and anxiety, which made her think back to the words Prince D told her about anxiety.
Prince D: Well, anxiety does not entirely relate to being anxious, despite having similar meanings. With anxiety, it's more like an overbearing, overwhelming feeling, where a troll, or any creature, always feels like they have a choice to make, whether it's good or bad, and it can occur at any age. Luckily for you, your case seems to be mild. but for some trolls, they can have a more serious case, which can lead to other disorders such as OCD or even PTSD if it's severe (Look back at chapter six to find this quote )
Poppy then gasped, saying, "My anxiety...to do what I feel is right for the people of Trollstopia. My anxiety has changed, becoming more serious, even if I did not know it, and developed into OCD, and that's why I've felt that obsessive desire to be over every little detail and prepare for any event ahead of time. Now that I think about it...I think I've been experiencing it this whole time, but I never really thought about it...till now. Branch...does it get better"? Branch pulled Poppy close to him while saying, "Well, it may not be easy at first, and you might feel like you can't beat this. But with time and the support of your fellow friends and family, it gets better. You are not fighting this alone because we're all going to stick by your side to help you along the way, no matter how tough. You know I'll be there to help you, hon, and I promise I won't leave you alone to fight this battle. We've overcome obstacles before, and this will be just another one we will conquer...together." For the first time in a few days, Poppy smiled as she and Branch shared a romantic kiss. Then, Poppy looked down at Harmony, who looked up at her mother curiously, as Poppy told her, "Harmony, Mommy's never going to leave you alone, either, because your daddy and I both love you so much. You...are the beacon of hope in my life, in our lives." Harmony giggled and tried to reach for Poppy as she babbled, "Wuv ooh." With that, Branch helped Poppy back onto her feet as he asked, "So, you ready to head back to the village, now"? Poppy thought about it before saying, "You know what? Yeah. Truth be told...I was starting to miss the place. I missed being with everyone, and...I missed you and Harmony." Smilin from her response, Branch, and Poppy began to walk back to the stroller and along the path heading to Trollstopia. Back in Trollstopia, Aggie was trying to look for Branch but could not find him anywhere. She flew over to Biggie and Smidge, asking them if they have seen him.
Biggie shook his head no, adding, "I haven't seen him all day," while Smidge said, "I hope he didn't disappear the same way Poppy did. It hasn't been the same since she left for her sabbatical." Before Aggie could ask another question, DJ Suki came running to her, saying, "Aggie! Biggie! Smidge! I just saw Branch, and he's coming this way! And Poppy's with him"! That made everyone elated/excited as Aggie shouted, "She is?! Then, let's go meet up with them"! Word traveled around fast, and soon, everyone in the village gathered by the entrance to welcome back Poppy and Branch. Branch entered the village first, pushing Harmony in the stroller, before Poppy entered the village, greeted by happy cheers and whistles from everyone. Poppy smiled and waved at everyone before she got tackled into a hug by Aggie, who said, "Poppy! You're back! I've missed you so much"! Poppy embraced the MMT while saying, "I've missed you too. I've missed everyone." Poppy was then greeted by the other leaders, who approached her, as Barb said, "Popsqueak! you're back," while Trollex added, "You gave us quite the scare when you disappeared last night, and your hair fracture seemed to heal." Trollzart then added, "We felt a lot of concern for you when we heard you left for a sabbatical," while Delta added, "Honestly, Trollzart's raheet. We were all scared ya was sufferin' from something bad." Quincy then stated, "But, we are glad that you are back and look well," while Essence asked, "Are you ok"? Poppy looked at Branch before responding with, "Well, I'm definitely feeling a lot better, but...I can't say I'm fully ok."
Poppy then launched her hair up and jumped onto the mushroom as she said, "Trollstopia, as I'm sure you are aware, yes, I was gone for a few days. And I'm truly sorry I left without giving you a warning or a heads-up. I will answer all of your questions right now about why I decided to leave for a few days. See, I...have anxiety, and over time, I thought that it would go away. But, instead, it's grown and, it's made me realize something that I haven't really thought about before...until now. As many of you know, I love to obsess over details, and I'm sure you've all thought it was a habit. But...it's not. In fact, it's linked to a disorder I have...OCD." Everyone in the crowd gasped and murmured to one another as Poppy continued to explain, saying, "It's not contagious, so no one should worry about catching it. But...it is pretty serious...to me. It's something I've actually had all my life, even if I didn't know about it, but it does not change who I am. I'm still Poppy, I'm still your queen, and I'm still a troll who loves making friends and helping others, even if I get a little obsessive. So, I hope that you all find it in your hearts to understand that even with this disorder, I can still rule and help you with whatever you need. And I hope...that with your love and support, I can start to get well and better myself, and soon, no longer have to worry about OCD coming into play again." Poppy got a huge standing ovation from everyone in the crowd, including the leaders, ambassadors, and delegates, as the crowd roared with applause. Poppy soon hopped back down as she hugged Branch tightly before she felt everyone else start to join in. Poppy was then approached by Melody, Barb, and Trollex, as Barb said, "Popsqueak, we're sorry we went a little over the extreme with...keeping you in your pod." Trollex added, "Yeah, we knew this party meant a lot, but...we never knew...that it mattered so much you...were willing to go overboard just to make sure it ran smoothly." Melody commented, "Yeah, and I mean when you told us you had to "obsess over every detail," we didn't know...it meant that much to you."
Poppy then shook her head as she stated, "No, thank you. I know that I was a little crazy with you three. You were all only trying to help me make sure I rested my hair and recovered from my injury. You were only trying to help, and I'm grateful for that. And...I'm grateful you guys were able to tolerate me and my crazy thwarts." Barb chuckled, saying, "Poppy, those weren't even the craziest things you've done, so it was easy to handle." Trollex added, "Yeah, and we knew you were only acting out of good favor and desire to make the anniversary special." Aggie then flew to Poppy, holding her crown while saying, "I believe this belongs to you, Queen Poppy," and placed Poppy's crown onto the pop queen's head. Poppy smiled and commented, "You guys. I'm...I don't say this enough, but...I'm so..grateful to have you all as friends," as Melody replied, "And we're lucky to have you for a friend, Poppy. And don't worry, we're all going to help you through this." Everyone gathered around for a group hug again as Harmony watched in awe. Then, in possibly what could be defined as a golden moment, Harmony shouted, "Antidisestablishmentarianism," at the top of her lungs, as everyone's eyes widened in shock. They all looked at Harmony, who squealed happily and clapped her hands, as Val asked, "Uh, did Harmony just say that"? Poppy and Branch looked at their child before replying, "Nah," as everyone broke into laughter, with Harmony winking at the fourth wall before giggling with the rest of the gang.