Secrets of an Alchemist

The Brothers Hook: Part 1

(HAPPY 3RD ANNIE TO SECRETS OF AN ALCHEMIST! It's so insane to me that I've been working on this thing for 3 years - very on and off, but that's besides the point. So I wanted to give yall a new chapter for this anniversary, even if my posting won't be consistent in July at all due to artfight. Thanks for coming on this journey with me so far, and don't forget, Ad Astra Per Aspera!)
(Contrary to popular belief, I don't actually hate this episode. Or rather, I don't hate what I'm gonna do with it :> Also, I threw an Undertale reference in one of the first few lines. Comment blue hearts if you find it lmao)

(Chapter warnings: Hook Hand. Other than that, not really anything serious!)

It was a lovely day outside.

Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, the sun was shining.

It was a shame there was possibility Hook Foot was about to die.

Hook Foot snoozed beneath a tree, an apple balanced on his head. Varian leaned up against one on the opposite side of the path as him, Ruddiger curled up on his legs. He watched curiously as Cassandra attempted to pull back her bow, blowing her hair out of her face as she took aim.

"Aha!" Eugene laughed, snatching the apple off of Hook Foot's head just as Cassandra got her bow in position. Hook Foot's snores abruptly ended as he startled out of his nap.

"Hey!" Cassandra protested as Eugene began walking away, apple in hand. "That's our last apple!"

Besides the handful I saved for Ruddiger and the rest of the animals, Varian thought.

"Then why are you using it for target practice?" Eugene questioned, whipping his head around to look at Cassandra.

"I use these breaks to stay sharp," Cassandra replied icily, walking a bit closer to Hook Foot with her bow still in hand.

Eugene squinted at Cassandra for a moment before retorting. "Good! Stay sharp with your own apples!" With that, Eugene raised the apple towards his mouth.

"I'm sorry," Hook Foot interrupted, not sounding sorry in the slightest as he clumsily stood. "But shouldn't the concern here be that someone was about to shoot AN APPLE OFF MY HEAD?!" Varian blinked, absentmindedly petting Ruddiger as Lance snatched the apple from Eugene.

"Lance! That's our last apple!" Eugene groaned.

"Then someone got here just in time," Lance replied smugly, shining the apple on his vest. Suddenly, Max plowed into him from behind, knocking the apple out of his hand. "Apple usurper!" Lance cried, leaping at Max.

Varian sighed and withdrew a small apple out of his bag, which sat next to him. He gently handed it to Ruddiger - who began munching - as a scuffle ensued in front of him.

His hands had been healing pretty well. Definitely not back to normal yet - they'd still hurt if hit or squeezed too hard - but still feeling much better. Varian looked over at the fighting group with a sigh. He wished he could say the same for Cassandra's arm. Cassandra had been practicing incessantly with her other hand, trying to train it up to the same level as her now useless one.

He zoned back in to the scene to see Cassandra, Eugene, Lance, and Maximus all in a pile, tussling over the apple. He facepalmed, momentarily relishing in the fact that it didn't hurt to do so anymore.

"Great news, everybody!" Rapunzel blurted cheerily, dashing over to the group and waving a poster. "We are going to see Hook Hand in concert!" Varian raised an eyebrow, standing and dusting himself off - to Ruddiger's protest - before walking over to join the group. Said group didn't look any more jazzed than he felt. "Not only will seeing some real live entertainment give us a chance to unwind and get our mind off the road-" Maximus let Eugene's shirt go from his mouth apathetically. "-and each other, it will be a Hook Brothers reunion!" She skipped over to Hook Foot, giving him a hug as he blinked confusedly.