The days following Vander's toast were some of the happiest Powder could remember. Isha had truly become part of the family, a bright light that seemed to illuminate everyone's better qualities. For Powder, having someone look up to her—rely on her—was both new and deeply fulfilling. Yet, as joyful as those days were, life in Zaun was never without its challenges, and the family knew that the work of making Zaun better was far from over.
But amid the chaos, there was always room for moments of love and laughter, and those were the moments Powder cherished the most.
The morning started like any other. Powder was up before most of the household, tinkering in the corner of the workshop she shared with Ekko. She was trying to perfect a small automaton for Isha—a mechanical bird that could hop and chirp.
Ekko wandered in, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. "You're up early," he said, leaning on the doorway.
"I'm always up early," Powder replied without looking up, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Working on something for Isha again?" he asked, walking over to inspect her work.
Powder nodded. "She loved the light spinner so much, I thought I'd make her a little friend to go with it."
Ekko chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You've got a soft spot for her, huh?"
Powder shrugged, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away. "She reminds me of me, that's all. I just... I want her to feel like she belongs."
Ekko smiled, leaning down to kiss her temple. "You're a good sister, Powder."
Powder froze for a moment, then turned to him with a sly look. "Oh, don't get all sappy on me now."
Before Ekko could reply, Isha barreled into the room, her energy boundless as ever. "Powder! Ekko! Come see what Vi did to the kitchen!"
Ekko groaned. "Why do I feel like that sentence can only mean trouble?"
When they arrived in the kitchen, it was clear what Isha had meant. Vi stood in the center of the room, holding a charred skillet and looking sheepish.
"I was trying to make breakfast," Vi explained, gesturing to what Powder could only assume was once an attempt at pancakes.
Powder burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Vi, you're worse at cooking than I am!"
"Hey!" Vi protested, but she was laughing too.
Isha tugged on Powder's sleeve. "Can we still eat it?"
Powder knelt down, inspecting the blackened pile on the plate. "Hmm. I think we should leave this one to the professionals."
"Like Vander?" Isha asked hopefully.
"Exactly," Powder said, ruffling Isha's hair.
After breakfast—which Vander graciously prepared—Powder and Ekko took Isha out for a bit of fun. The hoverboard had quickly become one of Isha's favorite things, though Powder was still cautious about letting her ride it on her own.
"I'll hold it steady," Ekko assured her as they set up in one of Zaun's quieter alleys. "Just step on and hold on tight."
Isha hesitated, looking at the hoverboard with a mix of excitement and fear. Powder crouched beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to," Powder said gently.
"No, I want to," Isha said, determination flaring in her eyes. "I just... I've never done anything like this before."
Powder smiled. "Well, then it's a good thing you've got the two best teachers in Zaun."
With Ekko's steady hands guiding the board and Powder cheering her on, Isha managed to balance for a full five seconds before tumbling off with a squeal of laughter.
"That was amazing!" Isha exclaimed, scrambling to her feet.
"You're a natural," Ekko said, grinning. "Ready to try again?"
Isha nodded eagerly, her fear forgotten.
Later that evening, after Isha had fallen asleep clutching her mechanical bird, Powder and Ekko sat together on the roof of the Last Drop, gazing out over the glowing sprawl of Zaun.
"You were great with her today," Ekko said, his voice soft.
Powder leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. "She makes it easy. She's such a good kid."
"Yeah," Ekko agreed, wrapping an arm around her. "She's lucky to have you."
Powder tilted her head up to look at him, her expression serious. "Do you think I'm doing okay? Being, you know... a big sister?"
Ekko met her gaze, his eyes warm. "You're doing more than okay. You're giving her something she never had before—someone who believes in her."
Powder felt a lump rise in her throat but managed a smile. "Thanks, Ekko. That means a lot."
As the night wore on, their conversation turned to the future.
"I've been thinking," Ekko said, staring up at the faint stars visible through Zaun's smoggy sky. "About how we can make Zaun better for kids like Isha."
Powder nodded. "Me too. It's not just about fighting the Chembarons or building cool gadgets. It's about giving them hope. A reason to believe things can get better."
Ekko smiled, his hand finding hers. "That's why I love you, Powder. You always see the bigger picture."
Powder blushed, leaning into him. "I guess we make a pretty good team, huh?"
"The best," Ekko said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
As the lights of Zaun flickered around them, Powder realized just how much her life had changed. She had a family who loved her, a partner who believed in her, and a little girl who looked up to her.
For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.
And as she sat there, hand in hand with Ekko, she knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together—because that was what family did.