Okay, my first chapter story on here! This was originally supposed to be short, and it was on a doc I had of short stories, but it started on page 12 and ended (I haven't even finished it) on page 30, so clearly, it's not as short as I thought.

If you've read my bio on my profile, then you know that I had this one big cringy story as my first fanfic ever, one that will not be published but had a couple good ideas in it. This one was kinda sorta based off of that one, so here's some background info:

Cloud Guy randomly happens to have this collection of magic needles, like the spindle in Sleeping Beauty. When he pricks Poppy (or anyone) with one, she falls into a deep sleep and can only be woken by true love's kiss. In the meantime, her soul can visit with all the Trolls already dead, in heaven. However, it's only happened to her once before, and she was woken up by Branch.

I know you probably just want to get to the story, but thank you for all the support on my other two stories! If you liked Wisteria and Poppy pining for Branch, I have more where that came from. ;) And as for the guest reviewer who called herself "Harmony's Sister," don't mind her. She actually is my little sister. :) (I don't know if you guys read the reviews, though.)

Anyhow, enjoy the story! Constructive criticism is great, but no flames! Thanks!

"Poppy, I have something to tell you."

Poppy frowned a little. She didn't like the way his tone got all serious or the way his voice matched it. Her boyfriend rarely acted like this, and when he did, it was usually because of something she'd rather not know. "Oh . . . what is it?"

"You know how we were kind of . . . fooling around with the idea of getting married? Well, yesterday . . ." He paused.

Poppy grinned. Ohhh. He was trying to freak her out before giving her the good news. He could be lots of fun like that. She wanted to kiss him on the nose, but she supposed she could wait until after he'd broken the news to her.

"Yesterday I asked your dad for his blessing, and, well . . ." He stopped walking and turned to look at her, his eyes the perfect picture of dead seriousness.

Poppy let her hands fall from his arm as she looked him in those serious eyes, her own magenta orbs sparkling with glee. "And. .?" she asked excitedly.

For a moment, her boyfriend gave her a funny look, then said, "Um, he said . . . he said . . . no."

Poppy's face fell, searching his face for any hint of playful deceit, any hint of dishonesty in the slightest. "What?"

"I'm so sorry. I honestly thought he'd say yes."

"He really said no?" she asked, shocked and sad.

"Yeah. I mean, I know I'm not exactly his favorite Troll, but I never thought he'd really say no to that."

His girlfriend gave him a suspicious look. "You're not just teasing me?"

He shook his head. "I wish I were."

Poppy cast her gaze to the ground. Why had her father done this? He knew she was in love. He'd always been so welcoming to her boyfriends in the past . . . why did he have to be cruel to this one, the only one she wanted to marry?

He lifted her chin, gazing into her eyes sweetly. "I bet we can get through this. I'll try to think of solutions, okay, and you talk to your dad for me."

She shrugged, mustering a smile and a spark of hope. "Maybe it was a misunderstanding?"

"Maybe. Listen, Poppy, I need to get some sleep. Will you talk to your dad?"

"Of course. See you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Poppy leaned over and kissed her boyfriend goodnight, then turned around to go see her dad.

And Cliff, the red Troll with pastel-yellow hair, Poppy's boyfriend, turned to go back to his pod for sleep.

"Dad . . . I heard you denied Cliff your blessing to marry me."

Silence.

"Well, is it true?"

"Poppy . . ." the elderly Troll said with a sigh, turning to face his daughter. "You know I love you . . ."

"You used to be so nice to my boyfriends! Why not Cliff? Why not the one Troll who really makes me happy?"

"My princess," he said, slowly approaching her, using the nickname he'd always used for her. "I do want you to be happy. I just don't think that Cliff can do that for you."

"Oh, sure, then who do you think will make me happy? Because right now, the only name I'm thinking of is Cliff's."

"Branch."

Poppy stared at him in stunned silence.

"Branch can make you happy."

Slowly anger took form in the young queen's eyes. "Dad, we talked about this," she said, her voice quiet but filled with fury. "I'm over him. I've been over him for three years now, and I suggest you get over him, too. Because now I love Cliff, and Branch is never coming back."

"He's your true love, Poppy," pressed the former king. "He even woke you up with true love's kiss."

"Yeah, years ago! When I loved him! Listen, Dad"—she pinched the bridge of her nose—"you don't understand. The love we felt for each other then was true, but now it's fizzled out. I couldn't get it back if I tried, which I'm not going to, because now the love I feel for Cliff is true. If I fell under that spell again, he'd be the one to wake me up, not Branch." She looked up at her father. "So please, Dad, open your heart to him. He doesn't deserve the way you're acting toward him. Let us get married, please." Poppy turned away from her father bitterly. "Or we'll find a way to be together, lawful or not."

Peppy watched his daughter as she left his pod, not at all regretting his decisions—and not missing the way Poppy had pinched the bridge of her nose, something she'd never done until she'd started dating Branch.

Poppy awoke the next morning, with a stretch and a yawn, to see her father hovering over her like a madman.

"AAAHH!" she screamed, then placed a hand to her heart to calm it. "Dad, what are you doing?!"

"You're so sure Cliff will wake you up?" He lifted his hand, which was holding a shiny, sparkly silver needle. "We'll see about that."

Before she even knew what was going on, she was sinking into her pillow again, falling into a deep sleep.