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Chapter 9
{Page 10}
Starry Illusions

Tommy lazily woke up, with a huge trees branches above them, providing protection.

Ashes wing was on him, smiling slightly he gently pushed it away for it to act like a blanket for Spark.

He stood up, looking at the site in front of him. A sleeping nine tailed fox and a stallion that has unique abilities.

With Ash being fast and it's tail and mane being made out of ash or something.

"Unique name.."
Tommy says sarcastically.

He looked around at where they currently are, in the middle of the woods obviously.
Tommy was stupid enough to not bring a map with him or ask anybody where Vanilla Cove is.

Tommy made a basket with the leaves around them. Surprisingly this forest is more enchanted than expected.

His mother taught him this trick because every time he has to deliver something, he always breaks the basket.

So him knowing how to do this is really helpful.
He even learned a bit about the leaves, thanks to his ability of course.

He learned that it obviously grew from the tree above him and that it fell by some creatures attacking something, Tommy shuddered at the thought.

When he finished making the basket, he admired it and Spark came prancing up to him.

Spark immediately dived into it, the basket had enough room for Spark to stay in.

Sparks head popped out, saying that he's comfortable.

Tommy giggled and picked it up, a little heavier then he thought. Ash soon then awoke, confused on what's going on.

"Hey Ash, we'll just try to find some food and figure a way outta here..."
Tommy started walking to a random direction, holding the basket with Spark in it and Ash trailing behind them.

It was a peaceful silence, with occasional cold breezes but it is roughly near the start of summer which is a great thing.

At least they have a higher likelihood of survival.

The three of them walked for quite a long time, wandering around the forest.

                                       ~~~

It was near nighttime, bad.

They were wandering around for hours, nothing special happened really, apart from looking at birds flying in the sky and trying to figure out where to go.

Tommy's brain hurt, a lot.

Tommy sat down near a tree, not the same one thankfully but a smaller one.
Spark walked up to him, rubbing his head trying to comfort him. Though Ash seemed tense.

Odd.

Tommy stood up, to try relax Ash,
"It's alright, we survived one night we can do it again."
But that just made Ash feel worse.

Ash backed away a little, shaking his head. Spark also seemed confused of Ashes strange behaviour.

"..Ash..?"

Ash then looked around. Frightened but trying to stay calm?

Thinking?

Tommy didn't know, and he didn't like it. "Ash-?!!"

Ash then galloped away, far from them, away from them.

Tommy wanted to chase after Ash, why would he run?

Why?

Did he do something wrong?

What happened?

Questions flooded Tommy.

He hated questions.
They're annoying.

Spark seemed upset and looked at Tommy, trying to read him or something.

Tommy for all he knew, was feeling sadness and betrayal.
Ash didn't really betray the two but to Tommy, he lost a friend.

It took a few minutes until Tommy got together his senses again.

Desperate to sit down, he found the similar tree they were at last night.
"Fucking magic.."

He leaned against the tree, with Spark on his lap.
He petted the kitsune gently, soothing him, calming him down.

Animals always calm people down.

But some animals can be scary.

Tommy and Spark heard howling, a lot of it.

Tommy observed his surroundings.

Werewolves?

Wolves?

Dogs?

Tommy looked around. Spark did the same.

Tommy carefully picked up his sword he always carried around him, he found it left on a dirt road. How it was made he'll talk about it later.

Sparks ears perked up and looked at a direction to where there was snarling. In the darkness emerged wolves.

They were in various colours, blue, pink and purple. The main one being a dark, navy blue. It snarled at Tommy and Spark.

It was glowing as well.

"..glow..glow wolves..?"
Tommy muttered under his breath seeing the wolves in-front of them. His humour did not heal anything.

They took a step closer to them, and closer..and closer.

They were as close to where they are just a few more meters apart.
The leader seemed to smile or something.

Tommy, closed his eyes , and was ready for his fate until the wolf whimpered in pain.

Tommy, confused opened his eyes again and saw Spark standing in front of Tommy, snapping at the wolves around them.

"Spark!"
Tommy called out when one wolf was about to pounce on Spark, thankfully Spark dodged thanks for his call but barely.

Tommy wanted to help, he actually grabbed his sword and stood beside Spark, and looked behind him.

They were surrounded but to Tommy, they are powerful enough to handle this.

Spark once again snarled and snapped at any wolf who dares approach them, Causing the wolves to hesitate if they should kill them or not.

"I am to say, quite the hot catch bitches."
Tommy taunted, boy he regretted it.

The leader howled, gaining the attention of everyone.
Then, he pounced at Tommy, causing Tommy to fall on the ground with the wolf on top of him.

The wolf tried to bite him, trying to target the eye but Tommy luckily continued to dodge these attacks.
He held his hand in front of him, trying to push away the wolf. It was a pathetic attempt but it was scary as hell.

Spark tackled into the wolf, head on which was powerful. The wolf fell to the ground, not in too much pain but he was injured.

Spark stayed firm, beside Tommy biting away any wolf that comes its way.
Tommy is glad to even have an animal companion with him.

Suddenly, Spark opened his mouth revealing fire?!

He lashed it around the wolves making a fire ring, causing the wolves to back away from them.

Spark looked at them triumphantly, and was ready to pounce on another wolf when it ran away, with the rest of the pack to.

The leader took its time, it took one last growl at Spark then ran away.

The fire then dispersed, leaving Tommy stunned and Spark a little tired.
Spark then trotted towards the tree they were at and curled up, sleeping.

"What a day.."
Tommy sighs, sitting beside the kitsune.

~~~

Ever since the wolves attacked Tommy and Spark,
Sparks capabilities have gotten stronger.

For example, when needing a fire, usually Spark would blow just the right amount, now, when Spark tries this, he would burn down all of the wood by accident.
Of course Tommy had to teach him how to control it.

~~~

"Spark..."
Tommy stared at him quite sternly, they are currently still in the forest underneath a tree, again.

Spark looked at Tommy curiously.

Tommy picked up a stick and pointed it at Spark.
"Light this on fire. If you over do it I will die." He said this pretty straightforward.
Spark was surprised at Tommy and looked at the stick then back at him.

Sparks ears lowered, he shook his head, not wanting to do what Tommy says.

Tommy gently tapped Spark on the head with the stick and pointed it again at Spark.

"Spark..."
Tommy nudged it towards Spark who backed away a bit.

After many tries, Spark gave in to Tommy and went towards the stick, looking as if it were a life or death situation. It kind of was.

Spark then gently blowed on it, sending a few flares or fire which successfully lit up the branch.
Tommy looked at it proudly then at Spark with the same expression.

"Well done Spark!!"
He patted Spark on the head, he went through his bag and brought out berries, Sparks favourite.

Tommy threw it to Spark, with him catching it and munching it down happily.
Tommy looked at the branch that was on fire, he had an idea, a bad one.

"No.." Tommy then blew the stick, making the fire disappear, he threw the stick away and looked back at Spark who is now playing with his tails.

"Right, let's go now Spark! I think I saw smoke in that direction so...."
Tommy then pointed to where he think he saw the smoke. Spark nodded and skipped to Tommy's side, waiting for him to start walking.

"Right...let's hope that stick is correct..."

~~~

"Aha!" Tommy ran towards a direction, Spark following not too far. "I knew it!"

Tommy and Spark looked at the village they found, it was already sunset because of Tommy's lack of sense and direction.

The village was, beautiful.

Tommy happily walked in and wandered through the place...that was empty. Strange.

"But I could've swore that the stick showed..." Tommy was a little desperate. He looked at Spark for help who also seemed confused.

Tommy continued to wander around the area, it was as if it were abandoned but the building were still in great condition!.
"What..?"

He was about to enter a building until he went through it.
"Huh?"

Tommy tried and tried again only to get the same results.

"Is this...a trick?!"
Tommy looked around again, he went through all the buildings. But it looked so...real.

"Spark...I'm going mad...I think those berries were drugs.."
Tommy leaned down to Spark, he didn't even know if this is even reality.
Tommy hesitantly went to pet Spark, he was praying that Spark is real.

-

-

He felt the soft fur and the feeling of happiness from Spark.
Tommy sighed out in relief and continued to pet Spark. Only something was off.

Spark usually has brown eyes, and when using fire it changes ever so slightly to a darker brown.

(Sorry I don't know how these really work so imma just improvise-)

This time however, Sparks eyes were lighter than ever. Hazel even. Slowly turning lighter and lighter.

Tommy backed away from Spark, or is it Spark?
The fox gave a confused noise and walked towards Tommy again.

"..is that you..Spark.?"
The fox barked at the name and shakes its nine tails at him.

So it is Spark?

"But..your eyes..?"
Spark gave a confused glance at Tommy.

The eyes went back to normal just when he said that but the village around them seemed to disappear as well.

"Spark?!"

When the village disappeared, the bright eye colour in Sparks eyes had also.

Illusions?

"Spark...I think you learnt a new ability!" Tommy says this happily, scooping up Spark in his hands and praising him.
Spark happily agreed and licked Tommy's cheek.

Tommy then brought Spark back to the ground and pulled out a journal or some sort. He sat down beside Spark to show what he'd written.
He wrote:

Hazel/lighter Eyes = Illusion ability

Tommy then closed it and put it back into his bag. He looked at Spark happily then stood up again. He looked around, they were in an empty field with the grass blowing with the wind.

"Guess we're sleeping here tonight..."
Tommy then later down on the soil, he was kind of used to this so he placed his hands behind his head like a pillow and looked up at the sky.

~~~

Tommy opened his eyes ever so slightly and closed them again.

"Fuck off sun."
He mumbled lazily.

He turned over to his side where Spark was who simply placed his paw on his head and poking Tommy.

He groaned and opened his eyes fully this time and saw Spark ready to get moving.

They were still in the middle of the huge field but this didn't matter, they needed to find at least a village to ask where even Vanilla cove is.

"Right let's go Spark!"
Tommy grabbed his bag and basket of food and walked aimlessly through the field.

(You can play the music if you want now! 🎶)

During this peaceful walk, Tommy saw some occasional bees. Not the best memory to go by but it's for the best.

He sighed when another bee buzzed by him, he watched it fly away.
He realised he zoned out and continued to walk through the field that had a few flowers spotted around.

It was still peaceful but something kept bugging him.

Or annoying him or something.

At the corner of his eye he would see the similar brown hair Tubbo would have.

Sometimes he can hear Tubbos excited noises when a bee or unique animal passes by.

Or he can see him in the distance, not too far but not too close either. But he can see him.

And when Tommy turns around, he feels like someone's missing.

Tommy continued with this process for a while, with "Tubbo" popping out of no where or his voice, perhaps maybe a glimpse of Tubbos even.

But he always disappears soon after.

Tommy was getting real upset, he misses him.

He always try's to hide it with making fun of him or annoying him but truth be told, he's glad he's his friend.

Best Friend.

If Tubbo were to be gone, Tommy wouldn't know what to do.

Tubbo is his guide!

He balances him, two sides of a coin even. But this is for Tubbo, for Skeppy, Bad, Mom, Everyone he loves hanging out with.

Even Spark.

Tommy didn't realise he was crying, he wiped them away but Spark seemed to notice.

Just then, "Tubbo" appeared. So vividly. In front of Tommy. Just in front of him, looking at him fondly. The "Tubbo" continued to look at Tommy who seemed to be crying.

Tommy couldn't stand there, he wanted a hug. It's really not like Tommy to like hugs but right now, he needs just some love.

Tommy walked to Tubbo, he opened his arms, tears in eyes and hugged him.

He hugged himself.

The "Tubbo" disappeared soon after, Tommy stayed in this position though, acting like he's still hugging him. Tommy tried to imagine to hug his mother as well, but they aren't there. He knows that.

Illusions again.

Tommy doesn't know what's reality or what's fantasy.

He fell to his knees crying, he hated this.

He regrets this, he doesn't want to this, he's not capable of even doing anything.

Spark frowned at Tommy, pity.

Spark walked up to him, leaned against his shoulder, trying to comfort him. It worked just a tiny bit.

-

-

They stayed like this for a long time, Tommy crying and Spark comforting him.

Tommy always thinks crying is an embarrassing thing, but right now, he thinks this is how you perfectly describe sadness.