Okay, new rule: No one is allowed to ask questions regarding upcoming chapters. You'll have to find out what'll happen when I write it down.

Enjoy!

“Clay?" Branch asked in surprise.

John Dory was in pure disbelief. He almost didn't recognize the middle bro.

“Clay!" Bruce laughed. “Hey, what's up, man?!"

“Hey, how you been, man?!" Clay greeted, giving him an elaborate handshake.

“Clay!" John Dory shouted, opening his arms up for a hug.

Instead, Clay just glared at him and said, “John."

“Wha...?" John Dory gasped.

“Spruce!" Clay said happily, finishing the handshake. “What do you know?!"

“Actually, I go by Bruce now," Bruce informed him.

“‘Bruce,'" Clay repeated. “Oh, ho. Someone got fancy. I like it."

Bruce chuckled. “Look who's talking! Is that a sweater romper?"

“What can I say?" Clay replied. “When you co-run a place, gotta flex the drip."

“Yeah," said Viva, “I'm the fun side of the operation, and Mr. Clay takes care of the boring stuff!"

“Guilty!" Clay admitted, laughing alongside Viva. Then, he felt something tugging at his shorts and noticed little Flower smiling at him.

“Hi, Unkie Cway!" she greeted sweetly. “My name is Fwowa!"

“Oh, Bruce!" Clay said ecstatically. “You have a daughter?!"

“Yes, but that's not her," Bruce admitted. “She actually belongs to..."

“Whoa! Baby Branch?!" Clay exclaimed, giving his little brother a hug. “No way!"

Branch laughed nervously as Clay squeezed his face. “Actually, it's Big Branch now. Or just Branch. Branch is fine."

“Come here, come here," Clay said in a mushy tone, not listening to a word Branch was saying.

Flower was confused. Why were they treating him the same way most adults treat her?

“So, Clay," Branch said once his face was free, “this is Poppy. Flower's mother."

“Hi, Clay!" Poppy greeted, giving him a big hug. “So great to finally meet you! Can you do the Rusty Robot for me?!"

“Yeah, no. I don't do that anymore, okay?" Clay answered sheepishly.

“Right. Kidding!" Poppy said with a nervous laugh. “Can you imagine?! I wouldn't just ask you to do that after meeting you two seconds ago. Who would do that?"

“Yes, she would," Willow blurted out. “Name's Willow. Not a fan."

“And I'm Synth," Synth added. “I'm single, just so some of you know."

At least he's not saying he's my best friend, Willow thought to herself.

“Yeah, it's just that Fun Boy Clay is dead," Clay explained, and began doing some unusual dance moves. “Serious Boy Clay only does the Well-Oiled Robot, and it is no..." He beatboxed a little. “... fun."

“I mean, that's still pretty fun," Poppy giggled.

John Dory laughed. “Yeah, same old Clay."

“No, that's not true," Clay said defensively. “If I was still fun, would I have chosen the admin building as my bedroom? Huh? Huh? Asking the tough questions, guys. Asking the tough questions."

“Oh, right," Poppy replied, unsure what to make of this.

“Anyway, I can't believe you all are here!" Clay said excitedly before realizing... “Wait, where's Floyd?"

“That's why we're here," Branch explained. “Floyd's been taken prisoner in Mount Rageous by superstar singers Velvet and Veneer..."

“... and the only thing powerful enough to free him is the Perfect Family Harmony!" the adults and Willow finished simultaneously.

“Wow," Flower mumbled.

“Okay," Tiny said, “either they just made that up, or I have not been paying attention."

“Well, why haven't you just called the authorities?" Clay asked, wondering why they would need the Perfect Family Harmony. Then, it hit him. “Oh. Unless Floyd is being held in an impenetrable diamond prison."

“Yeah, that," John Dory confirmed.

“And it's enchanted to drain out both his musical talent and life force," Willow added.

“I'm in," Clay agreed. “I'd also like to volunteer to keep track of our expenses. Just 'cause I think you're gonna need somebody to be on top of that."

“Yeah, I don't think you'll get any pushback on that front," Bruce replied.

“Great," Branch said, “but we need to leave for Mount Rageous, like, now."

“To save Unkie Fwoyd!" Flower shouted eagerly.

“You can't leave now! You just got here!" Viva said, and grabbed Poppy by the wrist. “Come on! Let me show you around!"

“What's her problem?" Willow asked.

“Nothing, she's perfect," Synth answered. Willow just pretended to stick her fingers down her throat, finally realizing what it must've looked like when she had that unhealthy crush on Poppy.

Speaking of Poppy, before Viva could pull her too far away, her Hug Time bracelet went off and Viva pulled her in for a tight embrace.

“Hug Time!" Viva shouted. John Dory opened his arms up to his brothers, but found himself rejected by all three. “Aw, so cute! Where'd you get that Hug Time bracelet?"

“My dad gave it to me," Poppy answered.

“Okay," Viva chuckled, “this is so totally random, but I used to have one just like it. Can I see that?"

Poppy removed her bracelet and put it around Viva's wrist. “Wow! It fits you perfectly."

“Yeah," Viva agreed, staring at it. Curious, she rubbed her finger across the petals, causing them to let out a little sparkle.

“Whoa," Poppy gasped.

Viva laughed nervously again. “I'm sorry. What did you say your name was again?"

“I'm Poppy," she answered, holding her hand out.

“Poppy?" Viva muttered, and instead of shaking her hand, she just crept up to Poppy, making her back away nervously. Extra curious, Viva brushed the pink hair away from Poppy's nearly identical face.

The rest of the group was perplexed. What was all this about?

“Okay, um, another totally random, weird question, but," Viva said, “is your dad... King Peppy?"

“Uh, yeah," Poppy answered, causing Viva's pink eyes to widen in realization.

“You're... You're-you're alive!" she exclaimed, pulling Poppy in for a hug and spinning her around.

“I'm alive!" Poppy confirmed, still unsure what was going on.

“This is unbelievable!" Viva said happily. She, then, let Poppy go and pick Flower up from off the ground and began tossing her up and down. “And you had a baby! This is wonderful!"

“Put me down!" Flower cried. Another thing she didn't like was being tossed. “Put me down!"

“I got you, kiddo!" Willow said, using her telekinesis to keep Flower away from Viva, and she gently floated down into Willow's arms.

“I'm sorry, it's just..." Viva said tearfully, returning her gaze to Poppy. “I never thought I'd see you again!"

“‘Again?'" Poppy asked.

“Poppy, it's me! Viva!"

The Pop queen stared at her, still confused.

“I'm your sister!"

Poppy couldn't believe her ears. “My... My WHAT?!"

“Your sister!" Viva repeated. “Your... hermana!"

“I have an auntie?!" Flower exclaimed.

“Whoa," Branch gasped. The rest of the group was in shock, as well.

“Hey, man!" Tiny shouted. “Am I the only one without a long-lost sibling?!"

“I'll be your sibwing," Flower volunteered.

“That's not how that works, princess," Willow pointed out.

“What do you mean, we're sisters?!" Poppy asked, grabbing Viva's cheeks. “H-How could I have not known about you?! I can't believe Dad didn't tell me I have a sister! That is..."

“So Dad!" they said simultaneously with a laugh.

“Aah! I can't... I can't believe this!" Poppy continued. “I've always dreamt of having a sister! I was just saying this! Wasn't I just saying this?! This means we can plan each other's birthday parties!"

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, and weddings!"

“Yes!" Poppy agreed. “My best friend Bridget just had her wedding, and it went off without a hitch 'cause I was, like, the best maid of honor!"

Viva gasped. “You'd be the best maid of honor!"

“You really wanna marry into this family?" Willow whispered to Branch, who raised an eyebrow at her.

“You and Bridget are gonna love each other!" Poppy said.

“Oh, my gosh! I'm gonna love her! I love what you love!"

“Poppy loves me, too!" Synth shouted.

“Synth, save it for after the musical number," Willow said as Viva removed her cape and began singing with her little sister.

Kaleidoscopic

I'm seeing different when I look at you

Everything's looking bright!

No, I can't stop it now

I'm gettin' swept up in a feel good mood

Feeling I can't deny!

Poppy: Now that you're with me

I can finally see

Colors that were up in my mind

Didn't know I was blind

Viva: Now that I'm with you

Sparks are flyin' loose

Fireworks go off in my brain

And I'll never be the same!

I didn't know until I found you

Havin' the time of our lives, it takes two!

When I look up, the stars are brighter

Now I know everything's better with you!

As the sisters sang, Synth excitedly danced along to the rhythm. He noticed Willow just standing by with her arms crossed. He silently urged her to dance with him, but she shook her head. After the Techno Troll pretended to reel her in with an invisible fishing line, however, she shrugged and couldn't help joining in on the fun.

And neither could Branch and his brothers.

Now, now that

Now that we got it all together

Now we're together, we got it all (Hey!)

Now (now), now that (now that)

Now that we got it all together (Hey!)

Now we're together, we got it all!

Poppy and Viva: You got me feelin' right, feelin' right

Feelin' like good vibes are at my door

Every day, every night, ooh-ooh (It takes two!)

I didn't know until I found you

Havin' the time of our lives, it takes two! (It takes two!)

It takes me...

And you!

Two sisters finally reunited...

But for how long?

I'll see you next time. 🌈