Trolls were buzzing around the plane critter, colors and laughter filling the air as everyone gathered to bid Poppy and Branch farewell. The excitement of a month-long adventure for the pair was contagious—except for one Troll. Smidge.
Inside her pod, Smidge sat slumped on her bright pink couch, her hands folded, her usual fire dimmed. The walls, typically adorned with motivational banners and weights, felt more oppressive than uplifting today. Her tiny feet dangled off the edge, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.
“Smidge?” Biggie’s gentle voice called from the entrance, his large frame filling the doorway as he peeked inside, worry etched across his face. “What are you doing in here? Poppy’s waiting for you! She’s been asking where you are. She wants to say goodbye.”
Smidge didn’t look up right away, her eyes fixed on the floor. “I just… don’t feel like going out today, Biggie,” she said, her voice unusually quiet for someone so small and mighty.
Biggie frowned, stepping into the pod. This wasn’t like Smidge. He sat beside her, the couch creaking under his much larger weight. “What’s going on? You okay?” he asked softly, his concern deepening. Smidge always seemed so sure of herself, so powerful in her tiny frame. Seeing her like this felt… wrong.
She sighed again, her brow furrowing as if she was grappling with thoughts she didn’t know how to express. “I just… I hate feeling so small.” She finally glanced up at him, her usually fierce blue eyes filled with uncertainty. “I wanna be more than just ‘the small but mighty one.’ I’m always the one people go to when they need someone strong… but that’s it. Just the muscle. You know what I mean?”
Biggie blinked, taken aback. He had never heard Smidge talk like this before. To him, she was the most confident Troll in the village, always so sure of her strength—both physical and emotional. “I think I understand,” he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. “You’re always there for everyone, lifting things, helping out, being strong… but it doesn’t always feel like enough, does it?”
Smidge’s shoulders relaxed a little. “Exactly! I know I’m tough, but I want to be… more. I want to lead, to be trusted with something important.” She looked away again, her voice quiet. “Not just asked to carry the heaviest rocks.”
Biggie reached out, gently patting her on the shoulder. “Hey, you’re more than just muscle, Smidge. You’ve got the heart of a leader—everyone knows that. And you care more about Troll Village than almost anyone. That’s what makes you special.”
Smidge let out a half-hearted chuckle. “I dunno, Biggie. I just feel… stuck. Like no one sees me as anything but ‘the strong one.’” She kicked her legs slightly, her boots barely scraping the floor. “I mean, look at Poppy. She’s out there, leading the whole village and going off on adventures. And I’m just… here.”
Biggie smiled softly. “Well, Poppy needs someone to take care of things while she’s gone, doesn’t she? I mean, you might get exactly what you want—something important to do.”
Smidge’s eyes flickered with interest. “Maybe…” she muttered, though she didn’t seem fully convinced.
Biggie leaned forward, his tone growing more persuasive. “Besides, you should still come say goodbye. They’ll be gone for a whole month! Don’t you think you’ll miss them?”
Smidge’s head snapped up. “A month?” she asked, her voice rising in surprise. “Where are they going?”
Biggie chuckled. “Didn’t you hear? Poppy wants to see what living with Branch would be like. She’s trying to make up for all the times she was so busy multitasking during their one-on-one time. They’re calling it a retreat or something.”
