Oh Brother Of Mine

7

A warm red light spilled over Tommy's face. He focused on the light. It left a strange tingling feeling in his fingers. He was mesmerized by it. The magic, the feeling, everything.

A small meow drew the boys attention. Wilbur jumped up onto the bed, purring contently as he rubbed against Tommy's arm.

"Hey Wil." Tommy scratched behind the cats ears, "feeling better?"

The brown cat closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. It had been a few days since Tommy had come to the Arctic. It had been an adjustment, living in the cold climate. But Techno and Ranboo were good company. And Ranboo's family, Aimsey, got along well with Wilbur... Most days. But Phil was always there to break up any fights.

Speaking of the crow, Phil swooped into the cabin, cawing at Tommy. Usually, Phil would come to collect Tommy and Wilbur for chores. However, Tommy had already done all the chores he was asked today. So what did the crow want?

Tommy stood, walking over with Wilbur in his arms, "What's up Phil?"

The crow cawed, flapping his wings.

"Magic training?" Tommy tilted his head, "but Techno said I wouldn't start that until-"

Phil cawed loudly, flying off to Ranboo's cabin. Tommy sighed. Ranboo was so... weird. With the strange black smoke that covered half his face. He wouldn't even tell Tommy what it was.

"I'm here." Tommy pushed open the door.

Techno looked up, "ah, good. We need your help."

"With wh-" Tommy paused when he saw Ranboo, "aaat is that!?"

The black mist was flaring off Ranboo. Each flare seemed to hurt the tall boy. Ranboo let out a scream as the mist momentarily covered his body. Techno was keeping it relitively contained with his magic.

"W-whats happening!?" Tommy asked, "what's going on!?"

"Calm down." Techno said, "this happens sometimes. I just need you to grab the purple bottle on the shelf."

Tommy nodded, setting down Wilbur and grabbing the bottle, "what is that?"

"Corrupted magic." Techno told him, taking the bottle.

"How did it happen?" Tommy asked, picking up Wilbur again.

Techno sighed as he tipped some of the bottles contents into Ranboo's mouth, "some witches don't have others best interests at heart. Some are power hungry, and will try and steal magic."

"You can steal other people's magic..?" Tommy whispered.

"Not easily." Techno said, "or painlessly. Luckily Ranboo got away before anything too bad happened, but the magic has become corrupted and unstable in the past few years."

"Can't you just, like, get rid of it?" Tommy asked.

"Unfortunately no. I've already tried." Techno told him, "the best we can do right now is manage it."

Ranboo's breathing had evened out, and the mist had seemed to settle. Aimsey hopped up onto the bed, nudging Ranboo's cheek with their nose.

Techno picked up the bunny, "let him rest."

"How long is he going to be like this?" Tommy asked.

"He'll be out for the rest of the day, and then the next couple days he should be resting." Techno started walking out of the cabin.

"Has he ever told you what witch did that to him?" Tommy followed Techno out, "maybe that could help?"

Techno shook his head, "he doesn't know. The magic corrupted his memory."

"Oh." Tommy sighed.

Wilbur meowed, crawling up to Tommy's shoulders. Tommy smiled softly, petting the cat under his chin. Phil flew down and landed on Techno's shoulder. The crow cawed, ruffling his feathers.

"Again?" Techno hummed looking at the bird, "that can't be a coincidence..."

"What? What can't be a coincidence?" Tommy asked.

"All of Ranboo's flare ups. Almost every time the border is disturbed, the flare ups happen." Techno said, setting Aimsey on the ground.

"What does that mean?" Tommy followed Techno as the witch quickly moved into the cabin.

"I'm not sure." Techno told him as he grabbed a crystal ball from his shelf.

Tommy watched as colours started swirling through the crystal. It started taking shape, showing the outskirts of the Arctic Empire. A group of figures appeared, trying to force their way through a red barrier.

"Witch hunters." Techno growled, "stay here."

"What!? No I want to come with you!" Tommy yelled.

"Tommy, you don't know how to use your magic right now." Techno told him, "I'm not going to let you go just to get killed."

"But Techno-!"

"No." Techno said, "watch over Ranboo, I'll be back soon."

"Tech-" Tommy started, but the blood witch was already gone.

Wilbur meowed, jumping up onto Tommy's head. The blonde took the cat, holding him in his arms.

"It's okay Wil, Techno will be back soon." Tommy said quietly.

Aimsey hopped over to Tommy's feet, putting his paws up on his leg. Wilbur hissed, swatting at the bunny.

"Hey, stop that." Tommy pulled the cat back, "they're a friend... I think..."

The bunny twitched her ears, hopping towards Ranboo's cabin. Tommy followed them. The rabbit hopped up onto Ranboo's bed. The tall boy stirred, opening his eyes.

"Hey Aimsey..." Ranboo mumbled, petting the bunny's ears.

Tommy hesitated for a moment before speaking, "does... Does that stuff hurt you?"

Ranboo's eyes flicked to Tommy before going back to Aimsey, "s-sort of... Some days are better than others..."

"Oh." Tommy nodded, "I-I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Ranboo told him, "where's Techno?"

"There were some with hunters at the border. Techno went to deal with them." Tommy said.

Ranboo laughed lightly, "of course it was the border again..."

"You're not worried about Techno?" Tommy asked.

"No, he's the blood witch after all." Ranboo gave a soft smile, "he'll be back soon enough."

"Do hunters come here often?" Tommy sat down in a chair by Ranboo's desk.

"Only the stupid ones." Ranboo sighed.

"Actually," Techno stepped into the cabin, "it was mercenarys this time. Found a magic item they thought they could use. They're gone now."

"Did you kill them?" Tommy asked quietly.

"Nah, just drove them off." Techno said, "anyway, it's starting to get late. Tomorrow I'm going to reinforce the border."

"Can I come with you!?" Tommy jumped up, startling the cat in his arms.

Techno hummed, "I don't know..."

"Please Techno!?" Tommy begged, "I haven't been out of the cabin in days! I want to explore and-and you can teach me magic too!"

"Tommy-" Techno sighed.

"Techno! Please!?" Tommy asked.

"Fine!" Techno huffed, "tomorrow."

"Yes! Thank you!" Tommy cheered.

"Yeah yeah, now go get ready for dinner." Techno sighed.