Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There were two things in this world that Snatcher could not stand.

Well, there were actually many things that he couldn’t stand. (Most being a certain young child in a hat.) But those were just things he could somewhat tolerate or just had to deal with. (Looking at you kid.) No, if he was being honest, which was rare since he wasn’t the most truthful guy around, there was only two things in this world which he would not stand or be willing to allow it to exist anywhere near him.

First being that when he wanted things to go his way, THEY WOULD GO HIS WAY.

Whatever he wanted, whatever he desired, whatever sick or twisted plan he wanted carried out, he would get his way no matter who else would want a say in it. It irked him when things didn’t go the way he wanted them to go or turned out differently than he planned. If he didn’t get his way in the very beginning or had unwilling trespassers trying to save their worthless skins, he could just pop off their pathetic little heads and toss the body somewhere.

Normally somewhere where the kid wouldn’t stumble upon them by accident.

The second was the most important.

By far. It was so important that every Minion, Dweller, Fire Spirit, Spider, and anyone else who cared to listen knew it was the up most importance that never, ever, no matter what, no matter the situation, no matter the cost, liability, event, mission, or whatever cosmic calamity that might ever happen, it was most certainly that he would never see, smell, touch, hear, or even get a single thought about—

“FLOWERS?!” The shadow screamed, jumping out of his chair and clinging to the ceiling of his tree home. “WHAT THE PECK?! WHY ARE THERE PECKING FLOWERS IN MY FOREST?!”

“Language!”

Snatcher turned his focus on the small being sitting on the floor, shooting a nasty glare at them. “Kid.” He hissed, his voice filled with venom while continuing to glare at the small alien sitting on the floor staring up at him. “WHAT. Are you DOING. In MY home. With… FLOWERS?!”

“I’m making a gift!” The small child smiled brightly, holding up her hands, completely oblivious to the danger in Snatcher’s tone. One hand held a pair of scissors while the other held a blue flower with a bow wrapped around its stem. In front of her sat a small vase filled with blue and red flowers mixed around in a chaotic child-made fashion that hurt the viewer’s eyesight looking at the horrid appeal.

In short.

It was very ugly.

“That doesn’t explain why you’re in MY HOME with those horrible things.” Snatcher grumbled, slowly inching his way down from the ceiling.

“Hey! They’re not horrible! Flowers are pretty! And they smell nice too!” Hat Kid huffed, accidentally cutting off too much of the flower’s stem while not looking. “… Oops.”

Snatcher rolled his eyes, sinking back into the comfy chair and picking up the book he had tossed in his surprise scare. “Kid if only you knew how much my life changed because of those… weeds. You wouldn’t be looking at them the same way ever again.”

The young alien stopped in her attempts to stick the steam back on the flower, turning her head to look at the ghostly forest ruler with her blue eyes.

Those big blue eyes that showed more maturity, boring deep into his own eyes with hidden knowing and knowledge he would have never guessed was in that little head of hers. How odd. She was only a little girl, yet he kept on being surprised on how such young being had such knowing in that little noggin of hers. What secrets did she know that he didn’t?

“You should take that mess out of here and work on it somewhere else.” Snatcher huffed, hiding his view of those accursed plants behind the large book. “The knowledge of knowing you have, ugh, FLOWERS is giving me a migraine.”

“Flowers can’t give you migraines! You’re a ghost!” The kid pointed out before looking confused. “… What’s a migraine?”

“It’s like a headache, only ten times worse.” Snatcher clarified. “It’s what you are to me all of the time.”

“HEY!”

Snatcher smirked behind his book. Oh yes. That little alien was a constant thorn in his side ever since she switched his own contract on him. Be my BFF. What rubbish! He wouldn’t even consider her more than an acquaintance! A very pestering, over bubbly, cheery acquaintance.

“Go on and get out of here kiddo. Before I lose my patience and burn your gift.” He raised an open hand, setting it alight with his fire. That got the perfect reaction out of the kid.

She gasped, throwing her body over her craft. “No!” She grabbed everything that she could and hightailed out of his home.

Once he was sure he couldn’t see her cape, he nodded proudly and returned to his book. Most would feel bad about threatening to almost destroy a young child’s gift, but he didn’t. If it was something involving FLOWERS of all things, then he felt no regret towards it.

After all.

Flowers were the main reason why he was like this in the first place…

His smirk fell off his face, sighing deeply.

*

“Meanie Snatcher! He didn’t have to do that!” Hat Kid huffed, kicking her foot out. “Such a meanie.”

“Who’s a meanie?”

Hat Kid nearly jumped as a voice spoke up next to her. Thankfully when she turned her head, she saw only a Minion walking beside her.

“Snatcher’s a meanie.” She puffed out her cheeks, hugging her makeshift gift close to her. “He tried to burn my gift for DJ Grooves! He’s so mean!”

“Yeah, Boss is like that sometimes.” The Minion nodded. “Never know what he’ll do one way before he turns the other way.”

“… What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No idea!” The Minion shrugged. “Just trying to sound smart I guess.” They looked at her gift. “Sssoo what are you making Newbie? Some kind of… flower monster?”

Hat Kid giggled a little. “No. It’s a flower vase!” She held out her gift. “I made the vase myself!”

The vase looked more like a tomato and carrot squashed together. One side of it was drooping so low, that most of the flowers Hat Kid had put inside were falling out of it. DJ Grooves face, or what the Minion guessed looked like, were painted on all sides of the vase.

“Wow! That looks… nice!” The Minion held a thumbs up, hoping that the young alien didn’t see them cringe.

“Thanks! One of Grooves penguin fans told me that his birthday was coming up soon, so I wanted to make him something special!” Hat Kid beamed with pride, holding up her gift. “It’s not done yet though. I still need some more flowers and then it’ll be done!”

“Well, there’s plenty of flowers on the ground.” The Minion pointed to the ground where small little white flowers were growing out. “Maybe you could pick some of those?”

Hat Kid stared at the flowers a moment before frowning and shook her head. “No. Those are too ordinary. It needs to be a special flower! A really rare and pretty one!”

The Minion blinked. “… Rare and pretty.” They looked on ahead. “Rare and pretty. Rare and pretty. Rare and-AH HA! I know where a flower like that is!”

“You do?”

“Yeah! It’s this way!” The Minion grabbed her arm, tugging her along as they went on their way to find the flower.

It wasn’t that long of a walk as they soon came to the broken bridge. The cold wind blew against Hat kid’s face, making her shiver a bit.

“It’s over here!” The Minion let her go, waving her over to the edge beside the bridge next to the broke headless statue. She was a little wary to get close to the statue, as experience had taught her not to trust anything in this forest, but made her way forward.

Peering down over the edge, she tried not to look down into the pit. She wasn’t scared of heights, she jumped out of her spaceship on a daily bases. It was the eyes. Hundreds of glowing blinking, staring eyes looking back at her that made her feel nervous.

“Right there! See Newbie!” She turned her eyes on where the Minion was pointing and—

“WOW!” She gasped when she saw the most beautiful flower she had ever seen sticking out of the wall of dirt. “What type of flower is it?”

“I don’t know. But it’s really weird looking. Will that do Newbie?”

“Yes!” She handed the vase to the Minion. “Here, hold this for a moment.” She got down to the ground, easing over the edge and started to crawl down the sloop.

The Minion looked at the vase questionably. “Uhh, Newbie? What are you doing?”

“I’m gonna get the flower!”

“WHAT?! Are you crazy! You’ll fall!”

“Not if stay on the vine.” Hat Kid pointed out as she slid on to a thick purple vine. It was kind of like the vine that wrapped around Snatcher’s home, only thinner and had more spikes on it. Really spiky. Hat Kid flinched in pain as her hand touched one of the spikes and quickly withdrew it. The spikes were covered in long needle like pins.

“Newbie, I really don’t think the Boss would like it if you fell down there!” The Minion cried out as Hat Kid inched along the vine to get closer to the flower.

“I’ll be fine!” Hat Kid was nearly there, reaching out a hand to the flower. Only problem was that the flower was still out of reach, and the vine didn’t reach far enough.

“Newbie please! Come back! The Boss will have a fit if he finds out you got hurt so close to HER place!”

“I doubt it!” Hat Kid shot back, sticking her tongue out as she tried making a grab for the flower. It was just barely out of her reach. Groaning a bit, she tried standing on the tips of her toes, reaching out as far as she could…

And nearly slipped off the vine.

“NEWBIE!” The Minion screamed with terror.

Luckily Hat Kid managed to lean her body away just in time, falling against one of the vine’s spikes for support. She hissed as she managed to righten herself and get back to the more solid part of the vine, pulling her hands away from the spike and cover them under her arms.

“Newbie! Newbie are you okay?!” The Minion called out.

She turned her head and nodded, making a weak smile. Looking away, she took her hands out a winced at the sight of her hands. Her hands were cut and scraped, deep enough that blood was seeping out and dripping down.

“ARE YOU BLEEDING?!”

Hat Kid jumped. She was sure the Minion couldn’t see her wounded hands with her back on them. “No! I’m fine!”

“No you’re not!” The Minion shot back. “I can see blood dripping off your hands Newbie!”

“It’s not blood! It’s… strawberry juice?”

“Newbie get back here!”

“Not without the flower!” Hat Kid adjusted her hat, wincing as her fingers burned with pain, and tried reaching for the flower again. Finally, fed up with this, she made a jump for the flower.

“NEWBIIIIE!”

Hat Kid grabbed the flower, smiling with triumph before suddenly realizing that she was free falling. She didn’t have time to scream or think up of a plan to save herself before there was a tug on her cape and she was suddenly yanked up.

Instinctively, she grabbed her hat so it wouldn’t fly away. But in doing so lost her hold on the flower. She watched as it fell into the dark mist of eyes down below before she was lifted up to a very familiar, and angry, glowing face.

“Uh… eheh heh. Hi BF…” Hat Kid chuckled nervously as Snatcher continued to glare at her.

“Kid. You’re in BIG trouble young lady.”

*

As Snatcher was busy dealing with the troublesome child who almost got herself killed, no one paid any mind to the flower Hat Kid had tried so hard to get fall deep into the mist of the pit.

Down, down, down, down it fell. Falling past several glowing eyes that did nothing as the plant fell past them. Plenty of stuff fell into the chasm for generations, and what need would eyes need of any of them if they had no limbs or form to hold and grab the items that fell?

So the flower continued to fall down deep into the endless chasm. Seemingly destined to fall forever.

Or not.

It landed on a thicket of roots and vines, narrowly missing the sharp projection that stuck out in numerous clusters all over. Now the flower only laid there, unmoving. Its stem, covered with the child’s crimson blood, dripped down on the roots and vines of the thicket, traveling further on where the flower had stopped.

It stayed like that for a few minutes.

Then…

It started to glow.

Chapter Text

“Just what were you thinking?! Were you trying to get yourself killed kid?! That was not only reckless but stupid! I thought you knew better than that!”

Hat Kid kept her head down as Snatcher continued to yell at her for her recent adventure. She tried to talk back but that was only met with rebuff from the ghostly ruler who would not be interrupted in his lecturing. Though his so called lecture was more screaming than lecturing.

“Honestly, do you have a death wish?! No?! Well it seemed to look like it! I’d be happy to give you one instead of trying to off yourself! You better have a good reason why you were in that ravine so close to that place ready to dive-bomb into oblivion!” Snatcher panted once he was done yelling at the child.

There was a heavy silence between them, the only sound coming from the old grandfather clock that ticked away at the seconds and the shuffling of Minions outside surrounding Snatcher’s tree home.

Many of the Minions were concerned to what was going on since they could hear their ruler yelling all the way from the village and had come to investigate, but hung back so they wouldn’t turn their boss’s wrath onto them. They pitied the poor hatted child, though they certainly weren’t brave enough to face Snatcher’s anger.

When another minute went by, Snatcher sighed. “You can talk now ki—”

“I wasn’t trying to kill myself.” Hat Kid huffed, kicking the rug.

“Oh really? That doesn’t explain how you almost fell down into the chasm. If I hadn’t arrived in time, you would have been falling forever kid.” Snatcher crossed his arms, looking down at the small girl. “What were you even doing there? You’re not dumb enough to get yourself hurt… mostly.”

Hat Kid stuck out her tongue at him.

“But to literally jump down into an endless pit is a new low kid.”

“I didn’t jump down there! I was walking on the vine!” Hat Kid stomped her foot on the floor. “I was fine!”

“Fine? Fine? Kid, your hands are dripping with blood!” Snatcher grabbed one of her hands, which she was hiding behind her back, and held it up to her face. “You’re lucky only your hands and some of your face got cut young lady!”

Hat Kid blinked up at him, which in turn Snatcher rolled his eyes and summoned a mirror. “Yeah, you heard right. Your face is bleeding too.” He held the mirror in front of her, showing her reflection. It wasn’t too bad, just a few cuts on her left jaw with a longer cut on her cheek.

Well that explained how the Minion saw her bleeding now.

“What were you even thinking kid? Why were you even down there to begin with?”

Hat Kid huffed, tugging her hand out of Snatcher’s grip and turned away from him while crossing her arms in a huff. “I was just trying to get something. I could’ve managed on my own.”

“Managing to get yourself killed.”

“Why do you even care?” Turned around, placing her hands on her hips, surpassing the urge to wince in pain. “You never showed any concern when I’m in the swamp, or swinging around the fire forest, or playing with the Dwellers and their cherry bombs!”

“You play with what now?”

“Nothing!”

Snatcher sighed, picking up Hat Kid by her cape, making a little eep! noise as he lifted her up. “Look kid, as much as I don’t care about you, there’s just one place I don’t want you going anywhere near, and that’s that place.” He pointed where just a tiny glimpse of snow could be seen in the distance.

She looked at the distance a moment before crossing her arms again and giving Snatcher an annoyed look. “You didn’t mind when you sent me there before.”

“That was before I realized how powerful your soul was. And it would be a waste to have you as a frozen Popsicle.”

Hat Kid puffed out her cheeks in huff.

“Besides, I don’t want you randomly dying on me.” She perked up a little. “Killing you is my job.” And it was instantly gone.

“Oh don’t look at me like that! As long as I still haven’t killed you, you get to live! What a deal huh kid?”

“BF’s don’t try to kill their friends.”

“Oh hush.” Snatcher huffed, plopping the young child on his chair and grabbing a first aid under the wardrobe. What? The kid hurt herself why too often in the forest and he didn’t like seeing her hurt so bad plus she was staining the carpet with her blood. “Hands.”

Hat Kid still glared at him, but held out her hands for him. When she saw him visibly flinch she frowned. “It’s not that bad… right?”

“Not bad? Not bad? Kid, there are literally deep cuts in your hands here!” Snatcher grabbed one of her hands, making her flinch as pain shot up her arm. “How are you acting so calm right now and not screaming your lungs out? These are really messed up wounds you got!” He emphasized by poking one of her wounds, which made the young girl jump and cry out in pain, tearing her hand away with a hiss.

Snatcher stared at her a moment before sighing, picking the small child up and securing her in his arms. “Come on. I’m sure one of your bird friends has someone who can fix this.” He muttered crossly, flying out of his home with the young alien in his arms.

Unaware of a pair of mismatched red eyes following him.

*

“I hate today. I hate today. I pecking hate today.” Snatcher grumbled as he flew back to his trees, massaging his head that still rung from the grumpy bird… thing’s, yelling. Honestly, it was the kid’s own fault that she almost got herself killed. The bird thing didn’t need to yell at him like that when he saw her messed up hands! He was only lucky that the kid liked him, or otherwise he would have popped that bird’s head off by now.

Slumping in his seat, Snatcher sighed. “How can this day get any worse?”

“ⱧɆⱠⱠØ ฿ⱤØ₮ⱧɆⱤ!”

Snatcher let out a yell, swinging his fist out to the back of his home. It was only after he heard the sound of the pond water splashing did he blink and look out. Laying upside down on his back floating in the water was Moonjumper.

“… I just had to jinx myself didn’t I?” The shadow huffed as the corpse glared up at him.

“₩ɆⱠⱠ.” Moonjumper huffed, sitting up and rubbed his sore jaw. “₮Ⱨ₳₮ ₩₳₴ ₵ɆⱤ₮₳ł₦ⱠɎ ₳ ₣ł₦Ɇ ⱧɆⱠⱠØ ₣ⱤØ₥ ɎØɄ.”

“Oh hush. You’ve had worse in the past.” Snatcher huffed, leaning back in his chair. “And I’m in no mood to deal with you right now. So why don’t you do yourself and get lost.”

Moonjumper turned his head to glare at Snatcher, hovering out of the water. “ł'₥ Ø₦ⱠɎ ⱧɆⱤɆ ฿Ɇ₵₳Ʉ₴Ɇ ł ₩₳₦₮ ₮Ø ₭₦Ø₩ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ Ⱨ₳₱₱Ɇ₦ɆĐ ₮Ø ₮ⱧɆ ₵ⱧłⱠĐ. ɎØɄ ₩ɆⱤɆ ɎɆⱠⱠł₦₲ ₴Ø ⱠØɄĐ, ł ₵ØɄⱠĐ ⱧɆ₳Ɽ ɎØɄ ₣ⱤØ₥ ₮ⱧɆ ⱧØⱤłⱫØ₦.”

“None of your pecking business.” Snatcher grumbled. “And don’t come in here all wet! You’re dripping water everywhere and I don’t want mold growing in here!”

“ØⱧ ₵Ø₥Ɇ ₦Ø₩. ₮ⱧɆ ₵ⱧłⱠĐ ₵Ø₥Ɇ₴ ł₦ ⱧɆⱤɆ ĐⱤł₱₱ł₦₲ ₩Ɇ₮ ₳₴ ₩ɆⱠⱠ ɎɆ₮ ɎØɄ—” Moonjumper glanced down at the small puddle he was making, spying red drops on the floor. “…₴₦₳₮₵ⱧɆⱤ. ₩-₩ⱧɎ ł₴ ₮ⱧɆⱤɆ—”

“The kid was acting dumb today and almost got herself killed.” Snatcher clarified, not wanting to deal with whatever emotional drama the corpse could bring without the kid here to calm him down. “Luckily, she didn’t because I was there to save her from plunging into an eternal abyss.”

The worried look on Moonjumper’s face eased, smiling a bit. “ØⱧ. ØⱧ ₮Ⱨ₳₦₭ ₲ØØĐ₦Ɇ₴₴… ฿Ʉ₮ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ĐØɆ₴₦'₮ ɆӾ₱Ⱡ₳ł₦ ₮ⱧɆ ฿Ⱡ—”

“I said the kid was acting dumb didn’t I?” Snatcher waved a single hand, summoning a law book. “Her hands just got a few scraps on them. Nothing major to worry about. Her bird friends are already taking care of her so I wouldn’t waste my time on her.”

“ØⱧ ⱧØ₩ ₲Ɇ₦ɆⱤØɄ₴ Ø₣ ɎØɄ.” Moonjumper replied sarcastically, crossing his arms. “₴₮łⱠⱠ. ł₮'₴ ₦ł₵Ɇ ₮Ø ₭₦Ø₩ ₮ⱧɆ ₵ⱧłⱠĐ ł₴ ł₦ ₲ØØĐ Ⱨ₳₦Đ₴ ₦Ø₩. ł'₥ ₴ɄⱤɆ ⱧɆⱤ ₣ⱤłɆ₦Đ₴ ₩łⱠⱠ ₮₳₭Ɇ ₵₳ⱤɆ Ø₣ ɆVɆⱤɎ₮Ⱨł₦₲ ₳₦Đ ₴ⱧɆ'ⱠⱠ ₴ØØ₦ ฿Ɇ ฿₳₵₭ ₮Ø ₱Ⱡ₳Ɏ ₩ł₮Ⱨ Ʉ₴.” A large smile crossed Moonjumper’s face. “ł ₮Ⱨł₦₭ ₩Ɇ ₴ⱧØɄⱠĐ Ⱨ₳VɆ ₳₦Ø₮ⱧɆⱤ ₮Ɇ₳ ₱₳Ɽ₮Ɏ! ØɄⱤ Ⱡ₳₴₮ Ø₦Ɇ ₩₳₴ ₴Ø ₦ł₵Ɇ! ₥ł₦Ʉ₴ ₮ⱧɆ ₩ⱧØⱠɆ ₣ł₳₴₵Ø ₮Ⱨ₳₮ Ⱨ₳₱₱Ɇ₦ɆĐ ₳₣₮ɆⱤ₩₳ⱤĐ₴. ØⱧ ฿Ʉ₮ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ₮Ɇ₳ ₴ⱧØɄⱠĐ ₩Ɇ Ⱨ₳VɆ ₮Ⱨł₴ ₮ł₥Ɇ? ₮ⱧɆ Đ₳ⱤJɆɆⱠł₦₲ ₩₳₴ ₦ł₵Ɇ, ฿Ʉ₮ ₳ Ⱡł₮₮ⱠɆ ₣ⱤɄł₮Ɏ ₣ØⱤ ₥Ɏ ₮₳₴₮Ɇ. ₥₳Ɏ฿Ɇ ₴Ø₥Ɇ ₵Ⱨ₳₥Ø₥łⱠɆ. ØØØⱧ, ฿Ʉ₮ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ₩ØɄⱠĐ ฿Ɇ ₲ØØĐ ₩ł₮Ⱨ ₵Ⱨ₳₥—”

Snatcher groaned, stuffing his face in the book and tried to tune out Moonjumper’s voice. He reeeeally hated the corpse. He was so pecking annoying, he got on Snatcher’s nerves so often that he could just snap and send the whole forest on fire with his anger.

And it really got on his nerves when the kid befriended the undead being. Oooh, that was a day he would never un-live down. The kid had a supreme ability to befriend her enemies, which seemed a bit unsafe in his eyes. Oh sure, he wasn’t the best shining example of an enemy turned friend. He would still rather like to get her soul and—

Snatcher’s body stood on end, jerking up suddenly that it caught Moonjumper off guard. He went stone still for a moment, not moving even as Moonjumper floated over to him and waved a chained hand in his face.

“₴₦₳₮₵ⱧɆⱤ? ₴₦₳₮₵ⱧɆⱤ? ₳ⱤɆ ɎØɄ ₳ⱠⱤł₲Ⱨ₮?” The corpse frowned as Snatcher stayed like this for a few minutes before his body eased and started moving again. The shadow blinked, looking around briefly before his golden eyes landed on Moonjumper.

“… Did you… feel that?”

“₣ɆɆⱠ ₩Ⱨ₳₮?”

“That. That…” Snatcher looked at his claws, shaking them slightly. “That, feeling.”

Moonjumper frowned, looking at the ghost with mixed concern and doubt. “₴₦₳₮₵ⱧɆⱤ, ₳ⱤɆ ɎØɄ ₣ɆɆⱠł₦₲ ₳ⱠⱤł₲Ⱨ₮? ɎØɄ ₴ɆɆ₥ ₮Ɇ₦₴ɆⱤ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ₦ØⱤ₥₳Ⱡ.”

Snatcher gave him an odd look, opening and closing his mouth a bit. “… you seriously didn’t just feel that? That feeling a moment ago?”

Moonjumper shook his head. “ł Ⱨ₳VɆ… ₦Ø łĐɆ₳ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ɎØɄ'ⱤɆ ₮₳Ⱡ₭ł₦₲ ₳฿ØɄ₮. ł Ⱨ₳VɆ₦'₮ ₣ɆⱠ₮ ₳₦Ɏ₮Ⱨł₦₲ JɄ₴₮ ₦Ø₩, ₳₦Đ ₦Ø₮Ⱨł₦₲ ₣ɆɆⱠ ØɄ₮ Ø₣ ₱Ⱡ₳₵Ɇ ₮Ø ₥Ɇ.”

“You sure?”

“QɄł₮Ɇ ₱Ø₴ł₮łVɆ.”

Snatcher stared at Moonjumper a bit longer before turning his head to look out at Subcon. Everything seemed normal. None of the Dwellers or Subcon Minions seemed worried or panicking in fear. He frowned deeply.

It was only just a moment, yet it felt… important somehow. Sending the book away, Snatcher got up from his seat. “I need to check on something real quick.” He left, leaving no time for Moonjumper to respond and left his home.

He had no idea where the feeling came from, but he was certain to comb through the whole Subcon.

If it was something that was going to be a threat to the forest, he had to deal with it quickly, or otherwise the kid would find it first. And he really didn’t want that to happen.