24 years later,

A vibrant crowd of enthusiastic pop fans clustered around a brightly colored poster announcing an upcoming teaser concert by the talented pop star, Golden Canary. Laughter and chatter filled the air as the fans exchanged excited whispers about the event. Their infectious energy caught the attention of Queen Poppy and her boyfriend, who approached the poster with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Golden Canary! She's absolutely incredible!" Poppy exclaimed, her voice laced with excitement. In a burst of joy, she tore the poster down, her heart racing as she clutched it tightly, bouncing on her toes with delight, her sparkling eyes reflecting her exhilaration.

Branch, her boyfriend, gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder to calm her down. He then reached for the poster, his fingers tracing its edges as he examined it closely. As he studied the image, a wave of shock washed over him, quickly followed by a surge of hope. His eyes widened in disbelief as recognition dawned on him.

"It can't be!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. He gazed into the familiar eyes of the figure on the poster—eyes that had always offered him comfort and support, perhaps even more than those of his brothers or grandmother. "I know her!" he shouted with joy, his heart racing at the thought of reconnecting with someone so significant from his past.

Poppy's eyes went wide with disbelief, and her breath caught in her throat as she pressed herself against Branch's sturdy side. "Wait, what?! You know THE Golden Canary?!" she blurted out, her voice a mixture of astonishment and excitement.

All she could focus on was the shocking revelation that had just shattered her long-held expectations. The Golden Canary, renowned for her enchanting voice and spellbinding performances, was an artist Poppy had admired from afar for years. Poppy often found herself lost in daydreams, fantasizing about the electric atmosphere of one of the Canary's concerts, where lights would flash and the crowd would cheer.

She imagined what it would feel like to be part of that vibrant audience, swaying to the music and singing along with thousands of others. More than anything, she dreamed of catching a glimpse of the singer up close, perhaps in a bustling backstage area, where she could witness the magic of her idol in person and share even the briefest moment with someone she considered a true star.

The idea that the usually reserved Branch had a personal connection to such an iconic singer sent her mind racing with questions. How did they meet? What was she like in person? Her imagination spun with possibilities, and she couldn't shake the exhilaration of discovering this unexpected side of Branch.

With a wistful tone, he reminisced about his childhood days spent with Floyd's girlfriend, a kind and nurturing figure who had stepped in to care for him after the devastating loss of his grandmother. Her warmth and compassion had been a soothing balm for his young heart, providing comfort during such a turbulent time. As he gently traced her face on the vibrant poster that adorned the wall, memories flooded back, each one more vivid than the last.

Turning to Poppy, he spoke softly, almost as if afraid to disturb the fragile silence. "I thought she had died when we all escaped the Troll tree." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken sadness.

Poppy, feeling the weight of his grief, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her touch a grounding presence amidst the swirling emotions. She gazed at him with understanding in her eyes, remembering a moment when Branch had briefly shared the depth of his sorrow, revealing that he had lost much more than just his grandmother to the merciless Bergens.

The poster displayed a striking woman with radiant golden hair that was expertly swept into a stylish high ponytail, emphasizing the shimmering white pearl earring that dangled gracefully from her right ear. Her sweet smile, warm and inviting, seemed almost to light up the entire image.

Just as Branch was about to delve deeper into the captivating details of the poster, his brother Spruce—now known as Bruce—darted forward and snatched it from his hands. Curiosity piqued, the rest of the brothers crowded around Bruce, leaning in eagerly over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the vibrant scene.

As he gazed at the vibrant poster showcasing a woman in a shimmering gold top and sleek white leggings, both adorned with a striking golden canary emblem, he felt a rush of excitement. "Hey! Golden Canary! My kids absolutely love listening to her!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening in realization. "Wait... Isn't this Harmony?" His heart raced as he examined the rest of the colorful poster, where the details of the upcoming pre-tour concert were prominently displayed.

Poppy, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, quickly snatched the poster from his hands, wanting a closer look at the promising event. "We should definitely go to this concert!" she said, her voice bubbling with excitement as she turned to her boyfriend. "It would be an amazing opportunity to see her perform live and for you to reconnect with her!" The prospect of the concert filled the air with anticipation and joy.

Branch's brow knitted together, a blend of hope and anxiety evident in his eyes as he closely observed Floyd's expression. "I'm not sure, Poppy," he admitted, his voice laced with uncertainty. "What if she doesn't want to see us?" Floyd, with a heavy heart, gently took the poster from Poppy's hands. His eyes locked onto the image of the woman he adored more than anything, a mix of longing and trepidation reflected in his gaze.

Undeterred by the uncertainty in the room, Poppy maintained her infectious optimism. With a bright smile, she encouraged, "Come on, guys! Just think about it—she would be absolutely thrilled to see you. When will you ever get this chance again?" As she spoke, her mind raced with ideas, already sketching out the trip details, while her boyfriend and his brothers sat quietly, their expressions distant and contemplative, clearly grappling with the weight of the decision ahead.

Floyd's gaze was drawn to the vibrant emerald green eyes of the poster clenched tightly in his hands, a spark of determination igniting within him. The poster seemed to come alive, reflecting the urgency of his mission. "We should go," he proclaimed, his voice steady and imbued with newfound confidence that resonated through the room. "I owe her that much," he added, casting a resolute glance at his brothers, his words echoing with an unwavering conviction that left no room for doubt.

As the group buzzed with energy, eagerly strategizing for the upcoming concert, a palpable excitement electrified the air around them. Yet, amidst the chatter and enthusiasm, Floyd's anticipation burned brightest. He gently ran his fingers over the smooth surface of the black earring that Harmony had lovingly gifted him years ago, its sheen reflecting the warm glow of their shared memories. Then, his gaze shifted to the delicate white earring that dangled gracefully from her ear, its intricate design catching the light and enhancing her radiant beauty.

A/N

Hello my wonderful readers, I hope this chapter is better then what I had previously. I am unfortunately without betas as the ones who were helping me decided to ghost me without warning so I am using Grammarly to try and catch any mistakes as well as provide suggestions to improve my story. If it seems like certain words are repeated a lot it's more then likely because Grammarly can be a bit fancy with word play.

That being said as a fair reminder the images in this story are AI generated so if that is something that upsets you then I am so sorry but I cannot afford to hire someone to do the art for me so this is my only choice at this moment.

The picture of how I envision Harmony's hairstyle and her earring, although the earring is in her right ear not her left, is over on wattpad where I have the story crossposted over there as well

You are all so beautiful and strong and I hope you know how loved you all are!