Enigma

Is it weird that I'm about to feature a song from a movie I didn't like? Probably...

“Here you go, guys. A Fluffleberry latte for Poppy, an espresso with a foam heart for Smidge, and for Branch... hot chocolate, no whipped cream."

“Thank you, Lily," Poppy said as the trio took their drinks. “So, how does it feel to be engaged?"

“No different than I usually feel," Lily answered.

“Well, we're very happy for you and Archer," said Branch.

“Yeah, and everyone else in the village is happy, too," Smidge added.

“Yeah, except for Willow," Lily pointed out. “I don't know why, though."

Flashback

It had been two days since the benefit concert. Ever since Archer proposed to Lily, she had been happy-- well, happier. She then noticed her cousin, Willow, departing the Caterbus Express. Lily decided to say hello.

“Hey, Willow," she greeted. “What's up?"

“Nothing," she muttered. “What's up with you?"

“Not much, but Archer and I are engaged."

Willow scoffed. “Isn't that interesting?"

With that, Willow went home without another word.

End flashback

“That's weird," Poppy said. “Willow's usually over the moon about weddings. Even though she's never been to one."

Branch took this into consideration. “If this happened when Willow got back from Bergen Town, maybe some--"

“We're gonna make her happy for you and Archer!" Smidge interrupted. “We're going to make her hug you and cry happy tears for you!"

“That's not necessary," Lily argued.

“Of course it's necessary," Poppy insisted. “You and Willow are family, and she should congratulate you. Wouldn't you do the same if she found Mr. Right?"

“Well, yeah, except that--"

“It's settled, then," Poppy interrupted. “Willow's gonna be over that moon even if we have to throw her!"

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In the Duckweed family tree, Willow lied on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She was too depressed to do anything else. Suddenly, she heard a critter singing a cheerful tune.

“WILLOW, THE PHONE'S RINGING!"

“Here's an idea, Ma, ANSWER IT!" she shouted.

“Hello?" Willow's mom cooed. “Hold on. IT'S LILY! SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT YOUR ARRANGEMENTS!"

“What arrangements?" Willow asked, confused.

“NOW, SHE'S SAYING ‘ENGAGEMENT!'"

“I don't want to talk to her!" Willow groaned.

“IS SHE MARRYING THAT PARTY CRASHER?!"

“He's not a Party Crasher, Poppy made him our friend!" Willow pointed out.

“WELL, I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET MARRIED!"

“It's not for you to decide, her parents already said yes!" Willow argued. “And she can't do worse than you!"

“IS THAT ANY WAY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PARENTS?!"

“At least Dad can barely hear me!"

“JUST SHUT UP AND GET ME A CAKE POP!"

“Manfred ate all the cake pops!" Willow yelled.

“WELL, GO OUT AND GET SOME MORE!"

“You make me want to kill myself!"

“What's going on?" Branch asked.

“I dunno, now they're just yelling about cake pops," Lily replied, hanging up.

“You and your cousin need to talk things out," the payphone critter said. “With our Friends and Family Plan, you can talk to her five hundred minutes a month, free nights and weekends."

Lily just rolled her eyes.

“We're going at this the wrong way," said Poppy. “We just have to convince Willow to give you a heartfelt congratulations on your engagement, and we're not going to be able to do it over a payphone. Let's go to her house."

Poppy grabbed Lily's arm and Smidge wrapped Branch up with her hair and dragged them both to the Duckweed family tree. Poppy knocked on the door and the group waited for someone to answer.

“Hello, Queen Poppy," Clyde greeted. “Are you here to convince me to make friends again, because I assure you, I'm just fine reading my science books."

“We gotta do something about that," Poppy muttered. “No, we're here to see your sister."

“Which one?"

“Oh, right, you have seven of them. We're here for Willow."

“I'm sorry," Clyde replied, “but Willow isn't in the mood for visitors."

“Can we come in anyways?" Smidge asked.

“I don't see why not," he shrugged, and let them inside. “Congratulations on the engagement, Cousin Lily."

“Thanks," Lily said as she and the others went inside. The entire living room looked like an apocalyptic wasteland.

“I haven't been in here since the day Crystal was born," Poppy said. “I don't remember it looking like this."

“It was nighttime, we couldn't see much," Branch pointed out, plugging his nose. “But it sure did smell like this. Seriously, what is that?"

“It's best you don't know," Lily replied as they reached Willow's bedroom. On the door was a sign that read “PLEASE STAND BY."

“Willow?" Branch called out, knocking on the door. “It's us, your friends. Wanna talk?"

“Branch, where are your social cues?" Poppy scolded. “You don't just say ‘Wanna talk?' she won't answer to that!"

“Well, then, you try," Branch suggested.

“Maybe I will," she said, and knocked on the door. “Hey, Willow! There's something we wanna show you!"

“Go away," she grumbled.

“Now look what you did!" Poppy whispered to Branch.

“What did I do?!"

“Who wants to see me break the door down?" Smidge asked.

“I don't think we should resort to violence," Lily replied.

“Well, what do you suggest we resort to?"

Lily turned to the door. “Willow we're not leaving until you open the door."

With that, Willow decided to open the door and glared at the four Trolls, carrying a big box.

“I opened the door, now get out," she spat, and walked past them. Lily looked inside her room and noticed something missing.

“Where's all your filmmaking stuff?" Lily asked.

“In the box I'm holding, where else?"

“Where are you taking it?" Poppy asked curiously.

“That's none of your business," Willow replied bitterly, and left the tree.

“I'm calling Bridget," Branch decided, and grabbed Willow's critterphone. The rest of the Trolls were confused. “Hi, Bridget. It's Branch. I'm just wondering did anything strange happen at the film festival last weekend?"

Poppy rolled her eyes and took the phone.

“Hey, Bridge! Sorry if Branch is bothering you. He's just not good with his social cues yet... Oh, okay... A what?... But we like each other. I mean, you're my best friend... Oh... That's not fair... Yeah, we don't have those, must be a Bergen thing... Okay. Bye."

“What happened?" Smidge asked.

“Well, although unfair and unjust, it has nothing to do with the situation, Branch," Poppy replied, causing Branch to raise an eyebrow. “Someone who was nominated for awards at the film festival got disqualified for being a lesbian."

“What's a lesbian?" Branch asked, confused.

“Apparently, a girl who likes other girls, but not in a best friend way."

“You mean, romantically?" Lily wondered.

“Yeah. But it has nothing to do with your problem."

“I'm not the one with the problem, it's Willow."

Poppy was surprised. “What are you talking about?"

“You don't know?" Branch asked. “Willow has a huge crush on you, and she was nominated for awards at the film festival. It must've been her they disqualified."

“So that's why she's upset," Lily realized.

Poppy laughed. “Willow does not have a crush on me. I would know if someone was in love with me."

“Oh, my gah, you can see it from space, Poppy!" Smidge exclaimed. Poppy's face turned red with embarrassment.

“I have to go," Lily decided, and headed out.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Outside of Troll Village, Willow stood over a cliff and checked out how deep it was. She looked inside the box, where her camera, posters of classic movies, and even some unfinished film rested. Angrily, she dumped the box and threw it over the cliff.

“Did that make you feel better?" said a familiar voice. Willow turned around to find Lily.

“What are you doing here?"

“I know what happened in Bergen Town," Lily answered, “and I came to apologize. You were upset, and I didn't even ask why, so I'm sorry. Next time you're upset about something, I'll ask you what it is so I can help you."

Willow turned back to the cliff and sighed sadly.

“You know, you're not the first Troll to be discriminated over something you can't control," Lily pointed out. “And you shouldn't give up what you love because of it. If you do, it'll haunt you."

“Just leave me alone," Willow muttered to her cousin, walking away.

But she wouldn't.

There's always gonna be someone trying to tear you down

Mocking you for your mistakes

Willow was confused. Was Lily... singing?

Oh, there's always gonna be someone messing your head around

Watching you to see you break

Slowly, the teenage Troll approached her suddenly harmonious cousin, who gave her a black sweater with a rainbow heart.

So, don't you let em call you out

Brush away the shame and doubt

Remember what you're all about, and then...

Holding each other's hands, Lily and Willow jumped off the cliff and through a worm hole, entering what appeared to be some sort of void. But it was beautiful and full of stars and some other worm holes.

Show em who you are

Show em that you're strong

Show em that you know where you belong

Willow noticed three pictures of herself. One of them showed her holding a camera, another with Whistle, and the third, she was playing with Baby Crystal.

Open up their eyes

Force em all to see

Let em know you are and you'll always be

Unbreakable, unbreakable

Unbreakable, unbreakable

Willow was left in shock and awe. Feeling as if she could burst with joy, she gave into the temptation to sing along with Lily.

There's always gonna be someone saying you're something less

Let em talk, you know your heart

Oh, there's always gonna be someone

Calling you secondbest

Shut em down, don't fall apart

The two cousins danced together happily.

No, don't you let em in your head

Doesn't matter what they said

Get up on your feet instead and then

Show em who you are

Show em that you're strong

Show em they've been seeing you all wrong

Open up their minds

Throw away the key

Tell em that you are and you'll always be

Unbreakable, unbreakable

Suddenly, Lily and Willow found themselves separated, but found each other on the other side of a mirror.

You define yourself

Oh, hey-ey-ey-ey

You and no one else

Show em who you are

Show em that you're strong

Show em that you've known it all along

The second their fingers touched the glass, the mirror shattered and they were reunited!

Open every door

Own your destiny

Live as if you are what you were

And you've been and you'll always be

Unbreakable, unbreakable

Unbreakable, unbreakable

Unbreakable!

Willow and Lily suddenly found themselves back in the real world, but they didn't care how they got back. They were just so happy, they warmly embraced.

Told you it was gonna be weird.

If you like this story, vote. If you don't like this story, that's too bad. Live long and prosper. 🖖

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