Princess Poppy woke up later than usual that morning, and she was actually only halfway between awake and asleep. It was most peculiar. Usually, she jumped out of bed around the moment her eyes opened. The only exception was about a month ago, when...

Nope. It never happened.

Then, Poppy felt a wave of nausea flood her head. She immediately shot out of bed and stumbled into her bathroom.

“Maybe I'm coming down with the flu," she suspected as she continuously threw up in the sink. Poppy never got sick, but there was a first time for everything, right?

Despite her illness, Poppy decided to get on with her day. First she had to begin the morning song. So she grabbed her cowbell and began singing and dancing.

Let's dance!

Let's dance!

Let's dance!

For fear your grace should fall

Let's dance!

For fear tonight is all

Let's sway!

You could look into my eyes

Let's sway!

Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight

As Poppy went on, the entire village joined in.

And if you say run, I'll run with you

And if you say hide, we'll hide

Because my love for you

Would break my heart in two

If you should fall into my arms

And tremble like a flower

Let's dance!

Let's dance!

Let's dance!

Put on your red shoes and dance the blues

Let's dance!

To the song they're playin'

Let's sway!

Let's sway!

Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight

Let's dance!

Let's, Let's, Let's

Let's dance!

Let's dance

Let's dance, let's dance, let's dance, let's dance, let's dance

Let's dance!

Let's dance!

Let's dance!

Let's dance, let's dance, let's dance, let's dance, let's dance

Let's dance!

Let's dance!

Let's dance!

“Nice job, everybody!" Poppy said as they finished the dance number. “Hope you enjoy the rest of your day!"

When she was certain everyone left, Poppy ran off into the woods to throw up... again.

However, Poppy didn't go unnoticed. Carla, a quiet, teenage Troll with lime skin, purple-pink ombre hair and bangs, and a piercing on her blue nose, watched as she vomited into a flower. Poppy looked up and saw the young Troll watching her curiously.

“It's just a stomach bug, Carla," Poppy assured her. “I'll be fine in a couple days. I just didn't want anyone to worry, that's why I ran off."

With that, Poppy headed back into the village, and Carla hesitantly followed.

🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻🔺🔻

Poppy loved yoga. Mostly because she had the cutest instructor, Creek. She attended his class every Wednesday, and she knew today would be no different. But obviously, it would be.

“Okay," Creek announced. “Today, I felt​ that we should first begin with a simple stretch. Now everyone, touch your toes."

Not everyone could touch their toes the same way. Cooper didn't have hands, so he just lowered his head to where his front toes were. Fuzzbert curled his hair down to touch his toes, but it tickled and he usually ended up falling in a fit of laughter. Biggie, unfortunately, could barely see his toes. His legs were pretty small compared to the rest of his body.

While everyone else bent over to​touch their toes, Poppy just ended up throwing up... again.

“Poppy, are you okay?" DJ Suki asked, her voice filled with worry.

“No..." she groaned, and gagged at the taste of her own vomit.

“Poppy, maybe you should go home," Creek suggested. “Just rest for a couple of days. But if you don't feel better by then, go see a doctor."

“Okay," Poppy replied, and made her way home.

The following morning, Poppy only felt worse. Fortunately, her father came over to sing her to sleep last night. He always did that when she got sick.

Suddenly, Cooper and Biggie came in through the door. Biggie held Mr. Dinkles in his right hand and a tray of cupcakes in his left.

“Hey, Poppy!" Cooper greeted cheerfully.

“What are you guys doing here?" Poppy asked.

“We thought we should see how you're doing," Biggie answered. “Mr. Dinkles made cupcakes and I thought you should have some."

“And I made you some Horseradish Coconut Macaroons!" Cooper said, holding up a tray of them.

“I told you not to bring those!" Biggie whispered to his best buddy. “You know she doesn't like them."

“Then why is she eating them?" Cooper asked, and he was right. Poppy was, indeed, eating them like they were the sweetest of all treats.

“That's strange," Biggie muttered. He put down his tray and held one of the cupcakes to Poppy's nose.

“Excuse me," she gagged, and ran into her bathroom.

Cooper looked at Mr. Dinkles and said, “Who's the master chef now? Huh?!"

Mr. Dinkles just mewed.

“Don't listen to him," Biggie told his pet worm. “Something's wrong with Poppy, and I think I know what."

I got the Horseradish Coconut Macaroons idea from the Follow Your Art book. I thought about it and said, “There are only two types of people who would eat something like that: a pregnant woman or a person with no taste buds."

I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this story. If I either can't figure it out or you guys don't like it, I'll delete it.

The song is called “Let's Dance" by David Bowie. God rest his soul.