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echantedtoon · 5 months

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Blooming Friendships Ch6 The Man In The Moon

It was a quiet night. Except for the chirping of crickets. A gentle breeze swept through the cool air, and stars shone. Even though it was a peaceful night, not everyone was sleeping peacefully. Two eyes were wide awake enjoying the beautiful wonders of nature and all it had to provide to the silent melody of it's mistress the night and all her dark beauty as the world slumbered in her wake. On a normal day it would look so much different. Sunny. Birds singing. The world was filled with the happy screaming of children as they played and couples walked too and from down the paths or having picnics in the sunshine......Or it would have been if this forest wasn't haunted by vengeful ghosts and cursed on top of it. Not that she minded. She loved this forest how it was. If she wasn't living in her own magical hot spot this might've been a good place to live without unwanted attention. Her footsteps only adding to the magical melody taking place from her as they walked along the trees glimmer with dew from that morning fog.. The reflections shining like the stars themselves mirroring walking in some forbidden heaven of the night for them both. The wind blown around her and she shivered rubbing her body against a tree to keep up body heat to not catch a cold. Hopefully it'll work. The light reflected off of her eyes making it seem like they shined brighter than the world around them as she walked about looking past things. The glowing mushrooms and moon above being her only source of light in the darkness as she carried about her. Over her shoulder a bag of magical things like stones, herbs, plants, and other natural magical specialties one could only find right here in this forest. Luckily for her there was plenty to go around.

Subcon Forest was not a place for just anyone to enter and exit as they please. There was a reason these woods had such a feared reputation and was rumored to be haunted. Because it was. By the King Snatcher of Subcon(as he liked to refer to himself) and his ghastly assortment of minions and dwellers behind him as his undead army, anyone who went in NEVER came out which added to the entire terror of it all!!...Well no one except a woman who were currently carrying baskets full of all kinds of cursed plants from within the borders of the ghastly forest that no mere mortal ever dared to come in. ..Besides a select few who had the Ghost King's blessing or who just didn't fear him of course.

"Thank you so much for helping me collect all these ingredients. I swear some times they can be so hard to find. Good thing you know you're way around here huh?," the witch expressed with gratitude as copper eyes smiled over towards the ghost next to her.

Shackles clanked as ever as the crescent headed ghost smiled and placed a hand on his chest. "But of course. I couldn't just let a young lady wonder all by her lonesome here in the dark forest. Snatcher may not see the reason but I refuse to let the one lady who actually keeps me company to be at risk of any danger!"

That earned him a stream of chuckles and a smirk from the witch as she reached out to poke his side. "Oh? What a gentleman.~ Not a lot of woman can say that a ghostly prince walked with them on a moonlit night walk to protect her. If I didn't know better I'd say this was romantic, Moony.~"

The ghost paused letting the words of hers sink in before coughing and looking the other way. "A-Absolutely not! It's o-only right a gentleman escort a lady where she n-needs to go-"

"Relax you old man. I was only teasing you. I really appreciate you helping me find all these herbs. I get lost here so many times it's not funny. Always have to teleport my way out."

"....*ahem* W-Well of course. I'm always happy to lend a helping hand where I can. It's also good to have company for once who I can speak to so easily unlike Snatcher and some other people I know who shall not be named."

She nodded as they continued to walk through the woods. Coming across a small space of abandoned buildings old, worn, and looking like they'd collapse any moment if they even to dare touch them.

"Isn't it getting near morning though? We've been at this for a long time. You might disappear on me into the atmosphere." They passed by a couple of the buildings now. Their voices echoing around the dark buildings and disturbing someone awake in one building.

"Yes. It is. But I would rather stay until I'm forced to leave. I like accompanying you around, and we're nearly to the forest's edge as it is. I'd feel better knowing I can leave you at a safe point-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH-"

As a scream pierced the air both jumped at the sound that sliced through the night's fog like a knife. The scream echoing around, sounding young. Vulnerable. Small. And like a-....The sound still ringing loud and clear as they both stood frozen in their places as it continued. Until they eventually looked at one another as the noise continued.

"I say. D-Do you hear that?"

Hazelle nodded. "I most certainly do." With a turn of her head, she looked towards one building in particular and pointed. "It sounds like it's coming from there." And she started walking towards it.

"H-Hazelle!," Moonjumper warned holding out an arm towards her disappearing form. "Wait! It's not safe in these old ruins! That house collapse on you!"

"Then be my protector and follow me!," she called back not stopping and still walking away from him towards the crying noise. "Sounds like someone's lost. We should help them don't you think?"

Moonjumper said nothing as he watched her before sighing and floated off after her. His shackles clanking as he did. Hazelle was able to disappear from sight before him. Walking into one of the abandoned buildings through a whole in the wall's side most likely from decay from all the years it stood abandoned. And slowly he followed her into it. Inside ..had seen better days to put it lightly. The wooden floors and walls were a dark grey or black from years of decay and being exposed to Subcon's cursed magic. The whole place creaking from the wind blowing, speaking of the wind. It definitely flowed through the entire home making an eerily howling noise as it did. Old furniture broken beyond repair and also decaying by how they looked. He slowly floated out of the big room he went through which he must've guessed must've been a living room judging from the decayed shelves and crumbling fireplace. The fireplace a mere pile of crumbling stones by now. The noise that was present when Hazelle entered no longer having stopped soon when he floated in.

"Hazelle?," he called out looking around the place shackles clanking. "Where did you go, My lady?"

"In here!,'' her voiced called out a few rooms away, "You might wanna come here and see this. You're not going to believe it."

She does know she was speaking to a ghost right? He followed her voice past the room to a hallway of sorts where he passed a decaying and absolutely destroyed flight of stairs. Well she can't be up there unless she teleported her way there. Instead he moved past that towards the nearest doorway where he heard the faint sound of-...Sniffling?? Raising a brow, Moonjumper floated right over to the doorway and looked inside. Hazelle was there alright. The witch's back was to him, and the bag of plants and other things she had been carrying left on the floor. With the way her arms were positioned it looked like she might've been holding something in her arms. Hearing the sounds of clanking shackles the witch turned her head to him and smiled seeing him standing there in the doorway. Before turning around completely with that looked like a blanket bundle cradled in her arms.

"Oh there you are. ...Uh. What is that you're holding?"

"You're not going to believe this."

She beckoned him to come closer with a free hand and as he slowly came in the same sniffling sounds came from inside the blanket. And did that thing just move!? He froze as Hazelle grabbed the edge of the small blanket and pulled it back. And what was inside SHOOK the ghost. A-A-...A baby....THERE WAS A PECKING LIVING BREATHING BABY IN THAT BLANKET!! But strangely that wasn't the weirdest part. The pale skinned boy sniffled and blinked up at the both of them with big purple eyes and dark black hair. At seeing the witch and ghost looking down at him, his head tilted curiously back at them. But that wasn't what was strange. What WAS strange was the fact that his face..Was COVERED in glowing blue markings that lit up his body in the dark. There was a couple of them. Glowing blue lines. One over his nose, two lines under each of his eyes, two jutting up from his chin, and a peculiar swirl like symbol on his forehead. And all were glowing. Even now he could feel the magical aura filing out from this child in the same way Hazelle's magical essence did. Which meant that whoever this child was...He was certainly special. Moonjumper stared long and hard at the child who now seemed calm being in the arms of Hazelle. Before he pointed to him.

"What....is that?"

"A baby. What ELSE would it be?"

"Y-Yes. I know. But WHY is there a baby here?" He looked around the dark and grim looking room. "And in such a sorry state of a house of all places?''

Hazelle shrugged. "I haven't the foggiest idea. You think someone lives here?"

In response to her question Moonjumper gave a careful look around the room. There was ...well nothing here except one or two pieces of old broken furniture. "...Where did you find the baby?" She stepped aside and pointed her free hand down to the absolutely empty corner behind her. THAT empty cold corner in just a blanket? That couldn't be healthy for it. In fact..it doesn't look like anyone's been here for a long time."This house is pretty worn out. Seems like people were living here before Snatcher came in. Or maybe they were still alive when Snatcher arrived and ...you know. He's crazy like that. But no one could possibly be living here. There's no signs of food. No water. Not even a small shelter set up." He looked back down to the baby who nommed on a chubby hand. "And he certainly isn't as old as the rest of the house! Who would leave a defenseless child here!? Unless......" A look of realization struck him as he frowned. "Unless someone left him here on purpose."

....Hazelle shook her head. "I don't know. But maybe he's not abandoned." She waved a finger in front of the baby's face and he latched onto it. "Maybe whoever he belongs to just left him here to get food or something."

"Hm. Possibly. But why not just bring him with them especially in Subcon forest? In fact WHY Subcon Forest? This place is renowned far and wide as extremely dangerous. Unless whoever they were was in big trouble or extremely foolish, I doubt anyone would risk coming in here. More so with an infant!"

"....Well then guess I'll have to wait and find out." Hazelle with that carefully sat down still holding the baby in her arms and sighed leaning her back against the wall to get comfortable.

Moonjumper rose a brow. "You CAN'T be serious."

"Why not? If whoever it was comes back they might need help. Besides, I can't just leave a baby here. Would you?"

"I-...Well no! But what if whoever it is is dangerous? You could be in big trouble."

"Hey. No big deal. I've dealt with both you and Snatcher before. I can take care of myself. Besides you'll just be forced back into the Horizon any minute now. I'll give them twenty four hours. If they don't come back then, I'll ask Snatcher. Maybe he'll know something we don't."

...Moonjumper sighed. "I sure hope you know what you're doing, Hazelle."

Soon the first rays of light hurt the world and as expected Moojumper dissipated into glitchy cubs disappearing back into the green paranormal world of the Horizon. And Hazelle made herself comfortable just sitting back there leaning against the wall, legs crossed, one hand behind her head, and pushing her hat over her eyes to give them a rest from the sunlight. All the while the baby laid snug against her body. At one point she fell asleep for a few hours having been up the night before but being a light sleeper meant she would've heard someone come in and be up in an instant. ...And no one came. Not when the sun came up. Not when the sun hit noon. Not when the sun set came. And definitely not when night fell. And there Hazelle laid patiently in the same position except now that the baby was asleep in her arm safely without a care in the world. Until that is when the familiar sound of shackles came, and Hazelle pushed her hat up to meet the eyes of Moonjumper who had once again appeared before her being night again. The ghost had stood there staring at them, not really surprised to see the baby still with Hazelle. But he had hoped that whoever was responsible for the little tyke would return to claim the baby and even leave the forest. In had been on his mind all day making his metaphorical stomach sink and his worst thoughts were confirmed as soon as he appeared. His crestfallen face mirroring his thoughts.

"Anything?," he asked even though he already knew the answer.

Frowning Hazelle shook her head no. "No one. Not even a ghost. And I've been sitting here on my butt all day."

"Well judging by how he's been found here, he was probably here for longer than you were. Face it Hazelle. No one's coming back for him."

"Timmy."

Moonjumper blinked. "Pardon?"

"Timmy. His name's Timmy."

"And how do you know that?"

Hazelle answered him by pulling a corner of the blanket up for him to look at and embroidered with dark blue thread into the blanket was letters. T. I. M. M. Y. Timmy. "I found this little clue right here."

"You know that might not even be his real name."

She shrugged before carefully pushing herself off the wall and standing up. "It's the only thing we got going for us right now and it's better than calling him 'it'." Well..she had a point. She reached back over and carefully lifted her bag back up and threw it over her shoulder. "Well I gave them a whole day to show up. Now there's just one person to see if they know anything about this here."

"You don't mean-"

"Snatcher yes. You're free to wait back while I go ask him." She said before beginning to walk out of the abandoned house.

Moonjumper watched as she left just floating there before sighing and floating after her. Might as well see how this played out. Too say it was less than ideal was putting it lightly. It took them a little while to get to said purple ghost's tree house and Snatcher was...Well. Irritated and angry as usual, especially seeing Moonjumper there of all people but luckily it seemed that him being thrown off completely seeing Hazelle holding an infant was enough to spare Moonjumper from his wrath. But it was followed by Snatcher demanding what was going on, them explaining the details to him, and then when they asked-....Snatcher. Knew. Nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Turns out there's no traps or minions of his in that area of the forest being so close to the edge of the forest so even if someone snuck in, Snatcher wouldn't have been alerted to any intruders. So someone could've easily slipped in and out without Snatcher noticing they were even there. He didn't even know the child was even there until he was brought to his attention. Which left them nothing, and Snatcher wasn't any help when he huffed and left them with it.

"Whatever. Just get it out of my forest!"

Tch. Typical reaction of Snatcher's, but what was he expecting from him? Which left now him and Hazelle in the presence of the child without any idea where he came from and most likely abandoned, and no idea what to do with little Timmy apparently.

"What now?," he has asked after a while. "We can't just put him back, and Snatcher's no help as usual."

Hazelle hummed letting the now awake baby nom on the edge of his blanket curiously. "I know. It'd be crueler than leaving him alone in the first place. ...*sigh* It's not uncommon for people who're afraid of magic or who just don't want to deal with it to abandon those children I'm afraid. I guess Timmy's just another one of those people with that sad fate."

Abandoned for something he didn't even know or had done. He knew that feeling all too well. This baby and him were practically parallels having been betrayed by people who were supposed to love you and protect you...Now they were all alone...Or- He looked at the small giggling child. Or WERE they? Hazelle blinked as he reached right over shackles clanking and picked up the baby from her arms and turning to cradle him in his own arms...He couldn't change his own fate, but he could certainly change Timmy.

"Well then it's decided. I shall care for him."

"What?," Hazelle asked raising a brow and placed her free hand on her hip. "You can't be serious."

"And why not? I wouldn't mind the company. And as ghosts don't need sleep I can give him around the clock care. Besides, I...I-I've always wanted a child when I was alive."

Hazelle's expression turned to one of pity before she sighed. "I get that. But DO you know how to take care of a baby? Especially one with magic obviously?"

He stammered. "I- Well...N-No. But Timmy's worth the effort and besides...Maybe you could help?"

"Moony. I didn't sign up to become a replacement mother."

"Oh come now Hazelle. I would be doing most of the work anyways. All I need is some help and someone to teach me please?" He held up the giggling baby to him more with a smile melting on his face. "Besides...This might just be what he needs. A loving home with people who know about magic and won't abandon him. Please?"

The witch stared at the ghost for a long moment as some kind of thoughts whirled about her head before sighing. "Fine! But I hope you know what you're getting into."

A bright and fanged smile speared across the old ghost's face before he looked down to the giggling baby in his arms. "Well little one." He offered a hand towards the baby who cooed and looked at it as a string appeared from his finger tip only to gently wrap itself around his small hand. "I promise as long as your under my protection nothing shall ever happen to you again." The baby giggled at the display before looking back up to the smiling ghost. "I promise."

#blooming friendships #a hat in time #ahit moonjumper #ahit hat kid #ahit snatcher #ahit mustache girl #ahit timmy #ahit florist #ahit cooking cat #ahit bow kid #subconites #hazelle

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