Aside from the mysterious mass egg-napping, it all began one late-summer morning. Branch, Flower, and I were spending the week traveling alongside Kismet for their Paradise World Tour, so Viva was temporarily running things back home. We were already working on moving some of the Putt Putt Trolls back into Pop Village, reuniting even more families who were separated after escaping the Bergens about twenty years ago.

Willow, Clay, and Synth were helping her out with preparing new pods for them to stay in.

“I spent most of my life in a tree, but I think these branches are stable enough for mounting pods," Willow said as she stood on a tree branch with a flock of birds. “Thanks, guys!"

“All good down here, too!" Synth added as the birds flew away. “Vines should grow and cling on real easy!"

“Uh, Synth, are you standing upside down?" Clay asked, quite confused. “I mean, outside of an upbeat musical number?"

“Oh, yeah. Crimp wanted me to test these gravity boots she made," he explained, showing off the sleek, metallic green shoes on his fins. “They're supposed to make fixing satellites in orbit a lot easier. It's pretty cool, yo!"

“That does sound exciting," Clay admitted.

“You know what else is exciting?" Viva asked. “Living here with my dad and sister! I feel like I missed out on a lot, y'know? All of Poppy's birthdays, when she lost her first tooth, her goth phase if she had one..."

Viva was obviously bursting with energy, but Synth saw in between the brightly colored lines and could tell something was bothering her.

“Hey, Vivita, can we chat for a second?" he suggested, and pulled her away for a moment.

“So, Clay, what's the sitch on your upcoming bachelor pad?" Willow asked casually. Clay blinked in confusion.

“Why would I want a bachelor pad?" he questioned.

“Right, I forgot you're an ace in the hole," she muttered. “Now, come on. Let's get back to working hard."

“Or hardly working," Clay replied with a laugh. “Wait, what'd you just call me?"

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“Viva, you doing okay?" Synth asked.

“I'm fantastamazing, Synthie!" Viva replied. “Why wouldn't I be?"

“Well," he said, “sometimes, when you ramble, it means you're anxious about something."

“Well, I guess this isn't one of those– Okay, I'm anxious," she admitted. Synth tilted his head. “I really do want to come back home. I'm just scared. I've been living in that golf course for over twenty years, I never imagined myself being anywhere else."

“Hmm, I used to have the opposite problem," said Synth. “But I get the picture. I was nervous, too, when I first moved here. I didn't really know anyone. But then, I met Willow and Poppy and Flower and Dubstep. They helped me feel less lonely. And you're not alone, Vivita. You got me and all of our friends and family."

Viva smiled warmly at the Techno Troll. “Thanks, Synth. I feel better already."

“You're welcome," Synth replied. “Say, uh, Viva, I was wondering if you weren't doing anything else tonight, you and I could catch up on... a few other things, maybe?"

“What kind of things?"

“Eh, you know," he said, “some important things, some less important things, a couple hugs by the fireplace. Oh, I don't have a fireplace."

Viva laughed. “Don't worry, Synth. I'll always make time for you. Especially now..."

'Cause I'm happy to call this home!

No more running!

I'm good knowing

That I belong

Happy to call this home!

I got loving

Inside this island!

Don't care who knows it!

Happy to call this...

Synth grinned as Viva sang her heart out, then quietly sneaked away back to his underwater house in Shadow Springs to be left alone for a moment. He swam into his bathroom, thoroughly brushed his glowing pink teeth, shaved his face, and rubbed slug slime on his cheeks and chin. Once he felt fresh, Synth opened up a medicine cabinet that was mostly empty, minus a heart-shaped piece of orange glass. He held it up to a glowing barnacle and the refracting light almost resembled the flames of a campfire.

“I hope you don't mind," he whispered. Suddenly, Synth heard a knock, and he frantically stuffed the glass heart in his pink dreadlocks before swimming to the door. “Who is it?"

“Basket of puppies!" answered a familiar voice. Synth opened the door to find a blue Techno Troll with rainbow arm bands, bright green eyes and hair held up in a topknot, and a few pixelated freckles on his cheeks.

“Oh, hey, Trollex," Synth greeted. “What are you doing here?"

“I wanted to check on you," he said. “I haven't seen you in half a year."

“Oh, yeah, that makes sense," Synth admitted. “So, what have you been up to?"

“Typical king stuff," Trollex replied. “Signing laws, kissing babies, hosting epic raves. You?"

“Well, I met a girl," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was helping my buddy Dubstep save his bro by finding his other bros, including my old boss."

“You mean, the guy with the big hair?" Trollex asked.

“Yeah, him," Synth replied. “Anyhoo, during the trip, I met Poppy's sister Viva. She's strong, and fun, and..."

“Pretty?"

“Beautiful, yo!" he corrected. Trollex just rolled his eyes. “We've been spending a lot of time together since we met, and I've been thinking about... maybe... I don't know..."

Trollex's eyes widened. “Dude, you're not saying?"

Synth nodded. “I think it's time I told her I love her."

Surprise! You all thought he was gonna propose.

Another secret, I was thinking about making Synth take happy pills, but I decided against it. Not everyone takes narcotics to hide their pain (I've been playing Hogwarts Mystery).

Don't worry. Hope'll be in the next chapter. And almost every chapter afterwards. ♥️