That same morning, Queen Poppy of the Pop Trolls was getting ready for the day. Her almost-four-year-old daughter, Princess Flower, was sleeping in, however.

“Wake up, Flower!" Poppy said excitedly. “Wake up!"

“Mommy, I don't wanna..." Flower groaned.

“Aww, but we have a big day ahead of us!" Poppy pointed out. “There's orientation for your new school, Willow's big movie premiere, and your friends are coming over for a sleepover!"

“I'm too drowsy," she replied, burying her face in her pillow. Poppy decided to convince her to get out of bed a different way.

I had a dream so big and loud

I jumped so high I touched the clouds

Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh

Flower briefly looked up. Like all Pop Trolls, she couldn't resist a cheerful tune.

I stretched my hands out to the sky

We danced with monsters through the night

Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh

I'm never gonna look back

Woah, never gonna give you up

“No, please don't wake me now," Flower pleaded in song, but Poppy pulled her out of bed and got her dressed.

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ife

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ife

“Awake now, my little princess?" Poppy asked, helping Flower get dressed.

“Okay, Mommy," Flower giggled as Poppy tied her hair up with ribbons. “I'm awake."

“Good," Poppy said happily. “Now, let's go find Daddy."

Deep underground, Poppy's boyfriend and Flower's father, Branch, was in his bunker rubbing aftershave on his face. He, too, had special plans for the day.

I once wallowed in misery

Until an angel set me free

Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh

Once he finished freshing himself up, Branch opened a drawer and pulled out a small box. Inside was a ring with three heart-shaped diamonds.

And after all that we've been through

I really hope she'll say “I do"

Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh

After putting on a vest and shorts, Branch headed out of the bunker and put the box in his hair.

I'm never gonna look back

Whoa, never gonna give her up

Though I'm not sure I know how

“Branch!" Poppy called out, running up to him. She planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Hi, Daddy!" Flower greeted as she hugged him.

“Hey, sprout," he said, picking her up. “Taking care of Mommy and your sisters?"

Flower nodded as Poppy rubbed her rounded abdomen. Despite not being married, Poppy and Branch found themselves expecting two more baby girls. They weren't due for another five months, but Poppy was already counting the seconds.

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ife

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My l

i-i-i-i-i-ife

Outside the movie theater, Willow was looking up at the clouds floating overhead. Three smaller clouds waved at her as a strong wind blew them all away. Could the restless winds be the reason she was hearing this call?

I hear it calling outside my window

I feel it in my soul

I don't know what is happ'ning

But I feel something coming

I fear I'll lose control

“Hey, Willow!" a young Funk Troll exclaimed, running up to her with two other kids, Techno and Classical. “Can you do the magic for us?"

“Sure," Willow replied. The kids gathered around and watched as her hands let out a few sparkles. She grew flowers and weaved them into accessories for the kids to wear.

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ife

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ife

This is gonna be, this is gonna be, this is gonna be

The best day of my life

Everything is looking up, everybody up now

Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ife

“That was fun!" Flower said. “Can we sing another song?"

“Of course!" Poppy replied. “On the way to orientation. You coming, Branchie?"

“I'll catch up," Branch said, “There's something I have to do first, I won't be long."

Poppy was confused. “What do you have to do?"

“I... need to get a second opinion on something," he replied.

“I can give you a second–"

“Thanks for understanding, honey!" Branch interrupted, kissing her cheek before running off. “Love you!"

Poppy looked down at Flower. “Was it something I said?" she asked. The young princess just shrugged.

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

“Looks like everything's accounted for," Willow said to Razzle Dazzle as she decorated the auditorium with flowers, candles, and ice sculptures. “Did you put name tags on the reserved seats?"

“Yes, Miss Willow."

“Even Wani and Tresillo?"

Razzle Dazzle's glittery face paled. “Uh... Yes. One question, though. How do you spell Tresillo?"

“I dunno," Willow replied.

“Hey, Willow?" Branch called out from the doorway. “Do you have a moment, or should I come back?"

“Well, if it's only a moment," Willow figured. “Razzle Dazzle, take five."

“Sorry to bother you," Branch said as Willow flew up to him, “but I didn't know who else I should ask. Do you... think now is a good time to propose?"

Willow grimaced. “You're not my type."

“The feeling's mutual," Branch reassured her. “I'm talking about Poppy. I've thought about proposing for quite some time, but I'm not sure if it's what she wants. Things are pretty great right now, we have Flower, and we're about to have two more kids. I'm worried she'll think I'm going to fast, and–"

Ah-ah-ah-ahhhhh-ah-ah-ahhhhhhhh!

Willow stopped listening to Branch when she heard the mysterious voice again. She had no idea where it was coming from or who it was. All she knew was no one could hear it but her.

Branch noticed that Willow turned her back on him and was looking outside, not listening to a word he was saying.

“Uh, Will? Will!" he shouted. Willow snapped out of her trance and looked at him. “Were you even listening to me?"

“Didn't you hear that?" Willow asked him, gesturing to the open door. Branch just raised an eyebrow at her.

“Uh... I should be with Poppy and Flower," Branch decided. “See you tonight."

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

“Branch, there you are!" Poppy exclaimed as he finally made it to the school. “You missed half of the orientation! Are you gonna do that to our other kids, too?!"

“Pops, I'm sorry," he said. “I just needed some advice from Willow, but she didn't answer me. She was acting weird, and normal Willow is weird enough."

“Did you ask her if something was wrong?" Poppy asked.

“Well, no."

“Branch," Poppy said, “if a friend is acting weird, or, in Willow's case, weirder, you should talk to them and see if you can help."

“I know," Branch said. “It's just that–"

“I'll make Willow feel better," Poppy said. “You stay here and be a good dad to Flower."

“Who said I'm not– And she's gone."

“Daddy?" Flower peeped, looking up at him with a confused look. Branch gave her a sad smile and picked her up.

“Hey, sprout," he said. “Can you do me a favor? I don't know how things are gonna work between Mommy and I, but I want you to promise me no matter what happens, you will protect her and your sisters."

“I promise, Daddy," she assured him with a hug.

Poppy, meanwhile, went to look for Willow. Eventually, she found her in the theater's projectionist room wearing a dark blue scarf.

“I knew it, something's wrong," Poppy said, startling Willow for a moment.

“With you?" Willow asked.

“No, with you," Poppy replied. “You always wear that scarf when you're upset. Did Branch hurt your feelings? I know, he may not act like he cares but deep down–"

“Pops, it wasn't Branch," Willow insisted, although she wasn't sure if she should tell Poppy about the voice. “It's just... There's this... I'm afraid I'll mess things up."

“What things?" Poppy asked. “Will, you're doing great! When are you gonna start seeing yourself the way we all see you?"

Willow smiled. “What would I do without you?"

“You'll always have me," Poppy promised. “How about I help you with things here?"

“Nah, my assistant and I got it covered. You go ahead and be with Branch. He has a big surprise for you, but you didn't hear it from me."

Poppy winked and headed off. Willow shivered a little as she heard the voice once more.

Ah-ah-ah-ahhhhhhhh!

Thank you, MelodyQuill for your lyric alterations. The art on top is by a friend of mine on Instagram.

I'm not entirely sure yet what's gonna happen next chapter, but I know it'll have to be something that convinces Willow and the others to travel through the Distant North.

Until next time. 🌈