Jacob, Skylar, Seamus and Co. In: The Citadel

AUTHORS PICK: NELLA THE PRINCESS KNIGHT AND HER BOUNCING BERRIES!

The portal hummed with a faint buzz as it sputtered to life once more, spitting out several giant, vibrant, bouncy berries. They scattered across the floor, each berry wobbling and bouncing as if filled with an energy all their own. Along with the berries came a massive, homemade trampoline—a giant empty ball pit—but instead of ordinary balls, it was filled with even more bouncing berries.

And then, in a dazzling array of colors and excitement, out popped Nella the Princess Knight and her crew—Olivia, Willow, Smelgly, and Trinket—all hailing from Nella the Princess Knight: Bouncing Berry Hunt. Each of them looked around, their eyes wide with wonder, particularly at the sight of Jacob and his friends bouncing so effortlessly on the citadel's bouncy surfaces.

Jacob spotted Willow immediately, her gaze fixed on the enormous bounceberries, her expression one of pure fascination. "You guys know about bounceberries?" she asked, stepping forward with curiosity.

Jacob grinned, nodding. "Of course we do! In fact, we've dealt with something very similar—bouncy ooze that works almost the same way. But you," he said, gesturing to Willow, "you've got something special with these berries, right? The green goo plant food?"

Willow's eyes lit up. "Exactly! The green goo plant food makes the bounceberries grow huge and super bouncy! I didn't expect anyone else to know about it."

Skylar smiled, bouncing softly next to Jacob on Ruby. "It seems like we've got more in common than you think, Willow. Nothing's too bouncy for us!"

Just then, Nella herself stepped forward with a confident grin. "Well, if you think you're up to the challenge, why don't we show you how these bounceberries work?" she offered, pulling out a vial of the infamous green goo plant food.

The entire gang—Jacob, Skylar, Seamus, Bouncer, Ruby, and Christopher—gathered around with eager anticipation. They had encountered countless bouncy objects before, but the legendary bounceberries from Nella's world were new to them.

Willow took the lead, pouring a generous amount of the green goo onto one of the berries. Instantly, the berry swelled to enormous size, nearly touching the ceiling of the room. And as soon as anyone touched it, it responded with an incredible bounce. Ruby and Christopher tried first, their powerful kangaroo legs launching them high off the berry's springy surface.

"BOOOIIIIING!" Jacob called out, as he and Skylar followed suit, bouncing higher and higher with each leap. The berry was so bouncy that even Bouncer—a master at handling all things bouncy—seemed a bit taken aback.

Seamus, ever the competitor, grinned. "Nothin' we can't handle! Let's see if I can hit the ceiling with this one!" He launched himself into the air, soaring higher than anyone.

Meanwhile, Nella, Olivia, Smelgly, and Trinket joined in the fun, teaching the citadel crew about how the bounceberries work and how to control their power. They explained that the berries weren't just bouncy—they were alive in a way, reacting to the amount of goo poured on them and the energy of the bouncers.

"The trick is to use just the right amount," Nella said, as she demonstrated bouncing in perfect sync with the berry's natural rhythm. "Too much, and the berry might explode!"

Jacob, bouncing alongside her, raised an eyebrow. "Explode? That sounds like a challenge!**"

Skylar giggled, riding Ruby's back as the kangaroo bounced along beside her. "Just don't blow us all up, Jacob!"

As the citadel gang bounced alongside Nella and her friends, the synergy between the bounceberries and the green goo created an entirely new level of bouncing fun. Each leap was higher than the last, and the citadel's bouncers found themselves lost in a whirlwind of pure, bouncing bliss.

Even Smelgly, the friendly dragon, joined in, using his tail to slap the bounceberries, launching everyone higher.

The entire room was alive with energy as they bounced from berry to berry, mixing the old-world bouncing culture of the bouncearoos with the new-world bounceberry science. And as Willow marveled at how easily the citadel crew adapted to the bounceberries, she couldn't help but think they were in for an even bigger adventure.

"I think you guys were meant to be here," Willow said, watching Jacob and Skylar land in unison on a giant berry. "The bounceberries and green goo were just the beginning."

And as the gang continued bouncing, Vectalia was already hard at work, preparing even more areas for their next adventure. The citadel was becoming a hub of bouncing knowledge and culture, and it seemed there was no limit to the possibilities.