This isn't a fluff chapter. It's a STUFF chapter. Filler. Lots of filler. And it's not fluffy filler. Just filler-ish filler.

Junko stood in front of the bathroom mirror holding a coat hanger in each hand, a different shirt on each one. His face was a mask of indecision and slight frustration.

He put black shirt, which on had a few stitches in it, in front of him, then switched with the green and patchwork brown one.

He frowned and pulled his eyebrows together. He considered wearing his traditional Wallop wrap, but had figured that wouldn't really fit with the mood.

Junko sighed and there was a knock at the bathroom door.

"Oh," said Junko. "Come in."

The door hissed open and Piper walked in. "What are you doing Junko?" she asked looking at her friend with the various clothing items in front of the full-length mirror.

"I'm just trying to pick something to wear to the dance." He looked forlornly at the pile of clothes. "I just don't know what to choose."

"I can help you pick something," said Piper.

"Could you Piper?" Junko asked excitedly, his eyes getting big.

There was another knock at the door.

"Come in," shouted Piper.

The door rose revealing black shoes followed by slightly bell bottomed black plants. After that came a brown belt and a red muscle shirt. Hanging near the center of the torso was a large metal pendant of the Storm Hawks symbol on a heavy gold chain. Over top the muscle shirt was a black jacket that was too shiny to be real leather. The face was covered by dark sunglasses, and the teen's blond hair was messily styled with the points going off in all directions.

The teen raised a hand and brought his sunglasses down to his nose.

"What up?"

Piper put her hand on her hip. "Well don't you look spiffy."

Finn walked in, a slight swagger to his movements. "Yeah," he said stopping right in front of her. He titled his head down and looked up. "I know." Then he noticed the pile of clothes by the mirror. "What'cha guys doing?"

"Piper's trying to help me pick out an outfit," said Junko.

Finn gaped. "You're asking Piper for fashion advice? You shoulda come to me." he jabbed his thumbs at himself.

Piper frowned at Finn.

"Did you wanna help Finn?" asked Junko, who hadn't meant to insult Finn (although looking Finn up and down, he wasn't sure if he did want Finn to help- Finn's idea of faishon was a bit extreme for him).

"Nah, that okay," said Finn. "I just need the mirror for a bit. If you guys don't mind." he flipped his hands to signify sweeping them out.

Piper's frown deepened (who did Finn think he was?) but seeing as Junko wasn't about to argue, she helped him pick up the clothes and took them back to his room.

***

"What do you think?" asked Junko stepping outside into the hall.

Piper, who had been waiting there quietly, grinned. "That looks great Junko."

Junko smiled bashfully. He was shoeless, as always, but had on a pair of black pants and a red t-shirt. He, like Finn was wearing a black jacket, although it was much more worn down and rather faded.

"Thanks for helping Piper," said Junko. "And for fixing up my old jacket," he looked over at the sleeves where a red storm hawks symbol was stitched in. "I never thought I'd wear this again."

"It's wasn't so hard." said Piper. "I just replaced the Cyclonian symbols with ours."

The old jacket had been buried at the bottom of Junko's closet, but out of the few items Junko had to wear, it was one of the nicest.

"I hope it's okay," he said sounding self-conscious.

"Don't worry," said Piper. "It doesn't matter what you wear, as long as you have fun."

Junko smiled assured. "What are you gonna wear?" he asked.

"I….don't think I'm gonna go."

"Why not ?" asked Junko.

She shrugged, "I'm just going to help Aerrow look for Radarr. Besides, everything I have is full of stitches or is just too casual…". She smiled sadly. She never did spend much on herself. The small allowance she managed to scrape together always went her crystal work or to the ship, or to buying supplies. When she did buy herself clothes they always functional and cheap. And skirts and dresses weren't functional. Or cheap.

Junko smiled. And put a hand on Piper's shoulder. "It doesn't matter what you wear, as long as you have fun."

Piper's face lightened and she chuckled. "You're right Junko. I should take my own advice. I guess I will go…and I suppose...there is something I can wear…"

"That's the spirit!" Junko said happily and he hugged Piper tightly.

"Guh!" Piper said as she was squished. "Junko! Too. Tight. Too tight!"

"Oops. Sorry."

***

Piper sat in her room, reading over the letter she'd gotten a while back. A black box full of tissue paper sat on the floor beside her bed.

Dear Piper,

I hope this reaches you time for your birthday! I've sent it advance, for with all your travelling, mail can have a hard time finding you. It's just a small thank-you for all you've done for me and Terra Clockstoppia. Crystals are still quite a puzzle still, but your notes have been ever so helpful…

Piper put the letter down and kneeled down by the box and began to fold away the tissue paper. Way too fancy, thought Piper. But then, how was she to know? How formal was this dance?

She reached into the box and held up the dress.

It was bell shaped, and poofed out at the hips like a princess dress, except it was shorter. It was entirely a pale, baby-blue color, with ruffles, a petticoat, a corset like top, laces at the back, and spaghetti straps. A big bow sat at the back of the dress.

Piper looked at the dress, not sure what to think of it. A simple black dress might have been more suitable and, well, functional. But Terra Clockstoppia didn't seem to do simple and plain.

Piper put the dress on the bed and picked up the letter once more.

The design was done by my own tailor, with a bit of additions by myself. I hope you don't mind, but I was the model, since, we do look so alike. And from trying it own myself, I promise you it'll look great! I simply hope that you like it. Keep in touch and Happy Birthday!

Sincerely,

Perry

Piper looked at the dress again.

No harm in trying it on, right?

***

Piper stopped in front of the bathroom door and knocked.

"Just a sec." Ringed Finns voice. After a minute the door opened. Finn stood there in his party outfit, shades coving his eyes. He looked her up and down, making her feel uncomfortable. He tipped his glasses to the edge of his nose so she could see his eyes.

"Uhh." He searched for the right words. "You look…Nice. When did you get that dress?" He pointed rudely.

"Remember that package Perry sent me for my birthday?"

"You mean the thing that came two weeks later? Yeah, I remember." he chuckled suddenly.

"What's so funny?" asked Piper

"Oh nothing," muttered Finn. "You look good that's all. Washroom's free."

Piper gaped after Finn as he whistled down the hallway. Finn had given her a compliment? What exactly did this dress look like? She stepped into the bathroom and looked at the full length mirror.

Woah.

****

Stork and Aerrow were talking on the bridge when Finn came in. He stopped short at the sight of them .

"What are you guys wearing?" he said appalled. Aerrow was in his uniform and Stork…

Stork actually looked kind of…cool.

Stork's black jeans were tight, though not too tight ( tight pants caused over heating in the body which could mess up blood flow, but his uniform was an exception because the spandex was specially made) and a black t-shirt with a skull and cross bones over top his metal X with the word DOOM written below it. His usual three belts were done up, but these ones had metal studs on them, as well as, small spray cans attached. Several strange bands in different colours were tied his arms, some of which also had spray cans attached.

"This is a formal dance," said Finn looking at Stork and Aerrow. "No casual wear, and definitely no uniforms."

"I'm not going," said Aerrow. "I'll go to town to look for Radarr but that's it." he made the 'out' symbol like an umpire.

"But everyone's going," Finn argued. "Me, for one thing. Junko's already left, and heck, even Stork's going." he gestured to the green merb who didn't look pleased about going at all. Aerrow remained stoic. Finn leaned close up to him.

"Piiiper's gooing tooo." He hummed.

"She is?" Aerrow said surprised.

"Yup. Man, she's even got a dress…"

"Piper doesn't have a dress," said Aerrow. He hoped desperately that Finn didn't mean that short pink one with the hideous flowers on it. Where had that dress come from anyways?

"Oh yes she does," replied Finn grinning. "Remember that big package she got from Perry?"

"The birthday present that came two weeks late?" asked Stork. Aerrow shrugged at him.

"Yeah well," said Finn smiling. "It was a dress."

Aerrow and Stork looked at each other confusedly.

The door hissed open, and Piper walked in.

"Woah."

Piper didn't have any fancy heels, so she wore her normal brown boots, which looked moderately okay. Her knees were the only bare part of her legs as the fluffy dress stopped just above them. The dress clinched nicely at the waist, and her light bably-blue long gloves popped out against the dark of the dress and her skin. Her crystal necklace and hair were left alone looking as they usually did.

Piper smiled. "How do I look?"

"Wow Piper." said Aerrow. "You look…really nice."

Stork nodded beside and gave the thumbs up.

"Heh, it'll do," said Finn putting on his shades. He smiled suddenly turning to Aerrow.

"Time to get going then. Still sure you're not gonna come Aerrow?" Finn raised his eyebrows suggestively.

Aerrow looked unsure for a moment.

Piper walked over and put a hand on his arm. "Come on Aerrow. You might as well."

Aerrow looked at her, suprised she was actually agreeing with Finn."But what about Radarr?" he asked.

"We'll all look for Radarr and if we find him we'll head to the dance."

Aerrow mulled it over for a second. Finn crossed hid fingers behind his back.

"Alright ," he sighed. "I'll go."

Piper's smile broadened.

"Yes!" shouted Finn jumping into the air. The others looked at him. "Er…I mean" he crossed his arms nonchalantly, "…that's cool."

Aerrow rolled his eyes and started walking to go get changed.

Finn quietly chuckled to himself. "Score point for Cupid."

****

Radarr and the Hen lazily walked Terra's Muse's streets, dawdling where they pleased.

As they made their way along the city, towards the Mountain King's Hall, where a large group of people had begun to converge, it dawned on Radarr that his team had no idea where he was or how to find him. He looked up into the darkening sky and whimpered quietly, worried.

The hen clucked, looking at him with concern.

Radarr explained and the hen quietly listened then nodded and clucked in reply. Radarr chirped back. Then the hen again. Then Radarr. The hen. Then Radarr. The hen made a sassier kind of reply then grabbed Radarr's hand with her wing and dragged him behind her towards in the direction of the Moutains King's Hall, both clucking and chirping all the way. Had anyone there been able to understand the language of chickens and 'whatever the heck Radarr is' then they would have heard something like this:

"What's wrong?"

"I didn't really tell my family where I was going and now I'm not sure how I'll find them."

"Oh. I see. Do you know if they're coming back the terra?"

"I don't know. They've forgotten me before."

"But that's how you met me, remember?"

"True, but still. I don't want to lose them."

"Well can't you tell where they are?"

"No! How would I be able to do that?"

"I thought your name was Radarr. Why do they call you that if you can't tell where they are? Here- follow me. I can find them. They're this way."

"What? Wait! How can you find them?"

"I always know where you are don't I?"

Unfortunately, no one who could understand both Radarr and Chicken-Speak was around. How this translation came to be is still a mystery.

***

"Radarr!" shouted Aerrow looking around the open space that was becoming less and less open and more and more filled with people. "Radarr!"

The Moutain King's Hall grounds were a parking lot of people headed towards the dance. The Storm Hawks had arrived and parked their vehicles down one of the side streets.

"Radaaarrr!" shouted Piper looking around. "We need to cover more ground," she said to Aerrow who nodded in agreement.

"We'll lose our spots though," complained Finn. The rest of his team looked disapprovingly at him. "I'm just saying…"

"Here," said Aerrow. "We'll split up and cover the city. I'll take the west, Piper you…"

***

The hen and Radarr peeked out from a nearby building. The hen pointed with her wing and clucked proudly. Radarr looked impressed and he nodded at the hen who bowed. Radarr stepped out towards his family then stopped to look back at the hen.

She blinked her eyes sadly, then shooed him forward. He hesitated and instead of going towards his family, stepped back towards the hen and kissed her lightly on the feathered cheek.

The hen put a wing up to her face and blushed.

Radarr scurried away, smiling.

***

"And we'll meet back after an hour if we don't find anyt- Radarr?"

Aerrow, who had been just finishing explaining the plan, looked own at his little blue co-polit who had magically appeared.

Radarr's ears were bent back and smiled cautiously, like the person who's caught after ding something bad.

"There you are buddy!" said Aerrow happily. He bent down on one knee and ruffled the fur on top of Radarr's head. " What you been up to? We were worried."

Radarr smiled brightly suddenly, seeing that 1) Aerrow wasn't mad at him for running off, and 2) They had actually cared that he had been missing. He ran up Aerrow's shoulder and cuddled affectionately. Aerrow chuckled scratching Radarr's ears. Then he noticed the bright yellow head, peering from behind a nearby building.

Aerrow looked at Radarr. "Somebody's been up to something now hasn't he?" he asked all-knowingly. Radarr looked from Aerrow back to the hen. He jumped off Aerrow's shoulder to the ground and chirped signally over the building.

Aerrow smiled wryly. "Okay. But met us back here at midnight and keep in touch." He handed Radarr one of the tiny in-ear communication devices. Radarr nodded happily, saluted, then ran of back into the shadows.

"Looks like the Love Bug got Radarr," said Finn grinning.

Stork shook a can of aerosol spray. "Poor guy He might not survive." He sprayed the air. "They get inside your head-" , he pointed to his skull,"-and turn your brain to mush-", he mimed squishing something in his hands, "-and then they make their way down-", he leaned close to Finn's face," - and eat out your heart."