Chapter Text
With a powerful swing, Flint, Lucas's and Claus's dad was knocked down to the ground. Lucas and Claus stared in disbelief. Tessie then picked the boys off of their feet.
"Come along, boys. I'll take you home." She said, trying to comfort them from what they just witnessed. "I'll make you some Innit Tea so you can go to bed easier." Lucas wearily nodded, with Claus being unresponsive. Tessie began to take the boys home through the now stormy forest. Claus and Lucas had their expression the exact same, disbelief. But there was a difference in their undertones. Lucas was having tears drip down his cheeks, while Claus showed signs of pent-up frustration and anger. Tessie was a motherly figure, but to the boys, they couldn't have that hole in their heart that had just appeared patched up so easily like that. They were not ready. They still didn't understand much on loss and grief, and the two twins handled it in drastically different ways.
As they walked through the forest, Claus and Lucas barely made eye contact. Tessie then interjected in-between their awkward silence. "I'm so sorry, boys. This must be so hard on you." It was then that Lucas began to have the tears stream down faster and harder, he then buried his face into Tessie's dress, getting it wet. He was sobbing. Claus however, remained as bitter as he had been, silent, distant, and angry. Tessie then noticed the church, the one that everyone had gone to before. "I know it's late, but maybe a prayer can help? The Dark Dragon always listens." She offered. Lucas shakily nodded, while Claus remained as he was, but still followed Tessie and Lucas into the church.
Once they entered, Lucas and Claus stared at each other and remember something their dad had told them many times.
"Anything can come true, so long as you pray from the bottom of your heart."
It was then that Lucas turned to face the altar and prayed from the bottom of his heart that his mom would come back. Claus on the other hand, remained standing and to himself. Tessie then approached him. "Claus, would you like to pray?"
Claus shook his head. "No prayer will do anything... She's gone," He muttered under his breath.
Lucas turned around to face his twin. "How can you say that? Dad said-"
Claus cut him off. "You really believe that, Lucas? That if we pray from the bottom of our hearts, that Mom will come back? You and I both know it's not true."
Lucas shook his head furiously. "It has to be true! I... I want it to be true."
Claus grimaced, and looked away, panged in guilt and hurt. "I wish it was... but it's not. She's... gone."
Lucas sniffled, then turning to Tessie. "What's gonna happen to Dad?"
Tessie sighed. "He's being thrown into jail."
It was at this Claus and Lucas gasped. No one had ever been thrown into Tazmily Jail before. Claus, flabbergasted, began to talk. "What?! That's... that's impossible! Dad doesn't deserve that! He... he's feeling grief."
Tessie nodded. "I understand, Claus. But in grief, no one should ever inflict pain upon others and your dad did."
Lucas sniffled. "... Can we go home?"
Tessie nodded, and then gave the blonde a hand, assisting him to his feet, the rest of the walk home was silent, Lucas still letting the tears drip down his face, and Claus's anger building up.
At their home, Tessie had already left, giving them some Innit Tea, and then leaving the boys be. Lucas and Claus refused to speak to each other for much longer. Boney was already asleep in the doghouse, and the village had already left to go to bed, and deal with the funeral processions tomorrow.
Lucas was still rattled and shaken, his entire body was shaky, his foot constantly tapping the floor and he was restless. Claus couldn't stop pacing around the living room, thinking about something that Lucas couldn't understand, and it was easy to tell he was restless as well. Lucas began to speak. "Claus-"
Claus cut him off again. "What do you have to say, Lucas?"
Lucas stuttered for a moment. "I-"
Claus waved a hand in his face. "That we can just pray this all away? That tomorrow we'll be alright? That Mom will be back?"
Lucas shook his head. "No! I-"
Claus interjected again. "Then what? What do you possibly have to say to me, Lucas, you crybaby?"
Lucas grew a bit upset. "I'm not a crybaby..."
Claus scoffed. "Everyone calls you one. That's why they won't let you do the work I get to do. Because you're a crybaby."
Lucas sniffled. "Claus... please... j-just-"
Claus interjected. "Just what? Let this sit idly by? No, I won't stand for it! You can cry your little heart out, Lucas, but I won't. I'm going to be a man about it."
Lucas stood up to face his twin. "I am a man!"
Claus glared at his brother. "You're a crybaby!"
Lucas shook his head, tears forming again in his eyes. "I'm tired of being called one! I want to get stronger... I want to prove myself. But... I can't. No one wants me too."
Claus continued to glare. "Because you're a crybaby."
Lucas then shouted. "I'm not a crybaby, Claus!" He then shoved his brother. Claus then shoved him harder, sending him to the floor. "Ow..." Lucas groaned.
Claus winced away. "I... Go to bed, Lucas."
Lucas sat back up, and sniffled, his voice, shaky, began to sing a song that Mom had sung to them. "In a distant town..."
Claus then looked back at his brother. "Lucas... stop singing."
Lucas continued on. "As the dark grows deep..."
Claus shook his head mildly to keep himself from crying. That song was important to the both of them, it was the only song that Mom had described as a way of her love to them.
Lucas continued to sing, with tears and sniffles breaking through the verses. "Unfamiliar words resound, whispered and weak."
It was then that an image was planted into the boys' minds, one of Hinawa singing the song to them to help them fall asleep. Lucas's shaky voice was replaced by the mezzo-soprano of their mothers.
"Let me heal the pain.
Drive away despair.
Lead this child who's lost way
Help him prepare.
While apart
Understand
I will live my life for you
Wherever I am
It's my greatest wish
To provide for you
Tender moments
Sweetest dreams
Love, Warm, and True."
It was then that the memory faded from view, and with it, Lucas began to softly cry once more, while Claus turning away to forget it all. "She lived her life for us... didn't she?" He said in a raspy voice, clearly on the verge of crying himself. Lucas shakily nodded. Claus continued on. "I wish she could heal the pain... drive away our despair... but I can't wish on some shooting star or pray to the Dragon. Heh, when will that ever come true..."
Lucas then got himself off of the floor and went to bed. "...Good night, Claus."
Claus didn't look towards him. "... Night, Lucas."
It was then that Lucas closed his little eyes, wilted from weeping and exhausted from their day. What had started out as so much fun had turned into a tragedy that he didn't really understand. He left into a land of dreams, into slumber.
When he was dreaming, he dreamt of a sunflower field. It was with his mom, Hinawa. Hinawa was there, and Lucas felt her warm embrace. Lucas felt her. And then he felt it fade away. Lucas then revisited the events of the evening. The forest being set on fire. Him and Claus running to safety. The weird Drago that tried to attack them. Mom pushing them into the river. Dad's outburst. The prayer. And the fight at home. While it was all a dream, Lucas was reliving what had happened, and it had broken him into a million pieces. This once-coddled boy was as fragile as they said. And even in Lucas's dreams, he felt tormented.
In the morning, Lucas awoke to the sight of Claus, who had woken up before him, he was packing stuff. Lucas saw him stuff a hand file inside of an apple. But why? What seemingly stupid reason would make Claus do that. Lucas wiped his eyes, and groggily got out of bed.
"Claus?" He then asked, and that made his ginger brother jump and turn around to face him. "Sorry... I didn't mean to scare you."
Claus shook his head. "Nah, you didn't scare me. I just thought you were still asleep."
Lucas zoomed in on the apple. "... What's that for?"
Claus wearily shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Lucas." Claus then turned back around and grabbed one of Dad's homemade knives. Lucas realized what he was going to do.
"Claus... you're not-"
Claus interjected. "I said I was going to be a man about it, and I will. I'm avenging Mom."
Lucas rapidly stood up. "Let me come with you!"
Claus shook his head. "No, Lucas."
Lucas interjected again with that same fervor. "Why? Please, let me come with you!"
Claus snapped. "You'll slow me down, Lucas! So, no! Don't come with me! I'm going to get stronger, so that no Dragos can defeat me and you're not going to get in my way!" He then shoved Lucas against a dresser. Claus was always the stronger twin, so pushing around his brother was no problem. To Lucas however, he wasn't able to do that back to him.
Lucas sniffled. "... You see me as weak too... what happened to us getting stronger together?"
Claus grumbled. "That was different. This is different. You wouldn't understand."
Lucas shakily nodded. "Claus... we're brothers... we've got to stick together."
Claus grimaced. "Lucas... you really don't get it. I'm still older than you."
Lucas protested. "By only a few minutes!"
Claus remained still. "I mean it. I try to be mature, to be a man. You're still a crybaby, a kid. You'll be so brave one day, I know it, but right now? Nah... One day Fuel will be jealous. But that's not now."
Lucas teased, still upset. "Since when did you start to think?"
Claus chuckled, also a bit aggravated. "This whole thing really flipped me on my head."
Lucas grimaced. “So… you’re actually going to do this?”
Claus, who had mostly calmed down. “I have to, Lucas. I'm going to get stronger so that the Drago won't stand a chance... I know you want to come... but just..."
It was then that their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Tessie at their door.
"Good morning, boys. It's time." She said, and with it, Lucas's attention fully diverted to the thought of the funeral. Maybe she would be back. Maybe the prayer did work. He then bolted towards Tessie. Claus on the other hand, remained still.
"... I'll be there in a second, Miss Tessie." He spoke, cold and calculated, trying to imitate their father's stoic tone.
Tessie merely sighed. "Please don't be late, Claus."
Lucas then looked back at his brother and then quietly spoke. "Please be careful, Claus." and then left with Tessie to the funeral, unknown to Lucas however, that would be the last time he'd see Claus.
As the sun rose over Tazmily, rather than the bright and cheery mood found normally in town, it had been replaced with a sorrowful and somber tone, for someone had died. That someone had been a life in the town's community. One of the finest spots was chosen for her. The groundskeeper, Nippolyte, made it so. The priest, Jonel, led the funeral's processions. However, Lucas felt alone. His grandfather had just shown up and had said very little, rather being extremely somber himself, which was unlike the jovial man. Claus was likely long gone to Lucas, and his father was still in jail. Lucas was sobbing at her grave. This time, however, no one chastised him for crying, or told him that "Boys don't cry," because they knew he was suffering. He had lost his mother. No one can move on from that easily, especially at an age like Lucas's. Perhaps the torment had settled in the boy. Some dumb prayer wouldn't do a thing is what he realized as he continued to stare at the plaque, with tears streaming down his cheeks.
Wife of Flint.
Mother of the twins Claus and Lucas.
Daughter of Alec.
May the beautiful Hinawa rest in peace here for all time.
Lucas stared intently at it, letting the tears stream down his face. No longer was he sobbing fresh new tears, but he let the already sobbed tears fall down and dissipate. Just then, he felt footsteps approach behind him, the familiar hilt of boots. It was his dad. Lucas didn't look away, instead he raised his voice, something that he had never done before. It mildly terrified him, but he had to, he was passionate, and he cared too much to not tell how he felt about it.
"Dad... I thought you said anything could come true, as long as we prayed from the bottom of our hearts?! Mom can't even punish me anymore now... I... don't want it like this..."
Lucas's dad turned to his grandfather, who began to talk not long afterwards. "Oh." He said, noticing Flint, and turning around. "Long time, no see." Lucas had forgotten the last time Dad and Grandpa Alec had even sent a mere hello letter. Their relationship was estranged. "It's me. I haven't been to the village in a while, but I rushed straight here after I heard about Hinawa." Grandpa was likely devastated as well, who wouldn't be in Lucas's view? Grandpa lost his kid, and the kids just lost their mom, they both were grieving immensely.
"Just after I had such a wonderful time with my grandkids..." Grandpa Alec reminisced for a moment upon their earlier visit, where the twins and their mother had spent quite a while with their grandpa until going home last night. He then stopped, likely out of respect for Dad, who also was grieving. "... Sorry." He then paused for a moment. "Say, come to think of it... Where's Claus? Is he not with you?" And this is where Lucas was set into a mild panic internally. Claus was gone. And if he told anyone, Claus would get mad. Claus had talked to Grandpa Alec earlier, seemingly facading his true intentions saying how he's going to visit Dad, which Grandpa was reiterating to Dad.
Grandpa Alec then had his gaze land upon Lucas. "Lucas... Do you know where Claus went?"
Lucas stalled for a moment and paused. He hesitated. "... No ..."
Grandpa Alec, however, could see through Lucas's poorly made guise. "Lucas! It's not good to keep secrets from people!" Grandpa then pressed his fingers against his wrinkled temple. "Don't tell me Claus went after that detestable Drago to try to-"
Lucas interjected and stammered. "N-n-n-no! He didn't take Dad's homemade knife and go into the mountains to kill the Drago!" It was then that Lucas realized that he had told everything what had happened. Claus would be super upset with him. "Aah!" He cowered for a moment. Grandpa Alec turned around to talk to his Dad.
"It's a good thing you raised him to be honest, Flint! Does Clauss honestly think a homemade knife can kill a Drago?!" Grandpa Alec said in an outburst, starting chatter around the grave by everyone else present. Grandpa Alec then turned around to face Lucas who was much more upset with him. "Lucas! Why didn't you stop him?!"
Lucas looked down in shame. He didn't want to tell what had happened fully, and here he didn't need to. He wanted to go, but Claus said no, that would be enough.
"Well... I said I wanted to go too, but he said no because he was going alone..."
Grandpa Alec's eyes widened. "So you just let him go?! You fool!!" He chastised Lucas, and Lucas began to sniffle for a moment, stepping away from the tombstone. Within a moment, he began running, with newly fresh tears once again pouring down the sides of his face. He ran back home as fast as his legs could do. When he got home, he sat by Boney and sniffled, letting the retriever comfort him. Boney had always been a great comfort for Lucas, so the dog was a great improvement for him as in his current state, all he could do was sob.
As Dad walked back to him, Lucas looked up at him. "... Dad." He then sobbed even more, looking away in shame. Dad didn't reprimand Lucas for not being as tough as Claus, but it did always feel like that Claus was Dad's favorite because he was stronger.
Eventually, the sun passed throughout the day, and Dad had yet to go home. Lucas spent the entire day outside, with Boney, alone. His Dad was busy searching for Claus. Lucas prayed deep down that Dad would find Claus just fine, but as the end of the day happened and Dad returned home, Lucas saw the look on his face. The once-stoic and collected look had been replaced by a look of great distraught and loss.
Lucas looked up at him. "Did you find him?" He asked, wearily standing up. Dad grimaced. He then opened his hands to reveal a pair of children's shoes. Blue children's shoes. They were worn, but they were sentimental. They were Claus's shoes. It was then that Lucas gasped. He stood in shock for a mere moment. Flint then went inside, greatly troubled. As for Lucas, he thought only about Claus. It was his fault. He didn't stop Claus. He was a fool. A crybaby. Lucas wasn't a man. He was pathetic. And for Lucas, he couldn't go to sleep. It was very late at night, and yet his brother and mother was all he could think about. He stood outside next to Boney's doghouse. looking rather dreary. He didn't want to go in. It was late, yes. But he felt some built up shame and guilt within him and Boney was all he had that could comfort him.
Then somehow, Duster who was walking towards their house, noticed the lone boy and walked up to Lucas. "Hey, Lucas." He said, bending his knees to be on a closer level with the kid.
Lucas looked up to find Duster talking to him. A bit startled and flustered, he got up. "Oh... Duster."
Duster then asked. "What are you doing out here, little guy?"
Lucas sighed. "I tried, but I just can't get to sleep..."
Duster nodded, standing back up. "Well then-"
Lucas quietly mumbled, interjecting him. "Maybe I should've gone with Claus..." He said, beginning to sniffle.
Duster nodded his head more wearily this time. "Good night, Lucas. Just- be careful... okay?"
Lucas shakily nodded, before slumping back over to Boney's doghouse. He then repeated his question. "Maybe I should've gone with Claus..."
From there, that was all he could say or think. He thought about the one thing that he should've done. He should've gone with Claus. Because to Lucas, that was better than this torment.
End of Chapter 1