Get excited! Three, two, one, action!

While Poppy, Branch, and Archer screamed with either joy or terror (terror, in Branch's case), Lily sat in the cart deadpanned as it whooshed them across the track... until it stopped.

“We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please remain in the cart."

While Branch shook in fear and Poppy in anticipation, Archer turned to his uninterested fiancee.

“Say, what's the point in this roller coaster again?" he asked her.

“Eh, it's just for fun," Lily answered. Then, the ride resumed and took them to the Troll Village Library.

“Why are we here in the middle of the night?" Poppy asked Branch, yawning. Archer turned to Lily, wondering the same thing.

“I found the perfect wedding date, and after doing some math, I realized the time to start preparing is now," Lily answered. “I thought it'd be easier to start here. We need to find my great grandmother's cookbook and a book on wedding gowns."

“And you," Branch began, “you promised me we'd spend a whole day doing what I wanted to. And I don't want to waste a second. So we're going to start by looking around in the Practical Matters section."

“Frosting, I forgot about that," Poppy admitted.

“Let's just get this over with," Archer and Poppy said at the same time.

While Lily and Archer looked at the Fancy Etiquette section, Branch took Poppy to Practical Matters and read safety guides while Poppy just sat and watched him.

“Bored, bored, bored," she muttered, grabbing a scrapbook on quantum computing. “Who else would want to come down here at this hour?"

“Excuse me, Queen Poppy?" a voice spoke up. “I was reading that."

“Clyde, what are you doing here?" Poppy asked the young prodigy.

“Mother told us to leave the house before midnight, like we do every year tonight," Clyde answered. “And this is my favorite part of the library."

“You need to get out more kid," Poppy said, giving Clyde the book.

“Wow, this is a thick layer of dust," Branch said, grabbing a book with a ribbon tied around it. He rubbed his finger on it, caught some dust, and licked it. “I say this has been here for... seventeen years... nine months... three days... and eight seconds."

Now Poppy was curious. Branch noticed a note tucked in the ribbon and read it aloud.

“WARNING! DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK, OR YOU WILL UNLEASH A THREAT TO ALL OF TROLLKIND!"

“‘Unleash a threat?'" Poppy repeated. “By reading a book? Someone's playing a trick on us."

“You only want to read it because it's the most interesting book in Practical Matters," Branch figured, putting the book back. “We don't know what they meant, but I'm not going to be the one to destroy the Trolls, and neither are..."

Suddenly, Branch felt a wave of energy burst through the library. He turned around to find Poppy holding the open book. He rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Archer and Lily, meanwhile, had found the books they were looking for.

“Thank you for helping me, Archer," Lily said. “I'll take over for the rest of the night."

“Thank you for letting me go back to sleep," Archer yawned, and left the library.

While Lily read the book on wedding gowns, she felt a chilly wind blowing through the library. She just shrugged it off and continued reading.

“Hey, Lily! Check this out!" Poppy shouted. “There's a book about a snake called a Rattlecobra! It has magic powers!"

“You know I don't believe in magic," Lily reminded her. “It makes no sense."

“Does Cooper pooping cupcakes make sense?" Branch asked.

“Fair enough," Lily replied, but kept her nose in her own scrapbook.

“It says here there used to be a bunch of them, and they lived far away," Poppy said. “And this section is full of spells they performed, but I don't understand the language they're in. And this one says it's a Resurrection spell, must be something colorful."

“Poppy, to resurrect something means to bring it back from the dead," Branch pointed out. “It also says they can only do it to themselves, and once."

“Well, well, now's who's interested in reading it?" Poppy said, smirking. Branch gave her an unamused look.

“Lily! Guys!" Archer shouted, running back into the library. The three Trolls approached him with concern. “Lily... It's your aunt... She... Come on!"

They ran back outside as Archer lead them to the forest.

“I was on my home," Archer explained, but I saw a flash of lightning, and it wasn't even stormy. So, I decided to follow it, and I found... It's easier if you see it."

The group was horrified by what they found: an overweight, lifeless body on the forest floor. Black, blood-like liquid pooled underneath.

“Aunt Cecilia?!" Lily said quietly, bending down to look closer.

“What do you think happened to her?" Poppy asked.

“Looks like she was electrocuted," Branch explained. “See how her hair's sticking out? But where'd the lightning come from?"

“And what's that black stuff?" Archer asked. “Trolls don't have black blood, do they?"

“They shouldn't, but there's someone underneath her," Poppy said, pointing at a hand. “Looks like her, but skinnier."

“And the hair..." Lily gasped, beginning to hyperventilate. “It's black..."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“In all my years of medical training, I've never lost someone..." Dr. Moonbloom declared, “...which is why Willow surviving was a miracle. No one's ever survived getting stabbed in the face like that, but it'll be hard to say when she'll wake up."

“What about her mother?" Poppy asked. “Is she okay?"

“She tried to kill her own daughter!" Branch pointed out. “How is that okay?!"

“Point taken."

“Mrs. Duckweed died on impact of the lightning," Dr. Moonbloom answered. “Couldn't save her if I tried."

“I don't think we should hold a funeral for her," Poppy said. “We'll just have to cremate her and get rid of the ashes in secret."

“I just hope Lily will be okay," Branch said. “She left to tell the rest of the family, but hasn't come back yet."

Coincidentally, Lily entered the medical pod, distraught.

“I told my parents and grandparents," she informed them. “They're more worried about Willow, but I told them she's alright. Her dad's passed out again, though."

“You need to do something about that, too," Branch told Poppy.

“What do you mean?" she asked.

“I don't think Willow's dad is fit to take care of fifteen kids," he answered. “Lily, do you think you can convince your family members to take care of them?"

“I'll try," Lily replied.

“What about your wedding?" Poppy asked.

“Right now, I'm just worried about Willow."

The four Trolls looked at Willow lying in a bed wearing a light pink hospital gown. Branch's eyes widened as black, vein-like markings appeared on her pale arms.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Willow's vision was blurry, her head spun like a top. She looked around to find she was in a blue and white room surrounded by gifts and get well cards.

“What the...?" she muttered. Willow noticed her friends, Creek and Cybil, enter the room with a tea set.

“She's waking up!" Creek whispered to Cybil, and approached Willow slowly. “Hello, Willow. How are you feeling?"

“Not so good," Willow answered. “How long have I been out?"

“About a week," Cybil answered, giving Willow a cup of tea. “My senses told me dark and mysterious things happened to you. Your body released black liquid and you somehow recovered it all."

Creek rolled his eyes. “Your cousin told us everything. Do you remember what happened that night?"

Willow recollected her last thoughts before falling unconscious, and explained everything.

“I was asleep, at first. I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of Crystal crying, and I saw my mother, standing above me with a knife. I was so scared, I kickboxed her. Didn't know I could do that. I screamed, ‘What the heck are you doing?!' And she said, ‘I'm trying to get rid of you. Like I do every year on your birthday!'"

“It was your birthday?" Creek asked. “That's always been a secret."

“I knew it was her birthday," Cybil said.

“No, you didn't!" Creek argued.

“He's right, you never gave me a card," Willow pointed out, and continued. “I was surprised, too. Not even I knew when my birthday was. She kept yelling at me about how I ruined her life, that she couldn't become a fashion model because of me, how she tried many times to kill me... even before I was born. She made a drink out of rotten fruit and made my dad addicted to it, so he couldn't care about me or my brothers and sisters for over ten years. Then, she stabbed me in the eye. The last thing I saw was a flash of bright light, and I don't even know what it was."

“Whatever it was, it killed your mother," Creek informed Willow, whose giant eyes widened. “She can't hurt you anymore. And your dad, I'm giving him the help he needs, but your brothers and sisters are in the care of your other family members."

“I can read your tea leaves, if you'd like," Cybil suggested. “Perhaps your future will be bright, now that she's gone."

Willow finished her tea and gave the cup to Cybil, who looked in it curiously.

“Please tell me I'll be okay," Willow begged.

“Sure, you'll be okay," Cybil repeated. Creek rolled his eyes and took the cup, his eyes widening in shock.

“Willow, it pains me to say this..." he began, “... but it looks like you're in great danger."

“You're holding it wrong," Cybil said, snatching the cup. “It's good news! Something sweet is coming your way."

“No, it's danger!" Creek argued, turning the cup around. “See? There's a strange-looking snake in her future."

“I see a pie."

“That's pi, the math symbol, you fool!"

“So, you see it, too?" Cybil said.

Willow had her fill of these two. “Leave! Now!"

At that moment, the lights rapidly flickered and a bulb blew out. The pair left rapidly. Willow then noticed her strange markings, and a little light flickered in them as well.

“What the...?" she muttered. A few minutes later, she heard a knock on the door.

“Willow, it's me and Branch," Poppy said. “Can we come in?"

“O-okay," she replied nervously.

“Creek told us everything, we're so sorry you had to go through that," Branch said, hugging the nervous teenager. Poppy saw Willow's markings glow and her pupils turned to slits.

“Uh, Branch?" Poppy alarmed. The survivalist pulled away and noticed Willow's face, which then returned to normal.

“It's okay, I feel better already," Willow replied.

“What just happened to you?!" Branch asked in shock.

“I dunno, I felt concern, comfort, and compassion," Willow replied. “What do you think happened?"

“Nothing!" Poppy lied. “It was probably nothing. We gotta go."

Poppy dragged Branch out of the room and into the hallway.

“Why'd you lie to her?" Branch wondered.

“Willow's been through a lot," Poppy explained. “We don't want her to feel even worse. Just... let her rest for a while."

“Okay," Branch agreed.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Well, Willow, it appears, you've made a full recovery," Dr. Moonbloom explained. “But if there's anything you need, anything at all, call me right away. I'm a doctor."

“Of course you're a doctor, you saved me," Willow pointed out, using her inhaler.

“Yes, I did," she said proudly as Willow left.

“Okay, Willow," Poppy said, guiding Willow into the village. “As your queen, and your friend, I am giving you your own pod to live in! Think of it as a late birthday present."

“You're a year short, though," Willow pointed out. “I'm seventeen, not eighteen."

“True, but if you've taken care of fourteen brothers and sisters by yourself, I think you're independent enough," Poppy said, and the two entered the pod. “I was gonna unpack for you, but I know you like things a certain way."

“I can handle it," Willow insisted. “Thank you, Poppy."

“It was the least I could do," Poppy said. “Although, I could help you set up a housewarming party tonight."

“I'm not in the mood to party, but thanks," Willow said. Poppy hugged her and Willow felt warmth and bliss. She didn't want to let go.

“Okay, Willow, that's enough," Poppy said nervously. Willow felt her fear and looked at her with concern.

“Is something wrong?"

“Of course not," Poppy answered. “Why would you think that?"

“I didn't think it, I felt it," Willow replied. “But I'm not sure I know how."

Poppy decided it was best to leave. “Well, I'll see you later, then."

Poppy left the pod and noticed Branch right outside.

“You didn't tell her, did you?" Branch suspected.

“How am I supposed to tell someone I don't have feelings for them?" Poppy asked. “I don't want to break her heart."

“Sooner or later, you'll have to," Branch said. “It won't do any good to let her believe there's something between you two."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Willow had unpacked another box and pulled her new video camera out of it. She turned it on and began recording.

“Okay, works pretty good," she said to herself.

But suddenly, Willow found a giant, black snake staring at her with large, yellow eyes. Willow dropped her camera in shock. The snake slithered through her doorway and looked her in the eye. Willow was frozen in fear, but suddenly, she noticed herself turn invisible. Too distracted by her translucency, Willow failed to notice the snake pierce his single fang into her body. Willow became visible again, but her whole world went black.

I know. Things got dark really fast.

To be continued...