Chapter Text
"Do I even want to ask?"
Wizard had just woken up, hoping for a nice, easy, slow morning. He’d had a hard night; Alchemist had wanted support with a new potion recipe, and it had gone horribly wrong. All he wanted now was a breather, maybe to scrawl through the library again.
But no.
He had to deal with his friends.
"For once, Pointy Hat, this ain't my fault," Chilli Pepper remarked, leaning against the archway to the kitchen as the fire alarm beeped loudly and smoke rose to the ceiling.
What was happening? Apparently, Custard had used the oven without permission. Now something was burning inside as Gingerbrave stood with a fire extinguisher in hand.
"It's probably not that bad, guys!" Strawberry said, trying to comfort Custard, who looked guilty as anything. Wizard blinked slowly at everyone, covering his face to avoid inhaling the smoke.
"I think. . . I'm going to go on a walk," he said flatly. Gingerbrave waved him goodbye, and Strawberry opened the oven, releasing a wave of black smoke. Wizard escaped just in time, slamming the door shut behind him, taking slow breaths like Alchemist always told him to do when he was stressed.
The sun shone down, and a cool breeze made the air pleasant. For a moment, he let himself breathe.
Then he noticed something.
He was more underdressed than usual. He still had his scarf, of course, which was a staple. But his robes were missing, leaving him exposed in black pants and a star-themed T-shirt. His hair was down, too, and, worst of all. He’d forgotten his signature hat. His hat was important because it hid something a little embarrassing that he couldn't control. Colorful dots peppered his roots, the remnants of popping candy in his DNA, now clearly visible. He almost turned back to grab the hat, but Strawberry shoved open a window just then, more smoke pouring out.
Wizard quickly backed away and walked off.
Cookies greeted him politely as he passed, and he gave brief nods in return. He wasn’t in the mood for conversation, especially not while underdressed. Even so, it was clear he was recognized. After all, he was one of the cookies who had traveled Earthbread, far and wide, defeating countless foes.
The fame was honestly exhausting.
Gingerbrave, Custard, and Chili Pepper thrived in the spotlight, but he and Strawberry? Not so much. The attention was suffocating. He’d be recognized even in the oddest places, and he hated pretending to be this brave hero. . .
He wasn’t a hero. He was a powerful magic caster
Wizard resented his reputation. He wanted to be known for his magic, not the bloodshed left in its wake.
He was so deep in thought that he didn’t notice the cookie in front of him until he walked straight into them. He stumbled back, adjusting his scarf and mumbling inaudible apologies. He was about to leave when—
"Whoa! Sorry, didn't see you there!"
Wizard looked up. It was Gumball Cookie. He remembered when Gumball had first arrived in the kingdom: energetic, excited, a bit much. He’d settled in over the years and Wizard saw him now and then, often avoiding Almond with his little crew. He braced for the usual "Oh! Wizard Cookie! What an honor!" but instead-
"You okay? You look a little stressed. I'm Gumball. You?"
. . .
Wizard blinked. They’d definitely met before. But. . . What?
"Wizard, and I'm fine."
"Oh, cool name! You do magic 'n shit?"
The profanity made him cringe a bit, but he replied anyway.
"Yes. I specialize in elemental-type magic, mostly lightning-based spells."
"Yooo!! That's sick, dude! So you go all zap! Zip! BOOM!"
Wizard couldn’t help chuckling at Gumball’s expressive gestures.
"That’s. . . One way to put it."
"Hah! Y'know, you don’t look like a wizard."
"I rushed out of the house. . ."
"Why?"
Wizard sighed, rubbing his arm.
"One of my friends set something on fire in the oven. I’m pretty sure I’d have suffocated if I stayed."
Gumball laughed, patting his shoulder. Wizard tensed; he didn’t like being touched, but Gumball didn’t seem to notice.
"Oh my Earthbread, I know how that goes. I got a buddy who doesn’t know fireworks from actual bombs. She’ll detonate anything anywhere, total walking hazard."
Wizard had a pretty good guess on who Gumball was talking about.
"Cherry?"
"How’d you know?"
". . . Word of mouth."
Gumball laughed again.
"Daaamn, didn’t know we were that famous."
Wizard rolled his eyes at Gumball stroking his ego.
"I was about to do some pot shots out in the forest with a buddy. Wanna come? You seem cool."
He considered it. His magic was less stable without his staff, but manageable. Besides, he had nothing better to do. He shrugged and gave a faint smile.
"Yeah, okay. Lead the way."
Gumball grabbed his wrist and led him toward the edge of the kingdom, where the trees grew denser and sunlight thinned. Wizard stayed quiet, though something felt. . . off. They weren’t heading toward the border gate.
Then he saw it: a tunnel dug beneath the defensive wall.
"Did. . . Did you do this?"
"Nah, I got Devil to dig it. I don’t got claws, haha! Now come on, slowpoke!"
Gumball dropped down. Wizard stared, hesitant.
"Scared?"
"No. I just don’t want to get hurt."
"I’ll catch ya!"
He stared, dumbfounded. But it was too late to back out. With no other choice, he stepped forward- and fell. He landed in Gumball’s arms.
"Maaan! You’re light!"
"Hey-!"
"My cannon weighs more than you. Geez, you gotta eat more."
Wizard flushed as he was set down. Gumball ducked into the tunnel, and Wizard followed, brushing off the comment. He knew he was light, but still. . . At the end, Gumball helped him up into the forest. Wizard looked around. trees thicker, air quieter, a little more dangerous.
"You sure this is a good idea?"
"’Course! You tagged along anyway!"
They weaved through branches, hopping over roots and random holes in the ground, until they reached a clearing. A cookie leaned against a tree, tossing a spray can in the air.
"Yooo! Mustard! Bought someone. You don’t mind, yeah?"
Mustard looked up and locked eyes with Wizard. He didn’t recognize her, nor did she recognize him. She was probably not from the kingdom.
"What can they do?"
She asks, looking Wizard up and down.
"Show ’em!"
Gumball nudged his shoulder, gentler than Gingerbrave’s usual rough jab that left him rubbing his arm to soothe the lingering pain after.
"You sure?"
"Come onnn! Show off a lil’!"
Wizard sighed, cracking his knuckles. It had been a while since he’d cast without his staff, but. . .
He raised his hands. Cyan light danced at his fingertips, then turned white, blindingly so. A crackling SNAP echoed as lightning burst toward a boulder, ricocheting and burning dry leaves. Wind gusted from the impact, the air pulsing with magical energy. Wizard trembled as he lowered his hands, falling to his knees, shaking the numbness from them.
Silence.
Panic surged. Had he overdone it? Did he scare them? Did they-
He was cut off as Gumball lifted him into a bear hug and spun him around.
"THAT WAS AMAZING, DUDE! Holy SHIT!"
He set him down, eyes wide with admiration.
"I thought you’d do, like, lil’ sparks, but that was, like, 20% cooler than anything I’ve ever seen! It went BOOM! Then ZOOM ZAP!!"
Mustard clapped along.
Wizard felt. . . Prideful. Not just proud. Not the usual “we saved the day” pride.
This was different.
"Magic is so AWESOME!" Gumball rambled.
"I still think it’s a cheat code," Mustard added.
"You just don’t understand me!" Gumball said with mock drama, hand to chest.
She laughed.
"It's dope. All I can do is throw oversized paintballs." The artist mumbles as he scratches the back of his neck, but Wizard interjects.
"I think any practiced skill should be admired. Magic doesn’t fix everything."
Mustard chuckles a little at his comment as she glances at her friend.
"See? He gets it."
"Oh, come on. And here I thought you were on my side."
He spun with mock offense, arms crossed.
Then- laughter. All three of them, laughing together. They kept talking for hours, showing off, bantering, laughing. And for the first time in ages, Wizard felt something he’d forgotten. Something he hadn't paid attention to through all the fame of being a hero, from the battles and pain, to the horrors beyond comprehension. He had forgotten. . .
What it was like. . . To just be a kid again.
He could get used to this.
He could get used to Gumball.