Old habits die hard. So naturally, Bash was sneaking around Pop Village. Apart from Willow, he wasn't entirely sure whether or not to trust his former foes. He snuck into the Pet 'N' Vet to see if there any suspicious plans around.

“And what are you doing?" someone asked as he pulled out a drawer from Milton's desk. He jumped up in surprise as he found Ash standing at the doorway.

“Oh! Hey, Princess," he greeted nervously. “Just, uh– Okay. I'm a little nervous being here. I can trust Willow, but I'm worried those Trolls are planning revenge of some sort."

I wouldn't blame them, Ash thought before saying, “Bash, dude, you should be lucky they let you stay here. You did crash one of their parties and try to take the Black Rock for yourself. You're just gonna make things worse for yourself by sneaking through people's stu– By all that is Trolly."

“What?" Bash asked. Ash pulled something out of the drawer to show him. “Whoa, that is huge."

“What's huge?" Barb asked suddenly. Bash and Ash hid it behind their backs. “Aw, come on! I wanna see!"

“Not happening," Bash argued.

“Why not?!"

“Because you have a big mouth," Ash answered.

“What?! I keep tons of secrets!" Barb insisted. “Like Flower's secret fear of clowns. Or that time I caught Riff playing with sock puppets. And did you know that Dickory went on a date with Bliss Marina? Talk about an odd couple. I heard that–"

Barb stopped talking when she noticed their looks of indifference.

“Alright, point taken," she surrendered. “But come on. I can keep this one! Please tell me!"

“Okay, but we have to do the sister swear," Ash agreed, and she and Barb braided their hair together. “You too, tall and skinny."

Bash looked up at his fin, and with no other option, he just placed it against their hair.

“Repeat after me," Ash said. “I promise..."

“I promise..." Barb and Bash repeated.

“Not to tell anyone..."

“Not to tell anyone..."

“What I have just seen or heard."

“What I have just seen or heard."

“Or so help me, a Lava Lizard will rip out my vocal chords," Ash finished.

“Amen," Barb replied. “Now, can you show me?!"

After receiving a nod from the Alternative Princess, Bash showed the Hard Rock queen a ring box with a beautiful diamond ring inside. Barb gasped at the sight.

“MILTON MOSS IS GOING TO PROPOSE TO SMIDGE!"

Barb's loud voice echoed through Pop Village, leaving everyone in a state of shock and confusion. One Troll looked out her window to see what the commotion was about. Ash just smacked her own forehead.

“So much for the sister swear," she muttered, putting the ring box back in the drawer.

“How do you think he's gonna do it?" Bash asked.

“Excuse me?" someone said suddenly. They turned around to find Ginger Jo at the entrance. “What are you guys doing here?"

“We were, uh... looking for Milton," Barb replied. “Where is he?"

“Milton had to meet with Queen Poppy and my sister Poem, said he'll be gone all day," Ginger Jo answered. “I can take care of your critters, though. Just bring them in, and I'll–"

Ginger Jo stopped talking once she noticed the room was empty.

“Hello?"

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Barb, it's one thing to break a sister swear," Ash said, “but now, you're dragging me into spying on Milton?!"

“Just ignore her," Barb told Bash, who nodded, and they watched Milton explain his proposal plans to Poppy, Branch, and Poem.

“I'm thinking about having Smidge come to the Gardens," Milton explained. “We'll have a peaceful picnic together, I will sing a song written by Poem, because Smidge loves her songs, and by the end of the number, I'll ask her. Hopefully, she'll say yes."

“Of course, she'll say yes!" Poppy insisted. “I can't wait for you to get married!"

Poem tapped on Branch's shoulder and signed to him. Poem was the only deaf Troll in Pop Village, but there was always someone who understood sign language around to translate.

“Good question," Branch agreed, and turned to Milton. “How do you plan on getting Smidge to the Gardens?"

“Actually, Branch, I was hoping you could help," he replied, pulling out a cupcake box from his coat. “Inside the wrapper of this cupcake is a message to tell Smidge to go to the Gardens. I was hoping you could deliver it to her."

“Sure, I'd be happy to help," Branch said, taking the cupcake box.

“I just need food for the picnic and to grab the ring from the Pet 'N' Vet, and everything will be ready by the time Smidge comes."

“I'll help you with the food," Poppy volunteered.

“And Poem will get the ring," Branch said as she signed. “She has to grab the sheet music anyways. I'll go ahead and deliver this to Smidge."

Bash and the Rock sisters watched the four Pop Trolls split up.

“Come on!" Barb whispered. “Let's follow Branch!"

“This isn't really how I planned to spend my day," Ash said to herself, and followed Barb and Bash.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Smidge, meanwhile, had her own plans for Milton. She, Willow, DJ Suki, Legsly, Satin, and Chenille were having a secret meeting at Lily's café.

“Willow," Smidge explained, “you're going to train two birds to carry the banner that says ‘Will you marry me, Milton Moss?' above Misty Meadows."

“I think I can do that," Willow replied. Smidge turned to the rest of the group.

“And the four of you will deliver these origami critters to their designated locations, so Milton will read the secret messages inside, telling him to go to a different place."

“You sure this will work, Smidge?" DJ Suki asked. “Milton might not even notice the messages."

“This proposal is supposed to make up for all of the dates I've ruined," Smidge pointed out. “Our first date, the Hair Ball, our picnic together... That's why this should work. It has to work!"

Everyone stared at each other nervously.

“We understand, Smidge," Legsly said. “But I think you're going overboard with this proposal."

“Sorry for eavesdropping," Lily said, giving them their mugs of cocoa, “but whatever happened to getting down on one knee?"

“You're one to talk," Smidge replied. “Archer didn't propose to you on one knee."

“I'm pretty sure he was going to."

“Smidge?" Branch called out. “Smidge, I got a special delivery for you!"

“Cheese it! It's Branch!" Smidge alerted. “Hide the plans! Act casual!"

“Lily, have you seen Smidge?" he asked at the café entrance.

“She's inside," Lily answered. Branch stepped in and approached Smidge, who leaned back in her chair with her feet on the table.

“Hey, Smidge," he greeted, confused by the way she and the others were acting. “Everything alright?"

“Why wouldn't it be?"

“You're acting weird," Branch pointed out. “Anyway, I was told to give you this."

“Thanks," she said, taking the box. Smidge then began pushing him out the door. “See you later!"

After Branch was abruptly pushed out of the café, Bash and the two Rock sisters peeked inside to see Smidge eat the cupcake and throw the wrapper out.

“Think she read the note?" Barb asked them.

“I don't think so," Ash replied. “She's still talking to them."

“How's she gonna get to the Gardens, then?" Bash replied.

“Barb! Ash!" Riff called out, flying in on a motorbug. “Wild Lava Lizards are attacking the arena! Carol and her mom need help!"

“Can't it wait?!" Barb groaned. Ash just rolled her eyes.

“I'll go," Ash said, jumping onto the bug. “Don't do anything stupid!"

“You worry too much," Barb replied as Ash took off with Riff. “Okay, maybe we can still... Where'd they go?"

“They must've left," Bash figured.

“Great," Barb said sarcastically. “Now, how is Milton gonna propose to Smidge?"

❤️☀️🧡🌙💛☀️💚🌙💙☀️💜🌙

While Milton was shopping at the market with Poppy, Satin and Chenille placed a paper swan on a fruit stand once his back was turned, and hid behind it.

“How about these, Milton?" Poppy suggested, holding up a bouquet of Sparklepuff flowers.

“Those will be perfect," he replied, grabbing them. They went to look at the fancy cupcakes.

“Milton didn't even see the note," Chenille said. “What if DJ was right about him missing all of the messages?"

“I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GOING TO DESIGN A WEDDING DRESS!"

Satin's voice echoed through Pop Village, leaving everyone stupefied. A flock of birds flew off in surprise. Like she had with Barb's burst of excitement, a Troll looked out her window to see what could be happening.

“Satin, be quiet!" Chenille whispered. “You don't want to ruin the surprise, do you?"

Satin shook her head. “I am so sorry!"

“I think we need to fold the note into a more interesting shape," Chenille decided, and ran off to the next location, dragging Satin along with her.

Smidge, meanwhile, was at Meadow Spriggs' place, getting some firework flowers. When she wasn't looking, Bash tied a string around her ankle. Barb's plan was to have her follow the long string all the way to the Gardens, where Milton was most likely waiting for her. When Smidge noticed the string, however, she just untied it and rolled it all up into a ball.

“That would've been ugly," she said to herself, and tossed it aside.

“Ow!" Bash exclaimed, rubbing his forehead where the ball landed. “Well, that didn't work."

“Let's move on to Plan B," Barb decided, and headed for the Gardens, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. Bash reluctantly followed. “This'll get her to come over here."

“I don't think it will," Bash replied nervously.

“Why?" Barb asked. Bash pointed to a large bird eating the trail up. It looked up and noticed the bag of breadcrumbs in Barb's hand. She forced it into Bash's hands and ran off, shouting, “It's him you want!"

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Time for Plan C," Barb said. Bash, unfortunately, was in a wheelchair with his leg in a cast, arm in a sling, and a bandage wrapped around his head. “We're gonna kidnap her and take her to the Gardens. That's what we did for Ash's twelfth birthday party."

“For some reason, that sounds worse than the last two things we tried," Bash replied.

“You wanna help Smidge, or not?!" she asked with a glare. Bash nodded quickly. “You wait here, I'll get Smidge in the sack."

While Smidge was taste testing some cupcakes, Barb snuck up on her, grabbed her by the hair, and shoved her into a potato sack.

“Hey! What the heck's going on?!" she shouted, squirming in the bag. “Let me out this instant!"

“I got her!" Barb announced, holding the bag. Suddenly, Smidge began ripping it open! “We gotta hurry!"

“Too late!" Smidge announced, falling out and wrapping her hair around their bodies. “You traitors! How could you?!"

“We were taking you Milton so he could propose to you!" Barb shouted.

“Well, I have to go to Misty Meadows to propose to Milton!" Smidge yelled back. “And nothing's gonna ruin it!"

With that, Smidge slammed Barb and Bash against a tree trunk and ran off.

“Hey! Get back here!" Barb ordered, running after the Teaspoon Pop Troll. Bash was so sore, he couldn't move.

“I guess this can't get any worse," he said to himself. Suddenly, a bird flew down in front of him with a smirk forming across its beak. Bash laughed nervously. “Nice birdie... I don't have anymore crumbs."

Ginger Jo heard a knock on the door and found Poem standing right outside.

“Hey, sis," she said. “What's up?"

“I need to grab something for Milton," she signed. “I can't tell you what it is. Sorry."

“That's okay," Ginger Jo replied. “Milton's my friend, and I respect his... What's that noise?"

“I can't hear, remember?" Poem pointed out. They stepped outside and found fireworks going off in Misty Meadows, two birds flying off. Curious, the two sisters headed for Misty Meadows.

“Bill! Jolene! Come back!" Willow shouted at the two birds. “I'll pay you four bags of birdseed!"

“I don't think they're coming back," Legsly realized.

“Worry about that later," DJ Suki said, turning to Barb and Smidge, who were wrestling each other. “What are we gonna do about them?! And where are Satin and Chenille?!"

Before Smidge and Barb could murder each other, Willow used her telekinesis to separate them.

“Now, I'm gonna let you two go," Willow told them. “And when I do, I want you to calmly tell me what the problem is. Understand?"

The two Trolls nodded and Willow dropped them.

“She's ruining the proposal!" they shouted at the same time.

“Barb, how do you know about the proposal?" Legsly asked.

“Ash and I found the ring in Milton's desk," Barb answered.

“What ring?" DJ Suki asked.

“The engagement– Wait. What are you guys doing?"

“They're helping me propose to Milton, of course," Smidge answered.

“What's going on?" Milton asked, looking around. Poppy, Branch, Poem, Ginger Jo, and various other Trolls arrived to see what had happened. “Smidge, are you okay?!"

“Milton!" Smidge exclaimed. “There's nothing to see here! Come back in a few hours!"

“Smidge!" Satin shouted, running up to them. “We folded the origami into a more interesting shape, but Milton ran off before he could read the message! We don't know where we went!"

“Sis, he's right here," Chenille pointed out. Milton just waved.

“Oh."

Poem tapped on Milton's shoulder and gave him the box.

“Thank you, Poem," he said. “Smidge, I was wondering if... Smidge?"

When Milton had his back turned, Smidge had ran off into the forest, embarrassed over how everything fell apart. While he went off to look for her, Willow heard a bird screeching and Bash screaming.

“Barb, apologize to Smidge," Willow said. “I gotta go save my cousin-in-law."

Milton found Smidge sitting by a pond, surrounded by moody Swampkins. She pet one while staring at her reflection in the water.

“Beautiful critters, aren't they?" Milton asked. Smidge didn't answer. “Despite their dreary lifestyle, they're perfectly happy by the end of the day."

The small Troll sighed. “I'm sorry, Milton. I wanted today to be perfect. I've ruined our first date, the Hair Ball, our picnic... I was hoping I could make up for it. But no matter how hard I try, I always mess things up when it comes to you."

“Oh, Smidge," Milton said sweetly. “Sometimes, things just don't turn out how you planned. But you could never mess things up with me. If anything, our relationship has grown stronger with every mistake. Today was a disaster, yes, but it's also the last day we'll have to do anything apart. And as long as we're together, everything will always be perfect."

“Speaking of together," Smidge said, “can we...?"

“On the count of three," Milton replied, pulling out the box. “One..."

Smidge smiled. “Two..."

“Will you marry me?" they finished simultaneously.

“Oh, my gah! Yes!" Smidge answered.

“I'd love to," Milton replied. He pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger.

“Smidge, Milton," Barb called out. Poppy and Branch stood right behind her as she approached them. “I'm sorry about what happened today. I didn't mean to screw things up so bad. Can you forgive me?"

Smidge and Milton smiled at each other as they shared a hug.

“Looks like you didn't screw up too much," Poppy whispered.

❤️☀️🧡🌙💛☀️💚🌙💙☀️💜🌙

Sometime later, Smidge was walking down the aisle, with Flower holding the train of her beautiful white gown. Once she exchanged her vows with Milton, Tiny Diamond handed them their rings. They were finally sealing their unbreakable bond.

“And so," Poppy announced, “by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!"

The Trolls applauded as Smidge pulled Milton in for a big smooch. Only to stop when she took things further.

“Yeah!" Willow shouted as Branch and Guy Diamond covered their children's eyes. “Get it, Smidge– Oh, that is gross!"

“Daddy, what's happenings?" Flower asked curiously, trying to look through his fingers.

“Just look away, honey."

Sorry this took so long to get out here. I guess I've been distracted by Apple TV stealing the Charlie Brown holiday specials from us, and this whole election has been getting on my nerves. I didn't even proofread this, so I hope you don't mind the spelling errors or missing words. If you do, let me know.

Until next time. 🌈