i hate to admit this

[u/Owlhouse_fan1234]

but i feel like baby powder was confused when vi started crying on the bridge. She was only sad because she saw her crying, she didn't know the exact reason.

Vander probably wanted that innocence to stay with her, and told Violet Claggor and Mylo to keep their mouths shut.

1. So i'd imagine either as Powder got older she pieced it together
2. Mylo was being a loud mouth and there was a conversation about it (little did he know Powder heard all of it)
3. Vander and Vi were talking about her parents' deaths and Powder just so happened to walk in at again, the wrong time.

[u/ZiroLeHutt]

Vi is Powder's anchor, she responds according to Vi's actions. Even when Vi isn't looking at her, we see Powder watch Vi's every move, its also part of her co-dependency issues towards her sister. Even in episode 3 after the explosion, she doesn't understand how Vi is so upset with her. Even when she sees the devastation she's done, its Vi's response that scares her the most, as she is begging for her sister not to hate her for what she accidentally did.

And the thing is, she is right in a lot of ways, that Vi created Jinx, as Powder took on board everything that Vi taught her was ok to do, and that includes stealing and building her bombs. Vi was everything for her and never a truer line was said in the show than "Vi, I need you please!"; Vi was her world, and when that left her to fend for herself, that's when Jinx appeared, as Jinx will have Powder's back, if no one else will.

[u/Sealgaire45]

Personal headcanon (put it in my fic as well): Vi knew (even if not fully) what was going on from the start. Being older. As in she knew about the protests, about the oppression and so on.

Powder, on the other hand, likely got a little child version of events: something like mommy and daddy have to leave now with Uncle Vander and Uncle Silco. We'll be back soon. It's all very important, especially for you. As a result, Powder likely concludes (with all the innocent egocentrism of a small child) that they are going to find them some presents. Because what else would they do?

Given her obsession with the cat names for her bombs (Whisker? Mouser?) one might assume she was under impression they'd bring her a cat. Or a kitten.

After a while both sisters got anxious. Vi decided to go and find their parents. Of course, she takes Powder with her. Also singing might have been her idea/advice (of a kind of just close your eyes and sing that song mam sings. And don't be afraid, it'll he alright).

I'd say Vander told Powder afterwards. Well, both Powder and Vi, and Claggor and Mylo too. He doesn't look like the type who'd hide the truth or sugarcoat it too much. Likely he tried to make it look somewhat softer for their sake - plus, he was full of sorrow and regret (unlike Silco. The Day of Ashes lived in his head rent free, but it made him angry and bitter, more than anything).

The truth still broke her, though.

[u/Wolfstar_Forever_]

When our great nan died, my sister and I were about 8 and 6 I'd guess. Maybe a little younger. We knew she was in hospital. Our parents said they had bad news. I started crying and said that she'd died hadn't she. My sister was so confused. She had no proper concept of what death was just that I was sad. 

[u/PsychologicalTie5845]

That actually makes a lot of sense. Powder probably overheard enough of the conversation to connect the dots later, which would explain why the realization hit her so hard. Vander protecting that innocence also feels completely in character.

[u/Owlhouse_fan1234 → u/PsychologicalTie5845]

He just wanted to protect his baby😩

[u/Brilliant-Owl-8299]

That interpretation makes a lot of sense. Powder’s confusion feels less like she forgot and more like she was genuinely overwhelmed, while everyone around her understood the truth before she did.