Stuck in the Void: A Plikki Story

Camping

Plagg's POV

"Hurry Plagg," Tikki urges. "I want to make it before sunset."

"Coming," I call. It's maybe 7:30 ish? I don't know, I lost track of time.

Anyway, Tikki wants to go camping so I conjured a mountain and a lake with a gorgeous view to spend the night.

We're hiking up the mountain with tents and camping gear, and Sugarcube over there is determined to watch the sunset. I'm not kidding, she's probably like 50 feet ahead of me. I'm just struggling to keep up. I quicken my pace every so often but when she wants something, she's going to get it.

Eventually, I reach the peak of the mountain where I find a pile of supplies she's dumped by a nearby tree. Tikki's sitting on a large rock against the trunk of a tree in amazement watching the display of colors painted across the sky.

I smile at the sight and set my backpack and the tents beside hers. She turns around and motions for me to sit next to her, her head leaning on my shoulder.

We stay like that for a good 15 minutes. The sky turns a different array of colors every 5 minutes. Shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, and purple.

"We should probably set up the tents before it gets too dark," I say.

"Yeah you're right," Tikki sighs and we walk over to assemble the tent.

Tikki hammers the stakes into the ground and I attempt to put it together. Key word attempt. I mean I could just use a little magic, I mean Tikki won't notice right?

When Tikki turned her back, I immediately assembled the whole tent. It looked perfect, well maybe a little too perfect. I grab our sleeping bags and set them up inside the tent.

"Um Plagg?" Tikki says.

"Yeah?" I answer.

"Did you use any magic?" She says. Crap.

"No," I lie and start working to distract myself.

Before we left, Tikki had a whole lecture on not using magic this entire camping trip. She went on blabbing for 20 minutes and why we should be independent without magic. Of course I just smile and nod.

"So you set this whole tent up by yourself?" She says.

"Of course Tikki," I say, turning my face to avoid her gaze. I'm actually a pretty good liar, but Tikki could always talk with my eyes.

She stares at me for a minute longer. "Your lying," she declares, crossing her arms.

"What?" I raise an eyebrow.

"You never call me Tikki," she says. "It's always Tik or Sugarcube."

"It's your name," I shrug.

"Mhm," she narrows her eyes at me but I play it off.

"Anyway, what's for dinner?" I say in attempt to change the subject. Tikki abruptly stops and stiffens.

"I thought you packed dinner," she says.

"I thought you did," I facepalm.

"Well now what?" Tikki let's out an exasperated sigh.

"Well I have an idea but you might not like it," I smirk.

"What do you-" She says before a wave of realization washed over her. Her face faltered and she starts rapidly shaking her head.

"Oh no. Oh no no no no no no no," Tikki whines.

"Oh yes," I laugh.

"I'd rather starve," she crossed her arms.

"Well have fun with that, but I'm using magic," I declare.