Okay, there is a minor spoiler in this chapter, but y'all probably won't notice it. It's not a major plot point.

Enjoy!

"Synth, if you don't mind my asking, how exactly do your water powers work?" Willow wondered as she waded her feet in the water while the purple Techno Troll floated on his back.

"I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "I just feel these very intense feelings... like a beating bass, but in my chest... I extend my hands, and water rises up. I can also use them to manipulate currents, but I usually just use them for fun."

"So, they're powered by your emotions?"

"I guess so," Synth replied.

Curious, Willow jumped into the water, swam towards her new friend. "Demonstrate."

"Umm... Okay," Synth replied. He treaded through the water, lifted one hand up, and began using his water powers to create five geysers on top of each other, similar to a fountain. Willow placed a hand on Synth's shoulder and used her empathic abilities to feel his emotions. Despite Synth's upbeat nature, Willow was feeling... an unusual mixture of pain, relief, and confusion.

"You alright, Synth?" Willow asked. Synth just turned and gave her a questioning look. "I'm just asking because I can sense and sometimes alter someone's feelings by touching them. I thought you'd be feeling something more happy."

"Oh, I was just thinking about how I left some things back in Techno Reef," Synth admitted.

"Like...?"

"Well..." Synth paused for a moment to figure out how to explain it, then said, "... I don't really like talking about it, but your boy Synth had kind of a rough childhood. I grew up in a cold, dark place with a few other... kids."

Willow tilted her head. "You mean, like an orphanage?"

"You could call it that," Synth answered. "I eventually escaped... I mean, ran away... but on the way out, I smacked my head against a rock and was out cold. When I woke up, I was in a much nicer place and bein' nursed back to health by other Techno Trolls. The guy who found me was really, really nice to me. A true friend, helped me get back on my fins. Though I realized he wanted to be more than my friend."

"Oh, that does make things awkward," Willow admitted, remembering her own unhealthy crush on Poppy.

"Yeah," Synth said, "and while I admit he's extremely handsome and all, I don't really like him that way. Part of the reason why I moved here is because I wasn't sure how to tell him without hurting his feelings and making him hate me for the rest of my life. Like, how do I do that?"

"Don't do what Poppy did to me?" Willow lightly joked. She, then, suggested, "Why don't you just tell him you'd rather be just friends? If he really is your friend, he'd understand."

"Oh, I could never say something like that," Synth chuckled nervously. "Or, at least, not by myself."

"Want me to go with you?"

"Hey, what a good idea, yo!" Synth praised. "Why didn't I think of that?!"

💚🩵💜🩵💛🩵🩷🩵💙🩵

The following day, Willow and Synth took a Caterbus to a beach, then a Whalebus to Techno Reef. On the way, Synth decided to ask Willow a few more questions about Talent Diamonds.

"Well, no Troll has seen one in at least a thousand years," she explained. "While Pop Village does have mines that are rich in some magic gems... and a lot more crystalized sugar... we've never really had any Talent Diamonds in them. Anyone who ever used one on someone had to have been from somewhere else."

"Like, maybe, Mount Rageous?"

Willow raised an eyebrow. "Where's that?"

"I don't know exactly, I've never been," Synth admitted. "But I used to work for a guy who's got a bunch of kids who are fans of these two pop stars based in Mount Rageous. I saw pictures of the place and everything's extra shiny, yo! And a lot of stuff was decked with diamonds. Maybe there are Talent Diamonds there, too."

"Hmm, maybe," Willow figured. "But we probably won't know for certain unless someone imprisons a Troll or some other talented dude in one and drains them of their talent and slowly kills them. But that probably won't happen."

"Yeah," Synth agreed. "You'd have to be very selfish and inconsiderate towards other living things to do something like that."

Once they exited the marine mammal, Willow took a good look around the underwater kingdom.

"Wow, neat! So this is the ocean," she muttered in awe... then looked at her critterphone to check the score for the Hairball game. "Darn it, the Giggleworms are behind."

"I still don't know about this, Will," Synth said nervously. "I mean, what if he never speaks to me again? Or I can never show my face in this town again? Or..."

"Synth!" Willow interrupted. "It's gonna be alright. I promise."

"Okay," Synth replied, taking a deep breath. "Now, let's get this over with."

Willow followed Synth all the way to the giant heart-shaped coral at the center of Techno Reef. They swam inside to find a yellow, muscular Techno Troll with light blue hair giving them both a smoldering look.

"Wow," Willow said. "You weren't kidding when you said he was extremely handsome."

"Hey, Frank," Synth greeted. "Have you seen King Trollex?"

"He's hosting the Coral Moon rave," Frank answered.

"Thanks," Synth replied. "Say hi to your husband for me."

"King Trollex isn't that good looking," Willow whispered.

"We judge beauty by how many colors someone has on their body," Synth explained. "Which reminds me, you might wanna wear a hat, or something."

After buying an "I ♥ Techno Reef" hoodie in a gift shop, Willow and Synth arrived at the rave and snuck up to the DJ booth King Trollex was manning.

"Okay, here goes nothing," Synth muttered, then swam up to Trollex and lightly tapped his shoulder. "Hey, Trollex, old buddy?"

At that moment, Trollex removed his headphones and turned to find Synth rubbing his arm nervously.

"Hey, Synth! You're back!" he shouted ecstatically. "Hey, everyone! Synth's back!"

"WHAT UP, SYNTH?!" the crowd greeted simultaneously.

"Yeah, hi, everyone!" Synth replied. "Trollex, can I talk to you in private?"

"I can't leave now. Who'll run the booth?"

"Don't worry," Synth insisted. "Willow can do it!"

Willow's eyes widened. She never deejayed before. "Huh? Wait, what?"

"Just tell everyone you're about to drop the beat, then don't," Synth instructed, then put headphones on her ears. Once he left with Trollex, Willow looked back at the crowd, feeling uneasy.

"Um... Who wants to hear the beat drop?!" Willow shouted, attempting to hide her nerves.

"So, Synth, what brings you back home?" Trollex asked. "Did you miss me?"

"I'm not gonna lie, I did miss you," Synth admitted. "But, uh... that's not why I'm back."

"Then, what is it?"

Synth mentally prepared himself for about forty-five seconds, and rapidly said, "Trollex,you'reagreatdudeandIappreciateeverythingyou'veeverdoneforme,butI'dratherwestayasjustfriends.Pleasedon'thatemeforever."

Trollex waited a moment for Synth to catch his breath before giving him a response.

"Okay."

Synth was taken aback. "Wait... You're not mad at me?"

"I'm hurt, but I'll be okay," Trollex replied. "Just because I like you one way doesn't mean you have to feel the same."

"Thanks, bro," Synth said with a smile. "And, uh, I really hope you find a guy who does feel that way about you. Now, we should probably go back before Willow has a panic attack."

Okay, next chapter should include the Broppy scene in the beginning of TBT. After that, this story will be put on hiatus.

Until then, keep it real.