Chapter Text
Tommy knew that everyone either got their power by the time they are five or they would never get one. He was seven now, and even though his brothers and Dad told him it was fine and that he was perfect just the way he was and didn’t need powers, Tommy didn’t believe them.
He knew he was meant to get powers. If his brother Wilbur, the lamest person ever, could get the power of persuasion, then Tommy must be meant for an amazing gift.
It was just waiting for the right time to come upon him because he was so cool.
Tommy knew that most people found their powers by accident, like when Techno was in a fencing tournament and his skills became greater than ever. He had just discovered his advanced senses and athletic ability. So while Tommy knew this was how you were meant to discover your powers, he also knew, given his delayed powers, he would have to find them on purpose.
So with the idea of discovering his power in mind, Tommy went through the back door of his house into woods that surround their home. His Dad, thinking Tommy was just doing some exploring, had given him a sandwich and told Tommy to be back before it gets dark, but Tommy wasn’t scared of something stupid like the dark, not when his powers were on the line!
Well… maybe he was a little bit scared.
But adventure and power discovery awaits!
Adventure being Tommy finding a big stick while walking and now trying to find a bear to fight. It wasn’t his best thought out plan, but maybe getting into a fight like Techno would help him find cool powers just as his brother did. Tommy was definitely as cool, if not cooler than his brother, so Tommy deserved incredible powers too.
Tommy also hoped his powers would be better than Tubbo’s that came in three years ago. He could do something with poisons, although Tommy still didn’t really understand his powers, just that Tubbo had found them by making his Aunt really sick.
Tommy paced around, hitting his stick to the ground as he finished off his sandwich. He hadn’t found any bears yet, but he did find a really pretty blue butterfly he named Clementine.
She had flown away after landing on Tommy’s nose, but she was probably just intimidated by his manly presence so it was okay. The ladies both loved and feared the great Theseus Craft.
Tommy hopes his power is amazing, not that he doubts it, but he is a bit worried. What would he be like in the future if he doesn’t get a power? He wanted to be a hero but he couldn’t be one without some ability.
The idea of such a miserable future makes Tommy kinda sad though so instead he focuses on what it would be like when he finds his power.
Would his power make him stronger than his Piglin hybrid brothers? Since he hadn’t manifested as a Piglin when he was a baby, Tommy knew he could never rival their strength alone as a human. Although he didn’t even know if he was human since Avians, like his Dad, didn’t manifest until they either went through something traumatic or went through puberty, which Tommy’s brother Wilbur said is traumatic enough to bring about a manifestation.
So while Tommy definitely wasn’t a Piglin like his Mom, he still held out hope, as did his family, that he would be an avian and grow amazing wings that would be more powerful than his Dad’s.
He probably wouldn’t have as cool a power as his Mom did, though. She was amazing just being a Piglin hybrid, but her powers of resurrection were just the bestest! Although she hasn’t brought herself back yet so Tommy wasn’t sure what the point of them were.
Tommy almost wishes he could go to the future and just know his powers and see if he ends up with wings like his Dad and cool powers like his Mom.
If his powers came in he could be a hero just as he always wanted to be. He knew he could be the best there was, even better than the top hero, the Captain.
Tommy kept walking, not really looking for anything in particular now that he was pretty sure the forest didn’t have bears, but as he walked Tommy felt like everything was getting brighter, like the trees and grass started to shine.
It was hurting Tommy’s eyes, so he put his stick in his elbow and rubbed at them with his fists, but when he opened his eyes again, Tommy was suddenly hit by a wave of dizziness and a bright light so blinding he wanted to cry.
He quickly slammed his eyes closed again. His head was pounding and Tommy could feel himself drop his stick on the ground as his knees hit the grass.
It hurt so much!
He wanted Wilby and Techie and his Dad to tell him he was okay, but they were back at the house and Tommy couldn’t even stand up to go run to them!
His head kept pounding and pounding and the light wouldn't go out, it just kept getting brighter even with his eyes closed.
Tommy felt like he was on the ground for forever, but eventually Tommy was finally able to open his eyes again.
His head pain started to fade and the world wasn’t bright or shiny anymore, it looked normal.
Well, almost normal. The trees and plants and grass looked messier, taller than before. He also noticed it was darker, dark enough that Dad would be worried about him and probably ground him!
Tommy definitely didn’t want to get in trouble so he quickly started to run back to the house.
It was harder than usual to follow the path, it almost looked like it had become hidden since Tommy walked it earlier, but it was probably just because it was dark that Tommy was having trouble following it home.
After what felt like forever for his legs to carry him, Tommy could see his house peeking between the trees and he all but sprinted there, racing up the path to the back door.
He tried to pull the handle but it was locked.
Dad must be really mad at him if he locked him out, he had never done that before ever.
His fear of what happened in the woods faded as his fear of being in trouble took over.
Tommy was at an impasse, which Techno once told him meant he had a tough decision to make.
He could either not go inside and avoid punishment, or he could go in and get yelled at for being out after dark and then get cuddles from his family when he told them how he got hurt in the forest.
As much as Tommy wanted to not go inside, he knew it would be worse if he avoided his Dad, so he slowly walked around the house to the front door-
And the door was locked with the lights off, the porch fully shrouded in darkness.
Tommy went up the porch and pulled really hard on the door but it wouldn’t budge.
Tommy was so confused, surely they wouldn’t be that mad at him? What if his Dad and brothers just forgot about him because he has no powers and didn’t listen to the rules? Tommy didn’t want that! He didn’t mean to be bad.
Wilbur did tell him that if you don’t follow the rules enough then people will hate you and Tommy is really bad at following the rules.
Maybe this was finally it.
Tommy started banging on the door, hoping that they would let him in and forgive him, making his knocks as loud as possible.
After about a minute Tommy was ready to give up. He was a bad kid and powerless and maybe his Dad and brothers didn’t want him anymore.
He wouldn’t if he was him, even Wilbur, being a loser as he is, is cooler than Tommy since he had powers.
He lowered his fist and was ready to start crying when the door suddenly opened and before Tommy could even blink, there was a sword pointed at his throat.
Tommy looked up to meet red eyes, red eyes like his Piglin brother Techno’s.
But this wasn’t Techno, they were much older and bigger and scarier, especially standing in the dark.
Tommy felt a hiccuping cry escape his throat as the stranger opened his mouth.
“You have ten seconds to convince me why I shouldn’t kill you,” the stranger grunted out, looking at Tommy with an impassive face.
Tommy didn't know what to say, and even if he did, he couldn’t speak because the minute he opened his mouth, he started crying and screaming. He wanted to run, to move, but his limbs felt locked in place.
He had never been this scared in his life, not even what happened in the woods earlier was this bad.
All he wanted was his family and they weren’t even at home, instead some strangers had taken over his house. He had no idea what to do.
And it seemed the stranger didn’t either because he looked very uncomfortable with Tommy’s crying.
His sword dropped to his side, and although Tommy could barely see him because of his tears, Tommy could tell the man was crouching down to look at him, maybe even help him.
But Tommy didn’t want his help.
“NO! Don’t t-touch me! L-leave me alone!” Tommy managed to get out through his hiccuping cries, backing up from the scary man and going down a step on the porch.
The man seemed to understand that he wasn’t going to get anywhere with Tommy because he chose to stand up and call into the house.
“Uh, I need a little help here, I found an orphan child!” The man yelled. It was so offensive that Tommy couldn’t help but argue back, something WIlbur said would get him killed one day.
“I’m not an orphan or a child!” Tommy shouted indignantly, tears and snot still running down his face, although his eyes now help more anger than fear.
Tommy had a family that loved him even if he couldn’t find them right now. Wilby and Techie might be fourteen and mean sometimes, but they loved him, and his Dad definitely loved him because Tommy was the best kid ever.
Not that he was a kid, he was a Big Man like his Dad.
The man went to say something to Tommy but was interrupted by another man coming to the door. He had dark hair and dark eyes that Tommy couldn’t see the color of. He was also wearing a weird coat that looked stupid.
He had bad taste just like his brother Wilbur.
“So not someone who followed us back to our house to kill us then?” The man asked, not even looking at Tommy.
Tommy would be offended that the guy didn’t even look at him or consider him a threat, but it was probably better that he didn’t because Tommy had started to slowly creep down the porch, ready to bolt to Tubbo’s house that was closer to town.
With his house almost fully in the middle of the woods and with strangers in it, Tommy figured going to Tubbo and the town would be safer than looking for his family.
He wasn’t able to make much progress other than getting down the porch and into the moonlight though before both sets of eyes flew to him.
Tommy thought that maybe they would threaten him again or hurt him, but instead their mouths that were open to speak to him suddenly closed shut, with them staring at him with a shocked look in their eyes and their bodies freezing up.
The one with brown hair and brown eyes that Tommy could now make out seemed like he was choking and quietly, almost so quiet Tommy couldn’t hear him, whispered one word, or rather one name.
“Tommy?”
Tommy was getting freaked out. Their stares and the fact that one of them seemed to know his name creeped Tommy out, but before he could make a decision on what to do, another figure came to the door, a figure Tommy knew.
The moonlight made it easier to see this new person. Tommy could make out the light blonde hair, the bright blue eyes like his own, although a lighter shade, and the dark wings behind the figure.
Even though he looked a little older, Tommy would never forget what his Dad looked like, and it seemed like his Dad wouldn’t forget Tommy either because his eyes widened in shock and he quickly darted past the two men to get to Tommy, wrapping him in a hug.