A.N. Wow, these chapters keep on rolling out! Hope you enjoy!

All was quiet in the castle pod the next morning.

Only a few servants were awake, and Flower was on her bed, seeming to be fast asleep.

She wasn't.

But the two shadowy and ugly figures creeping around her didn't know that.

"When should we ambush her, Bone?" hissed one.

"Oh, I don't know Crusher..." whispered the other, feigning thought.

Their eyes lit up.

"How about...NOW!"

They reared up and tried to seize the royal pet.

Key word, TRIED, since Petal flew up and out of reach before they could, leaving them to scratch each other's arms.

The mantises hissed in pain and looked to where Petal was giggling and hovering above them.

"Enjoy it while you can, you pompous pet-" started Bone.

"-for it won't be yours much longer!" finished Crusher.

Petal giggled and rolled her eyes.

"Oh, please! Having delusions again, you ugly bugs?" she taunted them.

"No," the carnivores hissed in unison.

"The throne is going to belong to our masters, Creek and Stream-" informed Crusher.

"-try to follow us here," said Bone.

"So, ergo, anything belonging to them-" continued Crusher.

"-belongs to us!" they chuckled together.

Seeing as Flower was flying cautiously closer to them, the evil mantises took that moment to lunge and pursue her when she flew away from them.

The chase continued on through a few hallways and rooms before Flower flew on top of a chest of drawers, and the mantises, being as big as they were, crashed into it before they had a chance to stop.

They glared up at the chuckling beetle.

"You're going to be sorry for that!" hissed Crusher, before Bone pushed the set of drawers over causing Petal to fly for her life once again!

Meanwhile, in the courtyard below, a carriage had just pulled up with two people inside.

One had on a crown and a tight fitting striped shirt, while the other had a mustache and a tall gangling stature.

The tall one spoke to the guard that came up to them.

"I am Ambassador Bibbly Bibblington, here with my page on the invitation of King Peppy," he proclaimed.

The guard nodded and went to inform the troll king.

Bibbly turned to his "page".

"I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but are you quite sure about this, sire?" asked the ambassador tentatively.

The page, who was really King Gristle planning to go in disguise, looked firmly at his closest friend, with a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"I am."

Gristle took off his crown and put on a servant's coat over his striped shirt before they both walked in.

Up in Poppy's chambers, she was pouring over her latest rock and mineral book she got from Branch.

She would never admit it to anyone, but she had always been interested in science when she wasn't singing, dancing, or hugging.

Suddenly, she heard a knock at her door.

"Uh, come in!" she called, hiding her book just in case.

She visibly relaxed when she saw it was her handsome teal tutor, Branch.

Handsome? Pull yourself together, Poppy, you'll be marrying Gristle! she mentally berated herself.

She pulled out her book again and smiled at her dear friend.

"Perfect timing, Branch! Would this be gold?" she asked, pointing to an illustration of a yellowish mineral in her book.

The tutor peered closer.

"Close-that's iron pyrite, or fool's gold," he chuckled.

Poppy groaned.

"I'm never going to learn to tell the difference!"

Branch put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, I can teach you. See?"

He pulled out a picture of gold for comparison.

"Iron pyrite has more sharp edges, while gold has more round. As for shine, gold..."

The teal troll rambled on, Poppy lost in the sound of his voice.

She snapped out of her daze when Branch cleared his throat.

"Oh, sorry, Branch!"

She turned to him, seeing he had a melancholy expression on his face.

"Why the long face?" the pink troll asked him curiously.

"I just remembered: your father sent me. Apparently the ambassador is here with a gift."

"THE AMBASSADOR?! He's here? ...Already?"

She quickly bade a goodbye to her crush, trying to keep her negative feelings at bay as she went down to the throne room.

King Peppy was seated at his throne with Creek and Stream by his side, hoping Poppy would come down soon.

To be honest, it was a bit too late for that since the disguised Gristle and ambassador Bibbly walked in.

Gristle stepped forward.

"On behalf of King Gristle, we would like to present this engagement gift to you."

He bowed, offering the box.

Peppy stood to accept it, nodding in acknowledgment.

He quickly opened it to reveal a beautiful necklace.

"You have our gratitude, ambassador. And uh, who are you again?" the orange troll asked, turning to Gristle.

"Just a humble page," assured the disguised king.

Peppy nodded, seeming to accept this explanation before turning to Bibbly once again.

"Anyway, I am sure Princess Poppy will be quite pleased."

Gristle turned to a portrait of his future wife, hoping she wasn't as stuck-up as the rest of the princesses he's met.

Meanwhile, Peppy and Bibbly chattered on, arranging the wedding date.

"Would a week from today do?" the troll king offered.

"Ah! Next week!" Stream outburst, before her older brother covered her mouth.

Seeing the confused expressions turned to them, Creek regained his composure and cleared his throat.

"A most wise and formal decision, Your Majesty," he amended, bowing.

The people present nodded.

"Yes, that would be perfect!" proclaimed Bibbly.

"I shall, eh, send for King Gristle to meet his new bride," he said before they walked out.

A.N. As always, Read, Review, but NO FLAMES!