Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eight. Hours.

Thats how long it took for her to finally reach the top of this god forsaken volcano.

Tonia leaned over, patting herself free from the wisps of fire those damn dino-alligator monsters spewed at her. She felt practically cooked alive yet- to her dismay- as she rummaged through her bag, all her life elixirs were finished.

Not even wanting to think of how much money replacing all of it’d be. She begrudgingly got back up to examine her surroundings.

Compared to the blistering hot floors of the volcano, the cool night sky above gave slight relief, its stars shimmering above. Tonia sheathed her sword before carefully walking along the path, mindful of lava either side of her.

“That blueberry mother-fuckin lunatic-“ she grumbled, spotting the chest, a note on its head reading ‘For the lovely farmer -Mr Qi’.

She could practically visualize his peakcock-ass mocking applause when she tumbled down the ladder to the 100th floor of Skull Cavern, drenched with purple slime, her hair uneven from having to cut off the ends that caught fire. (“Really impressive my dear, although I can almost smell the amount of explosives you used with how much you reek of gunpowder-“)

God how she wanted to strangle that asshole- could of at least made that drink taste better…

Shaking her head she leaned down to gingerly push the chest open, the metal hot under her gloves and-

“No fucking way-“

She stared at the shimmering gem inside, its size similar to a baseball. Carefully picking it up she examined it to confirm- A real prismatic gem- Tonia had only found one within that blasted cavern, was this her reward for making it to the top?

“I’m impressed-“

She yelped, fumbling with the gem and nearly dropped it into the lava if it weren’t for the second pair pf hands beside her,

“Careful-! Can’t have you falling to your death after scaling the volcano-“

Tonia glanced up to see this pomegranate ass man smile back at her, her confusion written on her face.

Scooting back from this pink haired man, she grasped the hilt of her sword. Another survivor? But that old lady told her it was just Leo and herself-

Upon noticing her caution, he raised his hands up apologetically

“I do mean no harm little adventurer, I was merely curious about the farmer that was running along Fern Island fixing everything up.” He chuckled “You’re the adventurer Marlon was talking about no?”

“Marlon?” She blinked “You know him?” Tonia winced as she stood up, this flaming pink cheeto man was just another adventurer?

“He’s a good friend of mine” he replied smoothly, his eyes flickered to the blisters that started to form “Are…you quite alright?”

“Fine,” she muttered, dusting herself pff “Ran out of elixirs before I reached the top, nothing that stupid doctor can’t fix with his magical drugs-“

“You ran out? I should have a few spares-“ he moved his blue cape aside to look through a pouch of his, producing the familiar pink bottle “You should always be prepared if you’re traveling unknown areas-“

“Didn’t exactly think there’d be fire breathing alligators in a damn volcano,” Tonia pursed her mouth “And really, I’m alright” she lied, “I don’t want to be in debt to someone I don’t even know the name o-“

“Lance,” he interrupted, holding out the bottle towards her, “And you dont need to repay me, although I’d love to get your name-“

At her hesitation, his eyes crinkle in amusement “Please, you’re literally swaying, just take it, our guild makes plenty already,”

“..” She moved closer to take it, neither commented of the tremors from her hands “..Thanks, it’s uh, Tonia by the way-“ She uncapped the bottle a took a swig, huh, tasted better than the homemade shit she’s tried to make.

Her eyes wander to the mechanism behind him,

“What’s this place anyways, do you know?” She asked “There seemed to be alot of old structures I ran past,” *run* was too kind, she practically screamed her head of when she initially saw the literal bomb monsters and slimes that hurt much more than the mines back in Pelican Town.

“The volcano?” He hummed, “Centuries ago it was a magnificent kingdom home to many dwarves, it was known as Mount Kohldor. Unfortunately there isn’t much left,” he paused, gesturing over to the contraption behind him “Except this forge, probably the last working thing if I’m honest. Has the ability to further enhance any gear you might have,”

“With minerals right? One of the journal pages I’ve been finding mentioned it-“ she recalled. Maybe he was the one who left them?…. Nah- Tonia felt like his handwriting would be practically illegible. Besides, he didn’t seem to have any sign of recognition “Thanks though, I’ll try to experiment with it,”

He gave her a more sincerity smile, “But of course, stay safe, the First Slash sends their regards,” He bowed and with that, disappeared by a flash of light.

Tonia blinked, looking around, no traces of him ever being here. She sighed as she reopened the chest, he and that stupid wizard would get along lovely with their dramatic exits..

She turns to the forge, the rainbow gem in hand.

She probably should’ve asked that pomegranate man directions.

Fuck

Chapter Text

Shane thought working for the farmer was weird enough.

After Joja Mart was taken down (Shane could remember Morris limping back to his house,) Tonia asked Shane if he’d like to work on her farm (“The chickens keep escaping since the fence is a little damaged from the storm-“).

While he didn’t exactly believe her reason for only needing more help, he still accepted the cabin she gave him, a job’s a job.

It was cozy, he had to admit. It was bigger than his own room Marnie rented out to him, it didn’t have that much decoration, but it was miles better than a room that smelled of alcohol.

While she did give him a small kitchen, he still ate at her house. It wasn’t like he could really cook anyways other than microwaveable pizza and pepper poppers.

Besides, it was nice to have company. Shane could ask her about the weird shit she’s seen.

When Shane agreed to help her, he expected the regular “Could you check the silo?” Or- “I think I forgot to close the gate, could you check it before you sleep?” Not—

“Can you check on the Junimos? They should be finished,”

“Oh Shane-! My hands are full, can you check for slime eggs? The ring is next to the desert obelisk.” The first time Tonia introduced him to those apple fucks, it but his finger.

The second time was a bit better.

It took him a bit to come to terms with this- magical meth inducing world Tonia had introduced him to. He still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that there’s been some friendly shadow guy in the sewers all this time.

He certainly couldn’t process what he was seeing right now.

He remembered that week when Tonia practically collapsed by that- teleporting statue (“teleporting totems? Next you’re going to tell me you can make rain appear with a little jig and a prayer” he said jokingly once, his words faltering when she didn’t laugh).

Her delirious state was babbling about a quote, “guy that looks like he dunked his hair in pomegranate juice- there’s no way that’s his natural hair Shane.” Apparently, she met him on top of the volcano on the island.

Shane didn't think much of it till he saw this pink haired man trying to pull away his cape from Tonia's cat.

“This cape is to show I’m affiliated with the guild, not some toy-!” He held it away from Toff’s outstretched claws.

“..Er- do you need-“ Shane stiffened as the intense dark amethyst eyes stare him down, a hand immediately at his belt ‘Holy shit thats a fucking spear’ He thought hysterically.

There was a moment of silence, thankfully broken as Toff yowled in the lack of attention. The man cleared his throat and lowered his hand, thank fu-

“Is this Wisteria Farm?” His soft tone had an accent Shane couldn’t put a finger to. Regardless, he knelt down to scoop the little kitten.

“Yeah, are you..-“ An adventurer? Another wizard? Oh god what if he’s some cultist that actually dipped his hair in pomogranate juic-

“Lance, Marlon said Miss Tonia's farm was to the west?”

Marlon— Shane wracked his brain, if Magnus was the wizard, then Marlon-

“The… eyepatch guy?”

“Indeed, is she in town?” Shane just pointed to the farm house “I think she said she was getting some materials for that weird blacksmith. She’ll probably answer the door though.”

While Shane definitely saw Tonia as a friend, he doesn’t really want to find out if Lance’s spear was the real deal.

“My thanks!” The man smiled, jeez what did this guy drink this morning to be this chipper? “May I have your name?”

“..Shane-“ he clutched Toff as the man nodded and turned towards the cabin.

Maybe he should accept Tonia's offer on cigarettes.

xxxxxx

Tonia was not having a good day,

She rubbed her temple as she watched the fire smelt down the gold. Thankfully, the nice breeze from the windows were wafting away the heat. She’d probably be cooked alive in the basement otherwise.

It…wasn’t too much. Twenty or so golden bars for Clint. While it was a majority of her inventory m, she’d get that hotspring. It’s just..

xxxxxxx

“…How much?”

Tonia's plastic smile wavered as Clint rubbed his neck. She already disliked him with his persistence to practically stalk Emily. But this—

“Uhm, about twenty golden bars.. Of course in exchange, I’ll clear out that area that connects to the hot sprin-“

“Why does Mayor Lewis need this?” She pulled out her journal to write it down. Clint and Lewis, if Tonia had to decide, she’d probably pick Morris to deal with, even though she never really talked to him.

At least he did his fucking job and knew when to shut up.

“I-I can’t really say, privacy for commissions and all that.” He replied as Tonia stared at her journal. Twenty gold bars for… Lewis’ private commisio-“

“You’re not the one who made that statue of him..right?” her eye twitching when she his panicked expression.

“Clint, I swear to Yoba-“

“I’ll give you a discount for my shop-!” He said quickly

“I don’t even buy from your stor-“

“Ten percent of the payment!”

“Are you seriously trying to bribe me-“

“Twenty! Miss Tonia please-“

xxxxx

Tonia pulled out the last bar and plunged it into the water. Thank god she’s done. The temptation to March into Mayor Dickweasel’s house and shove these golden bars up his as-

Who the fuck was knocking on her door this early?

Tonia hastily checked to make sure the bars were cooled down before shoving them all into a bag before extinguishing the fire. She’ll just drag thee to the minecraft after talking to the person at the door.

Scratch that— Tonia glanced at the time, realizing it was already noon, maybe make Shane some lunch then go-

Unlocking the door, she blinked at the harsh sunlight before focusing on- oh, him. The fuck?

“I- Lance?”

“Miss Tonia!” Good grief his smile is bright, “I hope I’m not intruding-“ his eyes flickered to her outfit, ah fuck.

“Nono you’re fine,” Tonia pulled off her gloves, “I was just smelting some for a commision. What brings you here to Pelican Town?” How did he even get here?

“Ah-! I’ve actually been contracted to work with the town guild.” He glanced around the farm “Marlon mentioned you had a beautiful farm to the west of the guild, I wasn’t disappointed” She smiled, her tension slowly slipped away as he countinued,

“Since I’m going to be here for a good while, I was hoping to look around, however” Lance gestured to himself lI fear I would get lost in the trees-“

“And your clothes wouldn’t exactly fit in,” Tonia finished, eyeing the cape. “Why not ask Marlon to show you around? Why me?”

“He has his hands full, hence calling me here. Besides, is it that hard to believe that I’d like to know you better?” Tonia frowned slightly at his teasing remark.

“..Look,” she began, “I get you just got here and need someone to show you around, but fall's almost here and I really need to finish cleaning up the farm. I’m also tired enough from trying to practice to go back into the volcano,”

Lance tilted his head,”Practice?” Tonia grumbled, “When I quit my job to go work at this farm, I didn’t really think I’d be fighting slimes and some evil diglets,” he laughed gently at her frustrations,

“Then, what if I train you?”

“So I really can- Pardon?”

“I’ve been an adventurer for a majority of my life. I could teach you in exchange for you helping me around Pelican Town,” he replied smoothly, a genuine smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Tonia leaned across the door frame. If Marlon is as busy as Lance claims , she’s going to have trouble finishing Gunther’s request..

“…Fine,” his expression brightened as she countinued, “are you busy now? we could go over some details over lunch.”

His posture sagged for a brief moment, “Unfortunately, I do need to report back to my guild to confirm my status. I’ll be hopping around from a few posts.” His eyebrow furrowed, “Ah, what if I gave you my schedule? It’d be easier to find me then,”

‘These people seriously don’t use phones, do they-‘ she cleared her throat,”yeah yeah, come in I’ll grab my journal.”

xxxxxx

Shane glanced inside the farmhouse to see Tonia cooking,

“He’s gone?”

“Yeah, gave me his number and schedule.” She glanced over at him “Brunch sounds good?”

“Absolutely, I’m starving.”

Chapter Text

“I still don’t understand why you need a stool and rope if we’re going into the woods” Lance commented as they continued west of Marnie’s house. “It’s for a shortcut. Swords out, it’s just some green slime here,” They enter the secret woods, tall trees and baby slimes greet them as they continue forth.

“This place is pretty harmless, but slime likes to hide here” She gestured to the forest grounds “There are some mushrooms and ferns you can pick, most of them aren’t poisonous.” They reach a ruin with fallen pillars after fending off a few of the small green slimes peaking out from the trees. Tonia set the stool close to one of the pillars and tied a rope to the leg.

“You’re not serious” Lance stifled a laugh as she shot him a look before hauling herself up.
“I am, completely serious-” A yelp escaped her as she fell down the other side. Lance’s eyes widen as he climbed up the stool and pulled himself over,

“Miss Tonia?” He choked out a laugh when he saw Tonia waving her sword frantically at the green slimes swarming her on the other side,

“C-can you help!?” She cried out. Lance grinned before jumping over the pillar to sweep over the harmless slimes before offering his hand to Tonia, poor thing was trying to wipe the slime off her boots.

Once that was finally dealt with, Tonia tugged the rope (Lance totally didn’t help,) to get the stool back before they continued up the hill.

“I feel like a little kid again, being somewhere I shouldn’t” Lance teased, his breath catching at the sight of the statue. It wasn’t marvelous, far from it. Ivy grew around the hooded man sitting upon a ruined pillar. The rubies in his eyes seem to glow softly in contrast of the dark forest.

“Old man...Cannoli?” He knelt down to the tall grass as he read the faded plaque, “Who’s he?”

“Honestly? No idea” Tonia took a few apples and placed them at the feet of the statue, her lips once parted as if she was about the continue, closed as she stood back up.

“A coin for your thoughts?” Lance’s curiosity further increased when she averted his gaze, the tips of her ears a lovely red compared to her sun-kissed skin. (Does Tonia get embarrassed easily? Another mystery to ask Marlon, he mused.)

“It’s– rather silly” She fidgeted with the rope in her hands,

“My lips are sealed, I won’t laugh” She glanced at him with a frown before continuing

“Okay- well.. Yoba this is ridiculous” She huffed, “A few months ago when I just found this place, I got lost-H-Hey-! Listen it was dark-!” Lance held a hand to his mouth to hide his laughter, her flustered expression making it all the better.

“Anyways!” She cleared her throat, “I got really lost and found my way to the statue- I.. thought it was a statue of some kind of forest spirit, so I prayed in the sort of hopes it’d help me find my way back, gave it some of my leftover cookies-” Tonia paused,

“When I was finished, I noticed there was a good size stick I could use as a torch. It was probably there when I got there but- It just felt... Magical you know?” She laughed quietly, “It’s childish I know but... It felt like it makes up for the lost time I suppose-”

“Lost time?” Lance asked as she shrugged, indifferent to what she said.

“Didn’t really have that much time for the fun stuff. I don’t exactly know how adventurers work considering there are many people that haven’t heard of slimes being real, but someone has to help pay the bills.” She looked up to the sky and tapped her feet “Shall we go? I’d hate to get lost again” she joked.

It was a quiet walk back, one that Lance didn’t mind. Tracing their steps back to Cindersap Forest, Lance commented,

“Your combat could use a little training to avoid that slime encounter again,” She grumbled,

“I didn’t think there’d be a nest of them,”

“Exactly” He grinned, “How about Friday? I’ll be back in Pelican Town by then.” Tonia pulled out a journal to examine her schedule,

“I’ll probably be done picking the starfruit by noon- sure. I’ll see you then?” He stopped by the foot of her front steps as she unlocked the door,

“Of course, it’s a date,” Lance smirked, with a swish of his cape he teleported away leaving Tonia at her door, her face tinted a slight pink as she shut the door.

xxxxxxx

“Again!”

Tonia stumbled to her feet, her hands firmly grasping either end of the worn wooden staff just as Lance swung down with ease. Her legs wobble when she pushed against his strike, managing to force him off as she stumbled back.

It started to feel like Lance was just toying with her (he probably was, she thought, gritting her teeth as he stepped aside. Who knows how long he’s been fighting). Every time she attempted to hit him, he would simply blink away. A tap to her wrist, a nudge to her spine. A reminder that she was too slow to counter them.

“Would you stop that-!” She growled, spinning around to hit his legs. Lance simply dodged to tap her elbows with his staff with a smile, that prick-

“Stop what?” He asked, his innocent expression morphed into gentle surprise as he stepped away from her swing.
(Think awkwardness starts here)
“The- all that teasing!” She blocked his swing, “you don’t have to remind me I suck at this shit-!” Her voice faltered as Lance shot out to grip the other end of her staff, his expression suddenly devoured of his usual flirtatious smile.

“Why do you think that?” Tonia held her breath at the sudden pause to their mock fight. Why did she? His smiles never showed mockery, it never did.

“I-“ she tried to find the words, it certainly didn’t help how close they were, she could practically hear his heart from here.

“Did you think those tips I was giving you were to mock you? Because you’re making rookie mistakes?” Tips? Her eyes widen, they were just.. Tips? His hand dropped when he saw her expression and took a careful step back.

“..Tonia?”

His voice was soft, just like the time they visited the old statue,

“Would you like to know what I think?” He watched her standing perfectly still, her eyes watching the ground and her knuckles white from how hard she’s been squeezing the staff. He continued,

“Back in the Secret Woods, I remember how you told me you lost time to be a kid when you were younger,”

“I’m starting to think you lost the time to realize that making mistakes are alright, especially if you’ve just started” his eyes drifted to the cozy farm around them. “I’m sure you’ve made plenty of mistakes when you just started here, no?”

She did. She’d made so many.

Digging up unfinished crops, heatstroke from standing outside much longer than she had before. Hell, she used to barely afford food for herself.

In the past year and a half she’s been here, never once did her parents reach out. No letters asking how she was doing, no visits to see the improvements she’s made. The only time they seemed to acknowledge her was her birthday. A simple “Happy Birthday” card with signed names and some money, another indirect reminder from her parents that they thought she wasn’t doing well for herself.

“Every mistake you’ve might of made was just learning how to overcome it,” Lance continued, interrupting her thoughts. “In the end, you can’t learn if you don’t fail every so often-” He reached out to grasp her pale hand clutching the staff, “So, how about we start small with letting go of that staff? I was going to stop after that mock fight anyways-”

Tonia bit her lip, “I-I can’t,”

“Can’t?” She laughed miserably

“I-I don’t know, I just feel like I’m going to fall if I let go and-”

“Then I’ll catch you,” He interrupted firmly, “mentor or friend, you can trust that I’ll be here to help you when you’re scared. Now- let’s try again, I’ll count down from three and catch you.”

“Ready?” He watched her hesitantly nod before giving her a gentle smile as he started,

“Three… two….”

“One,”

She let go.